The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-07-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Immediate Measures Taken The Day After

By Anna Kourti

The devastating fire that blazed through 3,500 square metres of pine forest and dozens of house has been under partial control since 6am. Firefighters, policemen, soldiers and volunteers are on foot for fear of new rekindling due to gales, which reach 8 on the Beauford scale. The Civil Protection Authority issued another warning. Meanwhile, an unscheduled meeting to roughly estimate the damage caused by the devastating fire was held at the Maximos Mansion. Greek PM ordered the immediate recording of the damages and requested fire-stricken citizens be compensated. He also declared an immediate reforestation programme. Exiting Maximos Mansion, Interior Minister Perokopis Pavlopoulos said, "I wish to congratulate the Fire Service on its excellent work and I also wand to praise the immaculate collaboration and coordination with the Civil Protection Authority. Our effort to relieve the fire-stricken citizens is to commence as of today, while we will immediately proceed with the compensation payments. Where forest existed, forest will exist. This is a political will and a commitment." Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, Enviroment Minister Giorgos Souflias, Rural Development Evagelos Basiakos and Health Nikitas Kaklamanis also participated in the meeting chaired by the PM. It is noteworthy that the recording of the damages has not yet been completed, while a meeting called at the East Attica Prefecture has been in progress since Friday morning.

Fear of Rekindling

250 firefighters with 80 engines, 100 men of the Special Unit of Disaster Management (EMAK), 20 water vehicles and around 600 soldiers remain in the regions of Rafina, Agia Kyriaki, Neos Voutzas, Kallitechnoupoli, Spata and Loutsa to deal with possible rekindling and to put out small minor fires. Sixty houses were destroyed while many others suffered minor damages.

Considerable were the damages in DEI circuit. Eight civilians and firefighters received burns.

Fire Service Directorate confronting arson crimes is carrying out an intense investigation.

The fact that the fire simultaneously commenced in three different places, one kilometre off each other, while within 15 minutes the total number of places on fire in the wider are of Rafina rose to nine, urged the Fires Service officials to speak of arson.

Those left homeless are entitled to submit application to the Municipality of Rafina so as to be offered temporary accommodation either in hotels or in the Agios Andreas campsites.

The telephone lines to facilitate the citizens are: + 30210-6033-120 to 3 + 30210-6033-050 to 2

Pentelis Child Psychiatry was evacuated for precautionary reasons, while roads leading to the forests of Ymittos, Pentelis and Aigaleo have been blocked.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] They Requested a Briton be Arrested Britons Ignore US Request

By Athina Saloustrou

A month prior to the London bombings, British authorities had rejected a US request to arrest a male who is now believed to have assisted the July 7 bombers, CNN reported. Haroon Rashid Aswat, a 30-year-old British-born citizen of Indian descent, is in custody in Zambia. American officials wanted to arrest him as a suspect of creating a training camp in the US state of Oregon. However, the British authorities refused, for Aswat was a British citizen, as per CNN sources. Britons now believe that he helped the suicide bombers to carry out their deadly attacks that killed 52. USA had located Aswat in South Africa weeks prior to the London bombings.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] NASA Grounds Shuttle Flights NASA Officials Puzzled

By Anna Kourti

A piece of foam insulation that was detached from the space shuttle Discoverys fuel tank is giving NASA officials a hard time. Wayne Hale, the deputy shuttle program manager said, "There is some concern, or some thought, that it most likely struck the wing of the shuttle," which docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. Despite this misfortune, Discovery still looks safe to fly back. At the same time, NASA showed digital photos, which display the place where the foam insulation was removed from, as well as the possible collision points. At the same time, shuttle programme manager William Parsons said, "Until we fix this, we are not ready to fly again."

Similar Incidence

In February 2003, space shuttle Columbia was destroyed due to a similar accident. In particular, a chunk of foam insulation weighing approximately 500gr had been detached from the external fuel tank during lift-off. The debris struck the left wing of the shuttle.

It is noteworthy that the 7-member crew will remain at the ISS in case a damage occurs in Discovery, which is expected to return back to Earth on 17 August at 12:46 (Greek local time).

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Stop to NASA

Discovery in Space

[04] Basayev's Interview Angers Moscow Terrorist But Innocent!

By Athina Saloustrou

The Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev admitted he is a terrorist but he refused to claim responsibility for the massacre in the school in Beslan. In his interview taken by a Russian journalist and was broadcast on ABC News Nightline programme despite Russias effort to prevent its run, the most wanted person in Russia with an 8-million-dollar bounty on his head, confessed, I admit, Im a bad guy, a bandit, a terrorist but what would you call them (the Russians)?", and he added, "If they are the keepers of constitutional order, if they are anti-terrorists, then I spit on all these agreements and nice words.

"Anything can Happen"

When asked if attacks similar to the on in Beslan could be repeated, Basayev said, "Of course. As long as the genocide of the Chechen nation continues, as long as this mess continues, anything can happen."

Basayev refused to claim responsibility for the death of children in Beslan, while he put the blame on the Russian authorities.

"In Chechnya and everywhere else, I use methods that are reasonable and acceptable. Neither I nor my mujahideen have killed children. Not here, not anywhere else. No killing," Basayev said. He also stated that the attack in the city of Beslan was held "to stop the killing of thousands and thousand more of Chechen children, Chechen women and elderly."

"Weve got a colonial war going on now. Not a war on terror or whatever," he added.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Greece Did Not Make It

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Greece fought really hard, but it did not make it to the mens water polo finals at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada. Reigning world and Olympic champion Hungary defeated Greece 7-6 in yesterdays semifinals. The Greek team will now play for the bronze medal against Croatia, which was defeated by Serbia-Montenegro with 5-4.

Hungarian Striker Was Unstoppable

The Greek team failed to successfully block Peter Biros, who was unstoppable scoring six out of Hungarys seven goals. 7-Minute Periods (with Hungary first): 2-1, 3-2, 1-1, 1-2.

The Scorers:

HUNGARY: Molnar 1, Biros 6.

GREECE: Chatzitheodorou 1, Theodorakopoulos 1, Christos Afroudakis 1, Santa 2, Vlontakis 1.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] New Bird Flu Cases

By Anna Kourti

A 26-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man died of the bird flu south of Vietnam. Since last December the death toll has risen to 41. Five days after her being admitted to the hospital in the city of Ho Chi Minh, the young woman passed away on Wednesday. The young man from the province of Tra Vinh died on Monday in a provincial hospital. "They were both tested positive for the bird flu virus on Thursday," said Phan Van Tu, chief virologist at the Pasteur Institute. As per their families, "They had consumed chickens bought from local markets."

Translated by Areti Christou

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