Greek Anarchist Romanos Continues Hunger Strike for 26th Day Despite Deteriorated Health

Twenty-one-year-old Greek anarchist Nikos Romanos continues his hunger strike for the 26th consecutive day, in demand of an educational leave from prison in order to attend his studies at the Business Department of the Technical Education Institute of Athens, where he was granted a position after successfully passing the entry exams. According to his father, Giorgos Romanos, his son’s health has further deteriorated and fainted on Thursday night, but as his attorney, Frangkiskos Ragousis, told Greek TV, he remains adamant about continuing his hunger strike. Romanos’ parents refused Justice Minister Charalmbos Athanasiou’s proposal to enforce a legislation that would allow their son to study while in prison, by distance learning. In a letter, they stated that Athanasiou never attempted to contact them and underlined that in a few days, Greece will “mourn the first dead political prisoner from a hunger strike.” Speaking on Greek TV yesterday, Athanasiou justified the court’s decision to reject the Greek anarchist’s student leave, as “Mr. Romanos, except from a convict, is also waiting to be tried. There are other convictions pending against him. To detainees, under the law, a relevant leave can be granted only with the consent of the trial’s judge, which was not done.” On his behalf, main opposition SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis underlined that the government’s stance in Romanos’ case shows “analgesia, authoritarianism and vindictiveness.” Earlier today, Giannis Michailidis, also convicted for the bank robbery with Romanos in Velvento, northern Greece, and who has also gone on a hunger strike since November 17 in solidarity with his friend and accomplice, issued a written statement in support of Romanos and the ongoing solidarity mobilizations. “Stay tough, you have messed up their celebrations so far. You will not break, so they will bend. I stand by your side until the final victory,” he said addressing Romanos, while addressing the Greek Justice Minister, he warned that “I am very hungry. If you murder Nikos, the only thing that can satiate me again, is your throat.” During the last week, solidarity demonstrations and other forms of action supporting his cause have been organized across Greece. In Athens, protesters have occupied various buildings, including the headquarters of the country’s largest trade union, GSEE, in downtown Athens, just a few meters away from the also occupied Athens Polytechnic School. In addition, the municipal offices of Heraklion and Rethymno in Crete are also under occupation, while in Thessaloniki, protesters took over the “Olympion” cinema in Aristotelous Square. In Patras, protesters have reportedly reoccupied a university building. Earlier today, tension rose inside the “Gennimatas” Hospital, where Romanos has been taken for medical observation, after protesters managed to reach his room, while another solidarity demonstration is arranged for tonight outside the hospital.

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Turkish Foreign Minister: ‘Barbaros’ Will Continue Mission

Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu said that Turkish vessel “Barbaros” will continue its seismic research inside Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), despite protests from the Cypriot side. The Turkish Minister spoke to Greek newspaper “Kathimerini,” ahead of the Greek-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council today in Athens. The Cyprus EEZ is high on the agenda of negotiations between Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu. Cyprus has already licensed international energy companies to drill for natural gas and hydrocarbons in its EEZ. However, over a month ago, “Barbaros” has entered the zone, accompanied by a Turkish warship. Turkey claims that the Turkish-occupied north part of Cyprus has equal rights to explore and exploit in the waters off the island. “Whenever the unilateral drilling activities will stop, we will withdraw ‘Barbaros’,” Cavusoglu said. At the same time, the Turkish Foreign Minister added that he is “very happy to see the more active involvement of Greece as motherland and guarantor of power” in Cyprus, following the suspension of negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The violation of Cyprus’ EEZ is hindering peace talks between Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Nevertheless, Cavusoglu said that he is optimistic that the talks between the Greek and Turkish Premiers in Athens will come to lead to a mutually beneficial solution. “We worked hard to prepare this important meeting in Athens. It will be substantive but also a very symbolic meeting for us,” Cavusoglu noted. “We will discuss many issues. Bilateral issues, regional issues, as well as the Cyprus problem.”

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Turk, Greek PMs stress importance of better ties

The Greek and Turkish prime ministers on Friday stressed the importance of improving often frosty relations between their two countries, while acknowledging significant differences remain. Greece and Turkey ...

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Electronic commerce continues to grow

The online commerce sector is growing and maturing in Greece, especially in the business-to-consumer section. Consumers using the Internet for their purchases are on the rise and companies investing in online sales are being rewarded by buyers, the annual... ...

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Greek, Turkish PMs see benefits in improved ties

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu are expected to issue a joint statement on Saturday, at the end of the latter’s two-day visit to Athens, following what appears to have been a productive day of talks on Friday. Fore... ...

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Turkish PM calls for deal with Greek Cypriots over energy deposits

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on Friday for an agreement over exploiting hydrocarbon deposits in the eastern Mediterranean, an issue that caused the breakdown of peace talks between Greek ...

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Turkish PM Davutoglu in Athens Amid Heavy Security Measures

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Athens a few minutes after 3:30 pm accompanied by nine of his cabinet’s Ministers, in order to participate in the 3rd Greek-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council, to be held over two days in the Greek capital. According to his schedule, the Turkish PM will attend meetings with his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras, and the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, today. The two countries’ Foreign Ministers are also attending the two meetings. According to the latest information emerging from the Greek Presidency of the Republic, Papoulias welcomed the 3rd Greek-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council, while also requested the Turkish side to respect international law. “We are neighbors and we will remain so, therefore we should be good neighbors,” Papoulias underlined. On his behalf, the Turkish Premier invited the Greek President to Cyprus, noting that “everything but the geographic location can change.” At 8:30 pm, both countries’ Premiers and Foreign Ministers addressed the Greek-Turkish Business Forum to be held at Hilton Hotel in downtown Athens, where some 200 Greek and Turkish businessmen will also participate. Reportedly, the interest of the Turkish businessmen is centered on the tourism sector. In 2014, over a million Turks visited Greece, with the prospect of a larger number of tourists in 2015, as the possibility to grand easier access to visas for Turkish citizens is under consideration. The commercial transactions between Greece and Turkey currently stand at 5.5 billion dollars. The biggest trade partner for Greek exports is Turkey with 4.2 billion dollars in 2013, with imports from Turkey stand at 1.3 billion dollars. At the same time, Greece remains a major investor in Turkey with 7 billion dollars, while the biggest investment is that of National Bank of Greece (NGB) in Turkish Finansbank. The two countries’ Prime Ministers will chair the 3rd Greek-Turkish Cooperation Council on Saturday at 10:00 am at the Hilton. The Cyprus problem is also expected to be examined during the council’s two days, while the Turkish side is expected to table a proposal regarding the distribution of hydrocarbons found in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), something that Greece is expected to reject, as it firmly stands by Cyprus on the matter and has repeatedly requested the departure of the Turkish seismic vessel “Barbaros” from Block 3 of Cyprus’ EEZ. Furthermore, the Turkish Prime Minister also awaits a development on the issue of the mosque construction in Athens, which is thought to be delayed, and in return, according to Greek reports, there could be a step towards the reopening of the historic Halki Seminary in Istanbul. It should be noted that Athens has rejected Davutoglu’s request to visit Thrace, as such a visit would torpedo the attempt of establishing good relations between the two countries and would further escalate the tension caused by “Barbaros'” presence in Cyprus’ EEZ. The Turkish cabinet members accompanying Davutoglu are: Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Interior Minister Efkan Ala, EU Minister Volkan Bozkir, Finance Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, Trade and Customs Minister Nurettin Canikli, Tourism Minister Omer Celik, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, and Transport and Communications Minister Lutfi Elvan. The Greek and the Turkish Prime Ministers are expected to proceed to joint statements on Saturday, after the completion the Greek-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council. Greek main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is also expected to meet with the Turkish Prime Minister on Saturday. According to press leaks, the meeting will take place at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” at around 3:00 pm. For the duration of the 3rd Greek-Turkish Cooperation Council, Greek Police have taken increased security measures, especially around Hilton Hotel, where the Turkish delegation is expected to reside, but also in the entire downtown Athens. The police have announced emergency traffic restrictions on Friday and Saturday. They warned that several major roads in downtown Athens will be closed at different times, depending on traffic, and urged motorists to seek out alternative routes, while various Athens Metro stations will also be shut down.

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55-Year-Old Legend Who Quit His Job To Work For The Spurs Explains Why Gregg Popovich Is A Genius

Ettore Messina is probably the most decorated professional basketball coach you've never heard of.  He spent the last 25 years coaching some of Europe's biggest teams. The 55-year-old Italian has coached in Italy, Russia, and Spain. He has won four Euroleague titles and nearly a dozen domestic championships. When he finally made the leap to the NBA full-time this summer, he joined the league's most international team: the San Antonio Spurs. Messina officially opted out of his contract CSKA Moscow in June. A month later, he accepted an assistant coaching job with the Spurs. It was something of a demotion — he went from being one of the most celebrated head coaches in Europe to an assistant in San Antonio — but he also got to work under Gregg Popovich, the best coach in the world. In a new post on his personal blog that was first spotted by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, Messina wrote about the genius of Popovich. It's clear that Messina thinks Pop is brilliant. The thing that stands out is the way Popovich is able to engage his players and his fellow coaches so that they pay attention to every detail and feel motivated to follow his plan. Messina compared Popovich to a Greek philosopher in his managerial style: What’s interesting is that he always pushes his coaching staff to argue with him. Sometimes he reminds me one of those Greek philosophers, the sophists, who tried to find the truth through arguments. He really encourages discussion and variety of opinions, seeing them as a means to improve as a unit. He had a great description Pop's overarching coaching philosophy: The Spurs do things together. There’s a lot of respect for everybody, and everybody is expected to give his or her opinion and help the group. It’s a unique philosophy of working together and facing adversity together as well. Coach Popovich has this rare ability to combine his demanding nature with the most sincere care for everyone within the organization. Players, management, coaches, doctors, physiotherapists – he cares about all of them. And that makes everyone proud to be a part of the organization. This is family first, basketball club second. Also, one of the biggest things in coach Popovich’s philosophy is the “we can’t skip any steps” principle. It means there’s time and place for every process. You always start from the basics here and then go on to the most intricate things. At the beginning of the training camp we went over the fundamentals of offense and defense. Passing, catching, pivoting, sliding, moving without the ball – it was as if we were a junior team. That’s one of the major messages coach Popovich sends out to his players: techniques are much more important than tactics. You have to master the fundamentals and then you need the desire to compete every day, meaning that every day you have to come in ready to play.  The Spurs have been the gold standard in the NBA for the last 15 years. When you see this sort of praise from a guy like Messina who has been involved with professional basketball at every level, you can see why.Join the conversation about this story »

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Part of HFSF reserves set aside

The Bank of Greece has decided to maintain a precautionary capital reserve of 2 billion euros from the unused resources set aside for the recapitalization of the Greek credit system at the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF). BoG, together with the H... ...

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Greek Govt VP Venizelos: Political Uncertainty Makes Negotiation More Difficult

Political uncertainty is the country’s main issue, Greek government Vice President Evangelos Venizelos said on Friday addressing the Democratic Bloc Secretariat meeting. He explained that this uncertainty makes negotiation even more difficult and ...

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Venizelos sees troika deal soon as eight MPs call for consensus over president

Although Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos suggested on Friday that an agreement between Greece and the troika is possible before December 15, the government is keeping its options open regarding its next steps. Venizelos met with Prime Minister A... ...

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Greece Condemns British Museum For Lending Out Elgin Marbles

Athens has long demanded the return of the ancient sculptures it says were looted in the early 1800s from the Parthenon and other famous structures.

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Greek bond yields drop

Greek 10-year bond yields fell 42 basis points to 7.33 percent on Friday as the country’s deputy prime minister said he expected to have an initial deal with EU/IMF inspectors on their delayed bailout review by December 15. [Reuters]... ...

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Bourse enjoys healthy gains on optimism

The prospect of convergence between Athens and its creditors on a technical extension of the Greek bailout agreement, coupled with some signs that Parliament may elect a president and prevent snap polls sent stocks soaring on Friday, though this time it w... ...

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The Yogurt Must Be Greek

Greek yogurt, with its beneficial probiotic bacteria, high protein content and rich flavor, is one of the most popular health foods in America, comprising a billion dollar market. But few people have as much appreciation for Greek yogurt – or expertise ...

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S&P raises Ireland's credit rating 1 notch to A, says country rebounding well from debt crisis

by  Associated Press S&P says Ireland rebounding, raises credit rating Associated Press - 5 December 2014 12:59-05:00 DUBLIN (AP) — Standard & Poor's has raised Ireland's credit grade one notch to A and says the country is rebounding with surprising strength from its 2010 international bailout. The New York-based agency issued its report after Dublin markets closed Friday. It raised its forecast for Irish economic growth to 3.7 percent annually through 2016, versus its previous forecast of 2.7 percent, and credited the Irish government with reducing its debt burden more rapidly than expected. Ireland is now two notches below S&P's top AAA grade. Finance Minister Michael Noonan welcomed the report and said it would boost his chances to win increased investment from China during meetings next week in Beijing and Shanghai. S&P says Ireland is outperforming fellow eurozone bailout recipients Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain. News Topics: Business, General news People, Places and Companies: Dublin, Ireland, Western Europe, Europe Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Elgin Marbles: Fury in Greece as statue is loaned to Russian museum

Athens reacted furiously after it was revealed that the British Museum had loaned one of the Elgin Marbles to Russia.

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Research and Markets: Animal Fat Market in Greece: Business Report 2014

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Animal Fat Market in Greece: Business Report 2014" rep

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Ties with China growing in university education

Greek universities are in a position to cooperate with Chinese universities on joint undergraduate and postgraduate programs, Education Minister Andreas Loverdos has said on a visit to China. Speaking to China Daily newspaper, Loverdos said that the count... ...

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Fraternity ban unfairly discriminates against Greek life

Greek organizations have gained an unfortunate reputation for hazing rituals, yet it is important to realize not all fraternities and sororities participate in illicit or life-threatening activities. Greek life is notoriously selective and secretive about ...

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Evros River rises above warning level as more rain expected

Ahead of expected rainfall this weekend, authorities in the Evros region of northeastern Greece said on Friday that they are on alert for flooding. The Evros River, measured at Pythio, reached 6.35 meters on Friday, well above its warning level of 5.7 met... ...

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British Museum Loans Disputed Greek Artifact to Russia, Angering Greece

The British Museum plunged itself into a geopolitical tempest with the loan of one of the famous Elgin marbles of Greece to the Hermitage.

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Precipitous Oil Price Drop Corrals Putin

by  Kostis Geropoulos The more than 30% drop in oil price, which is one of Russia’s main exports, placed immense pressure on the ruble, which is also suffering from the Western sanctions against Moscow, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The ruble has lost 39% of its value against the dollar so far this year. However, the weak ruble compensates the negative impact from the oil price. “It’s not the end of the world for the Russian oil exports. Russia used to export at much lower prices,” Alexander Kornilov, a senior oil and gas analyst at Moscow’s Alfa Bank, told New Europe on December 5, adding that given how the taxation works in Russia and given the relatively low cost of conventional oil production in the country, oil companies can afford a lower price in terms of their net income. “My analysis shows that the Russian oil companies are breaking even at the price level of $40 or $50 per barrel – that’s the year-average level,” Kornilov said. Oil was more than $100 a barrel at the start of the summer. Now it’s around $70 a barrel. The Alfa Bank analyst stressed that the low oil price is harmful for the Russian budget. But at the same time it’s more or less compensated with a much weaker ruble, he added. Compared to other countries like Mexico, South Africa or Brazil, the local currency devaluation in Russia is much higher. “That really compensates the negative impact from the oil price so all in all the current level is not really dangerous for the oil companies and for the Russian export,” Kornilov said. However, low oil prices are likely to delay the development of fields which require high production costs. “A number of projects became real unprofitable with the current level of oil price and I would expect some delays and postponements of some projects,” he said, adding that Russian state oil major Rosneft will probably delay the development of its East Siberian fields. Even though East Siberian fields are not touched by western sanctions against Russia, they require building a huge infrastructure and that makes those projects really expensive. They need a relatively high breaking-even oil price to be implemented, Kornilov said. “Given the current oil price level at $70, I think most of those projects have become economically inefficient,” he said, adding that Rosneft will have trouble developing them. “The wise strategy would be to hold on and see what’s going on with the oil price,” he said. Hard-to-reach oil or Arctic projects face an even bigger problem because West’s sanctions against Russia cut off the technology required and cash needed to fund them. Izvestia quoted Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Sergey Donskoy as saying on December 4 that Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom and Rosneft have not declared any change in their plans for the development of the Arctic shelf and other hard-to-reach fields after the introduction of the sanctions. However, Kornilov said those projects will probably be delayed because there is no way to go ahead without a foreign partner or without any access to international technologies. And the current low oil price makes it even harder. follow on twitter @energyinsider ​Previously on Energy Insider: OPEC Keeps Pumping, Vexing Putin, Iran Israel, Greece, Cyprus see a role in EU energy security EU Energy Union Chief To Tackle South Stream

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The display that will outrage Greece: Elgin Marbles sculpture is unveiled to the Russian public after British Museum’s secret deal to send statue to St Petersburg

This is the display that will outrage Greece - as one of the much-disputed Elgin Marbles has been unveiled to the Russian public. The headless statue of Greek river-god Ilissos, went on display today at the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg as part ...

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Greece increases pressure to return Parthenon sculptures

Legal options explored in Athens but UK stands firm

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ArtsBeat: Britain Shares an Elgin Marble, but Not With Greece

A statue of Ilissos, whose British ownership is disputed by Greece, was lent to the State Hermitage Museum in Russia.

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Greece and troika deadlocked over austerity plans

Greece has said its bailed-out economy will emerge from a six-year recession this year and log a second year of growth in 2015. But political turmoil looms as Athens tries to begin easing austerity measures. Greek premier Samaras wins parliamentary vote of ...

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Theotokopoulos before El Greco

The illustrated codex painted by Greek painter and miniaturist Georgios Klontzas, a work belonging to the Marciana Library in Venice, was being carefully placed in a glass displace case at the Byzantine & Christian Art Museum in Athens ahead of a press co... ...

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INTERVIEW-Greece's Energean Oil eyes new drillings to fight oil price plunge

ATHENS Dec 5 (Reuters) - Greece's sole oil producer, Energean Oil & Gas, is sticking to its new drilling programme despite a plunge in oil prices that ...

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Third high level Turkey-Greece summit to start in Athens

The third Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council summit will be held on 5-6 Dec. in Athens under the co-chairmanship of Turkey's Prime ...

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British Museum loans one of Parthenon marbles, Greece reacts angrily

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, DECEMBER 5 - In response to the British Museum's initiative to send one of the Parthenon Marbles statues to Russia on a ...

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Greece Mulls Early Presidential Poll

Greece is considering bringing forward its presidential elections next year by more than a month in a bid to ease concerns among international creditors over political uncertainty facing the country, two party officials said.

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Greece Considers Bringing Forward Presidential Elections in 2015

ATHENS—Greece is considering bringing forward its presidential elections next year by more than a month in a bid to ease concerns among international creditors over political uncertainty facing the country, two party officials said Friday. The officials ...

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Greece Allowed to Participate in 2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Greece will be allowed to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, as state broadcaster NERIT became an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Greece’s participation in the 2015 competition was at stake since NERIT was not a member. Last year’s permission to participate in the contest was given as an exception. EBU’s General Assembly decided yesterday to grant NERIT membership, meaning Greece can participate and NERIT will broadcast the contest from Vienna. “We’re glad to have Greece joining the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Their dedication to the biggest music event in the world has been impressive throughout the years,” said the contest Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand. In the last decade, Greece has been one of Eurovision Song Contest’s most successful participants. In 2005, Greece won the contest with Elena Paparizou and qualifies for the Final every year since the introduction of the Semi-Finals. NERIT will now start the required procedures for the Greek participation. The 60th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna on May 19, 21 (first and second Semi-Finals, respectively) and the Final will be on May 23, 2015. Greece will participate along with other 38 European countries.

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Case closed over Golden Dawn’s street market raid

On September 8, 2012 a group of black-clad men led by Golden Dawn MP Costas Barbarousis strode into the open-air market at Mesolongi, western Greece, and began smashing stalls manned by foreigners. Of the hundreds of people who witnessed the assault, just... ...

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BC-AP News Coverage Advisory

by  Associated Press BC-AP News Coverage Advisory Associated Press - 5 December 2014 10:25-05:00 Good morning! Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up today. Some plans are subject to change; see the 2 p.m. News Digest for updates. You can find our contact info at the bottom of this advisory. HIGHLIGHTING: Among today's coverage highlights as we see them: -- POLICE CHOKEHOLD DEATH (sent; developing) -- ECONOMY (sent; developing) -- NASA-ORION TEST FLIGHT (sent; developing) -- KENYA-KILLER COPS (sent) -- INTERNATIONAL COURT-KENYA (sent) -- AP NEWSBREAK: BALKANS-COLD CASE (sent) -- PHILIPPINES TYPHOON (sent; developing) -- DEFENSE SECRETARY (sent; developing) -- PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL (sent) TALKERS/READERS: -- POLICE CHOKEHOLD DEATH (sent; developing) -- NASA-ORION TEST FLIGHT (sent; developing) -- PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL (sent) -- PRISON HORTICULTURE (sent) -- BRITAIN-CONTESTED SCULPTURES (sent) -- MONSTER TRUCKS ABROAD (sent) -- PETER PAN REVIEW (sent) -- GRAMMY NOMINATIONS (sent; developing) -- ROYALS-US VISIT (sent) PHOTOS: CHOKEHOLD PROTESTS (sent; developing); PRISON HORTICULTURE (sent) VIDEO: us_ny_chokehold_protests (sent); orion_launch (sent; developing); pearl_harbor_memorial (sent); monster_trucks (sent); prison_horticulture (sent) Here are details of those stories, plus others we have in the works for today and notable pieces that we sent in the past 10 hours (all times GMT): POLICE POLICE CHOKEHOLD DEATH - Developments through the day, with likely focus on police perspective in the midst of protests. SENT: 780 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Developing. POLICE CHOKEHOLD-PROSECUTOR - The prosecutor whose office is conducting the probe is straddling another high-profile role: Loretta Lynch is the designated heir to Eric Holder as the nation's attorney general. UPCOMING, 800 words by 2100 GMT, photo. CHOKEHOLD DEATH - STATEN ISLAND - Whether it's geography, demography, politics, or a certain chip-on-the shoulder attitude, there are degrees of separation between Staten Island and the rest of New York City. SENT: 500 words, photos. PHOENIX POLICE SHOOTING - The deadly shooting of a black, unarmed drug suspect by a white Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun demonstrates the challenges law enforcement agencies face at a time of unrest over police tactics. SENT: 740 words UPCOMING: Developing. BUSINESS /ECONOMY ECONOMY - U.S. employers added a whopping 321,000 jobs in November, the biggest burst of hiring in nearly three years and the latest sign that the United States is outperforming other economies throughout the developed world. SENT: 800 words. UPCOMING: Developing with a broader look. JAPAN-AIR BAG RECALL - Japan says recall system overhaul needed for global auto woes, Mazda expands air bag recall. SENT: 660 words. BEBE STORES-DATA BREACH - Bebe discloses data breach; believes it occurred between Nov. 8 and Nov. 26. SENT: 250 words. SCIENCE NASA-ORION TEST FLIGHT - NASA's new Orion spacecraft streaked into orbit Friday on a high-stakes test flight meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars. SENT: 830 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Developing; splashdown scheduled for 1630 GMT. CLIMATE-TOP SIX POLLUTERS - Just six nations produce nearly 60 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming. A look at how they rank, what they're doing. By Dina Cappiello. SENT: 870 words, photos, interactive. INDIA-CLIMATE TALKS - India to boost clean energy capacity 5-fold, but not ready to cut carbon emissions. SENT: 500 words, photo AUSTRALIA-CLIMATE TALKS - Foreign minister says Australia won't contribute to UN Green Climate Fund. SENT: 540 words, photo. WORLD KENYA-KILLER COPS - In Kenya, evidence mounts that many ordinary cops on the beat have turned into killers - doling out death to terror suspects, civilians, even children. SENT: 2,100 words, photos. An abridged version of 800 words has also been sent. INTERNATIONAL COURT-KENYA - The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor dropped all "crimes against humanity" charges against Kenya's president on Friday for lack of evidence, highlighting the court's problems in bringing the high-ranking officials it has accused of atrocities to justice. SENT: 560 words, photo PHILIPPINES-TYPHOON - A ferocious and dangerously erratic typhoon blew closer to the Philippines on Friday, as differing forecasts about its path — one predicting it will graze the capital Manila — prompted a wide swath of the country to prepare for a weekend of destructive winds and rain. SENT: 800 words, photos, interactive. UPCOMING: Developing. AP NEWSBREAK: BALKANS-COLD CASE - Police in Serbia and Bosnia have arrested 15 people in a wartime massacre that traumatized the Balkans and came to symbolize a culture of impunity that still shields notorious death squads and their masters. An AP NewsBreak. SENT: 1,430 words, photos. An abridged version of 830 words has also been sent. BRITAIN-CONTESTED SCULPTURES - Greek PM outraged by British Museum's loan of Parthenon sculpture to Russia's Hermitage Museum. SENT: 600 words, photo. UNITED STATES-PAKISTAN THAW - American airstrikes on Pakistani militants in Afghanistan are providing the latest signal of a thaw in U.S.-Pakistan relations. SENT: 860 words, photo. PAKISTAN-ABUSED WOMEN - Domestic violence in the Muslim-majority Pakistan is still widely seen as a private matter, with police and prosecutors showing little interest in pursuing perpetrators and communities often shunning victims. SENT: 750 words, photos. SOUTH AFRICA-MANDELA ANNIVERSARY - Friends and family of Nelson Mandela laid wreaths Friday at a bronze statue of the late statesman to mark the anniversary of his death. SENT: 280 words, photos. ZIMBABWE-POLITICIAN'S FALL - Zimbabwe vice president, once talked about as a Mugabe successor, is now a political pariah. SENT: 690 words, photos. CHINA-US FUGITIVES - China presents US with list of alleged fugitives but offers few details on identities. SENT: 600 words. RUSSIA-SUICIDE BOMBING CASE - A court in Volgograd on Friday convicted four men for their roles in the twin suicide bombings that killed 34 people in the southern Russian city a year ago and heightened security fears ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. SENT: 250 words, photos. INDIA-BLIND AFTER SURGERY - At least 11 poor, elderly patients go blind after free cataract surgery in north India. SENT: 200 words, photo. MYANMAR-ETHNIC REBELS - AP Interview: Myanmar rebel leader says trust in government at all-time low despite years of peace talks. SENT: 700 words. KASHMIR-BORDER VIOLENCE - Major gunbattle between Indian troops and suspected militants across Kashmir border kills 17. SENT: 510 words, photos. INDIA-PARLIAMENT UPROAR - Indian Parliament in uproar over junior minister's derogatory remarks about non-Hindus. SENT: 340 words, photos. ISLAMIC STATE - Syrian militant loyal to Islamic State group threatens Lebanese Shiites over wife's detention. SENT: 310 words, photos. ISRAEL-POLITICS - Israeli election poll shows strong support for right, doubts over Netanyahu's leadership. SENT: 280 words, photo. WASHINGTON DEFENSE SECRETARY — Obama announces policy wonk Ashton Carter to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, marking the most significant change to Obama's national security in two years. UPCOMING: Obama announcement at 10:10 a.m. EST. 200 words by 15:30 GMT; Developing. Photos. DEFENSE SECRETARY-CARTER: Ashton Carter has left an extensive paper trail from his many years in Washington, including three stints at the Pentagon, a record that suggests a sometimes hard-nosed view of policy puzzles like North Korea and Russia. UPCOMING, 600 words by 2100 GMT, photo. US QATAR-ADOPTION CASE - American couple cleared in young daughter's death in Qatar arrive in Los Angeles. SENT: 460 words, photos. OBAMA LIBRARY - Chicago, New York and Honolulu are working to outdo each other as the competition to be awarded the Obama presidential library nears an end. SENT: 830 words, photos. ABORTION PILL ATTACK - Police say a New York anesthesiologist choked a woman and forced her to swallow a pill that could cause an abortion after she told him she was pregnant. SENT: 130 words. URANIUM MINE-WORKERS EXPOSED — Six workers at a newly opened Wyoming uranium mine inhaled yellowcake while cleaning up a spill of the powdery, semi-processed precursor to enriched uranium. UPCOMING: 350 words, photos by 2200 GMT. ROYALS-US VISIT - The lowdown on royal highnesses: a packed agenda for Prince William, Kate in NYC, Washington. SENT: 550 words, photos. BIG BABY - A woman in southern Colorado was surprised when she gave birth to a baby girl that tipped the scales at almost 14 pounds. SENT: 130 words, photo. POP CULTURE/LIFESTYLES MONSTER TRUCKS ABROAD - The latest American auto export is rolling across the globe on giant wheels: monster trucks are going international. SENT: 880 words, photos, video. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GRAMMY NOMINATIONS - They are being announced throughout the day, with the top honor, album of the year, to be announced tonight. SENT: 450 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing through the day; will be updated with 82 of 83 categories at 1900 GMT; photos. PETER PAN REVIEW - TV Review: NBC's 'Peter Pan' falls sadly flat, no thanks to digital fairy dust MUSIC-ANDREA BOCELLI - Andrea Bocelli's 2-year-old daughter, Virginia, prefers opera songs to traditional lullabies. UPCOMING: 400 words by 1900 GMT, photos. THEATER AT RIKERS - The security was very tight at one special theatrical performance this week, and for a very good reason: It was on Rikers Island. UPCOMING: 800 words by 1600 GMT, photos. TV-TODD CHRISLEY - Todd Chrisley talks about "Chrisley Knows Best," a reality series featuring Chrisley and his family, airing on the USA network. UPCOMING: 600 words by 2 p.m., photos. NEW ZEALAND-AC/DC CASE — New Zealand prosecutors say AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd threatened to kill worker and his daughter. SENT: 290 words. News Topics: General news, Hiring and recruitment, Extortion and threats, Typhoons, Crime, Environmental policy, Domestic violence, Religion and politics, Attack on Pearl Harbor, Militant groups, War and unrest, Music, Government and politics, Climate, Harbors, Air pollution, Military and defense, Military leadership, Space industry, Climate change, Metals and minerals industry, Personnel, Business, Tropical cyclones, Natural disasters, Accidents and disasters, Storms, Weather, Environment, Environment and nature, Government policy, Family issues, Social affairs, Violence, Social issues, Religious issues, Religion, World War II, Events, Entertainment, Arts and entertainment, Air quality, Pollution, Environmental concerns, Aerospace and defense industry, Industrial products and services, Industries, Materials industry People, Places and Companies: Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Nelson Mandela, Ashton Carter, Chuck Hagel, Prince William, Andrea Bocelli, India, United States, Pakistan, Kenya, Kashmir, Philippines, Israel, New York City, Russia, Staten Island, United Kingdom, East Asia, New York, South Asia, Asia, North America, East Africa, Africa, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Europe, Western Europe Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Parthenon marbles: Greece furious over British loan to Russia

Greek prime minister says loan of statue from pillaged frieze puts end to British Museum argument that disputed antiquities are immovableGreece has reacted with outrage to the British Museum’s surprise move to loan one of the disputed Parthenon marbles to Russia.Within hours of learning of the unexpected decision to send the monumental statue of the river god Ilissos to the State Hermitage museum in St Petersburg, the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaris, hit back. Continue reading...

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Greek PM, Strong Reaction Over British Museum’s Lending of Parthenon Marbles

The decision of the British Museum to “lend” a sculpture of the Parthenon Marbles to an exhibition held in St. Petersburg is a challenge for Greeks, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Friday in a statement. The last British doctrine of “non-movable’ sculptures of the Parthenon is no longer valid. As their previous argument for the lack of appropriate space…collapsed with the opening of the Acropolis Museum,” Samaras noted. “The Parthenon and its sculptures have been looted. The value of the sculptures is priceless,” the prime minister said adding that Greeks are identified with their history and civilization, which cannot be fragmented, lent or conceded. (source: ana-mpa)

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Bank of Greece Refutes German Daily Report About Troika’s Threat to Stop Liquidity

The Bank of Greece refuted earlier today a report by German financial newspaper Handelsblatt that the troika of international lenders gave an ultimatum to Greece that the European Central Bank will stop liquidity to Greek banks unless Athens and troika come to an agreement by end of 2014. According to Handelsblatt, the ECB will stop re-financing Bank of Greece unless Athens agrees with its international creditors. So far, the ECB uses Greek bonds as collateral and lends at a 0.05 percent interest rate. In case there is no agreement, Handelsblatt says, ECB will stop re-financing Bank of Greece by buying Greek bonds. In that case, BoG will be forced to borrow through the ELA system (Emergency Liquidity Assistance) at 1.55 percent interest rate. This means that Greek banks can only offer loans with high interest rates since the cost of borrowing will be higher. The German newspaper makes these claims with sources from Brussels, Berlin and Athens. Handelsblatt says that the Eurogroup wants negotiations to end before Christmas and puts pressure on Athens to accept the troika’s demands. At the same time, the troika keeps asking for more measures and reforms, while Athens looks determined to refuse certain demands. “This is nonsense,” a Bank of Greece official told newsit.gr, commenting on the Handelsblatt report. At the moment, the general climate in Europe favors financial liquidity, especially after yesterday’s intervention by the Head of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi. Analysts point out that it is the first time Draghi says so unequivocally that it ECB is determined to proceed, if necessary, to massive bond purchases even without a unanimous decision of ECB board members.  

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Greece outraged at British Museum lending Elgin Marbles sculpture to Russia

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras says the decision by the British Museum to lend one of the Elgin Marbles, the headless statue of river-god Illissos to Russia 'provokes the Greek people.'

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Migrants want to quit Greece but EU rules mean Athens must make them stay

Strapped to the underbelly of a train, 23-year-old Ali Arzin from Afghanistan had hoped to cross the border of crisis-hit Greece into Macedonia and eventually reach another EU country. But the wooden platform he had rigged beneath the train carriage last ...

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Tsipras to meet Davutoglu at Athens airport on Saturday

Leftist SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday at around 3 p.m. at Athens International Airport the conclusion of the premier's two-day visit to Greece, it emerged on Friday. Davutoglu arrived in At... ...

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Britain lends headless god to Russia provoking Greek fury

By Michael Holden and Renee Maltezou LONDON/ATHENS (Reuters) - A British museum spirited one of the world's most hotly disputed artistic masterpieces to Russia for a loan on Friday, causing an outcry in Greece, which says the priceless 2,500-year-old statue was looted from Athens and must be returned. The marble statues from the facade of the Parthenon, among the greatest works of ancient Greek ...

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Greek-Australian Journalist Receives Walkley Award

Greek-Australian journalist, Mario Christodoulou, received this year’s Gold Walkey Award, along with Australian journalists Deb Masters and Fairfax Media’s Adele Ferguson. The Gold Walkey Awards is the most prestigious award for Australian journalism ...

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Greek hopes on bailout exit dwindle

Athens will be forced to request an extension of its international rescue package

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Samaras Gets Presidential Backing

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' hopes to get his man elected as the country's President and avoid snap elections picked up 10 votes. The post Samaras Gets Presidential Backing appeared first on The National Herald.

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Greece to auction more 3-month T-bills on December 10

Greece will auction additional three-month T-bills on December 10 to raise an extra 1 billion euros over its regular monthly auction, the country's debt agency PDMA said on Friday. Greece has no immediate funding needs but was due to get a final tranche o... ...

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Bucking the Trend: Why Olive Oil Prices in Greece are Dropping

The latest reports on pricing for bulk sales of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in Greece show a steep decline. How can that be? Earlier in November when ...

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Elgin loan 'affront to Greek people'

The Greek Prime Minister says British Museum's decision to loan one of Elgin Marbles to Russia is 'an affront' to the Greek People.

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The Elgin Marbles Could Return To Greece.. But Only On Loan, British Museum Says

One of the Elgin Marbles could return to Greece where they were first displayed - but only if the Greek authorities promised to give it back to the British ...

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