The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-09

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis' Invitation at ND Political Council "Target is Recovery of Economy"

By Anna Kourti

During a meeting of the ND Political Council, the Prime Minister described 2005 as a year of basic changes and reforms targeted at the recovery of economy. In his speech, Mr Karamanlis made mention of how the fiscal inventory revealed the true dimension of secret debts and the countrys deficit, while adding "our developmental prospect should make the country competitive. Greece does not produce and this has to change, there will not be borrowed money forever, nor EU funds. Now is the time and this is our national commitment."

"We Can Win the Bet"

Furthermore, Mr Karamanlis stated that the mild adjustment will be made by the government, saying that "a dialogue with a timeline will exist with all social groups but also decisions." Making reference to the ND party the PM asked for constant communication with society. "We can win the bet we have placed," Mr Karamanlis concluded. ND Secretary, Vangelis Meimarakis making reference to the unionist asked for the game to be more team orientated.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

We Can Achieve a Miracle

[02] Karolos Papoulias' Inaguration Change of Guard in Presidency

By Annita Paschalinou

A few hours are left for the change of guard in the highest political office. After ten years in the seat of President of the Republic, Konstantinos Stefanopoulos, who spoke to the hearts of the Greek people, will say goodbye to the Presidential Mansion and give his place to another figure of excellence in the political world, Karolos Papoulias. The new President of Republic will be sworn in, on Saturday at 11 in the morning, in Parliament. NET will broadcast minute by minute the inaguration ceremony of the new President of Republic, as well as the exchange of seats in the Presidential Mansion afterwards.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Live Target During Training Soldier Killed in Thiva

By Annita Paschalinou

A 20-year-old soldier from Kerkira was killed during a firing range training session in Thiva camp. Marios Martzoukos bound by duty, attempted to change the targets, exited from the crypt without being ordered to, before the shots were completed, and became a live target. With an order by the Minister of Defense, the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the General Army Staff will arrive in Thiva. The military authorities have ordered a preliminary investigation in order to conclude the specific causes and the conditions of the accident. It is noted that this is the third deadly accident that has taken place in the specific camp.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] Explanations Over the 3 Billion Funds Cut PASOK Answers with Black Bible

By Annita Paschalinou

PASOK steerers answered to everything stated by the PM yesterday, on the occasion of NDs one year in rule with the Black Bible of unreliability, a massive file with the promises not kept by the government. In a Press conference they harshly criticized government policy and the MP, with Theodoros Pagalos describing Kostas Karamanlis as "incapable to rule" and "a slave to his pre-election demagogy." Earlier, in the context of a full-frontal attack at the government 18 PASOK MPs submitted an interpellation to the Minister of Economy, on the occasion of limitation of the state expenses by 3.2 billion euros announced by the Prime Minister. In the meantime, Theodoros Pagalos statements, who supports the abolishment of the lump sum payment, caused the intense reaction of Evangelos Andonaros.

Disputes Over Lump Sum Payment

PASOK MPs are questioning the decrease of the state expenses by three billion euros, at a time when the budget discussion did not indicate such evidence. Earlier, Theodoros Pagalos statements caused intense reaction as he is in favor of the abolishment of lump sum payment.

"The masks have been taken off, it is revealed that the sensitivity of PASOK is only words," stated Vagelis Andonaros and called on Giorgos Papandreou to clear if he adopts the PASOK MPs views.

Theodoros Pagalos answered to the statements made by Andonaros accusing the alternate spokesperson for superficiality and an attempt to cause political impressions.

He added that the view expressed over the lump sum payment, is personal and theoretical and has never been discussed in PASOK.

The PASOK Press office made reference late this evening over Pagalos statements over the lump sum payment. Nikos Athanasakis accused Evangelos Andonaros that he is keeping the subject in the news on purpose, in order to forget yesterdays interview by the Prime Minister. He concludes by saying: "The spokesperson should not worry about his lump sum payment. He will receive it as is. Just as long as the ND government does not blow everything up."

Attack at All Areas

At the same time, PASOK steerers performed a full frontal attack on all government areas of work, in a Press conference given for the assessment of NDs one-year rule. The PASOK Economics steerer, Mr Pagalos started the attack using harsh descriptions for the PM, and accusing him of lying.

Mr Pagalos stated that during the first year of rule, 1.4 billion euros were cut from the public investment program, the deficit shot up to 6.5%, while the budget income has been raised by a mere 2%, while the estimation was a 7%.

Steerer of Production and Trade, Christos Papoutsis was also critical and called on the PM to explain when he was truthful or lying when in the Thessalonica International Trade Fair presented a vision and just yesterday abolished it.

He added that DEKO will be put on a bargain sale after the PMs statement about disengagement of the public sector from his commitment to own 51% of specific DEKO companies.

"The government returns to the dogma of immobility in foreign policy," stated steerer of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Anna Diamantopoulou.

As she said, the U.S. and Russia have no regard for our country, while in the EU were posing a different picture with the community law, not only due to the main shareholder.

She also accounted dangerous irresponsibility in the Defense department, describing the Enquiry Committee as a slap in the face.

Steerer of Interior, Alekos Papadopoulos was also harsh in his statements.

He criticized the government of instantly firing 25,000 members of the administration in order to gradually replace them with its partys members, while making reference to Justice, he spoke of dangerous interventions in the function of the institution.

Steerer of Employment, Health and Social Aid, Thanasis Tsouras appeared caustic.

"In a year the hires have been decreased by 20%, while theres been an increase in dismissals and the number of unemployed have reached 530,000," stated Mr Tsouras and accounted the government with idleness in the Social Security issue.

From her side, Maria Damanaki called on the PM to answer the question of if there will be an investigation of the Churchs economics and what will happen with Church justice.

The steerer for educational cases accused the government of a decrease in funds for Education and the non-utilization of Olympic works

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

We Can Achieve a Miracle

[05] Mass Execution Discovered

By Tina Valaoura

The news of the explosion that occurred this morning in Baghdad, costing the lives of two people pales beside the new bloodshed discovered in another area of Iraq. According to police in Ramadi, 19 Iraqis were found dead in the town of Kaim, near the borders with Syria. The victims, 18 men, one of whom is said to have had a police identity, and one woman, appear to have been executed one week ago. The news comes after yesterdays macabre discovery of 15 headless corpses by the American military near the town of Latifiyah, 40 km south of Baghdad, during an operation at a former military base used by the insurgents. Iraq, once again, is rocked by a barrage of violent incidents.

Continuing Violence

According to Associated Press, in Basra a policeman was killed and a further three were injured when a bomb placed at the edge of the road exploded while their patrol car was passing by.

In Baghdad this morning, as Arab network Al Arabiya reports, the director of Furat Hospital, Dr Adil Abd-al-Karim was murdered by an unidentified man as he was on his way to work.

In Mosul, a policemans son, who was abducted on 1 March, was today found dead with bullet wounds, according to the French agency AFP.

AFP reports that a car packed with explosives driven by a suicide bomber detonated today at a roadblock near an American military base, 70 km west of Baghdad, in Al Anbar Province. So far, there is no information on casualties.

Translated by Millie Williams

[06] Between Israelis and Palestinians Discussions with Obstacles

By Vivian Papastefanou

Palestinian officials announced that todays meeting between Palestinian and Israeli security officials, in relation to the transfer of security checkpoints in Jericho to the Palestinian Authority, did not result to an agreement. General Haj Ismail Jabber, a security official in the West Bank and leader of the Palestinian delegation, stated that there are disagreements, since the Israeli delegation, as it seems, has not received a clear order to withdraw road blocks or to allow Palestinians to circulate in the central road 90, the main road axon that connects Jericho with northern Israel at the Jordanian Valley, or for the control transfer of the community of Oja, which is located 7 km north of Jericho.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] After their Leader's Assassination by Russians Chechen Militants Launch Threats

By Athina Saloustrou

Chechen militants are threatening Russia with an annihilating war, leaving no room for negotiations, following the death of their leaders Aslan Maskhadov. The threat appeared on the rebels website, where the announcement reads, "With the death of the President of Itckeria (a name for independent Chechnya), a new era in the history of Russian-Chechen clashes has began, during which there will be neither negotiations nor the end of war [] There are not and there will never be any negotiations with the Russian empire, as the ones Aslan Mashkadov talked about. There is nothing else left, but to destroy the empire [] Aslan Maskhadov was the only one who believed that one can still hold talks with Moscow. Such individuals will not exist anymore in Chechnya." From Strasburg today, the European Parliament Greens denounced the assassination of Maskhadov by Russia, describing it as a "gift" to Chechen extremists.

Green MEPs Accuse Putin

The Greens spokesperson, Bart Staes, stressed that Aslan Maskhadovs assassination would not bring peace in Chechnya, as he was a man who had been trying to commence talks with the Russian authorities and had condemned terrorists acts.

The Flemish MEP also added that his death was a gift to extremist militants and especially to warlord Shamil Basayev. He finally concluded by saying that by killing Maskhadov, Russian President Putin also killed the best opportunity to reach a political solution in Chechnya.

Furthermore, today, Moscows Prosecutions office announced that, as per Russian legislation, Maskhadovs relatives will not be allowed to bury him."Legislation does not provide for the surrender of bodies of dead terrorists to relatives," deputy prosecutor Nikolai Shepel said to Interfax news agency. He also added that the process of identifying the body, which is being held at the Kankala Russian military base in Chechnya since last night, will take approximately fifteen days.

As per the spokesman of the federal forces in northern Caucasus, General Ilya Shabaklin, the identification, which will be done by Maskhadovs parents and people who knew him well, shouldnt take long, as his body is recognizable.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] Monetary Policy Report in Parliament Garganas Asks for More Reforms

By Annita Paschalinou

The Manager of the National Bank of Greece, presenting the yearly report of monetary policy to the Economics Committee, proposed a stricter application of the ECOFIN recommendations for the decrease of deficit under 3%, structural changes and reforms to increase competitiveness, productivity and employment." "The ECOFIN decision states that after 2006 the deficit has to continue to decrease and I say that we can go faster, if this is possible," stated Nikolaos Garganas noting, "the Greek economy is not in crisis" and "the GDP decrease was expected."

GDPs Decrease was Expected

He stated that the GDPs decrease was expected but as he said "it is not the end of the world for the rate of development to decrease for a year." The issue is what will happen from now on, he said. Answering to KKE MP, Nikos Gatzis, who asked him why the National Bank of Greece condones the high profit of the banks and DEKO, he stated that is it positive for high profit to exist because that is how investments and employment positions are increased. He also stated the need for markets to function competitively with the right legislature and effective function of the Competitiveness Board. In a dispute with ND unionist, Giannis Manolis who criticized him for his conclusion that wages have been increased in the last 11 years by 22%, he stated that he trusts the services of the National Bank of Greece and if GSSE insists on its own calculations there will be a comparison of the methodologies used. In reference to Mitsotakis recent comments, who evaluated the cost of optional retirement in the National Bank of Greece to 600 million euros, he stated that the honorary ND President was not well informed.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] The Great Overturn

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA

With a heroic appearance by Slovenian Jaka Lakovic and the great contribution of Mike Batiste in the fourth quarter, Panathinaikos scored 20 points during the last minutes of the second quarter until the third, and achieved a great win by 93-81 against the Spanish team of Tau, in the context of the 3rd day (Group C) in the 16 phase of the Euroleague. This was the first win for the "greens" and the second in total in this phase. This is the first defeat for the Basque team, lead by Scola and Macijauskas.

From 20 to +12

In front of 7,000 fans the players of Jeljko Obradovic entered the court numbed and for the first ten minutes made their worst appearance this year in Europe.

The Greek team opened the score with two consecutive three-pointer shots by Kutluay and Hatzivrettas but Travis Hansen with two three-point shots and eight points in total scored 15-10 against the Basques. Scola and David took the lead in the scoring at the time when Obradovic made one change after the other to find the formation that will counteract the crazy speed of the opponent.

Irritation, missed shots (4/11 two-pointers as opposed to 9/11 of the Spaniards) and total lack of temperament were the characteristics of the "greens" game who in the 10 saw Tau score 8 points, 20-28. The Basques continued and changed +8 to +20, 51-31, since they were lucky in their shots and the Greek Champions could not respond.

Near the end of the second ten-minutes Jaka Lakovic took the situation in his hands and with 8 points by him and two from Mike Batiste, the "greens" scored 10-0 from the 18th minute until the 20th, which they continued reaching 18-0, with which Panathinaikos decreased to 49-51.

In the third quarter Diamantidis and Vlado Scepanovic punished Tau from the 6,25 line for its arrogance and Kostas Tsartsaris gave the lead to his team, 61-60. Following, Lakovic raised his points to 19 and the quarter ended with Panathinaikos ahead, 67-65 after a successful shot by Mike Batiste.

The latter held Panathinaikos together in the first minutes of the fourth quarter scoring 10 consecutive points and Fragiskos Alvertis raised to 12-0, with which Panathinaikos was in the lead by 79-70. The Panathinaikos captain scored 81-71.

Panathinaikos stabilized its difference to the +10 and when the game ended the scoreboard wrote 93-81.

The ten minutes: 20-28, 41-51, 67-65, 93-81

Team rosters:

Panathinaikos (Zeljko Obradovic): Scepanovic 5 (1), Alvertis 11 (1), Diamantidis 11 (1), Batiste 21, Lakovic 25 (3), Kalaitzis, Tsartsaris 6, Kutluay 3 (1), Baxter 4, Hatzivrettas 3 (1), Femerling 4.

Tau (Dusko Ivanovic): Prigioni 5 (1), Splitter 12, Macijauskas 18 (3), Hansen 12 (2), David 11, Betts 2, Scola 17, Vidal 4.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[10] Bajevic Predicts Victory

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Thursday will be a very crucial day for Olympiacos as it plays against Newcastle for the UEFA Cup. In the scheduled press conference, Dusan Bajevic stressed that it would be very important for his team to score a goal, but also to avoid receiving any goals. The Serbian-Greek coach considers the 1-0 score from the first match a very good start for the rematch, while he also pointed out that his players can make it. Finally, he noted that Rivaldo trained as usual today and is expected to be included in the lineup.

Careful with their Offence

"We have to win, I have never talked about specific results and I do not like doing it. It is a tough game and we will try our best. We want to reach as far as possible in the UEFA Cup. If I knew how far we can go, I wouldnt be here. The truth is that we are following the targets we had set from the start and we are continuing in UEFA. We know it is hard. Newcastle is a very fast-paced team that plays an offensive game and is very good in counterattacking with Shearer and Kluivert and we have to be careful. We need to keep an eye on Dyer, Robert, Kluivert and Shearer. The last two can easily score if presented with the opportunity. It [Newcastle] has a strong defence. If we can try and stop its momentum, it would be better for us." He then mentioned Rivaldo, stressing that he is ready for the game against the Miners.

"I believe that Rivaldo is ready for the game against Newcastle," he noted, while when asked to comment on his relationship with the Brazilian, he said, "Olympiacos is not a one-man team. Rivaldo is a great player, who can help Olympiacos, but we do not think about those things. The only thing on our mind is Thursdays game. The best for us would be not to receive any goals. The rematch will depend on how strong it will be, based on the result. It will surely be tough. And surely the score is also important. The rematch is tough."

Used to the Problems

Olympiacos coach avoided mentioning his plans for Thursdays game, but talked about the general climate prevailing in the team following the rejection of the appeal, whereby its fans will not be present in the upcoming tough Greek championship match against AEK. Bajevic pointed out, "We are facing problems, but I do not think that they will affect us. We have been playing to empty stadiums and with many problems for a long time. The players are tired, because we have been playing Tuesday-Sunday-Wednesday right from the start. The injuries are part of football. We are used to the problems we are having. We are facing the situation as it is. The match against Newcastle has nothing to do with the one against AEK."

Tassos Pantos, who talked on behalf of the players, said that the team has been united and is tougher due to everything that has been happening the last few days. With regard to the upcoming game, he said, "Newcastle is a very tough team with very fast players, but we are not afraid and we will try to play our game. It would be very important for us to win without receiving any goals."

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] AEK Aims for 3 Straight Wins

By Vasilis Kalpinos

AEK has already received two wins in the second phase of the Euroleague games. The game with Prokom Trefl is considered to be an easier one, compared to the one with Benetton and Efes Pilsen. The Polish team has not acquired a win yet and this is its last chance for qualifying. The coach of AEK is well aware of that fact and stated that Prokom is a very good team and a huge effort by his players is needed in order to win.

Key Point is Control of Pace

Fotis Katsikaris spoke of the upcoming game stating that Prokom is a speedy team, with counterattacks and many offensive rebounds. AEK has to control the pace "and with that we can win the game. In an opposing case we will face difficulties."

Continuing, he said that he knows that this is the Poles last chance, and if they win they will reenter the qualification game. AEK also knows that if it wins, it will acquire its third consecutive win and make an important step in the qualification in the 8 of the Euroleague. "I think our players are waiting for the game in order to acquire their first win, thus we have to play concentrated in order to make our third consecutive win."

AEK player Sotiris Nikolaidis made mention to a win. The guard considers that his team should continue with the same athletic performance and noted "we do not have the privilege to consider Prokom as the weakest team in Group B, because it did not receive a win after two games. That is not important."

Closing, he stated that his team is in a good condition and have been satisfied by the two great wins against Benetton and Efes Pilsen. "They want the win just like we do, so we have to be decisive and to consider this game as a final for AEK. The recent wins against big teams such as Benetton and Efes Pilsen has given us great self-esteem since we know that there are no easy games in the Euroleague."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[12] CT Scan Rules Out Murder Tutankhamun's Mystery Death

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: Reuters

Tutankhamuns death, one of the unanswered questions baffling historians and archaeologists, has been answered. A CT scan performed on the mummy ruled out the event of murder of the Pharaoh however it did not give a final answer to the thriller of how the young leader died. " "We dont know how the king died, but we are now sure that it was not murder. Maybe he died on his own," said Zahi Hawas, chairman of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities. Some members of the investigation team claim that Tutankhamun died from an infected thigh wound, a view that some others disagree with. Surely the cause of death will remain one of the Pyramids secrets since Mr Hawas decided that the case has closed and the grave of the young king who died at 1352 BC and died aged 19 will not be reopened.

Scientists are Divided

Some historians have supported that the Pharaoh was murdered based on two facts: firstly that he died at a young age and secondly he lived in a very turbulent period of Egyptian history.

Tutankhamun was declared king after the death of of Akhenaten, the Pharaoh that abandoned most Egyptian gods and tried to enforce a monotheistic religion based on the disc of the sun.

During Tutankhamuns rule, which lasted 10 years, many supporters of the previous religion tried to regain control, thus creating turmoil in the kingdom.

The scientific community has placed its hopes of finding Tutankhamuns death in the CAT scan that is expected to shed light to the fractured scull of the Pharaoh, a fact that initiated the murder theory.

However in the scientific committees verdict the Egyptian kings death does not have clear causes. There is only the estimation that Tutankhamuns death came after a serious accident, during which he broke his thighbone. The wound was infected and thus the Pharaoh died.

The cause of death of the legendary king will remain one of historys secrets. "The case is closed. We should not disturb the king any more," stated the head of the research investigation team.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[13] Shakespeare's Theatre Rises Again

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: BBC

The dream was born on the banks of the Thames in 1989, when work to lay the foundations of a construction site discovered the remains of the historic Rose Theatre, which is where some of the most famous works of international playwriting, those of William Shakespeare, were performed for the first time. The dig uncovered wooden planks and beams, all part of the initial Elizabethan theatre, the only ones in the world to be in such good condition. Specialist immediately started to imagine the theatre standing again. And efforts started. The finds were hidden under protective layers of cement and sand, until external conditions matured in order to start the next stage of excavations. Today, after fifteen years of planning and fund-raising , the dream of recreating the historic monument is moving forward.

The theatre opened its doors in 1587 in an area of ill repute, near Southwark Bridge, and has had a turbulent history. It went through financial misadventures, was burned to the ground and rebuilt, but before it finally closed in 1605, it had already seen the London audience moved by the creations of Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd.

The question now is for todays audience to acquire a reference point to shed light on the time and customs frm which some of the popular masterpieces of international dramatic heritage were born.

Details on the reconstruction will be given on Thursday in a Press Conference at the excavation site.

Translated by Millie Williams

[14] Discovery by American scientists New Form of Diabetes

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: Reuters, BBC

American researchers claim to have found a hitherto unknown form of diabetes, where they saw that the brain produces insulin, as does the pancreas. Researchers from Brown Medical School claim that type III diabetes, as they call it, in contrast with the other two types of the disease, which affect saccharine levels in the blood. In fact, type III diabetes is in some way connected to Alzheimers disease, and this is where the researchers are now looking. "Insulin is not only produced in the pancreas, but also in the brain. Of course, this does not affect diabetes types I and II, but reflects a different and more complicated process, which has its roots in the central nervous system," stated the head of the team, Dr Suzanne de la Monte.

Affecting the Brain

According to the study, which is published in the scientific periodical Journal of Alzheimers Disease, type III diabetes is connected with the levels of brain insulin, which is connected to Alzheimers.

The researchers studied rodents and post-mortem brain tissue from Alzheimers sufferers and found that the insulin and proteins connected with it are produced by the brain, while reduced levels of insulin are connected with Alzheimers disease.

They observed that insulin and its receptors are vital to the survival of brain cells, as when they are not produced at normal levels, the cells die.

Older research has shown that diabetes sufferers are 65% more likely to develop Alzheimers than healthy people. Furthermore, studies have shown that many type II diabetes sufferers have protein reserves in the pancreas similar to reserves found in the brain tissue of Alzheimers patients.

According to the research, the key that links that two diseases is type III diabetes, which, as Dr de la Monte claims, "opens new roads of targeted treatment to the brain and changes the way we see Alzheimers disease."

Sign of Liver Cancer

In the meantime, according to research by the Veteran Affairs Medical Centre in Houston, Texas, diabetics are three times more likely to suffer from liver disease. In fact, chronic hepatitis C and B and a family history of the disease constitute high risk categories for liver cancer.

The researchers also studied patients who received medical treatment from 1994 to 1999. In that time period, 2061 patients aged 65 and over were treated for cancer of the liver. The researchers compared them with 6000 other patients of a similar age who did not have cancer. Taking into account other risk factors for the disease, such as age and the masculine sex, the scientists found that a diabetic is more likely to suffer from cancer of the liver. "A diabetic is twice or three times as likely to develop cancer of the liver, regardless of other serious risk factors," stated the head of the researchers, Dr Hashem el Serag, clarifying at the same time that cancer very rarely occurs and that the total risk for diabetics is low.

Translated by Millie Williams

[15] Charges in six minutes Revolution in Batteries

By Vagelis Theodorou

New ground has been broken in mobile telephony by an experimental battery created by an American company. Altair Technologies has produced a lithium-ion (Li-ion) , which can be fully charged in just six minutes, is more powerful and lasts ten times longer than other batteries. It is thought that the new battery could provide a solution to the "energy crisis" faced by mobile phones, as current batteries do not save enough energy and quickly become discharged when used for tools requiring high energy consumption, such as the camera flash. The company has patented the invention and aims to attract interest from big companies, so that the battery may be released on the market within the next two years.

Fast Charging, Long Life

In Li-ion batteries, lithium-ions which come from an acidic cathode of lithium and cobalt result in a carbon anode after passing through electrolytes.

Altair replaced the carbon with nono-crystals of titanium lithium and increased the surface of the anode. The result of this change is a greater ion flow and therefore a faster charge for the battery, and a discharge in power surge applications.

Furthermore, Altairs battery lives longer than other Li-ion batteries, whose life is restricted to 400 charge cycles. The nano-crystals of titanium lithium used by the American company are not sensitive to temperature changes, meaning that the battery operates satisfactorily for 20,000 charge cycles.

As Altair states, the technology that has been developed is not restricted to mobile phones, but can also be used for rechargeable tools and hybrid electric vehicles.

Translated by Millie Williams

[16] Mobile Moans for Lovers

By Vagelis Theodorou

Are you love struck and literally keep bombarding your better half with SMSs full of sweet talk? An adult film company has just the thing for you: ring tones featuring groaning and moaning noises, which can also be accompanied by explicit downloadable videos! It was also announced that the film company signed a contract with a mobile phone company and is looking to market erotic "wallpapers". Users will be able to buy individual items or take a monthly subscription. The companies have not disclosed the full terms of the program yet, leaving the imagination of future users run wild. However, they said they would establish age-verification schemes to ensure that minors were not purchasing inappropriate content.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[17] Stefanopoulos and Papandreou's Farewell Meeting

By Tina Valaoura

The President of PASOK, Giorgos Papandreou, who visited him in the Presidential Mansion, had only the best to say of outgoing President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos. " The love of the Greek people will accompany him and I am sure that he will continue to contribute to the country," underlined Mr Papandreou who praised Mr Stefanopoulos political and social role in Greece. "He gave prestige to the institution of the President of the Republic, special contribution to the country and represented Greece in the best possible way in Europe, Asia, the U.S. and Africa," stated Mr Papandreou and mentioned his personal appreciation towards Mr Stefanopoulos, given the fact that he has accompanied him in many trips and have gotten to know each other well. Mr Stefanopoulos hosted a farewell reception for the employees of the Presidency of the Republic and thanked them for their contribution in his ten-year term, which made it the best period of his life. The new President of the Republic, Karolos Papoulias will be sworn in Parliament on Saturday morning at 11:00.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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