The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Archangel 2005 Spectacular Air Show

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Greeks of all ages have been cramming Tanagras Air Base since the early hours of Sunday, to witness the first air show, named Archangel 2005, to be performed in Greece under the auspices of the Hellenic Air Force. An unprecedented traffic jam has been caused on the Athens-Lamia Highway by travellers, which are on their way to Tanagra. It is noteworthy that at least 30,000 people visited Tanagra on Saturday to watch the last tests. President of the Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias is among the spectators. The air show is being broadcast live by NET television.

Simulated Attacks

Apart from the Hellenic Air Force, fighter jets from 18 allied and friendly nations will be participating in the air display, while those who are in Tanagra will be able to visit a static display of 140 fighter jets of different types. A total of 107 fighter jets will take the spectators breath away by performing risky aerobatic manoeuvres.

Furthermore, for the first time ever, the public will have the opportunity to witness the operational capabilities of the Hellenic Air Force, since simulate attacks are to be performed.

Translated by Areti Christou

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Αρχάγγελος 2005

[02] Incidents Keep Upsetting Athens

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Athens lived a heated Saturday night, since a group of leftists caused incidents at the Athens Polytechnic School and in Zographou. At 3am, young leftists, who were participating in a party taken place at Zographous University Campus, shot molotov cocktails on Kokkinopoulou Street, thus blocking the street for about an hour. An hour later, another group threw rocks and molotov cocktails at a police station in Zographou. The perpetrators immediately fled the area. In the meantime, around 50 people were brought to the police stations for the incidents that were reported near the Athens Polytechnic School premises, when leftists staging an anti-rally protesting against far-right Golden Dawn gathering, clashed with the riot police (MAT).

The leftists kept throwing stones at the riot police (MAT), who answered back by firing tear gases. The hassle resulted in blocking the traffic for a few hours. During the incidents, the leftists caused damages to two cars, shops windows, they set fires on rubbish bins at Exarcheia and attacked the police station on Kallidromiou Street.

It is noted that around 1,000 Golden Dawn members had initially gathered outside their partys headquarters, at Exarcheia, to protest against their being banned from organising a European festival with the participation of far-right groups.

At the same time, members of the Greek Social Forum and other groups staged an anti-nazi rally at the Omonia Square. No incidents were reported.

Translated by Areti Christou

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Tension in Athens

[03] The Undecided Vote for Chancellor

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Germanys main rivals, Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schroeder, described Sundays election as a fight for the nations future. Despite Merkels lead in the polls, she is highly unlikely to form a coalition of her choice. The most probable scenario is that she is to form a coalition government with the participation of the Social Democrats. However, Merkels party as well as her allies, Free Democrats (FDP), deny it. With 25% of the voters still being described as undecided, Merkels Christian Democrats (CDP) and the Social Democrats (SDP) led by Schroeder having been battling to the very last minute. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder urged people to vote claiming that the elections are a matter of "every vote, even mine." The pre-election debate between the two main rivals focused on the countrys economy, its foreign policy as well as on the high unemployment rates, for which Merkel accused Schroeder, since, as she said, during his seven-year term the unemployed have risen above five million.

Translated by Areti Christou

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German Thriller Continues

[04] Static Jacket Sparks Fire!

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: BBC, Reuters, ANA

For those who remember the TV series The Flash, the true yet unbelievable story to follow, may make them believe that science fiction films are not that "science" afterall. It was a cleaner from Australia and not a superhero that managed to build up 36,000 volts of static electricity that burned almost everything in his wake. The story begins, when the people working at the office Frank Clewer had visited, reported a mysterious burning smell as well as several scorch marks on the carpet. The Fire Service, which was immediately called, cut the electricity supply, evacuated the building and started investigating into the "alien" mystery. Clewer returned to the office and being stunned he said that he saw the same scorch marks on his car floor, while he added that wherever he went he kept hearing a noise reminiscent of the noise produced by firecrackers.

Frank Clewer was immediately suspected to have been the source of this usual phenomenon, and with a static electricity field metre they tested his clothes and measured a current of 40,000 volts. His woollen shirt and synthetic nylon jacket self-ignited, thus building up a high-volt charge.

It is noteworthy that the static electricity built up on clothes is rather usual, but the charges of static electricity are so minor that escape our notice. We are relieved of these charges when walking on the soil. The same happened to the 58-year-old cleaner who caused the plastic floors to burn.

If you keep wondering how it was possible that Clewer was oblivious to this fact, worry not. The firefighters who dealt with the situation could not figure it out either.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] ND Steadily on the Lead

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: "Typos tis Kyriakis"

The findings of the opinion poll, which was conducted by GPO company and appear on Athens top selling Typos tis Kyriakis, clearly display the publics faith in the Greek Prime Minister and his reform policy. As per the poll, 35.9% of those questioned said they would vote for ND as opposed to 31.9% that showed their preference to PASOK. 45.7% think of Kostas Karamanlis as the most suitable for the post of the countrys PM compared to 30.2% that prefers George Papandreou. As for the question posed, "Which government would be more efficient," with regard to a cluster of issues, namely high cost of life, economic growth, unemployment, education and health, the ruling party gathers the higher percentage. The issue of foreign policy is the only exception, since the majority believes that PASOK would handle the foreign affairs better. However, 58.2% of those who participated in the opinion poll view the countrys economy as well as the idea of having a family as grim, while 57.6% agree with the recommended changes in the electoral system for the municipal elections.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Afghanistan Votes

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sunday 18 is a landmark day for war-torn Afghanistan, for it has been 36 years since the last time the Afghanis were called on to elect their parliament and regional councils. The ballots opened at 6am (local time) and the authorities expect a big turnout despite the threats voiced by Taliban militants who have called for a boycott of the elections. After exercising his election right, President Hamid Karzai said that Sunday 18 marks the day when "Afghanistan is moving forward and is setting up the foundations of the Afghan state," and pledged "transparent and free" elections. In the meantime, hardly had the ballots opened when a rocket was launched at UNs offices in Kabul near a polling station, while the crossfire between the police forces and unidentified militants, who attacked a police patrol, claimed the lives of six people.

Translated by Areti Christou

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Call For Big Turnout

[07] Greece Did Not Make It

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Being sluggish and inefficient, the Greek basketball team suffered a 56-68 defeat by Slovenia on match day two of the 2005 Eurobasket. Apart from its disappointing performance, Greece was also battling against a heated atmosphere the Slovenian fans had created in a packed Pionir arena, Belgrade. However, it was the really bad performance and the inefficiency in the offence that cost Greece the victory. On Sunday at 21:30, the Greek basketball team will be playing against its last rival, Bosnia, seeking only a victorious result. On the other hand, after achieving a second running victory, the Slovenians are full steam ahead to finish in the first place of the third group. The ten-minute periods: 14-20, 27-37, 39-54, 56-68.

Bad Start

From the very beginning, it was pretty obvious that the Slovenians would give Greece a hard time. The Greek team presented its disappointing self as opposed to their opening game against France, since their renowned iron defence did not work out with the offence being ranked among its main weaknesses.

In the first minutes, the two teams balanced the game. Kakiouzis successful attacks combined with a satisfying defence put Greece on the lead (11-13). But that was it. Nesterovic defence on Lazaros Papadopoulos started paying out, while the rest of the Slovenians started a scoring-spree. At the end of the first ten-minute period, Ales Pipans boys took a 20-14 lead.

The second ten-minute period did not mark a fresh start for the Greeks. Slovenias head coach Ales Pipan appointed Becirovic the playmakers duties and along with Milic were successful in breaking through Greeces zone defence. On the other hand, Slovenias defensive line was reminiscent of Greeces against the French. Slovenia had a defence made of iron that did not allow Greece to score. The Greeks were also disappointing in the three-point shots as opposed to their opponents who boasted a Becirovic that was 100% successful. The first half ended with Slovenian having secured a safe lead (37-27).

Sheer Nightmare

The third period was a sheer nightmare for Panagiotis Giannakis boys. Being unable to make their way to the opponents basket, except for a three-point shot by Nikos Zisis, Slovenians kept scoring, thus building up a 19-point difference. The Slovenian players made the best of Greeces turnovers in the defence and finished the third period with a 39-54 lead.

In the fourth period, the Greek team made their last effort to claim the victory and managed to eliminate the score to 45-54. However, they resigned themselves to more turnovers in both the defence and offence that cost them their second victory.

Referees: Dovindavicious (Lithuania), Banica (Romania), Rizik (Ukraine)

GREECE (Panagiotis Giannakis): Papaloukas, Spanoulis 6, Zisis 9, Fotsis 3, Chatzivretas 5, Dikoudis 3, Tsartsaris, Diamantidis 7, Papadopoulos 15, Kakiouzis 8.

SLOVENIA (Ales Pipan): Jurak 5, Lakovic 7, Becirovic 18, Nesterovic 6, Nachbar 4, Lorbek 3, Milic 11, Maravic, Slokar, Brezec 4.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] Goalless Tie

By Vasilis Kalpinos

On match day three, the game between Akratitos and Larisa ended in a goalless tie. The game was rather bad, since neither team succeeded in creating any opportunities to score. The result, which came naturally, satisfied both teams.

Translated by Areti Christou

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