The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-25

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Fake Emails Asking for Client Data Internet Scamming

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Scammers have come up with a new Internet fraud by pretending to send emails from banks asking for clientele data. This new scam, which was traced today in Greece, sends emails, supposedly coming from Greek banks Security Departments, asking clients to send back their data in order to locate accounts supposedly used for money laundering. The email, which is written in Greek with many grammatical, syntax and spelling mistakes, has been sent from Brazil asking receivers to click on the phrase "Συμπλήρωση Ερωτηματολογίου" (fill in the questionnaire form), in order to be transferred to their banks site. However, when clicking on the phrase, users are primarily transferred to a "hidden site" before being transferred to the banks homepage. As a result, the hidden site steals the data of each bank account. In this way, scammers can withdraw money from the banks accounts of all users, who fall in their trap. This method is called scamming and this is not the first time it has been used on the Greek Internet. It is noted that in the past, all Greek Banks had issued relevant announcements warning their clients not to send their account data via emails.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] New Energy Chapter in SE Europe Historic Agreement

By Betty Savourdou

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis described the agreement on the single energy market in SE Europe, signed in Athens today, as a landmark for the wider area. In his opening speech, he underlined that the establishment of the community, the creation of a single area, would cover the common and basic development needs and signal a new dynamics, answering to the needs of our citizens, who can now visualise a better future. The treaty binds all Balkan countries to deregulate the natural gas and electricity markets at a business level by 2008 and at a household level by 2015. The treaty also provides for a future collaboration on oil, telecommunications and air transports. Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas described the agreement as historic, stressing it creates new conditions in the economy and stability of the wider area.

New Chapter

As Mr Karamanlis underlined, the aim of this treaty is to improve competitiveness, attract investments and upgrade living conditions.

"This is a new chapter in the EU's relations with the SE European countries, one more step to ensure peace, energy and prosperity," underlined the Prime Minister.

At the same time, he also spoke of one more field with multiple benefits and thanked all those who worked hard for the signing of this treaty.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Historic Agreement on Energy Market

[03] Satisfy or Get Sued

By Vagelis Theodorou

A 31-year-old woman from Brazil is asserting her right for satisfaction during sex by resorting to Justice. According to the newspaper Terra Noticias Populares, the disgruntled woman filed a complaint against her partner at Chacar Urbana Police station in Jundiai, claiming that her 38-year-old lover was very selfish in bed. Specifically, the 31-year-old complained that her partner simply stopped sexual intercourse as soon as he reached orgasm, without paying any attention to her needs. "We will look into it, we will treat it as an ordinary complaint and let the judge decide," declared Police chief Jose Roberto Ferraz, answering to all those who laughed their hearts out when they found out about the complaint.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] The Black Seamstress from Alabama Rosa Parks Passed Away

By Betty Savourdou

The black seamstress, who refused to give up her bus seat to a white man back in 1955, thus prompting the abolition of the racial discrimination law in the USA, passed away at the age of 92. The so-called "mother of the modern US civil rights movement" is considered among the most important figures of the 20th century in the USA. In a 1992 speech, Parks had said, "The real reason of my not standing up was I felt that I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long." In 1996, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 1999 she received the Congressional Gold Medal for her fight against racism.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] To Replace Greenspan Bernanke Named New Fed Chief

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: ΑNA - BBC

Economist Ben Bernanke, aged 51, will be replacing Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, as announced today by George Bush. However, Greenspan, who has been heading the Fed for the last 18 years, will continue to exercise his duties until 31 January 2006, when his term actually ends. Until then, the US Senate Committee responsible for Federal Reserve affairs will convene to approve or reject Bernankes appointment. On his part, in justifying his choice, the US President stressed that Bernanke is an expert in monetary policy, he has taught in many famous universities, while he has experience with the Fed as a Member of the Board.

Smiles in Wall Street

"I will do everything in my power, in collaboration with by Fed colleagues to help assure the continued prosperity and stability of the American economy," Mr Bernanke said. He also noted that his first priority will be to maintain continuity with the policy and policy strategies under the Greenspan era.

Bernankes appointment was welcomed by Wall Street, as it ended months of speculation about who would become the 14th chairman of the Fed, and so control the richest economy in the world.

Specifically, the Dow Jones index surged 117.7 points higher to 10,333 within minutes of Mr Bushs announcement at the White House.

In addition, leading US economists described Bernanke as extremely credible, while they noted that he is well respected for his knowledge and experience at the Fed.

Disagreements and Concerns

However, not everyone is satisfied with Greenspans successor.

Some commentators say that the 51-year-old economist has little experience outside the academic realm. Furthermore, they are concerned because of the close ties between Bernanke and Bush, giving rise to questions as to the extent of the US Presidents influence over the chief of the Fed.

It should be noted that in 2002, Bush put him on the Feds board and this year he made him chairman of the presidents Council of Economic Advisors.

Furthermore, it is believed that during his term he will be disclosing the exact percentage of USAs inflation rate, a tactic that was opposed by Greenspan, and which could lead to a change in the Feds interest rates.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Three Dead in Baghdad Attacks Continue

By Anna Kourti

Three Iraqis lost their lives during a double attack, which occurred on Tuesday morning in Baghdad. The first blast was reported shortly after 08:00 CET at a crossroad in western Baghdad, aiming at a US patrol. A man burnt to death and many were injured, as per Iraqi security forces, which also said the number of victims could increase. A while later, two security officials were murdered by gunmen at the Al Dura district, south of Baghdad. At the same time, a booby-trapped car exploded near a building housing the Kurdish National Guard, south of Iraq. Eyewitnesses spoke of victims and injured. In the meantime, 20 people lost their lives and another 40 were injured in yesterdays triple attack with booby-trapped cars outside the Sheraton and Palestine hotels, in the heart of Baghdad. It should be noted that 60 people have been killed in Iraq in the last 48 hours during guerrilla attacks.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Larissa's Triumph

By Stathis Petropoulos

Larissa may have eventually managed to score a triumphant victory, but it did so during a match that was not very easy, especially in the first 60 minutes. The home team took the lead in the 42 with Brachamis and had a bit of trouble in the beginning of the second half. Finally, it all came down to an incident in the 64, when Amponsah knocked over Dabizas inside the box. As a result, the referee awarded a penalty, but he also sent off Petkakis, because he complained. Digozis kicked the penalty successfully and basically sealed his teams victory. Katsiaros put the icing on the cake in the 75, when he scored the third goal for Larissa. During added time, Wellington reduced the difference to 3-1, but Kyparissis had the last word, as he scored the home teams fourth goal.

Referee: Detsis (Athens) Yellow Cards: Dabizas, Gikas Fytanidis Red Card: Petkakis (64)

LARISSA: Kotsolis, Galitsios, Dabizas, Simos, Katsiaros, Vela Junior (30 Bachramis, 52 Gikas), Digozis, Serban, Aloneftis, Kalantzis (79 Kyparissis), Gavrilopoulos APOLLON KALAMARIA: Kovac, Ioannou, Fytanidis, Amponsah, Papadopoulos (46 Karaliopoulos), Petkakis, Karamanlis, Murawski, Parmaxidis (56 Wellington), Cleyton, Pappas.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] Support Developing Countries International Conference over Bird Flu

By Betty Savourdou

A conference is held in Canada to prepare countries against an avian influenza pandemic, aiming at collaboration and coordination on a global scale. The World Health Organisation Director General asked rich countries to help the weaker ones in this fight. What is more, the Indonesian Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that another person lost his life to the bird flu, thus increasing the number of victims to four. In the meantime, new avian influenza outbreaks have been located in China, Russia, Siberia and eastern Croatia. "In Greece, there are no bird flu cases and inspection mechanisms are sticking to the action plan," repeated the Development Ministry on Monday, reassuring there is no danger from consuming Greek poultry products. Today, the Commission is expected to propose a temporary embargo on wild bird imports in the EU Member-States, after Great Britains request.

New Cases in China

A new avian influenza outbreak has been located in the Chinese province of Anoui., where some 2,100 geese have been infected by the deadly disease, as per a United Nations senior official.

Some 550 birds have already died in the area and another 45,000 have been culled as a precaution.

As the WHO has already warned, the H5N1 strain of the virus is endemic to birds in China and to a large part of Asia and it could simply be a matter of time before the virus mutates and be transmitted to humans.

In Indonesia, the Health Ministry announced that a man, who had died in September, had been infected with the avian influenza.

However, as per a senior official, three more Indonesians has been infected with the disease, but survived.

It is reminded that the latest suspicious cases in Europe were the eight chicken found dead and a dying heron in Sicily.

Bird samples have already been sent to the lab and the first results should be announced anytime now.

Access to Drugs Vital

"We must find ways of helping developing countries," said World Health Organization Director General Lee Jong-Wook, while opening his speech at the Conference in Ottawa, where Health Ministers and experts from 30 countries are taking part.

"Each country should have access to anti-viral medication, whether procured independently or provided through international collaboration in a stockpile," stressed Mr Lee Jong-Wook.

He also underlined that the main issue is to realise there could be a flu pandemic among humans. However, he could not tell when that will be, but it could be any given time and this is why they are holding the Conference.

This is the first time, Health Ministers and experts from around the world Great Britain, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa and the USA are convening with WHO officials on the avian influenza.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Greek Products Are Safe

Parrot Infected with H5N1

Related Links:

World Health Organisation

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article