The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-09-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] To Be Outlined by George Papandreou

13 Σεπ 2008 10:34:00

Sources: NET, ANA

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) President George Papandreou will outline Saturday the Socialist alternative on economy from the podium of the 73rd Thessaloniki International Fair. On Sunday, he will give the customary press conference.

"Greece has three key tools that will usher it into a new growth model with competitiveness and prosperity: education, research and innovation, and investments. Unfortunately, the government has downgraded all three of them. We [PASOK] vow to invest 5% of GDP in education and 7% of GDP in education and research so that we can proceed with that new growth model," commented the Socialist leader, who visited Friday the venue hosting the Thessaloniki International Fair.

In his meeting with the TIF and HELEXPO boards, Papandreou was briefed on TIFs course. Papandreou held talks with HELEXPO head A. Thomopoulos and TIF chairman D. Bakatselos on TIFs identity within world competition and the states commitments.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] 10 Dead, Nearly 100 Hurt

13 Σεπ 2008 10:45:00

Sources: REUTERS

At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Friday, with those figures expected to rise, after a freight train and commuter train collided head-on outside Los Angeles.

Some four hours after the trains, which were headed in opposite directions on the same track, slammed together west of Los Angeles at about 4:30 p.m. PDT, officials feared that more bodies may lie under the twisted wreckage.

"There are at least 10 confirmed fatalities. Confirmed by the coroners office. That number will likely grow because as you know we are still in the rescue phase," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters. "There are still people that havent been extricated," Villaraigosa said.

The mayor said officials were having a difficult time tallying the number of people injured but that it included dozens and was "probably over 100."

A city-wide "tactical alert" was called across Los Angeles as rescuers worked into the night to pry the twisted metal apart and reach victims still trapped.

They said it was possible more bodies would be found when the train cars could be moved with heavy equipment.

The commuter train held more than 350 passengers and crew. It was not immediately clear why the two trains were on the same track.

[03] As a Category 2 Storm

13 Σεπ 2008 11:14:00

Sources: REUTERS

Hurricane Ike crashed onto the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, threatening devastation along the Gulf of Mexico and menacing the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Ike, which has idled more than a fifth of U.S. oil production, came ashore at the barrier island city of Galveston as a Category 2 storm at about 2:10 a.m. CDT (0710 GMT) with 175 kph winds. It was just 1 mile per hour shy of reaching Category 3 strength on the five-step intensity scale, the National Hurricane Center said.

Ike surprised Texans with its fury and size, roughly the size of Texas itself. It may be the worst storm to hit the state in nearly 50 years and is the biggest to hit an urban U.S. area since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.

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