The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] At the Ancient Olympia Stadium Everything is Ready

By Vasilis Kalpinos

At this time, the ceremony of the kindling of the Olympic Flame, which will travel to the 20th Winter Olympics, which will take place in Torino, is underway at the Ancient Olympia Stadium. Everything is ready, while on Saturday the practice session was successfully completed. There is a small concern by the organisers over the cloudiness in the area, which if continued will give a difficult time to high priestess Theodora Siarkou lighting the torch. However, the event was investigated, as the flame from yesterdays practice has been protected. Starting from Ancient Olympia, the Flame will travel to the Italian city, while 534 torchbearers will become the Olympic bridge to the Torino Olympic Stadium for the great athletic event. The ceremony is attended by Vice President of the International Olympic Committee Mr Lambis Nikolaou, President of the Greek IOC Mr Minos Kyrikou and alternate Culture Minister Mrs Fani Palli Petralia.

The Programme of the Ceremony

12:30 Ceremony at the Temple of Hera -The Olympic Flame will be carried to the Pierre de Coubertin Park by the priestesses.

13:00 Opening ceremony at the Pierre de Coubertin Park. -Olympic Hymn -Laying of wreaths at the Pierre de Coubertin Monument -Recitation of a poem of Takis Doxas

"The Light Of Olympia" read by actor Grigoris Valtinos. -Address of Mayor of Ancient Olympia Mr Ioannis Skoularikis. -Address of IOC Vice President Lambis Nikolaou. -Address of the Greece IOC Minos Kyriakou. -Address of the President of the Organising Committee of the 20th Torino Olympic Winter Games Valentino Castellani

13:15 Entrance of the high priestess and priestesses procession in the Pierre de Coubertin Park. -Invocation by the high priestess.

13:40 Handing over of the Flame by the high priestess to the first torchbearer. -Start of the torch-bearing trip. -Minos Kyriakou will offer a commemorative gift to Valentino Castellani. -National Hymn of Italy. -National Hymn of Greece. -Departure of official guests.

14:00 Reception of the International Olympic Committee at the facilities of the International Olympic Academy.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Will Worsen in the West, Central and North Concern over Weather

A change in weather, once again, with severe rainfall and thunderstorms around the country will take place. The wave of bad weather will begin from the west and spread to the north and centre of the country. Rainfall in Attica, where the weather will improve as of noon. Winds will be southerly and strong to very strong and gale-force in the Aegean. Routes of ships from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina are taking place as normal. Closed type ships from the ports of Igoumenitsa and Corfu are only allowed to travel, while no hydrofoil routes are taking place in the Saronic Gulf. Travellers should contact their local ports. Meteorologists are expecting the weather to subside as of Monday. On Saturday, a Government panel led by Minister of Rural Development Evangelos Basiakos ordered the immediate recording of damage and payment of compensation in Laconia, Messinia, Lesvos and Eastern Attica, which were afflicted by the wave of bad weather. A wave of adverse weather, with thunderstorms, snowfall and low temperatures is continuing to afflict Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Four persons have been killed by the extreme weather conditions, while the road and power network has suffered damage.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Western Europe Freezes Over

On High Alert

[03] Reported US Army Findings Bodies Burned for "Health Reasons"

By Athina Saloustrou

The US Army admitted that officials burned the bodies of Afghan rebels, in the southern province of Kandahar, last October, adding that the incident indicated the lack of judgment and ignorance of the Afghan culture, concluding that the act does not violate war regulations. "A battle between US soldiers and Taliban, near Kandahar, on September 30, cost the lives of an American soldier, an Afghan rebel and two Taliban, while many were injured," read the US announcement. "The weather was extremely hot and the bodies started rapidly decomposing, while the rocky ground did not allow the US soldiers to bury the bodies," it added. The US unit had orders to remain on the hill for another 72 hours, thus "on October 1st and around 14:00, an official decided to burn the bodies, only for hygiene reasons, and to protect his soldiers," read the announcement. When the soldiers were ordered to burn the bodies by the high-rank official, who at the time was negotiating with the locals over the bodies and their burning, they immediately proceeded with the execution of the order."

"Soldiers will not be Indicted"

Based on the investigation, the US Army concluded that no evidence emerged over the abuse of a dead body, or a violation of war regulations. However, a lack of judgment and evaluation of the situation, as well as ignorance of the Afghan customs and culture was noted.

"Two soldiers showed poor judgment during the incident and have already received a memoranda of reprimand, which constitutes the highest administrative sentence an administration can order," noted the US Army.

Moreover, the announcement read that no evidence emerged that the burning was used to offer content in an announcement by a psychological war group made with speakers in the neighbouring village and towards the mountainous area, where apparently the enemy was hidden, which announced that the act was done to set an example.

The investigation took place after an Australian television network broadcast a story where US soldiers were looking at the burning bodies and reading propaganda messages out loud.

The incident has enraged the Afghanis and added in the charges on tortures of hostages in the country.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] As Per an Opinion Poll British Dissatisfied by Blair

By Athina Saloustrou

More than half of the British population appeared dissatisfied with the way that the Blair Government is governing the country but with the PMs performance as well, as per an opinion poll by Ipsos-MORI for newspaper The Observer. 57% of the persons questioned voiced their dissatisfaction on the performance of Blairs Government, as opposed to 33% who voiced their satisfaction. PM Tony Blairs performance can be judged as somewhat better, as 55% stated dissatisfied and 37% satisfied. On the other hand, 50% of the people voiced their satisfaction on the performance of Minister of the Economy Gordon Brown, who is the likeliest successor of Blair. 49% is satisfied with the way the Minister of Economy is exercising his duties, as opposed to 35% that disagreed. Regardless of Tony Blairs low percentages, Labour is easily ahead of the Conservatives in the preference of the British voters by 42%, as opposed to 33%. The opinion poll was conducted on November 17-22 to 2,000 persons.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] "Human Rights are Abused in Iraq" Accusations by Allawi

By Athina Saloustrou

In an interview to British newspaper The Observer, Former PM Iyad Allawi claimed that human rights are abused in Iraq are similar, if not worse than in the Saddam regime. "People are doing the same as in Saddam Husseins time and worse. It is an appropriate comparison. People are remembering the days of Saddam," said Allawi. "These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam Hussein, and now we are seeing the same things," he added. "We hear of a secret police, secret bunkers where people are interrogated. Many Iraqis are tortured or murdered during interrogations," noted the former Iraqi PM. "I am not accusing the Interior Minister himself, but the people hidden behind the secret dungeons and the executions taking place there," he added. Allawi was Prime Minister of Iraq in the post-Saddam era, but failed in the January elections, as his party came in third.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Iraq abuse 'as bad as Saddam era'

The Observer: Abuse worse than under Saddam, says Iraqi leader

[06] Olympiacos Defeated by Larissa

By Stathis Petropoulos

Today, the players of Larissa celebrated their fist win, and moreover made Olympiacos suffer its first defeat in this years Championship after five consecutive wins, which placed the Piraeus team at first place, together with Panathinaikos. The final score of 83-74 and mostly the point difference, which neared ten, happened at the end, since until the last period the team of Olympiacos was ahead, even by a few points. The scores for the ten-minute periods: 20-28, 42-46, 60-62, 83-74.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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