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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Frustrating Situation Says Red Cross

09 Αυγ 2008 10:32:00

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, Reuters, ANA-MPA

The crisis in the breakaway province of South Ossetia is deepening, as fierce fighting between the Russian and Georgian forces continues. Death toll has exceeded 1,400. On Friday, there was no breakthrough at the sitting of the UNs Security Council, while a new one has been scheduled for Saturday. The Red Cross dismissed the situation as frustrating. In the meantime, Russia announced its intentions to have its troops beefed up to protect the people of South Ossetia. It shelled late on Friday the Georgian port of Poti and a military base. The Georgian President, on his part, is expected to declare military rule and reinforce his countrys forces in the border with Abkhazia.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Russia to 'force S Ossetia peace'

Related News:

Crisis Deepens in South Ossetia

[02] IOE Confirms the Doping Case

By Ampelakis Spyros

Tassos Goussis became the first athlete to be tested positive to illegal substances. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the positive sample, with the IOE press spokesman, Giselle Davies, who avoiding releasing the Greek athletes name, arguing that the Greek authorities were handling the case.

The tests were not conducted by the IOE. It is a case the Greek anti-doping agency is handling, said Davies.

Tassos Goussis name leaked to the press as soon as the first sample was tested positive to M3 substance, before the Greek anti-doping agency issues an official announcement and the test of the second sample, as dictated by the regulations.

The 29yo sprinter, who arrived Thursday in Japan, the last leg of the Greek national track teams preparation, will return to Greece and request, as he himself told Greek papers, the second sample be tested. He has firmly denied using any illegal substances, putting the positive sample down to a plot against him.

[03] Chinese Manage to Fend off Storm

By Ampelakis Spyros

Sources: ANA

Chinese meteorologists fired a volley of rain dispersal rockets into the skies to avert any storm over the Beijing stadium that hosted the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, said Saturday the Chinese media.

It was the largest such operation undertaken in China, the official Xinhua news agency said, and the first time such technology had been used to ward off showers over an Olympics opening.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Alexanides still Hopes despite Losing

By Thanasis Karlos

A Shido some 2.10 minutes before the end of the game stripped Greek judoka Lavrentis Alexanides of his chance to directly qualify to the men -60kg semis at the Beijing Olympic Games. Despite losing to Dutch 2007 world champion Ruben Houkes, Alexanides still hopes to make it to the semis if Houkes succeeds in hammering Guedez Sanchez Javier Antonio of Venezuela at the final of the first preliminary group. The latter advanced to the "16" after claiming a surprise win over US Williams-Murray Taraje.

Related News:

Alexanides Makes It to the "16"

[05] Sailing Kick-Start Temporarily Cancelled

By Thanasis Karlos

The strong winds in Beijing have caused problems to the sailing event. In particular, the kick-start of Finn and Yngling races was cancelled twice. Greek sailors Emilios Papathanasiou (Finn), and Sofia Bekatorou, Virginia Kravarioti and Sofia Papadopoulou (Yngling) are to take part.

[06] Maras Kicked Out

By Thanasis Karlos

Following a poor performance at the horizontal bar in the individual artistic preliminaries at the Beijing Olympic Games, world and European champion Vlassis Maras failed to make it to the final. The Greek champions performance was marred by a fall and a really lousy dismount. He scored 13,975, lower than that of his rival in the first group. All his hopes have now been focused at the vault preliminaries.

[07] Alexanides Makes It to the "16"

By Thanasis Karlos

Performing brilliantly at the men -60kg preliminary, Greek judoka Lavrentis Alexanides made it to the 16 of his event. Ousting Matthew DAquino of Australia, he booked the ticket for the next round. He is now to fight 2007 world champion Ruben Houkes of the Netherlands.

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