The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] "Call of the Wild 'Baby'"

By Vicky Keleri

For some time, a bizarre and loud noise did not let them sleep, so the residents of Campo Grande, in Rio de Janeiro, called the Police to see what is going on. The policemen investigated the house, but a great surprise was in store for them! They found out that it wasnt the neighbour making all that noise, but the roars of his pet, which was not a dog or a cat, but a small lion! As the man explained to the policemen, he was accommodating the wild beast, named Baby, ever since his circus closed down and was raising it with his children. As per the pets owner, it is very friendly and has never attacked anyone, while he cannot part with it. However, the neighbours and the Police thought otherwise. We hope that Babys father finds a way to keep things in order in his household.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Available soon on Amazon.com Sales by the Paragraph

By Tina Valaoura

One of the advantages of traditional bookshops is that readers can leaf through a book and get a taste of the story just by scanning a few pages. This usually plays a decisive role in whether the person will eventually buy the book or not. However, online retailers did not offer this service to prospective customers. So, popular online bookseller Amazon.com found a solution to upgrade its services, offering two innovations: Amazon Pages and Amazon Upgrade. These services allow readers to take a peek and either buy the whole book, or just the excerpts that appeal to them.

Specifically, Pages gives online customers the opportunity to explore the content of the book that interests them with "unusual flexibility", as was noted by the founder of the company, Jeff Bezos. If they are satisfied with the test, they can then either buy the book online through Upgrade, or opt for buying only the chapters, or even the paragraphs, that interest them.

This latest innovation forms part of a campaign aimed at boosting sales, which have dropped lately. At the same time, the company is trying to keep up with the latest developments on the Internet, following Googles plan to create the biggest virtual library, allowing for free access to thousands of books.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] New Headache for Bush It Never Rains, but it Pours

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: ABC

Things for George Bush and his administration keep getting worst. According to an opinion poll conducted on behalf of ABC News and Washington Post, 60% of the Americans reject his policies, while another 53% believe that George Bush is not a strong leader. However, the greatest blow by the American public opinion was delivered to the Presidents integrity. For the first time ever, 58%, i.e. six out of ten, question his honesty and trustworthiness. The opinion poll also recorded the disappointment of the Americans, since 66% of those asked declared that the government does not understand their problems. The Bush administration was also harshly criticised because of the oil prices (68%), Iraq (64% disagree with his policies), the Economy (61% reject it), as well as his Health sector policies.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] G. Voulgarakis in Beijing Athens-Beijing Cooperation for 2008

By Annita Paschalinou

On Thursday, Greek Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis signed a security cooperation memorandum in Beijing. As per the memorandum, the Greek Police will covey to the Chinese authorities the experience and technical know-how it acquired after designing and implementing the Olympic Security Model. As noted by the Minister, the memorandum pertains to educational and human resources matters, while the exact details of the collaboration will be finalised soon.

Mr Voulgarakis also added that China was collaborating with the country that hosted the safest Games, noting that it was a great honour for Greece to cooperate with a country that has such a great history and culture.

At the same time, he praised the progress made by Beijing in the Olympic security sector. Furthermore, the Chinese Media made positive comments about the collaboration between the two countries.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Acquittals in the Cadastre Case

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

Appellate Prosecutor Nikos Mavros proposed to the Athens Appellate Council the acquittal of all those accused in the case concerning the compilation of the National Cadastre. The reason for his decision was that there are no clues to support the felonies of fraud against the interests of the EU and violation of duty.

Twenty-two people, specifically the Board members of National Cadastre SA, as well as top officials of the companies Eurodymaniki and Geo-Synergy, were prosecuted four year ago, when the case reached Justice, following questions raised by ND MPs, Press articles and complaints by private citizens.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Tragedy in Pakistan

By Annita Paschalinou

Sixty people, who were aboard a passenger ferry in Indus River, were tragically killed when it sank in a coastal creek near the town of Keti Bandar, in Thatta district, about 70 km southeast of Karachi. Rescue crews and divers are heading to the scene to locate any possible survivors. A total of 80 passengers were aboard the ferry, while the reasons for the accident remain unknown.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] As per the Daily Telegraph Possible Targets in Australia

By Annita Paschalinou

Today, the newspaper Daily Telegraph revealed that six locations in Australia, four in Sydney and two in Melbourne, will be targeted by terrorists. The paper printed the six possible targets, only a few days after the Australian PM spoke of an imminent terrorist attack, without, however, providing any more clues. As per the newspaper, the targets are: the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the Kurnell refinery, the oil storage facility at Woolwich, the Melbourne Stock Exchange and Melbournes Flinders Street Station. The paper also mentioned that the attacks will be probably carried out by home-grown terrorist cells, which have been stockpiling explosives and other material for attacks in the two cities. In addition, the Australian authorities are monitoring a group and have already arrested a suspect that was seen videotaping Melbournes Stock Exchange and Flinders Street Station.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related Links:

Daily Telegraph-Sydney

[08] 1,000 Workers to Be Dismissed in Cologne Job Cuts at Ford

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA - AFP

Ford is following in the footsteps of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telecom, as well as Siemens and Daimler-Chrysler, which recently announced drastic job cuts in order to cope with international competition. The car manufacturer is planning on making more than 1,000 of its 19,000 workforce redundant at its Cologne plant. In addition, some 300 could also be dismissed from the companys plant at Saarlouis in the Saarland state, West Germany. The report appeared in the newspaper Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger, quoting a management letter to staff saying the US parent companys latest bad results and a generally difficult economic context required large-scale restructuring.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[09] Greek-Italian Agreement to Be Signed Countdown for Pipeline

By Vagelis Theodorou

The construction of a pipeline for the transfer of natural gas from the Caspian Sea and central Asia to the western European markets is approaching, since on Friday, Greece and Italy will sign a relevant agreement in Lecce, Italy. The document will be signed by Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Italian Minister for the Delivery of the Governments Programme Claudio Scajola. In addition, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mehmet Hilmi G&#252;ler, will also attend the ceremony, since the Greek-Italian pipeline is essentially the continuation of the Greek-Turkish project. The Greek Gas Supply and Transmission Company (DEPA) and Italian EDISON will participate in the construction of the pipeline, which constitutes one of the five top priorities of the trans-European Energy Networks. As Mr Sioufas noted, "The transfer of natural gas from the East to the western markets constitutes a strategic objective of the European Union."

Ready by the End of 2009

The pipeline is expected to transfer 8 billion cubic metres of natural gas through Greece towards Italy, with the possibility of further increasing this capacity.

Natural gas will arrive from the Caspian Sea to Komotini through the Greek-Turkish pipeline. It will then travel to Stavrolimenas, Epirus, from where it will reach Otrando, southern Italy, through the Greek-Italian underwater pipeline, which will be 212km long and with a 32 diameter.

The construction will take place in four stages and will be concluded by 2009, while DEPAs investment for the construction of the Komotini-Western Thesprotia part will amount to 600 million euros. In addition, the investment cost of the underwater pipeline will exceed 300 million euros.

The construction and development of the underwater pipeline will be undertaken by the company Poseidon, a joint DEPA-EDISON venture.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related Links:

Greek Development Ministry

DEPA

[10] Riots in Paris Continue

By Annita Paschalinou

The riots in Paris suburbs continued on Thursday night, for the eighth day running. According to the police, last night was a bit calmer, while the rioting was not that wide spread. Most of the incidents, mainly torching of cars, were reported in Seine-Saint-Denis and the town Aulnay-sous-Bois. Five police officers were injured as a result, while 30 people were arrested. A little before this new outbreak, the Prime Minister of France had sent a message to the rioters. Dominique de Villepin declared that this sort of violence would not be tolerated, while he underlined that he would start a discussion for finding solutions. The incidents being recorded in Paris over the last few days, prompted by economically weaker social groups and second/third generation immigrants, have spread to other French cities, including Dijon.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] Warned Jean-Claude Trichet Attention to Inflation

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Alertness by all EU Member-States in order to avoid dangers of inflation trends, asked the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet, stating that the dangers are existent. The cause is the increase of oil prices, since, as he said, markets are estimating that they will remain high for a long period of time. If these predictions are reconfirmed there is an increased danger of the current inflation pressures to acquire permanent characteristics. It is noted that in October the Harmonised Consumer Price Index in the Eurozone was at 2.5%. As Mr Trichet stated, the dangers for the increase of inflation have increased. However, he stated, that the moderate policy enforced by the governments with wage increases, lead to the depressurisation of pressures. Within this context, the ECB decided that the primary interest rate will remain set to 2%, underlining that the Bank withholds the right to increase it, whenever it deems necessary.

Concern over Deficits

Mr Trichet voiced his deep concern on the course of the fiscal adjustment of countries presenting a large deficit.

Without naming those countries he referred to, which as he said, "unfortunately they are many," he stated that the aims included in those countries state budgets are likely to not be achieved, in the current year and 2006. These developments, as he said, endanger the credibility of the reviewed Stability Pact.

For this reason he urged whoever take part in the countries decision making, to exhibit responsibility, in order to secure the proper fiscal environment in the future.

This responsible stance, as he said, is the most effective for achieving high development rates, and the countering of fiscal pressures caused by the ageing of the population.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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