Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-30

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Trio of foreign nationals charged in home burglary ring

[02] Exhibition on ... exam cheats

[03] Stocks close up

[01] Trio of foreign nationals charged in home burglary ring

A vehicle loaded with PCs, jewelry and burglars' tools initially drew police attention, with stolen goods and the suspects' "modus operandi" reportedly linked to 26 separate burglaries throughout Fthiotida prefecture.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a trio of juveniles, all identified as Palestinian teens, were arrested on Sunday morning and charged with a string of muggings against mostly elderly women in the Athens districts of Perissos and Galatsi.

Police said the teen suspects -- 14, 15, 16 -- would prey of elderly women exiting churches, snatching gold chains and crosses from the victims' necks before fleeing. Seven gold chains and four gold crosses were reportedly found on the suspects' possession at the time of their arrest, police said.

All three teens are due to face a local prosecutor on robbery and illegal residency charges.

[02] Exhibition on ... exam cheats

On display are some of the 200 'crib sheets' confiscated over the last three decades (1984-2010) by invigilators during exams, including some true "masterpieces" of the cheater's art. Thirty-two representative "types" of crib sheet are set out in two display cabinets.

Among the most impressive is a "scroll" that is two metres long and just four centimetres wide, wrapped around two sticks at either end and densely written on both sides in order to cram the maximum of information into the minimum space.

Of considerable craftsmanship is a second 'scroll' measuring one metre in length made out of extremely thin rice paper and written using an architect's rapidograph - a specialist technical pen used to make extremely thin lines.

According to a professor at the university, writing out the particular crib sheet probably took the student in question up to 10 hours at least - time that, if devoted to studying, would probably have allowed the student to pass the exam without cheating at all.

Also notable among the more traditional crib sheets is an entire 'mini-book' made of 100 photocopied pages reduced to 7X10 centimetres, while one student had so many hidden crib sheets on him that he was forced to make an "index" to remember which was which. (ANA-MPA)

Organisers of the exhibition noted that the collection of "traditional" crib sheets will stop as of this year since the art of cheating has evolved along with modern technology and students now use more sophisticated electronic means involving their mobile phones and other portable electronic devices.

The exhibition is currently on show at the Thessaloniki University Economic Science Department but organisers say that it may be permanently moved to the department's library as a "example to be avoided" for students. (ANA-MPA)

[03] Stocks close up

The Big Cap index was up 0.64 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.16 pct higher and the Small Cap index rose by 0.83 pct.

Foods and Beverages (3.81) and Travel (2.93) posted the biggest gains of the day, while Commerce (0.37 pct) and Banks (0.26) posted the biggest percentage losses of the day.

Advancers led decliners 100 to 59, while 43 shares did not move.

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