The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kryoneri Blaze Has Subsided

24 ���� 2008 09:29:0 (Last updated: 24 ���� 2008 10:47:3)

Sources: ��� 105.8

Thousands of hectares of forest on the island of Rhodes were reduced to ashes by a blaze that has been blazing the island for three days running. The devouring flames reached the mountainous village of Laerma, where warehouses were destroyed, while its elderly residents fled their homes. A 60-year-old male was referred Wednesday to the local prosecutor, charged with unintentional arson. He was given until 25 July to testify. In the meantime, the inferno that hit Kryoneri, on the outskirts of Athens, has subsided, while the wildfire that broke out in Oitylo, southern Greece, Koutsoupia in Larissa, Megalopoli, Salamis, Kefalonia and Laista in Ioannina have been brought under control.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Fire in Varibobi Abated

[02] Messages by the State and Political Leadership

24 ���� 2008 09:37:0

Sources: ��� 105.8

Greeces course after the fall of the military junta and the concerns over the current political impasse topped the messages by the Greek state and political leadership on the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Democracy.

"This anniversary has found both parties and politicians in the whirl of scandals and corruption, and the citizens in the whirl of economic crisis and uncontrollable profiteering," stressed President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis voiced a resounding "No" to practices nourishing polarization. He then went on to say that Greece and the Greek society have entered a turning point, further adding that extreme tactics, campaigns to have institutions questioned and nihilism have only perils in store.

The Greek Communist Party (KKE), on its part, dismissed the celebrations marking the collapse of the military junta as a provocation, because a feeling of anti-communism is growing.

In his message, LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) leader Giorgos Karatzaferis noted that after 34 years, the political world has made so many mistakes that are reflected on Democracy.

House Speaker Dimitris Sioufas stressed that everyone should join forces to have social welfare, social cohesion and social justice cemented.

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias will host a reception at the Presidential Mansion on Thursday evening.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] The Relevant Bill Approved

24 ���� 2008 09:17:0

Sources: ANA

The French National Assembly gave thumbs up for a bill allowing companies to abandon the 35-hour workweek, thus abolishing one of the most pivotal change advanced by a former Socialist rule.

French head of state Nicolas Sarkozy had repeatedly blasted the 35-hour limit on the workweek, dismissing it as a drag on Frances competitiveness. He avoided, however, abolishing the relevant law to its whole, fearing a blow to his popularity with the working class

The new law, which also includes measures on trade unions, gives companies the green light to broker deals with the unions on the workweek and overtime.

The new law will take effect in late August. Brought in by a Socialist government ten years ago, the 35-hour workweek proved to be one of the most popular measures. The champions of the 35-hour limit have claimed that it was thanks to that measure that they managed to strike a balance between work and personal life, without jeopardizing productivity.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Into Milosevic's Footsteps

24 ���� 2008 10:36:0

Sources: ���, ��� 105.8

Hundreds of Serb nationalists, who protested against Karadzics arrest, clashed Wednesday with police in Belgrade.

Following into the footsteps of Slobodan Milosevic, the former leader of Bosnian Serbs will conduct his own defence against charges of genocide and war crimes. His lawyer is expected to file an appeal against the call to have him extradited to the Hague Tribunal. The whole process may last from three two nine days.

The Serbian Foreign Minister made it clear that the country is seeking to earn an EU candidacy status by late 2008 or in mid 2009 the latest.

In the meantime, everyone is still puzzled by the way Karadzic managed to go unnoticed working as a doctor under the name "Dragan Dabic." A neighbour of his said that the bearded man played with his fellow men. He used to spend his time at a local bar with the photo of Radovan Karadzic right above his head.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] FARC Rebels Killed in Air Raid

Sources: REUTERS

The Colombian air force bombed a rebel camp, killing at least 20 left-wing guerrillas in the latest blow to the insurgency this year, the government said on Wednesday.

It was the deadliest military strike against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, since the March bombing of a jungle base on Ecuadors side of the border in which key rebel commander Raul Reyes was killed.

The latest raid, on Sunday, allowed the police to collect a large cache of guerrilla arms and explosives in the mountainous southwest province of Cauca, the government said in a statement.

"This was an extremely active guerrilla front involved in blowing up electrical towers and threatening civilian populations in Cauca. The destruction of this camp will hurt them," said Cesar Restrepo, an analyst at Security and Democracy, a Bogota think tank.

On July 2, Colombia rescued French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other high-value captives held for years by the FARC, whose insurgency is funded by cocaine smuggling.

The rescue was the hardest blow to the morale of the outlawed rebel group, which has been put on the defensive by President Alvaro Uribes U.S.-backed military offensive.

[06] For an Armed Hold-up of a Jewellery Shop

24 ���� 2008 09:42:0

Three teenagers were sentenced to a three-year jail term for the armed hold-up of a jewellery shop in Hong Kong, read Thursday South China Morning Post daily. With masks and hats on, the three teens, two boys and a girl, pulled knifes at the shop assistants and made away with necklaces and other jewellery valued at more than HK$1 million (nearly 80,720 euros). The hold-up took place last September.

Earlier this week, a court heard that a nine-year-old Hong Kong girl travelled alone into mainland China to collect heroin and bring it back in her rucksack for a drug trafficker who paid her HK$1,200.

[07] Papandreou Dined with MPs

24 ���� 2008 09:06:0

Sources: ��� -��� 105.8

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) President George Papandreou dined Wednesday evening with the Socialist MPs taking part in the first Recess Session of the Parliament. After thanking them for their activities within the House, Papandreou called on them to tour Greece during the summer time to highlight the implications brought about by the high cost of living, unemployment and scandals. He also discussed with them Zorbas testimony to the House. "I am not just interested in scandals, but in the smooth operation of the institutions," underlined Papandreou, further adding, "We have to convey out message to the society, to talk to the people about unemployment and the high cost of living and put emphasis on these matters, along with the scandals coming to the surface."

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] Obama Leads the Polls

Sources: REUTERS

Democrat Barack Obama has a 6-point lead over Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race as a growing percentage of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Wednesday.

Obama leads McCain by 47 percent to 41 percent for the Nov. 4 election, unchanged from last month. But 55 percent believed Obama, a 46-year-old first-term Illinois senator, would be the riskier choice for president, while 35 percent said that of McCain, 71, a fourth-term Arizona senator, the poll said.

But Obamas message of change may resonate with a disgruntled electorate after eight years of a Republican-run White House. Only 13 percent of those polled believed the country was headed in the right direction. That was the lowest percentage on this question in the NBC/Journal polls history.

The sagging economy remains the publics top concern, but voters do not have much confidence in either candidate on that issue, with 28 percent saying they had faith Obama could put it back on track, while 17 percent said that of McCain.

Obamas lead over McCain expands to 13 points when third-party candidates Ralph Nader and Bob Barr are included, with Obama at 48 percent, McCain at 35 percent, Nader at 5 percent and Barr at 2 percent, the poll said.

The survey of 1,003 registered voters was conducted July 18-21, during Obamas trip to the Middle East and Europe. It had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

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