Keep Talking Greece

Greek Banks First Merger: Piraeus’ Checkmate – Background

July 15, 2010 2

Piraeus Bank, the fifth-biggest lender in Greece, has submitted a proposal to the Greek government to buy “significant stakes” in two Greek state-controlled banks, the Agricultural Bank of Greece-ATE and the Hellenic Postbank-TTE, Piraeus Bank CEO Mihalis Sallas announced in a Press Conference in Athens two hours ago. The Greek government …

Piri Reis: the Naval Ship that makes Greeks Angry

July 14, 2010 Comments Off on Piri Reis: the Naval Ship that makes Greeks Angry

The “Piri Reis” has not entered in the Greek continental shelf, said National Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos and sent Turkey the message that “in any case it will be done what’s necessary.” Piri Reis, the Turkish naval research ship, has done it again. It has started to carry out ‘seismic research …

Breathless in Athens: How much Smog can I take?

July 14, 2010 1

Thousand invisible particles of photochemical smog started invading tentatively my study through the half open window. Millions of sneaky particles flew in the ether and dragged in the spacious room. They make themselves comfortable of the floor, the couch and the chairs, anything movable and immovable, my office desk. I didn’t …

Greeks: Ready to Migrate at 38% – Eurobarometer Report

July 14, 2010 Comments Off on Greeks: Ready to Migrate at 38% – Eurobarometer Report

Thirty-eight to one hundred Greeks and 48 in a hundred EU-citizens is ready to leave the residence and to move to another area or country,, if unemployed and facing problems finding work. These results from the Eurobarometer survey, released a couple of days ago in Brussels, concern the geographical mobility in the …

Lady Gaga will not perform in Athens! Why Not?

July 13, 2010 7

Lady Gaga’s fans in Greece are unlucky! The eccentric superstar changed her mind and will not perform on Super Final of European Music Competition in EuroVoice on September 24. According to an exclusive story by YUPI.gr , Lady Gaga and her team were initially positive for a live perfomance but …

Greek Banks: Stress Tests and Mergers Rumors -upd

July 12, 2010 Comments Off on Greek Banks: Stress Tests and Mergers Rumors -upd

While European Regulators sit curled over the papers of 8 Greek banks to undergo a stress test on kidneys and heart, false “hairdressers” and prophets speculate on possible “haircuts” on government bonds. Scepticism on bank’s exposures to Greek Bonds goes around together with rumors about due mergers and stakes’ sales. REUTERS reported Tuesday that EU …

Greece to Reduce “all inclusive” Hotel Investments

July 9, 2010 1

You are thinking of a tourist investment in an “all inclusive” hotel? You dream of providing your guests with all possible comforts in terms of food and drink, spa and sports, entertainment and leisure? You count your money and realize you need a good portion of state subventions? You can …

Tortured, burned & left to die… Animal Abuse in Greece must be a Felony!

July 9, 2010 7

His body is skin and bones. His back bears burning marks. One foot is ‘abutated’. Dozens of ticks suck his blood. Human cruelty seems to have no limits. Most probably this poor hunting dog was tortured and dumped to die… This brown beauty dog was found in Mystegna and rescued by …

Jennifer Lopez Cancels Controversial Concert in North Cyprus

July 9, 2010 2

With a statement in her official site Jennifer Lopezannounced the cancellation of her controversial concert in Northern Cyprus on July 24. The short statement reads: “Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse. After a full …

Greek Banks: Stress Tests, Haircuts and Mergers

July 8, 2010 2

Hot weather and stress are both known to cause sweating. Currently the majority of Greeks are loosing volumes of sweat due to recession stress and the bankers don’t seem to be exception to the rule. Eight Greek Banks are waiting the official result of CEBS’s stress tests to be disclosed on July …

Greeks protest Animal Abuse

July 5, 2010 3

The news always “electrocutes” the animal lover: it is about a dog set on fire or hanged on a tree, about neighborhood cats being poisoned, about pets abandoned with no food or water on a balcony, kitten and puppies thrown in the garbage container, an animal hit by car and left …

STRATFOR: Greece…. is truly alone!

July 5, 2010 2

Loss of geopolitical role in the Balkan region, significant political instability, social violence, economic bankruptcy and exit the euro zone are some of the pessimistic forecasts for Greece as stated in “The Geopolitics of Greece: A Sea at its Heart” STRATFOR-Global Intelligence report on Greece. In the 10-page analysis released on June 28, …