The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Opposition Supporters in Kyrgyzstan Parliament Sieged

By Despina Hristopoulou

Serious episodes occur right now in Kyrgyzstan with thousands of Opposition supporters having sieged the building of the Parliament. A while earlier, many police officers who had formed a ring around the headquarters of the Government started evacuating their posts and uniting with demonstrators, leaving the secondary entrances of the "White House" unguarded. Demonstrators request for the resignation of President Akayev. In fact, they have hang the Kyrgyzstan flag on the Parliament's windows and have thrown out Akayev's portraits. Earlier, the crowd clashed with dozens of rangers in an effort to stop them from entering the building. Opposition supporters bombarded task force men with rocks, while many police officers were harshly beaten up by demonstrators.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] 14 Dead 70 Injured Multifatality Blast in Oil Refinery

By Anna Kourti

Fourteen people lost their lives and seventy were injured because of an explosion that occurred in one of the biggest oil refineries in Texas, owned by the British oil company BP. Authorities express fears that workers are still trapped under the ruins, while the causes of the blast remain unknown. The fire was placed under control by Fire Brigade forces. 30% of the total BP oil production in the USA is processed in the particular distillery, a percentage which equals to 3% of the total US oil supply. The facilities of the particular distillery, the third biggest in the USA, are considered among the most complicated in the world.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] On Thursday, in Washington Meeting Between Moliviatis and Rice

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: ANA- NET RADIO 105.8

On Thursday, the issues that will be discussed between Foreign Minister, Petros Moliviatis and his American counterpart, Condoleeza Rice will be the bilateral cooperation, regional and international matters such as the condition in the Balkans, the Cypriot issue, Greek-Turkish relations and Turkeys accession prospect, transatlantic relations and the peace process in the Middle East. "We are looking forward to Mr Moliviatis visit," stated alternate State Department spokesperson, Adam Ereli, hinting that the two ministers will discuss the Cypriot issue, on which he repeated the U.S.s support in a solution that will lead to the unification of the island based on the Annan plan. Mr Ereli described the relations between Greece and the U.S. as "excellent."

The Program of the Visit

Mr Moliviatis will be in the American capital and New York from March 23-28. He will hold discussions with the leadership of the State Department, the National Security Council and with UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan. He will also represent the Greek government in the celebrations in New York and Washington for Independence Day, on March 25.

His meeting with Mrs Rice will take place tomorrow at 21:00 (Greek time) and following Mr Moliviatis will arrive in the White House where he will hold discussions with National Security Council adviser, Steven Hadley. After his contacts in Washington, the Foreign Minister will depart for New York, where on Friday, March 25 he will attend the formal sermon and the reception for Independence Day.

On Monday, March 28, Mr Moliviatis will meet with UN General Secretary with whom he will discuss issues concerning the Organization, since Greece is participating in the Security Council for 2005-2006.

After his meeting with Mr Annan, the Foreign Minister will return to Washington invited by the U.S. President and attend a special ceremony in the White House where Independence Day will be celebrated.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] For the Three-Day Break Emergency Traffic Measures in Force

By Vivian Papastefanou

The traffic police have launched a series of emergency traffic measures for the three-day break of March 25, which is a Greek National Holiday. In Attica on Thursday from 15.00 to 21.00 trucks will not be allowed to circulate on national highways, while during the Sunday return trucks will not be allowed on national highways from 15.00 to 23.00. Furthermore, the Traffic Police will be controlling national road networks with helicopters and motorbikes, as well as all areas of increased traffic. These areas are bus stations, ports and airports. Lastly, the traffic police will also be running checks on drivers for drunkenness, speed limits, increased speed and driving irregularities.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] 5.5 Quake Shook Bingol Province Quake in Turkey Injured Six

By Vivian Papastefanou

A strong quake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the Bingol province last night in eastern Turkey resulting in the injury of six people, announced the Authorities. The epicenter of the tremor was close to the Carliova city. Several houses sustained damages, while inhabitants panicked and many of them spent the night outdoors. Two tremors were recorded in the area on 12 and 14 March of 5.7 and 5.9 magnitude respectively, which resulted in the injury of 30 people, while many were left homeless.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] A Discovery by American Scientists New Data on Wrinkles

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: New Scientist

An American scientists discovery is paving the road to new anti-wrinkle creams. As scientists from the Clarkson University in N.Y. state, skin does not grow old only because the elasticity of tissue between the cells is lost, but because the cells themselves become more rigid. The scientists are testing substances that stop ageing on lab rats, hoping to create new cosmetics that will do away with wrinkles. The scientists measured the elasticity of epithelial cells in a dish, with a tip of an atomic force microscope. As they saw, after many generations of cell division, the cells became up to 10 times more rigid. "What we have discovered is that the epithelial cells themselves become more rigid with age," stated Craig Woodworth, a member of the scientific group, to New Scientist.

Hope for New Anti-Wrinkle Creams

Until know, scientists were aware that skin ages because the fibers between epithelial cells is lost. Similar changes are apparent in several diseases such as dementia and Alzheimers disease. The cells rigidity is caused to the fact that the cytoskeleton is reinforced, which means that the protein fibers inside the cells get denser.

After the new discovery, research will be made to substances that can prohibit the epithelial tissue becoming rigid. The scientist stated that the drugs that prohibit the reinforcement of the cytoskeleton are already being tested on lab rats and the first results are expected within a few months.

However, as Marie Cals-Grieson of L Oreal cosmetics stated to New Scientist, little is known of the ageing mechanisms of the epithelial tissue, and if some creams can target the root of the problem.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

Clarkson University

[07] 23 Dead Guerrillas-Army Bloody Clashes

By Anna Kourti

Bloody clashes between guerrillas and the army were reported on Wednesday in Colombia. At least 23 people lost their lives. Eight marines were killed by guerrilla fire in an ambush set by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) targeting an army truck in the Putumajo province, southern Colombia, reported DPA citing Radio Caracol information. An army spokesperson said the "dead marines are ten." In the northern province Norte de Sadader, separate battles between the army, FARC members and the National Liberation of Colombia (ELN) resulted in the death of 10 guerrillas and 3 soldiers. Colombia is torn by a civil war that is now counting more than 4 decades.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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