Antenna News in English 111096

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, of 11/10/09/1996

TITLES

• The government announces its plans for the economy.
• Cyprus feels the aftershocks of a major earthquake.
• And, Helmut Newton's pictures on display in Greece.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES

Kostas Simitis outlined the new Pasok government's plans for the economy in parliament Thursday night.

The prime minister called on people who have money to do their duty, and pay all their taxes.

Mr Simitis said social solidarity is a precondition for the success of his efforts to spur economic development.

Pasok has implemented a reign of belttightening since it returned to power in 1993, but the premier told parliament that his goal isn't only to be a good money manager, but also to make sure a social safety net is in place for all those who need it.

To make sure society has a human face, Mr Simitis is promising a minimum living standard for all those on the economic margins. He says that people on low pensions will be getting help soon.

ECONOMY

But trade unions and the government don't see eye to eye when it comes to money. The unions want fiscal policies that will protect or raise the living standards of their members and pensioners.

Government statistics show that over the past two years, salaries increased by around 9 per cent but workers paid almost 30 per cent more in taxes over the same period. It's a similar story for pensioners.

The unions want the government to raise income tax bracket thresholds to take inflation into account.

They also want better raises. Government stats show that between 1993 and 1995 inflation was 34 per cent, but wages only rose 20 per cent.

Unions are also unhappy about the government's decision to abolish many tax breaks, which they say should stay in place because they protect people on low incomes.

Public sector union reps met with New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert Thursday. They asked him to support them in their attempts to solve their economic problems.

Evert reminded the prime minister that he promised wage and pension raises above the inflation rate earlier this year.

CYPRUS

The strongest aftershock was 5.6 on the Richter scale. That came early Thursday morning.

In the cities of Lemesos and Pafos residents stayed out of their homes all night, waiting for the seismic activity to pass.

Two people died as a result of the quake, one of them in Cyprus. 54yearold Christofis Georgiou had had heart surgery four day before the quake struck Lemesos. When the shaking started, he tried to leave the hospital and died of a heart attack in the effort.

Houses collapsed in Cyprus and Egypt during the quake, which was centred 80 kilometres west of Cyprus and felt all over the Levant.

Scientists are divided in their forecasts for the quake area: some believe the seismic activity will now taper off; others predict a strong aftershock within the next few days.

EXPULSION

A Greek court turned down their appeal for refuge after they illegally entered Greece from Turkey Monday.

But the pubic order ministry has annulled the ruling, and the asylum request will be reconsidered.

In the meantime the three Turks, two of whom deserted the armed forces in coming to Greece, will be housed at a refugee relief centre.

SOCCER

Bad luck and mistakes added up to a 21 defeat at the hands of the Danes in Copenhagen Wednesday night.

Thodoros Zagorakis scores an own goal in the first half.

Teammate Giorgos Donis compensates for the error minutes later, tying it at one.

But Denmark comes back again in the second half, getting the winner from Bryan Laudrup.

BASKETBALL

NEWTON

But he started in fashion.

"I was most of my life a fashion photographer and then I thought it would be interesting to photograph women without clothes except for high heels. That's how I started".

Newton has been called a "pornographer and a peeper, but that doesn't seem to bother him. "I can't be loved by everybody" is his reply to the critics.

This is the first time Newton's pictures are being exhibited in Greece. In addition to taking photos of female nudes, Newton has also captured many politicians on film, among them German chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The exhibit at the Art Forum gallery runs through October 14th.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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