Serious but secretive

2011-08-26

 

It’s a tough time to be running a ministry, and in just a few weeks Praxoulla Antoniadou has risen admirably to the challenge. But, as Theo Panayides discovers, she’s very careful what she says

 

Bar review: Russian Napa Red Square Bar, Ayia Napa

2011-08-26

 

The Russians really are starting to conquer just about everything in the south-east and their arrival on the nightlife circuit a few years back has gone from strength to strength.

In the centre of Ayia Napa you’ll find the best pubs and clubs, which during the summer months are the places to be seen in the evening.

The Russian themed Red Square bar is no exception – the bar oozes a positive vibe with lots of energy and non-stop good music. Mostly Russian house, international hits and techno beats shudder through the venue, with a few home-grown pop songs depending on the night in question.

Last-ditch push to avert debacle

2011-08-26

A DEAL on an austerity package looked slightly likelier last night, after unions representing government workers grudgingly yielded a little more ground.

Antonis Neophytou, of the SIDIKEK-PEO union, said last night that unionists had struck a deal with the Finance Minister for a 3.0 per cent extraordinary contribution toward pensions (worth €105 million) for three years, running concurrently with a 2.5 per cent permanent contribution toward pensions with immediate effect.

The agreement concerns people working in the broader public sector – civil servants and employees of semi-governmental organisations.

“But of course the deal is on condition that our agreement is respected,” Neophytou qualified, evidently alluding to the parties.

Our View: Nightly demos are still being handled in a civilised way by both camps

2011-08-26

REPRESENTATIVES of the demonstrators, who gather outside the presidential palace every night calling for the resignation of President Christofias, have alleged that their activities were being monitored by the secret service KYP. At a news conference held on Tuesday, the representatives alleged that plainclothes policemen were taking pictures of protestors and recording car registration numbers.

The allegations were not backed by any evidence, even though it is not outside the realm of possibility that KYP officers were photographing protestors and taking down cars registration numbers. The failure by the government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou to reject these claims, when asked to comment, suggested that the demonstrators had a point.

Mari victim’s family seeking €2 million in damages

2011-08-26

 

THE FAMILY of a naval officer killed in the July 11 blast are suing the state over criminal negligence, demanding over €2 million in damages.

The civil suit, filed with the Nicosia District Court, is against the Republic, but specifically names President Demetris Christofias as responsible for the events of July 11.

It also holds responsible “other agents of state authority,” without naming them.

The plaintiffs are Maria and Solon Heracleous, widow and son of the deceased.

It is the first legal action of its kind following the Mari events, although the Mail understands that more suits from other victims’ families are in the pipeline.

Residents of old Nicosia to have special parking permits

2011-08-26

THE NICOSIA Municipality will launch a pilot project for residential on-street permit parking in the old town as of next month, according to a statement from the Mayor’s office.

The pilot scheme will include Vassiliou Voulgaroktonou, Eleftherias, Artemidos, Arsinois, Megalou Alexandrou, Ouzounian, Favierou and Alexiou Komninou streets in the south west of the old town and Ektoros and Ammochostou streets in the east.

The permit will be given only to residents to place on their windshields.

According to the municipality, the project aims at facilitating parking for the old town’s permanent residents, who have been complaining for years about the lack of parking places.

Marcoullis; we got the support we needed and are very satisfied

2011-08-26

 

THE INCREASING number of high-level visits between Israel and Cyprus are proof that the two countries are building relations “brick by brick”, said an Israeli diplomat yesterday.

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis’ visit to Israel on Wednesday, where she met the Israeli President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, was “excellent for both sides”, said the diplomat, adding, “We’re certainly building relations brick by brick”.

Israel was the second country after Greece visited by Marcoullis since taking office earlier this month.

‘Used as a pawn in golden couple’s feud

2011-08-26

LIMASSOL district court has ordered an ex employee of a Cyprus-based hedge fund to pay €20,000, and €5,000 in costs after he defied a court order restricting the use of the firms’ data.

Former IKOS Asset Management research manager Vincent Pfister was ordered in June 2010 to give up all intellectual property belonging to the company after he tendered his resignation.

However Pfister failed to follow the order, retaining previously downloaded company software and algorithms on a memory stick, which he then posted from England to his parents in France.

Pfister had also emailed the same data to his personal account before he resigned, but he claimed this was because he occasionally worked remotely and he had since deleted it.

Power supply steady but unforeseen glitches still occur

2011-08-26

A NEW deal will be struck before the end of August to ensure power supply from the north continues, according to Manthos Mavrommatis, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE).

Mavrommatis said that the duration of the new contract has not yet been agreed, and would be subject to supply needs. “The contract might be extended for up to six months, if there is such a need,” he added. Mavrommatis clarified that the contract’s duration would be decided after consultation with all relevant authorities.

On August 11 the EAC delivered a cheque of €4.5 million to Mavrommatis who in turn handed it over to the Turkish Cypriot electricity provider for the power provided up to now.

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.