THE banking world in Greece and Cyprus was turned on its head yesterday as Piraeus Bank and Marfin Popular Bank (MPB) launched rival bids to buy each other out, with Bank of Cyprus stuck in the middle.
MOBILE phones in classrooms could be a thing of the past if Education Minister Pefkios Georgiades next week adopts one of four proposed solutions to end what has become an increasing problem.
GREEK AND Turkish Cypriot sides have begun separate dialogues with the UN to determine the next steps to be taken to open the Ledra Street crossing.
Heated rhetoric over the Turkish Cypriots’ decision to remove their controversial bridge had diminished to a trickle yesterday, all of which was coming from the north.
BRITAIN is unlikely to be able to allow direct flights from the UK to the north without the government’s agreement, British Minister for Europe, Geoffrey Hoon has said.
During a debate on Cyprus at the House of Commons, Hoon was asked about the flights issue following an application to Britain for direct flights from the Turkish Cypriot leadership last month.
THE CENTRAL Bank kept interest rates unchanged yesterday for the fourth straight month, saying economic conditions did not warrant an adjustment.
The key refinancing rate will remain at 4.50 per cent, its Lombard rate also at 4.50 per cent and its overnight deposit facility at 2.50 per cent, Central Bank Governor Christodoulos Christodoulou told reporters.
POLICE have arrested a man in connection with the robbery of the Dracumel kiosk in Strovolos last month.
During the robbery, kiosk owner Leonidas Arestis was beaten with a crowbar and tied up as his attackers escaped with around £8,500.
On Thursday, CID officers, acting on a tip-off arrested a 26-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker in connection with the robbery.
FAILED Aglandja mayoral candidate Panicos Pengas has launched an appeal before the Supreme Court against the appointment of Andreas Petrou as mayor of the Nicosia suburb last month.
A LOAF of bread is set to increase in price by five to ten cents.
The figure was given by the President of the Bakeries’ Federation, Gabriel Kazasis, who said the rise would take place once current flour reserves run out in approximately ten days.
APOLLON Limassol have angrily denied rumours that their Iraqi players protested against the possibility of the club hiring an Israeli manager.
Former Chairman Freddie John Paul, still active within the club, yesterday told the Mail that Eli Gutman, “is just one of 30 potential candidates we are looking at.”
LEAGUE Leaders APOEL will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of Apollon Limassol last Saturday as they take on Enosis Neon Paralimniou in Nicosia this evening at 5pm.
Last weekend, George Merkis’ 94th minute winner condemned APOEL to their first defeat of the season and brought second place Omonia to within one point of Marinos Ouzounides’ side.
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.
