The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-06-26

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inhabited Areas Not in Danger Fire in Varnavas Under Control

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA

A fire broke out at noon in a pine forested area between Varnavas and Grammatikos, near a gully at the Axion Esti chapel. 60 firemen with 20 fire engines rushed to the scene, followed by 40 men on foot, six fire-fighting planes and two helicopters, which managed to place the fire under control two hours later, before reaching inhabited areas. The firemen's work has become more difficult due to strong winds blowing in the area. The arson crime unit is running a preliminary hearing on the causes of the fire.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Three Suicide Attacks With 26 Dead Hell in Mosul

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: Reuters

With a few hours difference and aiming at the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, three suicide attacks shocked the area of Mosul. The first blast occurred when a suicide bomber drove a booby-trapped car against the Police headquarters, which seconds later collapsed killing at least six police officers. Al Qaeda took responsibility of the attack. A while later, a bomber wearing an explosive vest detonated himself outside a military base. US army source speak of 16 dead Iraqi soldiers and seven injured. They stressed however that the account is temporary and victims are expected to be more. The third attack was reported inside Mosul's hospital, where many of the injured from the two previous attacks had been admitted. In another blast, four Iraqi policemen were killed and nine people wounded by a suicide bomber who walked into a police post at the main hospital in Mosul and blew himself up.

Signed by Al Qaeda

The first blast was reported shortly after 7 in the morning at the police station of Bab-al-Tub, at the heart of Mosul. The blast was so powerful that is was felt all over the city.

The first eye-witness statements shed no light on the attacks. Some spoke of a booby-trapped car suicide attack and others spoke of a missile assault against the police station.

Finally, Reuters' later information reported that a booby-trapped car had triggered the explosion.

Earlier on Sunday, unknown men killed Riyad Abdelqarim, a higher Iraqi police official, in an ambush.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Alavanos' Speech SYN on Local Government

By Anna Kourti

During SYNs National Convention on Local Government, which was held on Sunday noon, party President Alekos Alavanos spoke of the necessity to form radical ballot papers of the Left wing in prefectures and major cities. Mr Alavanos clarified there is no issue of central political agreements in view of next years elections on Local Government. SYNs final decisions will be reached in 15 days, during the Central Political Committees meeting. The meeting in question will mainly focus on drawing up the partys main political line. At the same time, Mr Alavanos repeated his past position regarding "the possibility of cooperating with forces from PASOKs social area that are not covered by their partys choices in the issues of waste management sanitary landfills, permanent working status and "anti-statism."

"SYN's Forces"

SYN's president underlined that the autonomy of local moves is respected, but the general atmosphere is SYN is that local government moves should decide upon the range and content of cooperation in municipalities and prefectures.

"For SYN, local government elections is an effort of standing by the side of citizens and helping them solve their problems, which are either due to the government's general policy, like the attack on labour rights, or daily life problems, like the Ano Liossia refuse dump, drugs, privatisation of public spaces, traffic. SYN forces need to process and promote their proposals," stressed Mr Alavanos.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Five Dead Heatwave in Neighbouring Italia

By Anna Kourti

Italia is in the red as temperature has reached 38oC. Authorities have issued warnings addressing especially senior citizens and patients to remain in cool places. As per the Italian Press, five senior citizens have already lost their lives to the heatwave. The biggest problems have occurred in northern Italy. In Turin, the meteorological service has forecast that on Monday temperature will reach 40oC and local authorities have voiced fears that heatwave victims will be two times more than expected. The Coldireti agricultural federation announced that the water from rivers, lakes and tanks can only last for two weeks, also underlining that the Pados river level has reached a record point. In 2003, at least 8,000 people lost their lives to the heatwave.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Greek Polo Team in Semifinals

Mission accomplished for the Greek water polo team in Budapest. In the last match of the World League preliminary round, the Greek team prevailed 10-8 over Australia and qualified for the semifinals, due for next week in Toronto. After an amazing match against Hungary, the Greek men kept their cool today and got what they wanted, sending at the same time a clear message to Australians, who will one of their opponents in the first round of the World Championship.

Well in Offence

In today's match, the Greek water polo team played very well at some points, but still made a couple of mistakes at critical points of the game. Defence worked well in the first half, but what it all came down to was Giorgos Afroudakis and Antonis Vlontakis' performances.

The two Greek players messed with the Australians' defence and managed to score 4 times!

Amazing performance by Christos Afroudakis as well, who found his way to Stanton's nets three time and was thus proclaimed top scorer of the Greek team.

Eight-minute periods: 1-2, 3-0, 3-3, 3-3.

Greek goals: Mylonakis 1, Theodoropoulos 2, C. Afroudakis 3, G. Afroudakis 2, Vlontakis 2.

Australian goals: Franklin 1, Nisham 1, McGregor 1, Willan 4

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Greek Successes in Almeira

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Greek athletes competing in the Mediterranean Games won one gold, one silver and five bronze medals on Sunday in Almeira. Xenophon Koutsioubas won the second gold medal for Greece in the 15th Mediterranean Games, after climbing at the highest step of the podium in the Men's 120kg Greco-Roman Wrestling. The Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, consisting of Antonopoulos, Magganas, Xylouris and Zisimos, claimed the silver medal in today's swimming finals, while in the same sport, Giannis Drimonakos won the bronze medal in the Men's 400m Individual Medley and Marianna Lymperta ranked third in the Women's 1500m Freestyle final. Three more bronze medals for Kostas Papadopoulos, who competed in the Men's Under 70kg Karate final, for Stefani Bismpikou in the Women's All-Around in Gymnastics and for Agi Kassoumi in 25m Pistol Women in Shooting.

Results

The Greek Women's Basketball team was heavily defeated by Croatia with 65-43. Top scorer of the Greek team, which will play tomorrow against Italy, was Nikolaidou with 12 points, while for Croatia, Popovic and Ivedjic each scored 11 points.

On the contrary, the Greek Men's Basketball team thrashed Morocco and confirmed their passage to the semi-finals with a victory of 115-60 at El Ejido. The North-African team only put up resistance in the first quarter and later became a toy in the hands of Greece. Papanikolopoulos and Iliadis, with 16 points each, led the European team. This defeat means the elimination of Morocco in the Games and most likely first place for Greece in the 2nd preliminary group.

The Greek Men's Volleyball team claimed their first victory in the Almeria volleyball tournament, after prevailing over Morocco with 3-0 sets. The sets: 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.

Second defeat from Spain with 33-22 (15-10 at halftime) and elimination from the tournament for the Greek Women's Handball team. Greek goals: Psatha 1, Poimenidou 3, Skoutela 3, Dorotheou 1, Fotiadou 4, Golia 5, Gioupi 5.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Record Victory Undefeated Loeb!

By Anna Kourti

The 52nd Acropolis Rally ended in a festive atmosphere. Driving a Citroen Xsara, the French World Champion won what is considered the hardest Acropolis Rally ever, impressing everyone with his performances in most of the special stages of each leg. Undefeated Sebastian Loeb broke the record, by reaching five consecutive wins, an all time best. Toni Gardemeister with his Ford Focus finished in second place, while Carlos Sainz (Citroen), racing in the last rally of his career, was third. Finally, Marcus Gronholm (Ñeugeot), Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) and Harry Rovanpera finished in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively. Greek Aris Vovos finished in 12th place, driving a Subaru Impreza WRC.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] Argentina in the Final

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Argentina is the second team to have qualified to the Confederations Cup final on Wednesday. In today's semifinal, which was held in Hanover, Jose Pekerman's team prevailed over Mexico in the penalty shootout with 6-5 and booked its ticket for the final, where it will play against Brazil in Frankfurt. On the other hand, Mexico will play versus Germany for third place on Wednesday in Leipzig. It is worth noting that both teams finished the match with 10 players each, because Saviola (89') and Marquez (90') were sent off with a red card. What is more, Mexico hasnt lost a single match in 22 games, while Argentina in 10.

Argentina set up a confrontation with traditional rival and World Cup holder Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup after beating Mexico 6-5 in a penalty shootout on Sunday after a 1-1 tie. The two South American powerhouses meet in Wednesday's final in Frankfurt while the Mexicans face host Germany in a third-place playoff the same day in Leipzig. Brazil beat the Germans 3-2 in Nuremberg on Saturday. Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso scored the game-clinching spot kick after Ricardo Osorio was the first to miss from the spot at 5-5. Carlos Salcido scored in the 104th minute for Mexico and Luciano Figueroa scored in the 110th for Argentina.

After 90 minutes of goalless action before 40,718 fans in Hanover, Mexico took the lead in the 14th minute of extra time after Argentina's Juan Riquelme gave the ball away with a lazy pass in an attacking position. Salcido broke down the left to take a pass from Alberto Medina and went past two defenders. His shot struck the outstretched leg of Argentina's Fabricio Coliccini and flew over goalkeeper German Lux.

Figueroa, who scored a hat trick for Argentina in a 4-2 beating of Australia in a group game, leveled five minutes later when he collected a blocked shot from Maximiliano Rodriguez and his left-foot drive squeezed between the legs of goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. A minute from the end of normal time, Argentina's Javier Saviola became the first player to be sent off in the eight-team competition when he was red carded for kicking Gonzalo Pineda after the ball had gone. It was the 14th game of the 16-game tournament. He was soon followed by Mexico captain Rafael Marquez for a second yellow and extra time was played 10 a side.

Saviola was Argentina's most effective forward with some mesmerizing dribbles through the Mexican defense and the AS Monaco forward set up a chance for Juan Sorin a minute before the halftime break. With goalkeeper Sanchez caught out of position, Sorin's lob from the left was cleared off the line by Gonzalo Pineda. Mexico's Brazilian-born midfielder Zinha cut inside from the right and fired a left-footed drive from 18 meters that beat Lux but hit the post.

Penalty Kicks:

Perez 1-0, Riquelme 1-1, Pardo 2-1, Rodriguez 2-2, Borgetti 3-2, Aimar 3-3, Salcido 4-3, Galletti 4-4, Pineda 5-4, Sorin 5-5, Osorio, but Lux saved the ball, Cambiasso 5-6

Referee: Roberto Rosetti, Italy

Red Cards : Marquez (2nd yellow) - Saviola

Yellow Cards : Pineda, Medina, Salcido - Milito, Coloccini

Lineups:

MEXICO: Oswaldo Sanchez, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio, Zinha (94' Gerardo Torrado), Pavel Pardo, Jared Borgetti, Ramon Morales (72' Alberto Medina), Gonzalo Pineda, Mario Mendez, Jaime Lozano (56' Luis Perez).

ARGENTINA: German Lux, Juan Sorin, Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Riquelme, Javier Saviola, Gabriel Milito (65' Maximiliano Rodriguez), Fabricio Coloccini, Mario Santana (76' Pablo Aimar), Luciano Figueroa (116' Luciano Galletti).

[09] 36-Year-Old Inmate Burnt Alive

By Anna Kourti

A 36-year-old prison inmate at the Security Department in Ptolemaida was burnt alive in his cell. According to authorities, the man who was held into custody for violating the law on drugs set his mattress on fire, but guards were unable to put it out in time and the man died a tragic death.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[10] At Public Prosecutor's Order Bus Driver Released

By Anna Kourti

Christos Mavros, the driver of the fatal bus, which veered off course at the Maliakos sharp bend on Saturday morning killing three women and injuring 17 more passengers, was released on Sunday morning at the Public Prosecutor's order. 11 passengers are still hospitalised in the Lamia Hospital to receive proper treatment, while one woman has been taken to KAT. As per the first estimations, the accident was due to a mechanical failure at the bus' guidance system.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[11] Collective Actions for Sewage Sludge Fylis Avenue Blocked Off

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

Members of the Inter-Municipal Fight Committee proceeded with blocking off Fylis Avenue, as a show of protest against the transfer of sewage sludge from Psitalia to the Ano Liossia refuse dump, as well as the creation of a new dump in Fyli. According to the organisers, the blockade will finish at 3pm.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article