Typhoon jets sent to Cyprus to guard against possible Syrian retaliation

RAF confirms fighters' presence is 'precautionary measure' against any potential attacks on bases if intervention is agreed
Nick Hopkins
theguardian.com,

RAF Typhoons, like the ones that will be on standby in Cyprus. 

Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images


The UK is sending six of the RAF's Typhoon fast jets to Cyprus to defend the strategically important bases on the island from potential retaliatory attacks from the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the fighters were flying to the Mediterranean on Thursday morning, ahead of any possible militaryaction against Syria in the coming days.

The MoD stressed the jets were not being sent to conduct potential ground-attack missions against Assad's regime, but were there as a "precautionary measure".

The UK has two sovereign base areas on the former British colony – at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The aircraft will be based at the airport in Akrotiri, which has been a key staging post for military flights to and from Afghanistan.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Friends Island Hop in Greece

By Joanna Varikos
“Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker is taking a tour of the Greek islands on a luxury yacht with her husband, Matthew Broderick, and a few friends, including Academy Award winning actor Jeremy Irons.

The 48-year-old actress took a dip in the water last week near Kefalonia as Broderick snapped some photos. Known for her keen fashion sense, Parker sported a pretty blue one-piece swimsuit that showed off her figure. Later in the evening, the couple enjoyed a meal aboard the yacht with Jeremy Irons, his wife, Sinead Cusack, and a group of friends.

NY Schools Ask for Greek Yogurt Bids

By Nicky Mariam Onti

Within the framework of a pilot program for the 2013-14 school year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been seeking bidders to supply Greek yogurt for the National School Lunch Program in New York as well as in three other states.

Schools in Arizona, Idaho and Tennessee will also take part in the same program, which seems to be open to Greek yogurt suppliers anywhere in the country.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., stated, “I am proud to see this pilot plan reach this final step, because it’s great for New York yogurt and the dairy industry, and it’s beneficial for the health of our kids.”

According to Schumer’s announcement in January, he successfully petitioned the USDA to experiment with the use of Greek — or strained — yogurt, which is richer in protein than regular yogurt which is already consumed at schools. The USDA is asking vendors to bid on supplying 4-ounce and 32-ounce containers.

Two of the four states, New York and Idaho, are major Greek yogurt producers. New York is home to Greek yogurt processing plants operated by Chobani, Fage, Alpina, Muller, Quaker and others. Moreover, Idaho is home to the world’s largest Greek yogurt processing plant, which was opened by Chobani last December.

According to Schumer, if the pilot program is financially beneficial, it could be expanded nationwide.

http://usa.greekreporter.com/2013/07/08/ny-schools-ask-for-greek-yogurt-bids/#lightbox/0/

Want Greek Yogurt With That Starbucks?

By Nicky Mariam Onti

Starbucks, the coffee giant, has teamed with Paris-based Danone, a French food-products multinational corporation, in order to develop Greek-style yogurt that will be launched in the U.S. coffee chain stores by spring 2015.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the parfait, to be known as Evolution Fresh, a Danone inspiration, will also be distributed through Danone’s grocery channels next spring. The company is aiming at expanding internationally.

The Greek yogurt craze has evolved into a multi-billion industry, led by Chobani, an upstate New York company with a plant in Johnstown.

This very concept of Starbucks, aims at health-conscious eaters. Starbucks’ Schultz has acknowledged a desire to bring compelling, healthy food products to grocery stores.

“With a fast-growing but still low penetration of the yogurt category, the U.S. remains a key growth opportunity for Danone,” Danone CEO, Franck Riboud said.

http://usa.greekreporter.com/2013/07/24/want-greek-yogurt-with-that-starbucks/

More Tourists Cruise to Corfu

By Maria Korologou on August 6, 2013 In News, Tourism

According to recently published estimates, more than 100,000 tourists went on a cruise to Corfu in July. A significant rise in tourist mobility in Corfu has been recorded this summer, particularly in the cruise sector.

In July 2013, the number of cruise ships that docked at the Port of Corfu amounted to 73 and carried 106,665 passengers, compared to 65 cruise ships with 86, 724 passengers that arrived at the Ionian island the same month last year. That means there was a rise of 23 percent in the number of visitors (by 19,942 more) and 12.3 percent in the number of cruise ships (eight more).

According to an announcement made by the Port of Corfu, based on scheduled arrivals, more than 100,000 visitors are expected in August and September.

Corfu, Greece, Port of Corfu

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/08/06/more-tourists-cruise-to-corfu/

New York Today: Cold Wave

By ANDY NEWMAN

Jabin Botsford/The New York TimesNo sweat: with the pleasant temperatures, it’s a good day to enjoy a nap outside.

Updated, 6:58 a.m. | Technically, there is no meteorological definition of a cold snap, but New York Today is hereby declaring one.

Monday, with a peak of 78 degrees, was the seventh straight day with a high temperature below normal.

Tuesday (82 degrees), Wednesday (82) and Thursday (83) are expected tocontinue the trend.

Tonight it’s supposed to hit 66 degrees. (Turn off the air-conditioner.)

We are on track for 10 days in a row – and 15 out of the last 16 – of abnormal coolness. The expected high this time of year is 84.

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