A GREEK Cypriot yachting magnate was among the hostages gunned down by terrorists in a Mumbai hotel yesterday, moments after telling of his panic by mobile phone.
Entrepreneur Andreas Liveras, 73, holder of a British passport, was among four other people shot dead in the hotel basement, after gunmen opened fire indiscriminately.
THE FOREIGN Ministry was busy yesterday issuing warnings and help information for Cypriot nationals in various hotspots around the world from India to the Congo.
Other than the death of a Cypriot with British nationality, the only Cypriot passport holder in Mumbai is a female student.
Travel agents will request more personal details from passengers
CYPRUS Airways (CY) has started collecting personal details from passengers travelling to the UK under Britain’s plans to seek Advanced Passenger Information (API) lists ahead of flights.
THE MOST popular cabinet member is Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous, who has a 49 per cent approval rating and only a four per cent disapproval rating.
Second most popular is Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis, who has a 48 per cent approval and only a five per cent disapproval rating.
THE EAC does not seem unduly ruffled by a European Commission decision to refer Cyprus to the European Court of Justice over the award of a public contract for Vasilikos Power Station.
THE BRITISH High Commission said yesterday that Paphos and Larnaca airports would not be charged different airport taxes out of the UK under a revised regime coming into effect next year.
CYPRUS AIRWAYS (CY) will increase its route operation network next year following the acquisition of a leased Airbus A319, executive chairman Kikis Lazarides said yesterday.
THE EUROPEAN Commission’s directive for all member states to eradicate scrapie within 18 months “certainly doesn’t satisfy us completely”, the Agriculture Minister said yesterday.
Speaking after a parliamentary examination of his ministry’s budget, Michalis Polynikis said Cyprus’ dissatisfaction had been openly expressed when it abstained during the relevant vote.
LABOUR Minister Sotiroula Charalambous yesterday urged Parliament to approve her ministry’s proposal to ensure the viability of the Social Security Fund as soon as possible.
The bill was discussed in a joint meeting between the House Finance and Labour Committees.
THE DEFENCE Ministry has concluded on a proposal to reduce military service, as part of its plans to restructure the National Guard.
It will soon be submitted to the Cabinet for final decision to be reached on the matter.
According to Defence Minister Costas Papacostas yesterday, restructuring the NG and reducing military service go hand in hand.
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.
