The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Five Dead and Dozens of Injured Suicide Attack in Israel

By Athina Saloustrou

At least five people lost their lives and dozen others were injured during a suicide bombing at the entrance of a shopping mall in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, as was revealed by hospital and police sources. A suicide bomber strapped with explosives blew himself up at the entrance to the Sharon mall. "It appears that a person came to the entrance of the mall and blew up," said Yisrael Klein, a witness to the blast, on Israeli radio. Seven of the some 35 wounded people are in critical condition. With an anonymous phone call to the French Press Agency, the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. Dozens of ambulances and police cars have rushed on site. This is the first suicide bombing since 26 October, when a suicide bomber blew up killing six people in the coastal city of Hadera, an attack for which the Islamic Jihad had also claimed responsibility. However, earlier today the Palestinian radio had broadcast that the extremist group of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the blast with a phone call at one of Gaza's radio stations. The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, which is estimated to strike a blow to Mahmud Abbas and the Israeli Premier's efforts to promote peace initiatives.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Former PPC President to Give Interview Paleokrassas' Interview

By Betty Savourdou

On Monday noon, former PPC President Giannis Paleokrassas gave a Press Conference, during which he presented evidence on the cases he referred to Justice regarding the PPC. The Government, however, has already submitted his letter of resignation to Justice. In the meantime, the clash between the Government and the Main Opposition is escalating amidst tension and the Development Minister issued an announcement supporting that those who launch vague accusations against the government lack responsibility. The announcement also reads the Government will allow nobody to harm the new investing and growth climate. PASOK executives launched a harsh attack against the Prime Minister with personal accusations.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Wrangling over the PPC

[03] Typical Profile of a Greek Internet User Young Educated Men Surf the Net

By Vagelis Theodorou

They are young, they have a university degree, they are interested in current affairs and they surf from home. Who are they? They are the typical Greek Internet users, as per the online survey e-metrics 2005, conducted by the company AGB - Nielsen Media Research, in collaboration with Phaistos Networks. More than 16,000 Net users and 35 of the biggest Greek websites, including ERTonline, participated in the survey. Specifically, 78.6% of the participants were male and 21.4% were female. In addition, 41.1% were aged 25-34, 27% were aged 35-44 and 17.7% were aged 15-24. As per the results, 55.6% of the users connect to the Internet from home, while the main reason they use it is to seek information (88.5%). Furthermore, an increase in the use of e-services (e-shopping, e-banking, e-government) was recorded compared to the relevant 2004 survey, while 41.8% of the users resort to the Internet for their daily news update.

Educated and Living in Attica

Out of the 16,000 participants, 36.8% declared that they have a university degree, 23.3% have a college degree, 19.1% have a high-school diploma and 18.1% have a masters or a PhD.

The majority of Internet users live in Attica (54.4%), followed by Thessaloniki (11.7%), Heraklion, Crete (3.1), the Prefecture of Achaia (2.7%) and the Dodecanese (1.6%).

Moreover Greek Net users are somewhat addicted! Specifically, 79.9% declared that they have been using the Internet for more than three years, 13% from one to three years, while only 2.3% have been using it for the last six months. In addition, the vast majority (86.2%) surfs daily, while 10.8% connect once a month and just 0.2% less than that.

As for the time they spend online, 51.7% stay on the Internet for two hours and more, 39% from one to two hours and 9% for less than an hour.

What is more, 55.6% of the users connect from home, while 40.4% connect from their place of employment, 2.2% from school or university and 1.3% from Internet cafes.

However, e-metrics confirmed that fast Internet has not entered the lives of Greeks just yet. Although an increase was recorded in ADSL connections compared to 2004 (36.8% in 2005 as opposed to 11.5% in 2004), 36% use dial-up connections (PSTN) and 19.6% use ISDN.

Thirst for News

Out of those asked, 88.5% said that they used the Internet as the main source for seeking information and 70.5% for their news update. Specifically, 87% use the Internet often or occasionally for political developments, 71.7% for the economy, 93.8% for scientific and technological developments, 73.7% for sports and 69.9% for social and cultural events.

Other reasons for using the Internet are: emails and chat (63.7%), matters relating to work (68.5%) and downloading music or software (54.7%).

According to the answers, most of the users have purchased something online (67.5% in 2005 as opposed to 56.7% in 2004). The main items purchased were: software/hardware (58.5%), books/magazines (44%), travel and tourism services (40.4%), electronic devices (28.4%) and CDs/DVDs (27.7%). In addition, 12.4% have purchased financial goods and services.

However, the main deterrent for online shopping is the use of credit cards (57%), while 42.4% do not use e-commerce because of the inability to check the quality of the products, 35.4% because they do not want to disclose personal details and 28.6% because they do own a credit card.

In addition, a slight increase was recorded in e-banking (42.8% in 2005 as opposed to 40.4% in 2004), while quite a few use e-government services. Actually, 4 out of 10 have used the Internet for the services of Taxisnet and KEPs (Citizen Service Centres) or to look for issues of the Government Gazette and 11.4% for the services of IKA, while 88.1% of those asked have visited websites of public agencies.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] Yoga on the Rails

By Vagelis Theodorou

German railway commuters will be enjoying a new service in view of the Christmas holidays. We are not talking about a new original route or a new discount ticket. Deutsche Bahn decided to hire yoga instructors that will help calm passengers tired from work or shopping! However, surprises do not end there. A group of physiotherapists will assist the yoga instructors in their work by offering hand and shoulder massages. As a company spokesperson underlined, "Supervised yoga and relaxation exercises will help passengers de-stress after work or on weekends, especially in the run-up to Christmas when people have to fight their way through crowded shopping districts." What is more, experts would show passengers how to sit properly, where their reflex zones are and how to do relaxing breathing exercises.

As per Deutsche Bahn, the purpose of the new service is to relieve tired passengers who are going home full of shopping bags and reduce coronary disease incidents, which occur from stress.

The project will begin on trains in and around Munich but could be extended to the rest of the country if it proves successful.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

Deutsche Welle: Train Service Aims to Reduce Yuletide Blood Pressure

Der Spiegel: Yoga soll's richten

[05] First Announcements Published in The Times Gay Marriages in UK Come True

By Athina Saloustrou

British newspaper The Times presented today the first three announcements of "Civil Partnership," the legal act corresponding to a wedding between homosexuals. "The Births, Marriages and Deaths columns of The Times, which have carried family announcements for almost 221 years, begin featuring a new style of notice today," stressed the conservative newspaper in its morning edition today. The "Civil Partnership," which has been established for couples of the same sex, comes into force as of today. The rights and obligations instituted by the law do not differ from those in force in traditional marriages. Given the deadline for the submission of relevant permissions, the first "Civil Partnership" ceremonies will be held on 19 December in Northern Ireland, on 20 December in Scotland and on 21 December in England and Wales. The three first couples, two male couples and one female, posted their "Civil Partnership" notice in The Times today.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

The Times: Gays get together with a tradition of The Times

[06] If Transporting Terror Suspects UK Accountable for CIA Flights

By Athina Saloustrou

The UK broke the law if it allowed CIA secret flights to make stops on its ground. This is what law scholars are expected to stress today in a report submitted to the British Parliament. According to an article posted in the Guardian today, the fact alone that aircrafts carrying terror suspects were allowed to refuel on British grounds could lead to Londons guilt in an international court. Legal scholars from New York are about to prove this point before the all-party group of British Parliamentarians, which was instituted last September. The group has been assigned with the task of investigating the accusations, which mostly come from the Guardian, and according to which CIA aircrafts have stopped at least 210 times in British, civilian or military, airports since September 2001.

In fact, in todays edition, the newspaper released five photos of aircrafts, which most likely belong to the CIA."

The CIA secret flights issue is to monompolise Condoleeza Rices European tour, which starts this week in Berlin, where she would meet with the new German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Rice's next stops will be Ukraine, Romania and Brussels.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

The Guardian: UK 'breaking law' over CIA secret flights

[07] At Public Swimming Pool Roof Collapsed in Russia

By Betty Savourdou

Nine people, including five children aged 9 to 12 and three women, died a tragic death and dozens of others were injured on Sunday, when a public swimming pool roof collapsed in Chusovoi, near Perm in the Urals, as per an Emergency Situations Ministry source. However, there are fears the number of victims could increase, as information reports there are people trapped under the ruins. The causes of the collapse still remain unknown, while the Public Prosecutor ordered an immediate investigation.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Nine die in Russia pool accident

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