The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] At the Nigerian Plane Crash No Survivors

By Tina Valaoura

The situation with the plane crash in Nigeria has taken a turn for the worst. Original hopes to recover 50 survivors from the Bellview Airlines Boeing 737-200, which crashed south of Lagos shortly after lift-off, were in vain. Red Cross rescue crews refuted the Polices original reports that the plane was located by air in a rural area at the Oyo province. As per Reuters and Red Cross Secretary General, the planes flaming debris was located at another site near Lissa, at the Ogun province, and there was no trace of survivors. The images broadcast by a TV crew left no doubt about the tragic fate of the 116 passengers, including an army general and a government parliamentarian.

Worst Fears Confirmed

The tragic news shocked the dozens of relatives waiting since early morning at the Lagos airport, desperately searching for some information on the missing people. The hopes that had sprung a few hours earlier, when an Oyo province official announced 50 survivors had been found, vanished into thin air, as a local television station broadcast shocking images from the crash site, which has been located in a different Nigerian province than the one originally announced.

Red Cross Secretary General Abiodun Orebiyi also confirmed the news. "The plane was totally destroyed. It was scattered everywhere. I was not told there were any survivors," he told Reuters in a telephone conversation.

What is more, an official source had told the AFP that General Umar Diara, CEDEAO's Deputy Executive Secretary, had survived and even called his family in Bamaqo. However, this piece of information is wrong, and General Diara, as well as other senior CEDEAO officials on board the plane did not survive the crash. Authorities have not excluded the possibility of a hijack, as the pilot made a distress call after take off but did not clarify if there was a technical problem. Still, there is another scenario, as per which the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing, but failed because of the bad weather conditions prevailing in the area at the time.

For security reasons, all flights from Lagos have been cancelled for the day.

Back in Seattle, a spokesperson for Boeing said the 737 was the "workhorse of the world commercial jet fleet" and stressed the company would work with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board if the board were asked to help with any investigation in Nigeria.

So far, it remains unknown if foreigners were among the passengers, as tickets are often transferred between people in Nigeria.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

There Are Survivors

[02] On Current Affairs Papoulias' Intervention

By Athina Saloustrou

"We have to be the bastions against these new vices in Greek society," declared the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, when asked by reporters to comment on the scandals that have been rocking the countrys political and social life. Mr Papoulias attended a commemoration ceremony for the 268 victims of the Nazis in the village Mesovouno, at the Municipality of Vermio, Kozani, while he mentioned once again the matter of the compensations from Germany. The Greek President underlined that it was Germanys obligation to pay compensations, while he urged the new Government to contact the relevant Greek ministries, so that a satisfactory solution can be found. Furthermore, Mr Papoulias was declared honorary citizen of the Municipality of Vermio, while Mayor Sofoklis Sidiropoulos presented him with the golden key for the town, during a special ceremony hosted at Mesovounios Town Hall.

Before the ceremony, a memorial service was held at the monument, while the Greek President laid a wreath.

In addition, Mr Sidiropoulos spoke about the holocaust in Mesovounio, while Mr Papoulias praised the contribution of the National Resistance, while he added that it was his duty to travel to the places in Greece where people have fallen victims to the atrocities of the Nazis.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] As per a Public Sector Bill Major Changes in DEKOs

By Athina Saloustrou

A Bill that will be approved by the Greek Cabinet, which will convene tomorrow at Maximos Mansion under the Prime Minister, is expected to bring about major changes in the wider Public Sector. According to information, it aims at drastically curbing expenditures in DEKOs (Public Utilities and Enterprises), arising from debts reaching 12 billion euros. In addition, the auditing system is expected to change radically with the introduction of corporate governance rules and international accounting standards. Before the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will discuss the Energy agreement in southeastern Europe with Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] He Spoke of "Sordid Climate" Christodoulos Attacks the Media

By Athina Saloustrou

During his sermon today at the Athens Cathedral, Archbishop Christodoulos launched an attack for the "sordid", as he claimed, climate lately. The head of the Church of Greece verbally assaulted the Media, saying, "All the institutions have been degraded by those appointed as prosecutors throughout Greece, while, through the Media, they do nothing else but debase and demolish the institutions of this nation, which cannot survive if those institutions are levelled." The Archbishop also criticised the various TV programmes, which, as he stated, are often watched by children in the afternoons. In addition, seizing the opportunity, Christodoulos responded to those who desire the separation of the State and the Church, saying, "We should not allow the neoliberals, who want to change the change the mentalities of the people and the country, because we have a history, struggles and sacrifices."

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Turkey Upgrades Weapons in Cyprus

By Athina Saloustrou

Ankara keeps upgrading the occupying forces weapons systems in Cyprus, transferring tanks and guns. As per Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros, the equipment was transferred to occupied Cyprus in the beginning of October, during the crucial diplomatic deliberations with the EU for the commencement of Turkeys accession talks. As mentioned in the relevant article, Ankara has transferred 30 tanks, which replaced 5 that were taken back to Turkey, 12 guns of various calibres and 16 army vehicles.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Three Killed and Three Missing Bridge Collapses in Italy

By Athina Saloustrou

Three people were killed and three others are missing after a bridge collapsed, as bad weather wreaked havoc in the southern Italian region of Puglia. As per the Ansa news agency, the tragic accident occurred during the night in area of Cassano della Murge, 20km south of Bari, when all six people were travelling in two vehicles crossing the bridge as it collapsed. Torrential rains and floods are being recorded in south Italy since yesterday, while a hunter was also killed in Catania, Sicily.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Aris Claimed Victory

By Vasilis Kalpinos

After putting on an amazing show, especially in the last period, Aris prevailed over Makedonikos 84-66 and got off to a winning start in the premiere of the A1 Basketball Championship. Nikolay Padius and Corey Brewer were in top form today and did the works for Aris, while Makedonikos captain Kostas Charalambides scored a total of 22 points, which however were not enough to give him victory.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[08] Olympia on the Winning Track

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Impressive start in the premiere of the new A1 Basketball Championship for Olympia Larissa, which crushed Apollo Patras 80-55. Vangelis Alexandris' team were better for most part of the game and got away with victory pretty easily in the Neapoli basketball court, where the guests could only hold it together for one half. The score per period: 12-18, 35-30, 59-40, 80-55.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[09] Winning Streak Backfired!

By Stathis Petropoulos

In September, Olympiacos had unleashed their fury and won 5 out of 5 matches, thus enjoying the top of the scoreboard, but in October, Olympiacos lost twice in a row, the first time to PAOK on home grounds and tonight to OFI inside Pagkritio 1-0. Without being a better team, OFI did what each team is supposed to do when facing the pioneer of the championship. Patient and persistent, Vlachos players were not disappointed by the opponents lost opportunities, nor by their own and were finally proved right, even if they had to do with one of the most strange goals that have ever been scored.

The match came down to the 67, when Djordjevic clumsily passed to Nikopolidis and Machlas took advantage of the awkward situation, but his shot bounced back on Olympiacos goalkeeper. Stavrakis, who was in the area, tried to score with a header, but aimed at the post and then his kick went wide and found Anatolakis on the side. Finally, Machlas got the ball again, made the kick and although Nikopolidis tried to save the ball, the only thing he actually did was to change its direction and send it dead centre.

Referee: Briakos

Yellow Cards: Pitsos, Dentsas, Pantos, Bulut, Okkas

LINEUPS

OFI: Sifakis, Davidson, Roubakis, Pitsos, Anastasiadis, Kounenakis (74 Tomach), Chadjiadrian, Sfakianakis (45+ Stavrakakis), Nwafor (65 Dentsas), Dejanov, Machlas

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Pantos, Bulut, Anatolakis, Kostoulas, Vallas (46 Konstantinou), Toure, Kafes, Stoltidis (84 D Acol), Okkas (84 Babaginda), Djordjevic

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[10] Sweeping PAOK

By Stathis Petropoulos

PAOK players continued their rising course today in a rather impressive way, after prevailing over Ionikos with a crushing score of 6-1 in Toumba. Better than Ionikos, the home team could not restrain themselves and scored six times from the 18' until the 70' with five scores. Udeze gave the go-ahead in the 18' with a header and ten minutes later Konstantinidis launched a fireball outside the area. Salpigidis scored the third in the 38' after Maladenis' shot, which stopped at Ionikos' crossbar, while Makor scored the single goal for the guests in the 45'.

Unstoppable

In the rerun, PAOK set things straight with Feutchine in the 49'. Young Christodoulopoulos increased the difference to 5-1 and added his name in the long list of scorers, while Salpigidis scored his secong goal in the 70', thus setting the bar high with a five-goal difference. Following Olympiacos and Xanthi's defeat and hoping for a draw at today's derby between AEK and Panathinaikos, PAOK could climb to third place on the scoreboard.

Referee: Kouklakis

LINEUPS

PAOK: Fernandes, Akyel, Feutchine, Udeze, Charalambous, Chasiotis, Maladenis, Konstantinidis (52' Shikabala), Zagorakis (73' Iliadis), Mieciel (14' Christodoulopoulos), Salpigidis

IONIKOS: Beqaj, Poulopoulos, Do Carmo, Tsiblidis, Da Costa (60' Kakaras), Makor, Melabianakis, Vourexakis, Lettieri (49' Mendrinos), Konstantinidis, Perone 46' Coybra)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[11] Panionios Bagged Three Points

By Stathis Petropoulos

It seems that the change of coach in Panionios worked in a positive way, since the team managed to claim their first away victory in the championship with Josef Bubenko sitting on the bench for the first time. Panionios prevailed over Akratitos 1-0 in Liossia, although the match lacked impressive moments and dominant players. Oravec scored in the 36', during one of Panionios' few organized attacks and the sole that was worth the try. From the 36' onwards, the home team tried to turn the match around, but in vain. So, 0-1 was the final score, which made Akratitos' fans boo in disappointment.

Referee: Nikolaidis

Yellow Cards: Zuela

LINEUPS:

AKRATITOS: Stelea, Obradovic, Skoufalis, Paganin, Badas, Zuela (67' Macquet), Pipinis, Marinescu, Merino, Edu Salles (59' Show), Defrancesco (46' Vujovic)

PANIONIOS: Vaniak, Tzihon, Magdy, Smiljanic, Exouzidis, Kontodimos, Kiassos, Langer, Nalitzis (75' Fernantes), Breska, Oravec

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[12] Undefeated in Levadia

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Levadiakos claimed their second victory after prevailing over Kallithea 1-0 at the match for the 7th round of the Championship. This win not only gave them three points, it also helped them move up on the scoreboard and preserve their undefeated streak on home grounds, with two wins and two ties in Levadia. On the other hand, Kallithea remained at the bottom of the scoreboard, as they have managed to bag one point in seven matches. Alex scored the winning goal for Levadiakos in the 23'.

Referee: Efthimiadis

Yellow Cards: Dimou, Passas, Vokolos

LINEUPS:

LEVADIAKOS: Zafeiropoulos, Kallimanis, Pastos, Dimou, Dimitropoulos, Gourma, Chrysafis, Zisopoulos, Bassala, Rusev (65' Masara), Alex

KALLITHEA: Souloganis, Koulakiotis, Georgiev, Vokolos, Telkiynski, Karatzas, Tsiolis, Passas (74' Petkovic), Mujiri (46' Belegrinis), Koutsospyros (56' Diamantis), Lazanas

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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