The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Red-Nosed Rudolf Gets Naughty!

By Vicky Keleri

A naughty reindeer broke free from a childrens zoo in Baden-Baden, thus playing havoc with the entire German police! And you are totally mistaken if you think that he escaped just to meet Santa! The reindeer in question had other plans and distributing presents on the New Years Eve was not among them. Instead, he opted for golf! The reindeer perhaps got really excited with the golf course next to the zoo and thought it made a great Christmas getaway! And since he was pretty naughty, his games caused serious damage to the golf course. The police did not manage to catch it and take it back to the zoo until the reindeer was really exhausted. As for the damages, since naughty red-nosed Rudolf has no money, paying the compensation rests with the zoo!

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] Opinion Poll Conducted in Attica Favouring Souflias' Proposal

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas proposal that stores be open six or seven Sundays a year was welcomed by the Athenians. As per an opinion poll conducted in the Attica basin by KAPA RESEARCH on behalf of To Paron newspaper, 54.2% of the respondents described the proposal as pretty good, as opposed to 48% who held a different opinion on the subject. In the question regarding the working hours, 39.4% of the participants in the poll believed that stores should be open from 10am to 3pm. 27% argued that the working-hour-scheme should be free, while 25.6% replied that stores should be open from 10am to 6pm. In the question, "Which stores should the measure be applied to?" 41% of the respondents claimed that the measure should be applied to all stores, 38% said that only the multi-stores should adopt the new proposals on the working hours and only 9.5% favoured small stores.

The opinion poll in a sample of 602 households was conducted between 21 and 22 December via telephone interviews.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] A Total of Five People Were Killed Fire Kills Kids in Germany

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: Reuters

Two little brothers were killed in Cologne, Germany, when a fire broke out in the apartment block they were living. A total of five people were killed, while further nine suffered injuries and were transferred to hospital. As per the police, the fire broke out on the second floor of the nine-storey building shortly before 2am (3am Greek local time). The fire soon spread to the fourth floor, where most of the victims were found. An elderly couple was living in the apartment of the second floor, where the fire started. They were both transferred to hospital sustaining heavy injuries. However, the man did not make it and succumbed to his injuries.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Atrocious Honour Killing in Pakistan

By Despina Hristopoulou

Four sisters were killed by the hand of their very own father in eastern Pakistan. As per the police, Nazeer Ahmed, a labourer by profession, strangled his four daughters while they were sleeping because his eldest daughters marriage had tarnished his honour. Shorlty after committing the crime he went to a police station. Ahmed told policemen that his eldest daughter Muqadas Bibi aged 25 had married against his wishes and that this marriage had tarnished the familys honour. Therefore, he killed his eldest as well as the other three, aged six, eight and twelve, lest they should follow suit.

To Clear Their Name

In Pakistan and several other Asian countries, women fall prey to honour killings quite often. Family members usually throw toxic liquids at the womens faces, commit rapes or even murder, activities which are thought to clear their names from the insults.

As per the authorities, the number of victims, mostly women, from such kind of crimes committed in Pakistani rural area over the last four years has reached 4,000.

The Pakistani President has introduced this year death penalty against those who commit honour killings.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Austrian Tourists Freed

By Despina Hristopoulou

All is well for the two Austrian tourists, who had been abducted by Yemeni tribesmen. As per the Austrian News Agency, the two tourists were freed in the early hours of Saturday. In fact, the news agency, citing the statements by the Yemeni ambassador to Austria, pointed out that the tourists, who had been abducted on Wednesday, were released safe and sound. The Yemeni police reported that the kidnappers demanded the release of three tribesmen, who had been arrested in October on suspicion of participating in Iraqs insurgency. It has not yet been made public whether their demand was met or not.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] In Kifisia, Neos Kosmos and Paleo Faliro Robbed of Their Carols' Earnings

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: NET- ANA

Following the Christmas spirit, dozens of children from all corners of Greece flocked the streets of their cities to sing the Christmas carols. However, several robberies were reported. On Saturday morning, three underage robbed two 10-year-old boys of their carols earnings. After a pursuit, two of the robbers were arrested, while the third managed to escape. The second robbery took place in Neos Kosmos on Petmeza Street, where four men robbed two underage of 100 euros, while on Megalou Alexandrou Street in Paleo Faliro two men made off with 20 euros from two boys.

[07] Few Offences in the Market

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

With few hours to go before the stores close, many Athenians have flocked the market to do their last-moment shopping. The prefectures relevant services have been conducting inspections to deter profiteering phenomena, and they seem to have been successful, since few offences were reported on Saturday. Deputy Development Minister Giannis Papathanasiou visited today the Varvakio market and said that the consumers should be feeling safe due to the increased inspections. It is noted that stores and butchers shops are to close at six, multi-stores and the Varvakio market at eight and supermarkets at nine.

[08] All Passengers Were Killed Air Tragedy in Azerbaijan

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: ANA, BBC

An Azerbaijani plane crashed shortly after its takeoff on Friday night killing all 23 passengers on board. Eight foreigners, including an Australian, a Georgian, four Kazakhs and a Briton, were among the 23 fatalities. There were 18 passengers and a five-member crew aboard the fatal plane. A police official argued that the crash was due to technical failures and ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack. The planes ruins were located on coasts of the Caspian.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Azerbaijan plane crash 'kills 23'

CNN: 23 dead recovered from air crash

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