The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-08-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Alarm System Malfunction

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

According to information, Air Accidents Investigation Committee experts, who are investigating the causes of the accident, located a significant problem with the alarm sound system. As per the first data, the same sound signal was heard for various malfunctions, a fact which may have confused the pilots over the airliners actual problem. The Public Prosecutors Office was immediately informed on the new findings, as according to international regulations, experts are obliged to report such evidence to the manufacturing company and the air carrier in charge. At the same time, investigations focus on the frequency used by the airliner to contact the Control Tower. According to information, the first indications show the airplane was never on the Athens Control Tower frequency and remained on Nicosia frequency throughout the flight. In the meantime, it was made known that flight attendant Andreas Prodromous body was identified via DNA test. Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos dismissed the political parties proposals on an independent investigation into the causes of the tragedy. He also dismissed the possibility of political responsibilities claiming that they will trigger nothing but confusion.

PASOK Will Request Parliament Get a Briefing

Earlier on Tuesday, air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the crash and their heads gave statements. To issue the final finding, all data will be taken into consideration and it is likely that new evidence will be surfaced by the end of the week.

On his part, government spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos made it clear that the investigations were not delayed and everything was done by the book.

At the same time, he dismissed the information that spoke of a hasty effort to sign a presidential degree for the upgrading of the Civil Aviation Authority by saying that it is not related to the crash.

"The procedure started last March, because the government intended the Civil Aviation Authority to be incorporated into category "one" after its upgrading in 2000," stated Mr Roussopoulos.

PASOK, on the other hand, is considering requesting Transport and Defence Ministers brief the parliament on the case of the air tragedy.

This was decided in the meeting held by the partys steering body, since PASOK officials believe that there are certain questions that require responsible answers by the ministers involved in the handling of the case.

At the same time, the Federation of Civil Aviation Authorities asked for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and the other political leaders to inform them on the entirety of the problems in air transports, so there wouldnt be any more similar tragedies.

At the same time, HCAA units have increased their surprise controls in airline companies.

Cypriot controllers at the Larnaka airport accuse the HCAA, as they consider Greek air traffic controllers delayed looking for the Cypriot airliner.

The Bodies of 27 Victims in Cyprus

Shortly after Monday midnight, the bodies of the 27 victims that were identified using DNA samples arrived at the Larnaka airport on board Greek C-130 aircrafts. Health Minister Andreas Gabrielidis, Assistant Police Chief Charalambos Koulentis, Larnaka Police Director Andreas Krokos and Parliamentarians were at the airport to receive the bodies.

After the memorial service, the bodies were taken to a special area in Nicosia from where the relatives can take them for their funerals.

Former Cypriot Transport Minister Kikis Kazamias tried to dispel the rumours regarding his involvement in Helios Airways by describing the publications in both Greek and Cypriot newspapers as unreal.

In his written statement he mentioned that he had never been general director to Dimitra investment company and that he had never participated in the decision to invest in Libra, Helios parent company. He further added that the writer of the publication apologized to him personally and that he expects the rest to act similarly.

As was made known by Prague airport official, Helios decided to stop the Larnaka-Prague flight through Athens after the tragic accident. The last scheduled flight of this route is for the coming Thursday.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Efedaki Sets a New Record

By Ilias Papaioannou

Nantia Ephentaki of Greece set a new Greek record in IAAFs Grand Prix-meeting in the city of Linz, Austria. The Greek runner participated in womens 3,000 metres final and finished fifth. Efedaki clocked 8:55.77 and she set a new Greek record by improving her previous record set on June 29, 2003 in Prague. Yelena Zadorozhnaya of Russia finished the race in 8:46.05 and won the gold medal.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Health and Employment Ministers Decided ICU Are Enhanced

By Annita Paschalinou

Health and Employment Ministers decided to enhance Atticas intensive care units with beds from private hospitals. Following the interdepartmental decision the contracts between the social security funds and the private hospitals have been signed. Therefore, ESYs intensive care units will be boosted with 73 beds as of early September. Errikos Dynan Hospital offered 30 beds, while another 43 were given by other private hospitals.

EKAV to Transfer Patients

Therefore, as of early September, people will have the opportunity to be hospitalized at the intensive care units of private hospitals without any burden on them or their social security funds.

The Health Ministry believes that the measure in question will cover the daily emergency needs for intensive care.

The transfer of patients from a public hospital to a private one will be carried out only by EKAVs (National Centre for Emergency Medical Care) ambulances, with that being a necessary prerequisite.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] West and East View World Differently West Versus East

By Vagelis Theodorou

A study on the contrasting world-views between Americans and Asians proved the dissimilar cultures between West and East. As per a study that was conducted by Michigan University and appears on Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Chinese people have a more holistic approach that relies on harmony, while Westerners break the whole into categories and efficiency becomes key priority. The scientists observed American and Chinese university students while they looked at a series of photographs. "Chinese people see the world different, literally," underlined Richard Nisbett, head of the scientific team, and added, "Asian people live in a much more complicated society than we do. They should focus on what others do, while we tend to be more selfish." Researchers underscored that the study surfaces the need to respect different lifestyles and different ways of thinking.

Harmony Against Goals

The study focused on American graduates of European descent and Chinese students who visited the USA for their postgraduate studies. The researchers observed them while they looked at a series of photos depicting an impressive image in a realistic environment, like a tiger in a jungle.

The study showed that the American students drew their attention to the central objects, while their Chinese peers saw the photo as a whole and focused on the background. Strikingly enough, American-born students of Chinese descent influenced by the Western lifestyle approached the photos in an in-between way, thus indicating that differences in perception are cultural-based.

In particular, American volunteers first focused on the brighter and faster object, while the Chinese students moved their eyes more and received more information regarding the background and its relation to the object. "Harmony is a central idea in East Asian philosophy, and so there is more emphasis on how things relate to the whole. In the West, by contrast, life is about achieving goals," said Dr Nisbett.

For example, the Americans focused on a trout that was swimming, while the Chinese saw a stream, pebbles at the bed and a fish swimming. "Americans see things in black and white, while East Asians see more shades of grey," explained Dr Nisbett.

It is noteworthy that the differences in question have also been detected by psychologists who observed Chinese and American families when playing games.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Political Secretariat Met SYN's Stance at TIF

By Vagelis Theodorou

SYNs Political Secretariat approved SYNs future programme as well as Alekos Alavanos proposals to be announced at Thessaloniki International Fair. The partys Political Secretariat was also briefed on Mr Alavanos recent meeting with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos. As per its announcement, SYNs Political Secretariat opposes any changes regarding the municipal elections, namely the election of Mayors from the first round, and requests the struggle for immediate election and simple proportional representation in local government be intensified. According to the announcement, the reforms in question lead to inequalities in the peoples votes and try to put OTA (Local Government Organisation) under suffocating scrutiny. Mr Alavanos and SYNs Political Secretariat voiced their warmest condolences for Voula Arnaoutis death. Mrs Arnouti was a member of SYNs Political Committee.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Suspense Ends

By Tina Valaoura

The admission grades for Universities and TEI will be announced on August 25. Visit ERTonline to be the first to know

Suspense finally comes to an end for thousand of students who participated in Junes national level examinations to earn a position in the countrys Universities and TEI (Technological Education Institutes). The data has been processed and the Education Ministry is to announce the admission grades on Thursday morning. As per information, the admission grades are expected to drop in Maths, Poly and Computer Schools, whereas they are to remain at the same level with last years grades in Philosophical and Law Schools.

The admission grades will be posted at the Education Ministrys website. ERTonline will also post the admission grades.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Flaming Fronts in Spain Too Lethal Fires Continue to Burn

By Vicky Keleri

The death toll from the lethal fires in Portugal has reached 15, while the flaming nightmare has incinerated over 140,000 hectares of forests. Today, rescue crews located the body of an 88-year-old lady in Ourem, who was missing since last Thursday. Among the victims are 10 firemen, who participated in the extinction operation. At the same time, 3,000 of their colleagues continue to put up a strong fight against the flames, as 11 fire fronts are out of control in central and northern Portugal. A fire plane and helicopters from other EU Member-States have rushed on site to help Portuguese authorities putting out the fires, following Lisbon's appeal for help. In the meantime, Spain is also in a flaming cordon, as 40 fronts are burning everything at their passage in Galicia. Authorities say they are the worst fires of the last 15 years.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[08] For It Was Not Withdrawn Black Devil Ad to Prosecutor

By Vicky Keleri

General Secretariat for the Consumer indicted Media Master SA and Tobacco Kiosk Hellas to the Public Prosecutor Thanasis Skodras, for they failed to comply with the decision to withdraw the Black Devil advert. The Communication Control Board had unanimously requested the particular advert be withdrawn underlying that the motto now the black is for free runs contrary to basic principles set by EKD-E, according to which adverts should not shatter the publics faith in the advertising operation. It also runs contrary to article 1 regarding decency and article 4.1 regarding truthfulness.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] In Three Flights Problems and Delays

By Annita Paschalinou

On Tuesday, two Olympic Airways airliners and a Viking airliner presented technical malfunctions that were successfully dealt with. The pilot of flight 907 en route from Thessaloniki to Athens ascertained a problem in the air-conditioning shortly after the Olympic Airways Boeing 737-400 carrying 93 passengers took off. The malfunction was described as usual, the pilot flew at low height and safely landed it at Athens international airport. An Olympic Airways ATR also presented a technical problem. The ATR remained on Naxos for it ran out of battery. A helicopter was sent to change the battery and the ATR landed in Athens with a three-hour delay.

A Viking airliner carrying 162 passengers en route from Herakleion to Manchester presented failure in its generator fifteen minutes after its takeoff.

The pilot informed the control tower about the problem and return to Herakleion. After the problem was managed, the airliner departed with a four-hour delay.

Translated by Areti Christou

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