The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Rallies in Central Athens

15 May 2008 08:33:00 (Last updated: 15 May 2008 11:11:53)

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA-MPA

Demanding a new salary scale and the abolishment of privatizations, Greeces two major trade unions, GSEE and ADEDY, are holding strike actions on Thursday. GSEE, (Greek General Confederation of labour) is holding a rally at Kaningos Square at 12.30pm, ADEDY (Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Unions) at Korai Square, and PAME (All Workers Militant Front) at Omonoia Square.

OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) and port employees have scheduled a 24-hour strike, while employees at PPC (Public Power Corporation), ELTA (Hellenic Post), Olympic Airlines and EYDAP (Athens Water Supply and Sewage Company) have called a three-hour work stoppage starting at 12.00pm.

The Panhellenic Federation of Employee Associations in the Radio and Television Sector (POSPERT) will join the strike actions with a three-hour work stoppage from 12pm to 15pm. Television and radio programmes will be modified, while ERTs official website will not be updated.

Demanding a sectoral agreement, employees in the National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Probank, FBB, HSBC, BNP Paribas, Citibank, American Express και the Bank of Cyprus are also holding a 24-hour strike.

Hospital doctors are still on strike.

In the meantime, several flights are to be cancelled due to the four-hour work stoppage heralded by the air traffic controllers. Olympic Airlines have cancelled 40 flights, while another 24 have been rescheduled.

Aegean Airlines has cancelled 28 flights. About 52 both domestic and international flights have been rescheduled.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Two-Day Rallies

[02] For Cyclone-Hit Myanmar

15 May 2008 09:36:00

By Athina Saloustrou

UN, which estimated Wednesday that as many as 2.5 million people have been severely affected by Cyclone Nargis, has suggested an emergency meeting of the donor nations, as Myanmars junta tried to lay down restrictions to the distribution of foreign aid. A UN official said that the restrictions set by Myanmars regime increase the risks of famine and the spreading of infectious diseases among the survivors. Thailands Prime Minister met with his Burmese counterpart and urged him to lift the restrictions and allow foreign aid workers to enter the country. The latter, however, told him that the junta is capable of dealing the problems on its own.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has allegedly voiced his disappointment over Myanmars slow response, urged donor nations to hold a summit to deal with the crisis.

British ambassador to the UN John Sawers insinuated that the Summit will be something more that a simple donor nations Summit, terming it as an important international meeting.

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: Foreign powers lean on Myanmar to open up aid effort

BBC: UN chief to send envoy to Burma

Related News:

Death Toll in Myanmar Keeps Soaring

[03] Entire Cities Flattened by the Quake

By Athina Saloustrou

Several Chinese cities near the epicentre of the 7.9-magnitude devastating earthquake that hit the country on Monday have been flattened, said a Chinese official. The official death toll exceeded 15,000, while at least 30,000 have gone missing. Military helicopters handed out aid, medical staff and troops to inaccessible areas near the epicentre. The rainfalls that hit the hardest-hit areas disrupted flights, while the army is still trying to restore the road network. In the meantime, the Chinese authorities accepted Japans offer to send aid workers, said a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. It is the first foreigner group to arrive in China to contribute to the rescue operation. At the same time, the Chinese people have been raising questions over the several school collapses.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: China intensifies quake rescue but hopes dim

BBC: China airdrop for quake survivors

[04] Lebanese Government Backs Down

By Athina Saloustrou

The Lebanese government withdrew the measures which had triggered fights and the worst internal conflicts with Hezbollah after the civil war of 1975-1990. An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal to end fighting in Lebanon on Thursday after the U.S.-backed government backed down in a conflict with Hezbollah. More specifically Fouad Siniora s government announced that measures against Hezbollah are being withdrawn so as peace to be preserved and the political crisis that broke out between the government and Hezbollah to be overcome. "The government decided to agree with the armys dictation which includes the cancellation of two decisions", Minister of information Gazi Al-Aridi said. "We welcome the step the government made and we believe that it justifies the ending of the disobedience campaign", a member of the opposition party stated.

A little after the announcement made by Minister of Information, Hezbollah supporters opened fire in the streets of Beirut expressing that way their satisfaction for the latest developments which they consider Hezbollahs victory.

Hezbollah asked for the abrogation of function of the communication network of the organization and the cancellation of the decision according to which the head of Beirut airport, affiliated to Hezbollah, was fired.

The governments back down is considered a step toward the de escalation of tension with the opposition party because of which the country was left without a president from November.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] Israeli Raids in Gaza

By Athina Saloustrou

An Israeli air raid at the border with Gaza late on Wednesday killed two Hamas militants, eye witnesses were quoted as saying. The head of the emergency aid services in the Gaza Strip told reporters that the two Palestinians had been killed by the last Israeli airstrike against the eastern part of the city of Gaza. Earlier, four Palestinians, including a schoolboy, had been killed and nine had been injured by a barrage of air raids launched by Israel at the northern and southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] USA: Edwards Endorses Obama

By Athina Saloustrou

Former Democrat candidate John Edwards gave his endorsement to Barack Obamas efforts to rally the Democratic Party around his nomination. Edwards, who had run for Vice-President in the 2004 elections, dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination in January. Ever since that, both Obama and Clinton had been trying to win his endorsement, but Edwards kept avoiding offering his backing to one of the two. Edwards endorsement to the Illinois Senator is expected to be of paramount importance for the latters effort to fight against Republican John McCain for the White House.

Translated by Areti Christou

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