The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-09-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Meeting at the Bank of Greece

22 Σεπ 2008 13:48:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8-ΑNA/ΜPA

The government and competent authorities are on the alert to deal with secondary impacts on the economy deriving from the world financial crisis. In his statement after the meeting at the Bank of Greece, Prime-minister Kostas Karamanlis stressed that all efforts aim at the best coordination of the financial system inspection authorities to ensure a safe climate for the Greek economy despite negative world circumstances. The government committee, which convenes on Tuesday, will center talks on the international credit crisis impact to the Greek economy. Government spokesman Thodoros Roussopoulos said that the governments decision is to support low-income groups of people to restrain effects to the least extent.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[02] Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis

22 Σεπ 2008 15:02:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105,8-ΑNA/ΜNA

Finance minister Mr. Giorgos Alogoskoufis delivering a speech in the Financial and Social Committee for 2008-210 national plan on reforms, focused at the materialization of the reforms and the continuation of the governments efforts for the elimination of public deficit. Employment minister Mrs. Fani Palli-Petralia stressed that our country is working on the adoption of a model of full time and qualitative working positions.

"Better to be Useful than Agreeable"

"Its better for someone to be useful in the society and the citizens than to be agreeable", minister of economy said. Mr. Alogoskoufis underlined that the government succeeded in reducing unemployment up to 4 points, in raising income per head up to 98% of the European average and in reinforcing productivity. He also stressed that measures for the protection of financially weaker citizens are the governments priorities.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Targets at Unification

22 Σεπ 2008 11:21:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ-105,8

PASOK political council is convening now in the partys central offices under its president G. Papandreou on its political agenda. The opposition party targets at preserving the positive results of recent gallops showing that it is on the lead. On reference to a possible reshuffle of the governmental cabinet, Mr. Papandreou said in his speech yesterday, that the governmental party needs to change its policies and not to reshuffle the ministers. Our duty is to preserve the birthplace of our culture, Mr. Papandreou said. On reference to Mr. Papandreous statements state minister, Thodoris Roussopoulos answered that this is not the time for overpowering promises. Citizens do not need big words but works for Greece and the citizens that the government adopts with consistency. PASOK Press representative Mr. Giorgos Papakostantinou stated that all gallops confirm the fact that the opposition party is in the lead. However, there is still a long way, he added. What is important is the gallops message to be preserved.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Gallops Raise Concern

22 Σεπ 2008 15:32:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

Recent gallops recording PASOK being in the lead trigger internal procedures in political parties. According to gallops conducted yesterday for Sunday Press, the opposition party is ahead New Democracy up to 2.6%. Gallops also indicated that 43.7% of respondents consider the Prime-minister most appropriate for the post. In New Democracy, MPs and ministers are expecting initiatives to be adopted by the Prime Minister who is looking into suggestions and measures in order to copy with citizens every day problems. PASOK in the other side seems pleased with the results.

Parliament Plenums convention in two weeks is expected to trigger debate. New Democracys central committee will meet on Friday at the sight of the new parliamentary season.

Governmental spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed that every government and citizen is concerned about the results of the latest gallops that must be taken into serious consideration by the government. "We are making the treatment of problems a political action. As for example, Olympic airways: PASOK governments did nothing the previous years", while the government will resolve the issue, he said. As per possible political co operations in Parliament, Mr. Roussopoulos answered that New Democracy believes that majority governments are those benefiting the country the most.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] Roussopoulos' Letter

State Minister and Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos presented in a letter sent to newspaper TA NEA detailed evidence on the loans he took out to purchase along with his wife Mara Zaharea the property they own. Roussopoulos said that he took out loans amounting to 990,000 euros from 2000 to 2007 to purchase the residences he owns in Kapandriti, Psyhiko and on Paros island. He then hoped that his detailed letter would put an end to the confusion opposition MPs and some media struggled to create with a view to deliberately distorting the truth.

[06] "We Are Better," Say McCain and Palin

22 Σεπ 2008 11:48:00

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ΝΕΤ

John McCain and his presidential mate Sarah Palin are struggling in any way they can to prove that it is them who are capable of addressing the financial market and not the Democratic duo of Barack Obama and Jo Biden.

Palin blasted the lender heads for corruption and focused attention to the Republicans ability to revive economy.

Obama and McCain admitted, though, that they agreed with the Bush administration plan to channel 700 billion dollars into the market.

However, the Democratic presidential candidate argued that the plan to have the US economy revived had to be monitored by an independent authority.

In the meantime, John McCain kept lashing out at Barack Obama, claiming that his rival had no leading skills.

Polls in Florida, Ohio and Missouri, on the other hand, have suggested that Obama and McCain are on neck-and-neck race, while the latest nationwide poll gave the Illinois Senator the lead.

[07] Britain: Father Kills his Two Children and Suicides

The bodies of a 30 years old man and his two juvenile children were found dead in a garage in Southampton. According to Sun newspaper, the man was found hung while his children died of suffocation. He had custody of the children over the weekend, and telephoned his estranged wife threatening to kill the two of them, according to Sky News. The childrens mother is then thought to have alerted the police, with emergency services discovering the three bodies at a garage where the man used to work, in Paynes Road, Southampton.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] Dark Galaxy Discovered

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: ANA/MPA

A group of astronomers led by Marla Geha, an assistant professor of astronomy at Yale University, discovered the least luminous galaxy known, which is surprisingly massive. Called Segue 1, the galaxy is one of about two dozen small satellite galaxies orbiting our own Milky Way galaxy. Although it contains only a few hundred stars, yet it has a relatively large mass.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] 13 Babies Die in Turkish Hospital

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA, MNA. AFP

Turkish health authorities are investigating the death of 13 newly babies of died in one day in Turkish hospital. The incident was reported at a hospital in the western city of Izmir. Mehmet Ozkan, who heads the Izmir health department, says a team of investigators is looking into the deaths. Turkish newspapers have suggested that a hospital infection may have caused the deaths. In July, more than two-dozen newborns died at a hospital in the capital, Ankara. Government-appointed doctors investigating the deaths said a shortage of personnel was to blame.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] US Plan to Address Financial Crisis

22 Σεπ 2008 10:14:00 (Last updated: 22 Σεπ 2008 17:29:36)

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA-MPA, AFP

Asian markets have shown clear signs of recovery after the US government proposed a US$700 billion plan to solve the world financial crisis. The move was embraced by investors.

In China, the Shanghai Composite Index soared 5.37 percent, the Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.98 percent. Taiwans market gained 1.53 percent, while those in Manila, New Zealand and Jakarta rose 2.90, 1.90 and 1.06 percent respectively.

The Bush administration is to submit to Congress a two-year-long plan to address the financial crisis. Under the plan, the countrys Financial Ministry will rescue US-based banks from billions of dollars in risky mortgage debt. The plan means to reduce the risk of a new collapse, said a Societe Generale investor in Tokyo.

In the meantime, the US Federal Reserve said it approved applications on Sunday from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to become bank holding companies, enabling them to take deposits, borrow permanently from the central bank, while putting them under supervision of the central bank.

Translated by Areti Christou

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