The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] 750,000 Old Cars to Be Scrapped

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2009 17:45

More than half of the cars that have been travelling on the Greek roads for about 15 years are expected to be scrapped with the new programme heralded by the government. All cars to be scrapped will be recycled. Expected to cost about 2.3 billion euros, the programme will be financed by the environmental tax that will be added on the road taxes and by the increased revenues the anticipated rise in new car sales.

The old cars to be removed will be sent to recycling units. About 750,000 cars more than 15 years old are believed to be scrapped up until 2012.The Public Works Ministry expects that the measure will help cut gas emission by 30% in 2012.

Road taxes for cars whose engine capacity ranges from 786 to 1357cc will amount to 94, 162, 212 and 262 euros, depending on their age. From 1358 to 1928cc, road taxes will stand at 184, 252,302 and 352 euros. From 1929 to 2357cc, road taxes will be at 428,496,546 and 596 euros. For cars whose engine capacity is above 2357cc, road taxes will amount to 562, 630, 680 and 730 euros.

Car dealers warmly welcomed the measures, underlining that thousands of pollution-causing cars will be removed and car sales will be given a boost. However, traders of used cars sounded the alarm, since their products were delivered yet another blow.

Source: NET

Related news: Scrapping Old Cars Until 2012

News item: 25119

[02] PASOK Fears Mid-Summer Tension in the Aegean

Addressing his party's Foreign Policy and Defence Council, PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) President George Papandreou feared that Turkey could βmastermindβ mid-summer tension in the Aegean. He also urged the government to avoid taking advantage of such a possibility, in a drive, as he said, to distract the people's attention from the gloomy political situation in the country.

George Papandreou blasted the violations of the Greek airspace, and went on to accuse the government of being unable to deal with thorny issues pertaining to foreign and defence policy.

Touching on Turkey's EU bid, the Socialist leader reconfirmed his backing to Turkey's EU future, underlining, at the same time, that the neighbouring nation has to fully commit itself to the obligations it undertook as a candidate nation.

Papandreou then called on the government to make the best of Turkey's EU drive, something which it failed to do, wasting momentous opportunities in the past.

Shifting his attention to the continental shelf, Papandreou said that the government missed the historic chance given by the Helsinki strategy to work it out through the Hague.

He estimated, however, that Greece still has potentials and termed the December Summit as a corner stone for the EU-Turkish relation. βGreece has the chance to decisively redefine its ties with Turkey and cement its interests in all matters, including that of illegal immigration,β said George Papandreou.

Greece, underlined Papandreou, should not give its consent in December unless Turkey proves it will to comply with the EU standards. Addressing the government, he stressed that no one should take Greece for granted in December.

With regard to the FYROM name row and the recent visit of UN envoy Matthew Nimetz to Athens and Skopje, the Greek Socialist leader underscored that the government has not yet brief the main opposition party on the new suggestions Nimetz brought with him, and reiterated that Greece has to remain steadfast on a national red line.

Source: NET, ANA

News item: 25118

[03] Greek House Honours Giscard d'Estaing

Former French President Giscard d'Estaing was granted Thursday morning the Democracy Award by Greek Speaker Dimitris Sioufas, before Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Dimitris Sioufas stressed that the award pays homage to Giscard d'Estaing's decisive contribution to the shaping of a unified Europe and his key role in Greece's accession to the European family.

He then hailed the former French President as Greece's ally and real friend.

Giscard d'Estaing, on his part, stressed that Democracy in Greece can help the European Union, which is still suffering from a democratic deficit.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 25111

[04] 33yo Male in Serious yet Stable Condition

Health services in Greece are on alert to quickly tackle a possible H1N1 virus spread. Experts have called on citizens to remain calm and be cautious with their personal hygiene. In the meantime, the 33-year-old male suffering from pneumonia is in a critical yet stable condition.

He has been feverless for a whole day, while he seems to be reacting to the medication given to him.Despite slight signs of recovery, his doctors remain cautious, describing his condition serious, yet critical.

Source: NET

Related news: Political Wrangling over Swine Flu

News item: 25112

[05] The EU Is after a Safe Vaccine

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2009 19:25

The H1N1 flu is spreading rapidly. Mourning 31 deaths, Britain hopes to have the vaccine ready in September. EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, on her part, highlighted the need for confirmation that the vaccine is safe before its circulation.

Εμβόλιο εγκεκριμένο και ασφαλές

We do not want a vaccine that could cause more problems, therefore we prefer to wait until we get an approved vaccine safe to the people, stressed EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.

With the world's first human trials of an H1N1 virus vaccine being now underway in Australia and the United Kingdom getting ready to follow suit, the EU is after a safe vaccine, even if this means it will take some time before its circulation.

We do not want a vaccine that could cause more problems, therefore we prefer to wait until we get an approved vaccine safe to the people, stressed EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.We will keep using the two anti-virus medicines, yet I would like to stress that no one should get them without prescription, added she.

Source: NET, ANA

News item: 25109

[06] Meeting on Prison Corruption

Heads of the 15 prosecutor offices nationwide requested strengthening of prison prosecutors' institutional role as an effective measure to combat corruption in disciplinary institutions during a first meeting called on by Supreme Court Prosecutor Ioannis Tentes. Taking of preventive and enforcement measures among them permanent and intensive inspections and full briefing of the Prosecutor's Authority was the outcome of the meeting. The heads of the 15 prosecutor offices are to submit their reports to Supreme Court Prosecutor's Office in due time while some reports will be submitted to the Justice Ministry so to proceed to legal regulations.

Building Explosion Program Found in Trikala Prison

Speaking to a local radio station, Trikala prison director Basilis Dafos said that he had found a building explosion program in electronic form at the Trikala prison yard a few days ago. Trikala Police chief reconfirmed the finding of a portable memory, which is still st the police station, but belied its content.

Source: ΝΕΤ 105.8

News item: 25107

[07] Artificial Brain Ready in 10 Years

A detailed, functional artificial human brain can be built within the next 10 years, a leading scientist has claimed. Henry Markram, director of the Blue Brain Project, has already simulated elements of a rat brain.

He told the TED Global conference in Oxford that a synthetic human brain would be of particular use finding treatments for mental illnesses. Around two billion people are thought to suffer some kind of brain impairment, he said. "It is not impossible to build a human brain and we can do it in 10 years," he said. "And if we do succeed, we will send a hologram to TED to talk."

The Blue Brain project was launched in 2005 and aims to reverse engineer the mammalian brain from laboratory data.

In particular, his team has focused on the neocortical column - repetitive units of the mammalian brain known as the neocortex. "It's a new brain," he explained. "The mammals needed it because they had to cope with parenthood, social interactions complex cognitive functions.

"It was so successful an evolution from mouse to man it expanded about a thousand fold in terms of the numbers of units to produce this almost frightening organ." And that evolution continues, he said. "It is evolving at an enormous speed."

The project now has a software model of "tens of thousands" of neurons - each one of which is different - which has allowed them to digitally construct an artificial neocortical column.

Although each neuron is unique, the team has found the patterns of circuitry in different brains have common patterns.

"Even though your brain may be smaller, bigger, may have different morphologies of neurons - we do actually share the same fabric," he said. "And we think this is species specific, which could explain why we can't communicate across species."

Source: BBC

News item: 25113

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