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Monday, 30 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-07-24Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESLuxembourg's Foreign Minister holds contacts on the island within the scope of an official visit;Ankara and the Turkish-Cypriot leader appear to be engaging in face-saving manoeuvres in relation to a possible resumption of Cyprus settlement talks; A Tamil Tigers suicide attack shuts down Sri Lanka's international airport; Palestinians now seem to be turning against one another; The CSE continues slip-sliding away; and... Honestly now.... What IS in a name? [02] christofias-polferHouse President Demetris Christofias today expressed satisfaction over Luxembourg's positions on the Cyprus Issue, as these were conveyed by the Grand Duchy's Foreign Minister, Lydie Polfer, during their one-hour meeting this morning.On a parallel tack, and commenting on recent developments, Mr Christofias also voiced the assessment that various scenaria which have been drawn up over the years as regards a Cyprus settlement seem to be in the process of being implemented, but at the same time noted that both the Greek-Cypriot side and the United Nations itself should insist on the correct placing of any negotiations and their continuation from where they broke off last November in Geneva. [03] polfer-polsEarlier today, Ms Polfer met jointly with the Chairmen of the House External Relations and European Affairs Committees, Democratic Rally and Democratic Party presidents Nikos Anastassiades and Tassos Papadopoulos respectively, at the DISY headquarters in Nicosia.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, both political party leaders refrained from commenting on a possible resumption of Cyprus settlement talks following a relevant statement by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, saying that they have not been briefed on the issue. Both however stressed that what is important is not the Turkish-Cypriot leader's return to talks, but his intentions and the final outcome. Elaborating, Mr Anastassiades said that whether or not Mr Denktash's intentions are genuine, the Greek-Cypriot side has no choice but to return to the talks, especially bearing in mind the island's projected accession to the European Union. On his part, Mr Papadopoulos noted that Rauf Denktash has employed similar ruses in the past, where he withdraws from talks and then returns to them only after securing certain advantages. [04] turks cytalksAnkara and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash seem to be engaging in face-saving manoeuvres as regards a possible return to Cyprus settlement talks without outwardly bowing to international pressure.Following a statement by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Mr Denktash's supposed readiness to re-enter negotiations, the occupation regime leader stated that he'll be meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York in order to discuss this very possibility. At the same time, foreign diplomatic sources are hinting at certain procedural, albeit decorative changes, so that the Turkish-Cypriot leader's return to the talks may be justified. One such change considered probable is the renaming of the talks from "proximity" to "indirect". [05] straw cyBritain remains steadfast in its support of the European Union's Helsinki summit decision that a solution of the Cyprus Issue does not, in any way, form a prerequisite to the island's EU accession.The position was expressed just yesterday by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who was answering questions on the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee report on the Union's enlargement. Jack Straw further emphasised that no third party will be allowed to veto Cyprus' accession, even though he stressed that the desired goal is the reaching of a Cyprus settlement prior to the Union's projected enlargement. [06] srilankaTamil Tiger rebels carried out a suicide attack early this morning against Sri Lanka's Bandanaraike International Airport, the only one in the country, leading to the death of at least 14 people, passengers scrambling to safety in the dark, aircraft burning on the tarmac and a complete shut-down of operations.The dead include several LTTE suicide bombers and five air force and army personnel. Eight military aircraft were destroyed or damaged, while state carrier SriLankan Airlines lost three Airbus jetliners, with another two Airbus planes being damaged. Military and government officials toured the main terminal and voiced the confidence that the airport would reopen at 6 p.m. or 1200 GMT today, even though flights are not expected to resume until tomorrow morning. [07] mideastLast night saw a new twist to the 10-month old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, with some 20 gunmen, including members of President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction and the Islamic militant group Hamas, firing shots against the Gaza City home of Palestinian military intelligence chief Moussa Arafat, triggering a clash with his bodyguards.At the same time, Israel annouced that its forces shot dead a Palestinian militant in the West Bank in an operation linked to yesterday's arrest of a would-be bomber, while Israeli police said they believe that an Israeli teenager whose body was turned over to army authorities in the West Bank riddled with knife and gunshot wounds, was killed by Palestinians. Meanwhile, the United States announced that it's holding discussions with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the possibility of increasing the number of CIA personnel assigned to help calm violence, even though no decision has been reached yet. [08] etnaA lava flow creeping down Sicily's Mount Etna, which for days has threatened the village of Nicolosi nestled below, slowed today, also allowing the re-opening of the Catania international airport after it was twice shut down because of thick layers of volcanic ash covering its runways.Experts however say that the volcano is highly unpredictable, making it extremely difficult to tell whether the eruptions will stop soon. In the past 20 days there have been more than 2,500 tremors under the mountain, with no signs of any let-up. The last time Mount Etna posed a threat was in 1992, when lava streams headed towards Zafferana, a town of 7,000 people on its lower slopes. At the time, the Italian military used controlled explosions to divert the flow. [09] cseYesterday may have seen the Cyprus Stock Exchange Index falling to its lowest-ever level over the past two years, but the downward slide didn't stop there.Today saw a further drop, with the Index closing at 158.12 points, down another 0.42% from yesterday, while the overall volume of trading also remained relatively low, reaching just 9.4 million pounds. [10] tailerIn today's tailer, we pose the oft-asked question "What's in a name?", following a German couple's legal wranglings in their home town of Oranienburg for over a year now as regards the name they want to give to their child.The Kepurras want to call their baby daughter Jona -- or Yona in German -- but local registry officials insist that that's a boy's name, and said that the child would remain nameless pending a court decision on the matter. Jona, without an "H" at the end and a common enough girl's name in Israel, is cited in reference books as a version of the biblical name Jonah with an "H", the male character who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale. The entire issue contrasts sharply with the relaxed approach to names in many other countries. In Russia, for example, the Soviet era prompted many unusual names including Stalinita for girls, while late American musician Frank Zappa called one of his children Moon Unit, and British rockstar turned campaigner Bob Geldof named his daughters Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie. What IS in a name then? [11] weatherGenerally fair conditions are forecast for this afternoon, even though skies will be marked by some light passing cloud. Winds will be light to moderate west-to-southwesterlies, 3-4BF, gusting to 5 along the south coast, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 37C inland, 32C in the south, and 30C in the west and at higher altitudes.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for this evening, even though mist and low cloud are expected to form in areas. Winds will abate to light west-to-northwesterlies, 3BF, on slight seas, while temperatures will drop to 23C in the south, and 21C inland, in the west and on the higher reaches of the Troodos 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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