The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-04-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Heavy Burden of Debt

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ���

Hundreds of thousands of households are incapable of paying mortgage debts. According to recently released data overdue payments on mortgage and consumer debts mount to 2.2 billion euros and to 2 billion euros respectively. Of the 2 million people who have taken out mortgages, 6% can not pay their debts and 7% have borrowed sums over 40% of their income due to strong pressures. One hundred houses were sold to bidders in 2007, while 5 thousand confiscation claims, most of them for cars, were filed in the first two months in 2008.

Recently banks are not so easy in granting loans, particularly on mortgages where they request that the amount of loan is not above 70% of the propertys value. The borrowers income plays a significant role in increasing percentage of loan. The Bank of Greece asks financing institutions to significantly reduce percentage of overdue payments and put a halt to credits to over-indebted and low income clients. Fitch Ratings international agency does not agree with Greek banks policy to grant low-rate mortgages for a predetermined time. It believes that this policy exposes

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[02] ND Leading

By Athina Saloustrou

As per three new polls carried in the Sunday Press, the two big parties have gained power, while SYRIZA is loosing ground. PASOK (Socialists), the main opposition party appears to have gained more power than the ND (New Democracy) ruling party, in relation to past polls. A Kapa Research poll carried in Vima tis Kyriakis newspaper sees the ND party rising from 29.1% to 29.8% and PASOK rising to 25.8% from 23.2%. Thus, the two parties difference has dropped from six to four points.

SYN (Coalition of the Left) has lost 3.2 points, while KKE (Greek Communist Party) and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) have remained stable. Kostas Karamanlis is favoured as the most suitable P.M., George Papandreous percentage has risen, while Alexis Tsipras popularity has dropped. The MRB poll published in Eleftheros Typos tis Kyriakis the difference between ND and PASOK has dropped from 5.1% to 3.6%, while the ND party has gained two points, reaching 30.8% and PASOK 3.5 points to 27.2%. SYN lost 1.6 points, KKE has remained stable and LAOS percentage has dropped slightly.

ALCOs poll carried in Proto Thema newspaper sees the ND and PASOK parties gaining about 1.5 points, while SYN has lost three points. ND is garnering 28.3%, PASOK 24.6% and SYRIZA 14.3%. The KKE and LAOS parties have recorded a slight drop ranging from 0.5-0.7 units. The undecided interviewees and blank ballots range from 12.7% (MRB), to 14.8% (Kapa Research) and 19.5% (ALCO).

Meanwhile, in an interview with Apogevmatini newspaper, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis states that the chances for a one-party government to be elected are slim, while the Interior minister reports that the ND party will not cooperate with another party, adding that the electoral law will not change. Moreover, in an interview with Eleftherotypia newspaper, Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos reports that the plan for the countrys administrative restructuring will be ready by the end of May.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] Blast Kills 14 in Mine in China

By Athina Saloustrou

Fourteen miners have been killed, two injured and two more are reported missing in a coal mine gas blast at Huludao city, China, the Chinese Media have reported. Rescue teams are looking for the two missing in the rubble. The miners at the privately owned licensed company were digging coal beyond the officially approved limit causing the explosion, authorities said quoting preliminary investigation. Over 10,000 people are killed in mine accidents in China per year.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[04] Australian Swallows Hash!

By Athina Saloustrou

The police in Thailand have arrested an Australian national, 51, after having swallowed 65 condoms containing 800 grams of hashish. As the condoms broke in his stomach the man had to be hospitalized. The provincial hospital alerted police late on Friday night when an X-ray of John Paul Jones revealed suspicious objects, shaped like a string of sausages, in his intestine. The objects were later extracted and identified as 800 grams of hashish. It has been estimated that the drugs swallowed by the Australian were worth US$31,746. Police said Mr Jones would be charged and detained for interrogation.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

Bangkok Post: Australian arrested with stash of hash

[05] Olympic Flame in Tanzania

By Athina Saloustrou

The Olympic Flame has arrived in Dar el Salam, Tanzania, the unique leg in Africa of its journey, stated the AFP correspondent from the airport in the capital. The Flame, which had arrived from Buenos Aires, was received by the Mayor and a government committee. The torch relay will be held at 14:00 local time, Sunday and the route will be five kilometers instead of 25 as originally planned. Then, the Flame will travel to Oman. As per the Tanzanian authorities, the programme has changed due to the rainfall and concern over any possible march protests against China on the Tibet issue.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] Italy: Berlusconi or Veltroni?

By Athina Saloustrou

Polling stations in Italy opened at 08:00 for the Parliamentary elections in which as per polls rightist Silvio Berlusconi will prevail against his rival Walter Veltroni of the centre left. The 47 million voters will have time to vote until 23:00 Greek time and tomorrow from 08:00-16:00. Last official polls are pointing to 71-year-old Silvio Berlusconi as the winner of the elections with an unstable majority in the Senate. This may force him to seek allies in smaller parties. Former Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, 52, will try to narrow the 6-point difference from his rival. However, the electoral encounter is expected to be tough as about 1/3 of the 47.3 million voters have stated that they will decide who to vote for at the last moment. The first results from the exit polls are expected to be released after the vote at 16:00 Greek time Monday, while the first results will be announced at 20:00 Greek time.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Italians voting to choose new PM

[07] Tragic Death for Elderly and Her Daughter

By Athina Saloustrou

A mother and her daughter with health problems died of fumes in their house at Georgani of the municipality of Derviziani, Ioannina. Varvara Tsoga, 83, and her daughter Savoula, 57, were found dead on their burnt mattress with burns on their back, legs and face. Most probably their mattress caught fire, but the two women could not react due to the health problems they had been facing. Villagers discovered their bodies and informed the police and the fire service. Their case is being examined by a medical coroner.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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