Τετάρτη 8 Ιουνίου 2011

Migration & Public Health Risks

Migration & Public Health Risks

Link to GREEK NEWS AGENDA

Migration & Public Health Risks

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:31 AM PDT


Addressing, on June 6, an EU health ministers' council in Luxembourg, which focused on the impact of migration on public health, Health Minister Andreas Loverdos called for a public health 'Frontex' capable of protecting the European population.

The minister pointed out that the repercussions of uncontrolled illegal migration on public health were hard to assess and did not concern Greece alone, since epidemics did not recognise borders and any deterioration of conditions in Greece would inevitably affect the rest of Europe. He explained that the huge influx of migrants from mainly African and Asian countries with an entirely different epidemiological profile to that of Greece and Europe, has increased risks to public health, putting a massive strain on the country's overburdened state health services.

The minister underlined that the impact on public health exceeded the means and ability of the Greek health services to cope, with the total cost reaching €140 million in 2010.

He further noted that the assistance received by Greece in this area is more of a symbolic nature rather than substantial, with just € 10 million approved for the first half of 2011.

Ministry of Health & Social Solidarity: Press release (in Greek); Greek news Agenda: European Health ministers on illegal migration & Health Minister calls for WHO support

"The Future of Banking in Greece"

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:33 AM PDT


In a conference held in Athens yesterday, titled The future of Banking in Greece organized by The Banker magazine, part of the Financial Times Group, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou elaborated on the government's fiscal adjustment programme, the reduction of deficit by 5% (of GDP) and the gradual improvement of Greek economy's competitiveness.

Taking the floor, Senior Resident IMF Representative in Athens Bob Traa, noted that the achievements of fiscal deficit cuts, the improvement in competitiveness, the economy's dynamic adjustment and banking system's resilience deserve credit and the same applies to measures aiming at pension and labour market reforms, service sector adjustments and business environment simplifications.

However, he stressed that structural reforms have lost their edge lately and need to be reinvigorated. Greek banks have been put under strain due to the crisis but they need to avoid loan defaults, to deleverage and encourage the public sector's exit from the system and consolidate.

ANA Launches Albanian Language Webpage

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:31 AM PDT


In an effort to expand its international and regional presence, the Athens News Agency (ANA-MPA) has launched a new Albanian language webpage.

Running currently on a pilot basis, the newly-launched page aims to offer objective, accurate and timely news items about Greece to Albanian speakers throughout the southeast Europe.

The Athens News Agency also runs webpages in French, Russian, as well as in Chinese.

Fly me…Directly to Greece!

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:31 AM PDT


Since the launch of an Air China direct route from Beijing to Athens, several airlines companies have inaugurated new direct flights to Greece. As of June 1 until the end of October, Austrian Airlines increases to 11 the number of weekly flights linking Athens and Vienna, from the current 7.

Lauda Air - a subsidiary of Austrian Airlines - will connect Vienna with Corfu twice a week (until September 24), Zakynthos and Lefkada, as well as Volos until (until October 1).

Ryanair is offering 17 new routes to Greece and it has started running the new additions in April with flights to Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Kos. Ryanair is also commencing its first routes from the island of Corfu to London from June 2011. The air carrier "Swiss" added a second daily flight between Athens and Geneva, as of April 29. Beginning from June 23 until September 11, the Spanish company Vueling is offering low cost flights directly to Crete and Mykonos islands from Barcelona.

Moreover, the Spanish air carrier will be offering weekly flights from Barcelona to Santorini beginning from July 16 to September 4. Hellenic Imperial Airways has announced the commencement of new weekly and direct scheduled flights, from Athens to New York, as of Friday, June 24, 2011.

In addition to the recently launched direct flights to Moscow, Aegean Airlines will offer direct flights from Thessaloniki to Paris and Tel Aviv beginning in June. Finally, Turkish Airlines will be flying from Istanbul to Thessaloniki four times a week.

Matala Hippies Reunion: We'll Drink Wine & Toast to Nothing…

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:31 AM PDT


Arn Sttronmayer, German writer, journalist and ex hippie, is the man behind the idea of Matala Open Air 2011: a 3 day music festival (June 11-13), in front of the legendary artificial caves, occupied by the hippies during the sixties and seventies.

Sttronmayer also signs the photo album, Mythos Matala - that will be presented for the first time during the festival- and is lavishly illustrated with professional and amateur photos of the Matala hippieland in southern Crete.

The event will include live music, hippie bazaars, exhibitions and children's fun park and it is worth noting that during the festival the stay at Matala camping is free.

You Tube: Joni Mitchell - Carey [A song that describes Joni Mitchell's (famous American folk singer) Matala experience] & Matala Caves [VIDEO]
Αναρτήθηκε από στις

Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:

Δημοσίευση σχολίου

Εγγραφή σε: Σχόλια ανάρτησης (Atom)