The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Obama Enjoys 6% Lead

Sources: REUTERS

Democrat Barack Obama has expanded his national lead over Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race to 6 percentage points, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Monday.

Obama leads McCain 50 percent to 44 percent among likely U.S. voters in the latest three-day tracking poll, up from Obamas 3-point advantage on Sunday. The telephone poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

The rally by Obama broke a string of three consecutive days when McCain had gained ground on the Illinois senator after their final debate on Wednesday. It was the first time in 14 days of the tracking poll that Obama has reached 50 percent.

[02] Greek PM in London

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

Greeces Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has embarked on a two-day visit to London. Karamanlis will meet with his British counterpart Gordon Brown on Tuesday. The two men will touch on matters pertaining to the global financial crisis and its repercussions, as well as on EU affairs.

The Greek Premier will then address businessmen and ship owners at Travelers Club and held a meeting with the Opposition leader, David Cameron. On Tuesday evening, he will attend the opening of the "Byzantium: 330-1453" exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts and then depart for Athens.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Child Virus Kills 3 in China

Sources: REUTERS

Three children have died in eastern China from hand, foot and mouth disease in the countrys second outbreak of the potent toddler virus this year, state media reported on Monday. Health officials warned that the disease was epidemic in some parts of the coastal Fujian province, with 113 cases reported since the start of October, the official Xinhua news agency said. The three victims were all less than one year old and from the same place, Jianou City, it added. A flare-up of the virus in southern China killed at least 42 people in April and May, and 27,500 further cases, largely affecting toddlers, were reported. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness, but the outbreaks in China have been linked with enterovirus 71 (EV71), which can cause a severe form of the disease characterised by high fever, paralysis and meningitis.

[04] Bacon's Portrait Sold for More Than $9

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA-MPA

Painted by Lucien Freud, British painter Francis Bacons portrait fetched 9,404,346 dollars when it went under the hammer at Christies in London.

The unfinished work, which was painted in 1956-57, is one of only two oil paintings that Freud ever undertook of Bacon. The second, which was painted in 1952, was stolen from an exhibition in Berlin in 1988.

The auction house said the work was left unfinished because Bacon stopped posing, probably to meet his partner in Morocco.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] On Tuesday

20 Οκτ 2008 09:50:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos is to meet Tuesday with the board of the Hospital doctors union. The two sides will discuss the EU directive with regard to the working hours of the hospital doctors.

On the occasion of the warning letter sent by the relevant EU Commissioner for health affairs, the Greek Health Ministry said that the issue of the new working-hour scheme had run high on the agenda of lengthy talks between the two sides, which came to an agreement.

[06] On Tuesday

20 Οκτ 2008 09:08:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

Protesting against the pension reforms and the high cost of living, Greeces two major unions, GSEE and ADEDY, have scheduled a 24-hour nationwide strike for Tuesday. Employees in the private and public sector, as well as those working for DEKOs (Public Utilities Enterprises) have also been called to take part in the strike. Lawyers, engineers, school teachers, journalist and media technicians will also join the strike. A street protest has been scheduled for 1100 hours in central Athens. PAME (All Workers Militant Front) will stage a separate rally at 10.30am.

[07] Drug Smugglers Seized in Mexico

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ANA, AFP

Mexican police delivered yet another blow to the cocaine cartel, arresting 15 drug smugglers, 11 of them were Colombians. The arrests took place during festive events in the city of Mexico. Authorities also seized about 220,800 dollars, expensive cars, lions, tigers and panthers.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] In France

20 Οκτ 2008 08:38:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ANA, AFP

The rather strained relationship between the French state and the youths living in the Parisian suburbs is a common secret, since, several times in the past, severe rioting has been occurred. However, the booing of the French national anthem during a football match between France and Tunisia on 14 October has gravely upset the countrys political leaders.

Although President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered that any game be halted if the "Marseillaise" is whistled, the government is considering stepping up support measures. French Sports Minister Bernard Laporte said that the fact that the national anthem was booed is a sheer indication that there is an identity crisis in the suburbs.

The French Minister was heavily criticized by UEFA head Michel Platini, because he proposed Frances games against north African national, including Tunisia and Morocco, take place in provincial towns, lest first and second generation immigrants from these nations pack the stadiums.

Translated by Areti Christou

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