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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-04-22Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] headlinesRussia vetos the US-and-British tabled UN Security Council draft resolution providing guarantees over the implementation of a Cyprus settlement based on the Annan Plan;The UN Secretary-General's address to the people of the island last night is followed by a barrage of questions from reporters; Midnight tonight sees an end to all campaigning either for or against the Annan Plan, while the President of the Republic will be holding a televised press conference this evening, with simultaneous translation into English on this Channel; Foreign News, and Israeli troops shoot dead three Palestinian militants and a 15-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip; A small blast rocks a bus carrying military personnel in Turkey's commercial capital; and... Remember the song "You'd better stop and smell the roses"? Stay tuned... [02] russia seccon vetoThe UN Security Council last night entered deliberations over the draft resolution proposed by the US and Britain and offering guarantees as to the implementation of a Cyprus settlement inline with the Annan Plan, with Russia however exercising its veto and blocking its approval in the face of "YEA" votes by the body's other fourteen member-states.The two proposers had earlier rejected a suggestion made by Russia's representative for a 24-hour postponement of any debate in order to study and hold consultations on the plan, while after the blocking, the same representative spoke of a "procedural veto" based on matters of principle and noting that no resolution should be approved prior to the holding of the referenda on the island so that the will of the people is not influenced. Britain's representative meanwhile stated that the draft resolution remains on the table, and if both communities issue a "YES" to the Annan Plan, the proposal will be returned for debate and approval next week. At the same time, the US representative referred to certain positive points of the Plan and also voiced dismay over the Russian veto. Other UN Security Council member-states expressed reservations as to the manner in which the draft resolution was promoted, as well as over the fact that it was tabled for approval prior to the holding of the referenda. In particular, those member-states which had initially disagreed with the whole procedure and with parts of the US-British proposal noted that their positive vote essentially reflects their support to the efforts undertaken by the UN Secretary-General as regards a Cyprus settlement. [03] annan cyIn a follow up to his address to the people of Cyprus yesterday, and answering reporters' questions at UN Headquarters in New York, the world body's chief issued the warning that a downvoting of the current settlement plan whould render it dead, while his own role would end.In a direct translation, Kofi Annan said "If they say 'NO', the Greek-Cypriot part of Cyprus enters the European Union, while the Turkish-Cypriot one remains without, and my role is terminated." He added however that this does not mean that efforts will not be made to find other ways in the future, even though he did observe that this would be extremely difficult. In his earlier address, the UN Secretary-General had said that his plan constitutes the only foreseeable way towards the reunification of the island, and even though he stressed that it's implementation will not be easy, he emphasised that the whole world is ready to help the people of Cyprus render it functional. Kofi Annan further noted that the plan has been drawn up in such a way so as to provide security and guarantees as to its implementation, and calls for a bicommunal bizonal federation in which the two constituent states enjoy political parity in line with the 1977 agreements, while also prohibiting partition, secession and union with any other country. [04] referenda runup endMidnight tonight sees an end to all public gatherings, discussions and speeches on the Annan Plan, as well as the propagation of relevant campaigning and the broadcasting of like announcements, given Saturday's referenda.In line with a directive issued by the Referenda Returns Officer Kyriakos Triantafyllides, also banned is the posting of bills and banners, the writing of slogans and the distribution of flyers. According to the Law governing Elections, no individual may establish and maintain campaign offices or post notices concerning the referenda on the day or eve of its holding outside polling stations. Those violating the provisions of the Law would be guilty of a criminal offence carrying a maximum six-month prison sentence or a 500-pound fine or both. [05] across-channelsGiven Saturday's referenda on the Annan Plan, President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos is tonight holding a televised press conference during which he'll be responding to questions posed by journalists from all of Cyprus' islandwide stations.The presser, which'll be carried as held on our First Television and First Radio Channels, as well as being translated directly into English on this Channel, is scheduled to begin at 9pm and end at 11. [06] mideastOver to Foreign News and the Middle East, with Israeli troops having shot dead three wanted Palestinian militants this morning during a raid on the West Bank town of Tulkarm.Witnesses said Israeli soldiers moved into Tulkarm at dawn, and heavy gunfire broke out, while an army spokeswoman said that troops encountered the militants on the town's outskirts and shot them at close range. Medical sources confirmed that all three men were wanted militants from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah group. The Israeli army said that one of the men was the local leader of the Brigades. Palestinian medics meanwhile also said that Israeli troops had shot dead 15-year-old Mohammad al-Mafouh in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya today, while also wounding three others. Witnesses said the deceased had been among a few dozen youths throwing stones at Israeli tanks. The army had no immediate comment. [07] turkey blastA small blast apparently caused by a fragmentation bomb rocked a bus carrying military personnel in Turkey's commercial capital of Constantinople today, but nobody was hurt.The blast occurred in the district of Kuchukchekmedje on the western outskirts of Turkey's largest city, which suffered a series of devastating bomb explosions in November pinned on Islamist militants linked to the al Qaeda network. Police declined comment but Turkish media reported that some 45 soldiers were travelling on the bus at the time of the blast, which occurred at 7:30 am or 0430 GMT. Terrorism experts were dispatched to the scene, while police was searching for a suspect in the area. Nobody had claimed responsibility for the blast by latest report. [08] tailerToday's tailer sends out a message to all those coffee- and gardening-lovers, given a programme recently launched in earnest by the Starbucks Corporation.Under the "Grounds for your Garden" plan, the world's largest coffee-shop chain is cutting its bills by enlisting customers to haul off used coffee grounds, while at the same time earning praise by environmentalists for creating chemical-free fertilizer. Starbucks of course has handed out coffee grounds for years, but only when customers asked for it. Now, in a nod to today's Earth Day, the company has mounted a major push, setting out five-pound or 2.3 kg bags of grounds in bins at all of its approximately 4,000 North American company-owned cafes. As a result, in the Starbucks hometown of Seattle, even the flower beds smell like coffee. A word of caution though: coffee is acidic, which can harm some plants but benefit others like evergreens and rhododendrons, with the nitrogen it releases being a key ingredient in composting along with carbon, water and air. No word as to the Nicosia Starbucks though, but just think: In a few days you may want to... "Stop and smell the coffee"! [09] weatherIntermittently overcast conditions are forecast for this afternoon, leading to rainy spells and localised thundershowers, at times accompanied by hail, throughout the island. Winds will be light to moderate west-to-southwesterlies, 3-4BF, gusting to strong in areas, on slight seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 23C inland and in the south and east, 21C in the west and north, and 13C at higher altitudes.Intermittent cloud cover is also forecast for this evening, leading to rainy spells and localised thundershowers mainly in coastal regions. Winds will abate to light west-to-northwesterlies, 3BF, gusting to 4 at times, on slight seas, while temperatures will drop to 11C inland, 13C along the coasts, and 3C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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