The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-12-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Ministers' Council Meeting to Discuss 5 D/Bs

Prime-minister George Papandreou will chair a meeting of the Ministers' Council at noon on Friday and he is expected to repeat the government's decision to proceed to the necessary structural reforms and call on Ministers to accelerate their materialization. Talks will focus on five draft-bills concerning structural reforms. On Monday, the prime-minister will meet with the President of the European Commission Jose Barosso in Brussels, shortly before the crucial EU Summit Meeting that will examine the creation of a European permanent rescue mechanism. International Monetary Fund chief Diminique Sraus Khan and European Commissioner for Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn will visit Athens next week.

The Ministers' Council is centering talks on draft-bill regarding creation of national School for Judicial Officials, saving of data produced or electronically submitted for processing, reception and recording of sound and picture in public sites, structural reforms in health system, setting up of Port and Coast Guard Body as well as Hydrocarbons sector.

Mr. Papandreou, in his speech at the European Socialist Party meeting in Poland, repeated his proposal for taxation of financial transactions and issue of euro bonds to address the crisis, stressing the need for a response to tough austerity promoted by the European center-right wing.

"Growth is the only answer to exit from the financial crisis", ND party leader Antonis Samaras told European diplomats in Athens, adding "the government's policy leads to deeper recession".

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA, ÍÅÔ

News item: 50384

[02] Storms and Drop in Temperatures

Meteorological Service has forecast deterioration of weather on Friday with heavy rains and storms and drop in temperatures. Due to high winds some sea services were suspended. Passengers travelling by sea are advised to call local ports. Weather will start gradually improving from Saturday afternoon.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 50522

[03] 51st Thessaloniki Film Festival

The 51st Thessaloniki International Film Festival, under new director Dimitris Eipidis, loyal to cinefils, opens on December 3rd and will last till December, 12, 2010. The Festival will take place at the historical site of the institution, Olympion, Pavlos Melas and the halls in the Port. ERT S.A is the sponsor of the festival.

About 20 films from all parts of the world, oriented on independent cinema will be screened while events during the 10-day Film Festival include open talks, masterclasses, surprises, renowned guests that will breath a lively atmosphere and fruitful interaction to the city of Thessaloniki.

OPEN HORIZONS

"Open Horizons" is the new section introduced at the 51st Film Festival, and represents a revival of the very successful "New Horizons" parallel section of TIFF. Current TIFF director Dimitris Eipides reintroduces and renews the section he directed from 1992 to 2005. The new section will focus on works that represent contemporary trends in worldwide independent film, as well as original, and socially minded films.

News item: 50315

[04] Qantas A380 Safe Landing

A Qantas Airbus A380 superjumbo made an emergency landing in Singapore airport after one of its four engines exploded shortly after take off. Qantas Airways has grounded its fleet of Airbus A380s for further inspections.

Qantas Grounds its Airbus A380 Fleet

Flight QF32, which originated in London, was travelling from Singapore to Sydney with 433 passengers and 26 crew on board.

France's BEA aviation safety authority and the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch will join a probe led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

A team of air crash investigators is being sent to Australia to assist in the investigation on the cause of the failure.

The incident prompted Qantas to ground its fleet of six A380 jets until the cause of the malfunction has been determined. Airbus Á380 is the biggest passenger craft.

Thriller in the Air

It was initially reported that the plane exploded in the air and debris from the plane were found in Indonesian island of Batam.

Indonesian television has broadcast pictures of debris from Qantas Airbus A380. On the Indonesian island of Batam, witnesses said they heard an explosion as the plane flew overhead, and pieces of debris were discovered.

Qantas shares plunged after reports of the plane's crash but recovered soon after the good news.

Source: BBC - ÁNA - ÌPA

News item: 45606

[05] Haifa Fire out of Control

At least 41 people have died and 17 have been injured, two of them in critical condition, in the Carmel region near Haifa in what is thought to be Israel's largest forest fire. The fire is raging since Thursday and has not been brought under control due to high winds. Greek firefighting air-crafts have arrived in Israel while Turkey, France and Aizerbaitzan and Russia have dispatched two water bombers each, Croatia and Rumania one aircraft each and Cyprus has sent three aircrafts. The US is sending a Boeing 747 with flame retardant material.

"Lost Control of Fire"

Police have not released final death toll as only 11 bodies have been recognized and many people are still missing and investigation continues.

Some 370 firefighters are battling against flames but inefficiency of means forced Israeli Prime-minister Benjamin Netaniahu to make urgent appeal for foreign help.

More than 15.000 residents of the region south of Haifa have abandoned their homes.

Concerns had been growing in the media about the potential effects of the unusually warm, dry conditions that ultimately caused the blaze in Galilee to spread.

Benjamin Netaniahu, who visited the region spoke of "unprecedented destruction, never seen so far".

"We lost control of the fire", admitted spokesman for Haifa Fire department, while Public Security Minister said it was impossible to estimate when the fire fronts would be brought under control.

Of the 41 killed in the blaze 36 were prison guards travelling on a bus sent to help evacuate Damon prison and the bus they were travelling was trapped in the inferno by a fallen tree in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa.

Sources: BBC, REUTERS, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 50416

[06] Trichet: "Euro Is Reliable Currency"

"Euro is a reliable currency and it is not facing a crisis", European Central Bank chief Zean Claude Trichet told French television network RTL, on Friday. Trichet statements came one day after ECB announcement that it will keep basic interest rate unchanged and support banks till first quarter in 2011. In response to a relevant question, Mr. Trichet refused that austerity measures lead euro region countries into deeper recession.

"Euro Is not Facing Crisis"

"I suggest we realized we have a reliable currency. Euro currency is not facing crisis", ECB chief Zean Claude Trichet told RTL television network.

"Some European countries have financial stability problems due to fiscal crisis", and added "ECB has decided to offer unlimited liquidity that may last one week, one month there months".

"We maintain the same 1% interest level -as it was before the meeting- and we believe our mission is to offer our people price stability", said Jean Claude Trichet.

"We have decided that our target is to achieve best possible transmission of our monetary policy", he said.

Sources: French News Agency, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 50504

[07] SDOE Issued Fines Worth â¬4bn

Internal Revenue (SDOE) inspectors have issued fines worth 4 billion euros for tax evasion to recreation boat owners, doctors declaring low income but having millions in bank accounts, 1.500 ship repair businesses and fashion houses. SDOE head Yiannis Kapelleris said that the above inspections had been carried out till the end of November.

An inspection on 2.250 doctors, declaring incomes that are not in accordance with their bank accounts, is in progress.

Three fashion houses that declared an average â¬40.000 annual income while opening of their bank accounts showed undeclared income mounting to 1.200.000 euros.

299 people had registered their boats as professional to avoid taxation. Characteristic is the case of a renowned boat owner who paid 2.5 million euros in tax to register his boat as recreational.

SDOE is also carrying inspections in 1.500 businesses in ship repair field. Due to their exemption from VAT, in many cases they did not issue any receipts.

ANA

News item: 50252

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