The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Wrangling Taken to Parliament

By Athina Saloustrou

The OTE (Hellenic Telocommunications)- Deutsche Telekom will be debated at Parliament Friday. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will answer PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Party) leader G. Papandreou and SYN (Coalition of the Radical Left) Parliamentary spokesman A. Alavanos questions during the PMs hour Friday. Meanwhile, the government believes Greek interests will benefit from the agreement, while the opposition and employees argue that national wealth and dominance is being passed to a multinational company. The Deutsche Telekom head stated from Cologne that he counts on OTE employees, so that Hellenic Telecommunications will continue its dynamic course. PASOK spokesman George Papakonstantinou spoke to NET 105.8 about political responsibilities, adding that it should be investigated whether there any penal ones as well. In an interview with NET, KKEs (Greek Communist Party) Giorgos Mavrikios accused the ND and PASOK parties of hypocrisy, arguing that although they had claimed that they wished to protect Greek national interests they are acting as middlemen.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] "Unknown "Flame" Assumes Responsibility

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

Unknown until presently organization "Floga" (Flame) has assumed responsibility of the attack with Molotov bombs against the First Police Station in Egaleo at 05:12. The 20 culprits' attack destroyed six patrol cars. The police have found on the spot a bag with gas canisters and a petrol can full of petrol.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] China Hurries to Bury the Dead

By Athina Saloustrou

China is focusing its efforts in burying the dead and offering aid to the injured and homeless. In parallel, the authorities are afraid that the number of dead may exceed 50,000. Meanwhile, a child was rescued after having spent 80 hours under the rubble of a school in Sichuan province. Another student, aged 11, was retreaved yesterday after having spent 68 hours under the rubble of another school. As per estimates, out of the 216,000 schools across the province, 6,898 school buildings have collapsed.

Visiting the epicentre of the quake in Sichuan province, the Chinese PM appealed to the rescuers to continue their battle against time to locate the missing, despite the fact that chances are slim to find any survivors as time passes. In parallel, he described the quake the most devastating since 1949. The quake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and hit many provinces in western and north-western China.

Four days after the quake, the about 20,000 people have been verified dead, while at least 25,000 remain trapped under the rubble. As per the authorities the dead will exceed 50,000, while the extent of the devastation will be difficult to be estimated in remote a non-accessible areas.

Meanwhile, the Chinese President will visit the quake-stricken area to express his support to the victims and supervise the rescuers' work. Meanwhile, China has requested access to US satellite photographs in order to be aided in locating more victims at Sichuan province.

Although the State Department has not replied yet, it said that the request will be given priority. Meanwhile, Canada and Italy have offered data to China through the "International Charter on Space and Major Disasters" system.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Chinese leader visits quake area

Reuters: For parents of quake victims, grief turns to anger

Reuters: For parents of quake victims, grief turns to anger

[04] Back to Normal in Two Days' Time

By Athina Saloustrou

After commercial truck owners suspended their strike, it will take at least 48 hours for the market to return to normal. While the province is facing most problems with shortages in fuel and products, profiteers have taken advantage of the situation and raised the prices. Yesterdays meeting under the prime ministers chairmanship focused on expensiveness, while the Development minister stated that the governments efforts on tackling profiteering will soon bear fruit. Moreover, it will take three days until petrol stations in the province and on the islands are provided with petrol. Although almost all petrol stations in Attica were supplied with petrol yesterday, drivers discovered that in many cases fuel was more expensive.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Dispute on Expensiveness

Gradual Return to Normal

[05] Flights Cancelled

By Athina Saloustrou

With the propeller-aircraft pilots continuing their strike Olympic Airlines has cancelled and altered flights

With the propeller-aircraft pilots continuing their strike Olympic Airlines has cancelled and altered flights. The following flights have not taken place or will not take place:

ÏÁ048/049 Ìilos 16:10 ÏÁ018/019 Ástypalaia 12:10 ÏÁ654/655 Ìykonos 12:35 ÏÁ660/661 Ìykonos 21:15 ÏÁ754/755 Samos 12:30 ÏÁ558/559 Santorini 18:25 ÏÁ034/035 Rhodes- Êos - Leros - Astypalaia - 11:05 - Leros - Êos - Rhodes.

Since the departure time for additional flights has changed, passengers are advised to call 210-9666666 and 801-11-44 444 for additional information.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] Pensioners Strip in Protest

Sources: ANA

Wanting at least $70 a week extra in their pensions Australian pensioners stripped off in Melbourne busiest intersection. The protest was staged after the annual protest had been tabled on Tuesday. Pensioners argued they had not been taken under consideration by the budget. During the protest, some demonstrators stripped down to vent their financial frustrations. The police were puzzled when they saw 70-year-old women wearing only their bras.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[07] Oil Prices Rising

By Athina Saloustrou

Crude oil has been trading at $US125 per barrel due to worries on the supply of the market. In the Singapore market, light crude for June deliveries rose by 64 cents to $US124.76 per barrel. North Sea Brent rose by 73 cents to $US 123.36 per barrel for July deliveries.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] Modern Medea

By Athina Saloustrou

An ancient tragedy with modern victims and culprits- is reviving in Melbourne Supreme Court these days. Donna Fitchett, 48, is standing trial in the Supreme Court over the murder of her two sons aged 9 and 11 on September, 5, 2005 to make her husband suffer because of a troubled marriage. In a suicide note left for her husband, Fitchett described how she drugged and strangled her boys before taking an overdose herself. She also wrote in the letter "Im sorry. Ive been dead for a few days and just wanted peace. I hope I dont survive this." Father recounts how he tried to revive his sons. Mr Fitchett told the Court he tried to give the boys mouth to mouth resuscitation, when he returned home from work, but they were already cold and dead for several hours. He found his wife alive when he came home from work that day. She had slashed her wrists and taken an overdose.The murder happened two days after the family celebrated Fathers Day. Fitchetts lawyers have argued their client suffered from chronic depression and strangled her sons out of a confused act of love. The Prosecution has argued that it was a planned and calculated double murder. The Court was told Fitchett planned to die with her sons.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[09] Osama bin Laden's New Message

Sources: ANA, REUTERS

On the occasion of Israels 60th anniversary, Islamist sites have announced that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is to issue a message. The same sources have stated that message will be aired in the next 72 hours and will be addressed to westerners in order to brief them on the causes of conflict on Israels 60th anniversary. In his previous message two months ago bin Laden had urged Muslims to keep up the struggle against U.S. forces in Iraq as a path toward "liberating Palestine."

Translated by John Crystallidis

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