The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-10-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Promoting a New Charter on World Economy

15 Οκτ 2008 21:42:00 (Last updated: 15 Οκτ 2008 22:59:13)

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA

The global financial crisis and the support measures agreed by the 15 Eurogroup member states in Paros are running high on the agenda of the two-day unscheduled meeting of the EU leaders taking place Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels. The French Presidency, which gave its full backing to British Prime Minister Gordon Browns proposal, is after restoring global financial order through harsher market monitoring, lest the world should come up again crisis situations in the future. Several EU nations have openly admitted that they are on the brink of recession, while others are in danger of being left out of Eurozone. Even those that can still hold, their leaders have estimated they will be hit by the crisis repercussions.

"Need for Talks at International Level"

At the Summit of the 27-nation bloc, the British and the French are pushing forward radical changes in the world financial system with the consent of the German.

With recession knocking the door of a growing number of nations, the EU leaders have admitted that there will be no light at the end of the tunnel unless the rules governing world economy be redefined. Both Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown have proposed a crisis management group that will be on standby on a regular basis.

The British Prime Minister believes a pattern allowing international market monitoring is important, since monitoring still takes place at a national level despite the globalization of economy. He has also suggested that the International Monetary Fund should be restructured, with a view to adjusting to the modern world.

Furthermore, during a press conference he gave a few hours prior to the Summits kick-off, Brown said that the call for a world summit on the economy was mutually accepted. He then went on to add that, apart from the G8 nations, the so-called emerging economies, including China, India, Brazil and South Africa should be invited to attend the summit. The German Chancellor also agreed to a world meeting that would reform the world financial system.

The British head of government argued that the 27 nations had to strike a deal on the measures to be adopted. What the EU leaders are after is to set up a mechanism capable of monitoring banks and to establish restrictions regarding the amount of loans banks can give. They also see a connection between the earnings of executives and the performance of the banks they work for.

Europes three biggest economies, Britain, France and Germany are in a recession, trailed by Spain, Ireland and Denmark. The financial crisis has an adverse influence on the eastern European nations that are prepping themselves to join the euro zone. Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have difficulty in meeting the criteria that will earn them a place among the euro zone nations by 2012.

On the sidelines of the summit, Greeces Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis said that both Greece and the EU backed the need to have the international monetary and banking system reformed. With regard to the Commissions proposals on the Stability Pact, Alogoskoufis argued that Greece was satisfied, the 27 nations would use the projections included in it. He also highlighted the need for a coordinated policy and a collective campaign and that the talks would go on in the coming Ecofin meetings.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Urgent Meeting on Financial Crisis

[02] Said Greece's Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman

15 Οκτ 2008 17:56:00 (Last updated: 15 Οκτ 2008 21:03:04)

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ΝΕΤ-105.8, ANA-MPA

It is the final outcome that proves the success or not of a negotiation, and not its stages, commented Greeces Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos, while touching on the FYROM name dispute.

Koumoutsakos blasted FYROM Prime Minister Nikolas Gruevski for deliberately cultivating nationalism in the heart of the Balkans.

Gruevski Sees "Macedonian Populations"

When asked to comment on Gruevskis latest statements, Koumoutsakos blamed him for cultivating nationalism in his country, a move that would result in his county isolation.

He then dismissed Gruevskis reference to "Macedonian populations" as an unacceptable attempt to interfere in Greeces domestic affairs. "Greek citizens do not need self-appointed advocates; advocates who in fact have an obvious motive," added he, also calling on the FYROM Prime Minister to shift his attention to improving deteriorating democracy in his country.

Asked whether Athens had failed to convince UN envoy Matthew Nimetz and Gruevski, Koumoutsakos said that it is the outcome that proves the success of a negotiation process, not its stages.

Milososki's Statemens on His Country's Name

"The principle of national self-determination and the choice of our name is a European principle and the government of the Republic of Macedonia will protect it. Never has Macedonia dared to impose a name on Greece, therefore Greece has no right to dictate our national name. We are ready for a compromise, but we will no take orders and humiliation," commented FYROM Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Milososki, when asked to comment on FYROMs moves with regard to the negotiations.

The above statements were made during a joint press conference with Italys Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Mantica in Skopje.

"Cheap Propaganda"

Answering questions regarding Skopje allegations about Skopje journalists having being held in Greece, Koumoutsakos said that in every well-governed state, persons entering military zones or facilities without permission and also making video recordings or taking photographs of such areas and facilities always undergo checks by the competent authorities. This was the case when a TV crew from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that was taking photographs and making video recordings, without permission, of a military exercise area on Greek territory was briefly checked. They then were free to stay if they wish. "This is the reality. This is the truth. All the rest is cheap propaganda," concluded he.

In the meantime, James Apaturai, spokesperson of NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer, voiced the latters dissatisfaction over FYROMs news agency, which claimed that Scheffer was willing to bring the incidents that FYROM said had taken place in the northern Greek village of Meliti up to a NATO meeting. None of this was true, said Apaturai.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Internet Offers Brain Workout

Sources: REUTERS

Searching the Internet may help middle-aged and older adults keep their memories sharp, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles studied people doing Web searches while their brain activity was recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging scans.

"What we saw was people who had Internet experience used more of their brain during the search," Dr. Gary Small, a UCLA expert on aging, said in a telephone interview. "This suggests that just searching on the Internet may train the brain, that it may keep it active and healthy," said Small, whose research appears in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Many studies have found that challenging mental activities such as puzzles can help preserve brain function, but few have looked at what role the Internet might play.

His team studied 24 normal volunteers between the ages of 55 and 76. Half were experienced at searching the Internet and the other half had no Web experience. Otherwise, the groups were similar in age, gender and education.

Both groups were asked to do Internet searches and book reading tasks while their brain activity was monitored. "We found that in reading the book task, the visual cortex, the part of the brain that controls reading and language, was activated," Small said. "In doing the Internet search task, there was much greater activity, but only in the Internet-savvy group."

In the aging brain, atrophy and reduced cell activity can take a toll on cognitive function. Activities that keep the brain engaged can preserve brain health and thinking ability.

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