The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis Visits Rural Development Ministry By the Farmers Side

By Betty Savourdou

The governments commitments regarding farmers are valid to the fullest, stressed the Prime Minister after meeting with Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos and Deputy Minister Alexandros Kontos on Tuesday morning. In Particular, Kostas Karamanlis stressed that measures need to be taken to adjust agricultural production to the competitive environment and announced, among other things, the formation of a control service for imported agricultural products. What is more, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of local centres for farmers further training, the reinforcement of agricultural products promotion and the appointment of agricultural consultants.

Meaningful Interventions

Continuous actions, new perspective and new point of view, are according to the Prime Minister the necessary preconditions to making agricultural production more competitive.

Interventions so far have had concrete results for farmers, noted Mr Karamanlis, and referred to the regulations for Mediterranean products and the increase of Community subsidies.

In the meantime, Mr Basiakos announced that next Monday he will vote against the Commissions proposal for the reduction of sugar price.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Broken TV? Call 911

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

When Italian police officers in Pescara, southern Italy, received an extremely urgent call from a 90-year-old lady in panic asking for their help, they rushed to her house fully armed, ready to deal with wannabe thieves, who had set their eyes on her home. Arriving at the old ladys residence, they found her in a terrible psychological condition begging them to help her out. In surprise, the police officers were trying to figure out what had happened to make the old lady so desperate, until they realized that that emergency was a broken television in the middle of her favourite soap opera! "You have to help, or else I will miss the end," said Sofia Torino, who seemed determined to do whatever was possible not to miss a second more from "The Bold and the Beautiful." The officers told the woman not to call police for household repairs but fixed the TV for her anyway.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] "Britain Will Not Be Defeated by Terrorism" Measures Against Terrorism

By Betty Savourdou

On Wednesday the European Commission is expected to present the answer to terrorism, while an emergency Summit will be called on the same day for all EU Internal Affairs Ministers regarding the terrorist attacks in London, following an official Spanish request submitted to the British presidency. In the meantime, according to the last data, the number of dead has reached 52, while only three victims have been recognized so far. Britain will not be defeated by terrorism, stressed Tony Blair on Monday at the House of Commons and further underlined his pride for the Muslim community in the UK, while he condemned the action of extremist Islamists. What is more, manhunt to track down the bombers is still underway. In fact, according to US television network NBC, fingerprints have been found on the explosive devices.

At the Bombers Trails

As per the NBC, citing intelligence sources, British experts found fingerprints on the explosive devices used in the terrorist attacks, without however having ascertained if the prints belong to the perpetrators.

According to the network, the police think at least four people took part in the attacks. The perpetrators possibly met at Kings Cross station and then headed for different directions each to place the bombs.

British newspaper Times said that bombs were most likely made by one person, using an explosive used by the army.

Always according to the Times, coroners are carefully examining the bodies found in the bus, as they could belong to some of the bombers.

What is more, according to the Financial Times, the police are very close to discovering the identity of one of the bombers.

In the meantime, a directive has been given to US soldiers families in Britain to avoid going to London.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Dangerous Products on Black List

By Tina Valaoura

Prompt informing proves to be the best way to safeguard consumers and traders from products that are distributed freely in the market and may carry hidden dangers. Having the protection of consumers interests in mind, the General Secretariat of Consumers publicised a list of products for which it received warnings from the relevant EU agency, as they were deemed unsuitable. On the one hand is asked that the products be withdrawn from the market, threatening traders with sanctions, while on the other hand, it invited consumers to contact the General Secretariats call centre, if they locate the products in shops.

Toys, Small Appliances and Vehicles

The announcement by the EUs Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX) includes nine products, five of which are toys. The toys include the Crazy Wristband, an Irish products that injured a 5-year old boy in Greece.

The rest of toys included on the list are the "2 in 1 Sound Laser Pointer", which was found in the German market and can cause injury to the eyes. Another two toys located in the Czech Republic are the "X-1 AIR FOX" helicopter and the "SKY Warrior" plane, both manufactured in China, which may cause electrocution. In addition, Sweden warned of the Stadium AB "Revolution" (N° 039655 Pro Spees X2) skates, as their brakes are faulty.

France received complaints for the Bellelli childrens bike seat (Lion Standard model No 659235), which has a faulty safety belt, while Malta warned of danger of electrocution by the Satellite toaster (AJ-7082).

Complaints were also lodged in Poland, Denmark and Ireland for two types of vehicles. The Peugeot 307, 1.6 and 2.0 litre (Serial Nos 82001728 83046212), as there is danger of a short circuit in the automatic transmission, as well as the Renault Espace IV, manufactured between 7/11/03 and 2/4/04, as some models carry a second heating system that can cause a fire if it gets overheated. The manufacturing countries are unknown.

The RAPEX bulletin is issued weekly and includes dangerous products located in Member-States and which have been deemed as unsafe, or products that have been recalled by the manufacturers.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] The Work of Italian Anarchists? Blast in Barcelona

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA - Reuters

A blast was reported on Tuesday morning at the Italian Culture Centre in Barcelona injuring one policeman and killing a sniffer dog. According to the Police, a homemade explosive device, in particular a coffee maker packed with explosives, exploded in the Centres doorway, an incident also confirmed by the Italian Internal Affairs Ministry. However, authorities are running an investigation and the area has been blocked off by the Police. Radio reports said police were investigating the possibility that an Italian anarchist group could be behind the blast.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Fixed Charges Increase by 1 Euro New Price List for OTE

By Annita Paschalinou

The Greek Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) will be increasing its fixed charges by 1 Euro as of 1 August. At the same time, the company announced the deals that will apply from 1 August to 30 September. During that time, calls to the UK, France, Italy and Spain will be 80% cheaper. In addition, 10 minutes of free talk time (from the 3rd to the 13th minute) will apply for all long distance calls made between 8pm and 8am.

Summer Deals

International calls to France, the UK, Italy and Spain will be charged at 0.04 Euros per minute, as opposed to 0.209 normally.

For customers who have already chosen one of the abovementioned countries as part of OTEs discount programmes, the discount will apply on the lower price charged, ie the international call will cost as much as a local call (0.026 Euros per minute).

At the same time, the monthly fixed rates for customers will be adjusted as follows:

For PSTN connections, the rates will increase to 11.90 Euros, as opposed to 11.40 Euros currently For ISDN BRA connections, the rates will increase to 14.40 Euros, as opposed to 14.90 Euros currently.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Nails Can Show Osteoporosis Danger Fingernail Secrets

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: BBC

Our fingernails give away the quality of our bones. A research group from the Irish University of Limerick reached that conclusion and even discovered a new way of seeing if patients have osteoporosis by simply scanning their fingernails. The new test, which has been nominated for the Medical Futures - Innovation Awards, due to be announced later this year, is offering a cheap, alternative way of checking whether a person has the predisposition of developing bone disease osteoporosis.

A Key Bond

According to researchers, the small keratin plates of our fingernails tell more than we think. The secret, they say, lies in a substance called disulphide bond, which is needed to bind protein molecules to each other. In nails, the disulphide bond is needed to bind keratin, while in bones disulphide bonds are necessary to bind collagen. In both fingernails and bones, disulphide bond gives them strength.

The idea for this study was triggered when a doctor noticed his osteoporosis patients all had floppy nails. Extending the research on other people, patients or not, it was ascertained that those suffering from this common bone disease had significantly lower levels of disulphide bond in their nails, in relation to healthy patients.

"People are usually referred to hospital for bone scans if their doctors feel they have risk factors, such as being post menopausal, or if they smoke," said Dr Mark Towler, lecturer at Limerick University, and explained the new test is simple, of low cost and capable of assessing someones risk and if they need to go further checks. A small laser device would scan the middle fingernail for levels of disulphide bond. In fact, the test would be even performed without the patients physical presence, as long as the doctor has a piece of his nail.

The British National Osteoporosis Society welcomed the news, saying it was an interesting area of research. It is noted that osteoporosis affects one in three women and one in 12 men, while it is responsible for 200,000 broken bones per year in the UK and 40 deaths a day.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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