The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-Surfing for Guitarists

By Vicky Keleri

A high-tech creation by Intel gives guitarists the ability to travel on the Internet without parting from their favourite music instrument for a single moment. This intelligent guitar allows its owners to surf the Internet and send emails, during their musical breaks, both when they are working or on stage! Moreover, they can download their favourite tracks without even touching the guitars strings. The name of the product is Intel Concept Telecaster Guitar and is currently being perfected. The company has yet to announce when the product will be available in stores. What is certain is that its high-tech origin and its unique abilities will spiral its price upwards!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] First Woman Chancellor Merkel Sworn In

By Betty Savourdou

Official change of leadership today in Germany, as the Bundestag (German Parliament) ratified the election of Angela Merkel with 397 votes in favour as the first female Chancellor in the history of the country. At this hour, the leader of the Christian Democrats is at the Presidential Mansion to receive the official order to form a government by German President Horst K&#246;hler. The new Chancellor and her government will be sworn in later in the day. It is noted that Merkel is the first Chancellor from the former eastern block.

Reforms

The head of the "Grand Coalition" will follow a strict policy.

Her reforms mainly include tax increases aimed at limiting fiscal deficit within the limits of the Eurozone, as well as cuts.

The new government's plan to downsize the Christmas bonus by half has triggered an avalanche of reactions.

As for foreign affairs, she pledged to tighten relations with France, but mainly with the United Kingdom and the USA.

So far, Angela Merkel's conservatives are not changing Social Democrats' plans not to send troops in Iraq.

50-year-old Angie, as her voters call her, opposes Turkey's full accession to the EU and supports a special partnership.

On Wednesday, the Chancellor will visit the French president in Paris, while in a couple of weeks she will travel to Washington, where she will meet with George Bush.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

Deutche Welle: Germany Prepares for New Era with Female Chancellor

BBC: Germany to confirm new chancellor

Le Monde: Angela Merkel doit etre officiellement elue chanceliere d'Allemagne

[03] Newspaper Cites Top Secret Documents Bush to Bomb Al Jazeera?

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

As per an article posted in the Daily Mirror today, citing a "top secret" memo from Downing Street, US President George Bush was thinking of bombing Arab television network Al Jazeera. A conversation recording between George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed that the two leaders discussed a possible bombardment of the Arab television network Al Jazeera based in Qatar. As per anonymous newspaper sources, this conversation was held during Blair's visit to Washington on April 16, 2004. The British Prime Minister feared that such an action against Al Jazeera's headquarters at the business district of Doha, capital of Qatar (USA's key ally in the Gulf), would trigger bloody retaliation.

"Explosive Memo"

According to the article, a British government official supported that Bush's threat was "humorous and not serious," but another source said that both Bush and Blair were deadly serious and "that much is absolutely clear from the language used by both men."

"The memo is explosive and hugely damaging to Bush. He made clear he wanted to bomb Al Jazeera in Qatar and elsewhere. Blair replied that would cause a big problem," read the article.

However a spokesperson for Downing Street did not comment on the issue.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

The Daily Mirror: BUSH PLOT TO BOMB HIS ARAB ALLY

[04] New Turn for the Worse Weather Worsens

By Betty Savourdou

Winter finally put in an appearance and as of the afternoon the weather is taking a new turn for the worse, which will last until Thursday. Heavy rainfalls, storms and gusty winds, as well as snow in the mainland, will be the prevalent weather conditions in the coming days. Mountainous areas in Northern Greece have already been dressed in white and temperature dropped below zero, while in the seas, winds are expected to reach 9 in the Beaufort scale. The State mechanism is on alert in view of the adverse weather conditions. In a meeting held on Monday at the Civil Protection Secretariat, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos underlined that all necessary measures have been taken to face emergencies during the winter.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] On Trial for Illegal Trade of Antiques Giosakis' Trial Begins

By Athina Saloustrou

Today, at the Piraeus Three-Member Court of Felony Appeals, Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis will stand trial accused of embezzling ancient objects from the Osios Theodoros Monastery, in Kythira. Former priest Kyrillos Stavropoulos and his cousin, Konstantinos Noou, will also stand trial with the so-called mastermind of the extrajudicial ring. The two cousins are accused of excavating areas around the Holy Monastery of Kythira, on the account of Iakovos Giosakis, while the ancient finds were taken to an undisclosed place. As per the 327/2005 ruling of the Appellate Council, the former Archimandrite is on trial for inciting embezzlement of ancient objects belonging to the Public Sector, whose value exceeds 150,000 euros. The same ruling stated that Giosakis and his co-defendants are not on trial for embezzling Byzantine icons, since they have been acquitted by other judicial rulings.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] New Patriarch Enthroned

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET

The ceremony to enthrone the new Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilus III will take place at noon at the Church of the Resurrection in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, the Palestinian President, the Qatar Government, a representative for the Jordanian King and 13 Churches. Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis will represent the Greek government, while Mr Papoulias will have a meeting with Theophilus and then with the Israeli President. The new Patriarch was born in 1952 in Gargalianoi, Messinia, is a graduate student of the Theological School, was appointed Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Moscow and Qatar, while he was elected Archbishop of Mount Tabor in February 2005 and Patriarch of Jerusalem on August 22.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] No Reports of Victims Japan Shaken by Quake

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: AFP

On Monday, strong seismic activity, measuring 6 on the Richter scale occurred at midnight (00:36 local time) on Kyushu island of southern Japan, without reports of victims or damage. The epicentre of the quake was located at the sea of China, just off Tanegashima island, 1,000km southwest of Tokyo. On November 15, a 6.9 quake, focused on the Pacific Ocean, caused many small tsunamis and the authorities evacuated thousand of residents from the coastal areas for preventive reasons.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] AEK Wins in Liosia

By Stathis Petropoulos

Objectively, Akratitos could have not demonstrated any resistance against AEK even under normal circumstances in todays match, which signaled the end of the 10th round in the Greek A Division, so the 1-2 loss of the home team is considered normal, even if the players went through some adventures. AEK took the lead in the 10, with a goal by Lakis, slowing down the pace of the game. The home team was blocked in the defence and continued this way in the second half. But as the pace started to quicken, a power cut halted the game, as the lights went off. The game was stopped for approximately half an hour, but the players returned eager to continue, In the 79, Lyberopoulos scored AEKs second goal, while five minutes later, Akratitos reduced the difference with Gustavo. So, AEK scored its fifth consecutive win and remained in second place of the rankings, just one point behind Olympiacos.

Referee: Kasnaferis (Athens) Yellow Cards: Aravidis, Marinescu Sapanis, Chanko

AKRATITOS: Stelea, Obradovic, Paganin, Badas, Pipinis (79 Skoufalis), Gustavo, Zuela, Macquet (64 Marinescu), Vujovic, Londo, Aravidis (64 de Francesco)

AEK: Sorrentino, Kontis, Cirillo, Alexopoulos, Georgeas, Katsouranis, Chanko, Sapanis (+90 Moras), Lakis, Lyberopoulos, Soares (67 Cezar).

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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