The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-01-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Children the Victims of H5N1 New Outbreaks in Turkey

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET, ANA, AFP, Reuters

Regardless of the measures implemented by Turkeys authorities on the restriction of outbreaks, suspicious cases of avian flu are increasing. Once again, victims of the virus are children, since as it was stated a five-year-old boy was taken to a hospital in Istanbul with suspicious symptoms, while another two children are under observance in eastern Turkey and another family quarantined in Mersin.

Condition Worsening for Two Children

A five-year-old boy who was taken to an Istanbul hospital yesterday, Saturday, with high fever and symptoms similar to the avian flu, could possibly be the new victim of the virus.

Regardless of the advices given by Turkish Sanitation Authorities, the small boy reportedly came into contact with chickens bred by his family in their homes garden in Gebze, approximately 100km south of Istanbul.

At the same time, messages coming from the neighbouring country over the condition of another two children are worrying, as they were urgently taken to a hospital in the province of Van, in eastern Turkey, with symptoms similar to those of the flu.

As the doctors of the hospital announced, the condition of the two children has worsened. Fatma Ozchan, 12, is in a critical condition and on life support, while there are complications in the health of her 5-year-old brother, Mohamed, whose condition is judged as more serious than the rest being hospitalised.

The doctors added that the hospitalisation of the two children was greatly delayed, since the children were admitted six days after presenting initial symptoms.

The results of the latest exams conducted on the two children, in order to conclude if they are suffering from the avian flu, will be announced tomorrow, Monday.

Following the latest occurrences, experts of the World Health Organisation (WHO) asked permission from the Turkish Government to conduct precautionary examinations to the population in areas considered as the most dangerous over the spread of the virus.

Checks in Borders Continue

Authorities in Greece remain on alert, continuing intensive checks at entrance points from Turkey.

Vehicles and travellers are disinfected, while any possible dangerous foodstuffs located are confiscated, mainly poultry and their products.

Moreover, informative leaflets are given out in Athens "Eleftherios Venizelos" Airport, where eight flights are performed daily to and from Istanbul.

A crew of the Piraeus Prefecture visited the outdoor market at Schistos in order to investigate if live poultry is being sold.

The Piraeus Prefecture had banned the sale of poultry in all outdoor markets of the area, in the context of precautionary measures for the avian flu.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Alarm Ends in Belgium

[02] Karamanlis Papandreou Meeting Constitution on the Table

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET, NET 105.8, ANA, Apogevmatini

Tomorrow, the proposals of the Government, as well as the Main Oppositions on the Review of the Constitution will be at the focus of the meeting between Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and President of PASOK George Papandreou. At the same time, in an interview to Sundays edition of Apogevmatini, Minister for the Interior Prokopis Pavlopoulos did not rule out the event that the new Constitution will include the forfeiting of politicians assets, which are not justified by the financial audit of declaration of assets submitted.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Emir of Kuwait Breathed his Last

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

On Sunday, a forty-day mourning was declared in Kuwait, following the death of its 77-year-old Emir, Sheik Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah at dawn after a long illness. The Emir was the 13th leader of a 245-year dynasty governing Kuwait from the era of the Anaiza tribe, in which the Sabah belong, migrating from the Arab hinterland. Based on the Constitution, his successor is 76-year-old Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah. However, because of Saads ailing health, political analysts estimated that the governing of the Emirate will be made by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. Moreover, the police and National Guard were on alert, implementing emergency security measures, since the citizens of the country have started gathering in the centre of Kuwait, where the Royal Mansion is located.

A Friend and Ally of the USA

Sheik Jaber, who led the Emirate from 1978, and considered a friend and ally of the USA, had suffered a brain haemorrhage in September 2001 and was in ailing health since then.

Due to the gradual worsening of his condition, the Emir had transferred the largest part of his powers to Sheik Sabah, who urgently returned to the Emirate from Oman, where he was vacationing.

In 1991, when Iraq invaded the small but rich in oil reserves Kingdom during the Gulf War, the Emir has forced to flee to Saudi Arabia.

He returned after the liberation of the country by the alliance formed under the hospice of the UN and the US leadership and led the reconstruction of the Emirate and the rehabilitation of oilfields, which were burned down by Iraqi forces during their withdrawal. Kuwait, a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), enjoys a viable level of life, considered to be one of the highest in the world, as it appropriates one tenth of the worlds confirmed crude oil reserves (95 billion barrels). The unforeseeable fluctuations of black golds price brought great revenues to the country, as well as great damage.

In 2003, Kuwait was used as a base for the Iraq invasion and hosted approximately 30,000 US soldiers, while another 13,000 US citizens permanently reside in the country.

After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in neighbouring Iraq in 2003 and the USs initiatives for a reform of Middle East regimes, the governing family of Kuwait was pressured both by Islamists and pro-West liberals, to loosen control on the countrys governance and share power with others.

The Authorities of the country, where 2.2 million citizens reside, has started a campaign of suppressing Islamists and other radical forces opposing the US presence.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

CNN: Kuwaiti emir dies

BBC: Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber dies

[04] Did not Adhere to Sanitation Criteria Varvakios Store Shut Down

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET

A crew of the Athens Prefecture in the presence of a Prosecutor shut down a store in Varvakios Market, as it did not adhere to sanitation criteria. 153 kilos of unsuitable meat among cockroaches and rats was discovered in a well-hidden trap door. Athens Prefect Giannis Sgouros said the sanitation conditions were for animals and not human beings, noting that the owner is being sought after and his arrest pending.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Iraklis defeated PAOK

By Stathis Petropoulos

In Thessaloniki, Iraklis was the winner of the behind closed doors game defeating PAOK 78-67 in Ivanofio for the 11th round of A1 Mens basketball. So, Iraklis and PAOK are tied in the second to last position of rankings with 3 wins and 8 defeats. Iraklis was better in the long run, but Giannis Gagaloudis turned the game around scoring 22 points. Finally, all it took was a determinative three-pointer by Giorgos Giannouzakos, giving the home team two valuable points. The score of the ten-minute periods: 19-22, 42-37, 64-51, 78-67.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] PAO Earned Win

By Stathis Petropoulos

Panathinaikos remained first in the rankings of A1 Division Mens basketball after its 10th win this year. The "greens" defeated Maroussi 77-74 in a game, which turned out to be a derby and was finally judged in the last minutes. Maroussi had many complaints from the referring, thus Yiannakis being punished after a protest over a foul in the last minutes and with the free-shot procedure beginning for both teams. Panathinaikos kept its cool and received the win. The score of the ten-minute periods: 13-15, 31-37, 51-61, 74-77.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Ninth Win for Olympiacos

By Vasilis Kalpinos

With top player being Nikos Barlos, who scored 15 points, Olympiacos earned an easy win against Panionios 78-64, without its fans being able to attend due to a behind closed doors game due to punishment. The "red and whites" took advantage of Nikos Oikonomous bad performance and did not allow Panionios to threaten in any part of the game, apart from the beginning, when the latter team was nearing the score. From then on, particularly in the second period, Olympiacos supremacy reigned and thus reached 78-64. The score of the ten-minute periods: 13-14, 39-30, 65-50, 78-64.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Unstoppable Panellinios

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Panellinios counted another win, defeating GS Larissa 77-68 in the game for the 11th round of A1 Division basketball. This was the 7th win for the team of the "Olympians club" and is now comfortably seated in the 4th place of rankings. The score of the ten-minute periods: 13-9, 34-35, 56-55, 77-68.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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