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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-10-22Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 1999 [01] HEADLINES--- US State Department spokesman, James Foley, said that the United States aim at unconditional talks between the two sides on the Cyprus problem.--- New taxes come into effect today, increasing prices of fuel, alcohol and certain vehicles. --- Taiwan was rocked by a strong earthquake today, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale. --- Briton Eddie Irvine appeared at the appeal hearing over Ferrari's disqualification from the Malaysian Grand Prix. AND --- A car with as much power as a small hairdryer won the triennial World Solar Challenge race today. [02] FOLEY CYPRUSUS State Department spokesman, James Foley, said that the United States aim at bringing the two sides to the negotiating table, without preconditions, under the auspices of the United Nations.Mr. Foley said that Alfred Moses' trip to Ankara, Athens and Nicosia was productive and helpful regarding efforts to restart negotiations on the Cyprus problem. He said that both US envoys, Alfred Moses and Thomas Weston, have a lot of work ahead of them, adding that the envoys will return to Washington to brief President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright on their talks. Mr. Foley said that the goal is to prepare successful talks on the Cyprus problem. [03] ITALY CYPRUS EUThe Italian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee urged the country's Government to support Cyprus' accession to the European Union, regardless of whether the political problem has been solved or not.The Committee adopted a resolution urging the Italian Government to support the resumption of talks on the Cyprus problem, and to promote a serious reconciliation dialogue between the two communities. It also makes reference to Turkish Cypriot demands to be recognised as a separate entity, stressing that this is an obstacle to peace. [04] VIOLANDE CYPRUSItalian Parliament President, Luciano Violande, arrives in Cyprus on Sunday, at the invitation of House President, Spyros Kyprianou.Mr. Violande will be received by President Glafcos Clerides, and will hold talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides, and chief negotiator for EU accession talks Giorgos Vassiliou. [05] TAXESNew taxes come into effect today on fuel, alcohol and jeeps.The taxes were passed by the House of Representatives last night, increasing the price of petrol by 2 cents a litre. The price of paraffin and diesel has also gone up. Unleaded petrol is exempt. The MPs of AKEL and Socialist Party EDEK, as well as some MPs from the Democratic Party opposed the new taxes on fuel. The consumer tax on spirits, which increases the price of pure alcohol by 50 cents a litre was passed unanimously, with 3 abstentions. The House also passed an increase of the consumer tax on Jeeps, from 40 to 60 percent. The tax package, submitted to the House yesterday along with the state budget for the year 2000, proposes a VAT increase from 8 to 10 percent on December 1, and an increase in registration fees and road tax by 35 percent on January 1. It also proposes measures worth 15 million pounds to support low-income citizens. [06] VASSILIOU TAXESChief negotiator for Cyprus' EU accession talks, Giorgos Vassiliou, said today that the new taxes on petrol have reduced the difference from prices in the European Union, adding that it will also increase state income.He said that Europe is interested in the tax on fuel for diesel vehicles, adding that Cyprus is just 7 cents away from the lowest limit set by the European Union. Mr. Vassiliou was speaking on his departure for Athens, where he will participate in the session of the tripartite international committee, which has been dealing with world economy and social issues since 1973. He is the first Cypriot to be invited to attend a session of this committee. [07] TAIWAN QUAKEA strong earthquake and several aftershocks hit quake-weary Taiwan today, killing one person just four weeks after a major quake that killed more than 2,300.State seismologists said that the quake, centred on the south-central county of Chiayi, registered 6.4 on the open-ended Richter scale -- capable of causing significant, widespread damage, particularly in populated areas. It was quickly followed by a string of aftershocks. Officials said that 12 buildings had collapsed and that 19 people had been rescued from the rubble. Gas leaks also caused nine fires. [08] WORLD IN BRIEFAnd now for a look at developments around the world in brief.- - - - Russia and the European Union started top level talks, with the increasingly tense situation in Chechnya pushing other issues down the agenda. - - - - A spokesman for federal forces fighting Islamic guerrillas in Chechnya said Russia had destroyed an "arms bazaar" in the regional capital of Grozny but denied the attack had killed civilians. - - - - Indonesia's new President Abdurrahman Wahid focused on the most immediate problems of his rule -- how to revive the country's collapsed economy and who should take charge of the recovery. - - - - French Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld, possibly the person most responsible for Maurice Papon being brought to trial, rejoiced at the arrest in Switzerland of the convicted fugitive. [09] FERRARI HEARINGBriton Eddie Irvine, fighting to retain his chances of winning this year's Formula One world title, made a surprise appearance today at the appeal hearing over Ferrari's disqualification from the Malaysian Grand Prix.Irvine joined Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt, technical director Ross Brawn and other team technical experts at the International Automobile Federation hearing before five judges. Irvine won Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix with Ferrari's other driver Michael Schumacher second but both were disqualified after a technical inspection showed their cars flouted design rules. The decision meant Finn Mika Hakkinen, who placed third in the race, was promoted to first place, giving him enough points to retain his world title before the last race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix on October 31. Should Ferrari succeed in their appeal, Irvine would start the last race four points ahead of McLaren driver Hakkinen with the title still at stake. The appeal decision, due to be announced tomorrow, will affect the constructors' title and standings as well as the drivers' title. At issue is the size of the barge boards on the Ferrari cars. The boards, fitted behind the front wheels to improve air flow and stability, were one centimetre too short in Malaysia. [10] SOLAR RACEWith all the vroom of an electric shaver, an Australian-made solar-powered car won the triennial World Solar Challenge race today across the Australian continent from Darwin to Adelaide.After the most tightly contested race in the challenge's 12-year history, the privately-funded Aurora 101 from Victoria state won the gruelling event ahead of Canadian entrant Radiance, from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. The Aurora completed the 3,010-km course in 41 hours and six minutes. While the Aurora was left in the shade compared to the 33 hours and 32 minutes race record set in 1996 by the Japanese Honda Dream team, organisers were thrilled by the level of competition and the cars' improved reliability. Aurora support crew said the vehicle used less than 1.5 kilowatts of power, equivalent to the amount used to run a small hairdryer, compared to the 150-170 kilowatts consumed by standard internal combustion vehicles on the world's roads. [11] WEATHERThis afternoon will be mainly fine with a few passing clouds.Winds will be locally northwesterly to northeasterly, becoming southwesterly to westerly, moderate, three to four beaufort. The sea will be slight to moderate. Tonight will be clear with a few passing clouds. Winds will be southwesterly to northwesterly, light, two to three beaufort, and the sea will be slight to moderate on western and northern coasts. The temperature will drop to 17 degrees inland and on the west coast, to 19 on other coasts, and to 15 over the mountains. The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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