The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Travelling in Future Check-in Becomes Piece of Cake

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Tickets, passports, ID cards and boarding passes are some of the documents that give those who choose to travel by plane a hard time. The collaboration between the German airline Lufthansa and Siemens aspires to end the classic check-in procedure. The two companies are testing fingerprint-based check-in and boarding procedures at Frankfurt Airport. The new system is called Trusted Traveller and its testing is to last for two weeks. Should tests prove successful, Lufthansa plans to apply the system in 2006 for frequent fliers. Passengers fingers will be scanned and their fingerprints will be printed in encrypted form on the boarding pass. During boarding, the code on the pass will then be identified with the passengers fingerprints. The aim is to make the check-in procedures easier and faster.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[02] Fear and Resentment After Bloodshed Severe Condemnation by Press

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: Independent- Financial Times- Guardian- Times- Le Monde- Le Figaro- L' Humanite- Liberation- El Mundo- El Peri&#243;dico- Die Welt- Berliner Zeitung- Corriere della Sera- La Republica

Yesterdays terrorist hit in London is recorded in newspapers with titles expressing the conviction and photographs that reveal the terror and pain. The chaos of terror and panic that awoke with the attacks in the center of the British capital are the main issues of the European Press, which make their own severe condemnation. The titles are descriptive of the situation. British newspaper Independent writes, Terror Comes to London, and French L Humanite Enough. Meanwhile, the British, who yesterday saw panic strike the country, are trying to find the reasons why the Secret Services and the police did not prevent yesterdays bloodshed and are critical of them.

Criticism of Secret Services

As the Financial Times reveals, the past two months the M15, the British Security Service, assured the businesses that the level of terrorism threat was lower than the September 11 attack.

According to the newspaper these estimations possibly reveal that the security forces had not discovered this specific terrorist group, which yesterday caused havoc in London, or did not believe there was a terrorist nucleus in the country capable to organize such an attack.

As it is stated, the perpetrators of the combined attack against the capitals transit system took advantage of a weak link in the Intelligence chain and a deadly tolerance in the security area.

The Guardian describes yesterdays terrorist act as the worst ever in the country, while The Times accuses the Secret Services over the non-existence of preventative alarm concerning the impending disaster.

Concern and Fears

Meanwhile, the headlines of newspapers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain state the anger, pain and resentment over yesterdays attack.

The title of France Soir is Massacre in London and goes a step further wondering in the second title Is Paris protected for a wave of terrorism? Al Qaeda Punishes London, notes Le Parisien and states, the threat for France is great.

In its front page L Humanite writes Enough! noting that for the effective counter of terrorist acts the perpetrators have to be isolated by the end of pain, inequalities, and violations that disfigure the world.

Le Monde states the decision of the G8 for a joint war against terrorism. Similar titles are shared by the rest of the newspapers as Le Liberation writes London Bombed, while Le Figaro chooses London in Horror for its title.

Furthermore, Le Figaro has a six-page spread about yesterdays attack, estimating that the British capital has turned into a front from which the followers of Jihad begin their battle. London is neither a sanctuary nor a holy town, not even the base of withdrawal, but a front of holy war fanatics. The biggest change occurred with the British participation in the war in Iraq, notes the newspaper.

In Germany, many newspapers estimate that the attacks were targeted to non-Muslims and not one country, such as Britain, that is by the side of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The attacks in London do not constitute a punishment against the British Crusader government, that should be punished for its participation in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, writes Die Welt, accusing the Islamists of being dominated by the primeval eschatology that separates the world between the faithful and unfaithful.

Moreover, Berliner Zeitung underlines the danger of Germany facing a similar attack, being one of the possible targets of terrorism.

In Spain, El Mundo notes, Spain is in a state of alarm, while El Peri&#243;dico notes that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, connected the attacks in London with the G8 Summit Meeting in Scotland and the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica writes Fears and New Alarms, while it makes special reference to the threats published in an Islamic website from a reported branch of Al Qaeda against the countrys government, which place Italy in the next targets.

Corriere della Sera focuses on fears over new terrorist hits in the British capital, noting that while London is trying to find its regular pace of life, the alarm level is has hit red.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Aliens Attack War of The Worlds Starts in Siberia

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

The movie War of The Worlds has become a blockbuster from the first days of its release. Who in their sane mind could have thought that some people would be so influenced by its plot to think that all the unreal events in the movie could happen in real life? It happened in Siberia. The residents of Khabarovsk influenced by the movie, panicked when they mistook a tornado for an alien invasion. Not knowing what to do, they hastily evacuated their homes and drove away from the so-called alien threat. The storm that broke out suddenly started uprooting trees and destroying everything in the area. The authorities obviously more calm and collected than the residents stated that the invasion was a sudden storm that meteorologists hadnt forecast, while they said that the War of The World negatively affected people.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] PASOKs Central Meeting Holds Meeting No Plan, No Dialogue

By Annita Paschalinou

PASOKs Central Committee held a long-lasting meeting chaired by George Papandreou to decide on the partys stance over the social security and the labour relations. PASOK leader voiced his concern on the way the government is handling the two issues and spoke of ostensible dialogue and lack of plan. There is no need for measures against the working class to enhance the countrys development course. We do not accept the ostensible dialogue, he claimed lashing out at the governments announcements regarding the heating fuel.

Panic Reactions

Mr Papandreou accused the government of being in a state of panic searching for solutions to deficit it created and expressed his belief that equating the taxes of diesel and heating fuel will sustain a serious blow to every Greek household.

He remarked that there is also a lack of dialogue regarding the working hours issue,and he concluded saying that the measure in question will not benefit the consumers and that it will harm the medium sized businessmen and the countryside.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Upgrade of Partnership Direct Connection Thessaloniki-Istanbul

Sources: Hellenic Railways Association

Today, the Hellenic Railways Association (OSE) has put the new routes for Thessaloniki-Istanbul with direct connection into service. The train is named FILIA-DOSTLUK EXPRESS and will depart daily from Thessaloniki at 20:00 and arrive in Istanbul in the following morning. The ride lasts 11 hours and 30 minutes and the ticket starts from 48 euros. Trains between Thessaloniki-Istanbul-Thessaloniki are being routed in application to the Agreement between the Minister of Transport and Communications of Greece, Mr Michalis Liapis and his Turkish counterpart, as well as between the administrations of the two railway networks and they symbolize the continuous improvement of the cooperation and the constant friendship between the two peoples and it is expected that they will contribute considerably to the economic development of both countries.

For further information, passengers may communicate either with OSE Ticket offices or with the Call Center Service of OSE at the four-digit telephone number 1110.

[06] Fire in Kythira

By Anna Kourti

A fire that broke out in the early morning hours in the area of Diakofti, in Kythira is in development. Nine vehicles of the Fire Service, 40 firemen and a helicopter are participating in the extinguishing operation. The coordination of the operation has been taken up by the Peloponnese Regional Fire Service Commandant Christofors Pitsogiannis.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Arroyo Accused of Rigging Election Political Crisis in the Philippines

By Anna Kourti

Today, six members of the Philippines government have submitted their resignation asking for the removal of President Gloria Arroyo from power, accusing her of rigging the election. The Security Forces have declared a state of alarm, since the Presidential Mansion has announced that there is a plan of Communist rebels to assassinate President Arroyo. In the meantime, the leader of the Army General Staff has asked the army to remain neutral, and not intervene in the political crisis. According to an opinion poll, 53% of the Philippinos do not trust Arroyo, and 48% believe that the President should resign.

Army Vice Commander Efren Abu has stated that retired officers are trying to persuade military men to use their troops and power to express their political preferences and to intervene in political issues. A soldier has the duty to protect the political life, but not to intervene in it, stated Abu.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Official Results to be Released on Friday G8 Front Against Terror

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: ANA - BBC - REUTERS

The terrorist attacks that shocked London on Thursday were dominated the G8 Summit, which opened its proceedings on Thursday. The leaders of Britain, Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada and the USA condemned the attacks, which as they mentioned targeted civilized people. Natural egos died out, said the French President Jacques Chirac in a Press Conference, and he underlined that the blasts in London boosted the solidarity within the G8. The Summit continued its proceedings in the absence of Tony Blair, who had to return to London. I do not know whether the terrorists intended to prevent us from working or not, if they did, they have failed, he added.

Cleaner Technology at the Focus

Shortly after Tony Blair left the Summit, the leaders of Brazil, Mexico, China, Niger and India, who have been invited to attend the Summit, required immediate action on the climate changes and the reduction of trade barriers be implemented.

The G8 leaders agreed on joint action to combat global warming by advancing a cleaner technology and more efficient energy sources, despite the fact there was no official announcement on the agenda, German negotiator Bernd Pfaffenbach told reporters. He also stated that the relevant text makes reference to the Kyoto Protocol, which the USA has not yet signed. The document was accepted and you can be sure that there wont be any more changes. The Kyoto accord will be mentioned but the document wont contain any concrete figures," he concluded.

The agreement of the eight wealthiest countries literally defies the Kyoto Protocol, thus falling in line with the USA. It is noteworthy that before the blasts in London, Blair and Bush they had suggested the Kyoto Protocols replacement putting emphasis on a cleaner technology.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[09] Summer nights in Chalkidiki 2005 Cassandras Festival

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Cassandras festival celebrates its 13th anniversary with a number of concerts and theatrical performances. Visitors to Chalkidiki, in northern Greece, will have the opportunity to enjoy their favourite actors and singers between July 9 and August 14. This years festival will be taking place in Siviriss amphitheatre, and it includes six theatrical performances, five concerts, two classical ballet performances and a dancing performance with the participation of dance groups from the Balkans.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] By Private Enterprises Three New Hospital Units

By Anna Kourti

Sources: NET

At the inaugural ceremony of the Blood Donation and CAT Scanner Centre in Thessalonikis Hippokration Hospital on Thursday, the Health Ministry Nikitas Kaklamanis announced the establishment of three new hospital units, which will be co-funded by private enterprises. The relevant invitation will be released within July and regards the construction of a general hospital with a capacity of 700 beds, a National Transplant Centre and a Childrens Hospital likely to be erected in Thessaloniki. The new hospital units will be run under ESY (Greek National Health System), and all citizens are to enjoy a free access with all expenses covered by the security funds.

Translated by Areti Christou

[11] ERT-Buena Vista Deal

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET

With the presence of Mickey and Mini, the Greek public television earned the right to broadcast recreational programmes and movies for the three upcoming years after the deal that was signed between ERT and Buena Vista International TV, which also runs the well-known company Disney. The deal was signed by ERT President Christos Panagopoulos and Buena Vista Vice-President Tom Toumazis, who is of Greek-Cypriot origins. Mr Toumazis said that he enjoys working with ERT. On his part, Mr Panagopoulos stressed that ERTs objective is to put forward programmes that live up to its viewers expectations without at the same time risking their quality standards.

Translated by Areti Christou

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