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Saturday, 21 December 2024 | ||
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 05-03-10Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HeadlinesThe future of the national carrier Cyprus Airways, is topping the agenda at today's meeting of the Cabinet, following last nights' resignation of the president of the executive board Constandinos Loizides,President of Turkey Ahmet Sezer, reportedly postponed a scheduled official visit to Finland, because he didn't want to shake the hand of the ambassador of the republic of Cyprus in Helsinki, Lebanon's president today reappointed pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami, 10 days after he resigned amid a storm of anti-Syrian protests in Beirut and Dan Rather, one of the three leading U.S. news anchors for the past two decades, signed off from CBS News for the last time yesterday, but tributes were mixed with sniping after his final months were marred by a scandal that tarnished his reputation. [02] Thrasou LoizidesThe future of the national carrier Cyprus Airways, is topping the agenda at today's meeting of the Cabinet, following last nights' resignation of the president of the executive board Constandinos Loizides. Mr Loizides, who phoned Communication minister Charis Thrasou to submit his resignation, also quit the posts of vice-president, membero f the Board and Chief executive counsellor of Hellenic Bank. Achilleas Kyprianou and Christos Papaellinas quit their posts last week. The position of member held by labour minister Christos Taliadoros, also remains vacant. The Cabinet is also discussing the grain producers following yesterday's agreement to provide support measures, but no subsidies.[03] Sezer AmbassadorPresident of Turkey Ahmet Sezer, reportedly postponed a scheduled official visit to Finland, because he didn't want to shake the hand of the ambassador of the republic of Cyprus in Helsinki. The visit had been scheduled for next Monday, but was abruptly called off. According to the Turkish daily 'Sabah', who reports on the story in its first page, with the headline "Cyprus' Veto', the reason of the postponement is related to an official dinner that the President of Finland would host in his honour, with the ambassadress of Cyprus also invited. The Turkish president requested from the Finnish government to recall its invitation to the ambassadress, but was denied.[04] Duty FreeEmployees at the Larnaca and Paphos airports duty free shops are staging a 24-hour strike, in protest over the government not securing that they be kept on, when an independent investor takes over the airports' logistics. They travelled by bus to Nicosia and handed a petition to finance minister Makis Keravnos, asking him to become actively involved in the issue.[05] Lebanon PresidentLebanon's president today reappointed pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami, 10 days after he resigned amid a storm of anti-Syrian protests in Beirut.President Emile Lahoud asked the Sunni Muslim politician to form a national unity government after parliament, where Syria's allies have a majority, nominated him for the post on Wednesday. It was not clear if any opposition politicians would join such a government. The opposition has demanded a full Syrian withdrawal, the resignation of Syrian-backed Lebanese security chiefs and an international investigation into last month's killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Karami, speaking on live television, said a national unity government was the only way out of Lebanon's crisis. He urged all parties to join a dialogue and take part in the government. [06] Russia MaskhadovThe widow of Aslan Maskhadov, the Chechen guerrilla chief killed by Russian security forces, pleaded for his body to be handed over to relatives for a proper burial.Russian forces, which have been fighting a 10-year separatist insurgency in Chechnya, are holding Maskhadov's body and plan to bury it in an undisclosed location, saying the rebel leader is not entitled to a proper funeral. Chechnya's separatists, who are split between rival warlords, have not said who will succeed Maskhadov as leader. But Shamil Basayev, a feared warlord responsible for some of the worst acts of violence in Russia including the Beslan school massacre, had even before Maskhadov's death emerged as the most powerful rebel figure. Basayev said in a statement posted on a separatist Web site that under Chechen law, Abdul Kalim, a little-known cleric who heads the rebels' Islamic court, will take over as caretaker leader until elections are held. Russian newspapers said at least two of Maskhadov's envoys abroad confirmed this. Maskhadov, 53, was killed on Tuesday when the FSB security service blew up the reinforced cellar where he was hiding in the Chechen village of Tolstoy-Yurt. [07] Rather signs offDan Rather, one of the three leading U.S. news anchors for the past two decades, signed off from CBS News for the last time yesterday, but tributes were mixed with sniping after his final months were marred by a scandal that tarnished his reputation.In an emotional farewell at the end of the news, Rather addressed "a nation still nursing a broken heart" over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, U.S. soldiers, sailors and Marines, victims of natural disasters and the poor and the sick. Rather, 73, has described himself as "a big-game hunter" who took on presidents from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. Dozens of CBS staff gathered round and applauded Rather as he stood up at the end of the Evening News. But his departure was overshadowed by a discredited report before the 2004 U.S. presidential election questioning Bush's military service. CBS News sacked or requested the resignation of four employees in January after an independent report found "myopic zeal" led CBS to disregard basic journalism principles when it aired the story saying Bush got special treatment in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. Rather was criticized but escaped disciplinary action. New York's Daily News criticized Rather for bravado that columnist Michael Goodwin said was "more fitting for a fading actor addicted to applause." [08] WeatherScattered showers in some areas and light snowfalls over the mountains are expected this afternoon. Winds will be moderate to strong, southwesterly to northwesterly, force four to five, turning strong force six in windward areas. Seas will be moderate, turning rough in windward areas. Temperatures will reach 17 degrees inland, the western and northern coastal areas, 18 on the southern and eastern coastal areas and six over the mountains. Tonight it will be generally fine, however scattered showers are expected later in the evening, mainly in coastal areas with light snowfalls over the mountains. Winds will be moderate to strong, southwesterly to northwesterly, force four to five, over moderate seas. Temperatures will drop to seven degrees inland, 10 on the northerm, eastern and southern coastal areas, 2 on the western coastal areas and minus one over the mountains.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |