154 Israeli couples say ‘I do’ in Larnaca

2011-06-18

A TOTAL of 154 Israeli and Russian couples tied the knot en masse in Larnaca in a civil ceremony yesterday, in an event that may enter the World Guinness Book of Records.

The island is a popular spot for Israelis to wed in civil ceremonies which are not permitted in Israel.

However, the numbers of couples were somewhat lower than the originally planned 170 which would definitely have secured the world record.

Nonetheless, Israeli organisers were hoping that the fact the nuptials took place in a foreign country might be enough to secure the desired milestone.

It remains to be seen if the Guinness book decides to create a new category for mass marriages (with 24 hours) in a foreign country, but at least one couple definitely hopes it does.

Our View: Fruit mark-up would have little effect if buyers refused purchase

2011-06-18

THE CONSUMERS and Quality of Life Union held a protest outside the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday to complain against the high prices we pay for fruit and vegetables in Cyprus. The Union carried out a little research and found that prices charged for seasonal produce such as apricots and cherries in Paris were one third those being charged in Cyprus.

EAC hits back at double standards claim

2011-06-18

THE Electricity Authority (EAC) yesterday rejected suggestions they selectively enforce company policy on unpaid bills after it emerged that they had continued to supply two companies with power, despite them owing hundreds of thousands of euros for months.

“Our policy is to facilitate people where we believe there is a need with the aim of helping the company, the workers, the EAC and the country’s economy,” EAC spokesman Costas Gavrilides told the Cyprus Mail.

This way, there is more chance for the EAC to get its money, Gavrilides said.

The spokesman said cutting a large organisation’s power would mean closure and workers and their families being left out in the cold.

Auditor’s spotlight on weightlifting federation

2011-06-18

THE auditor-general has called on the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO) to keep better track of its subsidies after questionable practices were detected during an audit of the weightlifting federation (CWF).

According to the auditor-general’s report for 2010, CSO had subsidised the weightlifting federation with €536,315 in three years – 2008 to 2010 – and also gave clubs belonging to the federation an additional €12,504 in the same period.

The CWF had been selected by the auditor-general for a more detailed examination during the CSO’s annual audit.

The report said CWF had not applied to be recognised as a federation and was not registered in the sports registry.

Cabinet places ceiling on ministry spending

2011-06-18

THE CABINET yesterday decided to impose a cap on the spending of ministries and government services as an “additional safety mechanism” to ensure they keep within the 2011 budget, said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou.

According to Stefanou, Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis yesterday briefed the council of ministers on the expenditure for each ministry and service, comparing it to budget forecasts so that relative adjustments could be made where necessary to stay within the budget. The decision was then taken by the cabinet to put a ceiling on all spending.

The spokesman said it was “very natural and responsible” of government, especially in conditions of a financial crisis, to continue monitoring the course of expenditure.

Labour inspectors protest abuse of colleague

2011-06-18

THE Labour Inspection Department yesterday held an impromptu strike after a colleague was attacked while on duty the day before.

The officials held the 10-minute strike to express their “intense displeasure” over extreme behaviour their fellow inspectors face in carrying out their duties. The matter, they said in an announcement, had reached its peak after their colleague was attacked on Thursday afternoon, while inspecting a workplace in Nicosia.

“Such behaviour is reprehensible and will not prevent labour inspectors from continuing to exercise their duties to ensure health and safety levels in the workforce are constantly and steadily improving, and that workers, the public and the environment, are protected,” they said.

Bad weather causes fruit price hike

2011-06-18

THE RECENT bad weather has been blamed for the high price of summer fruits such as cherries and apricots.

A quick survey of three Nicosia supermarkets yesterday saw cherries on sale for as much as €10.50 a kilo, while the top price for apricots was €6.15. Prices for medlars or mespila and okra are also high.

“They’re behind in producing because of weather conditions, so there are fewer cherries than usual, which of course raises the price,” said an official at the fruit producer association SEDYKEP.

He added that the middle-men traditionally also demand a high cut of the profits for perishable fruit like cherries in order to cover their losses.

The fruit growers themselves are quick to point out that they receive a fraction of the overall cost.

Long-awaited paramedic courses due to start

2011-06-18

THE MUCH-NEEDED and long-awaited upgrade to the state ambulance service will come a step nearer this week, with the announcement of 75 interview candidates for the first paramedics training course, pencilled in to start in September.

More than 350 people applied to join the course, with 200 going on to take the written exam. The top 75 will now be whittled down to a final 50 at interview.

These will then go become the island’s first Cyprus-trained and qualified paramedics, with 24 expected to fill recently created government positions during the first year.

Club defends angel project

2011-06-18

 

THE CYPRUS representative of the Russian-based institution which plans to build the biggest statue in the world in Monagrouli hit back at critics of the project yesterday saying Cyprus should feel proud to be chosen.

The media in particular have been critical of the planned €100 million construction – the 135 metre statue of an angel with its arms outstretched will be accompanied by a massive complex – which has so far received no official backing from the state, except the blessing of Archbishop Chrysostomos who will be leasing out the land just outside Limassol.

The Cyprus representative of the International Club of Philanthropists and Patrons of Europe, Panicos Onoufriou, says he can’t understand why people are reacting so negatively.

Jordan: committed to reform

2011-06-18

YOUNG PEOPLE who represent a substantial minority in the Arab world demand and deserve an opportunity for a better life, said Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Juddeh yesterday after meeting with his Cypriot counterpart in Nicosia.

Juddeh, who is the first Jordanian foreign minister to visit Cyprus, met with Cypriot minister Marcos Kyprianou and President Demetris Christofias yesterday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Kyprianou, the Jordanian diplomat said the two ministers discussed the situation currently facing Arab countries.

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.