The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] 3,000 People Missing Hopes Die Down

By Annita Paschalinou

The rescue crews in the Philippines are giving an uneven battle against time to find possible survivors under the tonnes of mud that buried the village of Guinsaugon. The latest count brings the number of those missing to 3,000, including 250 children who were trapped inside a school along with their mothers during a fete for mothers day. As time goes by, hopes are dying down and local officials believe that there is only a 10% chance of locating anyone alive. An international aid front is being formed to provide relief to the people afflicted by the mudslides and assist the rescue crews. The USA sent two Navy vessels and emergency aid to deal with the disaster, while the Red Cross made 128,000 euros available towards financial aid for those affected.

Fears for New Mudslides

The scientists, however, are sounding the alarm, warning that if the mudslides continue, they will have to implement drastic and immediate measures.

At the same time, they believe that logging and deforestation, which have taken on immense dimensions in the Philippines, played a significant part in the disaster. A spokesperson of the federal seismology centre declared that the disaster was accelerated by a 2.6 earthquake prior to the mudslide.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Deadly Mudslides

[02] Panhellenic Veterinary Congress Safeguarding against Avian Flu

By Annita Paschalinou

The measures to safeguard the country against bird flu are at the focus of the 10th Panhellenic Veterinary Congress among distinguished scientists from all over Greece, underway in a central hotel in Athens. During the congress, the scientists will go over the detailed history of the disease, the effects of avian flu on health and nutrition, and the dangers of transmission.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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[03] Lawyer Sakis Kechagioglou Asking to Be Released

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET - ANA

Lawyer Sakis Kechagioglou, who is remanded in custody for his involvement in the extrajudicial clique, filed a petition for his release on Friday. In his petition, which was submitted to Appellate prosecutor Kyriakos Karoutsos so that it can be passed on to Appellate Examiner Sideris, he claims that he is neither an escape suspect nor a suspect for new offences, since he has been testifying for the last ten months. At the same time, he noted he never hid any evidence and appeared before the authorities as soon as the arrest warrant against him was issued.

In the meantime, Greek Justice will soon have access to all the details pertaining to former Examiner Konstantina Bourboulias bank accounts in UPS Bank, Switzerland. On Thursday, Berns court sent a sealed package containing all the details of her accounts to the Greek Justice Ministry. The details are expected to shed light into her involvement in the extrajudicial network.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] Eleven Killed in Libya Muslim Protests Continue

By Annita Paschalinou

The fierce reactions of the Muslim worlds over the cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammad are continuing. In rallies staged in Libya on Friday, at least eleven people lost their lives, while the Italian Consulate, which was the main target of the protestors, was torched. Some of the demonstrators entered the building and ignited a fire, while they also burned a Danish flag. The stance of the Italian Reforms Minister, who recently delivered challenges against the Muslims, was the reason for the attack against the Consulate. The straw that broke the camels back was that the Minister appeared publicly wearing a T-shirt with the controversial cartoons printed on it. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi demanded the ministers resignation, stressing that his behaviour opposed his institutional role.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

Following Berlusconis intervention, Roberto Calderoli declared willing to step down, apologise and even humiliate himself, if it would help build dialogue between the Western world and the Islamic world.

"I will do it the second after I have had a sign from the Islamic world that my action could be useful," he told Italys ANSA news agency.

Diplomatic Initiatives

In an effort to defuse the situation, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Conferences (OIC) is due to arrive in Pakistan to hold talks with local officials.

As per private news agency Online, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will meet with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, while the meeting will also be attended by the Danish Ambassador to Pakistan, who was recently recalled by the Pakistani Government.

Speaking on a US network just a few hours ago, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf mentioned it was time for the OIC and the EU to review the matter, so as to relieve the tension.

At the same time, Pakistans English-language newspaper Dawn mentioned that the OIC presented a five-point agenda to European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.

The agenda urges the EU to make efforts in collaboration with the OIC to adopt a UN resolution aimed at prohibiting defamation of prophets and faiths. It also asks for the adoption of necessary legislative measures against Islamophobia.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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