THE FIRST meeting between President Christofias and the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, on Wednesday, went smoothly and another has been arranged for next week. Statements made after the meeting by both men were low-key and business-like, neither opting for point-scoring or for raising the stakes.

Perhaps the dinner thrown by Alexander Downer the previous night had helped break the ice. The presence of Mrs Eroglu and Mrs Christofia could have helped in this respect. To be fair, neither leader tried to exploit, what both described as a ‘social event’, for political purposes. The smiles during the photo-op seemed genuine and everyone seemed pretty relaxed and genial.

MOODY’S Investors Service yesterday placed on review for possible downgrade the deposit and debt ratings of Bank of Cyprus Marfin Popular and Hellenic Bank.

Moody’s said the rating action reflected concerns over the growing pressure on the banks’ financial performance that stems from their sizeable exposures to Greece through their branches and subsidiaries.

“The rating action also incorporates some concerns about the still elevated credit-related risks from the banks’ domestic and other international operations, despite some signs of improvement in operating conditions recently,” Moody’s said.

A FAMILY tragedy unfolded in Paphos yesterday, after a 2 ½ year-old girl was run over and killed by a car, believed to be driven by her uncle.

Police are looking for a man in his thirties in a fatal hit-and-run case that has shocked the community of Stavrokonou village.

The suspect, a Turkish Cypriot and resident in the south, has disappeared.

Described only as between 32 and 35 years old, the suspect fled the scene after his car struck and killed the girl, who happened to be his niece. He was driving a pick-up truck.

The accident took place close to the girl’s family house sometime around 2pm, police said. The girl was playing outdoors at the time.

UPGRADES to cut the presidential palace’s ‘substantial’ emissions could cost up to €1.2 million, but save money in the long run, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Cyprus Institute, National University of Athens and the Pennsylvania State University completed the second phase of their environmental study of the Palace this week, and have suggested 11 improvements to reduce carbon emissions and Volatile Organic Compounds that are present in the air due to poor ventilation.

Professor Loucas Kallisperis of the Cyprus Institute said: “Our primary findings are that there is a need for updates to various systems that can contribute to reduced emissions. We have proposed various measures, which will need to be designed by engineers before they go ahead.”

FIREFIGHTERS battled throughout the afternoon yesterday to contain a fire in the northwest of the island.

The blaze broke out around 3pm in the buffer zone near Ambeliko village. Initially the fire spread towards the occupied territories, but shifting winds created a second front in the government-controlled areas.

Authorities got permission from the United Nations for firefighting choppers to make a several drops over the buffer zone.

PARLIAMENT is reaching the end of discussions on a draft proposal to put restrictions on online gambling, with one suggestion being to impose filters by telecommunications companies to prevent users from playing on online casinos.

The draft will be submitted to the European Commission for approval, before parliament votes on it.

According to the Chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee, DISY’s Ionas Nicolaou, the draft was prepared taking into consideration laws from other states, such as France and Portugal.

THE much-anticipated bills to regulate the title deeds issue has hit a snag, after it emerged yesterday that not all concerned had been properly consulted during the preparation of the legislation.

While the bills were being discussed at yesterday’s House Legal Affairs Committee, organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce (KEVE), the Land Developers Association, technical chamber ETEK and banks said they had not been consulted fully before the legal amendments were prepared, contradicting the interior minister who said most of the issues  had been agreed before they were drawn up.

A LIMASSOL teenager was arrested yesterday in connection with the carload of explosives discovered outside Larnaca’s GSZ Stadium on May 15 ahead of the APOEL-Apollon Cup final.

The 17-year-old youth, who will be taken to Larnaca for his remand hearing, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and illegal possession of weapons.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said: “The 17-year-old will be taken to Larnaca district court either late today or early tomorrow morning to ask for his remand.”