The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Five US Banks Failed

Regulators seized 5 US banks, bringing up the number of bank failures. All five failed banks were taken over by other institutions as well as their responsibilities, mainly saving accounts and clientele.

The failed banks are, the Columbia River Bank of Oregon, which had about $1.1 billion in assets and $1 billion in deposits as of September 30, Charter Bank of Santa Fe, New Mexico with about $1.2 billion in assets and $851.5 million in deposits as of Sept 30, Evergreen Bank of Seattle; the Premier American Bank in Miami; and the Bank of Leeton in Missouri, which had a single branch.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said that 140 U.S. banks failed in 2009, the highest annual level since 1992 in the wake of the savings and loan crisis. The FDIC expects the total bill for bank failures to reach $100 billion for the period of 2009 through 2013 and sees the level of failures continue to be high during 2010 and particularly affect smaller banks.

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA, Reuters News item: 32336

[02] Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti

The death toll from Haiti's January 12th earthquake has now been confirmed by government officials to be 111.499 and193.891 wounded. Words can not describe the tragedy in the quake hit island. Problems from general lack of coordination have added to the already chaotic conditions. United Nations sees that the total number of people affected by the quake will approach 3 million people. The US estimates that the death toll will rise to 150.000 to 200.000 people. It remains to be seen how much worse such statistics will become in following weeks, as the cleaning up operations continue.

Haiti Foreign Ministry announced that 11.000 houses were destroyed and 32.000 were damaged while over 55.000 families and 610.000 people have been forced into 500 temporary shelter. Amid this chaotic situation, on Friday an Isreali rescue team pulled two survivors from the rubble in which they'd been encased for ten days without food or water, A 22yo man and a 84-year old woman.

On Saturday, the Haitian government announced that it terminates the search for survivors of January, 12 quake. At least 132 people have been rescued.

Haitian president Rene Preval told the Spanish newspaper "El Paiz" that aid is starting to reach the quake victims and the country is beginning to function again. "We have already buried more than 70,000 victims. Petrol stations already have more petrol than on previous days. Some banks have already opened," Preval said. The January, 12 earthquake caused "the vast majority of official buildings" to collapse "with documents inside," Preval explained to the Spanish daily.

Asked whether the US intervention in Haiti amounted to a kind of colonization, Preval said his country was receiving "help from many countries, not only from the United States." In the meantime, 33 children arrived in France to be adopted while over 150 children are expected to arrive in Canada in the next days.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA, German, French

News item: 32332

[03] Crucial Meeting for Farmers on Sunday

Meeting of Agriculture Minister Katerina Batzelis with the Farmers' Coordinating Body on Sunday is expected with high interest amid roadblocks in many parts of the country. Macedonia farmers have decided to lift roadblocks till the meeting while farmers in other parts of the country open highway junctions periodically.

Promahonas crossing is open but Ormenios customs station is closed as well as Evzonoi and Doirani border crossings, Hrisopolis-Egnatia junction, Kristallopigi-Florina ( 10 km national road), Prebeza-Ioannina (22km), Nikaia, Mikrothires, Kastro, Ritsona, Alamana and Livadeia-Lamia old national road.

Former GCP deputy Baggelis Butas visited the Non-Aligned Farmers' Unions roadblock in Promahonas, at noon on Saturday. Farmers attempt to block Egnatia road entrance and exit to Hegoumenitsa port sparked tension leading lorry drivers from Ankona to try to drive from a side exit.

In his speech in Parliament, Prime-minister, G. Papandreou emerged positive for a dialogue on reforms in agricultural sector but negative to meet some farmer unions' demands.

Opposition political parties back farmers demands with differentiations regarding form of mobilizations. ND party leader A. Samaras and LAOS president G. Karatzaferis support farmers' demands but objects to roadblocks. The general secretary of the Greek Communist party Aleka Papariga will visit farmers roadblocks along Athens-Thessaloniki highway on Saturday. SYN president A. Tsipras underlined the need for substantial dialogue. Apart from Sunday's meeting, a national dialogue on the agriculture sector is to be held at Zappeion on Monday and Tuesday but the majority of farmers have said that they would not take part.

Referring to the farmers' issue during his speech at the ND party Central Committee meting on Saturday, Mr. Samaras stressed: "PASOK just last year was encouraging farmers to escalate mobilizations. Now that it is ruling the country, PASOK proposes ostensible dialogue which they reject as "mockery". The ND party, however, which is in the opposition this year has from the very beginning objected to roadblocks, avoiding making farmers' problems and the government's inability to meet their demands a tool of political expedience.

SYN party delegation, headed by Dimitris Bitsas secretary of the Central Political Committee, visited roadblocks in the prefecture of Evros. Mr. Bitsas stressed that farmers demand the future that both PASOK and ND policies have deprived them of.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA

News item: 32331

[04] Harsh Cold Set to Continue

Wintry weather set to continue in all parts of the country with low temperatures, rain, storms, strong winds and snowfall even on low ground. Snow-chains are required in may parts in northern Greece and the Peloponnese while snow is falling on Parnitha and Penteli mountains in Attika. Harsh cold mainly in the northern parts of the country is forecast for Sunday.

Roads open in Halkidiki despite snowfall

Snow has fallen in northern and central Halkidiki but main roads are clear. Heavy snowfall have particularly hit the prefectures of Florina, Kastoria, Kozani, Grevena, Pellas, Hemathias, Halkidiki, Evros, Trikala, Karditsa, Evritania, Magnesia, Fokida, Boiotia, Eboia, the island of Thasos and the Peloponnese. Main road networks are clear but snow-chains are required in several provincial roads. Harsh weather is forecast foreast Thessalia, east Sterea, Evoia, south Peloponnese and the island of Crete.

Lowest Temperatures on Saturday

Lowest temperatures on Saturday are recorded in Falkros-Drama -11C, Basilitsa ski resort -9C, Orestiada-Evros -8C, Florina -7C.

Weather Forecast for Attica on Saturday

Attica, cloudy, temporary rain or sleet mainly in the east and northern parts and snowfall on high ground. Winds northerly, northeasterly force 4-6 and temperatures ranging from 3C to 8C but 2 to 3 degrees lower in the northern parts.

Thessaloniki, mostly cloudy with local snowfall and gradual improvement of weather. Winds northerly force 3 to 5 and temperatures ranging from -2C to 3 C.

Weather forecast for Sunday 24-01-2010

Attica, partially cloudy with light snowfall or sleet mainly in the east and northern parts, winds northeast force 4 to 6 and temperatures ranging from 2C to 7C and 2 to 3 degrees lower in the northern parts.

Thessaloniki, partly cloudy, temporarily mostly cloudy in the east with possibility of light snowfall. Light winds and temperatures ranging from -3C to 3C, locally total sleet.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA

News item: 32330

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