The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-06-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] To the Quake Victims

12 Ιουν 2008 00:01:0 (Last updated: 12 Ιουν 2008 09:50:5)

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA

The quake-hit people of the prefectures of Ilia and Achaia will start getting the first financial aids amounting to 3,000 and 10,000 euros pledged to them as of Thursday, while the Employment Ministry unveiled support measures, including tax relief, loans default, and a 1,200 euro benefit to the areas unemployed. The beneficiaries should file a petition at the Agricultural Bank of Greece to get the aid. In the meantime, the transfer of the patients being treated at the Patras-based Agios Andreas Hospital is in full swing. The evacuation of the building was decided after it sustained quake-related damage. The Education Minister decided measures on the school students in quake-hit prefectures.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Harsh Hours

[02] Opposition Parties Call for Referendum

12 Ιουν 2008 00:31:0

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

With 250 votes in favour coming from ND (New Democracy), PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) and independent MP Kostas Koukoudimos, and 42 against cast by KKE (Greek Communist Party), SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally), the Greek House ratified the Lisbon Treaty, a modified version of the European Constitution. Greece became the 18th EU nation that ratified the Treaty. Conservative MPs Miltiades Evert, Nikos Papadimatos and Panos Kammenos, who abstained from the voting for personal reasons, sent a letter saying they are in favour of the Treaty. However, their ballots were not taken into account.

Shortly after the Lisbon Treaty was given thumbs up by the Greek House, PASOK, with the exception of former Premier Kostas Simitis, KKE and SYRIZA called for a referendum. The first sitting of the three-day debate will be set by the meeting of the House Speakers.

PASOK and SYRIZA parliamentary spokesmen, Theodoros Pangalos and Fotis Kouvelis respectively, suggested the debate open on coming Tuesday.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Irish to Decide on EU Reform Treaty

Sources: REUTERS

Irish voters go to the polls on Thursday to determine the fate of the European Unions reform treaty in a referendum that could easily go either way. Ireland is the only one of the 27 EU member states holding a referendum, meaning a country accounting for less than 1 percent of the blocs 490 million population could derail a pact designed to reform how the bloc is run.

A survey last week put opponents ahead for the first time, causing consternation in Brussels where policy chiefs need ratification from all member states to implement the replacement for a constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

The last opinion poll of the campaign, carried out by Red C and published at the weekend, showed opponents of the Lisbon treaty gaining ground but put the "Yes" vote slightly ahead. "I would say it is very close but edging towards a Yes depending on who goes out to vote," said Red C Managing Director Richard Colwell. He believes people opposed to the treaty on the grounds they do not understand it may be less likely to vote.

Read the story on other sources:

BBC News: Ireland in crunch EU treaty vote

[04] Convicted Killer Executed in Texas

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: AFP, ANA-MPA

Convicted killer Karl Eugene Chamberlain, 37, was executed be lethal injection in Texas on Wednesday, said the local authorities. He was convicted of the murder of a 29yo woman living in the same apartment complex in 1991.

It is the first execution of a convicted in the state since an unofficial moratorium on death penalty was lifted by the US Supreme Court. About 12 executions have been scheduled to take place by the end of the year, with the next set on 17 June.

The Chamberlain case, who was arrested much later and sentenced to death in 1997, sparked strong reactions by an organization struggling for the suspension of the death penalty in Texas.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

USAToday: Texas executes first inmate in 9 months

[05] Strong Blast in Athenian District

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

A makeshift bomb went off in the early hours of Thursday at the fa&#231;ade of a butchers in Pangrati district, badly damaging a nearby shop and two parked cars. This was not the first time the owner of the butchers shop had been attacked.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Quake Hits Eastern Crete

Sources: NET 105.8, ANA-MPA

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted eastern Crete in the early hours of Thursday. The Greek Institute of Geodynamics located the epicentre in the area of Ancient Zakros, some 385 km SE of Athens. There has been no report of damage so far.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Grp A: Switzerland 1-2 Turkey

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arda Turan scored in injury time Wednesday to give Turkey a 2-1 win over Switzerland that eliminated the co-hosts from the European Championship. Turan scored in the third minute of injury time, sending a right-footed shot from outside the area that deflected in off a Switzerland defender. Substitute Semih Senturk also scored for Turkey, heading in a cross in the 57th minute, after Hakan Yakin had given Switzerland the lead in torrential rain in the 32nd. Switzerland became only the second European Championship host to be eliminated before the last four. Euro 2000 co-host Belgium also failed to get through the group stage. The result was enough to send Portugal through to the quarterfinals from Group A. The Portuguese beat the Czech Republic 3-1 in Geneva. The Turks and Czechs will play for the final spot from the group on Sunday.

Lineups

Switzerland: Diego Bengalio, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Philippe Senderos, Patrick Mueller, Ludovic Magnin, Valon Behrami, Gelson Fernandes (Ricardo Cabanas, 76), Gokhan Inler, Tranquillo Barnetta (Johan Vonlanthen, 66), Hakan Yakin (Daniel Gygax, 85), Eren Derdiyok.

Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Hakan Balta, Emre Asik, Servet Cetin, Hamit Altintop, Arda Turan, Mehmet Aurelio, Tumer Metin (Mehmet Topal, 46), Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Semih Senturk, 46), Tuncay Sanli, Nihat Kahveci (Kazim Kazim, 85).

[08] Grp A: Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another Wednesday to help Portugal to a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic at the European Championship. Ronaldos 63rd-minute goal, his first for the national team since October, put his team 2-1 up before substitute Ricardo Quaresma rounded off the scoring in injury time. Portugal moved up to six points and is in a good position to advance from Group A and reach the quarterfinals. The Czechs stayed on three points. Deco had opened the scoring for Portugal in the eighth, finding the net from close range after an attempted clearance by goalkeeper Petr Cech. Libor Sionko equalized in the 17th before Ronaldo scored from the edge of the area and Quaresma tapped in from close range.

Lineups

Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi, David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski, Libor Sionko, Jan Polak, Tomas Galasek (Jan Koller, 72), Marek Matejovsky (Stanislav Vlcek, 68), Jaroslav Plasil (David Jarolim, 86), Milan Baros.

Portugal: Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Armando Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira 75), Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida, 84), Simao Sabrosa (Ricardo Quaresmo, 85).

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