Quake felt in Athens
An earthquake was recorded at 2:24 (12.24 GMT) on Tuesday, roughly 90 kilometers northeast of Athens, in the central part of the large island of Evia.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Turkey targets Greek islands and Cyprus gas field
Turkish officials, media and analysts in Ankara continue to rage out of control, targeting Greece again.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Qatargate: Kaili's messages from the cell and the next steps
Eva Kaili spoke through her lawyer about the money found in her house, about her daughter and her partner who is also in custody for the Qatargate case.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
"Ark of the World": The great trick with wills
New complaints about "suspicious" legacies that ended up in the "Ark of the World" are coming to light, while the authorities' control of the organization's finances continues unabated.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Greek consumers facing new wave of basic product price hikes in 2023
It may, at first, look like that the monster of inflation is restrained, however with a second reading we are in the second wave of rising prices, which seems stronger and, above all, more drastic.
The market is expecting new price hikes in basic products from the beginning of 2023, which is causing strong concern among consumers.
Inflation in November narrowed to 8.5% from 9.1% in October and 12.1% in June, but prices remain higher and hikes are in full swing. Despite the reduction in inflation, prices are galloping as the problem spreads with increasing intensity throughout the economy with basic food prices registering an annual increase of 11.3% to as much as 25.3% (bread, cereals, meat, dairy, oils, coffee).
Not only are price hikes on the supermarket shelf unabated, but, based on the increased wholesale invoices that have reached the chains' books from suppliers, any deflationary trends will take a long time to see through to consumers' pockets.
And the reason is the stocks of products that were produced at a significantly higher cost. Thus, even if the de-escalation in energy inflation continues (at a 'technical' or non-technical level), the stock of more expensive consumer goods does not leave room for price cuts for quite some time.
Steady rise
Based on the economic climate surveys, the companies that stated that they increased their prices are constantly increasing as from 6.6% in the 2nd half of 2020, they reached 23.6% in the 1st half of 2021, to 34, 8% in the 2nd half of 2021 and to 59.2% in the 1st half of 2022.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Sea2Sea mega project that makes Greece a key hub and bypasses the Bosphorus
A project of strategic importance, which has the potential to make Greece a key freight and transport hub in Southeast Europe, is the Greek-Bulgarian mega project Sea2Sea
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
The most likely date for Greek elections
It seems that the government staff is under constant mobilization, with the scenarios for the possible dates when the elections will be held "flaring up" more and more.
According to what was reported in the central news bulletin of SKAI channel, the best date for the elections is Palm Sunday, April 9. However, it should be noted that a final decision has not been taken by the PM's office.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Turkish provocations to continue into the New Year
Turkey's spokesman Ömer Çelik made his mark by accusing Greece's foreign minister and the prime minister, that throughout 2022 they had sabotaged the positive approach shown by Turkey.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
PM Mitsotakis visits Greek ethnic minority at Derviçan, welcomed by PM Rama
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged to do whatever he can to resolve issues of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania while visiting Derviçan on Thursday.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Eva Kaili to spend Christmas in prison
The information that wanted Eva Kaili to spend the holidays in prison was confirmed last night, with the publication of the decision of the Belgian Prosecutor's Office to extend the pre-trial detention of the MEP involved in Qatargate.
Ms. Kaili, who was accompanied by her lawyers, filed a request to be released from prison and remain at home with a bracelet until the trial. In fact, the Kylie side suggested monitoring her cell phone and only having contact with her child.
However, due to the seriousness of the case and the evidence that the prosecutor has in his hands, he decided that Eva Kaili should remain in prison.
Why was it decided to extend the pretrial detention?
The judge's decision, according to information, was based on the assessment that by releasing her from prison and returning home, she may destroy evidence of the investigation,
"With its decision this morning, the council extended the pre-trial detention of E.K. by one month. If he appeals against this decision within 24 hours, he will appear before the charge division of the Brussels Court of Appeal within 15 days.
In the interest of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time. The press will be informed of the latest developments in this case through press releases." the court said in its statement.
Kidnapping risk
The advocate of the former vice-president of the European Parliament, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, talked about the negative climate that existed in the last few hours for Eva Kaili, while he spoke about the pressure that the Belgian prosecutor received from the media and the political environment of the EU.
It is worth noting that the Belgian prosecutor, according to what was revealed by Mr. Dimitrakopoulos, raised the issue of the "kidnapping" of Eva Kaili by Qatar.
As the prosecutor said, there is a risk that "the Qatari secret forces will send spies to take her to Qatar", with Michalis Dimitrakopoulos replying that "there is a risk that the Qatari troops will send to occupy Brussels and able to kidnap Mrs. Kaili."
In a bad psychological state
It is recalled that the Greek MEP is facing charges of corruption and money laundering, but the most important charge is that of participating in a criminal organization, since in case she is convicted of the latter, her prison sentence can reach up to 15 years.
The Greek MEP is in a bad psychological state and continues to maintain that she did not know or participate in what her partner did.
Now, she and her attorneys will try in the coming days to convince judicial authorities of the need for her parole.
Before the decision of the judicial authorities became known, the MEP's lawyer had mentioned that Eva Kaili feels troubled and betrayed by her partner.
"The money was Panzeri's"
As it became known yesterday, and before the decision to extend her pre-trial detention, Eva Kaili is said to have declared to the authorities that the money in the suitcase belonged to Pantseri.
"The money belonged to Panaeri. The money in the suitcase was not mine, nor was it Francesco's," Eva Kaili is said to have told the authorities, as reported by the Italian newspaper "Il fatto Quotidiano".
She also pointed out that it was not the first time Panzeri had brought cash to the house where she lived with her partner, Francesco Giorgi. "Before the coronavirus he had left some money and then he came and took it. She trusts Francesco more than his apartment," Eva Kaili reportedly told the authorities.
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
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The surplus of the Greek tourism balance at 15.436 billion euros
Tourist receipts in the first ten months of 2022 are close to the level of 2019 - although falling short - according to the official data of the Bank of Greece.
Unicredit: Greece is first in debt reduction after the pandemic
The great debt reduction achieved by Greece is highlighted by Unicredit in its analysis. As the investment house's analysts explain, this reduction in debt was a result of both higher GDP and inflation and a smaller primary surplus.
Mitsotakis: I will always be the champion of the Greek minority of Albania
In an atmosphere of intense emotional charge, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed a greeting to members of the Greek ethnic minority who gave him an enthusiastic welcome on the beach of Heimarra.
The "Archytas" program for the first Greek drone is in its final phase
The final design of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone - UAV) system is nearing completion, through the "Archytas" program, according to Minister of Finance Christos Staikouras.
It is worth noting that the implementation of the "Archytas" program began on September 1, 2021.
As it follows from what Mr. Staikouras mentions, the Ministry of Finance has decided "to finance the design of a second, more complex unmanned aerial vehicle", with the relevant announcements expected to follow in early 2023
According to the quarterly report of the authorities, "this national effort is progressing with almost absolute consistency to the planning", said Mr. Staikouras.
In particular, in the past quarter, test flights of the scaled aircraft were successfully carried out, both in the conventional way and in the vertical take-off and landing mode, and thus its final, detailed design is nearing completion.
Beyond that, Mr. Staikouras notes that after the completion of its construction, there will be test flights, checks, certifications, costings of alternative types of vehicles and acceptance by EAB of orders for the manufacture of aircraft from users.
Staikouras for Archytas: Around mid-October experimental flights of the Greek drone
The Finance Minister's full statement:
"About 2 years ago, an effort was started to form a collaboration between the Ministry of Finance, the Hellenic Aviation Industry (EAB), the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Democritus University of Thrace and the University of Thessaly.
The aim is for the wider public sector to become a designer and producer of drone systems.
During the period until today, with funding from the Ministry of Finance, the "Archytas" program has been structured.
The program aims at the design and industrial production of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone – UAV) system of multiple uses and types.
The implementation of the "Archytas" program began on September 1, 2021.
According to the quarterly report of the authorities, this national effort is progressing with almost absolute consistency to the planning.
In particular, in the past quarter, test flights of the scaled aircraft were successfully carried out, both in the conventional way and in the vertical take-off and landing mode, and thus its final, detailed design is nearing completion.
At the same time, at the Hellenic Aerospace Industry-HAI:
a. Supplies of necessary materials and devices continue.
b. The construction of the special area and the industrial production line is progressing.
c. The construction of the designed molds begins. In the quarter that started (until the end of February 2023) their construction will be completed and towards the end of it the construction of the prototype vehicle will begin.
After the completion of its construction, there will be test flights, checks, certifications, costing of alternative types of vehicles and taking over by HAI orders for the manufacture of aircraft from users.
Thus, we consider that we can now call on Greek entrepreneurship, which produces or wishes to produce the necessary materials and devices for aircraft, with international competitiveness in terms of quality and prices, to coordinate its action with the HAI.
Therefore, our firm political will, the consistent course of work, the reliability, effectiveness and efficiency of those involved, formed the basis for the Ministry of Finance to decide to finance the design of a second, more complex unmanned aerial vehicle. Related announcements will follow in early 2023.
Therefore, the developments in this crucial field show that the Greeks both want and can make our homeland stronger in all aspects".