The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] On Samples from Oinouses Second Test Negative

By Jenny Charalampidou

The turkey samples from Oinouses, which were tested at the Thessaloniki Labs in two different ways, turned out negative. In particular, the Bird Pathology Department of the Thessaloniki Centre of Veterinary Institutions announced that the viral-blood tests using the ELISA method on eight samples turned out negative. The same samples were then tests using another special method. Viral lab tests to isolate the virus continue as per normal and their results are expected from London and Thessaloniki in the coming week. After the outbreak of panic, all implicated parties are reassuring the people. However, the damage is done and the endless lines outside drugstores for the flu vaccine prove the situation is getting out of hand.

Oinouses in Quarantine

Greek Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis traveled to Oinouses today to visit the farm, where the case was spotted, and supervise the implementation of precautionary measures on the island.

What is more, as per Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos, precautionary measures and inspections continue around Greece, while the distribution of poultry products from the Chios municipality has been banned.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Turkey Sample Raises Concerns

Suspect Case in Greece

Vaccine with Prescription

[02] Ongoing Police Investigation Pornographers Face Prosecutor

By Vagelis Theodorou

The Greek public opinion is numbed following the cracking of one of the biggest child pornography rings, distributing material through the Internet. Twenty well-respected Greek citizens (including professors and lawyers), as well as three 15-year-old school pupils, participated in the ring. Five of the suspects will appear before the Prosecutor today, while briefs have been prepared against the other 15. The five people who were arrested yesterday include a university professor who lives in Athens, and four people from Veroia, owners of a telecommunications business, who kept a central computer to save webpages, including some containing child pornography material, which they continuously updated. Meanwhile, the police are continuing their investigations both in Greece, as well as in other countries through the International Police Cooperation.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Crack of Pornography Ring

[03] Venus Express Blasts Off on October 26 Trip to Hot Venus

By Vagelis Theodorou

The European Space Agency (ESA) is feverishly preparing for Venus Express' trip, which will either confirm or explode the theory that Venus is the Earth's "evil twin." The spacecraft would be launched on October 26 and scientists estimate that studying the Earth's closest neighboring planet and its atmosphere could provide information on the Earth's way of evolution, as conditions on Venus were similar to Earth's for two billion years, before the oceans evaporated, the temperature increased by hundreds of degrees and sulphuric acid rain started pouring. The spacecraft will be launched aboard a Soyuz Russian rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and its mission will last two Venusian days, that is 500 days on Earth. Venus Express should reach its destination in five months, at which point it will enter an escape trajectory to study the evolution of Venus' "hellish atmosphere." It is noted that the surface temperature on the neighbouring planet exceeds 450 degrees Celsius, the atmospheric pressure is hundreds of times higher than on Earth and the sulphuric acid clouds are so thick, they prevent the sun's rays from reaching the planet's surface.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] His Lawyer Will Ask for Adjournment Saddam to Justice

By Vagelis Theodorou

Two years after his arrest, Saddam Houssein and seven of his associates will be brought before the Special Iraqi Court today, accused of crimes against humanity. They are charged with slaughtering 143 Shias in Dujail, south of the Iraqi capital, on July 8, 1982, after a failed murder attempt against the fallen leader. The trial will be held in a specially built courtroom in the heavily fortified Green Zone. Saddam's lawyer, Halil al-Dulaimi, said he would ask the court for an adjournment of at least three months, to allow him more time to prepare the defence case. At the same time, he stressed Saddam's "morale is very, very, very high and he is very optimistic and confident of his innocence." The defendants will be questioned by a panel of five judges, whose names still remain unknown for security reasons, while no TV cameras would record the hearing process. A small number of observers and reporters will be allowed to enter the courtroom, but no audience. In the meantime, human rights organisations have voiced reservations on the trial, while US top-secret documents, which came to light on Tuesday, describe the fallen leader as cunning and violent.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Credit Goes to Mykonos Greece Receives Travel Award

By Vicky Keleri

Greece, and specifically the island of Mykonos, received the award for one of the most popular holiday destinations for American tourists, as per an opinion poll conducted by travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler. The award was presented to Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, during the Readers Choice Awards ceremony, hosted at New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday. "What is important is that we have re-established relations with the American tourism market, after a long delay. This year went very well. However, we are expecting that things will improve even more in the years to come," mentioned Mr Avramopoulos. He also announced that a special event, which will be attended by expatriate Greek businessmen in the USA who deal with tourism, is being scheduled for 2006 in New York, "aiming at incorporating them in our network of associates." In addition, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) will be opening branches in the USA shortly. "The coming years, in view of the strategy adopted and which has a ten-year timeframe, demand hard work. Greek tourism, as well as our services and infrastructure, has to become more qualitative," added the Minister.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Great Draw in Olympic Stadium Golden Point for Panathinaikos

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Playing inside a packed Olympic Stadium, Panathinaikos stood its ground against the great team of Barcelona and managed to win a very valuable point for the draw, in the game for Champions Leagues Matchday 3 of the 3rd Group. Following this tie, the Greek team has kept its hopes alive for qualifying to the next round, since they now have 4 points. For the next Matchday, Panathinaikos will travel to Spain, to play in Barcelonas home ground. The other Group 3 game between Udinese and Bremen ended in a 1-1 draw.

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)

Yellow Cards: Torghelle, Seric van Bommel, Xavi

PANATHINAIKOS: Galinovic, Vintra, Biscan, Morris, Darlas, Conceicao, Nilsson, Seric (88 Wooter), Gonzales (71 Papadopoulos), Mantzios, Torghelle (59 Leontiou)

BARCELONA: Valdes, Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, van Bronckhorst, Xavi (75 Iniesta), van Bommel (56 Motta), Deco, Ronaldinho, Larsson (67 Messi), Eto.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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