The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU25 FMs Convening Focus on Iran

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: Reuters - ANA

The European Union foreign ministers are meeting on Monday in Brussels to draw up a new proposal by the international community in order to persuade Iran to give up its atomic ambitions. As per EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the EU will be offering a bold package that will contain issues related to nuclear, economic matters and maybe if necessary security matters. However, Iran has declared it would reject any demands to stop its uranium enrichment programme. According to diplomatic circles, if Iran does not accept the new proposals it would risk seeing international support harden for a UN resolution ordering it to curb its nuclear activities or face consequences. At the same time, the EU foreign ministers will try to work out a new plan to avert a looming Palestinian economic crisis.

Financial Aid to the Palestinians

"The aim is to come up with a very attractive package to make it difficult for the Iranian government to refuse," said a senior envoy from one of the EU3 group (Britain, France and Germany), who are charged with devising the offer.

At the same time, the ministers must also try to work out how to get much-needed international aid to the Palestinians.

Diplomats said the EU had not expected to be charged by the Quartet of international mediators (USA, Russia, EU and UN) with devising a plan to funnel aid through, and was now in a race against the clock to get it launched and avert a Palestinian financial collapse.

Unresolved issues include how any new fund would operate, which donors would pay into it and what the cash would be used for.

On Sunday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called on Middle East peace brokers to deal directly with the Hamas-led government, saying Palestinians cannot afford to wait weeks for an aid mechanism that bypasses Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is $1.3 billion in debt and has no income to pay long overdue salaries to 165,000 government employees.

Related News:

Iran Says 'Yes' to Dialogue

[02] Pakistani PM in Athens

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived Monday in Athens to hold meetings with Greeces political and state leadership. The bilateral relations, as well as matters of international interest, will be at the focus of his contacts, while a cooperation agreement on the sector of tourism is to be signed. Right now, he is meeting with Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis at Maximos Mansion. Earlier he had a meeting with President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.

[03] Intense Reactions by Locals Columbia Building Being Demolished

By Athina Saloustrou

Tension has been stirred in Rizoupoli, Athens, as the locals are reacting to the demolition of the buildings that once housed the record company Columbia. The citizens, who are demanding that the property be given to the Municipality so that it can be converted into a leisure facility, stormed the building earlier on Monday and tried to block the bulldozers. They were finally removed by police. Speaking on TV network NET, Columbia owner, Makis Matsas, clarified that part of the property has already been allotted to the Municipality, while the main building will be turned into a record museum. The other buildings have been sold to a construction company, which is proceeding with the demolition.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] Hundreds of Hostages Volatile Situation in Brazil

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: Reuters - BBC

At least 52 people, including 35 police officers, have been killed since Friday night in Sao Paulo, in the worst wave of crime-related violence launched by organised gangs against security forces. At the same time, uprisings have been staged in 64 prisons, instigated by the same gangs. A total of 100 attacks against police stations, police patrols, prisons and other targets have been recorded. Sao Paulos police believe that the wave of attacks was prompted by the transfer of hundreds of prisoners of the First Command of the Capital (PCC) criminal faction to a high-security prison, following reports of an impending coordinated rebellion in the Sao Paulo state prison system.

Standing by the Rebels

More than 200 people are being held hostage in prison rebellions.

Despite the violence, State Governor Claudio Lembo has said the situation is under control and has rejected a federal offer of help.

However, violence continued on Sunday with local media reporting buses being burned in the centre of Sao Paulo city.

According to the authorities, these are the most violent incidents ever recorded in the city.

The situation in the jails remains fluid, while the inmates have made no demands nor injured any hostages. Some of the "hostages" were visiting family members, staying on to show solidarity.

Read the story on other sources:

ABC: 52 Dead in 2nd Wave of Brazil Gang Attacks

Related News:

Bloody Clashes in Brazil

[05] Registering 4.7 on the Richter Scale Weak Tremor in Crete

By Athina Saloustrou

A weak tremor measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale was recorded on Monday by the seismographers of the Athens Geodynamics Institute. The quake occurred at 7:22am 320km SE of Athens, off the northern coast of Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, while it was not felt much by the locals.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Italy's President-elect Napolitano Being Sworn In

Sources: Reuters

Italian President-elect Giorgio Napolitano will be sworn in before Parliament as the countrys first ex-communist head of state on Monday, starting a busy week in politics which will also bring a new prime minister. By Wednesday, the 80-year-old senator is expected to ask Romano Prodi to form a government, more than a month after the centre-left leader won one of the tightest general elections in Italian history. Prodi spent the weekend in talks with his coalition, juggling the parties often conflicting demands for cabinet seats to find a team capable of remaining united in the face of a hostile opposition led by Silvio Berlusconi. "I think we have an agreement with no problems, including on the deputy prime ministers," Prodi told reporter on Sunday evening, playing down reports of coalition squabbles.

Fragile Balances

Prodis slim majority means he must command constant unity from his coalition members. His first stint in government ended prematurely in 1998 when the Communist party withdrew its support. Berlusconi, who says he was robbed at Aprils election, has predicted the new government would implode within months.

Massimo DAlema, chairman of the Democrats of the Left (DS) party who is set to be the new Foreign Minister, had already made it clear he also wanted to be Prodis only Deputy Prime Minister, upsetting second biggest party, the Margherita (Daisy), which wants its leader, Francesco Rutelli, also to have that title. Rutelli, closer to the political centre than DAlema, as well as being made Deputy Prime Minister is also set to take a ministry, possibly Culture or Home Affairs, according to the Italian Media.

DAlema dismissed as "slander" reports that he had pressured Prodi to make him the only Vice Prime Minister after his ambition to become state president was foiled last week when he was forced to step aside and allow Napolitano the top job.

[07] "Oil Could Reach $100 a Barrel" Chavez Issues Warnings

Sources: Reuters

Visiting London following the EU-Latin American in Vienna, the Venezuelan President warned that the price of oil could skyrocket if the USA attacked Iran. Hugo Chavez said the Iranians would have no choice but cut oil production. "If they attack Iran, the Iranians will cut off their supply of oil. We would do the same if we were attacked. We would cut off our oil," Chavez told around 1,000 British leftists and trade unionists, including Londons Mayor Ken Livingstone. "Moreover, Iran has said it would attack Israel, and I know they have the wherewithal to do so," added the President of the fifth largest oil-producing country in the world. Chavez is in London for two days to meet various figures from the British left. He will not meet Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he criticised for his close alliance with Washington.

"The Vietnam of the 21st Century"

"If the United States attacks Iran [...] oil could reach $100 a barrel or more. The English middle classes would have to stop using their cars," noted Chavez, adding that in case of an attack against Iran, the situation would be far worse than the one in Iraq," and describing Iraq as "the Vietnam of the 21st century".

Chavez was welcomed to London by Livingstone, who opened the meeting by accusing US President George Bush of running "a gangster regime."

"We salute you Mr President," Livingstone told Chavez, "Londoners stand with you, not with the oil companies and the oligarchs."

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Chavez warns US over Iran policy

Financial Times: Chavez issues oil price warning

Related News:

Agreement with Reservations

[08] For the Operations in the West Bank Peretz Voices his Satisfaction

Sources: AFP

Israels new Defence Minister Amir Peretz on Monday praised two military operations in the occupied West Bank in which six Palestinians were killed. "The operation in Qabatiya was an important achievement in the war against terrorism," said Peretz, leader of Israels centre-left Labour party. "It was consistent with the policy of striking harshly at terrorism, while trying to ease the situation of the Palestinian population as far as possible," he added. Five Palestinians, including two leaders from the hardline Islamic Jihad faction, were shot dead by Israeli troops during clashes in the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya on Sunday. A sixth Palestinian, a security guard outside the local Palestinian Authority intelligence headquarters in the nearby city of Jenin was also shot dead by Israeli troops. Among the dead in Qabatiya was Elias al-Ashkar, a leader of Jihads armed wing and who Israel held responsible for the last eight suicide bombings against Israelis that killed 28 people.

[09] Farming Indemnities

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET - NET 105.8

Payment of indemnities to farmers and poultry breeders for damages suffered from 2001 to 2003 will be paid on Monday and Tuesday, while producers affected by the floods in Evros in March will also start receiving their compensations as of Monday. Moreover, by decision of Greek Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos, the confinement restrictions that applied for poultry have been lifted, except the areas that are within a 2km radius from wetlands.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[10] Fiesta Starring Maradona

By Stathis Petropoulos

This football season ended with another spectacular fiesta in Faliro, home grounds of Champion Olympiacos FC. The night sky was lit up from the endless flares and fireworks, while over 30,000 fans had packed the Karaiskakis Stadium cheering for their team, which claimed the 2005-2006 Football Championship, their 34th overall. Guest of honour was Diego Armando Maradona, who personally delivered the Cup of the Champion to Olympiacos captain Predrag Djordjevic. Although Sundays match versus Ionikos was in fact of no actual importance (it ended in nil draw), the fans had flooded the stadium only to attend the fiesta. After the end of the artistic programme, actor Spyros Papadopoulos took the stand and started calling the footballers, one after one, to get on stage at the heart of the field and claim their medals.

Naturally, fans went wild when Olympiacos' players started getting on stage, but the Karaiskakis Stadium literally shook to the name of Rivaldo, trembled to the names of Konstantinou, Nikopolidis and Castillo, but fans really gave their hearts out when captain Predrag Djordjevic appeared on stage. The acclamations and cheers reminded of an opera; in duration at least!

The coaching team followed next, headed by Trod Sollied, over whom the fans went wild with enthusiasm, while Olympiacos President Sokratis Kokalis, wearing the team's red and white scarf around his shoulders, appeared last but not least! However, the big surprise was revealed a while before 21:00. Diego Armando Maradona appeared on the field and completed the fiesta by delivering the trophy of the Champions to the captain, Predrag Djordjevic. Always faithful to football traditions, he lifted the Cup on the air amidst dozens of flares and made Olympiacos' fans feel proud once again!

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[11] Atromitos in Intertoto Cup

By Stathis Petropoulos

Without breaking a sweat nor wasting any strength, Atromitos prevailed over Akratitos 2-0 and in combination to Larissa's defeat, they ranked seventh overall and made it to the 2006 Intertoto Cup. Doe opened the score in the 42' with a header and in the rerun he doubled his goals in the 61'. As for Akratitos, they failed to answer back since there was no point anyway. They have already been relegated to Division 2 and their last match of the season was merely typical.

LINEUPS

AKRATITOS: Billa, Sfakianakis, Dieng, Apostolakis (23' Ledesma), Pipinis, Penia, Aravidis, Patsiavouras, Karachalios (67' Zygouris), Tzimopoulos, Show (83' Schizas)

ATROM ITOS: Michailidis, Georgiou, Mikes, Katemis, Karadimos, Raguel, Korakakis (80' Dimos), Koutsis, Merino (68' Sotirchos), Doe (85' Iliopoulos), Djibour

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[12] Panathinaikos Defeated Larissa

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Bagging three points in the last match of the season was not enough for Panathinaikos to win second place in the rankings and thus qualify to the Champions League preliminaries. The guests prevailed over Larissa with 3 goals and ranked third overall in the standings, a place which leads to the UEFA Cup preliminaries. Larissa, on the other hand, which scored zero goals on Sunday failed to rank seventh overall and hence will not be taking part in the Intertoto Cup. Goumas in the 61', Mantzios in the 63' and Andric in the 80' scored the three goals of the match for the guests.

LINEUPS

LARISSA: Christopoulos, Galitsios, Dabizas, Simos, Katsiaros, Serban (72' Poutas), Aloneftis, Bachramis, Gavrilopoulos, Kalantzis (56' Chloros), Ziagas (64' Kyparissis)

PANATHINAIKOS: Galinovic, Vintra, Kotsios, Morris, Goumas, Tziolis (59' Mantzios), Andric, Gonzalez, Papadopoulos (76' Nilsson), Charalabidis, Gekas (66' Darlas)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[13] Johnny Depp No 1 in Autographs

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: BBC

Famous American actor Johnny Depp was declared the top autograph signer, as per the 14th annual survey of magazine Autograph Collector, while Cameron Diaz is in last place. "Many stars become bad signers once fame and fortune hits, but not Depp," said editor Steve Cyrkin. George Clooney is in second place, winning praise for joking as he signs for fans. "Hell make fun of how he looks in photos hes handed to autograph," added Cyrkin. Apart from Depp and Clooney, the top five include Matt Damon, Al Pacino and Tom Cruise.

Crowe Saved by the Bell

Referring to Diaz, Cyrkin noted, "Instead of just turning down a persons autograph request, shell just lecture them about how dumb autographs are. She may be a talented actress, but shes persistently a terrible signer."

Russell Crowe came very close to being named the worst autograph signer, but he has been nicer to fans in recent months, as per the magazine.

Related Links:

Autograph Collector

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