SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST
News Item One (19-20) Commonwealth leaders agreed to lift Nigeria’s 3-5 years’ suspension on May 29, the day the military government hands over power to the elected president, the organization secretary general announced yesterday. Nigeria was suspended from the 54 nation group of mainly former British colonies in 1995 after it executed 9 minority rights activists including writer Ken Thawrawiwa. But now that the country has embarked on the return to democracy, Commonwealth heads of government have agreed to end this estrangement. Secretary general chief Ormiga Anyaco said in a statement: “I’m delighted an unfortunate episode in Nigeria Commonwealth relations will now come to an end and Nigeria is resuming its rightful place in the Commonwealth.”
News Item Two (21-22) The Space Shuttle Discovery made a real night landing at the Kennedy Space Center early on Thursday. The night landing, the 11th in the centre’s 94 shuttle missions, ended a 10-day mission to outfit the orbiting international space station. Although the space craft created a solid boom that can be heard along much of Florida’s eastern seaboard, witnesses on the ground could not see the orbiter until it was directly over the one-way lights. Scattered showers off the Florida coast had threatened to postpone the shuttle’s return. But broadcasters gave a green light when they decided no rain will fall within 48 kilometres of the space centre.
News Item Three (23-24) Five people died, two were missing and at least 18 were injured on Wednesday when an Italian petrol vessel collided with a dinghy filled with refugees crossing the Adriatic sea from Albania, authorities said. The victims were believed to be Albanians from either Albania or Kosovo, said authorities from Italy’s Tax Police Division, which, along with the coast guard, patrols the nation’s coast. The cause of the collision was not immediately known. Three Albanians,believed be smuggling the refugees were arrested a few hours after the accident.
News Item Four (25) Malaysian authorities are discussing possible salvage efforts with Sun Cruisers, the Singapore owner of a large liner, that sunk off Malaysia last week, a news report said yesterday. Sun cruisers had received some advice from Malaysia on the matter. The Business Times newspaper quoted the company’s spokeswoman Judy Shoo Asian. Judy and other Sun Cruiser’s officials could not immediately be reached for further comment as they were away in Indonesia. The Sun Vista went down in international waters. The nearby Malaysia may have the right to order the wreck’s removal, the newspaper said. Salvage experts said the wreck of the Sun Vista, which sank in 65 metres of water, poses no threat to ships passing over it. But Malaysia may still want it removed. Nigeria was suspended from the 54 nation group of mainly former British colonies in 1995 after it executed 9 minority rights activists including writer Ken Thawrawiwa. But now that the country has embarked on the return to democracy, Commonwealth heads of government have agreed to end this estrangement. Secretary general chief Ormiga Anyaco said in a statement: “I’m delighted an unfortunate episode in Nigeria Commonwealth relations will now come to an end and Nigeria is resuming its rightful place in the Commonwealth.”
相关资料
|