The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-07-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Iran: Arrests and Tears Gases in Opposition Marches

In his first Friday sermon since the vote, former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani said that Iran is in crisis and that the people's trust was lost during the 12 June presidential vote and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, adding that their trust has to be restored.

âWe are all members of a family. I hope with this sermon we can pass through this period of hardships that can be called a crisis,â argued Rafsanjani.

He then called for the release of people arrested after protesting the result of the election. "In the current situation it is not necessary for us to have a number of people in prisons... we should allow them to return to their families," he said.

Source: Reuters, ANA/MPA

BBC: Call for Iran protesters' release

News item: 24917

[02] New Flu Rapidly Spreading

WHO has described the new flu as the most rapidly spreading pandemic so far according to data. The virus is not expected to stop spreading while attention would be placed on the seriousness of symptoms and not the number of cases that have contracted the flu. Several governments have advised people to consult their family doctors. An order for 132 million vaccines against H1N1 has already been placed.

Awaiting Vaccine

Twenty-nine people have died in Britain so far, which comes third after US and Mexico in largest number of H1N1 confirmed cases. Some 50 states have placed orders for the vaccine while the only pharmaceutical company in US territory announced that it would not accept any further orders.

Ç Baxter International Inc has accepted orders from five countries for the production of 80 million vaccines. The company will also give part of its production to the WHO to deal with the flu at international level. Strangely, the US will not take advantage of Baxter vaccine as it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The other four companies producing the vaccine are GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Novartis AG, Sanofi-Aventis SA êáé AstraZeneca which have their headquarters in Europe. Swiss Novartis announced it has received several orders and is holding talks with governments of another 35 countries.

Spain has expressed concern over H1N1 flu after the death of a 33 yo woman who did not suffer from any health problems.

News item: 24910

[03] Trains Immobilized

Hellenic Railways employees are staging 3-hour work stoppages on Friday, July, 17, Monday July, 20 and FridayJuly, 24 in protest against Transport Minister Evripides Stylianides purging program. All Hellenic Railways passenger and commercial services have been suspended on Friday, July, 17 and most suburban railway services cancelled.

The three-hour stoppages will be staged 06:00- 09:00, 14:00- 17:00 and 22:00- 01:00.

News item: 24908

[04] Incidents in Grammatikos

News item: 24907

[05] Law Suit against COSMOTE

COSMOTE is facing a legal deadlock, in the mid of a legal dispute between principles and authorities, as in any case it will be blamed for breaking the law. The company fully respects legislation recognizing both the significance of personal data protection and security of its clients as well as its obligation to contribute to the drop of crime rate.

News item: 24906

[06] Boosting Liquidity

The Liquidity Inspection Council, headed by Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou, held a meeting on Friday, also attended by the governor of the Bank of Greece G. Probopoulos, Finance undersecretary Nikos Legas and state representatives in financial institutes administration boards. The Council calls on banks to lower loan interest rates. Mr. Probopoulos is expected to meet with bankers to notify them on the relevant recommendations. Flow of loans to households and businesses is at a relatively satisfactory level with 8.8% flow recorded in May compared against 3.1% in the other EU member states

In the meantime, Finance Ministry circles have predicted close to zero growth pace in 2009. The â¬2 billion state guaranteed program to inject liquidity in middle-sized businesses is expected to start next week

News item: 24905

[07] Peach Producers Block Egnatia Road

This year's peach production is expected to stand at 400,000 ton, with the canning companies claiming they can only absorb up to 200,000, because of the lower international demand for peaches.

Peach producers have blocked with their tractors busy parts of the old and new national roads and the Egnatia road.âWe are apologizing to the people because we feel really bad for the inconvenience we are causing. However, things have never been so bad for us. Never before have the problems been so huge,â said a representative of the peach producers.

News item: 24904

[08] H1N1 Flu: Prevention and Vigilance

Greece's National Organization for Medicines said that fake insulin needles have been found on European markets. Their use could be detrimental to people's health. The package does not have a barcode on it, and the instructions are not in the Greek language.

The needle is of poor quality and does not fit properly to the insulin pen. The said product has not been found in Greece so far, however, consumers are advised not to use it in case they buy it, and inform the National Organization for Medicines.

27 Greek Students Were Infected in Britain

Greek students and their escorts attending summer camps in the universities of Oxford and York were infected with the swine flu. The have been fully cured and are on their way to Greece.

In particular, a group consisting of 27 Greek students and escorts attended a summer camp in Oxford. Of them 16 were tested positive to the swine flu.

After being treated in their rooms, they were fully cured. They last of them are expected in Greece on Saturday.

In a similar summer camp in the University of York attended by 16 Greek students and their escorts, twelve of them were infected with the H1N1 flu virus. They are returning Athens tonight.

PASOK Requests Information

In the meantime, PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) deputies requested the Health Minister brief the Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Affairs on the measures taken.

In their letter, they said that the World Health Organization has spoken of 100,000 confirmed H1N1 cases, also highlighting researches that have suggested that the H1N1 flu virus exhibits an ability to similar to the Spanish flu in 1918, which killed tens of millions.

Because the H1N1 infections detected in Greece have exceeded 300, the Socialist deputies fear that the country will not be ready to address a possible pandemic in September.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

Related news: New Flu Rapidly Spreading

News item: 24914

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