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Friday, 27 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-06-10Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] Headlines lunchGreece has expressed fears about a military confrontation with Turkey in the explosive area of the Aegean sea, following yesterday's provocation, when two Turkish F-16 fighter jets flew close to an Olympic Airways passenger plane inside Greek airspace,Former British representative on the Cyprus issue Lord David Hannay stated that the solution of the Cyprus issue, can never be based on the two state principle, and Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi was wounded today in an Israeli helicopter gunship attack on his car in Gaza City, a move further undermining peace efforts. [02] Greece incidentGreece has expressed fears about a military confrontation with Turkey in the explosive area of the Aegean sea, following yesterday's provocation, when two Turkish F-16 fighter jets flew close to an Olympic Airways passenger plane inside Greek airspace, triggering the plane's crash avoidance system. The Boeing 717 passenger jet, flying from Athens to Constantinople, landed a short time later in the city. Last month Athens officially complained to the European Union over what it said was a sharp rise in such violations by the Turkish airforce. The Greek armed forces are at the highest level of alert and Greek foreign minister Yiorgos Iacovou warned that the country knows how to protect its interests if they are threatened. He also stressed that it is obvious how certain circles in Ankara are attempting to create tension in Greco-Turkish relations, adding that Greece is not going to be lured into their game. Meanwhile, national defence minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated that the reasons of increased Turkish aggression, can be put down to the difficulties the country is having in modernising itself and the fact that the politicians cannot enforce their opinions on the powerful military establishment.[03] Aegean USThe United States consider the Turkish violations of Greek airspace in the Aegean sea, as a bilateral issue. Commenting on the latest violations, a State Department official said that Washington is aware that the problem was discussed between the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers at a meeting in Madrid. He added that the Bush administration is calling on both countries to continue rapprochement talks and adopt more confidence building measures such as the recent agreement for an exhange programme involving senior officers and military schools cadets.[04] PapadopoulosPresident of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos accused Turkey of following a strategy of provocation both in the Aegean and at the buffer zone village of Strovilia, in order to promote its own alterior motives. President Papadopoulos said that the government expects the Security Council to condemn the initial violation of the status quo at Strovilia, in its resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate. However, President Papadopoulos added, the government expects a double condemnation over the new violations at Strovilia this year.[05] Hannay CyprusFormer British representative on the Cyprus issue Lord David Hannay stated that the solution of the Cyprus issue, can never be based on the two state principle and expressed the hope that the two sides will consider the advantages that a solution will bring and resume settlement talks. In an interview to the Cyprus news agency, Lord Hannay said however, that neither the Cyprus republics' full entry in the EU on May 1st 2004 nor the prospect of the start of EU-Turkey accession negotiations call for the urgent settlement of the Cyprus issue, though such a development would be welcome. He added that the two dates are not carved in stone and there is still time for negotiation, though not unlimited. On the other hand, the British deputy foreign minister on European issues, Denis Makshane, expressed optimism that by first January 2004 a settlement will be reached and a united Cyprus will join the EU.[06] Girl lostPolice arel frantically searching for fifteen year old pupil Anna Antomiou, who left her home at the Larnaca district village of Melini on Sunday. Security forces, with the use of a chopper, are continuing the searches in the area around Melini, as well as the villages of Eptagonia, Kalo Chorio and Trimiklini where the girl has relatives. Anna left home following a serious argument with her father and one of her brothers.[07] Mideast AttackHamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi was wounded today in an Israeli helicopter gunship attack on his car in Gaza City.Doctors and Hamas sources said Rantissi, one of the best-known public faces of the Islamic militant movement, was in "good" condition but a woman who was passing by was killed. About 10 people were wounded. A senior aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat accused Israel of trying to torpedo peace efforts, while Hamas warned Israel it would face "severe punishment" about the missile strike. Israel has regularly carried out such strikes to kill militants behind attacks on Israelis. Hamas has carried out a wave of suicide bombings as part of the Palestinian uprising. Rantissi has often acted as a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, a a stronghold of the militant group, and had spent time in Israeli jails. On Monday he spoke out against the call by Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas for Hamas to halt attacks against Israelis. Only last week, the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers shook hands in the presence of U.S. President George W. Bush and agreed to implement the U.S.-backed "road map" to peace. [08] Iraq AttacksThe United States has said its failure to find Saddam Hussein may be emboldening the fallen leader's Baath party supporters to attack U.S. forces in Iraq.The former Iraqi president has not been seen since the fall of the Iraqi capital Baghdad two months ago. American forces will find Saddam, U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald told reporters on a flight to Portugal at the start of a four-day European visit that includes stops in Albania, Germany and Brussels for NATO meetings. An American soldier, shot dead at a checkpoint near the Syrian border late on Sunday, was the latest killed in a spate of attacks on U.S. troops since they toppled Saddam. Since Baghdad fell on April 9, 39 U.S. soldiers have been killed by enemies and 41 in accidents, bringing total deaths in the Iraq campaign to 182. Rumsfeld said the string of attacks on U.S. forces was due to Saddam sympathisers in the north of the country who had not been engaged in as heavy battles as the south during the war. U.S. Central Command said today that an explosion at an Iraqi ammunition facility south of Baghdad on Monday had killed three Iraqis and wounded two. No U.S. troops were injured. [09] Australia AIDSAn Australian court today ordered two doctors to pay a woman more than 460 thousand American dollars in damages after she contracted HIV from her former husband who she believed had tested negative for the virus that causes AIDS.Sydney doctors Nicholas Harvey and King Weng Chen had argued that doctor-patient confidentiality prevented them from telling the woman, identified only as PD, that her fiance had HIV before they got married. But New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Jerrold Cripps said the doctors did not make it clear to their patient, identified as FH, that he had to inform his bride of his medical condition. The 28-year-old woman, who had unprotected sex with the man after their marriage in the belief they had both tested negative for HIV. A court official said it was unclear whether the doctors would appeal against the judgement. [10] TailerSuspended 160 metres above the Rhine, two German tightrope artists made a spectacular record-breaking motorcycle crossing of the river near the western town of St Goar late on Sunday.Johann Traber, 50, and his son Johann junior, 19, spun like a giant propeller 14 times around the 581-metre long highwire while crossing the river in about five minutes before a crowd of some 15,000, breaking their previous record of 12 revolutions. The pair were held together by a contraption linking the motorcycle, which had its front tyre replaced with a grooved wheel, to a trapeze dangling beneath the 16-mm thick highwire. Traber sat on the trapeze while his son rode the motorbike and they spun around the axis of the wire using movements in their weight to keep them revolving. Shipping on the Rhine, one of the world's busiest waterways, was temporarily halted as a precaution for the stunt. Multiple-record breaker Traber senior has collaborated with U.S. stunt legend Evel Knievel and worked on such films as the 1979 James Bond hit "Moonraker". [11] Weather lunchIt will be mainly fine this afternoon, however later in the day, locl clouds in inland areas and on the mountains are expected to bring isolated showers or thunderstorms. Winds will be light to moderate westerly to southwesterly, force three to four, turning strong five beaufort on the south coast, over slight seas to moderate seas in windward areas. Temperatures will reach 34 degrees inland, 32 on the south and east coasts, 29 on the west coast and 25 on the mountains. The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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