Flights cancelled due to big freeze

2010-12-19

HOLIDAYMAKERS and students returning home to Cyprus for the Christmas holidays were left stranded yesterday as heavy snowfall in Britain closed Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

British Airways cancelled all flights from London Heathrow and all European and domestic flights from London Gatwick between midday (1000 GMT) and 7.00pm (1700 GMT) yesterday. The early morning BA Heathrow flight to Larnaca managed to leave before the airport closed, but two easyJet flights from Gatwick were cancelled after the airport closed its runway to all inbound and outward flights after the accumulation of about five centimetres of snow, a spokeswoman said.

Tales from the coffeeshop: Budget debate the best in years

2010-12-19

OUR AKELITE comrades may disagree, but the three-day House debate of the 2011 budget was by far the most entertaining and enjoyable I can remember. I am being disingenuous here because I cannot remember any previous budget debate, but this is probably because they were all more boring than death.

By tomorrow I will not be able to remember anything from the latest one either, but for now I can safely state that it had all the features of a memorable, fun event – passion, aggression, anger, animosity, mean-spiritedness, irreverence, silliness and no shortage of stupidity.

To the silent majority: a plea for action

2010-12-19

WHOEVER shouts the loudest seems to get his way in Cyprus. An argument is not judged by its rationality but by the decibel count and aggressive intent of the person making it. It is an environment in which the bullies are in complete control, calling the shots and giving direction to society. And when politicians talk about consensus or the middle ground they are merely trying to cover up the fact that they have once again given in to the brazen intimidation of the bullies.

Smokers cheated by early price rises

2010-12-19

ANY shop selling cigarettes at the new prices is doing so illegally and pocketing the profits, as suppliers have yet to sell stock with the new VAT hikes included, a leading cigarette supplier confirmed yesterday.

In a circular letter sent to all cigarette and tobacco sellers yesterday, suppliers Cassandra Trading Ltd stressed it had not yet issued stock with the new VAT hikes included.

Anyone selling them at increased prices is not just profiteering, but is doing so in full violation of the law, an insider from the company confirmed yesterday.

Two more raids in gambling crack down

2010-12-19

POLICE have raided two online gambling shops in Engomi and Lakatamia in Nicosia as police launch an intensified campaign to fight illegal gambling over the Christmas period.

“The operations will be intensified in view of the holidays and will cover all of the districts with some of the operations taking place in premises where investigations have already taken place,” police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos warned yesterday.

According to Katsounotos, in the Friday night raid on the premises in Engomi police seized five outside cameras, one computer used for storing CCTV footage, one laptop, 27 computer towers, three cheques and cash. Eight people were also taken in to make statements regarding the investigation, including the owner and the manager.

DIKO congratulates government for clinching Israel deal

2010-12-19

Coalition partner DIKO yesterday rushed to congratulate the government on signing the significant deal with Israel on Friday defining sea boundaries prior to oil exploration.

DIKO Spokesman Fotis Fotiou deemed the agreement “historic” and credited the previous government – under the late President Tassos Papadopoulos – for preparing the groundwork.

“It is an agreement of great geostrategic and geopolitical importance,” said Fotiou. “DIKO congratulates the government and especially the relevant ministers for successfully completing consultations with Israel.”

No child can choose the life he or she is born into

2010-12-19

Cutting through the undergrowth of A Dinou’s letter (Sunday Mail 12th Dec) he makes the simple statement that children of same sex parents can’t choose the lifestyle in which they grow up. Isn’t that the same for all children?

Robert G Brew, Protaras

Crunchy distraction at dance performance

2010-12-19

Does the Rialto theatre resemble a cheap eatery? No! But what other explanation is there for parents allowing a child to munch a (big) bag of crisps at the Dance Cyprus performance last week? AND mum ate a sandwich!!

Unfortunately, they were in the balcony, so most of the audience was unable to see this unbelievable alternative performance. They may have heard it though.

Penny Douglas, Parekklisia

Help us trace our old landlord from Varosha

2010-12-19

 

As a member of the British Army the very first home my wife and I lived in was at 5B Colombus, Varosha.

Is there any way I could contact the landlord or his family? My wife and I were newlyweds and both only 21 years old when we lived there from 1961 to 1964.

Mr and Mrs Franco as we called our landlord and his wife. They really looked after us and I often wondered what became of this lovely couple and their two lovely daughters.

Jos Straughton, UK

 

How to be green and influence people

2010-12-19

There is a need for a public transportation system for Nicosia. What we need is a trolley, train, or tube that will transport the citizens of Cyprus efficiently and quickly. Luckily, a system like this has already begun, with the recent upgrade of the extremely old buses.

The new buses are now more accessible for people with mobility issues. The fare is affordable and they’re clean and comfortable. It’s interesting to note that the improvement of the service has led to a dramatic increase ?n use in recent months.

?ll European capitals have efficient public transportation systems. Nicosia needs one, too, especially for citizens who are physically challenged.

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.