The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-05-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Afghanistan: Taliban Blame US for Civilian Casualties

US in its announcement admitted that in the clashes between US and Afghan forces with Talibans many civilians were among the victims. However, in their joint statement both US-Afghanistans do not undertake the responsibility for the deaths. According to Karzai president 125 to 130 civilians among whom women and children lost their lives during the bombarding last Monday.

Afghan death toll not confirmed Officials in Farah province say dozens of civilians were killed in U.S. airstrikes. It said U.S. forces had responded to a call for help from Afghan forces, and that militants attacked the troops from several locations.

The joint investigation team strongly condemns the brutality of the Taliban extremists deliberately targeting Afghan civilians and using them as human shields," it said. It also said it was not clear how many Taliban fighters were among the dead.

News item: 22113

[02] Karamanlis Fire against Papandreou

"We Shall not Get Involved in Parapolitics"

The PM stated that his party had never thought of concealing the truth and beautify things, adding that the only ones who do not recognize this are the ones who see the crisis as an opportunity to meet their petty party interests. He also said the PASOK's leader is defaming Greece abroad, choosing negation and nihilism and investing in muck raking, polarization and misinformation. Furthermore, he reported his party would not adopt Mr Papandreou's downgrade and get involved in parapolitics. The ND party has its attention focused on Greece's crucial problems. Mr Karamanlis referred especially to the issue of unemployment, stressing that the government's goal is to preserve the working positions and create new ones. It also wishes to support the youth and the low brackets in the labour market.

Metro Works Proceed at Fast Pace

"The Environment Ministry proclaimed a bidding tender for the first extension of the Thessaloniki Metro to Kalamaria, a project with five stations and five kilometers of underground tunnel and of course will extend to Stavroupoli," stated Mr Karamanlis.

In parallel, he pointed out that the project would transform Thessaloniki's transport and improve substantially the quality of life of its inhabitants.

"The Thessaloniki Metro is the biggest transport and environmental public project being constructed in Greece today and will be one of the most modern Metros in Europe," stressed the PM.

After the Metro, Mr Vassilis Papageorgopoulos showed around the PM to the new parks created recently at the beach.

Visiting the SOS Village for Children

On the occasion of Mother's Day, the PM and his wife visited the SOS village for children at Plagiari, Thessaloniki. They met 45 children, aged 6-17, being hosted at the village and talked with them and offered them gifts. They in return, offered them their paintings.

Visit to the "Green" Village

Then, Mr Karamanlis visited the only "green" village in Greece, the ultra modern building of the Kalamaria Vocational Lyceum and was briefed by Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis on school buildings.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA Relative articles: "The Government Has Nothing to Hide"

News item: 22111

[03] New Flu Kills Three in the USA

After killing the third person in the USA, the new flu numbers 53 victims all over the world. One died in Costa Rica, one in Canada and 48 in Mexico. At the same time, more cases have been recorded in several countries; one in Italy, two in Norway, four in Brazil, one in Australia, four in Japan and nine in Britain.

A Washington inhabitant hit by flu died last week. He was 30 and lived at Snohomish County, where he passed away after suffering complications from the so-called swine flu. The man had already been suffering of heart problems.

His death from swine flu is the first in Washington and the third one in the USA. In Japan, a student who had just returned from his trip in northern America was examined and discovered that he had been carrying the virus, raising thus the number of people suffering from Flu A to four.

The first three patients in Japan were a professor and two high school students, who had paid a visit to Canada.

As NRK Channel, Norway's Health Authorities verified the two first of Flu A cases. The 20-year-old students, a man and a woman, had previously visited Mexico, while both are living in Moscow.

As per the Health authorities, their cases had been described mild as it was not necessary for them to be hospitalized.

Sources: Reuters, ÁNA-ÌPA

Relative articles: New Flu: Deaths in Canada and Costa Rica

News item: 22109

[04] Chan-Hom Kills Dozens in the Philippines

The death toll in a typhoon that pummelled the northern Philippines reached 36, with 12 still missing, the government said Sunday. More than 140,000 people were affected by typhoon Chan-Hom in 11 provinces in the northern Philippines, including Manila. The provinces of Ifugao and Pangasinan recorded the most number of deaths at 16 each, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). Most of the fatalities in Ifugao were killed in landslides, while the victims in Pangasinan drowned or were hit by falling debris, the NDCC said.

Disaster relief officials and volunteers have rushed food, medicines, water and shelter materials to the affected areas, especially the worst-hit provinces of Pangasinan and Ifugao.

More than 8.2 million dollars worth of infrastructure, crops, livestock and fisheries have been destroyed in the typhoon, the NDCC.

Chan-Hom struck just one week after typhoon Kujira slammed the eastern Philippines, killing 27 people and causing damages worth more than 9 million dollars.

News item: 22108

[05] Papoulias Steps in for Crisis

"Banks Are Responsible for the Financing of the Media"

According to Mr Papoulias, the deficient check of the Banking system and the prevalent logic and belief in the magic forces of the market are responsible for the grave financial crisis.

The President stressed that we should all learn from the mistakes of the past, adding that the crisis is affecting Greece and deteriorating its structural weaknesses on financial and real economy level. This is more evident to small and medium-sized enterprises. Mr Papoulias hoped that the Banking system would finance enterprises that need help.

"The increase productive investments will help to the exodus from the crisis; however, that would help to limited extent due to the public deficits," Mr Papoulias said. He urged the society and the political system to look into tax evasion and the operation of the state on a level disproportionate of the resources provided by its citizens.

Although he reported the Greek people could overcome the crisis, he hoped everyday people and small enterprises would overcome in the least painful way.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 22097

[06] Tensions Rise

Polls

A poll conducted by Focus and commissioned by Real News newspaper indicates that the difference between the two big parties has dropped to 2.1%. PASOK is leading with 31.7%, ND is garnering 29.6%, KKE (Communists) follows with 7.5%, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) is fourth with 6.4%, LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) fifth with 4.7% and the Ecologists came last with 4.2%.

Costas Karamanlis garners 36.9% as the most suitable PM and George Papandreou 26.4%. As per Public Issue poll, commissioned by Kathimerini newspaper, the intention vote on the European Elections has dropped to 4.5 percentage points from 7.5. PASOK leads with 28%, ND receives 23.5%, KKE, SYRIZA and LAOS garner the same percentage, that is, 5.5% and the Ecologists come last with 4%. Costas Karamanlis is ahead as the most suitable PM with 44%, while George Papandreou receives 31%.

A Pulse poll, carried by Apogevmatini tis Kyriakis newspaper indicates a three-unit difference. ND garners 28%, PASOK 31%, KKE 6.6%, SYRIZA 5.6%, the Ecologists 4.8% and LAOS 4.4%.

A poll conducted by Alco and commissioned by Proto Thema newspaper indicates that the difference of the two parties on the European Elections has dropped to 3.7%. PASOK leads with 30.2%, ND follows with 26.5%, KKE comes third with 7.8%, SYRIZA is fourth with 5.3%, LAOS is fifth with 4% and the Ecologists last with 3.5%.

A poll by Marc and commissioned by Ethnos tis Kyriakis newspaper reports a 3.2% difference between the two big parties on voting intention for the European Elections. PASOK garners 31.8%, ND 28.6%, KKE 8.1%, SYRIZA 6.2%, the Ecologists 4.8% and LAOS 4.3%.

News item: 22095

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