Queen Elizabeth kicks off Diamond Jubilee tour

2012-03-08

Flag-waving crowds of Britons lined the streets and politicians proffered gushing praise as Queen Elizabeth launched a nationwide tour of her realm on Thursday to celebrate 60 years as monarch.

Elizabeth’s four-month tour will take in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as part of celebrations for her reign which began on February 6, 1952.

The tour was to start in Leicester in central England, where the 85-year-old monarch was to travel by train with her husband Philip and Catherine, the wife of grandson Prince William, for a visit to a university, cathedral and the city centre.

Geriatric showdown: Russian grannies march on Humperdinck for Eurovision clash

2012-03-08

 

This year’s Eurovision song contest is shaping up to be a battle of the geriatrics with the announcement that a folk group comprised of elderly ladies will represent Russia.

The news that Russia’s Eurovision contestant will be rural folk group Buranovskiye Babushki comes on the heels of Britain’s decision to choose septuagenarian crooner Engelbert Humperdinck as its entry for the song contest in May.

The group, from Russia’s Republic of Udmirtia, some 1,300 km (800 miles) east of Moscow, have embarked on their hunt for musical glory after having failed to win approval to represent their country in two previous attempts.

Deputies agree on system for alimony

2012-03-08

THE HOUSE Legal Affairs Committee yesterday reached agreement on ways to rectify the Supreme Court decision preventing the imprisonment of divorcees who fail to pay alimony.

Before last November’s court decision, if someone failed to pay alimony, the child’s legal guardian could go to court and sign a declaration, stating the money had not been paid, securing an automatic imprisonment order from the court.  

The Supreme Court found this procedure to be unlawful, putting the brakes on hundreds of alimony claims, while imprisonment orders piled up in the district courts.

APOEL ‘living a dream’

2012-03-08

 

If any doubts persisted that APOEL are deserving of their place among Europe’s elite football clubs this season, Wednesday night’s performance in beating Lyon to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals will have certainly dispelled them.

On drawing APOEL in the last 16 in December, a leading French sports paper announced that Lyon had been handed “an early Christmas present”.

The Cyprus champions were the team everybody wanted to play in their first participation in the competition’s knockout phase.

But after defeating Lyon 4-3 on penalties in Nicosia in what was arguably their best performance in the Champions League so far, the feeling now is that nobody will look forward to facing APOEL.

Prison cover-up in cell rape case

2012-03-08

PRISON authorities were yesterday accused of “unacceptable negligence” by locking a 50-year-old convicted rapist in a cell with a 19-year-old who claimed later he was sexually assaulted under threat by the older man.

In her report on the incident, published yesterday, Ombudswoman Eliza Savidou said prison authorities had shown “unjustifiable and unacceptable negligence” and had later acted in a manner, which contributed to covering up events.

The damning report follows the Ombudswoman’s investigation into the youth’s claim that he had been raped under the threat of a blade in December last year.

Our View: Christofias is not an honest broker when it comes to Syria

2012-03-08

PRESIDENT Christofias advised that the EU should be very careful in dealing with Syria at last week’s EU summit according to reports from Brussels. Reports published in two of yesterday’s papers claimed Christofias told fellow leaders that the EU should be very careful when interfering in matters related to the countries of the ‘Arab spring’ and especially Syria, so as not to create the impression that it was policing the region.

Disruptions continue for air travellers

2012-03-08

THE AIR traffic controllers (ATC) went ahead with another four-hour strike yesterday, causing the disruption of 36 flights, despite rumours the government is ready to table a bill today clipping the wings of striking controllers. 

Yesterday’s strike affected around 4,500 people and 36 flights to and from both airports of Cyprus. It was the second this month, while another two have been scheduled for next Monday and Thursday. 

According to Adamos Aspris, spokesman for airports’ operator Hermes, almost all cancelled flights were due to be rescheduled by the end of the day. 

EAC extends instalment scheme to those who are struggling

2012-03-08

THE ELECTRICITY Authority of Cyprus (EAC) said yesterday it would allow those with unpaid bills to join its instalment scheme, which spreads out the cost over a 12-month period.

 “To help household consumers who are facing difficulties pay their bills, the EAC decided that from now own, consumers with unpaid bills can be included in the current monthly instalment scheme,” the authority announced.

Under the scheme, consumers can pay a fixed amount every month to be calculated based on their estimated usage. At the end of the 12-month period, the amount is then adjusted either up or down, depending on actual consumption throughout the period.

Saving energy…and money

2012-03-08

THOSE looking to lower their energy and water consumption should pay a visit to the state fair between March 16 and 18, stopping by stands five and six.

SAVENERGY 2012 will provide information to businesses and home owners on products and services, including renewable energy systems, and energy-saving services for businesses, hotels or homes.

ENVIROTEC 2012 will provide information on schemes to save water, improve its quality and use it efficiently. 

Giant failure at National Council

2012-03-08

THE political leadership yesterday concluded they disagreed on the handling of the Cyprus problem after what appear to be four days of futile discussions at the National Council.

Following four all-day sessions often marked by squabbling, the National Council -the top advisory body to the president on the handling of the Cyprus problem – failed to arrive at a joint decision with the opposition saying there were differences between the majority and Demetris Christofias.

“It is clear from the National Council session that there are disagreements on the Cyprus problem and the handling,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said.

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.