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Monday, 23 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 05-03-01Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESCyprus Airways aircrafts have been grounded, as strike action by flight attendants and pilots continues,Unions have condemned the national carriers' executive board decision to mae 21 pursers redundant, without warning, The president of the European Commission Zoze Manuel Barroso expressed his support for a more active role by the European Union in the settlement of the Cyprus issue, and Hundreds of protesters waving Lebanese flags returned to central Beirut today, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, following the toppling of the Syrian-backed government by what the media called "people power". [02] Cyprus AirwaysThe labour ministry is urgently launching a negotiating effort to avert a crisis in Cyprus Airways, following the decision of the executive board to save money by firing chief pursars without any warning, an action which brought the angry response of unions. The head of the negotiating service of the ministry is now holding talks with a delegation from the SYNYKA union of Cyprus Airways. Later in the day, a meeting is also expected with the national carriers' executive board. Flight attendants have gathered outside the ministry, protesting the decision of the board. Their union is on an indefinite strike since yesterday, causing chaos at Larnaca international airport. Pilots are also striking, in a show of solidarity. All Cyprus Airways aircrafts have been grounded and today, 14 flights have been affected. The executive board has announced it is taking all necessary steps to take all passengers to their destination, with the least possible delay. Passengers who are booked on Cyprus Airways flights and want to find out details, may call the carriers' customer service, at 8000-0008.[03] Govment CYCommenting on the Cyprus Airways crisis, the spokesman in Nicosia Kypros Chrysostomides, said that the government wants the law and the industrial relations code to be upheld, in all cases of labour disputes. The spokesman pointed out that the implementation of the strategic plan is a necessary precondition in order for the government to persuade the EU to also pitch in to save the airline. Mr Chrysostomides said that the government was eagerly waiting the results of the on going negotiations at the labour ministry.[04] Tassos BarrosoThe president of the European Commission Zoze Manuel Barroso expressed his support for a more active role by the European Union in the settlement of the Cyprus issue. Following talks in Brussels with President of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos, Mr Barroso stressed that the Cyprus problem remains a European issue, but always within the framework of the United Nations. According to our reporter in Brussels Yiannis Nikolaou, the head of the European Commision, said that the EU is now ready to take on a more active role in finding a solution, in cooperation with the republic of Cyprus and President Papadopoulos personally, and the rest of the parties involved. He added that any solution reached, should be in line with the acqui communitaire. Continuing his contacts in the Belgian capital, President Papadopoulos is scheduled to meet later today with the vice-president of the European Commission, Mrs Margo Wallstrom. He will also hold talks with other officials of the Commission, including Cyprus and Greece commissioners, Markos Kyprianou and Stavros Dimas.[05] Lebanon rebellionHundreds of protesters waving Lebanese flags returned to central Beirut today, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, following the toppling of the Syrian-backed government by what the media called "people power".Lebanese officials began a search for a new premier after the government of Prime Minister Omar Karami resigned yesterday, following two weeks of protests, piling more pressure on Damascus, already under fire from the United States and Israel. Thousands of demonstrators turned a square in Beirut into a sea of Lebanese flags on last night and exploded into riotous celebration when the government unexpectedly quit after a parliament debate on the killing of ex-premier Rafik al-Hariri. Most of the opposition protesters are Maronite Christians, who have long opposed Syria's role in Lebanon, Druze and some Sunni Muslims. Shi'ite Muslims, Lebanon's largest community, have mainly stayed away from the anti-Syrian rallies. [06] Britain planeMore than 300 passengers had to be evacuated from a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft when it caught fire this morning at Manchester Airport in northern England on Tuesday, police said.No one was injured. A police spokesman said that the force responded to a call at 9.15 in the morning local time and the fire broke out at the aircraft's undercarriage. [07] Quake survivor scamAn Iranian man invented a story that he had been pulled alive from the rubble of his home a week after a powerful earthquake in order to get morphine.The official IRNA news agency said earlier today that Ahmad Habibzadeh, 40, had been rescued from the ruins left by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake which struck the southeastern Kerman province on Feb. 22nd, and was taken straight to hospital. But several local officials later contacted by Reuters said the "quake survivor" was an impostor. Hassan Seifeddini, the top Health Ministry official in the town of Zarand close to the tremor's epicentre, said Habibzadeh had been brought to a local hospital this morning by two friends who said they had dug him out from under the rubble. But when doctors checked him they became suspicious because they found no signs of dehydration or other symptoms which showed he was under rubble. But he had traces of opium in his blood. At least 612 people died and more than one thousand four hundred were injured in the earthquake, which flattened several isolated mountain villages in Kerman province. [08] WeatherIt will be cloudy this afternoon, with dust persisting in the atmosphere. Winds will be moderate to strong, southerly to southwesterly, force four to five, over moderate seas. Temperatures will reach 22 degrees inland and in coastal areas and 14 over the mountains. Tonight it will be cloudy. Winds will be light southeasterly to southwesterly, force three, turning moderate force four in some areas, over moderate seas. Temperatures will drop to 13 degrees inland, 15 in coastal areas and nine over the mountains.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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