The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Raise of Confiscations due to Debts

By

Sources: NET, ANA, MNA

Many households in Greece are suffocated as they can not pay their debts to banks. According to the National Federation for the Protection of Citizens Consumers-Credit-Loaners, confiscation and auction applications will reach or even surpass 150.000 in 2008 when in 2007 settled at about 100.000. So far auction and confiscation applications submitted to Court reached 5.500. This phenomenon is expected to aggravate even more in 1011-1012 as the Federation estimates that the applications will be 200.000 to 250.000. What is obvious is that about 120.000 households are not consistent to their payments while 400.000 delay up to 1 to 3 payments. What must be noted is that in 2005-2207, according to statistic evidence of the Federation, 150.00-160.00 compulsory sales of estate property took place as loaners preferred to sell their houses in order to pay their loans.

In Crisis

Rates of interest are high due to the international financial crisis and the nightmare of inflation making many households and businesses incapable of paying their housing loans. In 2007 household and businesses were charged with an additional amount of 38.1 billion.

Loans are on the edge as in December development pace dropped in the lowest rates of the latest 5 years. So banks were forced to balance their losses and started to charge the loaners with the so called charge reports and to impose stricter conditions in loan provision. Financial credit crisis reported in banks was the main reason, consumption loans rose, the interest of which settled at 0,25% from 0,5%.

"The goal of the Bank of Greece is to boost business loans savings and to restrain housing loans", Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas said stressing the need of the Programme of Stability to be continued.

On reference to huge bank profits, Mr. Garganas answered that this is a "myth" stressing that Greece occupies the 20th place among 27 countries in the EU in bank profits while he attributed their profits in the right strategic movements they have adopted. "Another 19 countries have biggest bank profits. So there is no need to demonize banks profits because they are important for the boost of the capital and the capitals efficiency and can absorb the sway-wobbles in conditions of disturbance", he said.

Earlier today, PASOK parliamentary members Mrs. Vaso Papandreou asked for the intervention of the Bank of Greece as profits of banks in Greece rose up to 65%. KKE member Nikos Karathanasopoulos and SYRIZA member Giannis Dragasanis also expressed severe criticism.

[02] Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,

15 Apr 2008 18:54:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: Reuters, ANA, MNA MFP

At least 70 people were killed on Tuesday when a Congolese passenger plane crashed onto a busy market district after taking-off from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, witnesses and U.N. officials said. The plane crashed at 14:30 local hour (15:30 Greece hour), of the Hewa Bora Airways Boeing 727 in Goma, capital of Democratic Republic of Congos eastern North Kivu province. The Hewa Bora airliner was taking off from Goma on a flight to the Congolese capital Kinshasa when it came down in the teeming market district of Birere, a warren of single-storey shops which were crowded at that time of day. According to Hewa Bora list released in the federal air security service of Goma airport the passengers of SC9 plane were at least 100. However, the company has not confirmed yet the exact number and the members of the crew as contact with them is impossible. Many passengers managed to get out of the plane but many still remain trapped, a UN representative said adding that rescue teams of the firemen mission have reached the area.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Controls by Ministry of Education

15 Apr 2008 20:35:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105,8

New charges came to light for illegal bachelors awarded by private Technical Vocational Educational Schools (TEE). Ministry of Education has recalled so far thousand of bachelors provided during the period of 2004-2008. Educational institutions which have provided the illegal degrees have been imposed fines or have been closed. Bachelors provided up to 1.000 points necessary in order for a graduate student to be hired in the private sector through ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection) competition.

As estimated by the Federation of Private Education which shed light to the charges, 85% of 3.200 positions in the private sector through ASEP will be occupied by graduates with fake bachelors and for that reason the Federation is asking for the procedures of the competition in progress to be recalled.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Paris, France

15 Apr 2008 19:40:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA, MNA,AFP

In an effort to tackle anorexia, a disease at least 40.000 people in France mainly young women suffer from, French parliamentary members adopted a proposal which penalize encouragement to anorexia imposing two years imprisonment. If this proposal is approved by the senate, then fines will be imposed in various websites called "pro-ana" in favor of anorexia), a movement which started in the US and was developed and spread since 2002 everywhere. The members of this movement, mainly young women adopt the belief that anorexia is not a disease but a way of life. Messages sent through these websites are messages of death.

Our country must be able to stigmatize and condemn those hiding behind such websites", French Minister of Health said. As far as she is concerned "to give suggestions to young women to lie to their doctors and to suggest food easily digested and to force them to the edge (vomiting) when they eat something does not constitute a way of freedom of expression". This proposal will be discussed a week after the signature of people involved in fashion in France of adopting measures against anorexia and the "skeleton" image of models. The proposal adopted by French parliamentary members provides for up to two years imprisonment and a fine of 30.000 to all those who encourage young women to give in anorexia and 45.000 fine if their suggestions drive their victims to death.

In France more than 40.000 people are suffering from anorexia, 90% of which young women aged from 12-13 to 18-19 years old.

In Madrid drastic measures have also been imposed mostly in models that are a bad example for young women and also to fashion houses for producing small sizes in cloths. Models who may suffer form anorexia are not allowed to take part to fashion shows while fashion houses are obliged to make cloths for chubby women too. Other fashion capitals in the world adopted rules of ethics but did not commit to take any further measures.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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