Marina in north gets ready to open

2011-05-01

THE UK-based company funding the construction of a marina in the north has said the project is contributing to a solution of the island’s political problem, as it prepares to open for business this month.

The project, built on Greek Cypriot land near the village of Yialousa on the Karpas peninsula, is funded by the Lewis Trust Group (LTG).

Tales from the Coffeeshop: Kowtowing to despots and despising independents

2011-05-01

WE HAVE been unable to establish who had the resoundingly ridiculous idea for Friday’s meaningless meeting about Syria that was held at Limassol’s Le Meridien, in order to congratulate him. I guess that it was just another pathetic attempt by our government to present Kyproulla as a player in the international diplomatic scene.

It had some usefulness as the public was given a chance to see what our Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou looks like without a jacket and tie. Other than that, there did not seem to be much point for the meeting to which Mediterranean and Balkan EU member-states were invited.

A disgraceful smear campaign against Orphanides

2011-05-01

CRITICS of the president are often advised by the government camp to tone down their rhetoric because they are undermining the post of the President of Republic, which should command respect regardless of who’s occupying it.

This is quite a disingenuous argument, implying that the government’s and AKEL’s main concern is the protection of the institution rather than the individual. President Christofias also repeated this warped logic during his televised news conference last month.

Crash course in flying phobia

2011-05-01

“HUMANS were meant to fly, I just wasn’t,” said 38-year-old Maria Ioannou, one of 200 fearful fliers taking part Cyprus Airways’ two-day seminar on aerophobia yesterday and today.

The phobia itself embodies a plethora of other phobias such as claustrophobia or a fear of height, however, Ioannou has pin pointed her fear down to one aspect of the flight: she doesn’t like being in the air.

“I don’t like the fact that in a few minutes I will be in the air,” said Ioannou describing the shakiness that overwhelms her once she is in a plane. One of the aspects of flying that she cannot deal with is the fact that she is no longer in control.

Stronger euro, downgrades responsible for drop in deposits

2011-05-01

DEPOSITS in Cyprus’ banking sector fell in March 0.6 per cent to 68.7 billion euros and 1.8 percent since December 31, the Central Bank has said.

The drop, the third in as many months, was mainly caused by a 3 per cent decline in foreign currency deposits, which fell to 20.9 billion euros from 21.6 billion euros the month before, according to a statement on the website of the Central Bank of Cyprus. Overall foreign currency deposits peaked at 22.7 billion euros in December.

The decline in foreign currency deposits was mainly a result of recent developments on the foreign exchange markets, according to the central bank.

CING receives research on cocaine effects on mice

2011-05-01

A VISITING biochemist from Surrey University yesterday presented pioneering cocaine and opioid addiction research to the Cyprus Institute for Neurology and Genetics (CING).

Describing the project, lecturer and neuropharmacologist Alex Bailey said his examination of cocaine’s effect on mice offers an insight into the biological and genetic aspects of drug addiction.

The results of this project could even form the basis of further research collaboration with the CING.

Bailey said: “Genetics, along environmental and psychological factors, have been shown to play an important role in addictive diseases. Our work investigates how genetic factors and neurobiological alterations factor into addictive diseases.”

Elderly owners of betting shop mugged

2011-05-01

TWO hooded individuals assaulted an elderly couple, owners of a betting shop in Dhali, and robbed them of €5,400 in cash and €1,000 worth of lottery tickets, police said yesterday.

The couple were walking home from their shop on Friday evening when they were attacked by the unknown assailants.

The 73-year-old man and his wife, 68, tried to defend themselves but were pushed to the ground by the robbers who fled the scene after grabbing the bag with the cash and lottery tickets.

The couple later went to the Nicosia general hospital where the 68-year-old woman was treated for minor injuries.

Cash prizes and a fun day out

2011-05-01

A UNIQUE and fun treasure hunt taking place next Sunday, May 8, is aimed at bringing together Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as people from other communities, to explore and discover the old city of Nicosia. Cash prizes are also up for grabs with €400 for the winning group, €200 and €100 for the second and third groups respectively.

Participants will be allocated into groups where they will then have to complete several tasks and challenges. By solving the various riddles the groups will be discovering the old city, while also collecting all the rainbow colours from seven different stations. The groups will have to collect all seven colours of the rainbow to win.

After the boats come in

2011-05-01

AS I round the bend of the road leading out of Yialousa I remember the first time I saw this view. It was the mid-1980s and the sun-blasted village shimmered in the summer heat over the sparkling Mediterranean. Old men sat on Van Gogh chairs outside the coffee shop staring into the middle distance, and barefoot kids had chased our car through the dusty streets shouting “Allo! Allo! Bye Bye!”

Today, the old men are still there, but the children no longer chase cars. There are just too many of them. Not only are there more cars, there are huge lorries carrying ready-mix concrete, and I am stuck behind two of them. They belch exhaust fumes over the old men at the coffee shop and block my view of the coast road leading east towards the end of the Karpas peninsular.

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.