Traces of gas but to too early for deposits

2011-10-14

EXPLORATORY drilling in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has led to the discovery of traces of natural gas, though actual deposits are expected at a much greater depth, said Commerce Minister Praxoulla Antoniadou yesterday.

Speaking to the press, Antoniadou said hydrocarbon deposits are expected to be found at a targeted depth of 4,000 meters below the seabed, while so far drilling has reached a depth of 2,200 metres.

“In deep, at some stage of the drilling, traces of natural gas were discovered,” she said, noting that the deposits are not expected to be found at 2,200 metres below the seabed.

Former champion Baghdatis to return to Sydney

2011-10-14

MARCOS Baghdatis, the 2010 champion, returns to Sydney in January for the Apia International, which serves as a traditional warm-up event for the Australian Open, in the hope of claiming his second title Down Under.

“I won the event two years ago so I am just excited to go back there and feel the heat, get in some good matches and have some fun with the fans,” the Cypriot crowd favorite said.

“Sydney is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world and the fans there just love the sport and they are so relaxed and respectful. They always give me a lot of positive energy,” Baghdatis added.

for rent a 3 bedroom house in…

2011-10-14

for rent a 3 bedroom house in a quiet area, 2 floors, garage, office, one of the bedroom has an en suite shower and toilet.location ”exo vrisi”between Paphos and kato paphos. For details 99632730.

let paphos

2011-10-14

 

PEYIA : 3  bedroom Villa available from the 1st of December for long term rental with magnificent sea & mountain views, swimming pool, A/C, fire-place, double-glazing, fly screens and barbeque area in a very quiet area For info ring : 99887251 / 99025173

 

Pledge to get rid of the ‘rotten apples’ in health sector

2011-10-14

 

HEALTH MINISTER Stavros Malas is determined to throw the “rotten apples” out of the system that is allowing a small group of doctors to make abusive overtime claims. 

During a current affairs show on the state broadcaster yesterday, the minister was asked to comment on allegations of doctors taking bribes, doctoring surgery records to get paid for surgeries they did not perform and organising surgeries unnecessarily on weekends to get paid overtime. 

Malas responded that the ministry was “determined to throw the rotten apples out of the system”. He added that the image being painted as a result of a few doctors was unfair on the rest. 

Our View: Will the IMF warning really makes a difference?

2011-10-14

REPRESENTATIVES of the IMF team, which has been in Cyprus in the last few weeks looking at how our economy was performing, gave a news conference on Wednesday at which its evaluation was given. The team’s observations and forecasts for next year were given a lot of air-play, even though, strictly speaking, it said little that had not been said on countless occasions in the past couple of years.

‘Sensitive’ Christofias feels very bitter, he says

2011-10-14

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias told journalists yesterday that he felt ‘very bitter’ because he received more support from abroad than he did at home. 

Christofias’ outburst came after his address to the Council of Europe’s Forum for the Future of Democracy, held in Limassol. 

 “I am very bitter. Why shouldn’t I feel bitter?” he told journalists after one remarked that comments he made earlier seemed to indicate this was how he was feeling.

“We have a sensitive president,” added Christofias. “But we also have a president who defends the Constitution and basic principles and I want to clearly send this message.”

Kazamias urges House to approve budget

2011-10-14

THE austerity-driven budget for 2012 aims to achieve a public deficit of 2.8 per cent of GDP, but that’s contingent on several ifs.

Unveiling the draft of the state budget yesterday, Finance Minister Kikis Kazamias urged parliament to approve the plan as is, to ward off possible further downgrades of the national economy.

“We are confident that before the end of the year you shall make your decisions, and I appeal for your positive response to the government’s proposal,” Kazamias told House Speaker Yiannakis Omirou on handing him the budget.

Charred body of arsonist identified

2011-10-14

 

POLICE have identified the charred body found in Alaminos near Larnaca as that of a 49-year-old Romanian arsonist, after analysis of DNA, fingerprints and information from Interpol.

The body had been discovered in a field near the village of Alaminos in the Larnaca district, covered in third degree burns and initial investigations failed to indicate the identity of the man.

A five-hour post-mortem investigation was conducted by state pathologist Eleni Antoniou.

DNA samples from the corpse were sent to the Institute of Neurology and Genetics in order to help the identification process.

‘No’ to the vote for non-EU nationals

2011-10-14

BY A majority, Parliament yesterday voted down a government bill that would have given a number of non-EU nationals residing in Cyprus the right to cast their ballot in municipal elections.

Under the government bill, non-EU nationals with long-term residency and immigrants residing here for five years or more would have been allowed to vote in municipal elections.

During discussion in the plenum, the Greens proposed an amendment, giving voting rights at least to long-term residents, given objections by several MPs to immigrants getting the vote.

The amendment was supported by AKEL and DISY MPs Nikos Tornaritis and Christos Stylianides – not enough to garner the necessary ‘ayes’.

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.