‘Koulias and his 30 pieces of silver’

2011-06-04

THE day after the election for the House presidency found DIKO reeling from the actions of rebel MP Zacharias Koulias not to support his party’s leader and instead give the deciding vote to EDEK chairman Yiannakis Omirou who won the second highest post in the Republic.

Omirou, with Koulias’ vote, won Thursday’s contest 28 to 27, beating DIKO leader Marios Garoyian who had the backing of ruling AKEL.

Hardliner Koulias said he did not vote for Garoyian because that would have been an endorsement of his party’s alliance with AKEL, which he opposes.

He said for three years Garoyian had tolerated the concessions made by President Demetris Christofias in the reunification talks and “I was in no mood to act as the guardian of Mr. Christofias’ concessions.”

Budget cuts at all ministries

2011-06-04

THE FINANCE Ministry has moved ahead with a series of budgetary cuts in all the ministries, in its bid to meet EU requirements for maintaining the island’s deficit at 4.5 per cent by the end of this year.

The Justice Ministry appears to be the hardest hit, with a 20 per cent reduction in funds compared to last year.

Cuts have been made in fuel funding – even for helicopters used in emergencies – maintenance of electrical appliances, cars and telecommunications, but also funds for policemen’s uniforms.

Stefanos Prodromou, a tailor in Old Town Nicosia, yesterday explained that he – along with five or six other tailors – take the policemen’s measurements, which are then sent off to a factory in Greece to be tailored.

Petition against police brutality

2011-06-04

ANTI-POLICE brutality campaigners have launched a petition to reform the Cyprus police’s disciplinary procedure and increase transparency, following the return to duty of police officers who were filmed violently assaulting two innocent students five years ago.

The widely publicised and brutal assault sparked public outrage, which was heightened by the Nicosia criminal court’s paltry suspended sentences for the guilty officers in April.

In response to the lax sentencing, a group of activists are now calling for greater transparency and external accountability in police disciplinary matters with an online petition, which, as of yesterday, had received 216 signatures.

National guard officer attacked

2011-06-04

A 20-YEAR-OLD national guardsman was remanded for three days yesterday in connection with an attack on a 33-year-old duty officer at the National Guard in Limassol, which occurred during the early hours.

The 33-year-old was attacked and beaten by three people at an army camp and is now being kept at Limassol hospital for observation after suffering a broken tooth and extensive cuts and bruises to the face and body. Throughout the whole 10-minute attack none of the other guardsmen present intervened to help him.

Atlantis hunt: a third attempt

2011-06-04

ATLANTIS researcher Robert Sarmast has returned to Cyprus after a four-year hiatus ahead of a third expedition to try and locate the lost ancient city, he believes is underwater off Cyprus.

Sarmast said yesterday he wanted to be here for the Kataklysmos festival, or the ‘festival of the flood’. This will be held islandwide next weekend.

“The Kataklysmos festival is really about the great flood that sunk Atlantis, so it’s not surprising to me that the celebrations are unique to Cyprus,” said Sarmast.

Sarmast’s team plan to film a documentary during the Kataklysmos festival, while preparing for a third expedition.

Man arrested on porn charges admits guilt

2011-06-04

THE 60-YEAR-OLD British man, who was arrested on Thursday on child pornography charges, asked for help to be rid of his ‘illness’ after admitting his guilt to police yesterday.

The suspect, who had been living in Larnaca admitted to having used child pornography material for the last ten years.

According to police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos, the relevant authorities will judge to what extent he will have to be sent to specialists and if so he will be sent to receive the medical care he needs.

During a search of the 60-year-old’s home on Thursday police seized a desktop computer, a laptop, an external hard drive, a CD and a flash memory card from his home.

Honour for Down Syndrome test doctor

2011-06-04

DR PHILIPPOS Patsalis, director of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, was awarded a distinguished alumni ward by the Department of State Office of Alumni Affairs yesterday for discovering a non-invasive prenatal test for Down Syndrome.

The award was presented by the American Ambassador for Cyprus, Frank C. Urbancic, who referred to Patsalis’ achievement as “a milestone in maternal health.” “The discovery by Dr Patsalis promises to make pregnancy safer by replacing a test that is difficult for the mother and risks harm to the foetus,” said Urbancic.

This is the highest honour that can be bestowed by the graduate office in recognition of achievements or contributions made by a graduate of an American university, or someone trained in America.

Elderly man knocked down and killed

2011-06-04

A 73-YEAR-OLD man, Christos Pourgourides, was knocked over and killed yesterday morning on Omirou Street in Nicosia by a van being driven by a 27-year-old man.

Pourgourides was taken to the General Hospital where his death was confirmed.

According to witnesses at the scene, drivers on the road decided to park and walk as the congestion was so bad, resulting in police writing tickets for all of them. Head of Traffic Police, Demetris Demetriou urged drivers not to park on side streets as they cause an obstruction.

The 27-year-old was given a breathalyser test in which his alcohol level was found to be zero. He was then led to the Traffic Department to give a statement.

Evidence of sedentary villagers in Cyprus

2011-06-04

ARCHEOLOGISTS believe they have discovered evidence of the existence of sedentary villagers in Cyprus dating back to the ninth millennium BC.

According to the Department of Antiquities, excavations at the site of Klimonas in Ayios Tychonas in the Limassol District have revealed the remains of a partially subterranean circular building, and the findings indicate that there were sedentary villagers in Cyprus, very similar to those of the late Pre-Pottery Neolithic A in the Levant.

Christofias meets Omirou

2011-06-04

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias yesterday received new House President Yiannakis Omirou in the first meeting between the two men after the latter’s election on Thursday.

Speaking after the meeting at the presidential palace, Omirou said his aim was for a harmonious and smooth cooperation with the President to serve the interests of the Cypriot people.

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.