The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-08-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Due to Strike in British Airways Hassle in Heathrow Airport

By Vivian Papastefanou

More than 70,000 passengers were met with hassle in Heathrow Airport in Great Britain, as British Airways ground personnel decided on Thursday to proceed with a strike in support to the employees dismissed by Gate Gourmet company. More than 500 flights were cancelled on Friday. Late in the evening, a British Airways spokesperson said that a number of the ground personnel went back to work shortly after it was announced that talks to sort out the conflict with the American catering company Gate Gourmet resumed. The spokesperson also added that the flights are likely to restart by the end of the day.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Chaos in Heathrow Airport

[02] Russia Commemorates the Victims Black Anniversary

By Despina Hristopoulou

Five years have passed from the Kursk submarine disaster, which was to be the grave for 118 sailors in the Barents Sea. Marking the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, Russia scheduled ceremonies to commemorate the memory of the victims in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vidyayevo, near Murmansk, the base where the Kursk used to have its home. Memorial services were also held in Ukraine and Belarus. Flags in all the Russian fleets flew at half-mast to commemorate the victims, while flowers were thrown to the sea in tribune of the dead Kursk members. In the city of Kursk, after which the submarine had been named, the authorities unveiled a monument dedicated to the victims. Two metal pieces of the submarine with a bell in between were used to form the monument, while birch trees have been planted next to it. The relatives of the victims placed flowers to the monument. The memories from the kursk disaster are still vivid, not only because the five years are too few to relieve the pain, but because a similar tragedy with a mini-sub was averted in the last minute a week ago.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Dispute Over Olympic Works

By Despina Hristopoulou

It has been only a year since the 2004 Olympic Games and the government and the Opposition are crossing their fires over the exploitation of the Olympic Complexes. PASOK parliamentarian Andreas Loverdos described the Prime Minister and the government officials as directors of a visual reality, since, as he said, the Greek people is fully aware of the fact that the Olympic Complexes are neither exploited nor preserved. Mr Loverdos went on to saying that the government is organising feasts in chosen facilities, which are only partially preserved, in order to show off. He also noted that this is happening irrespective of the fact that the Budget disposed large amounts of money for their preservation. Furthermore, he blamed the government for the fact that the Olympic Complexes are inaccessible to both the citizens and the athletes citing the example of the swimming team who cannot train in OAKA because the government demanded they pay a rent.

Petralia's Reaction

In her response to Mr Loverdos statements. Deputy Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia pointed out that PASOK MPs believe that "18 months are enough for us to forget the improvisation, inefficiency and incompetence they displayed when handling the preparation works." She also said that for three years, namely until 2000, the zoning of the works had been changing and that they were described by PASOKs Ministers as "orphans", while the 2004 Organising Committee kept changing its board of governors. She further added that it took four years, until 2001, for the first Olympic venue to be constructed and she accused PASOK of voting six Olympic Bills and no utililisation draft. "It is probably too soon for Giorgos Papandreou and PASOK to invest in the peoples oblivion. It is also too late for them to defend Simitis work. Especially, when before the elections they themselves had pledged to change everything."

On its part, PASOK answered back saying, "Since Mrs Petralia exploited PASOKs work to live her dream, she can easily believe whatever suits her. She may even claim that the effort for the Olympic Games starts and finishes in the five months of Karamanlis government, from March to August 2004."

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Fire in Kozani

By

The fire that broke out at 2:15pm in a forested area that lies between the villages of Livera and Sidera in the Prefecture of Kozani, northwest of Greece is still in progress. The fire that broke out of unknown causes has blazed through 500 hectares of pasture. Six fire engines with 10 firefighters as well as two on foot forces numbering 14 people have rushed to the site.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Testifies on August 16 Murderer Taken to Interrogator

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

The 23-year-old murderer of Kiki Kousoglou, who was strangled four months ago in Veroia, will be taken to the interrogator on August 16. On Friday morning the perpetrator was taken to the Veroia Prosecutor, accompanied by a police forces, since enraged relatives of the young woman had gathered at the Court. The 40-year-old cousin of the perpetrator, who helped bury the young womans body in a riparian area of Aliakmonas River, was also taken to the Prosecutor, while he was charged with harbouring a criminal and abuse of a dead body.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Murderer Was Found

[06] Queen of The World

By

The golden medal was just not enough. The Russian "queen of the skies" Yelena Isinbayeva was certain to win the first medal, so she decided to combine it with a world record and she did it. The "female Bubka" flew over 5.01m in her second attempt making the spectators in Helsinkis Olympic Stadium go crazy. The 23-year-old golden medallist in the 2004 Olympic Games was successful in 4.50m, 4.60m which was enough to earn her the golden medal, and in 4.70m. Her previous record was set on July 22 in London. It should be noted that Isinbayeva is the first to have flown over 5.00m.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Tsiolakoudi Adnances to Final

By

One the Greek female athletes that took part in the preliminary round of the javelin throw succeeded in advancing to the womans javelin final. Aggeliki Tsiolakoudi, who competed in Group A finished sixth with a throw at 59.06m in her third attempt. Although the Greek athlete failed to throw her javelin to the 60.50m limit, she qualified to the final after achieving the sixth best performance in Group A. Her other attempts were at 54.35m and 57.15. The other two Greek athletes, defending champion Mirela Manjani and Voisava Lika did not make it.

Manjani Fouled Three Times

Mirela Manjani looked like a wounded animal after the end of the preliminary round, since it is the first time since 1999 that she not only stayed off podium but she will not be competing in the womans javelin final either after fouling three times in Group B. It should be noted that the Greek athlete had an impressive winning streak with six medals in the last six major IAAF meetings.

"It is a difficult moment for me, I will be able to realise what happened as soon as I go to my room and stay on my own. I will see the video of the game and then I will figure out what happened," said Manjani, who looked angry as if she could not accept her being eliminated. "I was well-prepared for the event and I felt really strong during warm-up. I entered the game determined to qualify from the first throw," she added. But something went wrong and her first throw did not even reach 50m.

"I do not know what went wrong. I was well and I would not have come to Helsinki unless I was ready to win a medal," explained Mirela.

As for the final on Sunday, Mirela Manjani said, "Menendez from Cuba is likely to win the gold with her countrywoman Bisset being the only one who can challenge her. I do not think that Nerius can perform as well as she did in the preliminary, while I believe that Aggeliki can make it to the first eight finalists."

On her part, Voisava Lika, the third Greek participation, finished 12th in Group B with her best attempt being at 55.03m.

Nantia Efentaki of Greece who participated in Heat 1 at womens 1,500 metres finished ninth and she did not qualified to the final. The Greek champion was way off her personal best for this year and finished in 4.15.00 minutes.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] PAO May Acquire Dellas

By Ilias Papaioannou

Sources: ANA

The huge defense gaps of the team of Panathinaikos in the fist game of the 3rd preliminary Champions League round in Krakow and the 3-1 defeat by Polish team Wisla, have caused turmoil in Panathinaikos. The team is considering going forth with the acquirement of a defense player. PAO is viewing Traianos Dellas, who was released by Roma and is seeking a new team to continue his career, as a player who could fill in the gaps and unite the teams defense line. Dellas, who had undergone surgery, has received proposals by Lazio, Rangers and England.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] And Breadstuffs with Lice "Fake" Monkfish

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET 105.8

The Athens Prefecture confiscated more than 1,200 kilos of inappropriate fish. The fish had been imported by an Italian fishing company and were sold as monkfish, but as it turned out hey were another type of fish whose trade had been banned in the EU and Greece since they could be poisonous. In the meantime, in a supermarket in Thessaloniki, 112 kilos of breadstuffs, cereal, pulse and pasta with lice and worms were seized. Actually, the authorities are concerned over the event that there is extended adultery in the neighboring capital, as it puts the consumers health in danger. Yesterday, in a childrens camp in Thessaloniki, Prefecture crews located impure olive oil. Speaking to NET 105.8 Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis stated that preventive checks have been intensified and the inspective service is fully operating with good results.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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