The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Escorted by Government Members and Businessmen Greek Premier in Beijing

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: NET, ANA

Escorted by Foreign Affairs Minister Petros Molyviatis, State Minister Thodoris Roussopoulos, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, businessmen and his wife, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning. The Greek Prime Minister met with Beijing Communist Party Secretary General and President of the Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games Liu Qi. Following, he held discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, while they co-signed a treaty of "strategic cooperation" concerning many areas of Greek-Chinese relations. Apart from promoting Greek agricultural products, including oil, and cooperation in the field of contracture and know-how, the Greek Government is also interested in attracting Chinese investments, since Greece can act as an intermediary both for Europe and the broader Balkan area. A series of contacts also awaited Mrs Natassa Karamanlis, who was toured in the Beijing Metropolitan Museum and the opera house, visited the citys oldest neighbourhoods and attended performances of traditional Chinese pantomime.

[02] Save-the-TV Mission

By Vagelis Theodorou

An SOS call detected by RAF from the Portsmouth area on January 5 put the British coastguard on alert. Without further delay, a coastguard helicopter took off and spent hours searching for a ship or plane in danger. But it proved a wild goose chase! It was Telecoms Ofcom, the company regulating British telecommunications, which solve the mystery. The SOS call had been transmitted by the decoder of a digital box! "This is very, very unusual, its a complete freak," commented RAF spokesman Michael Mulford, adding that the owner of the digital box should do the lottery "because the chances of sending out a signal from a digibox are far more than 14 million to one." The "rescued" television set is being examined by Ofcoms experts, since decoders are designed to receive signals rather than transmit them.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Manchester Evening News: Set-top box sparks SOS rescue

[03] A 35-Year-Old Female Died in China New Deaths, New Cases

By Athina Saloustrou

The Beijing International Conference on avian flu raised two billion dollars to assist the poor, flu-stricken countries. However, no sooner had the conference ended, than China announced that a 35-year-old woman died of the disease. In Turkey, a 14yo girl developed flu-like symptoms, while an 11yo boy died before he was transferred to hospital. The causes of his death, though, have not yet been confirmed. Alarm has also sounded in northern Iraq after the death of a 15yo girl. The official death toll in Turkey amounts to four, with all the victims being the children of the same family in the town of Dogubayazit, eastern Turkey. In the meantime, Croatia is likely to host in February or March a summit among the south-eastern European countries on avian flu, claimed the Greek Rural Development Minister.

Croatia to Host SE European Summit

"Agricultural Minister Petar &#268;obankovi&#263; accepted the proposal of his Greek counterpart that a summit among the SE European countries be held in February or in March on avian flu," read the announcement issued by the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the Croatian news agency Hina, Mr &#268;obankovi&#263; presented yesterday at the Beijing Conference the Croatian answer to the spreading of H5N1 virus, offered technical assistance to the countries of the area, yet he announced that Croatia will also be included in the countries to be financially assisted.

Croatia rates among the countries directly threatened by avian flu, therefore it needs additional financial help. The virus was detected in wild birds in the area of Slavonia in late October, 2005, and nearly 24,606 birds were culled.

"Croatia reacted promptly," underlined the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture and went on to emphasise that the countrys authorities keep monitoring wild birds, upgrading the labs accuracy in diagnosing the disease and improving emergency plans in case the virus is detected.

In the town of Dogubayazit, eastern Turkey, four children, aged 11 to 14, of the same family have died. A family has lost three children, while their 12-year-old cousin Fatma also died of the deadly H5N1 virus.

The news bulletins have downgraded the situation, while they made a reference to a three-year-old boy that died of the deadly disease in Indonesia.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Japanese Ship Drills Earth's Crust Journey to the Centre of the Earth

By Vagelis Theodorou

The Japanese exploration ship Chikyu, meaning earth in Japanese, is scheduled to drill the seabed to shed light to the origins of life on Earth. Chikyu set sail on Monday heading for the area between Tokyo and Nagoya, where the Earths crust is thinner than anywhere else. The ship is to drill 7km below the seabed and surface the first samples of the Earths mantle with the use of a cylinder 1.5m long and 15cm wide. "The fundamental question posed in the 20th century related to the origin of matter and the universe [] the 21st century is about the fundamental question of where life comes from," commented the projects head Dr Asahiko Taira. However, the project will not be run before 2007. Up until then, Chikyu will be on a training mission.

Tracing the Origins of Life

This bold project will take place in the Nankai Trough, 200km off the coast of Nagoya, where the seabed is 2.5km below the surface.

Researchers wish to take advantage of the fact that the Mohorovicic Discontinuity (the point where the crust officially becomes the mantle) is nearer than it is on land.

The driving force behind this venture is the theory suggesting that life on Earth might have originated beneath the crust, under temperatures and pressures not applied on the land and the sea, and that the energy unleashed and breathed life might have been geothermal rather than solar.

"We know so little about what is going on below our feet, and if the secret of life remains to be revealed, it must be in the deep somewhere," argued Dr Taira.

The material to be retrieved from the mantle carries bio-information that will unveil clues on older climate changes or exotic forms of life living in the deep. It is also expected to surface pivotal evidence on earthquakes and volcanoes.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Sci-Tech Today: Scientists Dig Toward Earth's Center

The Australian: Drilling for answers to Earth's origin

Related Links:

Chikyu

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

[05] Ch. Valynaki Summoned to Testify

Sources: NET, ANA

Christina Valynakis, wife of Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Valynakis, was summoned to testify as a witness to the extrajudicial case late on Wednesday evening. It is reminded that former Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis had implicated the attorney in the extrajudicial ring. In the meantime, New Democracy Secretary gave a clear-cut answer to whoever hinted to Giannis Valynakis. Mr Meimarakis noted, "family responsibility is an issue of fascist notions and I do not understand why some persons, who do not accept family responsibility, consider that its the time to embrace such views," adding that he is referring to persons who have made statements over family responsibility.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] USA Focusing on Africa and Asia Fewer US Diplomats in Europe

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: BBC

Speaking to students of Georgetown University, Condoleeza Rice announced the reorganisation of the US diplomatic map. The Chief of US Diplomacy underlined that the US will have to decrease the number of diplomats in Europe and focus on other countries, such as China, India, Nigeria and Lebanon. Explaining the philosophy of the US initiative, she stated that it is in the context of strengthening democracy, underlining that flexible diplomacy is a product of collaboration and not stereotypes. Regardless of 7,440 US diplomats being stationed in foreign countries, she added that the US does not have a diplomatic presence in 200 world cities of more than 1 million citizens.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: US moves diplomats out of Europe

Washington Post: Diplomats Will Be Shifted to Hot Spots

[07] Police Tracked Them Down Plot to Abduct Blair's Son?

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: BBC, The Sun

The disclosure by British daily The Sun that the police averted Tony Blairs son Leo, 5, being abducted by campaign group Fathers 4 Justice fighting for divorcee fathers, has caused great turmoil in Britain. Citing security forces sources, the newspaper read that Mr and Mrs Blair were notified and, as it was normal, they were gravely concerned. In fact, the same source underlined that all necessary measures were promptly taken. So far, neither the Downing Street, nor the British police have commented on the issue.

They Thwarted Their Plans

The papers information revealed that the group fighting for the rights of divorcee fathers denied access to their children planned to abduct Leo, Blairs youngest child, before Christmas. However, the paper did not touch upon any information on how they were to realize their plan.

What the paper said, is that the group planned on detaining the little Blair for a small period of time without intending to do him harm.

The same source also told the newspaper that the abductors plans fell flat early enough and although a police probe is still underway, no one has been arrested.

They Suspend Group's Activities

In the meantime, following the papers article, founding member of Fathers 4 Justice Matt OConnor announced that the group is to disband, underlining that in recent months some "extremist elements" had undermined the organisation, which had been running for two years. Therefore, the group expelled 30 members last years. Mr OConnor also maintained that he wanted to get a good nights sleep and that he did not want to relate with an organisation getting involved in such serious issues.

The groups protests were pretty imaginative. They included throwing dyed flour at British Prime Minister in the Commons chamber and a member dressed as Batman protesting outside Buckingham Palace. Last month, five members dressed in super-heroes outfits perched on a public building.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Fathers 4 Justice to end campaign

The Sun: In the name of the Fathers

Related Links:

Fathers 4 Justice

[08] Six Female Iraqi Detainees Freed

By Athina Saloustrou

The Iraqi Ministry of Justice announced that the US forces are to free six female Iraqi detainees, but it denied viewing this move as made in return for the release of US journalist Jill Carroll, who had been held hostage by a group of insurgents. Carols abductees have threatened to kill her unless all female Iraqi detainees are freed. The US army has not yet confirmed the release of the six women. Arab television network Al Jazeera aired a video showing the 28-year-old reporter, who works for The Christian Science Monitor. In the video broadcast on Tuesday night, the captors threatened to kill Jill unless the Iraqi women held prisoners were freed within 72 hours. Carroll was abducted in Baghdad on January 7.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Olympiacos Stayed Alive

By Vasilis Kalpinos

In a thriller-game in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Olympiacos earned an important win against Lietuvos Rytas 65-63, in a Group B game, and in the context of the 11th Euroleague round, keeping its hopes alive for qualifying in the "16" stage of the event. After its fifth win, Olympiacos is seeking the "double" in Poland against Prokom and finally making the leap next week. The score of the ten-minute periods: 18-22, 30-33, 49-47, 65-63.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[10] Deal Off for AEK Basinas

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Aggelos Basinas "flirt" with AEK will quite possibly have a negative outcome. AEK offered the 30-year-old midfielder a five-month closed contract of around 200,000 euros without bonuses, which will reach 340,000 euros in the case of earning the Championship and 300,000 in the case of landing in 2nd place, leading to the preliminary phase of Champions League. The two sides met anew, but apparently did not reach an agreement, as Basinas reportedly demanded a larger sum of money. Moreover, the former ace of Panathinaikos has proposals by Spain and Italy.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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