The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-04-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Accompanied by Great Weather Departing En Masse

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET - NET 105.8 - ANA

The Easter excursionists started departing from the major urban centres early on Maundy Thursday, with the traffic steadily increasing on the national highways, but no other problems being recorded. More than 100,000 vehicles passed through the Afidnes and Elefsina tolls in the last 24 hours. The KTEL depot on Kifissos Avenue is packed, while plane and shipping tickets have been sold out. As a result extra flights, as well as extra bus and shipping routes have been scheduled. The Traffic Police is on alert, while it has started implementing emergency measurers, aiming to secure a safe trip for all motorists. Traffic restrictions will apply on the outbound planes for all trucks over 1.5 tonnes from 3pm to 10pm on Maundy Thursday. In addition, the police is urging drivers to hold back on the alcohol, while breath alcohol testing is continuing.

Emergency Measures

The following measures will apply in Kakia Skala, on the Athens-Corinth Highway:

On Easter Monday and St Thomas Sunday, one extra inbound lane will be made available to private cars and emergency vehicles.

The cars heading towards Corinth will either use the remaining outbound lanes or be redirected to the old Athens-Corinth Highway.

In addition, traffic restrictions will apply for all trucks travelling on the national highways, from 3pm to 10pm Maundy Thursday, from 8am to 1pm Good Friday, and from 3pm to 11pm Easter Monday.

The restrictions will not apply on Easter Sunday and St Thomas Sunday.

Furthermore, the restrictions do not apply for roadside assistance vehicles, postal trucks, trucks carrying perishable goods and trucks carrying newspapers.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Excursionists on the Go

Related Links:

Ministry of Mercantile Marine

KTEL Buses

Road Traffic Police

[02] Threats Are Setting Oil on Fire New Rise in Oil Prices

A new historic record in the price of black gold was recorded a little while ago in London. At 10am CET, Brent had risen by 37 cents, reaching $74.10 per barrel. In audition, a new rise in the price of US crude was recorded in New York, with the barrel at $72.17, i.e. 82 cents dearer, a fact that is mainly attributed to the escalating crisis triggered by Irans nuclear programme. Analysts believe that the upward spiralling of prices could exceed $80 per barrel, as the situation is tense, while there are fears of an imminent attack against Iran, the worlds fourth largest exporter of oil. At the same time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that the price of oil is lower than its real value, stating, "The global oil price has not reached its real value yet. The products derived from crude oil are sold at prices dozens of times higher than those charged by oil-producing countries." At the same time, he urged the oil-producing countries to establish a fund to help alleviate the pressure resulting from high oil prices on Third World nations.

In the meantime, the International Energy Agency announced it was ready to release oil stocks if Iran stopped exports. It noted, though, that the stocks will not be used to reduce the oil prices, which are breaking one record after the other.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

"Coalition of the Willing" against Iran

Rising Oil Prices

[03] New 4.6 Quake on Thursday Aftershocks on Zakynthos Continue

By Athina Saloustrou

The seismologists do not appear concerned, despite the new tremor recorded a little after 11am, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale. The scientists monitoring the event believe that the tremors are actually aftershocks, with the main quake being the 5.9 one on 3 April. However, they are warning that some of the aftershocks could be quite strong. The strongest one was recorded on Wednesday, registering 5.3 on the Richter scale. The seismologists believe that the fault may have shifted and that is why it was so strong.

In the meantime, a Civil Protection Authority panel headed by secretary Panagiotis Fourlas arrived on the island. Some damages have been recorded by Prefecture crews, including cracks in buildings and churches, while 27 homes were deemed unlivable. As per Fourlas, the citizens who cannot stay in their homes will either be accommodated in rented rooms or containers, depending on their preferences.

Finally, according to the head researcher of the Geodynamics Institute, Gerasimos Papadopoulos, the local authorities and the residents should be prepared for new tremors, mostly weak ones, while some of them may even register over 5.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

New Quake on Zakynthos

[04] Inspections Continue Buying Easter Delicacies

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET - NET 105.8 - ANA

The markets and shops are quite busy, since only a couple of days are left before Easter. Development Ministry crews are continuing their market inspections. Actually, 216kg of intestines and legs, originating from Bulgaria, were located and confiscated on Thursday morning in Varvakios Market, as they had been defrosted to be sold as fresh. However, the prices are quite steady. It should be noted that on Good Friday, shops will stay open until 9pm, while on Holy Saturday, they will open from 9am to 4pm. On Easter Sunday, bakeries will be open from 7am to 2pm, but only to bake food.

Marginal Price Cuts

The price for local lambs dropped marginally in Varvakios Market, while consumers can buy them even lower than 10.50 euros per kg.

However, the price in local butchers could be as high as 13 euros.

As for tomatoes, the price differs according to the quality. So, they range from 1 euro per kg to 2.60 euros per kg.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Easter Shopping Rush

Related Links:

Ministry of Development

Central Food Control Agency (EFET)

[05] Papandreou-Buckovski Meeting

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: ANA

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) President George Papandreou met with FYROMs PM and President of the SDSM (Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia), Vlado Buckovski, on Wednesday afternoon in Skopje. As per Papandreou, the discussion focused on the collaboration between PASOK and the SDSM in the context to the Socialist International, FYROMs European prospects, the developments concerning Kosovos regime and the pending issue with the neighbouring countrys name. On his part, Buckovski appeared in favour of recommencing negotiations, in the context of the UN, to settle the issue with the name, after the general elections in the country.

Name at Focus

Speaking at an event hosted by the SDSM on the occasion of the 15 years since the founding of the party, Papandreou appeared in favour of collaboration and further improvement of the bilateral relations.

Referring to the pending issue of the name, he spoke of finding a mutually accepted solution, which would correspond to the historical and geographic reality in the area and would take into consideration the sensitivities of both sides.

He also stressed that Greece was in favour of the European prospects of all Balkan countries.

It should be noted that the President of PASOK also met with the President of Albanias Socialist Party and Mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] As per Condoleezza Rice "Coalition of the Willing" against Iran

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stressed that a "coalition of the willing" could take harsh measures against Iran, if the UN Security Council fails to do so. Speaking at a US foreign-policy event in Chicago late on Wednesday, Rice said she remained confident that the crisis could be resolved with diplomacy - though not necessarily always via the UN. "You know that there are states that have been saying that if we dont get meaningful measures inside the Security Council, perhaps a coalition of the willing will think about other financial or political measures that could be taken," she told the audience.

Russia and China, both veto-holding members of the Security Council, are leading opposition US calls for UN sanctions on Iran. The differences played out this week in Moscow at talks on Iran involving those three powers and Britain, France and Germany.

As per news agency ITAR-Tass, on Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak declared that Russia would be deciding on its position on how to handle the Iranian nuclear crisis based on next weeks report by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The report is due at the end of the month. We will talk after that," added the Russian official, without clarifying with whom Moscow will be talking.

On Wednesday, US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns urged Moscow to end all nuclear cooperation with Iran, including work on the Bushehr plant. Kislyak did not comment on the statements, saying, "We will determine our reaction depending on the contents of the report. The IAEA has ideas of what is happening and what is not happening in Iran. Well be relying on these evaluations."

On the other hand, Rice restated the US administrations standard position that all options are on the table in dealing with Iran, "and we have always said that the right to self-defence does not necessarily require a UN Security Council resolution."

But she contrasted Iran with Iraq, where a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Husseins regime in 2003. "The issue here is to mobilise the international community, to unify the international community around the view that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Rice said.

"I believe we can make the diplomacy work," she concluded.

Related News:

New Rise in Oil Prices

[07] As per Amnesty International 20,000 on Death Row

By Athina Saloustrou

In its latest report, Amnesty International notes that some 20,000 people around the world are on death row, while 94% of the executions in 2005 took place in four countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA. As per the same report, out of the 2,148 executions last year, 1,770 took place in China, 94 in Iran, 86 in Saudi Arabia and 60 in the USA. However, since the Chinese authorities do not publish official statistics on death penalties, the human rights group believes that the number of executions might be higher. This is not the only country, though, that does not publish transparent figures on the issue in question, as the number of executions in Vietnam remains a secret. Some 80% of the executions annually take place in China, where a total of 68 different crimes carry the death penalty, including tax evasion, embezzlement of large funds and drug-related offences.

The international group has voiced its concerns over the financial interests connected to transplants of human organs in China, the organs of those executed as used for transplants as they may contribute towards keeping the death penalty.

In other countries, such as Belarus and Uzbekistan, neither the prisoners nor their relatives are told the date of execution, and they are not told where the body has been buried, a fact Amnesty International termed a "barbaric practice."

"The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights, because it contravenes the essence of human values, it is often applied in a discriminatory manner, follows unfair trials or is applied for political reasons. Today, 20,000 people around the globe are waiting for the day when the State will decide to take their life," is noted in the report.

Finally, the fact that the USA does not execute anymore inmates who were underage when they committed the crime, after years of following the opposite practice, is viewed as progress. On the other hand, the organisation condemned the execution of a large number of juveniles in Iran.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] So Long for Colossos Rhodes

By Stathis Petropoulos

Despite playing without a motive, since it was not going to avoid relegation even with a victory, Colossos Rhodes played for its prestige against Olympia Larissa. Giorgos Zevgolis boys defeated their opponents by 87-79 and increased their A1 victories to six, in their first season playing in the premier division. Olympia, on the other hand, remained in ninth spot, the best ranking in the history of the club. The score per period: 18-22, 47-41, 71-60, 87-79.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[09] End to Aris' Losing Streak

By Stathis Petropoulos

Aris ended its losing streak, after counting four losses in as many Greek and European matches. The team from Thessaloniki easily defeated Apollon Patras with 84-69 in the match for round 24 of the Greek A1 basketball championship. So, the home team remained in fifth spot in the rankings, while Apollon suffered its 9th away loss and is in trouble, as it is in second last place along with Iraklis, Makedonikos and Gymnastikos Larissa. The score per period: 20-16, 40-31, 68-43, 84-69.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[10] Things Not Always what They Seem

By Betty Savourdou

Two German teenagers who decided to act as detectives failed dismally. While peering through a window into a neighbours cellar, Hermann Alditz, 15, and Johann Schneider, 16, from Krefeld, spotted what they thought was a dead body. Too scared to approach the owner of the house, the two aspiring criminal investigators called police to report the crime. The mystery was solved as soon as the police arrived on the scene, as the officers discovered that the corpse was actually a scarecrow dressed in mens clothes with a plastic bag over its head!

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] Police Operation Underway Passenger Jumps off Train

By Athina Saloustrou

A police operation is underway to locate a train passenger, who, according to witnesses, jumped off the carriage when the train was moving, close to Ionia, Thessaloniki. The other passengers of the train, which was en route from Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis, said that the unknown man suddenly opened the window of the last carriage and jumped off, just after midnight. Police officers, as well as EMAK (Hellenic Rescue Team) crews started combing the area, while the train took off a little later. The search has been futile so far, while the police believe that the man probably survived the fall and fled the scene.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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