US warns of Libya ‘stalemate’ as Misrata battle rages

2011-04-23

* Rebels seize Misrata block from Gaddafi troops

* Bad weather forces first US Predator drones to turn back

THE top US military officer said air strikes had hobbled Libyan forces but the conflict was moving into “stalemate” as Muammar Gaddafi’s troops pressed on with their punishing siege of rebel Misrata.   Rebels welcomed US plans to deploy unmanned aircraft, typically operated remotely from the United States. But it emerged that bad weather had forced the first two drones sent to Libya to turn back.

“It’s certainly moving towards a stalemate,” said Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs Of Staff, addressing US troops during a visit to Baghdad.

Smog alert for Bank Holiday weekend

2011-04-23

THE Government has issued a “smog alert” with potentially dangerous levels of air pollution predicted in England and Wales as thousands headed off for an Easter getaway.

Warm and still conditions brought on by the current high pressure system means levels of ozone and polluting particles known as PM10s, which can affect people’s health, are expected to increase.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said some people, including those who have asthma, could be affected by the high pollution levels and may notice an effect on their breathing. It urged the public to take “sensible precautions” such as avoiding outdoor exercise and unnecessary short car journeys.

Kate ‘will omit obey vow at Abbey’

2011-04-23

KATE Middleton is set to follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana by omitting the word “obey” from her wedding vows, according to reports.

She will instead promise to “love, comfort, honour and keep” Prince William, according to the Daily Mirror. Diana pledged herself to Prince Charles in a similar way during their wedding ceremony in 1981.

The revelation comes as the future king, 28, and his bride-to-be finalise their preparations for the much-anticipated event, which is now just one week away.

Second-in-line to the throne William has already had his last shift as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot before the ceremony on April 29. Next week, he will spend the last few days before the ceremony mostly in London at wedding rehearsals.

The Mediterranean frontier

2011-04-23

“I wonder whether in this situation it makes sense to remain within the European Union,” said Italian foreign minister Roberto Maroni recently, in a crude attempt to blackmail other EU countries into taking more of Italy’s illegal immigrants. But the time may come when Italy’s northern neighbours will be quite happy to see Italy leave the Union. In fact, they may even close their borders with all the EU’s Mediterranean members.

We’re all invited to Will’s wedding

2011-04-23

Maybe, it’s the gloriously hot weather, or an antidote to the doom and gloom of austerity cuts and military campaigns, or just glee at having a day off work, but there is definitely a celebratory ‘bring on the bunting’ feel in our small Sussex town.

They’re closing the road next Friday, trestle tables to be laden with shared food, buckets filled with beer, a big screen erected to watch the events from Westminster and already the little girls at No. 8 are parading in their princess costumes.

We’re back to the innocent nostalgia of village fetes and coconut shies, cupcakes and Enid Blyton. Fourteen years after the tragedy and sadness surrounding Diana’s death is finally being laid to rest.

Setting up a universal digital library

2011-04-23

Scholars have long dreamed of a universal library containing everything that has ever been written. Then, in 2004, Google announced it would begin digitally scanning all the books held by five major research libraries. Suddenly, the library of utopia, where every work would be available to everyone, everywhere, at all times, seemed within reach.

And the library could include not only books and articles, but also paintings, music, films and every other form of creative expression that can be captured in digital form.

Our View: Our appetite for over-indulgence will continue to cost us dear

2011-04-23

IT’S THAT time of year again and the perils are the same as they have ever been.

By tomorrow, the island’s Easter celebrants – and even most of those simply marking the holiday as time off – will be tucking into veritable mountains of the traditional flaounes or cheese pies and spitted lamb or souvla, whether or not they have been fasting during the Lenten lead-up to the celebration.

If they are inclined towards a modicum of moderation, the Easter lunch – which usually goes on solidly until at least the early hours of the afternoon – will conclude with a sated feeling free of the unpleasantness derived from gluttony.

Churches empty as numbers of priests dwindle

2011-04-23

TONIGHT’S EASTER service should be one of the few times in the year that village churches islandwide are packed to overflowing, but instead some churches will stand empty.

And no, it’s not dwindling congregations that will cause some villages to remain eerily quiet tonight but falling numbers of priests.

Residents are often forced to travel to neighbouring villages to attend church while other villages are sharing priests and have to wait until he has finished a service in one community before he comes to conduct one in theirs.

The problem is more acute in the Paphos district, and the bishopric there has been forced to try and make up for the shortfall by employing priests from abroad.

Royal wedding: street parties and bunting in Paphos

2011-04-23

THE ROYAL wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, will see many British expats living in Paphos celebrate the event in style.

Paphos has the biggest resident British population on the island and many are getting into the spirit of the occasion by organising street parties and gatherings with family and friends.

Sue Keats along with her husband and children are organising a traditional British style street party in their cul-de-sac in Peyia village in Paphos, and have invited neighbours and friends to join them to celebrate the wedding.

“We are all dressing up in red, white and blue are expecting lots of people to come,” Sue said,

A great time for walking but beware of snakes

2011-04-23

WITH THE weather warming up snakes are emerging from hibernation, this period is when most snake bites can occur, so if you’re out walking or picnicking this Easter weekend you should take reasonable care.

“Snakes are coming out of hibernation now and as the temperature isn’t very high they are docile and lethargic, as they get energy from the sun and it warms up their blood,” said Paphos snake expert David Roach.

This means the creatures aren’t moving as swiftly as they will during the warmer months and, if disturbed unexpectedly, can bite.

“Snakes will usually slither away before you see them, “he said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.