The West African curse

2009-12-15

THERE HAVE been political horrors in other parts of Africa, like the genocidal former regime in Rwanda, the current regime in Zimbabwe, or any Congolese regime you care to name. But the worst regimes in Africa seem to arise along the stretch of tropical coastline between Ghana and Senegal.
Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast have all lived through nightmarish civil wars after long-ruling dictators died or were killed and junior officers seized power. Gambia has been ruled for the past fifteen years by a former army lieutenant who now imports witch doctors from Guinea to hunt down the witches who he believes are trying to kill him. And now Guinea has fallen into the hands of the junior officers.

REVIEW: Carl Palmer Band, Rialto Theatre Limassol, December 12

2009-12-15

CARL Palmer and his power trio (Paul Bielatowicz, guitar and Stuart Clayton, bass) proved to an ecstatic audience on Saturday night why many people – this writer included – consider him to be the greatest living drummer on the planet.
The band’s blistering set, which drew heavily from Palmer’s passion for classical music, also included titles more familiar to those who followed the remarkable progression of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Berlusconi attacker apologises for ‘cowardly’ act

2009-12-15

An Italian man who broke Silvio Berlusconi’s nose and teeth by striking him with a souvenir model has apologised to the Italian prime minister for his “cowardly and rash act,” the attacker’s lawyers said.

Berlusconi spent his second night in hospital on Tuesday after the Sunday attack by 42-year-old Massimo Tartaglia, who hurled a small replica of Milan’s gothic cathedral at the premier from close range while he signed autographs at the end of a rally.

Tartaglia, who has a history of mental illness, acted alone and without any political or militant interests at heart, his lawyers said in a brief statement released late on Monday.

Our View: Desecrated grave should never have become a chance for political exploitation

2009-12-15

THE DESECRATION of Tassos Papadopoulos’ grave and the theft of his remains last week was a vile and abhorrent act which society condemned with all its might. This was an unprecedented act that shocked everyone and sparked feelings of rage. Never before in the turbulent history of the island had anyone committed grave robbery, which, admittedly, is not common crime anywhere in the world.

Several dead ends but no sign of stolen body

2009-12-15

POLICE yesterday said they have questioned numerous individuals in connection with the stolen remains of late former president Tassos Papadopoulos but so far there has been no breakthrough in the case that shocked the island.
Between Thursday night and Friday morning, unknown individuals dug up the grave of Papadopoulos, stealing his remains in an act of desecration that has left authorities baffled.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said yesterday they have questioned numerous individuals and searched several places after receiving information about suspicious activity “without however any positive results.”

Paschalides: 13 is a lucky number for Cyprus in LNG stakes

2009-12-15

THE PUBLIC Company for Natural Gas (DEFA) has received expressions of interest for the supply of liquefied natural gas from 13 companies, including “giants” of the industry, Commerce Minister Antonis Paschalides said yesterday.
Owned jointly by the government and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, DEFA’s remit is to secure supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power the electricity grid. It is the only company legally entitled to buy LNG for the island’s needs.
Speaking to newsmen, Paschalides said the expression of interest was “very satisfactory”, adding: “13 is the lucky number for Cyprus.”
He said the selected company should be ready to supply the island with LNG by 2014. That’s also the unofficial ETA for the completion of a land-based LNG terminal.

Village in mourning over death icon painter

2009-12-15

ATHIENOU villagers are in mourning after the tragic death of a local painter on Saturday.
Alkis Kepolas, 53, a renowned icon painter, was fatally electrocuted at 9.20pm on Saturday while preparing to take a bath.
A 29-year-old electrician, also from Athienou, was arrested and charged yesterday with causing Kepolas’ death through negligence.
The accident occurred after Kepolas had switched on the heating unit in his house and stepped into the bath. Upon hearing his father fall, Kepolas’ 15 year old son Antonis rushed to help. He was also electrocuted, but survived because he was wearing rubber soled shoes.

Backslapping all round after Sunday’s match goes without a hitch

2009-12-15

A MASSIVE police operation, the cooperation of the football clubs and perhaps the 1-1 result all ensured that Sunday’s derby between Omonia and APOEL in Nicosia passed without incident.
Police deployed 330 officers inside and outside the GSP stadium. Two sections of the stands were left empty to keep the two sets of fans well apart.
Attendance stood at 16,500. The stadium’s capacity is around 20,000.
Protective nets were erected behind each goal –sections reserved for the die-hard fans – to prevent the hurling of objects at the goalkeepers.
The game kicked off at 2.30pm, in line with a longstanding police demand that matches billed as high-risk take place during the daytime.

Bailout for two banks in the north

2009-12-15

OFFICIALS at the north’s ‘central bank’ said yesterday there was no need for concern after it sequestrated two high street banks on Friday.
The sequestrations came into effect after the Kibris Continental and the Yesilada Banks were judged to have insufficient funds to continue operating as private concerns. They have both now been taken over by the Savings Deposits Insurance and Financial Stability Fund (TMSFIF), a mechanism funded by the banking sector and operating under the authority of the ‘central bank’.

Fourth person dies from H1N1

2009-12-15

A 52-year-old man has become the fourth person to die from swine flu (H1N1) in Cyprus, three of whom were in the government-controlled areas.
The man who died on Saturday night had a history of serious respiratory problems, and was admitted to Limassol General Hospital with severe acute respiratory syndrome earlier on Saturday.
The first recorded H1N1 fatalities in the Government controlled area, announced a week ago, were a five month baby with cerebral palsy and a 65 year old woman, who also suffered from a severe respiratory condition. An elderly man suffering a chronic lung condition and diabetes died in the Turkish-occupied north last month.

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.