Heat wave to ease off from Monday

SUFFOCATING temperatures yesterday engulfed the island for yet another unbearably hot day, hitting a maximum 42 degrees centigrade inland.

According to the weather services, the heat wave is set to continue until Monday from when temperatures are expected steadily to drop.

Limassol power cut

THE LIMASSOL area suffered a late night power cut on Thursday night, lasting until Friday’s early hours.

The areas affected were Kolonaki, the Yermasoyia tourist district and the industrial area of Ayios Athanassios.

The power cut lasted from 9.43pm until 1.30am on Friday morning, and was not thought to have been related to Thursday’s earthquake.

Go-ahead for cement merger

THE Protection of Competition Committee yesterday gave the green light to the Cyprus Cement Company and the Vassiliko Cement Company to merge, saying the merger was compatible with competition rules.

A brief statement said the decision was taken after consultations and exchanges of opinions, and following a report into the merger.

Cash up front for health checks

HEALTH inspectors have won their battle with the Health Ministry over having to purchase testing samples from their own pockets.
A statement from the Ministry said yesterday that from August 1, inspectors would be able to obtain cash up front to buy their samples after a special fund was created for the purpose.

Evidence from undercover missions to be allowed in court

CRIMINALS beware. A bill has been prepared allowing the testimony of undercover police officers to be admissible in court.

Until now, many cases were thrown out by the courts, which claimed the suspect’s human rights were being violated.

Government agrees to talks with charters

THE TRANSPORT Ministry has agreed to open talks with the International Airline Carriers Association (IACA) to discuss the controversial hike in airport charges under new operator Hermes.

IACA wanted the government to intervene in their row with Hermes, because under the operator agreement, the state will receive 33 per cent of airport revenues.

Three years’ jail for drunk driver

A DRUNK driver was yesterday jailed for three years for fatally injuring a boy of 17 in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Savvas Savva, 29 from Tseri, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Giorgos Mavrikios by negligent driving and abandoning the scene of the accident, but denied drink driving, despite twice failing a breathalyser later that morning.

Old Famagusta at risk

FAMAGUSTA’S famous walled city has been named one of the world’s top one hundred endangered sites of historical and cultural interest, in a list compiled by the World Monuments Fund (WMF).

Belgrade calls for Cyprus assistance over Marko Milosevic cash

THE SERBIAN authorities have called on the Cyprus government to grant them access to confidential banking information regarding the son and wife of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

The duo are accused of laundering millions of pounds from illegal cigarette smuggling through the island.

A wish list for our capital

IT’S nice to see that the most Nicosians are happy living in the capital, according to a European survey released this week.