The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-03-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] First Electoral Test for Viktor Yushchenko Parliamentary Elections in Ukraine

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-ÂÂC

It has been over a year since the "Orange Revolution" that sparked off huge demonstrations in Ukraine and brought Viktor Yushchenko to power, and Ukrainians have been turning out to cast their votes since Sunday morning in the first democratic parliamentary elections, as he himself described it shortly after exercising his voting right in Kiev. However, his popularity has dwindled and analysts estimated that the Sunday election is a test for Yuschchenkos Our Ukraine bloc, which runs the risk of being beaten into second place.

Ever since the "Orange Revolution" in 2004, reforms have been rather slow, curbing corruption and eradicating unemployment have been disheartening, the countrys economic growth has been but sluggish and political infighting has sustained a blow to the partys unity.

Yushchenko himself pointed out that talks should commence as early as on Monday, so that the "orange" powers are reunited. Not a single chance of rallying should go wasted, underlined the 62-year-old Ukrainian President, who voted wearing an orange tie.

However, Viktor Yushchenko seems to be aware that Sundays parliamentary elections for a Parliament that will be assigned to appoint the PM are most likely to restore his rival Viktor Yanukovych to power, as well as restore the political powers enjoying Russias backing.

Some 45 parties are taking part in the elections for the 450-seat Parliament, however, the polls showed that only five or seven of the parties will surmount the 3% limit at national level, while analyst viewed the potential of a coalition government as pretty true to reality. Such a development, though, will take long talks and negotiations. The ballots close at 22:00 (Greek local time) and the initial results are due out during the night.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC-Voters to deliver Ukraine verdict

[02] Shooter Killed Six Youths Party Ends in Massacre

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: CNN

A party in Seattle, USA, ended in a massacre, when one of the partygoers suddenly opened fire inside a house. Six youths were shot dead, while another one was hurried to hospital in a critical condition. As for the perpetrator, he pointed the rifle at him and committed suicide when confronted by police.

Some 20 youths in their mid-20s were having a party inside a house in Capitol Hill. The investigation showed that it was a theme party and the guests had to be disguised as "zombies." The gunman, who was identified as a local man in his early 30s, was among them, when he suddenly vanished only to return armed with a rifle and a pistol. As per the police, who spoke of the worst crime in the area, he started searching for targets inside the house. He went on the first floor and fired rounds through the door of a bathroom where two people had locked themselves in. The people inside were not injured. The bodies of the rest of the youths were recovered from different parts of the house.

An inquiry is underway to shed light to the motives of the massacre.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

CNN-Gunman kills six, self after party

[03] Rural Minister to Evros

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

Greek Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos and Deputy Minister Alexandros Kontos are visiting Sunday the flood-stricken areas around the Evros River, northern Greece.

Furthermore, the two Ministers along with MPs and local organisations are to hold a meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss the problems caused by the recent floods.

In the meantime, a Bulgarian newspaper claimed Sunday that Greece sent a letter to the Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Ministry requesting the restoration of a bilateral experts committee, aiming to jointly observe the cross-border river areas and take measures against floods.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Review of Situation in Evros

Extensive Devastation in Evros

Evros Water Level Dropping

River Subsiding

[04] Daylight Saving Begins

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-BBC

Clocks and watches across Europe were set an hour forward on Sunday morning, for the 30th time since 1976 when Europe first established the measure of daylight saving time, with a view to saving energy. It is a measure rooted in the energy crisis that broke out in 1974 and aims to save energy by curtailing the need for artificial light.

Some 70 countries around the world apply this measure, thus falling in line with the alterations of the seasons. In the USA, where daylight saving time has been in force since 1966, daylight saving will begin a week after Europe, namely on April 1.

However, there is also another side of the coin. ACHED, the association against the daylight saving time has repeatedly described the so-called effort to save energy as "misleading," due to the overconsumption of energy for heating and traffic. ACHED has also argued that the change in time sparks off certain health problems in "several normal functions of the human body," especially sleeping disorders. British researchers, in fact, have urged people who do not sleep much and wake up too early in the morning to be particularly cautious for two days after the daylight saving time and refrain from occupations that require extra focus, for the change in time and their natural sensitivity to daylight wont let them go unaffected.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC-Larks hit hardest by clock change

Related Links:

The Sleep Council

[05] New Violent Incidents Blast Kills Student in Iraq

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

Yet another link was added to Saturdays string of deadly blasts that claimed the lives of six people. A bomb went off in the early hours of Sunday near a school in Basra killing a young student.

However, violence did not stop there. Police sources said that further two Iraqi private guards were shot dead by gunmen north of Baghdad, while a judge was seriously injured during rounds of fire in the Iraqi capital.

Finally, a cleric, from the influential Sunni group, the Muslim Scholars Association, was arrested Saturday night near Samarra, north of Baghdad, by US and Iraqi forces, his son Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Bank Federation Convenes

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

The Steering Committee of the Hellenic Federation of Bank Employees Unions (OTOE) is to convene Sunday at 15:30 to examine the amendment relating to the banking sectors social security the Ministers of Economy and Employment submitted to Parliament. Under this amendment, bank employees will come under a joint security fund.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Iraklis Made it to the Final

By Stathis Petropoulos

Performing outstandingly and possessing a lions heart, Iraklis made it to the Mens Indesit Champions League final, after knocking out Lokomotiv Belgorod with3-2. The Greek team won the first set, but lost the other two. Yet, they had the strength to tie and score the victory in the tie-break in a match that wasnt recommended for the faint-hearted, as the fluctuations of the score in all five sets indicate. So, Iraklis will now play Sunday against Sisley Treviso, who dazzled Dinamo Moscow 3-0. The sets: 26-24, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-13.

Translated by Areti Christou

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