The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-08-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Due to the Bad Weather Conditions New Delay

By Anna Kourti

Space Shuttles Discoverys return has been delayed once again, due to the adverse weather conditions in Florida. According an announcement issued by NASA, the new delay is 90 minutes. Cape Canaverals weather bureau forecast cloud cover in the area for today. Discovery and its 7-memebrs crew have been in space for 14 days, having covered 5.35 million miles. Initially, the return was scheduled for Monday, but it was postponed due to the cloudiness and restricted visibility over Kennedy Space Centres landing strip. If the space shuttle lands in the West Coast, the cost of the mission will increase by approximately $1 million, as Discovery would have to be transferred back to the Kennedy Space Centre in a special Boeing 747.

Space shuttles have only one opportunity to touchdown safely on the landing strip, since they land without fuel.

According to NASA, any cloud cover lower than 2,438m can endanger the landing process.

This mission is one of the most important ones in NASAs history, since it is the first space shuttle flight after the destruction of Columbia and the death of its crew on 1 February 2003, when it exploded over Texas upon re-entry, due to a technical fault.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Suspense Prolonged

Related Links:

NASA

[02] Pella Producers Have Blocked 3 Junctions Tension at the Blockades

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Peach growers from Pella took to the streets for the second day running, blocking off with their tractors three junctions on the old and the new Thessaloniki-Edessa Highways, and specifically the interchanges of Mavrovouni, Melissi and Skydra. The peach growers are asking for price increases in the sale of peaches to private canned food companies. At the moment, the peach growers are meeting with factory owners, while their future actions will depend on the outcome of this discussion. Cars are being diverted through alternate routes. On Monday, tensions ran high, when the growers dumped large quantities of peaches on the road and set fire to a tractor and a car, while they also raided a canned fruit factory and started emptying out cases of peaches which were to be sold at a price lower than cost. Speaking on behalf of the Government, Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos stressed that he is doing everything he can for the growers and continues to apply pressure to achieve better prices, while at the same time, the Opposition keeps criticising the governments agricultural policy.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] After the Inflow of Water from Bulgaria Evros on Alert

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ΝΕΤ

The locals and the authorities in Evros are on alert, since the level of water in the river has exceeded the normal by one metre, following the inflow of water from Bulgaria, which has been afflicted by severe storms. Villages on the Bulgarian borders have been evacuated. Serious damages have been recorded to houses and crops, while parts of the railway network and the highway between Marasia and Dilofo are blocked. The Deputy Rural Development Minister and the Civil Protection Authoritys General Secretary are touring the area.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] Europe Bows to Golden Girls

By Ilias Papaioannou

International champions Vaso Karadassiou and Vicky Arvaniti climbed to the top of European beach volleyball, as they excelled yesterday in Lucerne. The leading European duo and No 3 in the world had an extremely tough mission in Switzerland. Hosts Simone Kuhn and Lea Schwer, who have proven a nightmare for the Greek golden girls in the past, reached the final undefeated. However, despite the presence of 2,000 local fans at the stands, they could not manage to stop the fury of the Greek duo, which won by 2-1 (16-21, 27-25, 19-17). In the third set, the Greeks led by 12-8 and 13-12, then at one point they were losing by 14-15, but eventually took the set with 19-17. Norwegians Hakedal/Toerlen won the bronze, as they defeated Baburina/Osheyko from the Ukraine in the consolation final with a score of 2-0 (21-15, 21-16). The other Greek team competing in the tournament, Thalia Koutroumanidou and Maria Tsiartsiani finished in 5th place.

They Ruined the Swiss Party

The dream of the Swiss team, Simone Kuhn and Lea Schwer, turned into a nightmare after the match with the Greek duo, since this was the first time ever they reached the finals in a European tournament and especially as they were competing in front of their home crowd. The party that had started earlier in Lucerne was ruined in the end.

"The Greeks were just a little bit ahead today," declared the Swiss girls, who were evidently disappointed. The two girls have only started playing together this year, as Kuhns teammate used to be Schneider.

But what was the Greek teams secret of success? "We will not give that away," said Vaso Karadassiou, who added, "The chemistry is just perfect on our team." After the two bronze medal matches lost at the Turkish Open 2005 in Alanya and the Spanish Open 2005 in Valencia, the Greek champion declared, "I finally wanted to win that damn medal and stand on the podium."

It should be noted that this is the second time that the girls win a European tournament. Vaso Karadassiou, who was playing with Efi Sfyri then, won a gold medal in 2001, while in 2004, Vicky Arvaniti and Thalia Koutroumanidou became the youngest team to win a gold medal in a European tournament.

Vaso and Vicky No 3 in the World

The team of Karadassiou/Arvaniti remained in the third place of the world rankings, while Tsiarsiani and Koutroumanidou climbed one spot from 8th to 7th, after the 10th tournament of the World Tour 2005 in Klagenfurt, Austria.

After finishing in fifth place in Klagenfurt, Karadassiou/Arvaniti reached 2,672 points and winnings of $131,000. The world champions and golden Olympians in Athens, Americans Walsh/May, are in 4th place with 2,520 points and $177,000.

Brazilians Fran&#231;a and Felisberta Silva are in 1st place with 4,524 points and $279,750 in earnings, while Chinese Tian Jia and Wang Fei are in 2nd with 3,744 points and $173.500. Brazilians Behar/Shelda dropped to 5th place (2,272 pts and $102,900), Dutch Kadijk/Mooren are 6th (2,156 pts and $ 81,600), Greeks Tsiarsiani/Koutroumanidou (2,000 pts and $84,700) are 7th, while Germans Pohl/Rau are in 8th place (1,904 pts and $77,800).

In the mens rankings, Greeks Xenakis and Michalopoulos dropped from 44th to 46th place (288 pts and $8,750), while Brazilians Marcio Araujo/de Jesus Magalh&#227;es are 1st (3,496 pts and $194,700) and their compatriots Ricardo-Emanuel are 2nd (3,448 pts and $209,100).

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] 8 Dead, 8 Injured Fire in Apartment Block in Berlin

By Anna Kourti

At least eight people, including four children, died, while another eight were injured when a fire broke out in the stairwell of the five-storey building in the German capitals central Moabit suburb late on Monday night. According to the firefighters, the victims, in their panic get out, ran to the stairwell, thus spreading the fire because of the currents created from the open doors. The fire has been placed under control, while the rescue operations continued until early in the morning. Approximately 150 firefighters and 25 ambulances, carrying seven doctors, rushed to the scene to deal with the situation.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] According to Forbes Magazine Mansion for Sale

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Forbes

One of the most expensive homes in the world is up for sale. It is located in a wealthy southeastern London suburb and the price is at 105 million euros. According to Forbes magazine, Updown Court was built in 2000 in Surrey, while it is at the top of the list with the most expensive homes in the world. The sellers describe it as the most lavish private Georgian neo-classical estate built since the 19th century. The interior decorators paid special attention to the grand staircase, which was modeled after one in the late Italian fashion designer Gianni Versaces home in Miami. The property is listed with realtors Savills and Hamptons International, who noted that the number of buyers is very limited.

Updown Court is definitely over the top. It has 103 rooms, including 22 bedrooms with private bath. Apart from the main house, it also boasts lavish guesthouses and staff quarters; and all those on 23.5 hectares, enhanced with 85,000 euros of shrubbery, while a lake with a fountain in the middle adorn the garden. The home also offers: a helipad, underground garage that can fit eight limos, a heated marble driveway, a 50-seat cinema, bowling alley, squash court, tennis court, stables and a "panic room" for emergency situations. Finally, it has five swimming pools, and the main one has a waterfall and waterslides.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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