The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Wrangling over Presidential Vote Going Strong

News item: 25164

[02] Hellenic Telecomms CEO Set Free

Charged with breach of duty, tThe CEO of Hellenic Telocomms (OTE) Panagis Vourloumis was set free after his testimony to magistrate Vassiliki Basta. The charge against him relates to contracts OTE signed with Siemens, Intracom and other companies in 2005, and to overpriced technical support services. Another ten members of OTE's board have already been allowed to go after testifying on the same case.

News item: 25159

[03] Corruption Scandal Socks the USA

Last Updated on Friday, 24 July 2009 16:33

Dozens of New Jersey politicians, officials and prominent rabbis were arrested on Thursday in a sweeping federal probe that uncovered political corruption, human organ sales and money laundering from New York to Israel, officials said.

The 10-year investigation, dubbed "Operation Bid Rig," exposed influence-peddling and bribe-taking among a network of public officials and a separate multimillion dollar money-laundering ring that funneled funds through charities operated by local rabbis, said the U.S. Attorney's office in Newark, New Jersey.

"New Jersey's corruption problem is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the nation," said Ed Kahrer, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's white collar crime and public corruption program in New Jersey, who has worked on the investigation since it began in July 1999.

"It has become ingrained in New Jersey's political culture," he said, calling corruption "a cancer."

Central to the investigation was an informant who was charged with bank fraud in 2006 and posed undercover as a real estate developer and owner of a tile business who paid off officials to win project approval and public contracts in northern New Jersey, according to documents in the case.

The public corruption uncovered by the informant led him to the separate money-laundering network by rabbis who operated between Brooklyn, Deal, New Jersey, and Israel, authorities said. They laundered some $3 million for the undercover witness between June 2007 and July 2009, authorities said.

Source: REUTERS

News item: 25157

[04] Deadly Wildfires Ravage Europe

Last Updated on Friday, 24 July 2009 19:15

Scorching hot temperatures and uncontrollable wildfires have been ravaging half of Europe. The stifling hot claimed one life in Serbia, two people perished in wildfires devastating Sardinia, while Spain and Corsica have been hit by uncontrollable blazes. At least 170,000 square metres have been reduced to ashes and five firefighters have lost their lives in Spain.

A new blaze broke out Thursday night in the province of Almeria in Andalucía, south Spain. At least 1500 people were forced to flee their houses.

However, the hardest hit area is that of Aragon, with almost 106,000 square metres having been burnt. As many as 500 firefighters are battling to contain the blaze. Temperature is forecast to stand at 35 degrees Celsius, with gusty winds blowing in the area. A driver of a water tank died today while trying to contain the fire.

In Corsica, three wildfires that broke out on Thursday in the island's southern part devastated almost 40,000 square metres. Five firefighters were slightly injured.

Source: ANA/MPA

News item: 25156

[05] Mercury Climbs to 43 Degrees Celsius on Saturday

Mercury is forecast to soar to 43 degrees Celsius at the weekend in Greece, forcing those who have not left for their summer vacations yet to pack beaches. Experts have advised sensitive population groups to reduce their movements and even avoid their being exposed to the sun if possible.

Tackling Scorching Hot Temperatures

OAKP (a Municipal Organization for Handling Citizens' Everyday Problems), has advised citizens to reduce their movement to the bare minimum and avoid sun exposure and intense workout.

News item: 25153

[06] Jump in Number of H1N1 Cases in Britain

Last Updated on Friday, 24 July 2009 15:46

The estimated number of H1N1 flu new cases has jumped to 100.000 in Britain, among them 63 are treated in intensive care wards. This number refers only to England as other regions in UK have not released information. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control( ECDC) announced that in the last days the number of recorded H1N1 cases reached 1.671 in Europe. WHO says that the virus has not mutated.

An increase in the number of cases was recorded on Thursday compared with number of cases identified during the two previous days 552 and 212 people.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control( ECDC) is collecting information from 31 EU member states. The Center has recorded 19.404 cases in 30 countries and 35 deaths.

Britain is the country with most victims11.159 followed by Germany with 2.455. Return of holiday makers from countries, hit by the pandemic, has pushed the number of cases up in Germany

Online Dianosis Center Blocked

The global H1N1 flu pandemic is hitting Britain harder than other European countries, mainly because Britain is a hub for international travel and communications, health experts said on Thursday.

Visitors in England can contact telephone number 0800 1 513 100 or visit website Pandemic Flu

The British government launched a National Flu Pandemic Service on Thursday to speed up access to drugs for flu sufferers, who will be able to get diagnosis and prescriptions online and by telephone. After diagnosis the new services allow Britons to be supplied with Tamiflu without visiting their doctor. Vulnerable groups of people and pregnant women must visit doctor.

Some people criticized the effectiveness of the program which actually failed for 2.5 hours as it received some 2.600 hits every second.

Visitors in England can contact telephone number 0800 1 513 100 or visit website Pandemic Flu

The WHO says that Á (Ç1Í1) flu has almost spread to 100% of the planet (spread to 160 of the 192 WHO member states). Nearly 800 people have died of the flu so far.

Source: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA, BBC

News item: 25146

[07] Movie-like Escape from Belgian Prison

Three prisoners, among them Ashraf Sekkaki one of Belgium's most dangerous criminals jailed for 10 years for a slew of crimes, escaped in an audacious jailbreak in broad daylight aboard a hijacked helicopter. A Justice Ministry spokesman said that nobody was injured during the escape.

Two accomplices rented a helicopter, took the pilot hostage, and forced him to land Thursday in the courtyard of the jail, located in the northern city of Bruges.When the helicopter took off with the three convicts one of the accomplices stayed behind, possibly because of limited space aboard the helicopter, a spokesperson said.

The escaped convicts and the accomplice were dropped off near a major road and the helicopter was abandoned at Aalter, on the outskirts of Bruges. The convicts then seized a vehicle from a nearby petrol pump, later switching cars and taking a female driver hostage before dropping her off at Melle in Flanders, according to the police.

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA BBC: Belgian convicts break out by air

News item: 25144

[08] Cruiseship Passengers Tested H1N1 Positive

Ruby Princess cruiseship, which arrived at the Piraeus port from Turkey, is in quarantine after 5 people tested H1N1 positive. There are over 4.550 people aboard the ship.

All other passengers well

The 5 people, 4 crew members and a passenger tested H1N1 positive, have been isolated in their cabins. The rest of the 3,389 passengers and 1,192 crew members are well, were allowed to disembark for a day trip and will return in the afternoon to continue their cruise to Venice.

The 5 H1N1 cases were identified in the ship's medical center.

Athens Medical Society Appeals for Calmness

âThe virus of panic is more harmful than the flu virusâ says the Athens Medical Society

The health state of the 33yo, who is being treated at the intensive care ward for pneumonia, is being gradually improving.

In the meantime, the Athens Medical Society has appealed for calmness: âThe virus of panic is more harmful than the flu virusâ. The Athens Medical Society called on the state to protect people from ones who are taking advantage of people fear and panic to promote products of doubtless treating effect.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÁNA

News item: 25140

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