The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-09-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] "There is an Alternative"

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

PASOK leader George Papandreou lashed out at the governments policy in his address at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF). Mr Papandreou initially accused the government of being the only one among the European governments that does nothing to relieve the low-income earners of the upward spiral of oil prices and he described the ruling party as "a party that favours the few and the powerful," and that "deceives the farmers." Furthermore, Mr Papandreou referred to the PMs address at the UN and called it "customary," while he underlined that Greece should be "an architect in the fighting against poverty, AIDS and greenhouse effect." Greeces foreign policy, economy and administration also topped the speech delivered by PASOK head, who blamed the government for opacity and for favouring unworthy practices between ND and its voters, while he announced PASOKs proposal for a new administration model based on regional reorganisation and Local Governments.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] Polytechnic School Hosts Incidents Once Again Tension in Athens

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

The gathering of the ultra-right wing Golden Dawn members outside the partys headquarters at Exarcheia late on Saturday, stirred up a cluster of reactions. Leftist groups staged anti-rallies creating a heated atmosphere. The riot police (MAT) hurried to the area and threw a cordon around the centre of Athens to avert the outbreak of incidents. Shortly after 7pm, around 40 leftists managed to enter the citys Polytechnic School and started throwing rocks at the policemen, who answered back by firing tear gases. The squatters started fires inside the Polytechnic School premises, and went on to throw molotov cocktails at the police station on Kalidromiou Street and set fires on rubbish bins when marching towards Exarcheia. They also shot molotov cocktails near PASOK headquarters on Charilaou Trikoupi Street. No damages were reported. The police has started bringing suspects to the police stations to determine whether they participated in the incidents or not.

Earlier, Patision, Panepistimiou and 3rd September Streets had been sealed off. Traffic has now been restored on Panepistimiou and 3rd September Streets.

It is noted that the anti-nazi rally was staged at the Omonia Square by the Greek Social Forum, while representatives of many European far-right groups participated in Golden Dawns rally.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Hound 1 - Hunter 0! Hound Versus Hunter

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

A routine day for Vasil Plovdiv, an amateur hunter from Bulgaria, turned into a life-remembering day that is likely to make him reconsider continuing practicing his favourite pastime. What he is certain to reconsider, though, is whether he will keep taking with him his hound, a German Pointer. Plovdiv shot a quail and his dog ran to retrieve it. The moment it found the game bird, the dog returned to its master but strongly denied letting it out of its mouth. After devising everything he could to knock the game bird out, the hunter used the butt of his rifle against the dog. To his misfortune, the hound "saw red" and sprung at him knocking the trigger and shooting and peppering its masters chest with shot. All evidence from the crime scene show that it is an accident and therefore the hound will not be charged with attempted homicide!

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] The First Tests to be Done in a Few Years Artificial Nano-Kidney

By Tina Valaoura

Nanotechnology has allowed scientists to take the first step towards developing a fully functioning artificial kidney. The small device, which has been developed by the scientific team of California University, promises to free patients with end-stage renal disease from the rather unpleasant dialysis performed at hospitals or even narrow down the possibilities of kidney transplantation. Its size is almost equal to that of a paperback book, while the nano-filtre it contains fully mimics the function of the human kidney, thus eliminating the use of the conventional dialysis solution. The scientists involved in this research spoke of a revolutionary technique, and are working on perfecting the device so that the sufferers lives become easier. It is noteworthy that nearly 900,000 people worldwide are suffering from kidney disease.

Unique Achievement

During the medical procedure of dialysis, blood is diffused through a device. The patients blood is freed from the waste produced daily in the organism with the use of special filters, while nutrients are inserted. "This requires a reservoir of fluid and a way of pumping fluid through the device, which makes a wearable system almost impossible," explained director of the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Centre Allen Nissenson, who monitors the research.

To the sufferers comfort, the filter contained in the new device is to make the solution useless. The device is made up of two nano-membranes that mimic the renal tubule. It is noteworthy that one of them is to require 1.6 quadrillion pores, specially designed to selectively reclaim chemicals depending on their size, shape and charge.

"A connection to the patients bloodstream is necessary, which allows blood to flow into the device. In the device, it is filtered and processed by the membranes, with waste and water being discharged into an external bladder to be discarded, and important substances like salt, calcium, and nutrients returned to the body," explained Dr Dissenson.

Testing the devices operation with the use of computer modelling, the scientists found that the artificial kidney, operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week, provides finer results than the conventional dialysis.

The artificial kidney is meant to be operating on an everyday basis exactly like a human kidney. Research is still on a conceptual phase. However, all necessary work has been done to make it a reality. As per Biophiltre Company, which has undertaken to construct the prototypes, animal trials are expected to commence in two years time, while clinical tests are to be conducted in 2010. Meanwhile, research on further improving and growing the device smaller to match the size of a large wristwatch are underway.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] "I Lost Control"

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

39-year-old Panagiotis Kalatzis, who brutally abused the five-year-old son of his Romanian girlfriend, used the most usual excuse. Little Petros has been battling for his life at Heraklion University Hospital since Friday. After the joint order issued by the Public Prosecutor and the examiner, the perpetrator was sent to Neapolis prison on Saturday. Panagiotis Kalatzis had been testifying for three hours on charges of causing deliberate and heavy physical abuse that posed life to danger. It is noted that the accusation is to turn into deliberate homicide should the boy dies. "I lost control," is quoted as saying during his testimony, while he denied sexually abusing the child. Exiting Neapolis Justice Mansion, he only said, "Leave his mother alone." It is noteworthy that the interrogation proved that the boys mother kept meeting the perpetrator even after the incident at the hotel he had chosen to be his hideout.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] In Afghanistan's Parliamentary Elections Call For Big Turnout

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

"Let us make history. Let us make September 18 a landmark day," said the head of the Afghan election commission Bismillah Bismil and called on his countrymen to participate on Sundays election, the first to be held in the country since 1969. UN Secretary Generals special representative Jean Arnault voiced his optimism on the election and expressed his belief that extremists will fail to derail the electoral process. On his part, US Lieutenant-General Karl Eikenberry said he expects a big turnout. In the meantime, clashes between Taliban militants and Afghan-US forces are still raging throughout the country. On election eve, 11 people were killed, while the US forces announced they arrested a total of 30 suspected Taliban militants.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] For New Zealand's Labour Party Narrow Victory

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

New Zealands Labour Party led by Helen Clark claimed a historic third successive victory after the official results were released late on Sunday. The Labour Party received 40.7 percent of the voters as opposed to Don Brashs National Party, which gathered 39.7 percent. However, the 50 seats the Labour Party won are not enough for Clark to form a government and as she stated she will immediately begin negotiations to form a coalition government.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Voting Ends in New Zealand

[08] Hijack in New Zealand

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

A wave of panic spread in Auckland, New Zealand, late on Friday, when a light aircraft, which had been hijacked, plunged into the port of the city. Information is scarce but sources state that its pilot threatened to crash the aircraft into the Sky Tower, the citys highest building, in Auckland. As the Police announced, the pilot had stolen the aircraft from the airport, south of Auckland, while he has been transferred to the hospital with slight injuries. As per initial information, the pilot was the only person on board. After the threat, the 328-metre building was evacuated. As the Police spokesperson announced the aircraft was stolen two hours before its crash into the port.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] New Attack Against Civilians

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Iraqi militants launched an attack against civilians for one more time. Late on Saturday, a car bomb claimed the lives of 30 people and wounded 38 others in the crowded market place of the Shiite-populated town of Nahrawan, 35km east of Baghdad. A few minutes prior to the blast, unidentified Iraqis parked the car near the square and disappeared, told the police. Earlier, the towns police announced that it found nine bodies shot at the head and chest in three different spots.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] Change of Scenery in Farming

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Important changes in agriculture are expected as of 2006, when the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be implemented, since the agricultural bill, which foresees radical changes and reforms in the department, was adopted on Friday. With a series of measures aimed at the promotion and protection of Greek products, the financial funding of farmers and their better informing are expected to give a new boost in production. In particular, the new bill foresees the decoupling of grants from the production volume, as well as the establishment of local rural development centres in every Prefecture. Special groups of agricultural advisers and veterinarians will visit fields or units, and make proposals on how competitive products are produced, while specialised personnel will give free information on crops and financed programmes.

Incentives for Youngsters

Moreover, emphasis is given to the attraction of youngsters in farming, with interest-free grants and 70% financed grants for the purchase of land and equipment.

Reinforcement is foreseen for stockbreeders that live in underprivileged areas, since they will pay less insurance fees and receive larger compensations. In particular, payments to Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organisation (ELGA) on livestock will decrease by 25%, while compensation will increase by 25%.

The Exports Promotion Organisation, mainly in Thessaloniki, is reinforced in order for Greek products to be promoted abroad, to enter new markets and become protected from uncontrolled imports, with the establishment of a special inspective service for imported products.

Furthermore, financial incentives are given to coops in order to merge and rationalise, while redistribution is speeded up and excluded by the demolition of illegal stockbreeding units built until 20/3/2003, with the prerequisite for an approval of environmental terms.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[11] Hard-Won 3-0 Vin Over Kallithea

By Stathis Petropoulos

The "reds" chalked up their third victory over Kallithea on match day 3 of the Greek National Division. Although they won, they failed to impress, since their performance was worse than that against Rosenberg on Tuesday. Telkivski of Kallithea opened the score in the 71 with a superb own goal, which relieved Sollieds boys of the strain. Later, the tiredness that had defeated Kallitheas players cleared the way for the "reds". In the 77, Djordjevic doubled the score and in the 92 Castillo sealed a 3-0 victory for his team.

No Changes in the Lineup and Style

Sollied did not make any changes in the teams lineup, as he had insinuated, and therefore the teams style was not at all different from that against Rosenberg. Olympiacos lacked inspiration in their game and could not made it to Kallitheas goal area. Kallitheas defenders were always there to stop Olympiacos attacks and when they failed to do so, it was the "reds" that marred their own attempts to score. The first half ended with a 0-0 tie.

Same Scenery

In the rerun, apart from the fact that the home team were more threatening, everything else remain the same. In the 55, Kallithea almost opened the score when Koutsospiros kicked the ball from the goal area but Olympiacos goalie Nikopolidis made an astonishing save. At this point, Sollied made some substitutions that altered Olympiacos way of playing. Kafes and Okkas helped Olympiacos to become more threatening, and in the last 20 minutes Kallithea, being unable to react, surrendered to Olympiacos players who, relieved of the strain, achieved a third running victory.

Referee: Kontogiannidis (Xanthi) Yellow Cards: Passas, Belegrinis / Konstantinou

KALLITHEA: Bartzokas, Georgiev, Tzorbatzakis, Vokolos, Belegrinis, Venetis, Mudjiri (62 Telkivski), Yanchev, Passas, Koutsospiros, Lazanas (81 Gontzos).

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Mavrogenidis, Georgatos, Kostoulas, Anatolakis, Stoltidis, Toure, Babagida (57 Okkas), Konstantinou (84 Castillo), Rivaldo, (57 Kafes), Djordjevic.

Translated by Areti Christou

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