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Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
NICOSIA – Anticipating a mass exodus of its citizens from Lebanon in the wake of Israeli attacks against Hezbollah terrorists there, the United Kingdom has sent 700 troops to Cyprus to help get them out of the conflict-torn country.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that the escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could trap people in Lebanon and said his government was readying to help UK citizens get out, said Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/world/britain-urges-nationals-leave-lebanon-2024-09-24/
The UK is Cyprus’ foreign Colonial ruler and has a military base on the island, although Hezebollah’s leader earlier warned Cyprus’ government, a member of the European Union, not to help its enemies in any way or face retaliation.
The UK has two Royal Navy ships, aircraft and transport helicopters on the island and Defence Secretary John Healey said that, “Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now.”
He added that, “Our government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate,” with signs indicating Israel is ramping up its attacks in an apparent attempt to crush Hezbollah while Israeli troop are also in the Gaza Strip hunting Hamas terrorists who killed more than 1200 Israelis in a 2023 raid.
Starmer told LBC radio that he is anxious the Mideast was spiraling out of control and said that, “All parties need to pull back from the brink,” and would talk with other world leaders at the United Nations annual General Assembly opening in New York.
“The most important message from me …is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately and I just want to reinforce that,” he told the BBC while enroute to the UN, and military forces supported by Border Force and Foreign Office officials.
The new British troops add to a significant military presence of UK forces at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and the Royal Navy ships of RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan and Healey held a meeting with ministers, intelligence chiefs and diplomats, said The Guardian.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told world leaders that Lebanon was on the brink of becoming a second Gaza, adding that the crisis had “become a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the whole region down,” the report said.
