The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Akayev Speaks of A Coup

By Tina Valaoura

Deposed President of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev, gave signs of life, a few hours after leader of opposition, Kurmanbek Bakiev was appointed acting President and Prime Minister and made a commitment for Presidential elections. Akayev confirmed the rumors that stated he had left the country, and condemned the oppositions coup. At the same time, he noted that he did not resign from his seat and that he is planning to return to the country. In the meantime, Kyrgyzstans new leadership decided to ban traffic from 18:00 until 6:00 in the morning, in the capital of Bishkek, in an attempt to prevent the wave of looting and destruction that took place last night. According to unconfirmed information, yesterdays clashes cost the lives of three people.

"Rumors of My Resignation are Untrue"

Askar Akayev, who was in power since 1991, is rumored to have found refuge in Kazakhstan. Sources of the country confirmed the statement but said that since then he has departed towards an unknown destination.

Akayevs message was sent my email in Kyrgyzstans news agency Kabar, which publicized it.

"A bunch of irresponsible political adventurers and plotters chose to take over power in a violent and criminal way," notes Akayev, while adding that he has given an order to his powers to not use violent means against the protestors and that he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed.

Moreover, he describes his resignation rumors as "malicious lies" and announced that his leave is temporary and that he is planning to return.

At the same time, in the country turmoil is apparent. One of the leaders of the opposition, Felix Kulov was appointed temporary Head of the Security Forces and his first task was to ask of the army and police to help end the lootings.

According to international correspondents today the capital of Bishkek was calm. Stores and cafes were open, however the signs of last nights destruction were evident. For the counter of violent incidents, a ban on evening and night traffic was posed, while armed forces have received an order to be in a state of high alert. The patrols have intensified and different added missions were given to army units.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Presidential Elections in Kyrgyzstan

Parliament Sieged

[02] EU-Turkey Agreement on Customs Union

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA- NET- Reuters

Ankara and the EU have reached an agreement on the Protocol of expansion of the Customs Union of Turkey with 10 new member states, among them the Cypriot Republic. It is reminded that the signing of the Protocol by Turkey constitutes one of the conditions for its accession negotiations on October 3.

The news bulletin was broadcast by Reuters Agency, quoting a Turkish official.

According to Turkish television, the responsibility of the process of exchanging correspondence with Turkey is in the discretion of Brussels

Specifically, CNN Turk has broadcast that in the document does not make any reference that Turkey does not recognize the Cypriot Republic, a fact that will be stated by Ankara during the signing process. The document, before its ratification, will be publicized in EU member states in order to receive the relative approval.

A telegram by Turkish News Agency Anatolia states, "in the case that the EU sends the agreement document uncorrected, Ankara will make its approval known to the EU."

Concerning the changes that were decided on the content of the Protocol, they are the use of ports and airports and the immediate implementation of the Protocol, points that were removed from the final document.

According to Reuters, the Protocol has to be approved by the Turkish Parliament in order for its implementation.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Eleven Dead and Fourteen Injured Kamikaze Attack in Ramadi

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters

A suicide attack with a car packed with explosives occurred at a checkpoint in Ramadi, Iraq. Eleven Iraqi policemen lost their lives, while two American soldiers, three civilians and nine policemen were injured. The U.S. Army announced that the kamikaze attack occurred at a checkpoint, in the eastern part of the town, which is located 110 km west of Baghdad

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] The Traffic in National Roads

By Anna Kourti

Since this morning, there is increased traffic in the National Road networks of Athens-Lamia and Athens-Corinth, since the three-day weekend holidaymakers are departing city centers. According to the Traffic Police, at 13:00 there was a traffic jam at the Elefsina tolls that reached Mandra Bridge. Attiki Odos has a steady traffic of vehicles. In the Athens-Lamia National Road, there is a traffic jam at the Afidnes tolls.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

The Great Escape

[05] Concern Over Rainier's Health

By Tina Valaoura

Prince Rainier of Monaco continues being hospitalized for the third day, and according to the latest medical announcement, his condition is critical. He is on life support and due to the severity of his condition any prediction on his health will be unsafe. The 81-year-old prince has been hospitalized since March 7 in the Monaco Cardiothoracic Centre with a respiratory infection and heart and kidney problems that have been troubling him, and for the past few months they have gotten worse. His children, Prince Albert and Princess Caroline are by his side.

Rainier III was appointed King in 1949 and he made headlines with his decision in 1959 to marry Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, who he met in the Cannes Film Festival. His contribution to the business department of his country, which lead to the disengagement for the economy from tourism and casinos is considered very important.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Under 21 Team Tie

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Besides the fact that Stelios Aposporis team was better throughout the game against the Georgians, in Tbilisi, the score was 1-1, in the context of the 2nd group of the preliminaries for the European Championship. The U-21 team does not have any hope left for a qualification in the finals. The Greek team took the lead with a penalty shot by Goundoulakis in the 5, while Khotzava tied in the 28. With this goal point the Greek U-21 team reached eight points, three more than its opponent, at the same time that Denmark has 13 and is playing against Kazakhstan today.

Greek Team's Performance Better

From the start of the game, the Greek team entered the pitch in good form, and in the 5 managed to take the lead. Lagos passed the ball to Samaras from the left, and Heerenveens striker entered the goal area but was closely marked by Khinkladze, which resulted to the referee signaling a penalty, which was executed by Goundoulakis 0-1. The goal gave wings to the players, who tried to score more goals, but the shots by Samaras (6) and Pappas (7) did not have a positive outcome and thus 0-1 remained. Since the Greek team failed to score, in the 28 the Georgians did. Khotzava executed a straight foul shot and Sifakis could not block thus 1-1 was scored for the home team. The Greek team reacted but the shots by Pappas in the 30 and Samaras in the 45 did not find the Georgian goalkeepers nets.

At the second half, the Greek team entered the pitch in good form once again, aimed at taking the lead, but did not manage any good opportunities. The first good opportunity was in the 74 with Lagos, but Georgias goalkeeper Totladze did not allow the Greek offender to celebrate. From that point on, the Greek team tried, but neither Samaras nor Pliagas managed to score and 1-1 was the final score. The end of the game found Greece with 10 players, since Darlas was injured and Stelios Aposporis had already made his three substitutions.

Referee: Charles Richmond (Scotland) Yellow card: Kankava, Khotzava, Totladze, Papazacharias

Georgia: Totladze, Chikviladze, Lomidze, Kankava, Khinkladze, Eliava (42 inj. Getsadze), Iashvili, Guruli (59 Tchelideze), Khotzava (75 Kashia), Besarashvili, Ghvinianidze.

Greece: Sifakis, Pipinis (81 Darlas), Papazacharias, Liapakis, Papadopoulos, Tziolis (63 Kiriakidis), Goundoulakis, Bourbos, Samaras, Pappas (65 Pliagas), Lagos.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Trust in A Mirror Image

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: BBC

Have you ever wondered what makes us trust an unfamiliar face? British psychologists claim that the reason is the similarity of their physical characteristics with our own. Their claim is supported by a series of experiments taken out in Canadian and British universities. In the context of the psychological experiment, they asked 144 students to view pairs of other students. Every time, they were called on to answer which of the two faces they would be more able to could trust. The majority chose their "reflection," faces that had similar characteristics as themselves. What the students did not know was that the faces had undergone an alteration process in order to acquire characteristics similar to theirs. Head of research, Dr Liza DeBruin said, " People detect facial resemblance. This leads them to perceive them as one of their own, thus trusting them."

A State of Trust and Love

The same students were asked if they were attracted by the faces they chose as trustworthy. The majority answered negatively, and chose possible lovers with different facial characteristics.

This "mirror-image" resemblance proved to be a negative factor for a sexual relationship.

"These results back the notion that people trust kin but avoid them in a sexual setting due to the costs of inbreeding," stated DeBruin.

The research was initially taken out in McMaster University in Canada, and following in Aberdeen University and Saint Andrews University in the UK.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

http://www.faceresearch.org/

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