The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-05-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Support Mechanism Sparks Wrangling in House

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"We want to turn the crisis into a real opportunity," said the Greek Prime Minister from the House podium, while answering to a question posed by SYN President Alexis Tsipras on the deterioration of social indexes. George Papandreou stressed that the recovery of the country's economy and social state is a double bet that has to be won. "The choice had been between collapse and survival. We opted for survival," underlined George Papandreou, further noting that the government managed to guarantee development for the country. Alexis Tsipras, on the other hand, blasted the government for lacking the people's consent to implement the austerity measures he took along with the EU and the IMF.

G. Papandreou: "We Shielded the Country from Default"

After the austerity measures taken, the government's bet is to achieve a viable and just welfare state capable of providing the weak with protection and support, said the Prime Minister.

George Papandreou noted that since development is also required, the government has been feverishly working to attract investments in the country.

Al. Tsipras: "The Measures Are too Much for the People"

Alexis Tsipras spoke of disastrous choices that will drug the country back to the '50s and blasted the government for lacking a plan to address the forthcoming crisis.

He requested all measures, including the new pension bill, be withdrawn and called for a new negotiation, arguing that the measures are too much for the people.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 36785

[02] A Step Closer to Artificial Life

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Scientists working to make a synthetic life form reported a major step forward Thursday, saying they had created an artificial genome and used it to bring a hollowed-out bacterium back to life.

They hope to use their stripped-down version of a bacterium to learn how to engineer custom-made microbes.

But some groups worried the technology might be used to make biological weapons and President Barack Obama asked his bioethics advisers to report on the implications. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee scheduled a hearing for next week to discuss the implications, good and bad.

Others disputed just how far the researchers had gone in making artificial life.

"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made," said genome pioneer Craig Venter, who led the research. "This is the first self-replicating species that we have had on the planet whose parent is a computer."

Other members of his research team said later they had taken only "baby steps" toward the goal of starting with a digital file and custom-making an organism.

Venter has said he would like to try to make bacteria to produce fuel or to use in making better vaccines or to design algae that can vacuum up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

"This becomes a very powerful tool for trying to design what we want biology to do," Venter said at a news conference.

Reporting in the journal Science, Venter's team said it worked with a synthetic version of the DNA from a small bacterium called Mycoplasma mycoides transplanted into another germ called Mycoplasma capricolum, which had most of its insides removed.

After many false starts, the new microbe came to life and began replicating in the lab dish.

Source: REUTERS News item: 36778

[03] "Kallikratis" Plan Was Approved

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The government plan to redraw administrative boundaries and overhaul local governments, known as "Kallikratis", was given thumbs up by the competent Parliament committee late on Thursday. During the last sitting, Interior Minister Giannis Raggoussis made some modifications based on recommendations suggested by the political parties and the parties involved. The opposition parties voted against the plan in principle.

Comments by Opposition Parties

ND deputy Christos Zois expressed his party's satisfaction about the modifications regarding the areas of Siatista and Lidoriki.

Communist cadre N. Papakonstantinou dismissed the "Kallikratis" plan as an "anti-labour policy tool" in the framework of the European Union and the IMF. He further noted that its implementation has worse and more expensive services in store for the citizens.

P. Markakis of LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) argued that the Interior Minister was reduced to thank the parliamentarians on their proposals, but he refused to accept them. He then went on to add that the modifications made are of no essence. News item: 36776

[04] Day Four of National Level Exams

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Candidates for admission to tertiary education were tested Friday on the subjects of History, Biology, Chemistry-Biochemistry and Business Management.

The day went smoothly and the topics did not give the candidates a hard time.

Source: NET 105.8 News item: 36774

[05] Banks Adopt Provisions Favourable to Their Clients

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Greek lenders said they would adopt provisions favourable to their clients in a drive to counterbalance the decrease in their income following the austerity measures taken by the government.

In the meantime, by the decision of Economy Minister Louka Katseli, there will be no raises in the fees for private schools.

The only raise to be allowed is on the transport fees which can be raised up to 40 euros per student.

Source: NET 105.8

News item: 36771

[06] Friday, 21 May 2010 13:20

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There are no translations available.

News item: 36786

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