The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-01-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] State Mechanism on Alert Rapid Weather Deterioration

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA, NET, NET 105.8

Polar temperatures, storms in most areas and snowfalls, even in lower altitude areas of central and northern Greece, are the main characteristics of the new wave of bad weather that has hit the country. Snow is also falling on mount Parnitha and Penteli. The Civil Protection Authority has informed competent bodies to be on alert for dealing with potential problems. However, the major problems remain in the Ioannina prefecture, which is besieged by snow for day now. Nine villages with a few inhabitants are still snowbound for the fifth day in a row, while in parts snow has exceeded 2.5 metres. Schools in Ioannina and Fthiotida will remain closed today. Snow chains are necessary on the mountainous road network of Western Macedonia, Thessaly and Sterea.

Four Workers Successfully Rescued One Man Died of Cold

In the northern part of the Attica prefecture it is snowing since yesterday night. From the early morning hours, vehicles traveling on Parnitha avenue are using snow chains from the cable car onwards and from the Palaia Penteli Square to Agios Petros and from there to Nea Makri. In Dionysos and Drosia the snow has even reached 30 centimetres, but the roads remain open and local authorities are in a state of alert. Snow chains are also necessary on the Athens-Thebes old national highway after the Villia junstion, while lorries are not allowed to travel.

In the meantime, last night EMAK members on board a special caterpillar freed four people working at a mobile telephony company near the villages of Sella and Fidakia, 35 km west of Karpenisi. The four workers tried to reach a mobile telephony antenna with a snowcat in order to supply electric generators with fuel, but their vehicle got stuck in the one metre snow and they were forced to abandon it. They signaled the Fire Brigade who came to their rescue at once.

It should be noted that on Sunday noon, 59year-old Giorgos Stamoulidis was found dead in his home in the village of Kryovrisi, Ioannina. It appears that his death was caused by the severe cold.

Despite the abrupt weather deterioration, the HNMS forecast that the bad weather will scale back as of the afternoon, starting from the northwest. Today, there will be gradual gales coming in from the north, while temperature will range from 3 to 3oC in northern Greece, from 2 to 10oC in the western and continental Greece and from 6 to 15oC in the Aegean islands.

Attica will experience cloud cover with rain or sleet and snow in mountainous areas. Gusts will be blowing in from the northwest and temperature will range from 5 to 9oC. In Thessaloniki there will be cloud cover and intermittent snowfall. Strong winds will be blowing in from the north and temperature will range in the city from 1 to 3oC.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] American Scientists Research Homosexual Genes?

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: BBC

American scientists, from the University of Illinois, are turning a new page in the research of homosexuality. As they claim, mens sexual orientation is based in DNA stretches that counteract with the environment, and not only in the Y-chromosome, which until today was blamed for homosexuality. The researchers started their first study that searched human DNA for areas that are related to sexual orientation and discovered areas in three different chromosomes that possibly predispose homosexuality. "There is no one gay gene," states the Head of researchers, Dr Brian Mustanski and concludes, "Our best guess is that multiple genes, potentially interacting with environmental influences, explain differences in sexual orientation."

"Complex Trait"

Dr Mustanskis team analyzed the DNA of 465 men, from 126 families with two or more homosexual siblings, and studying both 23 pairs of human chromosomes.

According to the research, which is published in the scientific journal, Human Genetics, stretches that are connected with homosexuality exist at chromosomes 7,8 and 10 and not exclusively in the X-chromosome, which exists in men with one copy, inherited from the mother.

Identical stretches of the above chromosomes were found in 60% of homosexual brothers, as opposed to 50%, which were expected due to chance.

"Sexual orientation is a complex trait. Our best guess is that multiple genes, potentially interacting with environmental influences, explain differences in sexual orientation," Dr Mustanski concludes.

The researchers have turned to the confirmation of the findings and the location of the specific genes, firing discussion if sexual orientation is a choice.

As gay rights organizations state what is first and foremost is equality and respect to ones choices.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

University of Illinois

Human Genetics

[03] Developments in Justice and Hierarchy Self-Purging and Austerity

By Betty Savourdou

It is going to be a week of rapid developments both in the area of Justice and the Church. Today, the Minister of Justice is expected to announce measures for the stamping out of corruption. Justice is moving to self-purging, stressed Supreme Court Public Prosecutor Dimitris Linos exclusively on NET radio 105.8. In the meantime, witnesses daily testify before the Supreme Court for the corruption in Justice. The President of the Supreme Court is expected to decide today upon the dismissal of four justices. The higher rankings of hierarchy are also in turmoil, after the revelations of clergymen involved in the corruption of Justice. Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis appeared before the Piraeus examiner this morning with regard to the case of illegal antique trading, and was given a deadline to testify within the following days. The issue will also be discussed at the conference of the Holy Synod on Thursday.

Measures to Fight Crime

While exiting the examiner's office, the Archimandrite, who was not escorted by a lawyer, made no statements. According to information, the offence of judge bribing will be converted from a misdemeanor to a felony, while the number of inspectors will increase, and their responsibilities will be reinforced. Furthermore, a special crime unit that will be set up by the Supreme Court, which will conduct the judges fiscal auditing, while judges who delay on passing ruling will be removed from those cases.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Justice Ministry Tightens Reins

Ethnic Greeks Testify on Yiosakis

[04] Seismologists Reassuring Over 5.6 Magnitude Earthquake in Zakynthos

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

A strong quake of 5.6 magnitude was felt in the Ionian islands and western Greece, five minutes before three in the morning. No damages have been reported so far by the seismic activity, whose epicenter was the sea area southwest of Zakynthos, 340 km west of Athens. The first quake was followed by a second aftershock of 4 points on the Richter scale with only a few minutes difference. Seismologists monitoring the development of the phenomenon are reassuring.

No Need To Worry

According to the seismologist of the Geodynamics Institute, Mr Stavros Tasos, the morning tremor was most probably the main quake, while the phenomenon is developing as per normal.

Mr Tasos underlined that the area is known for its high seismicity and added that buildings on the island are very well constructed, so there will be no problems, as he said.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] A Few Weeks Before the Elections Explosion in Tajikistan's Capital

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: REUTERS- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Officials and witnesses state that at least one person was killed and twelve injured, on Monday morning, from a booby-trapped car explosion, in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, near the Ministry of Emergencies. Police and Security Services, of the former Soviet Republic of Central Asia, which borders with Afghanistan, closed-off the explosion area, where many cars were destroyed. A little while later, fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Security Ministry. The bomb explosion occurred a few days before the February 27 elections. After the end of a five-year civil war (1992-1997), in which more than 100,000 people were killed, the condition in the country is described as relatively stable.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] The Less Worst Reigns!

By Stathis Petropoulos

With the exception of Xanthi, whose players were impressive and unleashed their fury over Panathinaikos, the17th round of the football championship did not have anything good to show. Panathinaikos were defeated by 3-1 and undoubtedly disappointed football fans, but what concerns the most is the performance of Skazny's players. The home team took control of the match from the very beginning with Zapropoulos and continued just as well with Luciano. Gonzalez temporarily reduced the score and Baykara gave the death blow formulating the final score of 3-1.

Not Good, But First

A few minutes later in the empty Karaiskakis stadium, Olympiacos started just as well as Xanthi and opened the score at the 3', but Ambelas tied the score right afterwards with one of the most amazing goals of this round, thus turning the match into a small derby. Olympiacos were not good at the second half, but still managed to claim victory and win the three points after Georgiadis' successful attempt. Within two days, Olympiacos made their fans more than happy as they managed to reoccupy the top of the points table and in fact with a significant difference from the second. Of course, the difference could have been less, if AEK had not stuck in the muddy turf of Kerkyra and if Giorgos Foiros' team had not kept their cool. However, that was not the case, as Kerkyra were cool enough to tie the score to 2-2.

Cretan Drama

The drama of the day evolved in the Pancretion stadium, where Cretan Ergotelis were prevailing over Kallithea for more than an hour. However, at the second minute of the extra time, Tsigas filled Gkekas' empty spot and eased things off for Lemonis' team with the precious point of draw. Egaleo had to try hard for almost 80 minutes and the final 2-0 is rather fictional and mostly due to OFI's breakdown, while in the other match of the 17th round, Chalkidona and Iraklis sufficed with a virgin draw (0-0). Yesterday, PAOK claimed an easy 1-0 victory against Panionios and Apollon Kalamaria shared the single point of the 1-1 draw with Ionikos.

Results in Detail

PAOK-Panionios 1-0 Chasiotis 70`

Ap. Kalamarias-Éonikos 1-1 Petkakis 42` / Makor 53`

Ergotelis-Kallithea 1-1 Ogunsoto 30` / Tsigas +90`

Chalkidona-Iraklis 0-0

Kerkyra-ÁÅÊ 2-2 Fofonka 30`, Niniadis 63` / Syros 2`-own goal, 58` Ivic

Xanthi-Panathinaikos 3-1 Zapropoulos 6`, Luciano 37`, Baykara 67` / Gonzalez 42`

Olympiacos-Aris 2-1 Okkas 3`, Georgiadis 59` / Ambelas 4`

Egaleo-OFI 2-0 Alexopoulos 78`, Manousakis 86'

Top Scorers

10 goals: Gkekas (Kallithea), Luciano (Xanthi)

9 goals: Ogunsoto (Ergotelis), Machlas (OFI)

8 goals: Soares (AEK), Giovanni (Olympiacos)

7 goals: Barkoglou (Egaleo), Makor (Ionikos), Salpiggidis (PAOK), Konstantinou (Panathinaikos), Zacharopoulos (Chalkidona)

6 goals: Baykara (Xanthi), Rivaldo (Olympiacos), Papadopoulos (Panathinaikos)

5 goals: Katsouranis (ÁÅÊ), Tsigas (Kallithea), Maladenis (PAOK)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Lightning Cause of Fire in Bridge

By Tina Valaoura

The Rio-Antirrio Bridge, which remains closed-off since last Thursday, after fire broke out in one of the support cables, will be possibly given to traffic on Tuesday. According to a formal announcement by the Executive of the bridge construction company, Jean Paul Desantie, French and Greek technicians concluded that the fire broke out due to lightning. The representative of the company, making reference to the incident, spoke of a "specific incident," based on international facts and stated that all evidence will be analyzed and investigated fully.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Rio-Antirrio Bridge Under the Microscope

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