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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-01-15Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESEuropean Commission president Romano Prodi stated that he is not in a position to give a date of accession negotiations to Turkey,Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, whose country is holding the rotating European presidency, stated that it would be really important if a unified Cyprus joined the Union, Israel today reimposed an economically crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip and threatened renewed military strikes on Palestinian militants a day after a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a border point and An American Airlines pilot was arrested at Sao Paulo International Airport after making an obscene gesture while being photographed by Brazilian immigration officers. [02] Prodi TurkeyEuropean Commission president Romano Prodi stated that he is not in a position to give a date of accession negotiations to Turkey. He also made clear that regarding the issue of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission will be as strict on Ankara as it is with the other countries. Mr Prodi said that the Commission will announce a date, after a progress report on Turkey is made public next autumn. He added that the purpose of his visit to Ankara commencing this afternoon, is to start immediate negotiations before the progress report is made public. In a press conference, oranized by the Irish presidency, at the European parliament, Romamo Prodi said that the Commission will rule on the basis of the implementation of European Union law. These are thee rules, he said and they have to be adhered to.[03] Ahern CyprusSpeaking at the same conference, Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, whose country is currently holding the rotating EU presidency, stated that it would be really important if a unified Cyprus joined the Union. He clarified that the solution of the Cyprus issue is not a Copenhagen criterion, but added at the same time that it is of vital importance to achieve progress and the Turkish prime minister is well aware of this. Mr Ahern underlined that a settlement in Cyprus would contribute to the speeding up of Turkey's accession process, noting that the Irish presidency has been impressed by the way reforms have been introduced in Turkey. However, he made clear that there is also the issue of the practical implementation of such reforms and remarked that it is not easy to introduce reforms the one day and implement them the next.[04] FatalA 45 year old father of four, was killed in a road accident this morning. The victim is Panikos Athanasiou, a construction worker from the Limassol distrit village of Sylikou. The accident happened around eight, on the Limassol-Platres main road. Athanasiou was heading for Limassol, when he lost control of his vehicle, entered the opposite lane of traffic and hit the road railings. He died instantly.[05] Abattoir strikeEmployees at the Paphos municipal abattoir, called off their strike action today, following assurances by mayor Feidias Sarikas that by the end of the month, none of them will be forced to take their leave. Employees at the abattoir had gathered outside the municipal palace in Paphos this morning in protest over letters they received asking them to make compulsory use of their leave. Following a meeting with mayor Sarikas, the representatives of the unions, seemed satisfied with the assurances they got. Mr Sarikas said that the protest was unnecessary and reiterated that giving out compulsory leave for rest, is an obligation of the owners. He stressed however that due to the situation at the abattoir, the municipal authorities has agreed that employees do not have to make use of their leave, if they do not really want to.[06] Mideast blockadeIsrael today reimposed an economically crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip and threatened renewed military strikes on Palestinian militants a day after a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a border point.The blast killed four members of Israeli security forces checking Palestinians through to workplaces in a border zone, a rare haven of cooperation in Middle East conflict. It further lengthened the odds against reviving a U.S.-backed peace plan. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's deputy signalled that Palestinians faced fresh lightning military action in another attempt to deter militant factions from suicide attacks common in a three-year-old uprising, although less frequent of late. Israeli warplanes were roaring over Gaza City this morning in what residents feared could be preparations for an air strike on Islamist militant leaders in local strongholds. [07] Iraq elexIn Iraq, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through Basra today in support of a call by Iraq's most revered Shi'ite cleric for direct elections to be held within months to select a sovereign Iraqi government.Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has objected to U.S. plans for a transitional Iraqi assembly to be selected by regional caucuses rather than an election. The assembly will select an interim government that is due to take over sovereignty by end-June. U.S. officials and most of Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council say the country cannot hold elections until 2005. They have been trying to persuade Sistani to soften his stance. Security remains precarious in Iraq. Foreign organisations and Iraqis working with them have been the target of frequent attacks. Since the end of major combat, 228 US soldiers have been killed in guerrilla attacks. [08] Diana accidentAn eyewitness to the Paris car crash which killed Britain's Princess Diana has told a British newspaper it was an accident, casting doubt on numerous conspiracy theories that she was murdered.Mohamed Medjahdi, 29, said he was driving directly in front of Diana's Mercedes limousine when it crashed in a tunnel in the French capital in August 1997. The car had been speeding out of control, and no other cars or people had been involved, he said. French investigators, said by the Daily Mail to have interviewed Medjahdi repeatedly, concluded in 1999 the accident was caused by Paul being drunk and driving too fast. But more sinister theories still flourish, most recently fuelled by the revelation Diana had written a letter 10 months before her death claiming her former husband, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, was plotting to kill her in a car crash. Dodi's father Mohammed al Fayed, multi-millionaire owner of the exclusive London store Harrods, has long claimed British secret services were responsible. [09] TailerAnd finally,An American Airlines pilot was arrested at Sao Paulo International Airport after making an obscene gesture while being photographed by Brazilian immigration officers. The pilot, identified as Dale Robin Hirsch, raised his middle finger at police to protest new Brazilian security measures that require U.S. citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed upon entering the South American country. Brazil implemented the policy on Jan. 1st in retaliation for a similar U.S. program that requires those foreign visitors who need visas to have their fingerprints and pictures taken on arrival in the United States. The incident came just one day after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva personally appealed to U.S. President George W. Bush to suspend visa requirements for each other's nationals and thus fingerprint checks. [10] WeatherIt will be cloudy this afternoon, with the possibility of light showers. Winds will be light easterly to southeasterly, force three, turning moderate force four in some areas, over slight seas. Temperatures will reach 17 degrees inland, 19 on the coasts and eight on the mountains. Tonight light showers are expected, with for forming in some areas. Winds will be light variable, force two to three, later turning light southerly, force three in coastal areas, over slight seas. Temperatures will fall to nine degrees inland, 11 on the coasts and four on the mountains. The depth of snow on mount Olympus is 65 centimetres, with 55 in Troodos square.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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