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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-03-23Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESRemnants of Russia's Mir space station plunged into the Pacific Ocean this morning, thundering spectacularly over Fiji with a huge smoke trail after engineers ended the laboratory's "triumphant" 15 year mission,UN Secretary General Kofi Anan amended a reference to "Greek-Cypriot" and "turkish-cypriot authorities" made during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Russia today said Serbia's rebel province of Kosovo had become a source of regional terrorism and blamed a 1999 NATO military operation against Yugoslavia for the situation and A German sauna has banned a man caught secretly filming naked customers with a tiny camera hidden in his shower gel bottle. [02] Mir HistoryRemnants of Russia's Mir space station plunged into the Pacific Ocean this morning, thundering spectacularly over Fiji with a huge smoke trail after engineers ended the laboratory's "triumphant" 15 year mission.Mission Control outside Moscow said a final signal at seven past seven in the morning, switched on engines for a 20-minute burst that irrevocably altered the station's trajectory, pitching it into a designated splash-down zone in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Australian officials said they believed Mir -- which means both "peace" and "world" in Russian -- ended up in an unpopulated part of the Pacific some 1,800 miles southwest of Britain's Pitcairn Islands. South Pacific nations had been on standby in case chunks hit land instead of water. A fleet of 27 tuna boats fishing in the target zone was not hit by debris. Across the globe at Mission Control, there were some long faces as the reality hit home but pride in Russia's achievement at keeping Mir aloft far longer than planned -- and smiles of relief that everything went to schedule. The giant 136-tonne structure -- a collection of cylindrical modules sprouting a profusion of antennae and solar panels -- had been in orbit since 1986. Mir's demise capped 15 years of record breaking but also an accident-prone career. The mission had cost 4.2 billion dollars, not least because of running repairs towards the end. Russia will now concentrate its efforts -- and limited funds that would not stretch to keeping Mir aloft -- on the 95-billion dollar International Space Station, which is a joint venture with the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. [03] Anan CorrectionUN Secretary General Kofi Anan amended a reference to "Greek-Cypriot" and "turkish-cypriot authorities" made during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York.Following strong representations by the Cyprus republic, the office of the UN spokesman issued an amending statement in which it's stressed that with his statement Annan wanted to emphasize that his good-will mission continues with both communities, through his special envoy. The UN chief was responding to a question by a turkish reporter. Kofi Anan added that his good-will services mean constant communications with the two communities and expressed the hope that soon there will be some indication of whether a new round of proximity talks wikll take place. [04] UN ReportA new amended version of the UN Human rights report on Cyprus will be announced in the next few days, removing controversial terms included in the original report, which, among others, referred to two "authorities" in Cyprus.In statements to our station, foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that the announcement will be made in Geneva, and said that the delay was due to red tape. The United Nations said that the mistakes in phraseology were merely syntax errors. [05] Australian CyprusAustralia's special envoy for Cyprus Jim Short is expected in Cyprus in the near future, with the purpose of promoting his country's initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem.The Australian official is also expected to visit Athens, London, Brussels and Washington. Jim Short is also in contact with representatives of the Cypriot communities abroad. His plan of action was revealed in Melbourne, during a meeting of the General Secretary of Greeks Living Abroad, Dimitris Dollis. The Greek official is in Australia to represent the Greek government in the 25th of March Anniversary Celebrations. Australian Prime Minister John Howard will also be attending. [06] Russia KossovoRussia today said Serbia's rebel province of Kosovo had become a source of regional terrorism and blamed a 1999 NATO military operation against Yugoslavia for the situation.The Foreign Ministry said in a statement marking two years since NATO launched air strikes against Yugoslavia, that the attacks had only aggravated regional problems. Russia bitterly criticised NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, but later sent paratroopers to join the international peacekeeping force in predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo. But Moscow remained critical of the way the peacekeeping operation was conducted. Russia has said NATO's protection turned Kosovo into a safe haven for Albanian radicals, encouraging them to force Serbs out of the region and expand their activity beyond Kosovo's borders. Russia has strongly denounced attacks by Albanian guerrillas from Kosovo against neighbouring Serbia and Scopje. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov visited the Balkans earlier this week to promise full backing to Scopje and Serbia in their resistance to Albanian guerrillas. [07] Russia expulsionThe Russian Foreign Ministry today said that four U.S. diplomats had been told to leave the country in the "very near future" and promised further steps in a spy dispute with the United States.The decision was announced to deputy chief of U.S. mission John Ordway, who had been summoned earlier on Friday. Ambassador James Collins was out of Moscow visiting Siberia. Russia said the four expelled diplomats were guilty of "activities incompatible with their status" and added that further steps would be taken "to stop illegal activities of U.S. representatives in Russia". The statement, came a day after Washington announced it was expelling 50 Russian diplomats. [08] Disease IrelandThe month-long effort to prevent the spread of Europe's foot-and-mouth epidemic seemed to be failing today, after Ireland became the fourth country to fall victim to the higly contagious livestock disease.The disease first appeared in Britain, and despite the draconian measures imposed by other European Union states -- from making travellers douse their feet in disinfectant to banning the movement of animals -- it has also spread to France and the Netherlands. The EU has ruled out a vaccination programme on the ground that it would be costly and would strip European countries of their disease-free status, preventing them from exporting to some countries. Instead tens of thousands of animals -- infected or suspect --- have been slaughtered and burnt. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was heckled by angry farmers when he visited Carlisle in northwest England, one of the worst-hit areas, for talks with farmers' leaders and tourism officials. As the total number of infected sites in Britain rose to 480 yesterday, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown announced a 150 million pound compensation scheme to help farmers whose healthy animals are killed in the bid to eradicate foot-and-mouth. British figures showed more than 270,000 animals had been slaughtered and a further 160,000 were to be killed. [09] Mouscouri marblesInternationally-acclaimed Greek singer Nana Mouscouri appealed to Australians to support efforts for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.In an interview, on the sidelines of a tour of Australia, Mouscouri said that Greek people belong to Parthenon and its sculptures, which symbolize Greek pride and heritage, shared with the rest of the world. [10] FirecrackersPolice last night confiscated large quantities of fire-crackers and fireworks.Thei import and distribution of some types of fireworks, is prohibited. The fireworks were discovered at Strovolos, in Nicosia, after a search in warehouses belonging to an explosives trader. More than 39 thousand fire-crackers and 1275 fireworks were found, some types of which are prohibited in Cyprus. The 70 year old tradesman was arrested. [11] Cse downThe Cyprus stock exchange recorded new lows today.The All Shares' Price Index closed at 184 point 84 units, a drop of one point ninety percent. The volume of trading almost doubled from yesterday, and closed at nine million pounds.57 [12] Sauna PeepA German sauna has banned a man caught secretly filming naked customers with a tiny camera hidden in his shower gel bottle.According to Frankfurt police, the 37-year-old man had built an ingenious wireless device which transmitted video footage from the bottle to a video recorder in his nearby bag, He was caught after staff noticed he was always walking around clutching the shower gel bottle. Police released the man but are still examining the device and may charge him with offending the public. He could also face prosecution under German telecommunications laws because he had no licence to operate a wireless camera. The suspect claimed he wanted to use the material for 'artistic purposes". [13] WeatherStrong winds and local showers, with thunder, in some areas, is the outlook for this afternoon.Winds will be strong, southwesterly, five beaufort, to very strong on the onrth and east coast and near gale in some areas, over rough to very rough seas. Local showers, with possible thunderstorms, is the outlook for this evening. Winds will gradually rurn moderate northwesterly, four to five beaufort,over rough to very rough seas. Temperatures will fall to seven degrees inland, nine on the coast and six on the mountains. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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