The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-06-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] One of A Kind Discovery of Extrasolar Dwarf

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: BBC

American scientists of the Keck Observatory in Hawaii discovered the smallest extrasolar planet ever. The planet is six times bigger than the Earth and orbits around a star, just like the Sun. Up to this moment, 150 extrasolar planets have been discovered orbiting around star like the Sun and is bigger than Uranus, which in turn is 15 times smaller than the Earth. The extrasolar planet is also the first rocky one to be discovered. The extrasolar dwarf is in orbit around the star Gliese 876, and is 15 light years away from Earth towards the Aquarius constellation. Gliese 876 has also two other planets orbiting around it, the size of Jupiter.

Similar to Earth

The planet completes its orbit around Gliese 876 in less than two days, specifically in 1.94, is very close to the stars surface, just 3.2 million km, and has a temperature of 200-400°C, too hot for life to exist.

The planet was discovered by using the "wobble technique," which is the planets gravitational tug on its parent star that produces changes in the stars velocity. This can be picked up in the light spectrum emitted by the star. The nature of that signal can reveal details such as the mass and the period of orbit of the planet.

"Were getting closer and closer to finding Earths," said team member Steven Vogt, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

On his part, team leader and professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, Geoffrey Marcy stated "this planet answers an ancient question. Over 2,000 years ago, the Greek philosophers Aristotle and Epicurus argued about whether there were other Earth-like planets. Now, for the first time, we have evidence for a rocky planet around a normal star."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Ahead of PASOK with 4.15% in Intention to Vote ND On the Lead

By Athina Saloustrou

According to a research by "MRB Trends," ND is ahead of PASOK by 4.1% on the intention to vote. More specifically, ND receives 38.9%, PASOK 34.8%, KKE 6.8%, SYN 3.6% and LAOS 2.9%. On the question of who is a more suitable for PM, Mr Karamanlis is ahead of Mr Papandreou by 9.6%. Moreover, the Prime Minister receives 43.9% and the leader of the Opposition 34.3%. In an informal exit poll ND is ahead by 38.1 votes (61%) as opposed to PASOK (22.9%).

As far as the qualitative data is concerned, 38.6% considers that ND can counter the countrys problems more effectively, and 39.5% evaluates that Kostas Karamanlis can deal with finance problems better than George Papandreou (32.7%). Also, 36.7% considers that ND is better in the effective operation of the Public Sector, as opposed to PASOK (29.5%).

According to information, during the PASOK Steerers Parliamentary Committee, George Papandreou described the findings of the opinion poll as positive.

Mr Papandreou also evaluated that PASOKs presence was positive during the three-day discussion in Parliament, where as he said, the Opposition party won a battle since the falseness of the Karamanlis reforms were revealed.

Nikos Athanasakis spoke of a rapid decay of the government in all areas which is now affecting the PM as well. He noted however that triumphal declarations and celebrations are not necessary.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Findings of the Financial Audit Committee MPs Declaration of Assets

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: NET 105.8- NET

The Financial Audit Committee submitted to Speaker of the Parliament, Anna Psarouda-Benaki the findings of a retrospective audit of assets for 650 MPs over the period 1989-2001. The findings, which include stock exchanges of MPs during the Stock Exchange scandal and a separate analytical statement of their assets, did not report any legislative violations. However, ten politicians did not submit a declaration of assets for the aforementioned years, while another three had an increase of assets, which was not supported by their income. The names of the ten MPs are not mentioned, while two out of three politicians did not attend and give explanations. Only one MP's name was mentioned, fthat of ormer PASOK MP Nikos Floros, but as it was indicated, his declarations were not unusual, even if there was a problem with his stock exchange dealings.

The Case of Mr Floros

Mr Floros appears to have bought shares worth 2.5 billion drachmas, which are not justified by his deposits during and after 1999, while after a month he had sold 3.5 billion shares which are not included in his deposits next year.

He mentioned to the Committee that at the time when he was not a MP, he had taken up a position as a stock exchange investments adviser, and made transactions on the account of an investors group that did not want to appear in the stock exchange market.

However, on his case, the verdict of the Audit Committee will be sent to the General Commissioner of the State Audit Conference and the Chief of the Athens Misdemeanor Prosecution Court.

Others who appear to have made profits are MPs Mantelis, Athanasiadis, Manikas, Manos, Neonakis and Kammenos. In addition the following MPs did not trade in the Stock Exchange: Kostas Karamanlis, George Papandreou, Giannos Papantoniou, Petros Molyviatis, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Andreas Loverdos, Christos Markogiannakis and Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

ND MP Papagiotis Kammenos stated that not only did he lose the initial capital he had invested in the Stock Exchange, but twice as much. He also mentioned that the reported profits in his declaration pertain to investments made by his former wife, while he received no money from those.

According to the report of the relative Parliamentary committee, which was signed by its President, Mr Tragakis (3rd Vice President of Parliament)and its members Mr Vrettos (PASOK Attica), Mr Skillakos (B Athens KKE), Mr Dragasakis (B Athens SYN), Mr Arnaoutoglou (State Adviser), Mr Sarantinos (Supreme Court Judge) and Mrs Karamoudoukis (Financial Conference Adviser), the following was noted:

Ten MPs did not submit a declaration of assets for specific year violating clauses in force.

Three MPs indicate an increase of assets without being justified by their income. Two of the MPs were not found in order for the existing incompleteness to be completed.

On the case of MPs that had not submitted declarations for specific years or were not found "the committee reserves its right to decide in order to investigate if the adjustment of their pending issue is feasible."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] At the Steerers Meeting Satisfaction in PASOK

By Annita Paschalinou

George Papandreou seemed satisfied by the image of the party in the discussion over the economy in Parliament, speaking earlier at a steerers meeting. "You did a good job," he said to the members of the Parliamentary Group, noting that PASOK has won the battle since "the false reforms of Karamanlis were revealed." "With our new structure we begin hard and serious work," he added and smiled when Apostolos Kaklamanis jokingly asked him if he leaked the motion of censure. During the meeting, the steerers were briefed on the results of the recent opinion poll. According to information, George Papandreou described its findings as positive. Nikos Athanasakis spoke of a rapid decay of the government in all areas, which is also affecting the PM. He noted however that triumphal statements and celebrations are not necessary.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Souflias Meets with Relevant Bodies of Ano Liosia Deadline for Sewage Sludge

By Annita Paschalinou

Giorgos Souflias, on the issue of the transfer of sewage sludge to the Ano Liosia refuse dump, presented his proposals in detail to the Prefect of West Attica and the Mayor of Ano Liosia. The Minister of Public Works repeated that the creation of a landfill is an environmentally friendly method, and made a commitment that if the citizens conclude that the procedure is aggravating, then the transfer of sewage sludge to the area will be stopped immediately, until the end of December. Mr Souflias made a plea for logic to prevail and gave the relevant bodies of Ano Liosia a deadline to accept the method, otherwise the law will be enforced and the refuse dump will open for sewage sludge.

Souflias Makes Guarantees

Mr Souflias reassured the bodies of Ano Liosia that the sludge dehydration unit in Psitalia will be ready in 2007, while in August competitions will take place for the construction of three refuse dumps in Keratea, Grammatiko and Fili.

The Minister of Public Works once again repeated that the solution is a one way street, since the sludge cannot remain in Psitalia anymore and the Saronic Gulf is threatened by an ecological disaster.

The solution of the creation of a landfill is accepted internationally, underling that what is produced by this method is not sludge but land. In seven days, from the moment that the sludge will be transferred to the refuse dump, the creation of parts of the landfill will begin and within 20-25 days all the transferred sludge will be placed in the landfill.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Eirinaios Suing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eirinaios Called to Testify

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: NET 105.8

The Jerusalem Patriarchate Synod is deposing Archimandrites, Fotios, Meletios, Eirinaios and Agathagelos, close associates of deposed Jerusalem Patriarch Eirinaios. Furthermore, it calls the former Patriarch to take the stand and testify over his actions. The summons to testimony by Eirinaios will be issued this afternoon, and states that the deposed Patriarch has to take the stand on Wednesday morning. Earlier, the former Patriarch submitted a complaint against Deputy Foreign Minister, Panagiotis Skandalakis to the Supreme Court Prosecution Judge. Mr Eirinaios accuses Mr Skandalakis of endangering the Patriarchate and his life with his handlings, which were aimed at his denouncement. In the beginning of June, as per information, Eirinaios allegedly asked for the intervention of the PM over the stance of Mr Skandalakis, the Greek Consular in Jerusalem, Eleni Sourani, and Patriarch Bartholomew.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Circular by Deputy Minister of Economy Tax Audits Intensifying

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: NET 105.8

Deputy Minister of Economy, Adam Regouzas with a circular to the IRS and audit centers, asks for the activation of the auditors targeted at the reinforcement of budget income. Businesses and freelancers that have large VAT account balance will be checked, as will businesses that submit an application for entry to the Stock Exchange, businesses that demand VAT return and is concluded that they have made violations in account books and data, and cases of issue and acquiring of forged or iconic tax data. The choice of the cases that will be investigated will be random, based on the last digit of the VAT registration number and with the condition that they are cases with at least two dispensation periods pending. This year, the cases that will be investigated concern businesses that their VAT registration number ends in 4.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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