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Friday, 04 Αυγούστου 2017

Weightlifting legend Pyrros Dimas: SYRIZA essentially caused me to leave Greece

Three-time gold medal weightlifter Pyrros Dimas, one of modern Greece’s most distinguished athletes, generated one of a handful of political “cat fights” in the country this week, charging that ruling…

Latsis grandson eyes entry into bulk carrier sector with new int’l partnership

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] A scion of one of Greece’s best-known shipping and business dynasties, Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, has partnered with two international investors in creating a new consortium aimed at…

Further loosening of 2015-era capital controls in Greece announced

By Th. Adamopoulos [email protected] A further loosening of capital controls in Greece is envisioned as of Sept. 1, as a relevant decision was published in the government gazette this week.…

Thursday, 03 Αυγούστου 2017

Minister: Arbitration would be best to resolve pending issues related to Skouries investment

Greece’s relevant economy and environment minister on Thursday said recourse to arbitration would be the best solution to resolve all pending issues related to the Hellas Gold investment in northern…

Long-delayed out-of-court settlement framework for arrears owed by Greek businesses debuts online

The Greek state on Thursday launched a long-awaited online platform for the out-of-court settlement of arrears owed by private businesses, a memorandum-mandated obligation. According to figures supplied by the economy…

Wednesday, 02 Αυγούστου 2017

Εurobarometer: Greeks most pessimistic in EU

The latest Εuroarometer results gauging public opinion in the European Union – as late as last spring – shows Greek respondents as the most pessimistic in the Union (69 percent), whereas…

Previous high-ed reforms overturned; blowback from govt edict abolishing top pupils’ right to be school flag-bearer

A bill passed by a slim margin through Parliament on Wednesday, which rolls back previous reforms in Greece’s higher education system, was just the “warm up” to sharp criticism against…

Latest study on Ikaria residents’ high life expectancy, quality of life unveiled next month

Results of yet another study focusing on the high life expectancy and high health quality enjoyed by residents on the eastern Aegean island of Ikaria will be unveiled next month…

Georgiou to FT: In Europe we don’t put statistical results up for a vote by board members

The former head of Greece’s national statistical service (EL.STAT) was quoted by Financial Times on Wednesday as saying he was convicted of a misdemeanor count of breaching his duty for…

NBG study: 22 bln€ in tourism-related investment over 5 years would translate into five bln€ annually in extra revenue

A National Bank of Greece study, released this week, states that up to 22 billion euros worth of investment in Greece’s tourism sector over a five-year span will yield an…

Tuesday, 01 Αυγούστου 2017

BSTDB to invest 31.1 mln€ in Hellenic Petroleum bond issue

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) this week announced its intent to invest 31.1 million euros in a bond issued by Hellenic Petroleum S.A. (Hel.Pe), Greece’s largest refining…

Improved econ sentiment in Greece recorded in July

The Greek economic sentiment index rose in July to 98.2 points, up from 94 points in June, the highest level since February 2015, the Athens-based Foundation for Economic and Industrial…

Encouraging H1 2017 tourism figures; ‘all-inclusive’ hotels 2.2% of total, account for 13.6% of rooms

Tourism arrivals to Greece reached 11 million in the first half of 2017, according to figures supplied this week by the Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE). Specifically, arrivals by plane or…

Commission spokeswoman: EU has full confidence in EL.STAT between 2010-2015

A European Commission spokeswoman on Tuesday reiterated that the EU executive has full confidence in Greece’s national statistical service (EL.STAT) between the years 2010 and 2015 “and beyond”, in reaction…

Pole vault champion files lawsuit against Athens Olympic Stadium for injured knee sustained in fall

A Greek pole vault champion has filed a 538,000-euro lawsuit against the management of the state-owned Athens Olympic Stadium (OAKA) alleging that a serious injury he suffered more than a…

Athens appeals court hands down suspended 2-year sentence against ex-statistics service chief; case has drawn int’l attention

A three-justice appeals court in Athens on Tuesday handed down a two-year suspended sentence against the former head of Greece’s statistics bureau (EL.STAT) after finding him guilty on one of…

Monday, 31 July 2017

Trade group: Tourist arrivals to Greece up every year; massive hike in holiday-makers from neighboring fYRoM, Bulgaria

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] The Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE) research arm, SETE Intelligence, forecasts a continuing bright future for the east Mediterranean country’s all-important tourism sector, as its most recent…

Former Greek PM Samaras briefed by Cosco president Xu during China visit

Former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras was received by the president of Chinese multinational Cosco, Xu Lirong, during the former’s ongoing visit to China this week. Samaras was briefed on…

‘Crunch time’ for Neorion shipyard on Syros; interest by 3 candidates, sources claim

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] Three strategic investors with a presumed interest in the troubled Neorion shipyard on the island of Syros were cited last week during a ministerial-level meeting in…

Govt rejects Parliamentary com’t of inquiry on first half of 2015, following latest eyebrow-raising excerpt of Varoufakis book

The leftist-rightist coalition Greek government has rejected a demand by the main opposition to establish a Parliamentary committee of inquiry focusing exclusively on the first half of 2015 — the…

Hilfiger couple, Kris Jenner on Hydra

The latest celebrities enjoying a Grecian vacation this period – as social media will attest to – are Kris Jenner, in the company of the Hilfiger couple, Tommy and Dee…

Tsakalotos: IMF should clarify its position on Greek program by end of Dec.

Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos called on the IMF to clarify its position vis-a-vis its participation in the ongoing third Greece bailout program by the end of December, in comments…

Sunday, 30 July 2017

Handelsblatt: Record-breaking Greek tourism trend has also revived holiday home market

A continuous increase in tourism arrivals to Greece over the last few years has also boosted demand for holiday homes in the country, German financial daily Handelsblatt reported from Athens…

Reports: Cosco wants to hold Piraeus port authority BoD meetings in China, Hong Kong; Greek fund awaits legal opinions

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] The “honeymoon phase” in relations between Chinese multinational Cosco and Greece’s privatization fund (HRADF) regarding the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA), which the former assumed last August,…

ND demands explanations after paper claims Tsipras asked for Venezuela help in 2013 in case of future Grexit

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party on Sunday demanded explanations over what it calls relations between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Venezuela, following a same-day front-page newspaper article alleging that the…

Friday, 28 July 2017

Grivalia Hospitality completes 60-mln€ share capital increase

Grivalia Properties on Friday announced the completion of a share capital increase for its subsidiary, Grivalia Hospitality SA, worth 60 million euros. According to a press release, Grivalia Properties announced…

Scores of archaeological sites, museums to remain open on Aug. 7 for month’s full moon

Ninety-three  archaeological sites and monuments around Greece will remain open during the evening hours on Tuesday, Aug. 7, as part of events coinciding with August’s full moon, with concerts, theatrical performances…

Turkish Econ Minister Zeybekci in Athens for talks on Fri.

Visiting Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci met in Athens on Friday with his Greek counterpart, Dimitri Papadimitriou, and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos, who holds the international trade relations portfolio at the…

Aqua Vista Hotels group debuts new resort on Paros

Aqua Vista Hotels group’s Acqua Vatos Paros, the chain’s first unit in the Cyclades island chain, opened with a 100 vacancy this month. The resort was fully renovated within 90…

13 out of 14 Fraport-managed airports around Greece post higher passenger traffic in H1 2017

Fourteen provincial airports around Greece now managed by a Fraport-led consortium continue to post higher passenger traffic in the first six months of the year, with the overall increase put…