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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Friday, March 27, 2015

Landlords to pay tax on unpaid rent

Greek landlords will still have to pay income tax for the rents that their tenants have failed to pay, at a rate ranging from 11 to 33 percent, according to a circular issued on Friday by the general secretary for public revenues, Katerina Savvaidou.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Fitch downgrades Greece to 'CCC' from 'B'

Fitch Ratings downgraded Greece to "CCC" from "B."


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Hania and Athens are the top picks for Easter visitors

Athens and Hania are the first choices among foreign holidaymakers heading to Greece next week for Catholic and Protestant Easter, according to international online travel search engine Trivago.


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Greek Alternate Minister for Civil Protection: Greece can’ t cope with any more migrants

The Alternate Minister for Civil Protection Yiannis Panousis said that the Hellenic Police is a democratic institution that should be reconciled with the citizens. Yiannis Panousis visited on Monday the Regional Police Directorate and the Regional Fire Departments’ Directorate in ...


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Greek Production Reconstruction Minister calls for clash with "German Europe"

Greek Minister of Production Reconstruction, Environment & Energy Panagiotis Lafazanis asks the government to clash with its partners, questioning whether the solution offered by the “Institutions” is viable. Lafazanis, in an interview with financial newspaper “Capital” described the dilemmas ...


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Greece’s German Allies Aghast as Tsipras Fails to Assure

(Bloomberg) -- Even Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s friends in Germany are increasingly exasperated about his government after a visit to Berlin fueled skepticism that he can do what’s needed to end the impasse over Greece’s finances.


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British Museum offers to lend Elgin Marbles back to Greece

The British Museum has offered to discuss lending the so-called Elgin Marbles back to Greece, after the UK rejected a request to take part in a United Nations mediation process about the contentious ownership of the 2,500-year-old sculptures.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.independent.co.uk

ECB's Weidmann: 'No more emergency loans for Greece'

The head of Germany's Bundesbank has said that he is opposed to more emergency funding for Greece, adding that debt in the Eurozone has entered the "danger zone”. Speaking to the weekly Focus magazine Jens Weidmann said: "Until the autumn, an improvement ...


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Greek Govt to Creditors: We Won't Pay if the Delayed Installments Aren't Disbursed

With a lengthy 11-point non paper the newly elected Greek government is attempting to review its first two months in power, while announcing that the ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

What every man needs now: a six-pack from ancient Greece

Women have always faced impossible physical expectations. Now there is pressure on men to muscle up like HerculesVisitors to the Defining Beauty exhibition at the British Museum – of sculpture from and inspired by ancient Greece – will be greeted by an ostensibly alluring sight: the naked, crouching figure of Aphrodite beckons us into the room.Only when we walk around her do we see that her hand may not be beckoning, so much as pulled back to give us a smack in the kisser for looking at her without invitation. For students of body image, she looks a lot more human than many contemporary representations of womanhood: not only does her belly crease as she bends forward, but her feet, frankly, are massive.This Aphrodite will not fall over on a windy dayThey have muscle groups that mortal men can’t ever achieve: Continue reading...


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Pres. Obama Declares National Day of Greek and American Democracy

WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama issued the annual Presidential Proclamation honoring March 25, Greek Independence Day, by declaring it a national day of celebration of Greek and American Democracy. The Proclamation text follows in its entirety. A PROCLAMATION Since the dawn of our Nation, the United States and Greece have shared a bond forged through […]


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Bring Your Own Sunshine: Parade Weekend Begins at Bowling Green

NEW YORK – Whether or not the annual gathering of Greeks and Philhellenes is crowned with sunshine, the flag raising at historic Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan is always a beautiful beginning for Greek Parade weekend in New York. The delightful dancing of the children of Brooklyn’s A. Fantis and the Hellenic Classical Charter School, […]


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Federation Pre-Parade Gala Launched Parade Week

FLUSHING – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York hosted its annual Greek Independence Parade Gala at Terrace on the Park on March 21. The organizing committee, chaired by George Kitsios chose to honor the late Demosthenes (Dennis) Syntillas, who spearheaded the establishment of Athens Square park,  Costas Constantinides, the first Greek and […]


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

Greek Culture min: UK must review policy on Parthenon sculptures

Alternate Minister of Culture Nikos Xydakis has called on the British government to reevaluate its policy on the issue of the Parthenon sculptures.    Xydakis' comments came after the British Museum refused once more the return of the Parthenon ...


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European Central Bank considers Greek banks solvent

The European Central Bank considers Greek banks to be solvent, the head of its supervisory arm told a conference on Friday.


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Gov't unveils tough measures on soccer violence

Tough new legislation to combat soccer violence was unveiled in a draft bill by the leftist Greek government on Friday.


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Short-dated Greek yields edge up

Short-dated Greek yields edged up on Friday, while 10-year yields were down 11 basis points at 11.04 percent.


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Greek court says cuts to pension bonuses can stand

The Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court, on Friday ruled that the abolition in 2013 of the Christmas and summer bonuses awarded to pensioners before the crisis was constitutional and cannot be challenged.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

China and Greece look to closer ties, as FM heads to US

Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis continued his visit to China on Friday by holding talks with Vice Premier Ma Kai in Beijing, where both men pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

AEK docked three points for fan violence

Greek second-division side AEK Athens on Friday was deducted three points by the Greek football federation for a pitch invasion by its fans earlier this month.


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British Museum rejects request for Unesco mediation on Parthenon Marbles

The British Museum has turned down a request by Greek authorities for a process of mediation, facilitated by Unesco, on the subject of the Parthenon Marbles that are currently on display in London.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Constantopoulou to head of WWII reparations committee

Parliament Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou on Friday made it known that she has appointed herself to head a special House committee tasked with building a case for Greek claims for World War II reparations from Germany.


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As 3G digests Kraft deal, rivals will focus on organic firms

By David RandallNEW YORK (Reuters) - The macaroni and ketchup merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Co may prove a boon to the far smaller natural and organic food companies that have seized market share as consumers shift away from processed foods, bankers and portfolio managers said.Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital Partners and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced a $46 billion deal to consolidate the companies Wednesday, one that will create the No. 3 packaged food maker in North America after PepsiCo and Nestle USA..Digesting that deal will likely sideline 3G, a major buyer of food companies, for the next year or two before it considers another large-scale acquisition, according to industry bankers.That should take some pressure off bigger players, and potential targets, such as Kellogg Co or Mondelez International Inc and give them time to bulk up on the organic and natural brands that shoppers increasingly prefer."Consumer packaged goods companies are desperate to find ways to grow, and they are not seeing any growth with their products internally," said Phil Terpolilli, an analyst at Wedbush Securities.The apparent success of General Mill's $820 million acquisition of organic mac-and-cheese maker Annie's in September will likely fuel more acquisitions of similar companies, Terpolilli said. General Mills paid slightly more than four times net sales for the Berkeley, California-based company, and credited Annie's products with turning around its U.S. sales in its most recent quarter.Coca-Cola Co is also likely to acquire more organic and natural competitors this year to expand its product line, said John Staszak, an analyst at Argus Research.The burgeoning interest from big companies makes the high valuations of similar organic and natural food companies more palatable, said Matthew Weiss, a research analyst who works on several funds at New York-based Baron Capital Management.His firm owns shares of WhiteWave Foods Co , best known for its Horizon Organic dairy products, and United Natural Foods Inc , a distributor of natural and organic foods that is a key supplier to Whole Foods Market Inc .Baron Capital did not invest in either company solely on the idea that they could be taken over, Weiss said. But he thinks that it is likely that at least one of them will be acquired this year."There's a scarcity value to healthy brand portfolios. After Annie's and WhiteWave, the drop off in size is significant," Weiss said.WhiteWave shares have a takeover premium priced in. They are up 25 percent so far this year and trade at a price to earnings ratio of 55, well above the average of 19 in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.Shares of Hain Celestial Group Inc , the parent company of organic brands including Earth's Best and Ella's Kitchen, trade at a P/E of 47, also suggesting a takeover premium. The shares are up 8.4 percent this year.   ORGANIC BUYING SPREEThe leading U.S. packaged food makers face increasing pressure from investors and their own boards to boost growth and cut costs as consumers shift to products they view as healthier.U.S. sales of organic products jumped 11.5 percent, to $35.1 billion, in 2013, the most recent data available from the Organic Trade Association. Sales of traditional consumer packaged goods rose just 1.5 percent in 2013, according to the Boston Consulting Group.To some extent, the organic and natural acquisition spree has already begun. Mondelez International Inc said in February that it was buying Enjoy Life Foods, the privately-held maker of allergy-friendly foods, an estimated $12 billion market in the United States. Hershey Co said it was buying Krave Pure Foods Inc, the maker of a lower-calorie meat jerky, in January.But Weiss, the fund analyst, sees rapidly-changing consumer tastes accelerating the dealmaking."Coconut water, Greek yogurt, quinoa; these are no longer exotic foods but must-haves for grocery stores, and the companies that provide these products are growing much faster than traditionally packaged food companies," he said.(Additional reporting by Anjali Athavaley and Olivia Oran; Editing by Michele Gershberg and John Pickering)Join the conversation about this story »


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.businessinsider.com

Greece submits reform proposals to eurozone creditors

As the EU, ECB and IMF pore over Athens’ latest attempt to unlock more financial aid, minister says country is prepared to go it alone ‘if things do not go well’ Greece submitted a long-awaited list of structural reforms to its creditors on Friday as its leftist-led government warned it would stop meeting debt obligations if negotiations failed and aid was not forthcoming.As officials from the EU, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared to pore over Athens’ latest proposals, the country’s international economic affairs minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, raised the stakes saying Greece was prepared to go its own way “if things do not go well”. Continue reading...


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Greece finally unveils reforms plan in bid to unlock eurozone bailout cash

Greece submitted a long-awaited list of reforms to its eurozone partners yesterday in the hope of unlocking the bailout money Athens desperately needs to avoid a calamitous default.


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Greece to pay pensions . . . for this month

No assurances about €450m payment to IMF due on April 9


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'Defining Beauty: The Body in Ancient Greek Art' at the British Museum

When a young Greek man was divested of his clothes in ancient times, he acquired something many times more meaningful than extravagant fabrics.


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Greek Reforms Package to Be Discussed in Brussels Tonight

If negotiations between the Greek government representatives and their Eurozone creditors do not yield progress before the FX market closes tonight, ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT forexmagnates.com

Contemporary Choreographers From Holland Take on Ancient Greek Myths

Two contemporary choreographers come to Moscow from Holland this weekend to stage extended versions of two ballets based on Ancient Greek ...


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Greek reforms will put economy on track: Athens

Greece said Friday the reform proposals it will soon present to its creditors will put the country's economy on track without the pain of austerity. A government document said the proposals, to be finalised by technical experts this weekend, would bring in 3.0 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in revenue, without resorting to wage and pension cuts. The measures would also see the crisis-hit Greek ...


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FTSE drops 2% over week on Greece, Middle East, US rates concerns

Mining shares among Friday’s leading losers as commodity prices slip lowerLeading shares ended the week on a downbeat note, on continuing concerns about Greece’s finances, tension in the Middle East and uncertainty about the once reliable US economy.The FTSE 100 finished down 40.31 points on Friday to 6855.62, making a 2.39% fall for the week just seven days after the index breached the 7000 barrier. The decline came despite European and US markets attempting to edge higher, and reflected the predominance of mining shares in the UK index.UK markets underperformed on Friday falling into the red as the rest of Europe saw gains thanks to mining-sector weakness and without the direct underpinning from the European central bank asset purchases.The FTSE 100 made a new record on Monday but it’s been all downhill from there.David Thomas should be a good appointment (always good to have a Scottish accountant running things in our view) but hopefully this will lead to a little more dynamism on the strategy. Barratt is beginning to look a little unambitious in its plans after 2016 with minimal growth planned and it would be good to see the larger house builders being prepared to drive ahead a little more forcefully. Bellway has shown that the large house builders do not need to stagnate.We see a return of cash as highly likely, although timing, quantum and form have not been specified. Continue reading...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com

Bundesbank Head: Euro Zone Debt in Danger, No More Emergency Aid to Greece

Debt in the euro zone has entered the “danger zone,” said the head of Deutsche Bundesbank Jens Weidmann on Friday. He also said Greece is running out of time. Weidmann stated that in the euro zone public debt is at 91 percent and corporate debt at 105 percent, according to Reuters. “Sovereign debt needs to be backed by capital, and exposure to a single sovereign must be capped, just as is the case for any private debtor,” said Weidmann, who also sits on the European Central Bank’s Governing Council. Regarding Greece’s debt, Weidmann said, “I don’t buy the argument that they are financially overburdened.” Speaking to Germany’s Focus magazine, the Bundesbank president said he was against an increase in emergency loans to Greece. He accused the new government of losing a lot of trust with creditors. “Until last autumn, an improvement in the economy could be seen. But the new government has gambled away a lot of trust,” he was quoted as saying. On the subject of Greece losing trust, Weidmann elaborated: “Generally speaking, I get the impression that the statements given by various members of the government can be very different, depending on the day and the audience. Ultimately, that doesn’t inspire much confidence.” Asked whether Greece was in imminent danger of default, Weidmann replied: “Clearly, the governments of the other countries have the impression that a solution can be found. But we don’t have a lot of time.” He added that if a member of the common currency bloc decides not to meet its commitments, “then a disorderly default cannot be ruled out.”


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Greek Government Denies Scenarios Over FinMin Varoufakis Resignation

German newspaper Bild published a report today regarding scenarios over Greece’s outspoken Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis’ resignation, which has been strongly denied by government officials. As cited by Reuters, the two unnamed officials have said that “none of this is true,” describing the scenarios as “far from reality.” Earlier, Bild’s online version has reportedly cited another unnamed Greek government source as saying that Mr. Varoufakis resignation is only a matter of time, explaining that the decision has already been made. “That is already fact. It will also make relations with the European Union and especially Germany easier,” the report continues. Yanis Varoufakis took office as Finance Minister after the January 25 elections, and ever since, has repeatedly been attracting media attention while leading the country’s ongoing negotiations with his Eurozone counterparts and the financial institutions — also part of Greece’s bailout package. Over the past several weeks, and especially before the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ official visit to Berlin where he held in-depth talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and urged both sides to lower the tones and abolish the negative stereotypes for Greeks and Germans, bilateral relations have been severely strained. The bilateral relations reached a nadir when it was obvious that Mr. Varoufakis and his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaueble were in a public war of words, about various issues apart from the Greek program, such as the German war reparations. During the March 25 national celebration on Wednesday, Varoufakis was reported as saying to a citizen who expressed support in his work, that he should continue supporting him even after “a break comes up,” intensifying speculation over his personal future in the cabinet and the country’s negotiations with the creditors.  


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

ECB's Nouy

The view is important because Greek banks must be solvent in order to qualify for Emergency Liquidity Assistance. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; ...


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Eurozone crisis: Controversial Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis 'is keeping his job'

Greece's outspoken finance minister has no intention of resigning, two government officials have said, denying a report in a German daily.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ibtimes.co.uk

Greece to discuss reform proposal with creditors in Brussels Saturday

The Greek government has announced that the Brussels Group comprising the inspectors of the country's creditors will convene Saturday to discuss the list of reforms the government will submit. The list, the government says, forecasts the economy will expand 1.4% in ...


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Greek morals and German maths

When an economy risks disintegration, facts and figures are a cold thing to sell, says Nikolaus Blome


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18 Reforms List targets €3.2bn in 2015 – Confusion about “stop serving the debt”

While Greece was sending its Reforms List to the creditors, a non-paper issued by the Prime Minister’s office created confusion as it looked as if Athens was threatening the creditors with stop serving the debt unless the bailout disbursement would be released.” An additional declaration made clear that “the threat” […]


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.keeptalkinggreece.com

Varoufakis denies resignation rumours as Bundesbank accuses Greeks of "gambling" away trust

Responding to a story in Bild on Friday morning, who quoted a Greek government source saying that it was only a matter of time until Mr Varoufakis ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.telegraph.co.uk

Rumor circulating about Greek capital controls

There is a report on twitter, from the EU corresponded for the magazine Liberation, that Greece is considering capital controls either today or on April ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT news.forexlive.com

Greece submits reform list ahead of deadline

Greek and eurozone officials have confirmed Athens has submitted a new and more far-reaching list of reform proposals to unlock badly needed bailout money. Talks with international creditors are to start shortly


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[Opinion] The euro-crisis and the Greek crisis

The response to Syriza's electoral victory in Greece has been characterised by knee-jerk reactions, with plenty of calls that Greeks should just pay up ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT euobserver.com

Colleges depend on Greek life. That's why it's so hard to control.

And this is what makes Greek life, even when it gets bad, so difficult to tame: colleges are just as dependent on fraternities as fraternities are on them.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.vox.com

Greece submits new list of reforms to unlock further aid

Greece has sent its creditors a long-awaited list of reforms with a pledge to produce a small budget surplus this year in the hope that it will unlock badly needed cash, Greek government officials said on Friday. The European Union and IMF lenders, informally called the Brussels Group, will start discussing the list later on Friday, a euro zone official said, although a Greek official said the ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT finance.yahoo.com

Competition Concerns in the Greek Beer Market

The HCC's decision, which placed no restrictions on the merger, is a concern for the Greek economy and consumers alike. Rather than taking steps to ...


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One Week in Europe: Russian nuclear threat, roaming and road safety

This week started in warning mode as NATO warned of continued Russian activities in Ukraine while Russia threatened Denmark with nuclear missiles. Disappointment was the lead word in the European Commission which complained about European road safety and roaming fees. Poland also complained but over German minimum wages and Greece still had to wait for […]


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT euranetplus-inside.eu

European press roundup: Germanwings crash and Greece’s expected reforms plan

This week, the Euranet Plus press review of European media focuses on the crash of the Germanwings Airbus in the French Alps on Tuesday (March 24), that killed 150 people. The crash is raising questions about EU aviation safety rules, especially on the number of crew members in the cockpit during flights. Another topic is […]


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT euranetplus-inside.eu

Sen. Coats Lifts his Objection to Greek Independence Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC – After an immediate and loud outcry from the Greek-American community, including reporting in the Greek edition of The National Herald and its English and Greek websites, on March 26 Senator Dan Coats, Republican of Indiana,  lifted a hold he placed on S.Res.105, a resolution in the U.S. Senate that recognizes the 194th […]


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

Neither Grexit, nor Grexident. Euro and 'drachma' in parallel?

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greece is unlikely to exit the euro, either intentionally or accidentally. But it might be forced to introduce an alternative means of payment, in parallel to the euro, to pay some domestic bills if a reform-for-cash deal with its creditors is not secured soon, several euro zone officials said.


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Counter-terrorism Squads Discover Christodoulos Xeros’ Bomb Testing Field

Greek police counter-terrorism squads have recently discovered a plot of land in Nea Permaos in the outskirts of Athens which was reportedly serving as a bomb testing facility for November 17 ex member and convicted terrorist Christodoulos Xeros and possibly other members of urban guerrilla groups. Moreover, the police also discovered another hideout of Xeros and are currently investigating the apparent links between him and the imprisoned members of Conspiracy of Fire Cells. According to Greek reports, the plot also accommodates an old reservoir of the Athens Water and Sewage Company (EYDAP) and is situated near the village of Loutropyrgos, some 30 kilometers west of Athens. Counter-terrorism officers believe that it was used by Xeros and his accomplices in order to test their explosive devices, similar to the ones they would use to blow the fence of Greece’s largest Prison in Korydallos, Athens. The plan, codenamed “Operation Gorgopotamos” was aiming at the escape of several imprisoned members of the Conspiracy of Fire Cells. The plan was thwarted by police in early January, along with Xeros’ second arrest after violating his leave on January 2014. Moreover, police sources said they found remnants of explosive devices scattered across the plot, while references to bomb testing were found in notes and mail exchanged between a suspected female aid of Xeros who was arrested earlier this month and jailed members of the Conspiracy of Fire Cells urban guerrilla group.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com