The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-02-10

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] EU launches battle over future budget

The European Union plunged into a battle over future funding of an enlarged Europe today, when Brussels outlined plans to spend up to one trillion euros, despite calls for restraint from six leading EU nations. Unveiling controversial proposals for the 2007-13 budget, European Commission President Romano Prodi said actual spending over the 7-year period would be 1.14% of gross national income, just only 900 billion euros.

[02] Iranian plane crashes in UAE, killing 43 people

An Iranian plane, carrying migrant workers, crashed as it came in to land at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates today, killing 43 of the 46 people on board. Officials blamed a technical fault and said they had retrieved the plane's black box. Witnesses saw a wobbling plane making strange engine noises, which then nosedived.

[03] Security cameras for Athens Olympics

Public Order Minister Giorgos Floridis today gave a press conference at the Foreign Press Association on the subject of security for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. According to the minister, ultramodern cameras will shortly be installed at key points of the city, which will be capable also of recording the sounds of shots or explosions.

[04] CP leader slams all other parties and, EU

Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga today attacked the Pasok, ND and Coalition of the Left parties, as well as the EU, charging that they had contributed to anti-populist strategies, regarding labour issues. She maintained that only the Communist Party will participate in the development of the popular struggle against decisions by ECOFIN.

[05] Pasok and ND open up ranks to independent politicians

Both the major parties Pasok and New Democracy have invited independent politicians to join their ranks. The ruling partys new leader George Papandreou called for leftist and liberals voices, during his first speech after his election, to the Pasok leadership. Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis today sealed his electoral cooperation with former Pasok minister Stelios Papathemelis, who will be the partys candidate in the 1st electoral district of Thessaloniki.

[06] Pre-election period kicks off tomorrow

The countdown has begun for the March 7 elections, as parliament holds its final assembly tonight, on the subject of ratifying the European Union enlargement. Tomorrow, the pre-election period officially begins, with the publication of a presidential decree in the Government Gazette for the dissolution of parliament.

[07] UN presses for unification deal on Cyprus

A United Nations envoy struggled to resolve differences between Greek and Turkish Cypriots ahead of their talks later today in Newyork, in search of a mutually acceptable settlement to unify Cyprus before it joins the European union on May 1. Meanwhile, Turkey signalled that it would keep up the pressure on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to forge a deal with Greek Cypriot in the crucial reunification talks.

[08] Weather forecast

A cold and cloudy day is forecast, with rain and sleet in northern Greece.Temperatures in Athens will range from 4 to 11 degrees centigrade, and in Thessaloniki from 2 to 9 degrees.

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article