The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-01-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Website Warns Drivers Traffic Police E-Check Points

By Vagelis Theodorou

Greek drivers seem to be counteracting, in an attempt to protect themselves from Traffic Police check points. A website on the Internet contains an analytical map of the country, in which the exact positions of the check points are noted and the techniques used by the Police i.e. hand-held speed radars, alcohol tests, the Road Codes of Conduct violations checked i.e. seat belts, and violation of speed limit. The checkpoints are divided per area and are described analytically. For instance, the website speaks of a check point in "the Tempi tollhouses, for speed violation of over 80 miles per hour, with hand held radars, a little before Tempis entrance, 2 km before the tollhouses with an unmarked police car parked on the right, but you can go full speed from the new double lanes."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Konstantinos Priotakis Greek Missing Person in Southeast Asia Found

By Vagelis Theodorou

Nearly a month after the deadly tsunami struck Southeast Asia, a Greek missing person was found unharmed. Konstantinos Priotakis of Athanasios has contacted his family and is well in his health. After the confirmation of the information by his family, Mr Priotakis is taken off from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list, which was made on December 31, 2004, and up to this moment the number of missing Greek citizens is six.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Marianne, Please Come Back!

By Vagelis Theodorou

What if he sent her flowers, and left many messages of love and devotion to her answering machine, Marianne remained adamant and refuses to return to her husband, who she left two weeks ago. In a state of despair, love struck Larry turned for help to a local Florida newspaper, publishing a full-page ad and paying 17,000 dollars for it! Larry wrote "life without you has no meaning" in his request ad in the Florida Times Union newspaper, while the drawing depicted a man kneeling in front of an evening gown clad woman. "Please call me," he begs. Speaking to another newspaper, desperate Larry explained that he published the ad just so the whole world will know how much he loves Marianne. Even if the woman cried her eyes out when she read the ad, as her relatives state, she did not call him back.

Hang in there Larry! There are plenty of fish in the sea!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] He Met With PM Anastasiadis at Maximos Mansion Over Cypriot Issue

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: ANA - NET RADIO 105.8

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and DISY President Nikos Anastasiadis met at the Maximos Mansion for an hour. Mr Anastasiadis expressed his views and concerns to the PM, noting that his policy aims at initiatives that will prevent the partition of Cyprus. "I believe," said the President of the Democratic Rally of Cyprus, "that a common resultant will be found, so as to formulate such views and policies that will lead Cyprus on the right track," while as he stressed, his main concern is to prevent the partition of Cyprus. Asked to comment State Department spokesperson Richard Bouchers statements that fortunes are an issue to negotiate over, he said: "I vehemently disagree, it is not an issue to negotiate over, it is a primary element for the solution of the Cypriot issue and all necessary measures should have been taken for the prevention of illegal expropriation of Greek-Cypriot fortunes."

Meeting With KKE Secretary General

Mr Anastasiadis also added that what should concern the most is not third party positions, but facts and developments, noting that changes as time goes by can only do harm to the Greek-Cypriot side.

DISY (Democratic Rally of Cyprus) President met earlier today with KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga, who was rather optimistic regarding the solution of the Cypriot issue, as long as it remains part of the Annan plan and stated that "although the European Union has the power, it cannot play an essential role to the solution of the Cypriot issue because of interests." Mrs Papariga was in favour of a bizonal federation, but mostly, as she said, Cyprus should have one domination, because any other development will cause serious problems to the Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish-Cypriots.

Mr Anastasiadis refuted information regarding the postponement of his trip to Ankara, clarifying that there are only minor problems to the formation of a schedule.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Justice Ministry Tightens Reins

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET 105.8 - ANA

Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras briefed the PM Kostas Karamanlis on the incidents of corruption noted in the area of Justice. The two men discussed the implementation of measures to stamp out corruption. Furthermore, Mr Papaligouras conveyed to the PM his intentions with regard to the Ministrys priorities, starting with more expedient attribution of justice and the humanization of the correctional system. On Monday, the Justice Minister is expected to announce a tougher legislative framework for the stamping out and avoidance of similar cases in the future. According to sources, the offence of judge bribing will be converted from a misdemeanor to a felony, while the number of inspectors will increase, and their responsibilities will be reinforced. Furthermore, a special crime unit that will be set up by the Supreme Court, which will conduct the judges fiscal auditing, while judges who delay on passing ruling will be removed from those cases.

Focus on Giosakis' Case

In the meantime, the Metropolitan Bishop of Ilia, Germanos, is appearing before the Assistant Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court at the moment, as part of the investigation that is being conducted by the Court for behind-the-scene judicial problems.

Furthermore, Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis, who has left the country, is expected to appear before the Piraeus examiner in the next few days for a case of illegal antique trading. In the meantime, a total of 34 judicial files relating to Mr Giosakis are being reopened by the Piraeus Public Prosecutors Office

Actually, the Metropolitan Bishop of Thiva, Ieronimos, also accused Giosakis of interfering with the Archbishops election in 1998, claiming that he had been visited by Giosakis and a judicial officer and was asked to withdraw his candidacy in return for a monetary reward.

Supreme Court Chief Justice's Proposals

In the meantime, according to information, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Greece proposed to the Justice Minister that the process whereby chief justices of major courts throughout the country are appointed should change. Specifically, he asked for the abolishment of the self-governing of courts.

After meeting the Minister in his chambers, Mr Kapos suggested that the chief justices should be a rank higher than the respective courts they rule in (eg the First Instance Court to be headed by an Appellate Judge); the appointment of chief justices for First Instance Courts to be made by the Appellate Judges plenary session; and the appointment of the chief justice of the Appellate Court to be made by the Supreme Court plenary session.

Furthermore, he proposed for the three-member administration of the major courts to be selected by the plenary sessions of the respective courts, while he also suggested that the body of Supreme Court inspectors should be made up of assistant professors who are also Appellate Judges.

According to sources, the Supreme Court will set up a special unit, presided by the Assistant Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, which will deal exclusively with the financial affairs of judges and will investigate accusations regarding inappropriate behaviour or commitment of illegal actions.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Appellate Justice for Olympiacos and Panionios

By Vasilis Kalpinos

The appeals lodged by Olympiacos and Panionios against the Hellenic Association of Football Clubs (EPAE) first ruling were accepted in part by the Appellate Court. Specifically, the three points that had been deducted were returned to the two teams, while at the same time the court ruled that the match between the two teams, which did not take place due to the incidents in Nea Smyrni, will be played. A date was not set for the match, however, it will have to be scheduled for sometime in the next 15 days.

Some Penalties Remain

Furthermore, the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) maintained the ruling regarding the matches to be played behind closed doors. In particular, both teams will play the next four home matches in G. Karaiskakis and Nea Smyrni without the presence of fans. Meanwhile, the 300,000 and 100,000-euro fines imposed on Olympiacos and Panionios respectively will also have to be paid, as well as the penalty imposed on Panionios member Achilleas Beos.

Olympiacos at the Top

Following the Appellate Courts irrevocable decision, the standings in the rankings for the Greek Football Championship have changed. Olympiacos returned to the top with 34 points, while Panionios moved up to 8th place, along with OFI, with 20 points.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Alabi Goes to OFI

By Ilias Papaioannou

OFI has followed the example of Ergotelis, which acquired Cameroonian NGassam Nana Falemi, and set forth in acquiring an African player as well. 19-year-old Nigerian Alabi Rachid signed a 4.5 years contract, after an 18-day participation in the teams training session, while Giannis Chatzinikolaou gave the green light for his acquirement. Alabi is the third player transfer during the season of January.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] SEGAS Investigates Charges

By Ilias Papaioannou

Tomorrow at 10:00, the Judicial Committee of SEGAS will investigate the case of Kostas Kenteris, Katerina Thanou and Christos Tzekos. The 5-member Committee will hold its meeting in the Hellenic Olympic Committee Building in Marousi, while the two Olympians and their coach have been called in to state their opinions, According to paragraph 5 of article 18 of SEGAS Charter, the verdicts of the Judicial Committee are liable only in the ratification of the Board Council, which is not authorized to change or reject the verdicts, which should be made at the end of February, at the latest.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] Get Active and Change Your Metabolism Hyperactive and Fit

By Viki Keleri

Sources: BBC

Are you nervous and hyperactive? Can you not sit still for more than a few minutes? If you have answered yes to the above, then you are one of the lucky people that do not have to work hard to keep their silhouette. This emerges from a research by Mayo Clinic, which was based on the trousers of the volunteers. No, this is not a joke. The researchers split the volunteers in two groups, the lean and hyperactive and the obese and inactive. In following, they placed a special mechanism in their trousers, which recorded every small movement. The findings revealed that the calories burned from our everyday activities is much more important than what was initially thought of, for our silhouette.

Revealing Report

The mechanism used for monitoring the volunteers is the same, which is used in the tracking radars of Air Force fighter aircrafts.

The scientists were able to view the stance and movements of the volunteers bodies, of the two teams, every half second on a screen.

In the first phase of the experiment, the volunteers of the two groups were asked to wear the microchip trousers for 10 days and to follow their usual daily program. The evidence that was collected was then processed in a computer with the exact weight of every volunteer.

In following for 10 days, each one of the teams had to follow a special dietary program. The lean group daily consumed 1,000 calories more than usual, while the obese group consumed 1,000 calories less. The researchers continued to monitor the pace of movement of all the volunteers

After the completion of the experiment, they compared the results of the first and second stage and concluded that even though the lean group had put on weight they continued to be more active than the obese group.

James Levine, Head of the program, explains that the research shows that the calories burned through our everyday activities is more important in countering of obesity, than we thought of before.

His team supports, that if obese people learned to be more active in their everyday activities they would shed away their extra kilos.

However many researchers stated that this constitutes a big change in the habits and way of life for these people.

Up to this minute, the decreased movement of obese people is a result or the cause of obesity has not been yet proven.

Surely, if we walked to the super-market instead of taking the car and to walk up the stairs and not use the elevator, helps our metabolism quicken. However the best solution seems, in this case, to be a nutritional and meticulous diet.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[10] Is Called to Pay an 80-Euro Fine Young Offender Aged 16 Months

By Viki Keleri

He may still be a baby and taking his first steps in life, but this did not stop him from breaking the law. 16-month-old Eliot Nightingale from Oldham, Manchester can take the credit of being the worlds youngest offender. The reason behind his achievement was a fine that was given to him from the Municipal Police of his town, because he threw a refreshment drink can from his baby-carriage as he was taking a stroll through the park. The one responsible for the above violation was not his bad nature, but his father who placed the can in the babys carriage. Eliot following his example threw the can in a nearby bush and that is how everything started.

Fine without Probation

At the same time, the eager eye of a law enforcer took notice of the incident and thus the tiny tot is called to pay around 80 euros for pollution of public space.

The father of the young offender tried to sort things out, in vain, which is that Eliot did not understand that he was breaking the law. As the Policeman stated, the child received the fine because the law is strict and applies to everyone.

We will wish the baby well and to keep away from trouble in the future!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[11] Smart Consumers Make Best Purchases

By Tina Valaoura

The sale season is around the corner and some of us cannot wait. Some have showed abstinence after the holiday, probably because they have no money left to spend and have transferred their shopping for February, while others who are more organized have locked on their targets and wait for a signal to hit the stores. As it is, everyone will take out cash in order to make the necessary purchases at some point during the sales. As we make our walk around the shops in order to acquire our much needy or useless material products and for the sales of February 1st to not become the black hole of our budget, we should keep the following guide by the Consumers Association "The Quality of Life"(EKPIZO).

Smart Shopper's Guide According to EKPIZO

1. Plan and record your personal and family needs 2. Give special attention to the quality of products in the market. 3. Do not forget that the products prices are configured freely. 4. Do not get carried away by the cheapness, opportunities and sales climate. 5. Give special attention to the final price and not the big sale percentage. 6. Remember that there is no change or refund policy during sales, especially in clothes wear and shoe wear. 7. Do not forget that purchases using a credit card have a higher interest rate. 8. Remember that the products price should not be increases if paid by using a credit card. 9. Be careful of your credit card limit, as you will have to pay extra interest rates. 10. Ask for a receipt and the guarantee that accompanies the product.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[12] At the Committee on Equality and Human Rights Shocking Revelations of Women's Abuse

By Vagelis Theodorou

The accusations made in the Parliamentary Committee on Equality, about MPs abusing their wives, but also of the beating of a woman MP by her husband, have stirred a commotion. These revelations were made by the Head of the Shelter of the Abused Woman of the Athens Archdiocese, Eirini Dorkofiki, who said that the despaired woman found shelter at the institution. "The abuse of a woman by her husband does not depend neither on the social status, nor on the economic and we are not only talking about a slap, but a regime of terror and out of hand situations," stated Mrs Dorkofiki, briefing the Committee on the issue.

Violence Behind Closed Doors

As Mrs Dorkofiki revealed there are many similar cases of women lawyers and doctors, while the victims are belated turning to the Shelter, fearing exposure of the incident in the media.

The case of a doctors wife is shocking, as the Head of the institution recounted. "A wife of a doctor, not revealing her name, as she was scared that her circle will find out, said that her husband tried to strangle her in her sleep in such a way as to not leave marks. I do not want to report it to the Police, but I am calling you so you know that I am alive and well, said the woman to me. She called me in the beginning and we talked. She hasnt called me in a while. I wonder if this woman is alive?"

All the MPs members of the Committee condemned these acts, while they agreed for the need of a relative body to exist, in which the woman can turn to, having the assurance that no one will know something that she does not want to be made known.

"The abuse of a woman is a harsh reality," stated PASOK MP, Evangelia Schoinaraki. From his side Andreas Loverdos described as "shameful," the cases of MP wives abuse.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[13] Rio-Antirrio Bridge Under the Microscope

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA- NET RADIO 105.8

The Rio-Antirrio Bridge will remain closed for precaution reasons, during the next few days, due to the fire that broke out yesterday morning in one of the wires of the pylons, which resulted it to its severance. Until then, transportation towards Western Greece will be accommodated by ferries, with added routes. The decision on when the bridge will be re-opened will be taken during the weekend and will depend on the damage repair and the completion of the necessary security checks. As the government spokesperson, Evangelos Andonaros announced, he conveyed the construction companys assurance that the bridge is not in danger. In the meantime, a group of Greek and French technicians and specialists that is on the scene since this morning is investigating the causes. Even though the initial estimates stated that lightning may have caused the fire, the eventuality of material failure or a construction error is being investigated.

Unanswered Questions

The General Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, Athanasios Kouloubis, who is in the area closely monitoring the developments, assured that there is no problem with the bridges security. "As I have watched the bridges construction, personally I do not worry that there is a serious problem," he stated. Concerning the causes of the incident, in statements made in ANA he stated that all events are open and "for the time being we are not sure if the problem is caused by the bridges anti-lightning system or material failure or a combination of both," he said, and added that it will be judged by the specialists.

It is noteworthy to say that this is the first incident of its kind in the world, in such a big construction work and the questions are many.

The first possibility is that lightning struck in the highest suspension wire of the western bridge pylon, after a thunderstorm in the area. However, the construction company in its announcement stated that the bridge fulfills all the conditions of anti-lightning security.

A member of the international anti-lightning security, Dimosthenis Agoris, with statements made to the Mass Media, appeared reserved. And this, as he stated, is caused by the fact that if the incident occurred due to lightning then it is possible that the anti-lighting security system did not function.

He stated that the strained bridge wires are not allowed to be used as lightning conductors or retractors. According to the University of Patra, on Wednesday night, lightning struck in the area many times. The possibilities that create the biggest concerns are the ones of material failure of construction error.

Another event that is being investigated is the friction of wires and to the oscillation due to the bad weather conditions. Even though high security specifications exist, sources from the Fire Department evaluated that the fire broke out due to internal overheating of the wires.

The most troubling scenario that is being investigated is material failure which is if the material which the wire was produced had a quality problem which resulted to its breakage.

Specialists from the Ministry of Public Works do not rule out the event that the accident was caused to lighting and the wire breakage due to material failure. It is noteworthy to say that every pylon has 92 support wires, which hold the bridges pavement.

The incident has caused reactions in the political parties. SYN, with statements from Mr Papagianakis, who is responsible for environment policy, the quality of life and big works, expressed his concern and asks of a speedy investigation of all the events of the issue.

In closing, as far as the department of the general fire protection of the bridge is concerned, it is reminded that ND MP, Petros Mandouvalos, had filed a denunciative report for incompleteness to the Supreme Court and the case has been forwarded to the Prosecutor of Patra, where Mr Mandouvalos has been called to testify.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Rio-Antirio Bridge Closed Off

Related Links:

http://www.gefyra.gr/

[14] Government OK for EURO 2012

By Vasilis Kalpinos

The Hellenic Football Federation is ready to submit its proposal for claiming the 2012 European Football Championship. The Deputy Minister for Sports announced the president of the HFF, Vasilis Gkagkatsis, that the government has agreed to the candidacy and now everything is ready to initiate the necessary procedures. So, until next Monday, the deadline for submitting candidacies, the HFF will have to submit its official proposal.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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