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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-08-26Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HeadlinesPresident of the republic Glafkos Clerides said that the government is seeking a solution that secures human rights and within the framework of United Nations resolutions,The Earth Summit opened today in Johannesburg, giving world governments driven by a mix of idealism and realpolitik just 10 days to agree on ways to haul millions out of poverty without poisoning the planet, Heavy rain lashed a flood-soaked southern region of China, prompting a new rush to shore up embankments and More than half of Britons would like to emigrate from their homeland, fed up with the price of living and terrible weather, and would prefer to live in the United States or Spain. [02] Clerides conferencePresident of the republic Glafkos Clerides said that the government is seeking a solution that secures human rights and within the framework of United Nations resolutions. President Clerides called on the international community to intervene decisively, because Ankara's and Rauf Denktash's unwielding positions did not allow progress in direct settlement talks. However he added, the lack of a solution will not hinder the republics' accession to the European Union. The president of the republic declared the official opening of the Conference of Cypriots living abroad being held at the International Conference Centre in Nicosia. He expressed his gratitude to the Cypriot communities abroad for their support in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.[03] De SotoThe UN chief's special advisor on the Cyprus problem Alvaro De Soto today held one-hour talks with President Clerides, preparing the ground for the sixth round of talks resuming tomorrow. Later today, De Soto will meet in occupied Nicosia, with the Turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. This round of talks is marked by the upcoming three way meeting between the UN Secretary General, President Clerides and Rauf Denktash in Paris on the sixth of September. The meeting is thought to be a last-ditch effort by Kofi Anan to break the deadlock in settlement talks, before the conclusion of Cyprus' EU accession negotiations in December.[04] Tsoxa rolandisDevelopment minister Akis Tsoxatzopoulos, in Cyprus on an official talks, today met Commerce minister Nikos Rolandis and discussed issues concerning energy, technology and tourism, where agreements are to be signed. In statements following the meeting, Tsoxatzopoulos said that the goal is to continue cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, with a goal of a speedy development goal at a financial and social level. The Greek development minister referred to the issue of producing electricity from natural gas, in cooperation with other countries in the region, but also ways of increasing the number of tourists visiting Greece and Cyprus at a global level.[05] Safrica summitThe Earth Summit opened today in Johannesburg, giving world governments driven by a mix of idealism and realpolitik just 10 days to agree on ways to haul millions out of poverty without poisoning the planet.In a plush convention centre ringed by battalions of police and troops and guarded by sharpshooters on rooftops, host president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa said it was time to scrap a world order based on the "savage principle of the survival of the fittest". Mbeki, who called yesterday for an end to "global apartheid" between rich and poor, was elected president of the World Summit on Sustainable Development by delegates from nearly 200 nations. Shielded by 10,000 extra police and troops from potential protests and from sprawling, crime-ridden slums, officials made scant progress over the weekend in bridging a wide gulf between hesitant rich states and poor nations demanding more aid and fairer trade. More than 100 world leaders, with the notable exception of U.S. President George W. Bush, are due in Johannesburg for a day or two next week. Protesters accuse the United States and European Union of pushing the interests of globalised big business at the expense of the very poor. [06] Weather ChinaHeavy rain lashed a flood-soaked southern region of China, prompting a new rush to shore up embankments.Water levels at Dongting Lake, whose shores are home to 10 million people in Hunan province, had fallen after a flood crest on Sunday, but up to 70 mm of rain could fall over the next few days. Floods this summer have killed 900 people in China. After coursing through Dongting, which is the size of Luxembourg, the flood crest is heading for the city of Wuhan and its seven million people in Hubei province to the northeast. A Wuhan flood control official said inspection crews were working round the clock to prepare for the surge, expected to hit the city tomorrow morning. Few, however, expected the flood to compare to that of 1998, when 4,000 people died in China's worst flooding in decades. Central and southern China face deluges, but much of the country is suffering drought. Xinhua said severe water shortages had hit about two million people and a million head livestock in eastern Shandong province. [07] Cambodia floodsMeanwhile, in Cambodia, floodwater levels on the lower stretches of the Mekong river eased over the weekend, raising hope that the country might not suffer a repeat of disastrous floods two years ago in which hundreds died.The death toll in a week of seasonal floods on the Mekong, which flows through the heart of Cambodia, now stands at eight. Over 2,000 families in central provinces have had to be evacuated to higher ground. Prime Minister Hun Sun visited some of the worst affected areas on Saturday, giving a boost to the hundreds of volunteers and soldiers who have battled for days with sandbags to shore up flood defences along the riverbanks. He also acknowledged the heavy price the annual floods, which have caused havoc across southeast Asia, continue to inflict on Cambodia, a third of whose 13 million people still live below a poverty line of 1 dollar per day. [08] Weather IndonesiaIn Indonesia, two days of heavy rain have helped lift a blanket of smoke suffocating the island of Borneo, allowing schools to re-open and flights to run on schedule.Smoke from forest fires and slash-and-burn land clearing has smothered the region for more than a month but local weather experts said the weekend downpour had improved the air quality 10 fold and almost halved the number of fire "hotspots". Emergency crews are continuing to battle blazes and fresh fires had broken out on parts of Sumatra island. Thick haze from major fires on Borneo and Sumatra island in 1997 and 1998 spread to neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia and cost regional economies 9 billion dollars damage to farming, transport and tourism. Central Kalimantan is one of four Indonesian provinces on Borneo, a giant island shared by the sultanate of Brunei and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. Conservationists have long criticised Jakarta for failing to protect its natural resources but Indonesia has said the country's laws are too weak to deal with the problem. [09] Body identityPolice identified the body of a woman, found two days ago at the ground floor of a commercial centre in Limassol. It is Constantina Constantinou, 36 a housewife who fell off the building. Constantina was recognised by her husband Andreas Mosfiliotis. They had two children, aged 8 and 13.[10] TailerMore than half of Britons would like to emigrate from their homeland, fed up with the price of living and terrible weather, and would prefer to live in the United States or Spain.Fifty-four percent of Britons surveyed by pollsters YouGov for the Daily Telegraph newspaper said they would like to settle abroad if they were free to do so. Similar polls found just 42 percent wanted to emigrate in 1948 shortly after World War Two, and only 40 percent in 1975. Of those wanting to leave Britain behind, the United States was the most popular destination followed by Australia. However, if language wasn't a barrier, Britons are the worst linguists in Europe according to an EU poll, then Spain would be their preferred country of residence followed by France, with the U.S. pushed back into third place. The survey found that being able live more cheaply and the chance of new opportunities were cited as the main reasons for moving abroad. Unsurprisingly the notoriously wet and shifty British climate was the next most popular reason for leaving. However, the much maligned British cuisine was less of a problem with only 25 percent citing it as a problem. The biggest draw for staying in Britain was being with family and friends, whilst the second most common reason was Britain's proud history. [11] WeatherIt will be mainly fine this afternoon, with patchy clouds expected to bring local showers inland and on the mountains. Winds will be moderate seabreezes, force three to four on the north coast, turning strong north to northeeastern force five, over slight to moderate seas on the north coast. Temperatures will rise to 37 degrees inland, 33 on the south coast, 30 on the west coast and 27 on the mountains. Tonight it will be mainly fine, with north to northwesterly winds force two to three over slight seas on the south and east coast. Temperatures will fall to 23 degrees inland, south and east coast, 22 on the west and north coast and 19 on 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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