The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-06-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] A.Samaras Prepping for Elections

Addressing a party event, main Opposition New Democracy President Antonis Samaras implied that his party is prepping itself for election processes, with the forthcoming local elections being top priority.

The ND head also stressed there will be more talks with the party officials in the days to come and especially after the congress scheduled to take place in the coming week.

Furthermore, in his interview with Typos tis Kyriakis paper, Antonis Samaras argued that the Greek government had decided to turn to the support mechanism in November, underlining that the agreement signed between Greece and the troika will lead Greece to an impasse. Touching on intra-party affairs, he heralded changes in the party's leading group.

In the same interview, the ND chief promised "pleasant surprises" in the forthcoming congress, reiterating that those who hurt they party of ND have no place in the party. He further stressed that, irrespective of their intentions, both former ND deputy Dora Bakoyannis and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) President Giorgos Karatzaferis literally helped the ruling party of PASOK.

Finally, referring to former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, he said that his administration's work should not go undefended, adding that he himself would decide what to do.

Source: NET, ANA News item: 37850

[02] World Refugee Day

The figures released Sunday on the occasion of the World Refugee Day are rather discouraging, since at least 43 million people have been displaced due to violence or violation of human rights.

According to the UN refugee agency, about the 75% of those entering Europe illegally have passed through Greece.

Greece's Civil Protection Ministry, on its part, is planning to turn all detention centres into reception centres, as well as to reform procedures that have to do with political asylum. News item: 37849

[03] Social Security Takes "Final Form"

In the meantime, draft-bill on social security system will take its final form this week. Changes finalized include top "ceiling" for pensions, imposition of LAFKA(special tax) as of August on pensions above 1.400 euros, calculation of supplementary pension, and retirement age for mothers with underage children. Employment and Social Security Minister A. Loberdos flew to Geneva on Sunday to attend the 99th International Conference on Employment where issues regarding employment, social security and labour relations will be discussed . Mr. Loberdos will deliver a speech at the conference's plenum on Monday

Source: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8 News item: 37627

[04] Strong Quake Hits near India's Nicobar Islands

A strong, 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near India's Nicobar Islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning for the entire Indian Ocean region. The US Geological Survey said it occurred about 150km west of the Nicobar Islands and 440km from Sumatra, Indonesia. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury and the tsunami warning was downgraded and eventually lifted.

"Sea level readings indicate that a significant tsunami was not generated," the Hawaii-based centre said.

However, India and Sri Lanka issued a separate tsunami warnings for its coastal areas but later withdrew the notice after watching for possible evacuations of people in low-lying areas. The quake, which struck early Sunday, was centered 157 kilometers west of Mohean on the Nicobar Islands at a depth of 33 kilometers.

Source: ÁNA-ÌPA News item: 37600

[05] US Give BP 48 Hours to Improve Oil Leak Plans

A top US Coast Guard official gave British oil firm BP 48 hours to identify additional leak containment capacity. The warning follows new US government data suggesting the flow of oil could be double previous estimates. In a letter to the oil firm, Rear Admiral Watson said: "I am concerned that your current plans do not provide for maximum mobilization of resources to provide the needed collection capacity consistent with revised flow estimates." The letter was dated 11 June and released on Saturday in response to BP plans to contain the spill in a multi-phase operation taking a number of weeks.

"Because those estimates have now been revised and estimate a substantially higher flow of oil from the well, it is clear that additional capacity is urgently needed" said the letter. "BP must identify in the next 48 hours additional leak containment capacity that could be operational and expedited, he said.

Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April and sank off the coast of the US state of Louisiana, killing 11 workers.

In the meantime, US President Barrack Obama and British Prime-minister David Cameron both agreed BP has to do everything possible to stop the leakin the Gulf of Mexico, said the White House.

Source: ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 37599

[06] France: Villepin Launches New Political Movement

The new political movement launched Saturday by Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister and longtime rival of President Nicolas Sarkozy, is bound to bring about changes in France's political scenery.

Addressing a crowd of several thousand people, Villepin laid the foundations for the 2012 presidential race with his movement "Republic Solidarity."

The former Prime Minister had been accused of taking part in a campaign to tarnish the reputation of his rival Nicolas Sarkozy.

The case is still open, since although he was acquitted of all charges, prosecutors appealed the court ruling. Therefore, a new trial has been scheduled to take place in 2011, a year prior to the presidential elections.

Source: NET News item: 37847

[07] Poland Holds Presidential Elections

Poles are going to the poles to elect the successor of late President Lech Kaczynski who was killed in a plane crash on April 10. The about 30 million eligible voters are to choose between eight hopefuls. The polls opened at 0600 hours (Poland local hour) and will close at 2000 hours (Poland local time).

The two candidates who are most likely to fight for the presidency are acting President Bronislaw Komorowski and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, identical twin of Lech Kaczynski.

Polls have suggested that Grzegorz Napieralski, leader of the Democratic Left Alliance, the heir to the once all-powerful communist party, would more likely land third place. In case the winning candidate fails to garner 50% of the ballots, there will be a run-off election on 4 July between the top two contenders.

Source: NET, ANA/MPA, AFP News item: 37846

[08] Crackdown on Tax Evasion

Greece's Financial Crime Enforcement Body (SDOE) is prepping to raid popular summer destinations. In the meantime, inspections take place during weekends, as well, while about 20 night clubs may be forced to shut down.

Finance Ministry officials were quoted as saying that the government's goal is not to shut down small neighbourhood businesses but popular recreation halls so that the market can realize that the government is serious about the crackdown on tax evasion.

Ongoing crosschecks on figures given by professionals, including doctors, lawyers and notaries, are another way of addressing tax evasion.

Apart from inspections in islands and the tourism and recreation industry, the Financial Crime Enforcement Body, having spotted key tax evasion roots, in collaboration with other ministries, will start checking for:

- illegal VAT returns for agricultural products,

- tobacco products smuggling and drug trafficking

- prescriptions at the expense of social security funds

- procurement of medical disposables for public hospitals

- illegal billboard advertising

- OSE's subsidiaries

- procurement of battle ships and submarines.

Furthermore, authorities are crosschecking more than 200 cases of real estates belonging to offshore companies.

Source: NET News item: 37854

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