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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-09-13

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

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] Papaligouras Sworn In
  • [02] Money from Sale of Real Estate to TPD
  • [03] EU Economies Adopt Concerted Activities
  • [04] The Left Offers Way Out
  • [05] Communist & Labour Parties' Ninth Meeting
  • [06] Single Property Levy to Come
  • [07] China: 432 Babies Fall Ill from Milk Powder
  • [08] Attack with Gas Canisters and Molotov Bombs
  • [09] Bloodshed in Iraq
  • [10] Channel Tunnel Traffic Resumes

  • [01] In the Aftermath of Voulgarakis' Resignation

    Papaligouras Sworn In

    13 Σεπ 2008 12:02:00 (Last updated: 13 Σεπ 2008 14:37:32)

    By Anthi Ntaousani

    Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA

    Anastasis Papaligouras was sworn in as new Merchant Marine Minister before the Prime Minister and the President of the Hellenic Republic. G. Voulgarakis quitted Friday his post amid the heavy criticism he came in for with regard to a property scandal. He will officially assume office on Monday noon. "The Prime Ministers proposal is an honour to me and boosts my determination to contribute anew to the governments drive to complete its undeniably harsh task," commented the new Merchant Marine Minister. The Prime Minister, said State Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos, accepted Voulgarakis resignation and thanked him for his important work.

    Voulgarakis' Letter of Resignation

    In the letter he sent to the Prime Minister, Voulgarakis stressed he stepped down to protect the Conservative party, the governments work and the Prime Minister himself. He then went on to blame PASOK for landing the leading role in a defamation campaign against him, spreading a torrent of lies. Addressing journalists, Voulgarakis dropped hints at the partys so-called "barons," arguing that his conflict with him is quite old. Finally, he underlined he quitted his ministry post and not politics.

    Comments by Party Officials

    Voulgarakis did what he thought was the best thing to do, Conservative MP Konstantinos Agorastos told NET 105.8, while Anastasios Liaskos described his resignation as expected and the proper thing to do. It is yet another dramatic development in the series of events creating an unreliability crisis within the government, Socialist lawmaker Mihalis Chrysohoides told NET radio station. A single resignation is not going to change the core of the ruling partys policy, commented Communist deputy Giannis Giokas.

    Translated by Areti Christou

    Related News:

    Voulgarakis Steps Down

    [02] Investigation in Full Swing

    Money from Sale of Real Estate to TPD

    13 Σεπ 2008 12:25:00 (Last updated: 13 Σεπ 2008 13:32:24)

    Sources: ΝΕΤ

    The Prosecutors assigned to probe the property scandal involving the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos have now focused their attention to the all evidence and opinions issued by state councils since 1999 pertaining to the controversial land exchanges. The ministers and deputy ministers that played a part in the case, including Drys, Fotiades and Doukas, keep insisting that when the case reached their hands, it had already been finished. However, that fact that a unanimous decision by the Legal Council whereby Vistonida Lake could not belong to the Monastery was ignored has raised serious questions. In the meantime, commenting on the case, the Monasterys Superior, Father Efraim, claimed that the Monastery intends to give the profits from the sale of real estate to the Deposits and Loans Fund (TPD).

    Translated by Areti Christou

    Related News:

    Brawl over Vatopedi Continues

    [03] EU Economies Adopt Concerted Activities

    13 Σεπ 2008 15:04:00

    Sources: NET, ANA

    Ecofin, which held an informal meeting in Nice, France, vowed that no EU nation would have its fiscal deficit raised above the 3% threshold. Furthermore, structural reforms and a concerted course of actions on the impact on economy and the financial markets were also agreed to come into force without fail. "With regard to real economy, Greece seems to be taking the repercussions of the global financial crisis much better than the rest EU nations," argued Greek Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis after the meeting of the EU Finance Ministers.

    Alogoskoufis stressed that when it comes to fiscal sector, Greeces margins are slim due to the weaknesses of the past. Greece has gone a long way over the last years in this domain, yet it is included in the countries which are too close to the 3% threshold, said the Finance Minister. He further added that the drive for fiscal consolidation and zero deficits will go on, noting that the initiatives to be taken in favour of growth, employment and social cohesion will not exceed the countrys fiscal capabilities and the predictions of the Stability and Growth Pact.

    Describing the Ecofin meeting as the most crucial one given the current global crisis, Alogoskoufis said that the EU Finance Ministers agreed on a concerted answer to meet the challenges brought about by the crisis.

    The answer will be built upon the principles governing the EU economic policy: the independence of the European Central Bank, the predictions of the Stability and Growth Pact and the programme of reforms dictated by the Lisbon Treaty.

    The EU Finance Ministers also agreed on the funding of small and medium sized business with a view to creating greater growth prospects in the countries that have witnessed a growth slowdown.

    Translated by Areti Christou

    Related News:

    "Crisis Is Worse within Eurozone"

    Eurogroup-Ecofin Meeting

    [04] The Left Offers Way Out

    13 Σεπ 2008 18:09:00

    By Alexandros Moz

    Sources: ANA-MPA

    Referring to the tax bill, SYN President Alexis Tsipras asked for its abolishment as it is affecting the small and medium businessmen, adding that instead of supporting the small and medium businessmen the government is attacking them. In reply to a question by a journalist on Merchant Marine Minister G. Voulgarakis, he said that the prime minister is responsible as he is supporting and covering up his ministers.

    He also commented that only the Left is the way out of that deadlock, demanding early elections. Referring to the prime minister he said that he cannot even convince himself.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [05] Communist & Labour Parties' Ninth Meeting

    13 Σεπ 2008 17:50:00

    By Alexandros Moz

    Sources: ANA-MPA

    The ninth meeting of the Balkan Communist and Labour parties focused on the repurcussions of rivalry between the super powers on the Balkans, Caucasus the Middle East, NATO, USA and the EUs role, as well as the workers and immigrants struggles and the communists initiatives.

    The meeting was held in Thessaloniki at KKEs (Communist Party of Greece) intiative. Participating were the communist parties of Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, FYROM, Yugoslavia and Turkeys Labour Party.

    KKE cadre Dimitris Koutsoumbas spoke of the "energy market reshuffle", denouncing the deployment of the so-called anti-missile shield in the Chech Republic and Poland.

    He also argued that the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia would not resolve the safety issue in Caucasus, describing USA, EU, and NATOs stance hypocritical, as they partitioned Yugoslavia and created Kosovo.

    All delegations issued a joint resolution in support of Cuba and announced they will attend KKE's youth festival in Thessaloniki.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [06] Single Property Levy to Come

    13 Σεπ 2008 16:25:00

    By Alexandros Moz

    Sources: NET

    Tax payers are expected to receive the first single property levy statements by the end of September.

    If the sum to be paid is over 250 euros, then tax payers will be able to pay it in two installments.

    Tax payers should know that their most expensive property will exempted from tax only for this year. Those who have not filled in the E-9 form correctly then they may have to visit the tax office for additional explanations.

    Property that does not belong to the town planning, plats and main residence not bigger than 200 square metres, not worthing more than 300,000 euros are expempted from the tax.

    The single propeprty levy, which is 0.1%, is not calculated on the basis of the net rateable value but on the value that results by multiblying the rateable value by specific coefficients.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [07] Shocking Number

    China: 432 Babies Fall Ill from Milk Powder

    13 Σεπ 2008 14:54:00

    Sources: REUTERS

    China said on Saturday it believed 432 babies across the country had been made ill by contaminated milk powder which caused them to develop kidney stones.

    Sanlu Group, a dairy producer partly owned by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-operative Group, has been ordered to halt production after a preliminary investigation found its products were responsible, officials said.

    "This is a severe food safety accident," Gao Qiang, a senior official at the Ministry of Health, told a news conference called by the cabinets information office in Beijing.

    Sanlu admitted this week that its baby formula had been contaminated with melamine, a toxin linked to the deaths and illness of thousands of pets in the United States last year.

    [08] Attack with Gas Canisters and Molotov Bombs

    13 Σεπ 2008 11:36:00

    Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA

    Hooded persons hurled gas canisters and Molotov bombs against a police station on Democratia Square, Thessaloniki at 04:05, causing material damage to parked cars and motorcycles. As per the police, about 15 persons riding motorcycles began hurling Mototov bombs, stones etc before the police station on Dodekanisou Street a little before 04:00, causing damage to entrance of the building, two patrol cars, a car and 15 motorcycles. Firemen put out the fires that had broken out.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [09] The USA Blames Al-Qaeda

    Bloodshed in Iraq

    13 Σεπ 2008 11:30:00

    Sources: ANA, Reuters

    A car bomb killed at least 31 people and wounded 45 others outside a police station in the city of Dujail, some 40km north of Baghdad.

    Targeting Shiites in a predominantly Shiite city, the attack was the second to occur on Friday. Earlier, another suicide bomber had detonated himself outside a mosque in the town of Sinjar, killing three people, including himself.

    Dujail was the site of an assassination attempt on former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 1982

    Fridays attack was the deadliest one after the bomb blast at a bus station in Baghdad on 17 June, killing 51 people.

    Although violence in Iraq has fallen, hundreds of people keep losing their lives in attacks every month. The US army blamed Saturday the attack on Al Qaedas branch in Iraq. The provinces of Dujail, Diyala and Nineveh frequently suffer suicide attacks Al Qaeda-mounted, since the Iraqi army has yet to restore order in these regions.

    Translated by Areti Christou

    [10] Channel Tunnel Traffic Resumes

    13 Σεπ 2008 11:23:00

    By Anthi Ntaousani

    Channel Tunnel traffic would resume on Saturday morning, using the southern tunnel which was not affected by the fire that broke out on Thursday, announced Eurostar, which runs passenger trains through the undersea tunnel.

    Ticket holders were advised to present themselves at the scheduled time and wait for the first available train.

    Translated by Areti Christou


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