Economic Risk in Greece and Other Countries Spooking Investors
Matthew Bandyk

Despite federal spending consuming 27.2 percent of GDP, the United States maintains a Aaa rating. But you can't say the same about Greece and many other countries in both the developed and developing world where continued fallout from the economic crisis is hurting their credit ratings. As a result, investors have viewed the economic situations in these countries as increasingly risky bets.

Greece cant afford humor at its expense
Athens has declared its displeasure at recent German attempts to make light of the financial crisis facing the country.

No Deal Concluded On Greece
The euro zone has not agreed a deal on financial support for heavily indebted Greece, but technical work is continuing and the Commission stands ready to act if need be, a spokesman for the European U...

Eu Commission Says No Greece Deal Concluded
The euro zone has not agreed a deal on financial support for heavily indebted Greece, but technical work is continuing and the Commission stands ready to act if need be, a spokesman for the European U...

Germany Says Unaware Of Greek Bailout Deal
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Finance Ministry said on Saturday it was not aware of any agreement by euro zone members to provide a multi-billion euro bailout package for heavily indebted Greece. The s...

Germany Says Unaware Of Greek Bailout Deal
Germany says unaware of Greek bailout deal BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Finance Ministry said on Saturday it was not aware of any agreement by euro zone members to provide a multi-billion euro bailout...

President Papoulias Is Sworn In For Second Term
THANASSIS DIMOPOULOS/PHASMAPresident Karolos Papoulias, flanked by military officials, makes his way yesterday to Parliament where he was sworn in for a second term. After the ceremony in the House, P...

Railway Works Veering Off Track
Engineering work on the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) which was due to be completed last month is not going to be finished until the summer, the company has admitted, although some official...

Grigoropoulos Judge Quits Trial
The judge presiding over the trial of two policemen charged with the murder of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos in Exarchia in December 2008 quit yesterday, complaining that the prosecution lawyers ha...

Debt Threatening To Engulf Sports Clubs
Most soccer and basketball clubs in Greece should no longer be operating because of the size of their debts, Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sachinidis told Parliament yesterday as he revealed that t...

Brussels Or Imf, It’s Our Only Choice
The government has already taken a series of fiscal measures in order to trim the deficit and curb public spending, but it is only reasonable for Greece to also expect the tangible support of its Euro...

Government Misses Budget Revenue Target
SOTIRIS NIKASEuropean concerns about the measures Athens has taken appear to be confirmed by budget data on the first two months of the year, as the Finance Ministry announced yesterday that revenues ...

Eurozone Reportedly Close To A Deal On Aiding Greece
K. SOKOUSupport for Greece from the European Union will most likely be formally agreed on Monday at the meeting of the eurozone economy and finance ministers (the Eurogroup), but as an article by Germ...

Provisions Drag Eurobank Profits Lower By 45 Percent
EFG Eurobank group net earnings came to 362 million euros in 2009, posting a yearly decline of 45 percent, the Greek lender announced yesterday.The drop in profits is mainly attributed to the increase...

Mixed Trend On Athens Bourse
After a rather quiet session in the local bourse, stocks showed a mixed trend with many blue chips declining but mid-caps growing amid efforts by some investors to consolidate their gains and others m...

European Stocks Climb For A Second Week As Greece Concern Fades
March 13 (Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for a second week, sending the Stoxx Europe 600 Index to the highest level in more than seven weeks, as concern eased that Greece will fail to contain the ...

The Mythology Of Greece's Financial Crisis
With all this talk of Greece going to Hades it's time to brush up on Greek mythology. Here are some key characters, objects, places and events to keep in mind as Greece becomes history: Prometheus-...

European Union Appears Admirably Determined To Contain Debt Trouble
In recent weeks, all eyes in global financial circles have been on ? Greece. Yes, Greece. A debt crisis in that sun-splashed Aegean country has lately threatened the stability of the European Union an...

Greek Gdp Declines 2.5 Percent In 4th Quarter Of 2009
Greek gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 2.5 percent during the forth quarter of 2009, the Greek National Statistics Service announced on Friday. The downturn is less than analysts expected, as ...

Demonstration In Greek Against Government's Austerity Measures
PM - More than 30,000 people have demonstrated in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece against the cash-strapped government's austerity measures. Thursday's walkout by public and private sector...

Investors Buy Up Irish And Greek Bonds
INVESTORS have been net buyers for the past three weeks of government bonds issued by Ireland, Greece and other so-called peripheral EU nations with large budget deficits, Citigroup bank said. Investo...

Trichet Says Rating Firms Will Respect ‘courageous’ Greece Plan
March 13 (Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Greece’s plan to cut the euro-area’s largest budget deficit will win the support of investors and credit-ra...

Enforcement Of Plant Variety Rights
The Community Plant Variety Office in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food are organising a 'Seminar on the Enforcement of the Plant Variety Rights (PVRs)', to be held i...

Police Clash With Protesters As Greeks Fight Cutbacks
ATHENS -- Police clashed with stone-throwing youths in Athens on Thursday as tens of thousands of strikers protested against draconian cutbacks aimed at pulling Greece out of a debt crisis shaking the...

Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou Looks Down Inside ...
(Reuters) - Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou (C) looks down inside an elevator while standing among staff and security, as he arrives at the Center for American Progress in Washington, March ...

Portugal Passes Greek-style Austerity Budget
The Portuguese parliament on Friday approved a controversial austerity budget for 2010 aimed at reining in a giant public deficit as financial shockwaves hit Portugal's eurozone partner Greece.

Eu Countries Agree To 25bn Greece Bailout
Plans for a bailout for Greece totalling 20 to 25 billion will be put to a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers on Monday. A system of co-ordinated bilateral moves has been agreed behind the scenes b...

Greek Americans Honor Peter Karmanos Jr. In Washington, D.c. - Zi...
Company: Compuware Corp. (CPWR) Compuware Corporation (Nasdaq:CPWR) announced today that Chairman and CEO Peter Karmanos Jr. will be honored on Saturday at the American Hellenic Institute's national p...

Greek Deficit Shrinks As Eu Deadline Looms
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Greeces budget deficit narrowed in the first two months of the year, the government said today before a European Commission deadline next week to show public finances are impro...

Europe Could Issue Eu Bonds For Greek Rescue
(Adds report of EU agreement in fifth paragraph, European Parliament member comment in sixth, updates bond prices. For more about Greek crisis }.) March 12 (Bloomberg) -- European Union finance minist...

The Greek Story Is Not Over Yet
- Jane Foley is research director at Forex.com. The opinions expressed are her own.- By rushing extra austerity measures through parliament last week and finding very good support for its bond sale Gr...

Greece No Longer Needs Bailout, Lagarde Tells Wsj
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Greece no longer needs a bailout from the European Union because of recent government effort to defuse the country's debt crisis, French Finance Minister Christine Lagar...

Eu Ministers To Map Out Greek Rescue Plan
BRUSSELS (AFP) - Detailed options for concrete European-level financial support to help Greece out of its debt crisis will be presented to eurozone finance ministers next week, sources said Friday. Al...

Forum To Consider Greece's Economic Crisis
Potential effects of Greece's debt crisis on Utah businesses will be discussed from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Governor's Office of Economic Development, 324 S. State St., Suite 500, in Salt La...

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Greece's Move To Cover Debt 'convincing, Courageous'</font>
The Greek government recently proposed cutting spending by up to 2% of gross domestic product, exceeding expectations that the country would keep cuts at 1.5%. The European Central Bank's governing ...

Dollar Slides As Concern About Greek Debt Subsides
The dollar weakened slightly Friday as concerns about Greek debt woes subsided. Economic reports were mixed in the U.S. The 16-nation euro rose to $1.3759 in afternoon trading inn New York from $1.367...

The Eu, Germany Will Bail Out Greece
It's official, The Guardian reports : Senior sources in Brussels said that Berlin had bowed to the bailout agreement despite huge resistance in Germany and that the finance ministers of the "eurozone"...

Greek Deficit Shrinks As Eu Deadline Looms
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Greece’s budget deficit narrowed in the first two months of the year, the government said today before a European Commission deadline next week to show public finances ar...

Eurozone Works On Rescue Plan For Greece
Members of the eurozone are working on the details of a possible bail-out for Greece ahead of a meeting in Brussels on Monday, although obstacles to a final agreement have yet to be overcome, accordin...

Greeks Smoke In Defiance Of Ban
The Greek government's attempt to ban smoking in public is being widely ignored. While the law is in line with EU recommendations, the business community argues that the economy is bad enough without ...

Eurozone To Agree Greece Bail-out Deal On Monday, Press Report Says
London/Brussels - Eurozone finance ministers are set to agree a multi-billion dollar bail-out deal for Greece at an upcoming meeting in Brussels, a report in The Guardian newspaper said on Friday, quo...

Greek Measures To Prolong Recession, Trim Yields
ATHENS: Greece’s economy will shrink another 2 percent next year, much more than currently forecast by the government, though its debt servicing costs will fall, central bank Governor George Pro...

Eu Said To Discuss Eu Bonds To Fund Any Greek Rescue
(Adds report of EU agreement in fifth paragraph, European Parliament member comment in sixth, updates bond prices. For more about Greek crisis }.) March 12 (Bloomberg) -- European Union finance minist...

'greek Economy To Fall 2% This Year'
ATHENS: Greece's economy will shrink much more than the government is forecasting this year, the country's central bank governor said, as economists shrugged off slightly stronger data and warned of a...

Trichet Says Rating Firms Will Respect ‘courageous’ Greece Plan
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Greece’s plan to cut the euro-area’s largest budget deficit will win the backing of investors and credit-ra...

Eu To Discuss Bond Sale To Fund Greece Bailout
London: European Union finance ministers will discuss this week whether any Greek bailout should be funded by EU bonds guaranteed by euro region governments, said three people briefed on preparations ...

Analysis - Greek Crisis May Wound Southeast Europe
Greek lending in central and eastern Europe is concentrated mainly in Romania and Bulgaria, both struggling to recover from sharp economic contractions and most exposed to any scaling back in funding ...

Greece Says Deficit Goals On Target So Far
ATHENS, Greece - Greece said Friday it exceeded its deficit-cutting targets in January and February, ahead of a key fiscal assessment next week by the European Commission. The Finance Ministry said th...

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake Off The South-west Peloponnese
ATHENS - A quake with a magnitude of 4.6 was recorded Friday morning at sea off Cape Malea, to the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese, without causing damage, said the Geodynamic Institute of the Obs...

Greek Minister Sees No Joke In German Debt Humour
March 12, 2010 By Christopher Lawton Berlin - German attempts to inject some humour in Greece's dire economic troubles, such as tongue-in-cheek suggestions to auction the Acropolis, may raise a chu...

Greece Says Deficit Goals On Target So Far
A THENS, Greece — Greece said Friday it exceeded its deficit-cutting targets in January and February, ahead of a key fiscal assessment next week by the European Commission. The Finance Ministry...

Greek Minister Sees No Joke In German Debt Humour
March 12, 2010 By Christopher Lawton Berlin - German attempts to inject some humour in Greece's dire economic troubles, such as tongue-in-cheek suggestions to auction the Acropolis, may raise a chu...

<b>turkish Dep. Pm Meeting With Patriarch, Other Religious Minority Leaders</b>
ISTANBUL (ANA-MPA / A. Kourkoulas) - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew participated on Friday in a meeting of leaders of religious minorities in Turkey with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc. ...

'greek Economy To Fall 2% This Year'
ATHENS: Greece's economy will shrink much more than the government is forecasting this year, the country's central bank governor said, as economists shrugged off slightly stronger data and warned of a...

Ec Urged To Investigate Speculators' Role In Greek Crisis
12/03/2010THE HAGUE, The Netherlands -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a joint letter Thursday (March 11th), urging the European Commission (EC) to investi...

Greece Says Deficit Goals On Target So Far
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece said Friday it exceeded its deficit-cutting targets in January and February, ahead of a key fiscal assessment next week by the European Commission.

Greece Has All Chances To Send Euro Down And Split Eu
Hundreds of thousands of employees did not go to work in Greece on March 11. Hospitals and police stations were closed, the public transport was halted and all flights were grounded in the whole natio...

Greece Hit By Fresh Wave Of Nationwide Strikes Over Austerity Plan
ATHENS, Greece: Protesters clashed with riot police as more than 10,000 people marched through central Athens Thursday during a nationwide general strike against the government’s harsh new auste...

Greek Jobless Rate Eases But Recession Entrenched
Tools and articles to help you manage your finances better Greece's 240 billion euro economy, about 2.5 percent of the euro zone, shrank at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009,...

Update 1-greek Jan Industrial Output Drops 2.5 Pct Y/y
March 12 (Reuters) - Greece's statistics service (NSS) released the following industrial output data for January showing a 2.5 percent year-on-year drop -- better than recent months but weaker than th...

Greece Wallowed In Recession Before Austerity Cuts
Greece's economy was still shrinking and unemployment remained above 10 percent at the end of 2009, just before the government announced harsh spending cuts that are expected to drive the country deep...

Cutbacks To Hit Greece's Economy
Greece's gross domestic product shrank slightly less than feared at the end of 2009 and unemployment eased, but the economy looked set to deteriorate as the government imposes major cutbacks. Greece's...

The Trend Continues Up
Company: Royal Bank of Canada (Montreal, PQ) (RY) SmarTrend identified an Uptrend for Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY) on February 12, 2010 at $52.28. In approximately 3 weeks, Royal Bank of Canada has ...

H1n1 Greek And Russian D225g Sequences Identical
Recent sequences from the National Influenza Centre for northern Greece include 9 sequences from 2010, of which 3 had D225G. Three more November isolates had D225G, including A/Thessaloniki/2812/2009....

Interview - Greek Minister Sees No Joke In German Debt Humour
BERLIN (Reuters) - German attempts to inject some humour in Greece's dire economic troubles, such as tongue-in-cheek suggestions to auction the Acropolis, may raise a chuckle in Germany, but Athens is...

Declare Yourself Greek Or Hellene On The Us Census
Declare yourself GREEK or HELLENE on the US Census ************************************************************************** April 1 is 2010 Census Day. The U.S. Census Bureau will be mailing hou...

Greece Wallowed In Recession Before Austerity Cuts
Greece's economy was still shrinking and unemployment remained above 10 percent at the end of 2009, just before the government announced harsh spending cuts that are expected to drive the country deep...

<b>anti-terrorism Squad Probes Fatal Shoot-out</b>
ANA-MPA/Officers from the anti-terrorist squad on Friday continued an investigation into a shootout early Wednesday morning in which a 35-year-old gunman was shot dead by police during the exchange, w...

Greece Wallowed In Recession Before Austerity Cuts
ATHENS, Greece -- Greece's economy was still shrinking and unemployment remained above 10 percent at the end of 2009, just before the government announced harsh spending cuts that are expected to dri...

Greeks Return To Work As Debt Crisis Looms
Athens - The centre of Athens bustled with cars, shoppers and tourists on Friday, a day after striking workers clogged the streets to protest austerity measures and police clashed with demonstrators. ...

Strike Over Greece's Cutbacks Turns Violent
ATHENS: Rioting youths and police clashed in the Greek capital as 30 000 people demonstrated during a nationwide strike against the cash-strapped government's austerity measures. Hundreds of masked an...

Mcmahon Hails Greece's Designation As Member Of Visa Waiver Program
Washington, DC - Rep. Michael E. McMahon, a member of the House Aviation and Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittees, praised the Department of Homeland Securityâ??s (DHS) decision yester...

Rmb To Us Dollar Exchange Rate Reaches Nine-month High
   Yesterday, the exchange rate of the US dollar to the RMB rose to 6.8263, the highest rate since May 25, 2009. The exchange rate of the RMB has remained basically pegged to the dollar......

<b>reppas At Eu Council Of Transport Ministers</b>
The EU Council of Transport Ministers passed a new regulation on the investigation and prevention of the air accidents at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Greek Infrastructures,Transport and Netwo...

<b>greek Natgas Pipelines With Italy, Turkey, Discussed By Deputy Minister In Brussels</b>
ANA-MPA/Greece's deputy environment, energy and climate change minister Yiannis Maniatis met on Thursday in Brussels with EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger, with whom he discussed financing of ...

Greek Unemployment Jumped To 10.2 Pct Of The Workforce In December 2009, From 8.9 Pct In December 2008
Greek unemployment jumped to 10.2 pct of the workforce in December 2009, from 8.9 pct in December 2008 and 10.6 pct in November 2009, the National Statistical Service said on Friday. The statistics ...

The Greek Economy Shrank By 2.5 Pct In The Fourth Quarter Of 2009, Evidence That Economic Recession Is Deeper
The Greek economy shrank by 2.5 pct in the fourth quarter of 2009, evidence that economic recession is deeper compared with initial estimates made by the state budget and the country's updated Stabili...

Greek Pm To Visit Hungary To Discuss Crisis Management
Budapest - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has accepted an official invitation from his Hungarian counterpart Gordon Bajnai to meet on March 16 and discuss "crisis management," a Hungarian gove...

Delhaize Group Launches New Tender Offer For Shares Of Its Greek ...
Delhaize Group Launches New Tender Offer for Shares of its Greek Subsidiary Alfa Beta Vassilopoulos Mar 12, 2010 (Hugin via COMTEX) -- Company: Delhaize Le Lion S.A. (DEG) BRUSSELS, Belgium - March 12...

Greece Will Be Saved, But What About Europe's Other Debtors
The eurozone is not set up to bail out entire countries, but reform is full of pitfalls, writes Adrian Michaels. Greece is being pieced back together, financially at least. Next week, plans to slash i...

<b>exhibition Of Athens-based Bulgarian Artists</b>
An exhibition of works by Bulgarian artists who live and work in Athens will be organised at the Flisvos cultural centre in the southern coastal district of Faliro this month. The exhibition, running ...

A Nationwide Labor Strike Was Staged In Greece On Thursday, Which Included The Media, Public Transportation And Civil Aviation Employees
A nationwide labor strike was staged in Greece on Thursday, which included the media, public transportation and civil aviation employees, with demonstrations and rallies held in Athens, Thessaloniki a...

EU bailout deal almost done
The possibility of the eurozone putting together a multibillion-euro bailout package for Greece grew all the more likely yesterday as it emerged that the details of such a scheme are due to be finalized on Monday. Sources in Brussels told foreign media th... ...

President Papoulias is sworn in for second term
President Karolos Papoulias, flanked by military officials, makes his way yesterday to Parliament where he was sworn in for a second term. After the ceremony in the House, Papoulias laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A total of 266 of the 3... ...

Forensics probe terror connection
Police forensic experts yesterday were comparing the fingerprints and DNA of a 35-year-old man killed in a shootout with police in southeastern Athens on Wednesday with forensic evidence gathered from the sites of various terrorist attacks and bank robber... ...

Railway works veering off track
Engineering work on the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) which was due to be completed last month is not going to be finished until the summer, the company has admitted, although some officials believe that the entire section may not be operating ... ...

Grigoropoulos judge quits trial
The judge presiding over the trial of two policemen charged with the murder of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos in Exarchia in December 2008 quit yesterday, complaining that the prosecution lawyers had cast doubts about her impartiality following her ques... ...

Anti-war protesters gathered...
Anti-war protesters gathered outside the Defense Ministry yesterday after it was announced that Greece would complete the purchase of four submarines from Germany as part of a deal that allows shipbuilder Abu Dhabi MAR to buy a 75 percent stake in Helleni... ...

Debt threatening to engulf sports clubs
Most soccer and basketball clubs in Greece should no longer be operating because of the size of their debts, Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sachinidis told Parliament yesterday as he revealed that the teams owe a combined total of 222 million euros. «We... ...

Brussels or IMF, it’s our only choice
The government has already taken a series of fiscal measures in order to trim the deficit and curb public spending, but it is only reasonable for Greece to also expect the tangible support of its European partners so that it will be able to borrow on reas... ...

Curious case of the missing file
It's hard to believe that the case file for the Vatopedi Monastery land-swap scandal went missing from the Ministry of Agriculture because, apparently, the woman in charge of it took it with her when she retired in order to protect herself because she is ... ...

Balkan Briefs
Croatian president urges Balkan leaders to 'sit all together and start talking' BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia (AFP) - Croatia's president said yesterday it was time for leaders of the old Yugoslav states to thrash out the differences which have dogged ties si... ...

Turkey lashes out at Sweden
ANKARA - Turkey warned Sweden yesterday of «serious» damage to ties after the Swedish parliament recognized the massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide, only days after a similar vote by a US congressional panel. The Foreign Ministry summoned ... ...

Ripple effect of Greek crisis is felt in Balkans
BELGRADE - Greece's financial woes will affect Albania's economy, but should not set back the emerging Western Balkans countries' long-term plans to join the European Union, Albania's foreign minister said yesterday. «Of course, there are some economic im... ...

Bosnian Serbs say Muslims acted unconstitutionally over Ganic
BANJA LUKA (AFP) - Top Bosnian Serb officials yesterday accused their Muslim counterparts of abusing state institutions in the case of Bosnian ex-leader Ejup Ganic, the SRNA news agency reported. «Bosnia-Herzegovina looks more and more like a private stat... ...

Saturday 13/03
Lemony Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events The parents of Violet, Klaus and Sunny are killed in a fire and the three siblings, heirs to a large fortune that they cannot acquire until they become adults, are sent to live with an uncle they hardly kno... ...

Sunday 14/03
Night at the Museum Jobless and constantly broke, divorced father Larry is a big disappointment to his son. When Larry takes a job as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York, he discovers to his dismay that, due to an ancient curse, all... ...

Saturday 13/03
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Sunday 14/03
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Cinema Guide
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In Brief
December jobless rate at 10.2 percent Another 70,961 people joined the ranks of the unemployed in December 2009, compared with the same month in 2008, taking the jobless rate to 10.2 percent at the end of last year from 8.9 percent at end-2008, according... ...

Three-pronged recession warning
Greece is set for a deeper recession this year than what the government expects, the European Commission, Deutsche Bank and the Bank of Greece governor warned yesterday. The news came after the announcement that the fourth-quarter recession in 2009 came t... ...

Government misses budget revenue target
European concerns about the measures Athens has taken appear to be confirmed by budget data on the first two months of the year, as the Finance Ministry announced yesterday that revenues in the January-February period grew at an annual rate of 7.8 percent... ...

Eurozone reportedly close to a deal on aiding Greece
Support for Greece from the European Union will most likely be formally agreed on Monday at the meeting of the eurozone economy and finance ministers (the Eurogroup), but as an article by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble indicates, it will be de... ...

Provisions drag Eurobank profits lower by 45 percent
EFG Eurobank group net earnings came to 362 million euros in 2009, posting a yearly decline of 45 percent, the Greek lender announced yesterday. The drop in profits is mainly attributed to the increase in provisions, amounting to 1.18 billion euros or a r... ...

Mixed trend on Athens bourse
After a rather quiet session in the local bourse, stocks showed a mixed trend with many blue chips declining but mid-caps growing amid efforts by some investors to consolidate their gains and others making selective placements. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX)... ...

Papandreou says US backs Greek efforts
WASHINGTON, United States -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said on Tuesday (March 9th) that US President Barack Obama supports his call for...

Greeks no longer need visa for US travel
WASHINGTON, United States -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced on Tuesday (March 9th) that Greece has been added to the list of...

Greece paralysed by nationwide strike
ATHENS, Greece -- Thousands of workers walked off their jobs on Thursday (March 11th), the third 24-hour general strike in a month. The action, organ...

Papandreous rivals united in opposition to his fiscal plan
The consensus coalition that Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou thought he had forged earlier this year to get unanimity even from his political opponents in fighting the countrys record deficit has rapidly unraveled. After a third round of austerity measures to cut and freeze wages raise taxes and freeze pension...

Greek-German tensions rise and fall with crisis
A brief Kassandra story 2 weeks ago on the unpaid loan of Wermacht to Greece stipulated in 1941 gave ground to Members of the Greek Parliament raising the issue politically which then motivated Greek media to raise the tomahawk of war against Germany. A rather unfortunate front cover of the German...

Samaras says unity needed to solve Cyprus dilemma
The President of New Democracy Greeces main opposition party Antonis Samaras has called for a joining of forces and unity in order to reach the goal of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem noting that the negotiation process was going through a crucial turning point. Speaking to...

Papandreou gets an update on the austerity measures
Even as a few million public and private workers took to the streets to denounce his plan to freeze and cut wages and raise taxes to solve Greeces economic crisis Prime Minister George Papandreou got a new assessment on where the country stood as European Union economic analysts were in...

Banks can create and destroy - markets and countries
Banks can create money. This time-cherished truth opened the way to the last credit crisis which still threatens the world with the worst economic recession since the great crash of 1929. The ability of the banks to create new money is built in their traditional role as money safe depositors...

Papandreou Putin discuss economy trade and energy
Following their meeting in Moscow on 16 February Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed a broad range of issues from political economic and trade cooperation to cooperation in energy and culture. The two leaders also signed a special protocol for 2012-2014. Papandreou and Putin...

Most Greeks back tough measures
A majority of Greek respondents in a recent poll reportedly favored the governments handling of the ongoing and severe economic crisis in the country as well as related measures. According to results of a poll published in an Athens weekly 60.7% of respondents said the recently measures were heading in...

There is no Eurozone without the South
Instead of helping Greece to avoid being ripped off by the hawks of the completely uncontrolled world derivatives market the Eurogroup the council of the 16 Eurozone finance ministers who gathered last week in Brussels pressed Athens to reveal its Plan B to mend the countyrsquo;s ailing public finance. Greece...

EU says ok to Greek deficit reduction plan but some want more cuts to make it work
After the European Union once again delayed any decision on whether to bail out Greece as the country struggles to overcome a massive 12.7% deficit that threatened to undermine the entire 16-member Eurozone of countries using the euro markets in Europe and the United States and around the world rallied...

Papoulias wins second term as Greek president
Greek President Karolos Papoulias was re-elected for a second five-year term in office on 3 February after winning majority support in a parliamentary vote. The 81-year-old former Socialist foreign minister and Member of Parliament was re-elected by an overwhelming majority of 266 votes in the 300-member House among the 298...

Droutsas Clinton discuss national issues
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas met in Washington on 2 February with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying afterwards that he had expounded on Greeces positions on major national issues as well as Greeces will to help through initiatives in its broader region and primarily in the Balkans...

Tourist arrivals to grow in 2010
Tourist arrivals to Greece are expected to rise by 2-3% this year while tourism revenues will remain on a negative trend which started in 2008 -when the international economic crisis began- the Institute of Tourism Research and Forecasts ITEP said on 1 February. In a report on Greek tourism trends...

Car registrations down 15.1% in January
The Greek car market continued shrinking in January with registrations of new vehicles falling 15.1% in the month compared with the same period last year the Federation of Car Importers and Dealers announced on 2 February. New registrations totaled 26 585 cars down from an average of 31 310 in...

Greece successfully completes bond issue
The Greek government enjoyed a much-needed boost on 25 January as it succeeded in selling €8 billion of bonds although it paid a high price to do so. The government celebrated the success and economists said the strength of demand — which at €25 billion was equivalent to almost half...

PM: Efforts must be made on Greek-Turkish ties
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said on 26 January in Strasbourg that Greek-Turkish relations are always difficult for one to judge and mentioned the example of 2004 since it had appeared then that some issues were heading for a solution. He added that many efforts must be made and termed the...

Batzeli outlines national strategy for farming
Greek Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Katerina Batzeli on 26 January presented a package of measures designed to create a national strategy for farming over the coming months after the end of a two-day conference on farming issues in central Athens that was shunned by farmers manning protest road blocks...

Draft law on labor relations
Greek Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Andreas Loverdos delivered to social partners the draft law on labor relations on 26 January. The draft law includes clauses for subsidization by the Manpower Employment Organization OAED for social security contributions for the hiring of young employees over the next four years for...

Papandreou sets Easter and June time limit
Addressing the informal cabinet meeting on 20 January that focused on planning at each ministry with Easter and June being the time limit Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called for the collective definition of the governments major priorities saying in parallel that the Greek people are showing special maturity and...

TAP establishes country offices in Greece
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline project completed registration of its permanent country offices in Greece Albania and Italy. Country offices will support TAP in liaising with the authorities in the host countries in preparing and submitting all necessary applications as well as in providing information about the project to the local...

PM hails Kallikratis plans reform potential
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on 18 January emphasized the critical importance of the Kallikratis plan for local government saying this would bring about fundamental and much-needed reforms to public sector administrative structures. Today 100 days after the elections we are in a position to proceed based on the Kallikratis...

Papaconstantinou optimistic about the course of economy
Greek Finance minister George Papaconstantinou on 21 Janaury expressed optimism on the course of the Greek economy addressing an international conference in Athens on The Future of Banking in Greece organized by the Financial Times magazine The Banker and Boussias Communications. I believe that precisely because we are in this...

Governments foreign policy outlines 2014 agenda
Presenting Greeces main foreign policy goals and directions on 11 January Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said the government had a difficult start when just 10 days after it was elected the European Commission unveiled progress reports for Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia FYROM containing several references...

Greece Bulgaria boost economic energy ties
An agreement for the operation of the Thermes-Zlatograd border crossing at the Greek-Bulgarian frontier was signed on 11 January by Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and visiting Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov. The border crossing which is expected to boost economic and tourism ties even further between the two...

Samaras opposes migrant citizenship bills plan
Greeces main opposition New Democracy will vote against a tabled draft bill changing among others the countrys naturalization code ND leader Antonis Samaras underlined on Monday referring to a high-profile initiative by the government to grant citizenship to eligible second-generation children of migrants. Samaras also pledged to repeal any provisions...

Birbili announces regulation for green buildings
Greek Energy and Climate Change Minister Tina Birbili presented the new Regulation for Energy Efficient Buildings in a press conference on 11 January. The regulation effective after a debate that will last 20 days provides for energy efficiency inspections in all new buildings and in old ones if they are on...

Inflation at 2.6% in December
Greek annual inflation rate jumped to 2.6% in December 2009 compared with the same month in 2008 after an increase of 2% recorded in December 2008 the National Statistical Service announced on 11 January. The statistics service in a report attributed the December increase to an 8.5% rise in transport...

Papandreou Tadic reconfirm their excellent relations
Bilateral relations between Greece and Serbia are excellent Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said speaking after his meeting with Serb President Boris Tadic in Belgrade on 4 January. Papandreou said that he had excellent talks with Tadic and expressed the wish that relations between their countries will be deepened even...

Economy needs fresh hope says Samaras
Main opposition New Democracy ND leader Antonis Samaras said on 6 January that the economy needs a breath of hope expressing hope that this will be forthcoming from the government. Samaras speaking in his hometown of Pylos where he celebrated the Epiphany blessing of the waters said: Epiphany in our...

Passenger complaints are 13% down
Passenger complaints against airline companies over alleged violations of travelers rights unreasonable delays or flight cancelations as well as overbooking and luggage damages fell by 13% in 2009 in comparison to 2008. According to Civil Aviation Authority figures released on 4 January a relevant office received 556 complaints in 2009...

Purchasing Managers Index increases in December
Greeces seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers Index PMI jumped to a four-month high in December although it remained below the 50-point threshold. The index rose to 48.8 points reflecting a moderate worsening of the health of Greeces manufacturing sector. Incoming businesses fell slightly in December reflecting adverse economic conditions and negative...

Government vows faster economic reforms
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on 5 January called for accelerated government actions primarily on the economy to achieve an economic adjustment program in a period of three years. Speaking to reporters after an inner Cabinet meeting chaired by the Greek premier Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said talks focused on...

Greeces EU fishing expedition brings up empty nets
When European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso made his choices for a new Commission in his second term Greece hoped to get one of the more influential positions but had to settle for overseeing Maritime Affairs and Fisheries under Maria Damanaki. Itrsquo;s a spot that potentially could be important or...

OPAP rolls the dice puts powerful tandem at the helm
The Greek stake appointed a new management team to OPAP Europes biggest betting firm. OPAP shareholders approved the appointment of Haris Stamatopoulos a leading former banker as the new chairman and Yannis Spanoudakis a senior Athens 2004 Olympics organizer as chief executive officer the company said on 31 December. Stamatopoulos was president...

PM: social welfare and health are a priority
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on 28 December reiterated his pledge that social welfare and health are a priority for his government. We are handing over 77 ICUs to the hospitals with the aim of upgrading the public health sector Papandreou said during his visit to the Attiko Hospital in...

PPC announces investment program
Public Power Corporation Greeces electricity utility plans to increase investments in new mines and production units and to hiring around 2 300 workers Arthuros Zervos PPCs chairman and chief executive said on 29 December. Presenting the corporations investment program Zervos predicted intensified competition in the electricity energy market and lower...

Car circulation fee deadline extended
The deadline for payment of car circulation fees for the year 2010 which originally was due to expire on December 31 2009 has been extended until January 15 2010 the finance ministry announced on 28 December. Fees for the 2010 circulation stickers can be paid in banks or Hellenic Post...

Road toll fee increase as of January 11
A ten-cent increase on road tolls will be in effect for all vehicle categories at the Rion-Antirion Bridge and the Elefsina-Corinth-Patras turnpike in southern Greece. The increase will be effective as of January 11 2010. The Rion-Antirion bridge some 210 kilometers south-west of Athens is the longest cable-stayed suspension bridge...

Papandreou Papaconstantinou urge calm in the face of pressure
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou met with Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on 8 December with the latter advising calm in the face of exerted international pressure due to the state of the Greek economy. Papaconstantinou attributed the international pressure to a combination of profiteering which he termed classic and to...

Levitin Reppas boost transport ties
Visiting Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin and Greeces Minister of Infrastructure Transport and Networks Dimitris Reppas on 9 December discussed further development of bilateral cooperation in the sectors of road rail and air transports. Speaking to reporters after the meeting Reppas noted the traditional good relations between Greece and Russia and...

Lloyds awards to Greek businessmen
The Lloyds Award Personality of the Year 2009 was bestowed on MIG President Andreas Vgenopoulos for his investments in Greek coastal shipping with Superfast and Blue Star Ferries and for his Marfin Banks enhancement of its shipping portofolio. The Lloyds List Greek Shipping awards were presented for the sixth consecutive...

No issue of nuclear energy says Birbili
Greek Environment Energy and Climate Change Minister Tina Birbili was quoted in a press interview published on 6 December as avoiding nuclear energy and coal in favor of renewable sources of energy. Nevertheless if we want to succeed and to achieve our goals we must also add the issue of...

Gerekou announces measures for GNTO
Greek Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Angela Gerekou on 6 December announced measures to tackle the problems that have arisen in several Greek National Tourism Organization GNTO offices abroad as she said. Gerekou referred to press articles on the condition of GNTO offices abroad and stressed that the image of...

ND: German political model doesnt suit Greece
Main opposition New Democracy ND leader Antonis Samaras outlined his first proposals since assuming the partys helm last week on tackling the endemic problem of corruption in the country in comments published in the edition of Athens Kathimerini newspaper on 6 December....

Giannakou is undeterred about the attempt on her life and will stay in politics – with advice for the EPP and the EU
The first question we have got to ask is after the attempted assassination how are you coping with that? Are you still feeling under threat and have there been any investigations as to the culprits? I was a kind of a target always as a Minister of Education. I changed the...

ING poised to sell 50% stake in Budapests Allee to Allianz
According to market information ING Real Estate Development will soon sell its 50% stake in the recently opened Budapest shopping centre Allee at least it is in talks about such deal with Allianz Real Estate Portfolio Hungary reported on 30 November. Germanys Allianz Real Estate is in talks with ING...

ING poised to sell 50% stake in Budapests Allee to Allianz
According to market information ING Real Estate Development will soon sell its 50% stake in the recently opened Budapest shopping centre Allee at least it is in talks about such deal with Allianz Real Estate Portfolio Hungary reported on 30 November. Germanys Allianz Real Estate is in talks with ING...

Government to submit a reliable stability program
Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said on 25 November describing the governments efforts to tackle the countrys major monetary problems and to submit a reliable stability program to the European Commission in January that the countrys monetary state is very difficult. We are moving along a tightrope to create order....

Papandreou Zapatero discuss EU presidency
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou held a working lunch with his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Zapatero on 25 November with talks focusing on major issues that the Spanish EU presidency is expected to tackle as of Jan. 1 2010. Papandreou referred to the international economic crisis as being the most outstanding...

Credit expansion at 4.4% in October
Credit expansion to Greek enterprises and households slowed significantly in October the Bank of Greece announced on 26 November. The central bank in a monthly report said the private sectors debt to commercial banks surpassed €251.5 billion at the end of October despite the fact that net monthly funding flow...

Loverdos discusses pension and insurance reforms
Greek Labor and Social Security Minister Andreas Loverdos was expected to hold a round of meetings with the main trade union and employer groups to discuss reforms to Greeces social insurance system on 26 November. The meetings were expected to also include Deputy Labor Minister George Koutroumanis and trade unionists...

Oil jumps to 2-month high on jobs report
Oil prices rose Friday following a better than expected employment report from the government, boosting optimism about recovering fuel demand.

Good news about jobs, bad for bonds
Treasurys fell Friday as investors shifted into riskier assets, like stocks, which rallied following a jobs report that showed the pace of job losses abating.

Treasurys mixed ahead of jobs report
Investors shifted money from short-term to longer term Treasurys Thursday as they digested a mildly positive report on unemployment claims and tensions eased over Greece's debt.

The snag in Greece's salary solution
Greek prime minister George Papandreou may have made a big mistake. As part of a plan to fix his nation's ruined economy, he announced Wednesday that he aims to cut 30% of civil servants' holiday bonuses which are part of Greece's "14th salary" payment schedule.

Oil crosses $80
Oil prices gained Wednesday on a weaker dollar and as investors welcomed news that Greece had outlined a plan to cut its deficit.

Greece outlines plan to cut massive deficit
Facing firm demands from the European Union and financial markets to cut its deficit, Greece announced cost-cutting measures Wednesday that will save the debt-challenged country €4.8 billion, $6.53 billion, this year.

Treasurys fall on Greece plan, economic data
Treasurys fell Wednesday amid signs that Greece's fiscal situation could improve and a stronger-than-expected reading on the services sector.

Stocks headed for flat open
U.S. stocks were poised for a flat open Wednesday, showing little reaction to Greece making progress on its financial woes or economic readings that showed a slowdown in job cuts.

Stocks eke out gains
Stocks ended with modest gains Tuesday, giving up a bigger advance, as investors weighed February auto sales, some upbeat company news and signs that Greece won't default on its debt.

Treasurys choppy as Greece news boosts stocks
Treasury prices ended little changed Monday after a day of choppy trade. Equities gained on news that a Greek bailout package is in the works, denting some safe-haven appeal at the start of a week full of economic data.

Stocks headed for another decline
U.S. stocks were headed for a lower open Friday after a dismal report from AIG dashed hopes for an opening advance. A stronger than originally reported GDP report failed to boost sentiment.

Stocks fight back from big losses
Stocks ended with modest losses Thursday, fighting off a bigger decline that surrounded the latest worries about Greece's debt crisis and weaker-than-expected reports on the economy.

Analysis: What Greece tells us about Europe
The size and scale of the protests in Greece are hard to ignore. Athenians filled Constitution Square in the heart of the capital protesting the austerity measures being put forward by the government of George Papandreou. This is his first major test on the ground since taking office last autumn.

Fed probing Goldman trades with Greece
The Federal Reserve is looking into what role Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms may have played in Greece's debt problems, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday.

In Greece, the people carry on
The Greek maelstrom that's roiled the world's markets for the last two months is more than a matter of embarrassment for its government. It's become a matter of survival for Greeks.

Treasurys slump on improved housing data
Treasurys fell Wednesday as upbeat reports on the U.S. housing market and waning fears about Greece's debt problems drove investors toward more risky assets.

Bomb blast hits J.P. Morgan building in Greece
A medium sized-bomb exploded Tuesday at a building housing offices of J.P. Morgan, the financial services firm, Greek police said.

PM: Greece looking for support, not bailout
Greece is not looking for a bailout by the rest of Europe as it struggles to bring down sky-high budget deficits and public debt after years of profligate spending, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said Monday.

Help! My bags didn't make the connection
Joshua Smith's fiancee spends an extra day in Athens after her airline forces her to recheck her luggage. Whose fault is this snafu? Her online agent's? The airline's? Or hers? And what, if anything, can be done about it?

Stocks set to drop at open
U.S. stocks were set to open lower Friday as investors fretted over international economic turmoil, including the plan by China's central bank to raise its reserve requirement ratio, Germany's stagnant economy and Greece's lingering debt problems.

Dow gains 100 points as Greek debt fears ebb
Stocks rallied Thursday after the European Union's promise to help debt-ridden Greece eased worries that a default might hurt global markets.

Oil climbs above $75
Oil rose for the fourth straight session Thursday after European leaders pledged to help debt-ridden Greece, easing worries that a default might hurt global markets.

Treasurys mixed after auction
Treasurys were mixed Thursday after the U.S. government sold $16 billion in long-term bonds and European finance ministers signaled some support for debt-stricken Greece.

Berlin and Paris urge backing for Greece
President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel are expected to give a show of political support to Athens at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, one of the most momentous in the bloc's recent history, in the hope that it will calm debt market turmoil.

Treasurys slide ahead of auction
Treasurys turned lower Wednesday following a lackluster debt auction of 10-year notes.

Oil advances on Europe debt talk
Oil prices rose for a third consecutive session Wednesday amid optimism that a rescue plan for Greece and other debt-challenged European nations may be near.

How do you say bailout in German?
Who said there was bailout rage and fatigue? Investors around the world uttered a collective cry of "Danke" and "Opa!" due to reports that Germany may rescue the shaky Greek economy.

Greek workers strike as government tightens belt
Greek workers were holding a one-day strike Wednesday to protest government efforts to stave off a financial crisis.

Stocks rally on Greek bailout hopes
Stocks rallied Tuesday as growing bets that European officials will rescue Greece from its debt problems reassured investors after a four-week selloff.

Germany considers aid to Greece - reports
The German government may offer an aid package to Greece and other debt-ridden European nations in an effort to stave off the default concerns that have stunted global markets, according to reports.

Greece is the word
Could Europe kill the chances of a global economic recovery? There are growing concerns about the health of several European nations, most particularly Greece. Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings all downgraded their credit ratings for Greece last month.

Bomb explodes outside Greek parliament; no casualties
A bomb exploded outside Greece's parliament building in central Athens on Saturday evening, a blast near a national landmark that unnerved the country.

Protesters riot in Athens on police shooting anniversary
The anniversary of a fatal police shooting triggered a new riot in Greece's capital Sunday, with protesters occupying a university building and throwing rocks and burning garbage at police.

The surprising Greek film winning fans abroad
For Greek cinema, the shadow of auteur Theo Angelopoulos has cast long over the blue sky of the Cote d'Azur in Cannes.

Greek firefighters get respite, brace for strong winds
The capital of Greece appeared safe from wildfires that have raged for days, firefighters said Monday, but they remained on standby in anticipation of flare-ups caused by strong winds.

Google Street View blacked out in Greece
Internet giant Google has been stopped from gathering images in Greek cities for its Street View service until it provides further guarantees about privacy.

Where the ancient Olympics meet the Wild West
If you want to get away from it all when traveling in Greece, head for the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Studded with antiquities, this land of ancient Olympia, Corinth and Sparta offers plenty of fun in the eternal Greek sun, with pleasant fishing villages, sandy beaches, bathtub-warm water, and none of the tourist crowds that plague the much-scrambled-after Greek Isles.

Dozens arrested in Greece over child porn
Twenty-four Greek nationals, including a priest and a neurosurgeon, have been arrested on suspicion of child pornography, Greek police announced Tuesday.

Gunmen snatch leading Greek shipping boss
Three gunmen have kidnapped a leading Greek shipping magnate, police said Monday.

Greece in belt-tightening budget despite protests
Greece passed a belt-tightening budget Monday, despite weeks of nationwide protests over the economy and jobs enflamed by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police earlier this month.

Riots continue across Greece after teen killed by police
Bursts of tear gas exploded in downtown Athens as police continued to battle hundreds of young self-styled anarchists rioting Sunday in major cities across Greece.

Greek police clash with strikers
Riot police fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse rock-throwing youths amid a nationwide general strike that brought air, rail and ferry traffic to a halt in Greece.

Transport strike brings Greece to a halt
Greece's air, rail and urban transport came to a grinding halt Wednesday as the country's biggest labor union staged a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of the government's plan to sell off the state's ailing carrier Olympic Airlines.

Richard Deitsch: Daily Briefing, Aug. 13
• Here comes the biggest test of the Games: Can NBC survive without Michael Phelps winning a gold medal? Thankfully there's the Redeem Team, the scrappy band of billionaires who face their first real test of the Games on Thursday (8 a.m. ET) against Greece, an impressive winner over Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany.

Strong earthquake jolts Greece
A strong earthquake jolted western Greece on Sunday, killing at least two people and trapping several people beneath collapsed buildings, according to officials and state-run media.

Girl's Twin Found Inside Her Stomach
A 9-year-old girl who went to hospital in central Greece suffering from stomach pains was found to be carrying her embryonic twin

Carrying a torch for tradition
The Olympic flame on Monday began its 34-day journey around the world ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games. Here are some facts about the centuries-old traditions behind the relay and its modern development.

Major strikes paralyze Greece
Routine activity ground to a halt on Wednesday as protesters from all walks of life staged a general strike over proposed changes to Greece's pension program.

What services does my town need?
Dear FSB: I would like to start a service business in Greece and am looking for ideas. Can you recommend any websites that offer ideas of service businesses that are popular in the United States?

Greece, Lithuania advance to European semifinals
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Theodorus Papaloukas made a layup with 7 seconds left as Greece scored 10 straight points in the final 1:32 to beat Slovenia 63-62 on Thursday night to advance to the European Basketball Championship semifinals.

Spain routs Greece again; Russia stays perfect
Rudy Fernandez had 20 points and Memphis Grizzlies center Pau Gasol added 15 for Spain in a 76-58 victory over Greece on Friday in the second stage of the European basketball championship.

Last Greek fire under control
The last major fire in southern Greece has been brought under control after flaring up again over the weekend, fire officials said Sunday.

Greece faces flood threat
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A massive cleanup, reconstruction and anti-flood effort was being launched Monday for fire-stricken parts of southern Greece as one fire front continued to burn while others abated, officials said.

EU promises aid to fire-hit Greece
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso toured fire-damaged southern Greece by helicopter Saturday and promised aid for areas where 64 people died and an estimated 469,000 acres of mostly forest and farmland were destroyed.

Foreign firefighters aid Greece
A small fleet of foreign planes and helicopters is buzzing around Greece to try to battle dozens of wildfires that have killed at least 64 people.

Greek agents probe 'arson plot'
With wildfires raging across the countryside, Greece's government says it has enlisted intelligence and counterterrorism agents to foil what it sees as a deliberate plan by arsonists to destroy Greek forests.

A Political Fire Also Burns in Greece
The Prime Minister's suggestion of sabotage has roiled a country already reeling from the destructive wildfires

Death toll rises from Greek fires
Firefighters rushed helicopters and buses Monday to evacuate more than two dozen villages threatened by towering walls of flames that had killed 63 people while ravaging swaths of forest and farmland in Greece's worst wildfire disaster in memory.

Two charged over Greek wildfires
Greek officials have arrested and charged two individuals in connection with the fires that have scorched southern Greece, razing dozens of villages and killing at least 51 people, Fire Brigade Officer Nikos Tsogas said Sunday.

Official: Greek fires inch closer to Olympic cradle
The wildfires that have scorched southern Greece, killing dozens of people, reached the ancient city of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games, an official said Sunday.

Greek leader suggests political extremists set fires
Fires in southern Greece that have razed dozens of villages and killed at least 44 people may have been deliberately set ahead of next month's national elections, the prime minister suggested Saturday.

Best of Feherty
E-mail Feherty a question at feherty@golf.com.

Greece renews fight for lost marbles
Emboldened by the return of two ancient artifacts claimed to have been spirited from Greek soil a decade ago, Greece's Prime Minister has lashed out at the British Museum, saying its grounds for refusing to relinquish possession of Greece's most famous antiquities, the Parthenon Marbles, were "feeble."

Murder of 5 hunters stuns Greece
Greek authorities are investigating one of the country's most mysterious murder cases after a family of hunters was killed over the weekend while pursuing their hobby in the plains of central Greece.

Shipping cabernet from Peloponnese
Forget about that jet-fuel ouzo. Greek wineries are finally getting props from sommeliers, but they need U.S. reps. to market their product.

Deadly train crash in Greece
At least one person was killed and 13 injured when a train struck a van that was illegally crossing the tracks in northern Greece, local officials said.

Strong earthquake rattles Greece
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southern Greece early Sunday afternoon, rattling much of the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Greece acts to protect on bird flu
Greek authorities have begun the systematic disinfection Wednesday of a farm on a remote Aegean Sea island where a lone turkey was found to be infected with a strain of bird flu.

Greek envoy faces arms trial
Greece on Tuesday said it had recalled its top envoy from Slovakia and ordered an urgent inquest into allegations that the diplomat is involved in arms smuggling.

Greece fears backlash after hijack
The Greek government has appealed for calm, fearing a public backlash against immigrants living in Greece following Wednesday's bus hijacking by two Albanian gunmen.

Greek bus hijacking ends peacefully
Two armed hijackers who had threatened to blow up a commuter bus in Greece released all of their remaining captives early Thursday and surrendered to authorities.

Face Off
Prepare yourself for a summer of hyperinspirational commercials. With the Athens Olympics just a few months away, the five-ring marketing circus is beginning. Some of the 63 U.S. sponsors and suppl...

Olympian task for new Greek leader
Greece's next prime minister has pledged to make this summer's Olympic Games in Athens "the best and safest ever held."

What To Do: March 2004
-- Make your 2003 IRA contribution The maximum amount that you can stash away in an IRA by April 15 is $3,000; the limit is $3,500 for those age 50 or over.

Death Of The Drachma
Having officially joined the European Union on Jan. 1, Greece began phasing out the drachma, Europe's oldest currency and the survivor of some 2,500 years of war and economic turmoil. Below, highli...

New Strike Paralyzes Greece
For the second time in two weeks, a general strike closed public services, halting all flights and most transport across the debt-plagued country.

Greece Is Not an Island
Greece is taking tough steps to fix its economy, but the E.U. and U.S. also need to make changes.

Euro Unity? It's Germany That Matters
Ten years after the euro, it's still all about Germany, which isn't the way it was supposed to be.

Germany Makes No Financial Pledge to Greece
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, ended talks without making a firm pledge, as Greece was hit by strikes over its adoption of a new austerity package.

I.M.F. Help for Greece Is a Risky Prospect
If Greece asks the International Monetary Fund for help, it could touch off political and financial tension in other European countries.

For Greece, Bond Sale Is a Step Back From Disaster
By completing a long-awaited bond sale, Greece gave a lift to its embattled government finances and bolstered other peripheral European countries that share the euro.

Traders Seek Out the Next Greece in an Ailing Europe
As Greece pledged anew to rein in its budget deficit, traders weighed the risks and potential rewards posed by the debts of other European governments.

As Guardian of the Euro, Merkel Faces a Difficult Domestic Balancing Act
When Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany meets Prime Minister George A. Papandreou of Greece on Friday, she will playing to several different audiences.

E.U. Endorses Greek Austerity Efforts
The new measures aim to save $6.54 billion in order to help defuse Greece’s debt crisis.

Greece Set to Release Austerity Plan
The government needs to raise an additional $4.8 billion in revenue to convince markets that it is serious about curbing its budget deficit and averting a debt crisis.

Markets Struggle as Trading Day Nears an End
The main focus in the markets continues to be the Greek debt crisis and whether Germany and France are prepared to offer a lifeline.

Greece, Europe and Alexander Hamilton
A newborn United States faced a crisis of integration similar to Europe’s current travails. But Europe will not heed lessons from America’s past.

Greece Told That More Cuts Must Be Made
Prime Minister George Papandreou called on Greeks to “rally together” to stop the country from “going under.”

Greek Mess, Global Mess
The blame game over Greece's crisis misses the bigger problem. What is happening is a world-wide game of chicken.

Time for Goldman to Come Clean
Goldman has to come clean about the fact that it compromised its principles to help Greece hide its debt for years.

Germans to Greeks: You need to live the German way!

Splitting Europe Apart
Europe’s current monetary crisis is dividing the EU.

Berlin--Gearing for Combat
The twin pressures of economic crisis and terrorist threat are driving Germany to increasingly arm itself.

Is Europe's Star Falling?
Europe’s moment of apparent weakness is Germany’s moment of opportunity.

The Ramifications of Greece's Economic Crisis

Dubai's Debt: Why It Matters
Are financial tremors in Dubai a sign of a massive earthquake to follow?

The Biggest Heist of All Time
Germany is conquering Europe without firing a shot.

Did the Holy Roman Empire Plan the Greek Crisis?
You are going to see the same kind of financial crises in other European countries. Here’s why.

Europe and the Specter of 1968
France’s President Sarkozy fears a return to the youth riots of 40 years ago.

Who Will Stop the Greece Fires?
How the Greek riots were planned in advance

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Greece, officially known as the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Albania, FYROM and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. Both parts of the Eastern Mediterranean basin feature a vast number of islands.

Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of ancient Greece, the Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. Greece has a particularly long and eventful history and a cultural heritage that both shaped and has been shaped by cultures throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Europe.

It is regarded as the birthplace of the first major democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature, political science, major scientific and mathematic principles, and Western drama including both tragedy and comedy.

Modern Greece is a developed country, a member of the European Union since 1981, a member of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union since 2001, NATO since 1952, the OECD since 1961, the WEU since 1995, and ESA since 2005.

Athens is the capital; Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Volos and Larissa are some of the country's other major cities.