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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-06-14Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESIsraeli-Palestinian bloodshed continued today, despite yesterday's implementation of a US-brokered ceasefire;The European Union's summit meeting begins tomorrow, following contacts between EU-leaders and the US President today; Cyprus' House President begins radiotherapy today; A total of nine flights to and from Cyprus faced problems due to fog last night and this morning; and... The Oxford English Dictionary features its latest online update as of this morning. [02] mideastIsraeli-Palestinian bloodshed continued early this morning, despite a US-brokered ceasefire and efforts on both sides to cement the truce designed to end eight months of violence.A Palestinian gunman and an Israeli were killed in a West Bank shoot-out near Jerusalem, just after Israel withdrew tanks from a flashpoint in Gaza in a first step to implement CIA Director George Tenet's ceasefire plan. Late last night meanwhile, a Palestinian was killed -- possibly by an Israeli -- in a drive-by shooting on a West Bank road. Palestinians also fired mortar bombs at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, but no casualties were reported. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel must, within the next 48 hours, start lifting its blockade of Palestinian areas and redeploying troops in a gradual process aimed at bringing the region back to where it stood before the outbreak of violence last September. The Tenet plan also provides for the Palestinian Authority to immediately "apprehend, question, and incarcerate terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza", collect illegal arms including mortars, shut down bomb factories and prevent arms smuggling. [03] eu summitUS President George W. Bush today arrived in Goethenborg for a first summit with EU leaders, many of them still sceptical about his plans on missile defence and global environment, while thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Sweden's second largest city to express their opposition to the plans.Last night meanwhile, and in a sign of European assertiveness, current EU-president Goran Persson said that a strong Europe is needed to balance US world domination. The statement by Persson, Sweden's centre-left prime minister and EU president until the end of this month, was seen as an attempt to temper the optimism of US officials who felt that Bush had safely negotiated yesterday's Brussels meeting with NATO allies, considered a key step in his first presidential trip to Europe . Following meetings with the US President today, the 15 EU-leaders will hold their own, semi-annual summit, also to be attended by candidate-state delegations, tomorrow and Saturday. [04] kas finlandForeign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides arrived in Helsinki yesterday afternoon on the invitation of his Finnish counterpart Erki Tuomioya.The visit is to incorporate meetings with Finland's President and Prime Minister, while Mr Kasoulides is also expected to meet with the country's Foreign Trade Minister in charge of matters related to the EU-enlargement process. In addition, Cyprus' head-of-diplomacy will address an extra-ordinary meeting of the Finnish Parliament's Foreign and European Affairs committee. Foreign Minister Kasoulides will leave Finland later today for Sweden's Gothenborg, where he will attend the EU summit conference along with President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides. [05] us medThe US House of Representatives Foreign Relations committee has concluded the current phase of its assessment of US policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the superpower's relations with Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.In a report filed from Washington, the Athens News Agency said that as regards Cyprus, almost all committee members expressed their support of a bizonal federal solution, while Chairman Elton Gallegly described the current status quo on the island as "unacceptable". Appearing before the US House committee, former US special co-ordinator for Cyprus, Nelson Ledsky, presented a pessimistic outlook, saying that a solution to the island's long-standing problem is today more difficult than at any other time in the last 27 years. He did add, however, that a solution is feasible, provided this is based on the 1992 Ghali Set of Ideas. Nelson Ledsky also commented on Cyprus' application to join the EU, saying that while this was made with the best intentions, the island's accession course has elicited adverse reactions from Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and has created problems in efforts towards a solution. [06] kyp therapyFormer House President and Democratic Party Chairman Spyros Kyprianou, following his being diagnosed with bone cancer, is today beginning a systematic radiotherapy regime.In a relevant announcement, the head of Nicosia General's Cardiological Clinic, Mr Costas Zambartas, stated that the biopsy revealed a metastatic adenocarcinoma in Mr Kyprianou's pelvic area. According to the doctors treating the veteran politician, radiotherapy will, for the time being, be carried out in Cyprus, with no question of Spyros Kyprianou having to go abroad. [07] hlthmin-attgenThe Attorney-General's Office will evaluate both the Health Ministry and the Police investigations into the April 30th operating-theatre death of 14-year-old Yiorgos HjiDemetris before deciding whether disciplinary or criminal offences were committed.Making the announcement, after a tripartite meeting with both Attorney-General Alecos Markides Health Minister Frixos Savvides, Assistant Attorney-General Petros Clerides said that the police investigation is expected to be concluded some time next week, following the filing of a report by the HjiDemetris family's privately-retained pathologist, Marios Matsakis. On his part, Frixos Savvides clarified that the possible responsibilities pinpointed at this stage derive from relevant depositions, and are purely procedural, related, among others, to professional duty and behaviour. [08] fatalityCyprus roads were marked by yet another fatality last night, with a 68-year-old woman being the victim of a hit-and-run accident in the Paphos-district village of Stroumbi.According to the relevant police report, Styliani Poulla was killed while crossing the main road of the village at around 10 o'clock last night. The car involved in the accident was located shortly afterwards in the village of Yiolou, where it was established that it had been driven by a 17-year-old local resident who has since been placed in police custody pending further investigations. [09] airport fogThe Larnaka and Paphos airports were affected by fog overnight, leading to both having to suspend operations for some time and flights being diverted, though not at the same time.Larnaka airport shut down shortly before midnight, with a total of six flights from the United Kingdom being diverted to Paphos. Overland transportation to final destinations was arranged for the passengers of three of the flights, while the other three waited until the resumption of Larnaka airport operations at around 2 a.m., at which time they completed their original flight-plan. Fog however also descended upon Paphos airport at around 5 a.m., leading to one Eurocypria flight being diverted to Larnaka, while the departure of another two flights from Paphos was delayed until conditions cleared shortly after 7 a.m. [10] CSEOn now for our daily look at the Cyprus Stock Exchange, with activity today experiencing a marginal drop.Specifically, the All-Share Index closed at 194.01, down 0.62% from yesterday, while the overall volume of trading reached just over 13.7 million pounds. [11] tailerAnd for our tailer, one of the bastions of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary, today saw its latest online update on the vagaries of language, claiming to be able to guide you through a veritable minefield of slang.Featuring newly-established exclamations like "Doh!", as well as phrases like "The Full Monty" and "New Man", the linguistic dilletante's bible also deals with slang expressions such as "six-pack stomach" and "street cred," while also citing multi-derivative terms like "cheesy old pants". For those interested, the Oxford English Dictionary's online service, launched just over a year ago, can be found at <www.oup.co.uk>. Once again, the website is <www.oup.co.uk> [12] weatherGenerally fair conditions are forecast for this afternoon, with light southwesterly winds, 3BF, on slight to moderate seas, and above-average temperatures for this time of year of 39C inland, 33C in the south, 28C in the west and 31C at higher altitudes.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for this evening, even though coastal regions could be affected by fog. Winds will be light to moderate west-to-northwesterlies, 3-4BF, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures will drop to around 20C throughout the island. The higher-than-normal temperatures for this time of year are expected to start dropping by tomorrow, with inland highs of 38C, while a further drop is forecast for the weekend. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |