Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-06-25

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] PAPADOPOULOS

[03] FINI CONTACTS

[04] IRAQ BRITAIN

[05] SPOKESMAN IRAQ BRITAIN

[06] SARS

[07] EU USA

[08] PETROL STATIONS

[09] FARMER DEAD

[10] MURDER ATTEMPT

[11] HEATWAVE

[12] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 25/6/03

[01] HEADLINES

-- Vice President of the Italian Council of Ministers Gianfranco Fini assured that Italy, which is undertaking the EU presidency for the next term, will make every effort to solve the Cyprus problem based on the Annan Plan and the UN resolutions.

-- - A British military spokesman said tpday an attack on British forces in southern Iraq in which six soldiers were killed was unprovoked.

aND,

-- Taiwan posted its 19th straight day without new SARS infections today just one day away from meeting a World Health Organisation benchmark to be technically free of the deadly respiratory disease.

-- Owners of petrol stations throughout the free areas of Cyprus will go on an indefinite strike from Friday morning to protest the petrol companies decision not to increase their commission.

[02] PAPADOPOULOS

However he said that amendments will be required on provisions in the plan to make a solution functional and viable.

Speaking at a gathering of the Rotary Clubs of Nicosia, President Papadopoulos referred to the measures which the government announced to help raise the standard of living of Turkish Cypriots. He also said that in May 2004 Cyprus will enter the EU officially, whether there is a solution or not.

[03] FINI CONTACTS

Mr. Fini, who held today separate meetings with House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias and Foreign Minister George Iacovou said the Annan Plan is not the solution but the only possible solution for Cyprus.

He expressed the view that Cyprus' accession to the EU is a very significant event for Cyprus and the whole of Europe and hoped that the EU will decisively contribute to efforts to unite the island.

Foreign Minister Iacovou expressed the hope that Italy will use its relations with Turkey to persuade the Turkish side return to the negotiating table.

[04] IRAQ BRITAIN

The British government said six soldiers were killed and eight wounded in two separate incidents near the city of Amarah, some 200 km north of Iraq's British- controlled second city, Basra.

Witnesses in the town of Majjar, 30 km south of Amarah, said the six were killed by residents after days of tension because of methods a British force used to search for heavy weapons.

At least two Iraqis died in yesterday's clash at Majjar, residents said, adding that the British opened fire with plastic bullets to control a crowd after days of tension.

[05] SPOKESMAN IRAQ BRITAIN

Lieutenant-Colonel Ronnie McCourt told reporters outside a British military base near the city of Amarah that the attack was unprovoked and that it was murder.

[06] SARS

If no new cases are reported tomorrow, Taiwan will have 20 days without a new infection from the date the last SARS case was isolated, fulfilling the WHO's definition of being SARS free.

Taiwan's tally of probable cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) fell to 686 as one patient previously diagnosed with the flu-like disease was found not to have SARS.

The death toll remained unchanged at 84, with 50 people being treated for SARS in hospital.

Taiwan and Toronto, Canada are the only areas the World Health Organisation fears contagion after Beijing was removed from the list of SARS-affected places yesterday.

Meanwhile, China reported its first case of SARS for two weeks today, a new infection in the southern province on Guangdong where the deadly virus first appeared.

The new case in Guangdong, which had gone weeks without a confirmed infection, had originally been classfied a suspected case, the official Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry of Health as saying.

It said SARS claimed one more victim in Beijing on Wednesday, the day after the World Health Organisation lifted an advisory against travelling to China's capital, once the most infected city on the planet.

Beijing had been the only remaining place in the world on the SARS blacklist.

[07] EU USA

Before White House talks with Romano Prodi, president of the executive European Commission, and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, U.S. President George W. Bush sounded anything but conciliatory, saying European trade policies contribute to famine in Africa.

But with the Iraq war largely behind them, diplomats insisted there was a new readiness on both sides of the Atlantic to seek solutions.

To highlight their goodwill, U.S. and European officials will sign a series of agreements at the summit, including an extradition deal as part of the EU's promise to help Washington combat global terrorism in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

On the eve of the summit, Europe rebuked Washington in their dispute over genetically modified foods, saying the EU did far more than the United States to feed the world's poor.

American officials said they would also use the summit to press their European counterparts to outlaw the political wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

[08] PETROL STATIONS

During a meeting of the executive board of the Petrol Stations owners last night, its members were called to continue the strike until their demands are met.

Petrol stations will close from six in the morning on Friday morning, including the 24 hour service.

[09] FARMER DEAD

Police said that Pafitis was discovered outside his vehicles and that he had gun shot wounds. No further details were released.

[10] MURDER ATTEMPT

The suspect, who is working at Limassol Municipality, had economic differences.

[11] HEATWAVE

He said Cyprus is being affected by dry, hot conditions and temperatures will be higher for the season. He said today temperatures will reach 38, tomorrow 39 and on Sunday 40. Normal temperatures for the season is 35.

[12] WEATHER

Tonight, the weather will be mainly clear with variable light winds, two to three beaufort and the sea slight.

Temperatures will fall to 22 C inland and on the south coast and 19 over the west and mountains. The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.

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