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Friday, 27 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-01-09Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HeadlinesTemperatures today plunged and snow fell heavily on Cyprus as an unusually cold snap gripped the island,Foreign minister Ioannis Casoulides stressed that negotiations with the European Union are being held with internationally recognised governments, A security guard in Limassol averted a dawn bomb attack on a cafeteria at the Makarios avenue, Two Palestinian gunmen and three Israeli soldiers were killed today in an attack on an Israeli military post in southern Israel and Anne Robinson is the weakest link. The British host of the TV game show is dubbed the Worst Dressed Woman of 2001. [02] Cyprus weatherTemperatures today plunged and snow fell heavily on Cyprus as an unusually cold snap gripped the island. Temperatures fell by nine degrees to six degrees Celsius inland and minus five on the highest peaks, where snow piled up and kept more than 58 schools closed, some for a third day running. Snow also fell in hills above Nicosia, Limassol, the southern district of Larnaca and the western resort of Paphos, while conditions were expected to deteriorate further during the course of the day before easing tomorrow. Snow also fell on the occupied Pentadaktylos mountain range, for the first time in many years. In Paphos, the cold spell, accompanied by torrential rains caused small-scale power cuts in many villages, which were quickly dealt with. Schools remain closed in many areas. The island is being affected by a northerly cold air mass. Cyprus normally experiences cold dry winters and sizzling summers where temperatures sometimes soar to 43C. It desalinates water from the sea to counter severe droughts. The depth of snow on Mount Olympus is 70 centimetres with 50 in Troodos square.[03] CasoulidesForeign minister Ioannis Casoulides stressed that negotiations with the European Union are being held with internationally recognised governments, and not de facto situations that were brought about by occupation. In statements to our station, Casoulides stressed that in the case of Cyprus, negotiations are being held with the government of the Cyprus republic and there was never an issue of merely the free areas joining the Union.[04] Markides EuropeAttorney General Alekos Markides said that there was never an issue of just the free areas of the republic joining the European Union. In statements to our station, Markides said that on going accession negotiations are between the European Union and the internationally recognised state of the Cyprus republic. When Cyprus joins, he added, it will be as a unified state. The Attorney General noted that there was merely advice to examine various problems that might come up, in case of EU accession without a solution of the Cyprus problem. One of these problems, he said, is the implementation of the acqui communitaire in the Turkish occupied areas. Alekos Markides noted that his office has already prepared suggestions and ways to deal with these problems, so that there won't be any possibility to impinge on Cyprus republic sovereignty.[05] Michos CyprusGovernment spokesman Michalis Papapetrou stated that the government is not aware or has been made party to any plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He refuted reports that Washington has drawn up solution plans, saying they were absolutely unfounded. Papapetrou further clarified that he doesn't know of any group of diplomats, mentioned in a Turkish newspaper, that have drawn up a solution plan.[06] Limassol bombA security guard in Limassol averted a dawn bomb attack on a cafeteria at the Makarios avenue. According to police reports, at around three in the morning, Dimitris Lekkas, spotted a man placing a plastic bag outside the cafeteria. Lekkas chased the suspect, who fled. When he returned, he found a suspicious object in the bag and immediately notified police. They discovered it was a high-powered improvised bomb. The Limassol police superintendent Charalambos Koulentis said that police investigations have taken on a specific turn, following particular leads.[07] Mideast WrapFour Israeli soldiers were killed today in an attack on an Israeli military post in southern Israel which broke a lull in violence which had raised hopes of staunching 15 months of bloodshed. The Israeli army said troops shot dead two gunmen after they cut through a fence at the military post at Kerem Shalom in Israel's southern corner near the borders with the Gaza Strip and Egypt and fired with rifles and grenades. The latest violence broke a three-week period of relative calm in a 15-month Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. An army spokesman called the attack an "extremely grave" incident. European Union and U.S. officials who held talks in the region this week had said the lull in violence provided a glimmer of hope of a breakthrough.[08] Australia firesThree huge helicopters dumped water on a large fire threatening holiday homes south of Sydney, one of the last of a series of major blazes which have burned since Christmas. The fire was burning on a 28 miles front in parkland near the towns of Lake Conjola and Fisherman's Paradise about 124 miles south of Sydney on Australia's east coast. To the north of Sydney, a new fire threatened properties. Officials were hopeful the Sky Crane helicopters, which each dump nine and a half thousand litres of water a time, would halt progress towards houses. One of the helicopters, nicknamed "Elvis" after its use by the U.S. National Guard in Memphis, has been dumping huge quantities of water on fires since just after Christmas Day. The other two, nicknamed the "Incredible Hulk" and "Georgia Peach", arrived in Sydney on Monday packed in pieces in a huge freighter plane from the United States.[09] Pakistan IndiaThe United States, anxious to defuse a military standoff between India and Pakistan, will urge a visiting Indian minister to match peace gestures from Pakistan as the two sides trade fire in tense Kashmir. Pakistan said a policeman was wounded overnight in the latest round of shooting between the two sides in the Himalayan region, at the centre of the dangerous faceoff between the nuclear foes. Several civilians and security personnel have been killed in daily firefights across the ceasefire line dividing the two armies and across their border as world leaders struggle to avert a fourth war between the hostile neighbours. The United States, which has played a key role in urging both countries to talk peace, said it would ask visiting Indian Interior Minister Lal Krishna Advani to show patience as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf takes politically difficult steps against anti-Indian Islamic militants.[10] Afghan wrapMore al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners are filling U.S. detention camps in Afghanistan, but there was no sign of the world's two most wanted men and U.S. jets prowled the skies to bomb possible hideouts. Confusion hovered over the fate of three ministers from the vanquished Taliban militia reported to have surrendered and then allowed to go free, but only under surveillance. A spokesman for the Kandahar governor said the former ministers of defence, justice and mines and industry had surrendered to authorities there and had then been released. But they would not be able to move freely "for their own security." Only the one-eyed Mullah Omar would not be eligible for an amnesty. Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said the reclusive cleric who founded the Taliban and bin Laden, were likely to be still in Afghanistan, but the trail had gone cold.[11] Cse todayStability was the order of the day at the Cyprus Stock Exchange. The All Shares price index closed at 132 point 47, a rise of zero point two percent. Volume of trading reached one point six million pounds.[12] Tailer"Anne Robinson. You are fashion's Weakest Link!" So said Mr Blackwell, who conferred the dubious title of Worst Dressed Woman of 2001 on the neogothic garbed British host of the TV game show "Weakest Link". Placing her at the top of his annual list of the world's worst dressed women, the California fashion gadfly noted Robinson, who frightens her contestants with snappy insults, wore frumpy clothing offstage and looked somewhat like "Harry Potter in Drag...a Hogwarts horror!" Pop star Britney Spears, 19, -- "rehashed Madonna...on a really bad day" -- slipped one notch from her No. one spot on last year's list. Actress Juliette Binoche, 37, who won an Oscar nomination last year for her role in Chocolat, came third. Others singled out included pop music trio Destiny's Child, Icelandic singer-actress Bjork and Prince Charles's lady love Camilla Parker Bowles, whom Blackwell says "packs the stylistic punch of a dilapidated Yorkshire pudding".[13] WeatherRain, thunderstorms and snow on the mountains and some plains, are expected this afternoon. Winds will be strong northeasterly, over moderate to rough seas in windward areas. Temperatures are expected to reach six degrees inland and nine on the coast. Rain and thunderstorms will persist this evening. Snowfalls will continue on the mountains and the plains, with frost forming in most areas. Winds willl be strong to very strong northeasterly, five to six beaufort, to seven beaufort in some areas, over moderate to rough seas. Temperatures will fall to two degrees inland, three on the coast and four below zero on the mountains. The depth of snow on Mount Olympus is 70 centimetres, with 50 in Troodos square.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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