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Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:18:14 GMT

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Cyprus

Other stories from Cyprus

3 April 2013: Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks
5 September 2012: Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad
25 June 2012: Cyprus seeks EU bailout
14 May 2012: Cyprus leader says no to second term
22 December 2011: Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

...More articles here

Location of Cyprus

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Cyprus, see the Cyprus Portal

Members of Committee for a Radical Left Rally protesting against austerity measures outside the House of Representatives in Nicosia, Cyprus in November 2012.
Image: Tco03displays.

Cypriot Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigned yesterday due to public discontent with his handling of the negotiations over a bailout from international lenders and a state investigation into the circumstances that pushed the country close to a financial collapse. According to Cyprus based media organizations, Sarris has been succeeded by the current Labor Minister Haris Georgiades

Sarris attributed his resignation to the probe announced earlier today, admitting that he may also be targeted by judges as they try to find out why the country was forced to seek a bailout. "I believe that in order to facilitate the work of [investigators] the right thing would be to place my resignation at the disposal of the president of the republic, which I did," said Sarris, who was appointed as minister only in February.

Sarris's resignation came shortly after he signed a €10 billion (US$13 billion) rescue deal with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that could see depositors with €100,000 lose up to 60% of their savings. An earlier version of the deal, which called for all Cypriot bank depositors to sacrifice part of their savings, was later scrapped following a wave of popular outrage.

The bailout deal includes measures that strip Cyprus of its status as a financial hub and force the local government to impose limits on cash transfers lest depositors try to channel their money to banks abroad.

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Sister links [edit]

2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis

Sources [edit]

Charlie Charalambous. "Cyprus finance minister resigns" — AFP, April 2, 2013
"Cyprus bailout: Finance Minister Michael Sarris quits" — BBC News Online, April 2, 2013
Michele Kambas. "Cyprus finance minister quits after bailout concludes, investigation begins" — Reuters, April 2, 2013

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Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:19:41 GMT

Iran

Sources [edit]

Marc Burleigh. "Iran has 'problems' selling oil: Ahmadinejad" — Agence France-Presse, September 4, 2012
Nasser Karimi. "Iran: West launches sanctions war against Iran" — Associated Press, September 4, 2012
"Tuvalu backs down over Iran ships" — TVNZ One News, August 22, 2012
Howard Berman. "Howard Berman Statement on Tuvalu’s Decision to Deregister Vessels Owned by Iran, Ending Reflagging Effort" — United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, August 21, 2012
Ayesha Rascoe. "US should stop Tuvalu reflagging Iranian ships-US lawmaker" — Reuters, August 14, 2012

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Cyprus seeks EU bailout

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:08:10 GMT

Monday, June 25, 2012

Cyprus

Other stories from Cyprus

3 April 2013: Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks
5 September 2012: Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad
25 June 2012: Cyprus seeks EU bailout
14 May 2012: Cyprus leader says no to second term
22 December 2011: Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

...More articles here

Location of Cyprus

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Cyprus, see the Cyprus Portal

Cyprus today became the fifth member state to seek access to funds from the European Union's bailout fund. The Cypriots join Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and neighbours Greece.

The move was triggered after the Cyprus Popular Bank, the nation's second-largest bank, asked the government for recapitalisation. The bank has been hit hard, as has the wider Cypriot banking sector, by exposure to Greek economics. A Greek restructure of €200 billion in debt has caused the bank a €3.65 billion loss, and money is being lost on loans domestically and to Greek customers.

Christofias meeting with Dmitry Medvedev of Russia in 2008. Russia has lent Cyprus money before and may do so again to alleviate the island nation's problems.

Cyprus Popular Bank chairman Michalis Sarris today revealed talks are also underway with China about a possible loan. Low taxes and regulation have attracted large amounts of foreign money to Cyprus, including much Russian money, producing a banking sector far larger than most nations that size. Russia and China are both viewed by officials as possibilities to seek loans from, and Russia last year agreed to a €2.5 billion loan to allow Cypriot financial restructuring.

The bailout request comes within days of Cypriot president Demetris Christofias giving an interview to Greek newspaper To Vima in which the EU's only communist leader criticised international bailout policies. He complained the European Commission, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund acted like a "colonial force" by forcing nations receiving bailouts to agree to austerity measures.

Cyprus, due to take over the rotating EU presidency this week, hopes to limit the scope of its bailout to the banking sector. This is similar to Spain, and unlike the other bailed-out nations. Ratings agency Fitch today relegated Cyprus to "junk", a reflection of how much money may be required.

"The purpose of the required assistance is to contain the risks to the Cypriot economy, notably those arising from the negative spillover effects through its financial sector, due to its large exposure in the Greek economy," read a government statement. Former President George Vasiliou, an economist, recently claimed markets were failing to recognise the differences between Greece and Cyprus: "Cyprus’s problems are the result of a Greek tragedy, and the ratings agencies are not distinguishing between Greek-speaking people, whether we are in Athens or Nicosia".

Cyprus has recently discovered large natural gas fields, and unemployment at 10% is below the likes of Greece (22%) and Spain (24%). Cypriot officials predict a growth in the economy, although the International Monetary Fund expects a contraction. There are also concerns a Greek withdrawal from the euro would damage confidence in investors, but Vasiliou predicts "if Greece has to exit the euro, it will not be the end of Cyprus."

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Sources [edit]

Alkman Granitsas. "Cyprus Requests Aid From Bailout Fund" — The Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2012
Dan Bilefsky. "Cyprus Becomes 5th E.U. Member to Seek Rescue" — The New York Times, June 25, 2012

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Cyprus leader says no to second term

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:25:58 GMT

Monday, May 14, 2012

Greek Cyprus President Demetris Christofias started his first term in 2008.

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias announced today he will not run for a second term to represent the Republic of Cyprus, which is the Greek portion of the island.

The president cited the lack of progress in talks with the Turks over the Turkish-Greek Cypriot conflict as his main reason for stepping aside. In a televised national address, Christofias said, "A realistic analysis of the facts leads to the conclusion that there are no real hopes for either resolving the Cyprus issue or achieving substantial progress in the remaining months of my presidency."

The United Nations had recently pulled out of hosting talks between the two parties because of the lack of progress.

Christofias said, "Taking as a fact that the Cyprus problem has not been solved and there does not appear to be definitive progress in the next few months ... I will not seek re-election as president of the Republic of Cyprus."

Christofias is making good on a campaign promise that if he was not able to make progress on resolving the conflict that he would step aside. The issue on UN reunification talks with the Turks divided Christofias and former president Tassos Papadopoulos in the 2008 election.

Every president of the Republic since independence in 1960 has sought a second term of office.

The island of Cyprus has been divided into two sectors since a coup by Greek unionists in 1974 was followed in response by a Turkish military invasion.

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Sources [edit]

Menelaos Hadjicostis. "Cyprus President Says He Won't Run for 2nd Term" — ABC News, May 14, 2012
"Cyprus president says will not seek re-election" — Reuters, May 14, 2012

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Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:38:37 GMT

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Cyprus

Other stories from Cyprus

3 April 2013: Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks
5 September 2012: Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad
25 June 2012: Cyprus seeks EU bailout
14 May 2012: Cyprus leader says no to second term
22 December 2011: Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

...More articles here

Location of Cyprus

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Cyprus, see the Cyprus Portal

This computer generated image shows the unresponsive aircraft being shadowed by Greek fighter jets.
Image: Anynobody.

A two-year trial concluded yesterday in Cyprus with the court in Nicosia clearing former senior staff of Helios Airways of manslaughter. They, alongside the defunct airline, had been accused of responsibility for killing 119 in a crash near Athens.

All 121 on board Flight 522 were killed but the prosecution did not charge manslaughter in relation to the two flight crew, deeming them partially responsible for their own deaths. The accident remains the worst air disaster to befall both Greece and Cyprus. Most victims were Cypriot tourists.

The Cypriot jet left Larnaca on August 14, 2005. It was headed for Prague in the Czech Republic. Contact was quickly lost with the aircraft, which flew itself as far as the Greek capital on autopilot.

The Boeing 737's pressurisation system is believed to have been incorrectly set by maintenance and oxygen starvation had knocked out German Captain Hans-Jurgen Merten and Cypriot co-pilot Pambos Charalambous. They never checked the system before takeoff, which had undergone testing prior to flight.

An alarm had sounded both on the ground and in the air but had been ignored by those flying, as the same alarm was used for a different problem and the pilots therefore misinterpreted the alarm. This design would later be cited by victims' relatives in a civil case against Boeing.

As the unresponsive jet entered Greek airspace two F-16 fighter jets intercepted. The air force reported back that the civilian craft's pilots were slumped over the controls. Passengers were similarly incapacitated. The plane reached Athens International Airport — an intermediate stop in Athens was planned — by itself and then began circling the area awaiting human input.

That input eventually came in the form of a trainee pilot working on-board as a flight attendant. Investigators believe Andreas Prodromou had used multiple crew oxygen cylinders to be the last conscious person on board. The fighter pilots were able to watch him enter the cockpit.

Map of the flight path.
Image: Mysid.

F-16 pilot Panayiotis Athanasopoulos was the last person to see Prodromou alive. He previously told the trial of initially receiving no response when signalling the jet in an attempt to get the pilots to follow him, then discovering the flight crew unconscious. The captain was out of sight. He testified he also signalled people wearing oxygen masks in the passenger cabin with similar lack of response. Prodromou, 25, entered the cockpit as the jet began losing altitude.

After trying but failing to resuscitate Merten, the fighter pilots saw the trainee pilot take over the controls himself in a bid to save the plane. He was out of time. By then the aircraft had been in the air for two hours, and it ran out of fuel before it could reach the runway. Although many were deeply comatose from lack of oxygen, everyone on board was still alive when the plane crashed into a mountain at Grammatiko, north of Athens.

Athanasopoulos says he gesticulated to Proprodomou and signalled him to land upon getting his attention. The trainee pilot simply pointed downwards, after which he "looked ahead and did not look towards me again as the plane went down". The airliner struck the ground levelly on its underside after straightening out moments before impact. It was torn apart.

The following year saw an air accident report primarily citing human error, and an inquiry by ex-Judge Panayiotis Kallis. The Kallis report was never made public. Helios, which was renamed Ajet Airways, closed down in 2006. Helios and Boeing were sued by victims' relatives; they sought €76 million but reached a settlement for an undisclosed sum. The accident report had also blamed Boeing for an "ineffectiveness of measures" over the dual-purpose alarm system.

The five defendants were charged in 2008. The defunct airline and four senior staff members each faced 119 counts of manslaughter, and alternative counts of causing death by a reckless, thoughtless or dangerous act. This gave a total of 1,190 charges. Manslaughter carries a potential life sentence with up to four years available on the lesser charge. "The charges concern two of the three most serious offences under the Cyprus penal code," deputy attorney general Akis Papasavvas said at the time.

The prosecution case was that the pilots were unfit to fly and the defendants were negligent in letting them at the controls. The state prosecutor therefore needed to prove the actions of Merten and Charalambous caused the disaster, as well as that those in the dock were responsible for their employment and aware — or ought to have been aware — of inadequacies in their competence.

The prosecution had noted the accused failed to seek references from Jet2, Merten's last employer. He lost that job owing to failings in his duties and was later the subject of Helios co-pilots' complaints. Charalambous was considered unlikely to achieve promotion to pilot and his ability to handle stress was questioned at trial.

A file photo of the aircraft from less than a year before it crashed.
Image: Alan Lebeda.

In reaching a majority decision, two of the three judges noted Helios chief executive Andreas Drakos and managing director Demetris Pantazis would be acquitted even if the prosecution proved its case as they were not responsible for employing the pair. This fell to co-accused operations manager George Kikkides and chief pilot Ianko Stoimenov.

In any event, the verdict described "a dead-end for any procedure of identifying the competence of Merten" with only Jet2 among his previous employers being known to have a negative view of him. Subsequent official evaluations rated both him and Charalambous suitably competent to fly.

"The lack of any causal association between the defendants and the negligence they were charged with for the fatal accident completely disconnects the defendants with the accident," said the 170-page verdict. "Regardless... [of] how the charges are viewed, they remain groundless and without supporting evidence. It's judged that this reason is sufficient to dismiss all charges and acquit all defendants."

Assize Court President Charis Solomonides read the decision: "we conclude, without reservation, that no case has been proven prima-facie against all the defendants in all the charges they face and therefore, all the defendants are acquitted and charges are dropped." Solomonides made repeated mention of an inability for the prosecution to link the pilots' actions to those on trial, and noted that therefore no assessment had been made of their performance that day.

Judge Nicolas Santis dissented. Nonetheless, he too had criticisms of the prosecution. He said they failed to properly define 'competence' and called very few experts to testify. Victims' relatives shouted in the courtroom after he finished reading his opinion; cries included "killers!" and "is this justice?".

Victims' relatives had in fact predicted the acquittal and blamed the state for what they characterised as a poorly presented case. Relatives’ Committee president Nicolas Yiasoumis said "It was common knowledge that proceedings were weak due to the phrasing of the charges." There were also renewed calls for publication of the Kallis report. Yiasoumis claimed the Kallis report reached different conclusions to those used at trial, and said "We did not believe they could be convicted on the basis of the argument that they had not employed the appropriate staff."

Attorney General Petros Clerides initially said an appeal will be decided upon once the decision has been read, and that the Law Office was presently studying it. Yiasoumis said relatives may take Cyprus to a European court over the case once Cypriot legal matters are concluded. Clerides has now confirmed an appeal will be filed, which the prosecution has two weeks to do. He defended the performance of those who prosecuted "this titanic case". The appeal would be to the Supreme Court.

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Sister links [edit]

Helios Airways Flight 522 on Wikipedia.

Sources [edit]

This article is a featured article. It is considered one of the best works of the Wikinews community. See Wikinews:Featured articles for more information.

Agence France-Presse. "Cyprus to appeal Helios crash aquittals" — MSN, December 22, 2011
Stelios Orphanide. "Cypriot Attorney General to Appeal Helios Airlines Acquittal" — Business Week, December 22, 2011
"Defendants in Helios case acquitted - full details" — Famagusta Gazette, December 22, 2011
Alexis Pantelides. "Helios defendants acquitted" — Cyprus Mail, December 22, 2011
Menelaos Hadjicostis (Associated Press). "Cyprus Court Acquits 4 in Helios Plane Crash" — ABC News, December 21, 2011
George Psyllides. "Helios crash witness saw cockpit ‘shoot off like a meteorite’" — Cyprus Mail, March 18, 2010

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Iceland formally recognises Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:34:13 GMT

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Iceland

Sister links [edit]

Peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on Wikipedia.

Sources [edit]

"Is the campaign for Palestinian recognition succeeding?" — Al Jazeera, December 15 2011
DPA. "Iceland formally recognizes Palestinian state within 1967 lines" — Haaretz, December 15 2011
AP. "Iceland recognises Palestinian state" — Guardian, November 30 2011

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Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Sun, 15 May 2011 13:57:51 GMT

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Eurovision Song Contest

Sources [edit]

"Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final" — Eurovision, May 14, 2011
"Azerbaijan wins the Eurovision Song Contest" — BBC News Online, May 15, 2011
"Winner's Press Conference: "We want to bring Europe together"" — Eurovision.tv, May 15, 2011
"Eurovision 2011: Semifinals results revealed" — ESC Today, May 15, 2011

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Wikinews Shorts: November 30, 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:04:10 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Tuesday, November 30, 2010 .

President of Cyrpus cancels visit to Kazakhstan due to illness [edit]

The President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias has cancelled a state visit to Kazakhstan after he fell ill. Christofias was in Libya when he fell ill on Monday. He was attending a European Union–African summit at the time. It has been announced that the President will miss tomorrow's European security meeting in Kazakhstan.

Sources

"Cyprus president falls ill, cancels trip to European security meeting in Kazakhstan" — Winnipeg Free Press, November 30, 2010
"Cyprus President flown home after illness" — Famagusta Gazette, November 30, 2010

Mali immigrant killed in French Taser shooting [edit]

An immigrant from Mali has died after he was shot twice by French police. The unidentified man, 38 was Tasered twice when he attacked police with a hammer in an apartment block after he was asked to show his papers. Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said "From initial reports it seems that, faced with the aggression and violence of this person, police officers were obliged to use an electric charge pistol."

A death inquiry has been opened to investigate the man's death.

Sources

"Mali man dies after French police use Taser" — BBC News Online, November 30, 2010
"Mali immigrant dies after French police Taser him twice" — AFP, November 30, 2010

Italian film director Mario Monicelli commits suicide age 95 [edit]

Italian film director Mario Monicelli has committed suicide in his hospital room. The 95-year-old jumped out of his room's window while he was being treated for prostate cancer. A spokeswomen from the Giovanni hospital announced his death. Monicelli directed numerous films in the 1950s and 60's. Some of his films include Big Deal on Madonna Street and La Grande Guerra.

Sources

"Italian cinema great Mario Monicelli kills himself" — BBC News Online, November 30, 2010
"Mario Monicelli, Italian Director, Dies at 95" — New York Times, November 29, 2010

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Ban Ki-Moon says Cyprus solution "possible"

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:51:00 GMT

Monday, February 1, 2010

File photo of Ban Ki-Moon.
Image: World Economic Forum.

A UN buffer zone separates the two sections.
Image: Jpatokal.

A new set of talks are scheduled to attempt to reunite Cyprus, prompting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to say that a solution is "possible and within reach" when he arrived in the country yesterday for talks between Greek and Turkish-Cypriot leaders that will take place later today.

Progress have been slow for the peace talks, which started in September 2008, but the UN chief said that a deal would require "courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise". "I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve", he told reporters after he arrived in Larnaca yesterday in preparation for the talks with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Mehmet Ali Talat today.

Ban said that "solving the Cyprus problem will give inspiration to all those around the world trying to solve other seemingly intractable problems and I'm looking forward to having good meetings with the leaders", with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders saying that they are committed to finding a solution. Monday's talks will involve Ban holding talks with the two leaders individually, before chairing a meeting between the pair. Any deal that emerges will be a subject of two simultaneous referendums, one for each side of the border. Both sides agree that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed".

Jonny Dymond, the BBC Europe correspondent, has expressed fears that time is running out on a solution. There are also worries that the fast approaching northern Cyprus leadership elections will mean that Talat is replaced by nationalist Dervis Eroglu, who is leading in opinion polls. If this were to happen, talks might be shelved.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, after Turkish forces invaded after a coup led by Greece allegedly aimed to absorb it. Northern Cyprus is only recognised as a state by Turkey.

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Sources [edit]

"UN chief Ban Ki-moon says Cyprus solution 'possible'" — BBC News Online, January 31, 2010
"UN chief lands on divided Cyprus with message of peace" — AFP, January 31, 2010

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Corpse of former President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos stolen

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:03:04 GMT

Friday, December 11, 2009

Papadopoulos’s body was stolen overnight

The corpse of former Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has been stolen by grave robbers. Officials report that his body was taken overnight from the Deftera Cemetery in Nicosia. The theft was reported one day before the anniversary of his death. Police reported that fresh mounds of dirt were piled up beside the grave. The motive is still unclear.

The leader of the Diko party, Papadopoulos’s former alliance, released a statement. Marios Garoyan called the act a "heinous and terrible crime".

A heavy smoker, Papadopoulos died on the 12th of December, 2008 after a battle with lung cancer. He was the President of Cyprus from the 23rd of February, 2003 until 23 February 2008.

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Sources [edit]

"‘Grave robbers steal former Cyprus president's corpse" — BBC News Online, December 11, 2009
"Body of former Cypriot president Tassos Papadopoulos snatched from grave" — Sofia Echo, December 11, 2009
"Ex-President's Body Robbed From Grave" — Sky News, December 11, 2009
"Thieves steal Cyprus ex-president's body from grave" — AFP, December 11, 2009

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Cypriot court begins Greek air disaster trial

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:44:07 GMT

Thursday, September 17, 2009

This computer generated image shows the unresponsive aircraft being shadowed by Greek fighter jets

A court in Cyprus has begun the trial of defunct airline Helios and four managers over an air disaster in Greece. The five are facing a total of 1,190 charges after Flight 522 went down near Athens in 2005, killing 121 people.

All defendants entered not guilty pleas, and are alleged by prosecutors to have operated their business in an unsafe manner. It is alleged that the flight should never have been allowed to take off. As well as the company, executive chairman Andreas Drakos, managing director Demetris Pantazis, operations manager George Kikkides and head pilot Ianko Stoimenov will face a full trial when proceedings are resumed on November 27. They will return to the Nicosia court then. The charges include manslaughter and causing death via a careless act.

The route the fatal flight took

The unresponsive Boeing 737, supposed to be flying between Lanarca to Prague, had entered Greek airspace, where it was intercepted by two F-16 fighter jets on August 14, 2005.

The F-16 pilots reported the airliner's pilots were slumped over the controls. After flying on autopilot for two hours the aircraft crashed near Athens despite the efforts of a flight attendant, who was training to become a pilot, to take control and save the jet.

The subsequent investigation discovered that the pilots failed to adequately monitor the pressurisation system. The plane lost cabin pressure and hypoxia caused the incapacitation of the passengers and flight crew. It is thought that the conscious flight attendant had used multiple crew oxygen cylinders to outlast the others on board. Investigators also believe that the equipment had been left in the wrong setting after testing by maintenance engineers and never checked before flight.

After failing to resuscitate the pilot-in-command, the trainee pilot turned off the autopilot and attempted an emergency landing at Athens International Airport, which the aircraft had been circling in a holding pattern awaiting human input. However, the aircraft ran out of fuel before reaching the runway.

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Sources [edit]

Air Accident Investigation & Aviation Safety Board. "Aircraft Accident Report: Helios Airways Flight HCY522" — Minister for Transport and Communications (Greece), November 2006 PDF (8.42MB)
"Cyprus plane crash trial opens" — Famagusta Gazette, September 17, 2009
Sarah Ktisti and Janet Lawrence. "Airline Denies Charges Over 2005 Greek Crash" — The New York Times, September 17, 2009

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Europeans go to the polls to elect Members of the European Parliament

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:07:15 GMT

Monday, June 8, 2009

European Parliament logo

Over the course of the last four days, people across the European Union went to the polls to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as part of the European Parliament election, 2009. Voting began on Thursday in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and parts of Ireland. It continued on Friday across the rest of Ireland and parts of the Czech Republic. On Saturday the countries of Cyprus, France (for part of Outre-mer), Italy (day 1), Latvia, Malta, Slovakia and the Czech Republic all voted. On Sunday, the final day of polling, the remaing countries of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy (day 2), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden voted. Votes were released last night and will continue to be released over the course of today with the exception of Netherlands, which has broken rules and partialy released them on Friday.

The current President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering

The European Parliament is divided into constituencies, which have a group of representatives (the MEPs). Each constituency elects them proportionaly. The amount of MEPs representing a political party depends on the percentage of votes they gain. For example, if 50% of the electorate of a constituency vote for the x party then 50% of the MEPs in that constituency will be from the x party. In total there are 736 MEPs up for election by approximately 500,000,000 Europeans across 27 member states making it the largest transnational election in history.

The elections didn't quite go to plan across the Netherlands, as the European Commission have asked that Dutch officials give an explanation to results they released. As countries across Europe vote on different days, the results of the election can only be released on the last day (Sunday), so that the results in other countries will not influence the decission made by people in countries that are still voting. Despite this, the Netherlands released some of their results on Friday: 92% of the votes have currently been counted. Further controversy arose from the results themselves. Results so far show that far-right Dutch Member of Parliament, Geert Wilders's party the Party for Freedom (PVV), appears to have come second behind the Christian Democratic Appeal. Wilders is facing prosecution in the Netherlands for an anti Islamic statement and was refused entry to the United Kingdom on grounds of the intent to incite hatred.

It had initially been foreseen that the Treaty of Lisbon would have entered into force by the time of these elections, making them the first to be held under its provisions. However, primarily because of the failure of the referendum in Ireland, the framework established by the Treaty of Nice will be used again. Amongst other differences, the number of MEPs to be returned depends upon which rules are in effect: while 736 MEPs will be elected under the Nice rules, this number would have increased to 751 if the Lisbon Treaty were in force. A further change that Lisbon would have brought was an increase to the powers of Parliament, including powers over the appointment of the President of the European Commission.

In the previous election, German Hans-Gert Pöttering of the centre-right EPP-ED won with 34% and Martin Schulz of the Socialists came second with 26%. Despite this, during the last term the two leaders shared, each serving approximately two years in office.

European Parliament election, 2004 - Final results at 20 July 2004
Group		Description	Chaired by	MEPs
	EPP-ED	Conservatives and Christian Democrats	Hans-Gert Pöttering	268
	PES	Social Democrats	Martin Schulz	200
	ALDE	Liberals and Liberal Democrats	Graham Watson	88
	G–EFA	Greens and Regionalists	Daniel Cohn-Bendit Monica Frassoni	42
	EUL– NGL	Communists and the Far Left	Francis Wurtz	41
	ID	Eurosceptics	Jens-Peter Bonde Nigel Farage	37
	UEN	National Conservatives	Brian Crowley Cristiana Muscardini	27
	NI	Independents	none	29	Total: 732	Sources: [1][2][3][4][5]

Europeans have also been voting in local elections of County Councils in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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Wikipedia has more about this subject:

European Parliament election, 2009

"United Kingdom elects first British National Party members of European Parliament" — Wikinews, June 8, 2009

Sources [edit]

"Dutch far right in poll triumph" — BBC News Online, June 5, 2009
"Final round of marathon EU vote" — BBC News Online, June 7, 2009
"Voting in 19 EU states for Parliament" — RTÉ, June 7, 2009

External links [edit]

European Election results

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Northern Cyprus opposition party wins elections

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:57:49 GMT

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cyprus

Other stories from Cyprus

3 April 2013: Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks
5 September 2012: Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad
25 June 2012: Cyprus seeks EU bailout
14 May 2012: Cyprus leader says no to second term
22 December 2011: Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

...More articles here

Location of Cyprus

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Cyprus, see the Cyprus Portal

The Turkish Cypriot's right-wing National Unity Party (UBP), has won the republic's elections on Sunday in a landslide, according to provisional results released by officials. With all votes having been counted, the UBP won 44.06% of all votes, garnering it a majority in Northern Cyprus' 50-seat parliament by provisional accounts.

Incumbent Republican Turkish Party (CTP), an ally of the Turkish Cypriot's leader Mehmet Ali Talat, received the second most votes, taking 29% of the ballot.

Election authorities estimated that voter turnout at the polls was about 81.3%. Around 162,000 people were eligible to vote.

The Turkish Cypriot government is only officially recognized by Turkey. Cyprus has been divided for 35 years after Turkey invaded the island in 1974, following a coup by a group of people supporting reunification with Greece.

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Sources [edit]

"Opposition wins north Cyprus vote" — Al Jazeera, April 20, 2009
"Hardliners win Turkish Cypriot election" — Deutsche Welle, April 20, 2009

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Cyprus detains weapon-laden ship

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:50:59 GMT

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Cyprus

Other stories from Cyprus

3 April 2013: Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks
5 September 2012: Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad
25 June 2012: Cyprus seeks EU bailout
14 May 2012: Cyprus leader says no to second term
22 December 2011: Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

...More articles here

Location of Cyprus

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Cyprus, see the Cyprus Portal

On Friday, authorities in Cyprus said that they had detained a ship carrying the nation's flag. The ship, which had initially docked at Port Said in Egypt, went to the Cypriot port of Limassol after Egyptian authorities ordered it to leave.

In Limassol, the container ship, the Monchegorsk, was anchored and boarded by Cypriot authorities. It still remains anchored there as of Sunday. The Famagusta Gazette cited well-informed sources as saying the ship contains specialized components for the manufacture of rockets.

According to reports, the ship was initially stopped in the Red Sea by the United States Navy, but it lacked the authority to board the ship or prevent it from continuing its route.

Cyprus state radio reported the vessel was Russian-owned traveling from Iran to Syria with weapons destined for Hamas.

Haaretz reported that Israel believes the weapons were bound for Hezbollah or for Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the President of Cyprus said the ship was in violation of United Nations resolutions. However, he did not go into detail.

"We are investigating what it is carrying and for this reason we have to handle things very responsibly and with a great deal of seriousness, without a lot of media noise," President Dimitris Christofias said.

"It is a problem for us that we are forced to accept a ship under the Cypriot flag which is carrying whatever [it] is carrying, which is contrary or in conflict with Security Council resolutions," Christofias added.

On Sunday, Cyprus foreign minister Markos Kyprianou said that the government was still investigating whether the ship was in violation of United Nations resolutions.

"Our aim is to resolve the matter in the best possible way without harming the interests of the Republic of Cyprus ... The less that is said the better," said Marios Garoyian, president of the House of Representatives of Cyprus.

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Sources [edit]

"All eyes on ship off Cyprus coast" — Famagusta Gazette, February 1, 2009
Barak Ravid. "Ship in Cyprus said to carry arms from Iran" — Haaretz, February 1, 2009
"Cyprus to search suspected Hamas arms ship again" — Associated Press, January 31, 2009
Menelaos hadjicostis. "Cyprus searches suspected Hamas-arms ship" — Associated Press, January 30, 2009
Ori Lewis. "Cyprus stops Iranian arms ship to Syria-report" — Reuters, January 30, 2009
Maria Petrakis. "Cyprus Searches Ship Amid Suspicion of Iranian Bid to Arm Hamas" — Bloomberg L.P., January 30, 2009
"Cyprus searches ship accused by US of carrying Iranian weapons to Hamas" — Al Bawaba, January 30, 2009

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Wikinews Shorts: January 3, 2009

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:51:49 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Saturday, January 3, 2009 .

1 John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies
2 Preliminary report released on Denver 737 crash
3 Russian teen's US fashion chain bankrupt with $54.4 million debts
4 International Cricket Council to launch hall of fame

John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies [edit]

Jett Travolta, the 16 year old son of movie stars John Travolta and Kelly Preston, has died in The Bahamas, after he suffered a seizure while on holiday there at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island.

Jett, who has a history of seizures, died at the scene after striking his head on a bath. He was the eldest of the couple's two children.

Sources

"Travolta's Son Dead" — Internet Movie Database, January 2, 2009
Associated Press. "John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies in Bahamas" — Yahoo News, January 2, 2009

Preliminary report released on Denver 737 crash [edit]

The United States National Transportation Safety Board has released an initial report into the December 20 crash of Continental Airways Flight 1404 at Denver International Airport.

The Boeing 737 veered off the runway and skidded 2,000 feet, injuring 37 of the 115 passengers and crew on board. The report notes strong winds of 27m.p.h., gusting up to 37m.p.h., but stated that this should not have prevented a normal, safe takeoff. Investigations are continuing.

Sources

"Wind gusts noted in Denver airport crash report" — USA Today, January 2, 2008
"Wind gusts noted in Denver airport crash report" — Associated Press, January 2, 2008

Russian teen's US fashion chain bankrupt with $54.4 million debts [edit]

KP Fashion, the United States chain that sells clothing designed by 16-year-old Russian designer Kira Plastinina, has filed for bankruptcy. Papers supplied to the court in Manhattan show the Los Angeles based company has assets of $9.7 million compared to debt of $54.4 million.

Plastinina's father spent $80 million founding the company for her seven months ago and most of the twelve open and two new stores are to go. The company also has outlets in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and a webstore that is listing 70% discounts. Cyprus-based Lendero is the biggest creditor seeking repayment on a $29.9 million loan.

Sources

Bob Van Voris. "Teenage Russian Designer’s Company Files Bankruptcy" — Bloomberg L.P., January 2, 2009
Santosh Nadgir and Deepak Kannan. "Teenage Russian designer's co files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy" — Reuters, January 2, 2009

International Cricket Council to launch hall of fame [edit]

The International Cricket Council has announced plans to launch a cricket hall of fame as part of its centenary year events. All 55 players already on a list by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations are to be honoured, and more will be added each year.

The current list features 22 English, 12 West Indian, 11 Australian, three Indian, three Pakistani, two South African and one New Zealand cricekters, including 1899 retiree WG Grace. The most recent to leave the sport is Javed Miandad, with no current players on the list.

Sources

"Ex-England aces dominate ICC list" — BBC News Online, January 2, 2009
Clive Wellington. "Cricket: ICC marks centenary year with new Hall of Fame" — The Scotsman, January 3, 2009

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English Wikinews RSS feed.

Cyprus Finance Minister Michael Sarris resigns amid bailout talks

Related news [edit]

Sister links [edit]

Sources [edit]

Effect of sanctions 'like war' says Iran's Ahmadinejad

Sources [edit]

Cyprus seeks EU bailout

Sources [edit]

Cyprus leader says no to second term

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Sources [edit]

Cypriot court clears all of wrongdoing in Greek air disaster

Related news [edit]

Sister links [edit]

Sources [edit]

Iceland formally recognises Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders

Sister links [edit]

Sources [edit]

Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Sources [edit]

Wikinews Shorts: November 30, 2010

President of Cyrpus cancels visit to Kazakhstan due to illness [edit]

Mali immigrant killed in French Taser shooting [edit]

Italian film director Mario Monicelli commits suicide age 95 [edit]

Ban Ki-Moon says Cyprus solution "possible"

Sources [edit]

Corpse of former President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos stolen

Sources [edit]

Cypriot court begins Greek air disaster trial

Related news [edit]

Sources [edit]

Europeans go to the polls to elect Members of the European Parliament

Related news [edit]

Sources [edit]

External links [edit]

Northern Cyprus opposition party wins elections

Sources [edit]

Cyprus detains weapon-laden ship

Sources [edit]

Wikinews Shorts: January 3, 2009

Contents

John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies [edit]

Preliminary report released on Denver 737 crash [edit]

Russian teen's US fashion chain bankrupt with $54.4 million debts [edit]

International Cricket Council to launch hall of fame [edit]