The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] He Dismissed Accusations New Deadline for Kehagioglou

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: NET-ANA

Upon his request, Athenian lawyer Sakis Kehagioglou received by the appellate examiner Giannis Sideris a deadline for December 20. Mr Kehagioglou is charged with being archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis close associate in the extra-judicial ring. As per the indictment, Mr Kehagioglou received the amount of 470,000 euros from Mr Athanasopoulos and Giorgos Nikopakopoulos to bribe judges. Exiting the examiners office, Mr Kehagioglou dismissed the accusations. "The speculations around my name are utterly misleading. I am most certain that my innocence will come to light. The accusations run contrary to the evidence I have seen," he concluded.

In the meantime, Parliaments Plenary Session is to discuss today the issue of lifting Mantouvalos immunity. The MP himself keeps denying his involvement in the extra-judicial ring and has long stated his wish Parliament would not vote against.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] For Hayabusa Space Mishaps

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-AFP-BBC

The enthusiasm aroused among the officials of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) over the successful outcome of the mission carried out by the unmanned spacecraft Hayabusa did not last long. New problems have appeared.

Despite two former failed attempts, Hayabusa craft boasts that it is the first probe to touch down on the surface of an asteroid called Itokawa, 300 million kilometres off Earth. Although the touching down lasted for a few seconds, the scientists voiced their certainty that their probe was the first ever to collect debris from the surface of an asteroid.

However, the imponderables that occurred are threatening the success of such a difficult, in technical terms, mission. A failure presented in one of its engines allowing it to monitor its position, is likely to ground Hayabusa (Japanese for falcon) for three more years in space. "Due to that problem, we failed to direct Hayabusas antenna towards Earth and we cannot start the proceedings for its return," said a spokesman for JAXA.

Should JAXA not manage to come up with a solution by mid-December, it will take the spacecraft three years to launch its return trip back to Earth. Until then, however, no one can guarantee that its batteries will be working.

The importance of the mission rests with the fact that never before have the scientists succeeded in taking asteroid samples, which are believed to provide new data on the origins of celestial bodies.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Those Who Do Well in Love Creativity Equals to Love

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: BBC

Pablo Picasso, Lord Byron and Thomas Dylan had more in common than just a high sense of creativity. They also enjoyed an active love life, which, as British scientists claimed, was not at all a mere coincidence. Psychologists of Newcastle University and Open University joined forces and concluded that artists and poets have nearly double sexual partners compared to everyone else. Their creativity seems to earn them an irresistible sex appeal, yet it is a doubled-edged sword stated the scientists.

A Life Full of Passions

Dr Daniel Nettle, professor of psychology at Newcastle University explained, "Poets and artists have more sexual partners, but they are also prone to depression,"

Dr Nettle and his team requested 425 men and women in Britain, including artists, poets and people suffering from schizophrenia, answer questions with regard to their creativity, sexual behaviour and mental health.

Although creativity has long been connected with active sexual life, the British scientists view their study as the first ever proving this theory true, since they found out that artists and poets had an average of four to ten sexual partners, while less creative people had only three.

These findings are true for "both men and women, which was quite a surprise for us," argued Nettle.

The study also depicted that the increase in the average love partners runs parallel with the increase in creativity. The artists works attract the attention and boost their sexuality.

Furthermore, "Creative people lead a bohemian lifestyle and tend to act on more sexual impulses and opportunities, often purely for experiences sake, than the average person would," commented Dr Nettle.

Besides, the active sexual life of artists does not often raise questions and is tolerable even by their long-term partners, who are less likely to expect them to be loyal, the scientists added.

Pablo Picasso, Lord Byron and Thomas Dylan were not only famous for their celebrated works, but also for their success in women.

"They are pretty reliable representatives of this phenomenon popularity and lots of women," concluded Mr Nettle.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] To Parliament's Relevant Committee Discussion on 2006 Budget

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

The discussion over Greeces 2006 budget opened at Parliaments Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. NDs rapporteur Savvas Tsitouridis reiterated that the budget aims at reducing the deficit to 2.6% of GDP, further curbing the public deficit and boosting growth and social cohesion. He described the budget as "reliable, efficient and socially fair," and assured the governments commitment to achieving the goals set by the Lisbon Strategy, "so that economy grows more and more competitive."

PASOK rapporteur and Etoloakarnania MP Andreas Makrypidis spoke of a fictitious, unreliable and almost unfeasible budget. "The employees have already rejected it, the pensioners have condemned it, while NDs officials keep questioning it," said Mr Makrypidis, stating that his party will vote against it.

On his part, KKE rapporteur and B Thessaloniki MP Angelos Tzekis called it unpopular. The government, underlined Mr Tzekis, keeps using the issue of curbing the public deficit as a pretext to proceed with its structural capitalistic reforms that boost the capital at the expense of the working class.

Finally, SYN rapporteur and A Athens MP Giannis Dragasakis argued that the 2006 bill is to introduce a fresh and long-term round of severe austerity policy at the expense of the labour. Mr Dragasakis asked for transparency and requested that Parliament be given the authority to "influence" the budget and not just "examine" it.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Changes in Municipal Elections Bill on Municipal Elections Tabled

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

The Greek Ministry for the Interior submitted on Tuesday night to Parliament the bill on municipal elections. As per the new bill:

- Blank ballots are not to be added to the valid ones to determine the election result. - The party, which is to win at least a 42% majority, wins the elections.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] The Association Decides on Thursday Ano Liosia Refuse Dump Likely to Shut Down

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-NET

The Association of Attica Municipal and Local Authorities (ESDKNA) warned of indefinitely closing down the Ano Liosia refuse dump starting on December 4. The Association underlined that the refuse dump is so much burdened that it can no longer cover the needs for more than a 10-day period. They issued an announcement reading that the amount of refuse gathered has exceeded any security level. The Associations presidium requested that the Ministry of Public Works set new environmental standards regarding the amount of refuse and promote the construction of a new Hygienic Refuse Burial Aerial in the area of Phylis. The Association of Attica Municipal and Local Authorities will convene on Thursday in order to decided on their collective actions.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] On December 12 UNICEF Launches Telethon

By Tina Valaoura

UNICEFs Greek Committee and ERT SA will be launching a telethon on December 12 to raise funds to help the thousands of quake-stricken children in Pakistan. The devastating earthquake, which affected the Asian country last October, left millions of children vulnerable to cold, hunger and diseases in its wake.

UNICEFs staff have been working really hard to save lives and to approach those children living in mountainous regions to provide for their protection and education. The homeless amount to 3,300,000. By mid-November, UNICEF spent 24,241,313 dollars on the quake-stricken in Pakistan. Yet, the needs are still huge, since the total amount the organisation has asked for stands at 92,564,274 dollars.

The telethon will be broadcast by ET1 on December 12. Top Greek journalists Bilio Tsoukala, Prokopis Doukas, Rika Vagianni and Lena Aroni will be the hosts of the event, while dozens of private television networks and radio stations across the country are also to join forces with UNICEF and ET, for Pakistans children need love.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] 5.7 on the Richter Scale Earthquake in Taiwan

By Vivian Papastefanou

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked Taiwan at 6:41 am (local time). There are no reports of damages and casualties. The countrys Seismological Centre announced that the earthquake occurred 64.3km below sea surface, northeast Ilan County.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Bush Says No to Pullout From Iraq

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-AFP-Reuters

US President George W. Bush gave a straightforward answer to everyone who rushed to embrace the statements by Iraqs national security adviser Mouaffak al-Rubaie, who claimed that nearly 30,000 US troops could withdraw from Iraq as of the new year. The US President described the prospect of immediate withdrawal of the US forces from the area as a "huge" and "terrible" mistake, underlining that the US strategy is built on decisions taken by the US commanders in the region. "We have heard some people say, pull them out right now. Thats a huge mistake. It would be a terrible mistake. It sends a bad message to our troops, and it sends a bad message to our enemy, and it sends a bad message to the Iraqis," said Bush.

On his part, Iraqi National security adviser Mouaffak al-Rubaie voiced his belief that the Iraqi army and security forces have gone a long way and that the recent fall in insurgents attacks signals "the beginning of the end of the uprising." His estimations, though, that the 50% of the Iraqi troops is ready to crack down the insurgents without the assistance of the alliance forces run contrary to those of the US top commanders who argue that the Iraqi forces are not sufficient enough to act on their own. Besides, Rubaie himself predicted that a full US pullout is unlikely to be realised before the end of 2007.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] To Join Israeli PM's Party Shimon Peres Resigns

By Anna Kourti

Israeli politician Shimon Peres resigned from the Labour Party to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the March elections, broadcast Israeli television station "Channel 10 TV." Labour Leader Shimon Peres said from Barcelona that "the upcoming elections are a fight fro peace and only through Ariel Sharon can we achieve it."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[11] Angel Gurria of Mexico New OECD Secretary General

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: ANA

Former Mexican Economy Minister Angel Gurria is to succeed Canadian Donald J. Johnston to the post of Secretary General of the OECD. Mr Gurria is to assume office as of 1 June 2006. The 30 OECD members have official assigned that role to Mr Gurria, who was chosen over his last rival, Polish Marec Belka, at the last phase of the election process. Angel Gurria is an economist, and has been a Foreign Affairs Minister from December 1994 to January 1998 and Economy Minister from January 1998 to December 2000. He works as an adviser of several private enterprises and non-profit organisations in the fields of developments, international economy and globalisation.

Translated by Areti Christou

[12] Olympic Flame in Karpenissi

By Ilias Papaioannou

The Winter Olympics flame started its long journey to host city Torino three days ago. Setting off from Mesolongi this morning and after a short stop in Agrino and the ski resort in Velouchi, the torchbearers carried the Olympic Flame to Karpenissi, covering a distance of 170km. Gold Olympian Athanasia Tsoumeleka received the Flame from Gold Olympian sailor Aimilia Tsoulfa and then carried it to the capital of Evritania, Karpenissi. Upon her arrival and in a festive atmosphere, Athanasia lit the cauldron, where the Flame will remain overnight, before setting off on its trip to Lamia tomorrow morning at 08:00.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[13] In Agios Athanasios, Thessaloniki Fire in Cotton Warehouse

By Anna Kourti

A fire broke out on Tuesday night in a cotton warehouse in Agios Athanasios, in Thessaloniki. Luckily, no injuries have been reported. 10 fire engines and 25 firemen have rushed on site to put the fire out.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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