Latest News from Greece
Skopje provocations in ruling party rally
Flags bearing the 16-beam Vergina Sun and maps of the so-called “Great Macedonia” were held by governing party VMRO-DPMNE supports in Skopje, during an anti-rally held and attended by PM Nikola Gruevski. The Skopje hands of the attending crowd pointed to the Skopjan “dream”. Three fingers for Vardaris, the Aegean Sea, and Pirin, and the “O” from the word “Obedineta” which means United.
Greece: “Stop to illegal cultural trafficking!”
Alternate Minister for Culture Nikos Xydakis expressed Greece’s full support for the directives issued by UNESCO on the national policies to combat illicit trafficking of cultural goods. Speaking at the Third Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention in Paris, he presented the Greek proposal on the illegal cultural trade called “Stop Illicit Trafficking”.
Costa-Gavras award at Cannes Film Festival (video)
The Cannes Film Festival organized the screening of Greek-French director Costa-Gavras, “Z”. The restored version of the work was created in honor of the award-winning director and producer.
Thierry Frémaux, artistic director of the Cannes Film Festival, praised the director’s work for its ability to rip-roar through borders as a carrier of culture messages across Europe.
Serbian water polo player suspended over drug use
The Water Polo Association of Serbia (VSS) has confirmed it was notified by FINA about Nikola Radjen's temporary suspension for use of illegal substances.
Radjen, a player of Olympiakos from Greece, tested positive for cocaine after the match between Serbia and Spain in Madrid on February 17 and FINA notified the VSS of his suspension on May 6.
ECB package set to appease hardliners and the markets
By Yiannis Papadoyiannis
The European Central Bank has drafted a plan to increase the haircut on the value of Greek banks? collateral, used to draw liquidity from the emergency liquidity assistance (ELA), while expanding the criteria for the acceptance of more assets as collateral. Such a package would have a neutral impact on Greek bank liquidity, bank officials estimate.
Last night at Eurovision: “One Last Breath” to make its way to Finals! (photos + videos)
Maria-Elena Kyriakou drew “One Last Breath” with her throaty voice and was sent to the 60th Eurovision Song Contest 2015 finals in Vienna, Austria.
She stole the show with her dynamic presence, beauty and of course – voice – getting one of the ten coveted tickets to the Saturday finals. Both the audience and critics said “Yes” to another breath for Greece.