GREEK Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias says Cyprus will need to have in the future friendly relations with neighbouring countries, without them ...
Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros
Sunday, October 9, 2016
After a lull, Greek islanders fear new influx
Emilia Kamvysi (second right) and her friends are surrounded by journalists at the Skala Sikamias village on the island of Lesbos during the announcement on Friday of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. A little let-down after missing out on the Nobel Peace ...
Greek household budgets dropped a little bit more last year
The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) announced the results of the Household Budget Survey (HBS) conducted in 2015. The survey, presented on Wednesday, was conducted on a sample of 6,150 private households throughout the country. A change in the ...
Pope Francis names 17 new cardinals including 3 moderate pastors from the U.S.
Francis has made the plight of refugees one of the hallmarks of his papacy, even bringing a dozen Syrian refugees home with him from Lesbos, Greece. He has asserted that anyone who wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to keep out migrants — ...
Which Greek Island suits your travel style?
Georja Ryan Journalist Hailing from the Gold Coast, I am a beach-bum and adventure-junkie. I love learning new skills, challenging myself and giving even the crazy things a crack. When it comes to journalism, I have a passion for the quirky, thrive when I ...
What to Do When Visiting Pylos, Greece
Pylos, Greece is uniquely situated on a bay in the Peloponnese. Located just 50 kilometers or so south of Kalamata, this town is fairly peaceful. However, beneath the charming views and easy way of life, there lies a history that is much more intense.
Blue & White & Wine Tasting in Mykonos Greece
After the most gorgeous day in Santorini, we sailed to Mykonos. We kicked off the morning at a Greek vineyard (yes wine tasting for breakfast!). The most adorable Greek dogs and cats greeted us as we sipped the local wines and had fresh Greek salad.
Report: Positive meetings on GREEK debt in Washington
The second review of the GREEK programme and the debt issue will be probably discussed at the last eurogroup meeting that will probably be held on ...
Greek bailout set to dominate meeting of eurogroup ministers
Euro-zone finance ministers gather in Luxembourg on Monday for a eurogroup meeting expected to be dominated by Greece as the ministers assess the state of play of the third Greek bailout. Minister of State for Financial Services Eoghan Murphy will ...
Why Donald Trump is the Best Choice for Greece
As a person born and raised in the United States but of Greek descent, I am unquestionably an American first and foremost, though Greece’s well-being is very important to... The post Why Donald Trump is the Best Choice for Greece appeared first on The National Herald.
IMF Stays Out of Greek Bailout
Boycott May Lead to Fines Opposition members of the National Assembly may soon have their pay and expenses... Jarai Say No to Ratanakiri Gold Mine An insurrection led by ethnic Jarai villagers against the Kingdom’s first ... UN Rapporteur to Visit ...
Economic ‘Recovery’ Feels Weak Because the Great Recession Hasn’t Really Ended
There’s no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that’s what the IMF basically is implying (and it was explicit regarding Greece), but its not spelling it out, because that’s not what can be said in polite company. BROWN ...
Stylianos Pattakos, last survivor of the 1967 Greek military junta – obituary
Stylianos Pattakos , who has died aged 103, was the last surviving member of the military junta that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. The background to the coup which brought the junta to power was the collapse in 1966 of the liberal Centre Union government ...
Shocking Crime in Central Athens: Man Killed by Hanging in Klafthmonos Square
The Greek police have arrested two foreigners – a 35-year-old from Poland and 52-year-old Ukrainian – involved in a heated altercation with a third man, reportedly a foreigner, who was killed by hanging from a tree in Klafthmonos Square near the Greek Interior Ministry building. The two suspects, inebriated at the time have denied any wrongdoing, however an eyewitness informed the […]
IMF Denies Reports That it Would Play Special Advisory Role in Greek Bailout
Gerry Rice, Head of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Communication Office, denied a report by Reuters stating that the IMF would hold a special advisory role in Greece’s bailout. The report cited two IMF sources pointing to a new role created just for the IMF. The role was to be setup to allegedly appease both German voters […]
Will Paparizou Be Representing Greece at Kiev Eurovision 2017?
Swedish-born Greek singer Helena Paparizou is reportedly in talks to represent Greece in the next Eurovision song contest in Kiev next year. The news was revealed by Paparizou’s close friend, TV host Themis Georgantas, who said that she was in talks with ...
IMF says still engaged with Greece, no decision yet on bailout role
WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Sunday it is still fully engaged in talks to join the Greek bailout program and has not yet decided on what role it will take. The IMF's comment came after two sources with direct ...
Greek State Minister Says 30 Years of TV License Lawlessness Are Over
Defending the government’s handling of the television licences tender procedure, Minister of State Nikos Pappas on Saturday urged main opposition New Democracy to realise that the tender process was now over. “The government collected [the sums] that ...
Kuwaiti Assistant FM meets Greek Amb.
… Al-Sabah met Sunday with new Greek Ambassador to Kuwait Andreas Papadakis … , the Kuwaiti official wished the Greek ambassador best of luck, hoping …
Community Garden Aims to Grow Young Minds in GREECE
Volunteers constructed a 75 foot by 120 foot garden with 30 raised beds at Lakeshore Elementary School in GREECE, made possible by a grant from ...
World Cup 2018 Qualifying Tips: Greece to make it five successive wins in Estonia
One of the strongest European Qualifying Groups for the World Cup is Group A and unfortunately that is where Belarus and Luxembourg have been drawn. Neither team are expected to get anywhere near the top two and after a couple of matches they are already ...
The 45th St. Nicholas Greek Festival in Flushing, N.Y.
The post The 45th St. Nicholas Greek Festival in Flushing, N.Y. appeared first on The National Herald.
The government in Europe’s biggest marijuana producer has destroyed 2.3 million cannabis plants
[Albanian police destroy a field of cannabis plants in a remote area on the Onuri mountain in the Kruja region]© AFP Gent Shkullaku Small mountainous Albania was for decades Europe's most isolated country, but now 26 years after toppling communism it has emerged with the unwanted distinction of being the continent's top marijuana producer. In the north-central mountains of Kruja, Ilir is one of Albania's many poor farmers who have turned to growing the illegal crop. "I am not committing a crime, it's desperation that has led me to grow cannabis," he says.. "I barely survive," adds the 50-year-old, trying to defend his switch to a cannabis grower after he returned from Greece, where he had emigrated, as the economic crisis there forced him to go back home. In the lucrative European market, the money for marijuana is attractive. Two kilogram (4.4 pounds) of weed sell for 600 euros ($670) -- the price of roughly one tonne of wheat. Albania has also become a major transit route for South American cocaine as well as Afghan heroin bound for Europe, adding to the international pressure on the government in Tirana, which wants to join the European Union, to track down and destroy the cannabis fields dotting the remote countryside. [albania marijuana]© AFP Gent Shkullaku Located on the Adriatic coast Albania has ideal climatic and geographical conditions for the contraband trade. Police find its rocky mountainous terrain, where the cannabis is grown, difficult to access. And its coastline is less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) away from Italy and the doorway to the rest of western Europe. Criminal gangs control the business, which is fuelled a Western diplomat agrees by the "desperation of farmers". Ilir planted his first crop a little less than a year ago alongside a stream in a rocky patch behind his house. It is difficult to spot even from Italian military police helicopters surveying the area in a bid to help Albanian authorities in their crackdown on the growers. HASTY RETREAT "Since January, the police have carried out more than 1,250 operations... (and) destroyed more than 2.3 million cannabis plants," says Altin Qato, the head of public security. More than 250 people have been arrested and a hunt is on for about 100 others. Some 8,900 police officers have been mobilised and more than nine tonnes of cannabis seized. In the face of this offensive marijuana growers are retreating to land "that is difficult to access," Qato adds. They are also increasingly planting a genetically modified Dutch variety with a short flowering cycle which gives it several harvests. [marijuana albania burn]© AFP Gent Shkullaku Once the police have tracked down the plots, they have to walk for hours through steep terrain to reach them. They are often guided by telltale signs in the thorny terrain like watering pipes to reach the target. At a field near Kruja there were signs of a hasty retreat by a grower: a bottle of water, some bread and a bit of cheese. This land "does not belong to anyone on paper," the head of a 10-man police team searching the area told AFP. They will gather and burn the plants and a probe will aim to determine the culprit, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'NO SHORTAGE' OF BUYERS Meanwhile Illir's 82-year-old father Xhafer says the marijuana growers "sell the harvest to whoever wants to buy and there is no shortage of them". He says his next harvest is due in two weeks' time if the police do not intervene. The pickings for drug traffickers however are several times that of the 2,000 to 5,000 leks (15 to 35 euros) earned daily by growers. Sold for between 200 and 300 euros per kilo in Albania, cannabis fetches 10 times that price in Greece and Italy. In 2014, Albanian police started a clean-up in the southern town of Lazarat, dubbed the "kingdom of cannabis" According to an Italian report, each year it produces 900 tonnes of cannabis with a market value of 4.5 billion euros which is a third of Albania's gross domestic product. The trade also involves corrupt policemen. About 20 have been charged so far and politicians across the spectrum accuse each other of having links with the traffickers. The right-wing blames the current socialist government of turning Albania into the "Colombia of Europe." Prime Minister Edi Rama retorts that when the right was in power it never tackled the problem at Lazarat. The US ambassador to Albania Donald Lu said recently that "there are politicians who have benefited from their connections with drug traffickers. "We know there are several members of parliament, there are mayors in Albania and there were candidates for the position of mayors who had convictions for drug trafficking in EU member states," he said. But Lu also applauded efforts to clean things up and there are signs of change. In its annual report in June, Italy's drug-fighting agency reported a drop in cannabis seizures. "We are determined to scratch Albania off the map charting the trafficking of drugs to Europe," the country's deputy interior minister Stefan Cipa told AFP.
Is Ben Needham's body in THIS truck? Police say toddler's remains may have been returned to Greek farmhouse where he vanished as they dig up illegal tip where officers fear his ...
Ben Needham's body may today be returned to the Greek farmhouse where the missing toddler was last seen alive in what police dubbed an 'eerie' prospect. The 21-month-old is feared to have been accidentally run over by a digger driver in Kos on 24 July ...
Lesbos Parents Lock Schools to Keep Refugees Out
Similar problems were recently noted at schools at Oraiokastro and Filippiada in mainland Greece after the Greek Education Ministry announced plans for afternoon classes for refugee and migrant children.
IMF to Play New Role as Special Advisor in Greek Bailout
The IMF’s refusal to join in the Greek bailout is due to a deadlock following German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble’s refusal to keep the EU’s pledge for big debt restructuring once Greece pushed through on reforms. As a result the IMF ...
Stylianos Pattakos, Last 1967 Greek Coup Survivor, Dies at 103 Years
Stylianos Pattakos, a leader of the 1967 coup, died at the age of 103 following a stroke on Saturday. The last survivor of the coup that governed Greece for seven years will be remembered in history as a brigadier general and commander that took a decisive ...
Last survivor of Greece's 1967-74 military junta dies at 103
Born on the island of Crete, Stylianos Pattakos was a brigadier general who commanded armored tank forces when he took part in the April 21, 1967 coup led by Colonel George Papadopoulos. Pattakos's tanks were pivotal in the junta's seizure of the capital ...
They hanged a man in downtown Athens – Two foreign nationals detained
Horror in downtown Athens: Saturday afternoon, a passerby saw the body of a man hanging from a tree at Klafthmonos street right in the center of the Greek capital. The passerby informed the police that arrived together with an ambulance. The paramedics could only confirm his death. The victim had […]
British family desperately trying to fly home to disabled son after being stranded in Greece by ATC 'strike'
… Steve, 38, in Heraklion in Crete as a result of the … by airport workers in Greece and the Greek Islands has been called … flying to or from Greece or the Greek Islands today to check … all Ryanair flights to/from Greece will operate as originally scheduled …
Geordie sunseekers breathe sigh of relief as Greek airline strike called off
… heading to Greece can look forward to their break after Greek airline … on an island resort in Corfu. On Saturday evening, the strike … off after representatives met with Greece’s transport minister and came …
Mitsotakis Heading for US, Will Speak at Harvard On Greek Politics
New Democracy leader Kyrakios Mitsotakis, who has taken his party into a lead in polls, will spend a week in the US and speak at Harvard. The post Mitsotakis Heading for US, Will Speak at Harvard On Greek Politics appeared first on The National Herald.
IMF Bows Out of Third Greek Bailout, Will Have Limited Powers
The IMF one of Greece's creditors, won't take part in an ongoing third bailout of 86 billion euros ($96.33 billion) leaving it up to the EU. The post IMF Bows Out of Third Greek Bailout, Will Have Limited Powers appeared first on The National Herald.
Turkey Sends Submarines into Greek Waters, Disputes The Borders
Turkey, which violates Greek air space with fighter jets, sent a submarine into Greece's waters, prompting Athens to protest to NATO. The post Turkey Sends Submarines into Greek Waters, Disputes The Borders appeared first on The National Herald.
China may be the one to bail out Deutsche Bank
[bail out boat]Herb Swanson/Reuters The pressure has been mounting on Deutsche Bank (DB), with the German government spurning the possibility of a bailout and the stock slumping. DB recently hit a record low. The German titan has been trying to sell assets to raise money to pay the US Department of Justice its record US$14 billion fine. And there have been rumors that Berlin is applying pressure to get the huge fine reduced. But financial analysts say any figure above $6 billion means DB will still have to raise money. Something has to give soon as investors are worried. The European banking system is in no condition for major problems right now. Several major Italian banks remain on the edge. And Greece will need to have large amounts of debt forgiven. This means more large losses for European banks. It looks like the stage is set for China to bail out the West yet again. Nothing is set in stone, of course, but China would seem to be at the top of the short list of those with pockets deep enough to bail out the highly leveraged Deutsche Bank. GERMANY REFUSES TO BAIL OUT DEUTSCHE BANK The Merkel government is not likely to bail out DB. Chancellor Merkel and finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble made a big deal about no state-sponsored bank bailouts when the eurozone crisis hit a few years ago. The German government wanted new European rules that require creditors (such as bondholders and depositors) to put cash in before the government does. These rules passed and are now in force. “State aid won’t happen,” Thomas Oppermann, floor leader of the ruling Social Democrats, said in a recent press conference. “It’s now, first of all, up to the bank to solve the problems.” Various sources have claimed there is a plan to recap Deutsche Bank, but so far, nothing has come of it. Die Zeit just reported that Berlin has a plan for DB in case all else fails. The paper said a state bailout is still possible. The report was immediately denied by the German finance ministry. Martin Jäger, spokesperson for the finance ministry, noted, “The German government is not preparing a rescue plan, and there is no reason for such speculations.” MERKEL CONSIDERING MERGER Germany does not want to bail out Deutsche Bank. They have, in effect, been “playing chicken” with the European Central Bank (ECB), trying to convince it to lead a bailout. An article in the Wall Street Journal suggests Merkel may also be considering a merger of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. Although this will not improve the quality of the merged entity’s balance sheet, it could make a stealth recap of DB possible. The German government holds a 15.6% stake in Commerzbank from a 2009 bailout. A merger could be used as a backdoor to inject capital into Deutsche Bank without appearing to do so. This entire situation sets up for an external white knight, but the list of possible candidates is quite short. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR BAILOUT Saudi Arabia, like China, participated in the “great bailout” of the West during the Financial Crisis, but now, it is distracted by politics, war, and low oil prices. Several sources say the newly launched Turkish Wealth Fund could be another possibility to take a stake in DB. So far though, Turkish officials have not commented on this. Frankly, China seems like the logical candidate to bail out DB. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has plenty of cash. $14 billion is just a drop in the bucket. And the Chinese government would love the prestige of being a major stakeholder in a huge European financial institution. It also makes great sense financially for the Chinese. China has close to US$600 billion in euro foreign reserves, which are currently earning negative interest rates. Buying discounted equity in the largest bank in Europe is a no-brainer. It’s increasingly obvious that some kind of bailout must come soon for Deutsche Bank. Both the bank itself and the global financial markets are feeling the pressure. If DB doesn’t get help soon, there is a risk of a repeat of the crisis of 2008. If this worst-case scenario comes to pass, gold would be one of the safest places an investor could be. CHINA’S SECOND RESCUE OF THE WEST IN 10 YEARS? It’s almost a given that Chinese President Xi would love a chance to put China back on the world economic stage in a positive light. So the only question is whether a Chinese bailout of Deutsche Bank would be acceptable to Germany, the rest of Europe, and the financial sector in general? While there is no clear answer, a strong argument can be made that a Chinese institution taking a major stake in DB is the best answer for all parties. A Chinese bailout not only provides a financial backstop for DB, it gives the German government political cover. It also gives China a much-needed boost in prestige at a critical moment in its own economic transition. Any way you slice it, a Chinese bailout of Deutsche Bank will upset global financial markets. But, so would no bailout at all. And either one will lead to a move up in safe-haven investments such as gold. While price movements are hard to predict, Dan Tapiero, former macro strategist for hedge fund managers Steve Cohen and Stan Druckenmiller, suggests a spike of as much as $80 to $100 an ounce in gold is not out of the question, depending on how the DB situation works out. Given the growing pressure on DB, a resolution will take place soon. And, financial markets are almost certain to tumble when the news breaks that the largest bank in Europe had to be recapped… no matter who steps up to the plate with the cash. If Dan Tapiero is right, this could be the catalyst that sends gold prices back to $1400 per ounce. GET MORE INSIGHT INTO THE LOOMING EUROPEAN FINANCIAL COLLAPSE Watch this provocative interview to learn how the beleaguered European banking sector could spur a gold rush (and a significant price spike). Hear what the European banking index means for the US, what the Deutsche Bank fallout could do to liquidity in the markets, and discover the trend over the last 15 years that proves gold is the safest haven when banks are failing. Watch gold as a safe haven now. NOW WATCH: Turns out LA’s shade balls actually worked
Greek Soccer Club Olympiacos Helps Immunize 1 Million Kids with Unicef Partnership
The Pappas Post is the personal news and blog site of Gregory C. Pappas and includes curated news of interest to Greeks and those who love Greece, as well as the personal blog posts from Gregory Pappas' personal and professional experiences. The Pappas ...
US views greek debt as unsustainable
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew called on Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to push through more reforms for Greece’s current bailout review. Lew made these comments while Tsakalotos was in Washington on the sidelines of an International Monetary ...
What Race Were the Greeks and Romans?
Recent films about ancient Greece such as Troy, Helen of Troy, and 300, have used actors who are of Anglo-Saxon or Celtic ancestry (e.g. Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler). Recent films about ancient Rome, such as Gladiator and HBO’s series Rome, have done the ...
The national effort to save Greece!
The circumstances of a national crisis that Greece has experienced for the past seven years resemble those in 1974, before the restoration of Democracy. Our country is now facing a profound, major long term social and financial crisis , which is affecting ...
Thornbury student Lewis Evans transported to GREEK mainland as fundraising reaches £21000
FUNDRAISING for student Lewis Evans has now surpassed £21,000, with the Thornbury student having been transported to the GREEK mainland for ...
Cobalt says flights to run as normal from noon Sunday after GREEK strike called off
Cobalt airlines announced on Sunday that flights would be operating as normal to Greece as of noon after GREEK air traffic controllers called off a ...
Anastasiades wants Morphou under GREEK Cypriot constituent state (Updated)
President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday Morphou would have to come under the GREEK Cypriot constituent state in a Cyprus solution.
1,500 refugee children to begin school in Greece on October 10
Greek Education Minister Nikos Filis said on Wednesday that 1,500 children will be taught at schools that will operate in two migrant camps in Athens, two in Thessaloniki, one in Epirus and one in Evia, while another 20 schools around Greece will offer ...
Greek shooting champion Korakaki sweeps up medals in Bologna World Cup
Olympic champion Anna Korakaki swept up the medals once again at the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna, winning a gold medal in the 25m pistol event on Friday and silver in the 10m air pistol on Saturday, after breaking the world record in the same event to ...
Stylianos Pattakos: Last surviving member of Greece’s Junta dies at age of 104
The last surviving member of the Greek military dictatorship passed away on Saturday. Stylianos Pattakos was one of the junta principles who ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974 and abolished political freedoms and legalised torture, thus sending thousands to so-called “exile” camps mostly on remote Greek islands. Pattakos had the […]
Greek opposition leader will not allow deviations from constitution
Greek main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday his party will never allow any deviations from the constitution and reiterated his request for elections, during a speech at the city of Agrinio, where he is visiting. “New Democracy will ...
Airlines reinstate flights in Greece after air traffic controllers strike is called off
Most of the scheduled flights on Sunday (October 9) will be executed by AEGEAN and Olympic Air while all flights will proceed as planned on Monday (October 10). New flights have been announced for Sunday by Sky Express and all flights by Ryanair to and ...
Ben Needham search: 60 items found near farmhouse to be analysed in UK
Around 60 items found in a search on the Greek island of Kos for missing toddler Ben Needham are being sent back to the UK for analysis.
3,500 Greek doctors fear for their future in the UK after Brexit
Thousands of Greek doctors living and working in Britain are sitting on pins and needles, following recent statements by the county’s State Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt that the foreign medical staff employed in the National Health System (NHS) would ...
Ben Needham case: 'items of interest' found at Kos excavation site
Police say the 60 items found during search for Ben who went missing in 1991 will be taken back to UK for analysis Police have found 60 “items of interest” while excavating a site on the Greek island of Kos in the search for Ben Needham, who went missing as a toddler 25 years ago. Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared while on holiday with his mother and grandparents on 24 July 1991. Continue reading...