The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-10-07

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Coordinated Response

07 Οκτ 2008 14:02:00 (Last updated: 07 Οκτ 2008 19:10:26)

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA

Amid anxiety and uncertainty sparked by the global financial crisis, the Finance Ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed Tuesday in Luxemburg to hike the minimal levels of bank deposit guarantee in the EU from 20,000 euros to at least 50,000 euros, with a view to tackling the global financial crisis. However, some EU nations said they would guarantee deposits up to 100,000 euros. Earlier, the EU Finance Ministers noted that campaigns to break the impasse should take place at national level. Europe works in unison to combat the financial crisis and is intent on concerted actions, commented French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde.

Statements by Alogoskoufis

Greece intends to guarantee deposits up to 100,000 euros, said Greek Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis shortly after the EcoFin meeting.

"We intend to submit the relevant amendment to Parliament really soon and raise the limit from 20,000 to 100,000 euros," commented Alogoskoufis.

He also noted that the Government would commit itself to its pledge to do whatever it takes to safeguard the bank deposits of the Greek people. "It is a political commitment which we clearly made last week," stressed Alogoskoufis.

The Netherlands said it would also guarantee bank deposits up to 100,000 euros. However, Denmark, Finland and the eastern European newcomers argued that such an amount would weigh down their state budgets. It was their reservations that talked the EcoFin out of raising the minimum bank deposit guarantee to 100,000 euros for all EU members.

[02] Prime-minister Visits Development Ministry

07 Οκτ 2008 14:07:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8-ΑNA/ΜPA

Prime-minister, Kostas Karamanlis paid surprise visit to the Development Ministry to be briefed on the situation in the market. Mr. Karamanlis called the Ministrys leadership to intensify market inspections and impose strict fines in cases of illicit profiteering. We must all do whatever it takes to deal with long standing problems in the market while he assured he was fully aware of the problems of low-income pensioners and workers.

Measures to Deal with Crisis

Prime-minister, Kostas Karamanlis called the Development Ministry leadership to promote draft bills providing for the setting up of market inspection service and enforcement of Competition Committee as well as to avert difference in price of the same product in Greece and its price abroad. He also called the Development Ministry to accelerate its efforts to deal with price rises. He once again spoke of turbulences in international economy and high pressures on inflation rate. He admitted that low-income pensioners and workers are facing problems and underlined that the government is doing whatever possible to alleviate the impact of the financial crisis.

Government spokesman, Evangelos Antonaros said the Prime-minister is paying visits to Ministries as he has done in the past and there is no other interpretation to these visits. "The government was elected a year ago to stay in office for a specific time. The government has the willingness and the Parliamentary majority to materialize the Prime-ministers commitments", he stressed.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[03] Papandreou Speech to PASOK PG

07 Οκτ 2008 10:38:00

PASOK leader George Papandreou used the term political reversal to refer to the recent political climate on the grounds of recent polls results. "Reversal of political correlation is not statistical but political, stemming from the results of the governments policy and PASOK proposals for the countrys exit from the crisis caused by the ND partys political selections", stressed Mr. Papandreou. Regarding the international crisis, which has not hit Greece yet, Mr. Papandreou said that PASOK will propose and support any measure that will help the country. "Priority lies on easing depositors concern that no bank will collapse in Greece and we have no doubt that the ND will meet its political commitment to guarantee savings, however, we insist on a legislative regulation to increase the present 20.000 ceiling. Finally, Mr. Papandreou emerged certain that citizens have turned to PASOKs plan to deal with their problems, forecasting that PASOK will be the next government as the ND party is dealing with its domestic problems. "The ND leadership was angered but did not name against who, such as those responsible for the structured bonds case and danger of social security system, those responsible for tappings, Batopedio case, corruption among its senior staff and sell out of public wealth by its Ministers".

[04] On Wednesday

07 Οκτ 2008 09:57:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Metro and suburban railway services have been cancelled on Wednesday due to the 24-hour strike announced by GSEE. HSAP buses and trolley buses are staging work stoppages from the start of the morning shift till 08:00 and from 10:00 to the end of the night shift. The tram is also staging stoppages from 05:00 to 05:50pm and from 12:00 to 12:45. Buses to the airport will run regular services after 12:00. Hellenic Railways Company will run only the so called "social services" while Olympic Airways company strike means that about 100 domestic and foreign flights will be cancelled. Participation of Civil Aviation employees in the strike will have an impact on other companies flights. OTE and state hospitals employees will also stage work stoppages on Wednesday while GSEE has organized a rally at 11:00 at Klathmonos Square.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[05] Nimetz's New Proposal on Wednesday

Sources: NET, ANA-MPA

UN envoy Matthew Nimetz kicks off Tuesday a new round of talks on the FYROM name dispute.

Nimetz is to hold separate meetings with the representatives of the two sides on Tuesday evening and a joint one at the Organisations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, when he is expected to submit an official proposal.

Touching on the matter, Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said that the Greeces position on the name issue is firm and unchanged. With regard to Nimetzs new proposal, he refused to comment on the procedure underway, further adding that the text to be introduced by the UN envoy will be assessed.

In the meantime, FYROM is having a hard time in shaping a unanimous stance. The meeting Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski called Monday in Skopje failed to reach an agreement.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Australia: 30 Injured in emergency Landing

At least 30 people were injured, 15 of them suffered ``serious injuries, including fractures and severe lacerations when a Quantas Airways flight QF72 from Singapore to Perth made emergency landing after experiencing a sudden change in altitude. The A330-300 aircraft carrying 303 passenger and 10 crew members was diverted to Learmonth airport near Exmouth, about 1,300km north of Perth. No details were immediately available to explain the altitude change, Qantas said. Perth Airport, where the plane should have landed, said in a statement the flight experienced ``severe clear air turbulence. The incident mainly affected passengers and crew at the rear of the aircraft and there were no reports of damage to the plane. Australias largest airline has experienced other safety scares in recent months. Last month, the government ordered the airline to improve the maintenance of its planes. On July 25, a Qantas aircraft made an emergency landing in Manila after an oxygen tank exploded, puncturing the planes fuselage at 8,800 meters. On Aug. 2, a Qantas flight was forced to return to Sydney, where the airline is based, soon after takeoff due to a fluid leak in a wing. A Qantas flight en route to Melbourne returned to Adelaide Airport after the doors covering a wheel bay didnt close following takeoff.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[07] Halkia Testified Today

Legal investigation regarding the doping cases reported in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games started today. Olympic champion Fani Halkia and her trainer Giorgos Panayiotopoulos testified today to the prosecutor Kostantinos Simitzoglou who called them to give explanations. The Greek athlete was found positive to an anti doping control on illegal substances. According to information, Halkia and her trainer claim that that they never used such substances.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] Oil Prices Under $ 90 per Barrel

Crude oil dropped $6.07 - 6.5 percent - to close at $88.89 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Its the lowest price in eight months, and about 40 percent below a peak of $145 a barrel in the summer. Kinsman and other industry observers attributed the drop to decreased demand brought on by high prices and worldwide economic concerns.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[09] European Measures for the Protection of Bank Depos

07 Οκτ 2008 09:24:00 (Last updated: 07 Οκτ 2008 15:22:42)

Sources: Reuters

European governments in Eurogroups meeting yesterday struggled to shelter banks and bank depositors from a global financial crisis that is eroding confidence, endangering the economy and challenging their ability to respond as one. Basic principles for the rescue of the financial system will be discussed today in Ecofins meeting. At the same time, Russian president Dimitri Medvedev asked for immediate international measures in order to tackle the crisis. Emerging markets, which had gained most from the surging global expansion in the last three years, were sucked into the vortex. Trading was halted in markets as far afield as Brazil and Russia when stocks plunged. Stocks in London fell almost 8%. The Paris market slid 9%, its steepest retreat since 1987. Russian shares fell 19.1%; those in Brazil dropped 4.4% after falling as much as 15%. Tokyo shares fell 5% to a five-year low. U.S. retail gasoline prices fell 15 cents a gallon over the last week, dropping below an average $3.50 a gallon for the first time in six months, the government said on Monday.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] Killer Committed Suicide

07 Οκτ 2008 08:44:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ANA, German News Agency, Reuters

An unemployed financial adviser apparently despaired over his troubles shot and killed his wife, his mother-in-law and three children before taking his own life in Los Angeles police said Monday. Police say they believe that the gunman shot the victims sometime Saturday evening, and that he left behind three letters. One letter, addressed to law enforcement, confessed to the shootings. He wrote a second letter to friends. The third letter, police said, appeared to be a will.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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