The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Monday, July 30, 2012

UK Olympics...[ 2887 ]

Business leaders put UK on Olympic trial

By Brian Groom, Chris Giles and George Parker, FT.com
July 30, 2012 -- Updated 0445 GMT (1245 HKT)
The giant Olympic rings are pictured next to Tower Bridge on the final day of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on Friday.
The giant Olympic rings are pictured next to Tower Bridge on the final day of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on Friday.

Olympics to raise tough questions about the coalition's management of Britain's stagnant economy and the country's vulnerability to a euro break-up.
While David Cameron is trying to use the games as a showcase to boost UK trade and investment, chief executives from the US and Asia -- many of them big investors in Britain -- are privately voicing anxiety at the state of the economy.
"Cameron is giving us a big sales pitch, but we are not taking any notice of that," said the head of an Asian multinational. "We want to know what's happening to the economy and what are the prospects for us."
One US corporate chief called bluntly for the government to change course after last week's official figures showed the UK economy shrank 0.7 per cent between April and June.
"You need a short-term fiscal policy to boost demand and a credible long-term plan to address welfare, taxes and the labour market. If you do that, the bond market will be fine," he said.
As business leaders gathered to watch the games, in which ironically Britain's industrial past played a major part of the opneing ceremony, the chatter in corporate hospitality suites was less about sport, and more about London's competitiveness as a financial centre. One financier, referring to the forced resignation of Bob Diamond, the former Barclays chief executive, said: "What's going on in London? You are killing your bankers."
"Bob got shot by the regulators," added another high-profile executive, expressing concern about pressure exerted by the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority for Mr Diamond to quit. "There are big implications for London from all of this. When you're abroad you get a lot of people saying 'who would ever want to work for a British bank?' "
Some of the concerns surfaced publicly at last Thursday's global investment conference at Lancaster House in London, where Mr Cameron faced awkward questions about airport expansion and immigration in front of 200 business leaders and policy makers.
What's going on in London? You are killing your bankers
- Financier visiting Olympics
Government officials say there was a "solid, constructive" atmosphere at a series of meetings and that it is right for Britain to use the Olympics as a trade opportunity, even if the benefits are hard to define at this stage. The government hopes to win £1bn in UK trade deals from conferences at Lancaster House, converted into a British Business Embassy for the Olympics.
So far, Jaguar Land Rover -- part of India's Tata industrial group -- has announced 1,100 more car-making jobs in the Midlands.
But the executives' worries may increase pressure on George Osborne, the chancellor, who told the conference he would resist "siren voices" calling for a change of economic course.
Many are preoccupied by the eurozone crisis and its implications for the UK. "What is Britain going to do? What is the plan?" asked one international policy maker. "Why is Britain not being more proactive?"
Additional reporting by Patrick Jenkins
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