The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-08-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] D. Bakoyiannis Doesn't Support Plakiotakis Candidacy

Independent deputy Dora Bakoyiannis said she would not back ND deputy Yiannis Plakiotakis candidacy for the prefecture of Crete. Mrs. Bakoyiannis, who had excellent relations with Mr. Plakiotakis underlined she supported independent candidates for local administration. Former minister Hristos Markoyiannakis, who is a possible candidate for the same prefecture, was surprised with Plakiotakis nomination.

ND deputy Hristos Markoyiannakis, supported by Mrs. Bakoyiannis, left open possibility for his candidacy in the prefecture of Crete. In an interview with state radio NET 105.8 he showed he was annoyed for not being asked about Mr. Plakiotakis candidacy. He admitted talking with Konstantinos Mitsotakis about possibility of running as candidate.

On his part Mr. Plakiotakis said his aim and ambition is to unite forces. He also underlined his respect to Mrs. Bakoyiannis personality but added that he would give his battle.

Mrs. Bakoyiannis is said to have notified Yiannis Plakiotakis on her objection, maintaining that his candidacy is political and has no relation to local administration.She, however, keeps her cards closed and has not proposed a specific candidate so far.

Source: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÁNA - ÌPA News item: 39545

[02] Encephalitis: Tests on blood

Tests on donated blood to identify possible West Nile virus will be conducted next week when the necessary equipment is expected to be delivered. Some 2.000 blood bottles collected in the region of central Macedonia and Larissa have been withdrawn from use till laboratory tests are conducted. Cases identified with West Nile virus in Northern Greece have risen to 64 while a fourth patient died on Tuesday.

A Health Ministry meeting on Wednesday, with the participation of all involved sectors, decided to conduct laboratory tests on donated blood. It was also underlined during the meeting that there is no shortage of blood but the contribution of the church and the armed forces will be asked to anticipate a possible problem.

Specifically the director of Thessaloniki Ipokrateio Hospital G. Hristianopoulos reassured that there is no shortage of blood and all surgeries (one of them required 8 blood bottles) were carried out yesterday.

The Blood Donation Committee has given some general instructions to blood centers among them : briefing of blood centers' staff on developments regarding the West Nile virus and their continuous alert to select the proper blood donor to ensure blood is not infected.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA

News item: 39550

[03] Meeting on West Nile Virus

Cases identified with West Nile virus in Northern Greece have risen to 60 while a fourth patient died on Tuesday. The Health Ministry is holding a meeting to discuss the issue. In the meantime, blood donation centers in Larissa, Katrini, Kilkis and Yianitsa have closed following Health Ministry instructions.

Blood Donation Centers Close

Furthermore pesticide spraying in the above five prefectures continue.

"There is no blood shortage in any of the hospitals in northern Greece", reassured General Secretary of Public Health Antonis Dimopoulos in an interview with state television NET.

Source: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8

Related News: Four Dead from Encephalitis

News item: 39537

[04] Seeking Cheaper Options

In an effort to reduce their budget, consumers forgo private label products and choose super-market own labels. A survey in the first half of the year indicates that one in three products that goes in the super-market trolley is a super-market own label brand.

Same Quality-Cheaper Price

The super-market own label brands are the same quality products but cheaper. They are produced by the same company for the super-markets without adding advertisement and promotion expenses. These cheaper products, disregarded by consumers a decade ago, are gaining ground.

"No name" food, detergents, dairy, alcohol have risen to 30% in consumers' choices. Specifically the private label trend in the five month period from January-May rose by 25.6% compared to the same period last year.

Sources: ÍÅÔ News item: 39551

[05] Dispute over Rise in Bread Price

The Ministry for Economics is carrying out inspections to ascertain sufficiency of grain reserves while it has referred to the Competitiveness Committee to send a message that it would not allow profiteering on the burden of consumers and also put a halt on domino effect in the market from the rises in prices of bread and wheat. Already from yesterday some grain industries sold wheat at higher prices to bakeries. Some suppliers have warned of new increases next week. The GCP and SYRIZA blame wheat industries and importers for illicit profits. PAME staged a demonstration outside the Ministry for Economics on Wednesday.

Unrest in the Market

Wheat industries intention to rise price of grain following Russia's ban on wheat exports in force on August, 15 has sparked unrest in the market for fear of chain rises in basic goods.

On Tuesday some small wheat industries sold wheat at higher prices while the competent ministries of Economics and Agricultural Development are closely monitoring developments

Market representatives say that price of soft wheat variety (used to make bread) went up to â¬250 from â¬170 in a month. On their part farmers speak of fabricated wheat shortage, denouncing that they sold their wheat harvest at low price in June and there is no justification of rise in prices at least at the present time. Greece is self-efficient in hard grain (used for pasta).

The Ministry for Economics, Competitiveness and Merchant Marine, which is carrying out cost inspections, is holding a meeting in the next days.

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÁNA/ÌPA

Ó÷åôéêÝò åéäÞóåéò: High Mobélity on Bread Price

News item: 39549

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