The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Girls Are Easier to Be Conceived It's a Man's World

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: BBC

The longer women take to get pregnant, the more likely they are to have boys, underlined Dutch scientists from the University of Maastrict. The researchers focused their study on 5,283 women who delivered between 2001 and 2003. As per the study that appeared at the "British Medical Journal," among the 498 women who took longer than a year to get pregnant, 58% of them gave birth to a baby boy. Those getting pregnant sooner stood 51% chances to have a baby boy. Therefore, the researchers concluded that for couples conceiving naturally, each additional year of trying to get pregnant increase the possibility of them having a boy by 4%. However, this is not the case for those women who resort to test-tube baby technology. The researchers led by Dr Luc Smits pointed out that the findings of the study could answer to the question why more boys are born.

Y Bearing Sperm Are More Flexible

The sperm includes equal numbers of X and Y (male) chromosomes. However, male babies are more, although male foetuses stand more chances of dying in the womb.

Dr Smits and his team claimed that getting pregnant depends on how viscous the mucus in a womans cervix is. A sticky mucus gives sperms a hard time, yet Y bearing sperm are lighter and more flexible, therefore they can get through the mucus easier. So, a thick mucus can held responsible for women getting pregnant late. But when they do, they are more likely to deliver a baby boy, since Y bearing sperm get through easier.

However, Professor James Walker of St James Hospital, Leeds, underscored that there are also other factors, including the womans age and the Ph of the vagina. He also pointed out that X bearing sperm can also get through the mucus since 42% of the woman trying to get pregnant for more than a year gave birth to baby girls.

Related Links:

British Medical Journal

[02] Music Search on Google

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: Reuters, ANA

The biggest search engine on the Internet, Google, introduced a new music search feature, thus dynamically entering the search of music products. So, when searching the name of an artist on Google, the resulting search returns information about the artist, albums, song titles and a picture, when available, as well as reviews. You can also find a series of online stores, from where you can buy the artists records. However, Google is not planning on opening its own online music store, like Yahoo, Apple and Microsoft have done. Google decided to establish the music portal, because "in analysing our traffic, we found that a huge number of users conduct music-related searches," Google said in a statement.

It Will Expand

For the time being, the direct music link is limited to certain artists, but according to Google spokeswoman Megan Quinn, Google plans to expand the range of searches that trigger the music feature over time. However, experts stress Google is a bit late in developing this music feature, as Yahoo and MNS are offering the music search for quite some time.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Head-on Revenge!

By Despina Hristopoulou

Is your ex in a relationship with your best friend? No need to worry anymore. A 20-year-old German woman, Brigitte, has the answer to your problem. She came up with a devious way to settle old scores with her roommate, who by the way hooked up with her ex. You see, Lisa, the roommate, had just started going out with Brigitte's ex, but Brigitte was not willing to give him up just yet. So, she thought that if Lisa would go bald, then she would get her boyfriend back. And since convincing Lisa to shave her head was out of the question, she decided to take charge of the situation. She mixed shampoo with hair removal cream, but things did not turn out well, as the two different hair chemicals blended into a dangerous mix, which burnt Lisa's hands before she could use it. On the other hand, Brigitte was referred to Justice and given a six-month suspended sentence. Lisa's doctor told the court her hands were quite badly burned by the corrosive chemical mixture. "I don't even want to consider what would have happened if she had washed her hair with it," he stressed.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Four-Day Summit in Athens Focusing on Illegal Immigration

By Annita Paschalinou

The Interior Ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Greece, who participated in a four-day conference organised by the Greek Minister of Public Order, decided on a joint action plan towards combating human trafficking and illegal immigration. The Ministers concluded that illegal immigration, which is quite often associated with human and drug trafficking, can be effectively dealt with via highly close cooperation. The next conference will be staged in Turkey.

Boosting Cooperation

They agreed on:

· establishing a more effective intelligence exchange system, · promoting a prompt warning system to deal with the cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants, · holding regular talks and meetings to boost cooperation, · creating a national network for exchanging information and know-how in the fields of illegal immigration, corruption, drug trafficking and organised crime.

They Interior Ministers agreed to call on Afghanistan to take part in the next conference.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] About Abductions Pakistan Refutes Allegations

By Annita Paschalinou

Following into Greece and Britains footsteps, the Pakistani government, through the Interior Minister visiting Athens, refuted the allegations that a group of Pakistani men were illegally held and questioned by British agents shortly after the July suicide bomb attacks in London. When asked on the issue, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that he discussed the issue with Pakistans ambassador to Athens and added, "Pakistans embassy in Greece was never briefed by the family or anyone allegedly implicated on the issue." "Our ambassador made it public without having any evidence on it. This means that the incident never occurred," he concluded.

[06] In Veria Student Got Severely Injured

By Annita Paschalinou

A 13-year-old student, who tried to slide down the indoor staircase at his school but slipped and sustained a head injury, is being treated at Thessalonikis Hippokration Hospital in a critical condition. He was initially transferred to Verias hospital, but his severe head injury urged the doctors to send him to Thessaloniki.

[07] Between Lawyers for the Prosecution and Koufontina Tension at 17N Trial

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: ANA

Tension prevailed on Friday over 17N trial at the Five-Member Appellate Court when lawyer for the Prosecution representing Bakogianni family Olga Tsolka accused Dimitris Koufontinas of vying to appear as a fighter for peoples rights without ever having worked in his life. Dimitris Koufontinas reacted strongly blaming the lawyer for knowing nothing of fights. The incident was over, yet judge Dionysis Vertelis instructed the defendant not to intervene without permission for this would lead to his being expelled from the courtroom. The trial will resume on Monday.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] With Four Injured Strong Blast in Istanbul

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: ANA

Four people were injured by a strong blast that shook the historic district of Eyup in Istanbul. The blast occurred in a heating furnace in an office complex at an office complex. According to the Police, the blast was an accident and there is no eventuality of a terrorist hit. "We know it is not a bomb," said a police officer in Istanbul's Eyup district. Last month a man lost his life and 11 more were injured by a bomb blast at Istanbul's thematic park.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[09] Thriller With Zarqawi Arrest

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: CNN, ANA

Rumours are rife on the fate of Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al Zarqawi, as according to American television station CNN, he was arrested by the Iraqi security forces last year but was released, because he had changed his appearance and therefore was not recognised. The station cited Iraqi Foreign Minister Hussein Kamal, who confirmed information that the No1 wanted man in Iraq was arrested in August 2004, but the minister did not further elaborate. Questioned on the matter, an American military official said he can neither confirm nor exclude the event and added, "It is plausible." 39-year-old Zarqawi is born in Jordan and wanted by the USA for 25 million dollars.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

CNN: Official: Al-Zarqawi caught, released

[10] Dep. Defence Minister in Afghanistan

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

In view of the Christmas season, Deputy Defence Minister Vasilis Michaloliakos visited the Greek troops participating in the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Mr Michaloliakos exchanged wishes with the Greek military officials and praised the work of the Greek troops both on the field of action and on providing healthcare services. At the same time, he stressed that Greece is among the protagonists of the international community's efforts to establish peace and stability around the globe. Mr Michaloliakos arrived in Kabul with 85 Greek military officers, who replaced their colleagues, and returned to Athens with 70 Greek officers. The two Greeks who were lightly injured during a recent violent incident in Kabul went back home a few days ago.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[11] In Athens and Thessaloniki Fires and Arrests

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

A series of arsons were reported last night in Athens and the suburbs, where unknown men torched 15 cars. Yesterday in the afternoon in Exarchia, a group of hooded men attacked two police officers riding a police motorcycle, and beat them up. As a result, one of the two officers was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The unknown men then snatched their guns and wallets and took off. The police arrested 35 suspects wo were released since there was no strong evidence against them. As for the gun taken from the policeman, it was located on Friday evening in an abandoned apartment on Tzavella Street in Exarhia.

On the occasion of yesterdays attack against policemen at the heart of Athens, Deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros stated on Friday, "It is a situation the former government failed to effectively deal with." He also added that NDs government has both the will and the determination to effectively tackle the hooded gangs that pose a threat to the regime, order and safety of the civilians

What is more, two Eurobank branches in Thessaloniki were damaged after unknown men threw Molotov cocktails at them. The causes of the attacks remain unknown, while the police and fire brigade are running investigations.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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