The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-08-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Performance of Greek Athletes on Day 5

Greek judoka Ilias Iliades elimination marked the participation of the Greek athletes on day five of the Beijing Olympic Games. The Athens gold medalist lost in his first match to Dutch Mark Huizinga. In boxing, following into the steps of Giorgos Gazis, Ilias Pavlides managed to advance to the semis, after downing Milorad Gajovic of Montenegro. Pavlides will now fight against Cuban Duarte Acosta. In canoe/kayak, Maria Ferekides booked a ticket to the semis of K1 race. The Greek canoeist/kayaker scored 108.37 points in the first preliminary race and 113.60 in the second, landing twelfth place.

Giannis Christou failed to make it to the final of Mens single scull, since he finished fourth in the semis, clocking 7:06:02. He will now claim a place between seventh and twelfth in final B.

In sailing, Sofia Bekatorou, Sofia Papadopoulou and Virginia Kravarioti are too close to claiming a medal. The Greek crew landed third place in the seventh race, climbing to the fourth place in the general ranking. Andreas Kosmatopoulos and Andreas Papadopoulos finished fifth in both the fifth and sixth race, climbing to the sixth place in the general ranking. Emilios Papathanasiou, however, fell to the twentieth place, after failing to finish in the seventh race. Earning ninth place in the third race, Vaggelis Himonas is now sixteenth in the general ranking. Eftyhia Mantzaraki is also sixteenth, after landing fourteenth place in the third race.

In table tennis, the Greek Mens team lost 3-0 to the Chinese at the Group A opener. In swimming, none of the Greek swimmers succeeded in making it to the semis. Giannis Kokkodis finished third in heat 3 of the Mens 200m Individual Medley, clocking 2:01:22. Dimitris Hasiotis finished eighth in heat 3 of the Mens 200m Butterdly, clocking 2:02:30. Eleni Kosti landed third place in heat 3 of the Womens 100m Freestyle, clocking 56.44, close to her personal best. Aggeliki Exarhou finished eighth in heat 3 of the Womens 200m Breaststroke.

Finally, the Greek Women water polo team suffered its second defeat in the Olympic tournament. Downed 9-6 by the Dutch, the Greek team stands no chance of making it to the next round.

[02] Basket: Time for US

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Two years after Greek Basketball team defeated the US team in 2006 Mundobasket, the Greek team is again meeting the American team within the Beijing Olympics Basketball tournament with the aim to repeat the victory of 2006. Despite a history of 7-2 victories in favour of the US team, its unexpected defeat in 2006 is a nightmare for the Americans who are well prepared to make up for it.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[03] Oil Prices Rise Slightly

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ΑNA-ΜPA, Reuters

As US oil reserves dropped last week, crude oil prices in the international markets rose over $US114 per barrel this afternoon.

As per the statistical service of the US Energy Information Administration, US oil reserves have dropped by 6.4 million barrels instead of 2.1-million-barrel drop forecast by analysts.

US light crude in New York was trading $US114.15 per barrel today, while Brent for September delivery at $U111.97 per barrel.

The dollar traded as low as $US1.4730 before ending trading today at $US1.4667 against the euro and $2.1047 against the British pound, a 26-year low. The latest plunge followed reports from Beijing suggesting that China might hold a smaller percentage of its $US1.43 trillion reserves in dollars.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[04] Kalamata: Ship with Bootleg Cigarettes Located

A ship loaded with bootleg cigarettes has been located in a joint operation by the Mercantile Marine security forces and the police. A group of frogmen of the Mercantile Marine Ministry took over the Panama-flagged "Svetlana" in the Messinian Gulf because it was carrying bootleg cigarettes. The ship was docked to Kalamata port. The port authorities arrested six Ukrainians, the ship's crew. At the same time, the police arrested two truck drivers, who had been arrested as they had unloaded part of the bootleg cigarettes carried by "Svetlana" to a smaller vessel.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[05] Miracle in 100 Days

13 Αυγ 2008 14:53:00

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA-MPA

According to Newsweek magazine, Silvio Berlusconi has probably done the impossible: to assert control over his apparently ungovernable country to such an effective degree that has not precedent in Italys modern history.

The US magazine read that one of Berlusconis first moves was push a bill giving the top four national officeholders immunity from prosecution while in office. The fact that he included himself in the bill did not go unnoticed, yet the Italians are feeling too poor to shift their attention to such matters.

The author of the article added that financial security is what the Italians are after and Berlusconi is offering it with an iron-fist-in-velvet-glove competence.

Newsweek highlighted his successful drive to clean up Naples and his emblematic resolution to tackle crime. He declared a state of emergency to address illegal immigration and deployed troops to crack down on immigration.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Nafplio/Argos Water Non-drinkable

Water in the cities of Nafplio and Argos is improper for drinking due to the high content of chlorine and nitric acids. The director of Nafplio Municipal Water Supply Company, Hristos Mastorikos said that the high content of chlorine is due to penetration of sea water to Lerni wells whose water level has lowered while nitric acids come from bores activated by Argos Municipal Water Supply company to face water shortage.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[07] Port Authority Officer Interrogated

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Port authority officer, allegedly involved as witness in Mykonos case, where 20 y/o Australian lost his life after fierce beating, made his statement to Syros interrogator. He is to make a supplementary statement on Monday. The evidence against him confirmed so far is his friendly relations with one of the assailants, his presence on the spot of the crime and the fact that he did not inform the port authority on the incident. According to reports, the port authority officer also worked as a night club doorman. He maintained that he arrived on the spot of the crime after the end of conflict.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[08] Cocaine Dealer Shot Dead

Sources: ΑNA-ΜPA

A 37 y/o Greek, the alleged recipient of 4.5kg of cocaine, was shot dead in Boula, at 03:30, on Wednesday by policeman of the Attika Police Narcotics Squad in his attempt to escape. The Crime Department is carrying out an inquiry on the case.

According to police sources, the operation was launched after a 40 y/o Bulgarian flying from Rumania filed complaint about his lost suitcase at Eleftherios Benizelos Airport. Investigation indicated that his suitcase had remained in Rumania and police had found 4.5 kg of cocaine when they opened it. Attika Police in cooperation with Rumanian authorities arrested the Bulgarian, who confessed that he had undertaken the mission to transport the drug and hand it to a Greek. Police set an ambush on Alkyonides St, in Boula but when the 37 y/o arrived to pick up the cocaine, he saw the policemen and tried to escape driving his car onto a policeman. The policeman fired at the car to make him stop but one of the bullets hit the man on the back. The 37 y/o dealer continued driving for about 1km but succumbed to his wound and stopped. He was transferred to Boula hospital where his death was confirmed.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[09] Lennon's Killer Denied Parole

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA-MNA

John Lennons killer was denied parole for a fifth time yesterday after he was felt to still be a threat to the public. Mark Chapman, 53, will remain in New Yorks Attica Correctional Facility for at least two more years for gunning down the former Beatle in 1980. Lennons widow, Yoko Ono, was "very pleased" at the decision, her lawyer, Peter Shukat, said. Lennon, 40, was shot several times as he entered his luxury apartment building, the Dakota on Manhattans Upper West Side, opposite Central Park, in December 1980. Chapman will next appear before a parole board in August 2010.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] Canoe/Kayak: Ferekides in the Semis

By Nasos Bratsos

Canoeist/Kayaker Maria Ferekides of Greece made it to the semis of Womens Slalom K1 race that will take place on Thursday. Scoring 108.37 points in the first preliminary race and 113.60 in the second, the Greek champion ranked 12th.

[11] Greek Water Polo Team Lost to the Netherlands

By Thanasis Karlos

Greeces women water polo team suffered its second loss at the Beijing Olympic Games, downed 9-6 by the Dutch. The encounter against Hungary on Friday morning will wrap up its participation, giving the Greek team the chance to land seventh place in the tournament. The score per period: 3-3, 2-2, 1-3, 0-1.

[12] Rowing: Christou Finished 4th in Semis

By Nasos Bratsos

Despite his good performance, rower Giannis Christou of Greece failed to advance to the final. Clocking 7:06:02 in the semis, the Greek athlete landed fourth place, losing the chance of competing in the final. He will now drive for places 7th to 12th.

[13] Wrestling: Victory for Pavlidis

By Nasos Bratsos

Greek athlete in wrestling Ilias Pavlidis achieved a victory against Milorad Gajovic (Montenegro) that gave him the ticket to claim a medal on Sunday. Gajovic scored the first point of the contest. Pavlidis also scored a point as they were both looking for success with a right hand. Gajovic took his 2-1 lead in to the third round. Then Pavlidis came out and scored a couple of quick points to take a 3-2 lead. There was a replay of round 2 where Pavlidis landed 2 clean shots but only got credit for one. The round ended 2-0. Pavlidis managed to lead (3-2) to the final round and finally won 7-3. General Secretary of Athletics Mr. Stavros Douvis and the leader of the Greek mission in Beijing Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos watched the game.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[14] In the Olympic Games

13 Αυγ 2008 12:21:00

By Nasos Bratsos

One after the other, world records in swimming are being smashed at the Beijing Olympic Games. The US Mens 4 x 200m Freestyle team set a new world record, with Michael Phelps, who has already claimed five gold medals and broke five world records in the tournament, standing out. The Americans went down to the Olympic history clocking 6:58:56, smashing their own record of 7:03:24 set in Melbourne on 30 March. Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Peter Vanderkaay are the golden boys of the US team. Setting a new European record, the Russians landed second place clocking 7:03:70. Russias team consisted of Nikita Lobintsev, Evgeniy Lagunov, Danila Izotov and Alexander Sukhorukov.

Michael Phelps also claimed gold medal at the final of the Mens 200m Butterfly, also setting a new world record, improving his own personal best. He clocked 1:52:03.

Translated by Areti Christou

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