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International News January 24, 2015

Pro-Russian rebels attack key port, Ukraine says at least 30 dead

By Alessandra Prentice and Pavel Polityuk

Pro-Russian rebels launched an offensive against the strategic port of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, prompting the European Union’s foreign policy chief to warn of a further “grave deterioration” in EU-Russian relations.

Mariupol’s city administration said the rebels had killed at least 30 people and injured 83 others in the offensive by firing rockets from long-range GRAD missile systems.

The city of 500,000 on the Sea of Azov is vital for eastern Ukraine’s…

Football Sport January 24, 2015

Shock defeats for Chelsea and Man City in FA Cup

Premier League leaders Chelsea surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at home to third tier Bradford City while Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough on a day of seismic FA Cup shocks on Saturday.

Goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires had Chelsea cruising after 38 minutes of the fourth-round tie at Stamford Bridge but John Stead pulled a goal back before the break and former Chelsea player Filipe Morais equalised.

Andy Halliday made it 3-2 before Mark…

International News January 24, 2015

U.S. intel community working to verify reported killing of Japanese hostage

The U.S. intelligence community is working to confirm the authenticity of a recording that purports to announce the execution of a Japanese citizen held by Islamic State militants, the White House said on Saturday.

The audio message says that captive Haruna Yukawa has been killed. Islamic State has beheaded several foreign hostages, and in the past has issued videos showing the killings. Reuters could not independently confirm the audio message.

“The intelligence community is working to confirm its authenticity,” U.S….

International News January 24, 2015

Syriza steams ahead, Golden Dawn works quietly from prison cells

THE left wing Syriza party kept its steady lead on Saturday in the last opinion polls to be issued ahead of Sunday’ general election in Greece, with questions remaining over whether it will be able to govern alone or need the support of a junior coalition partner.
Under election rules, it needs over 40 per cent of the vote to be guaranteed a majority of its own although it could win with slightly less, depending on the results of…

Local News Sport January 24, 2015

CFA refers Panayi to disciplinary committee

By Constantinos Psillides

THE Cyprus Football Association (CFA) has decided to refer whistleblower referee Marios Panayi to the association’s disciplinary committee, accusing him of making offensive comments online against members of the Cyprus Referees Association (CRA).

Panayi is also being accused by the CFA of sending an offensive email to CRA chairman Hans Reijgwart.
According to a press release posted on the CFA website, Panayi has been given until Monday to respond to the accusations.

Panayi shocked the football…

Local News January 24, 2015

Bomb explosion in Limassol

A bomb fixed to the car of a 44-year-old man from Limassol exploded in the early hours of Saturday, police said. No one was injured.
According to the police report, officers received a call at 2.30am saying that a car bomb had exploded. The vehicle had been parked outside the owner’s apartment building.
Police spokesperson Andreas Angelides said the explosive device was improvised and made with a powerful explosive substance.

Entertainment What's On January 24, 2015

We are all Greek

By Maria Gregoriou

For Greeks the week starts on Sunday, so with that in mind we will say that the week ahead is filled with night life and the sound of some good modern and traditional Greek music. If you are not into what the Greeks have to offer on the musical scene why not give it a second chance?

Get your ears ready for some Greek sounds tomorrow and on Monday with performances by pianist Panayiotis Margaris and singer…

International News January 24, 2015

E-cigarettes in checked luggage pose fire risk, US FAA says

E-cigarettes in checked luggage could cause a fire in airliners, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned.
“In several incidents both inside and outside the transportation industry, e-cigarettes have overheated or caught fire when the heating element was accidentally activated,” the FAA said in a safety alert issued to airlines.
The FAA said it was recommending to airlines that e-cigarettes be carried in the aircraft cabin instead of in checked luggage that goes into the cargo hold…

Local News January 24, 2015

‘Petrol station owner was targeted by rivals over his lower prices’ (Updated with remand)

By Constantinos Psillides

A 39-year-old petrol station owner was remanded for five days in custody by the Nicosia District Court on Saturday on suspicion of carrying out an arson attack on the car and home of a rival in an alleged move to intimidate him into raising his prices.

The suspect was one of five men – three of them petrol station owners – arrested in connection with the case on Friday evening.

A 59-year-old, also a petrol station…

Local News January 24, 2015

Anastasiades to travel to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain (Update)

President Nicos Anastasiades will leave on Monday for Saudi Arabia to pay his respects to the Saudi royal family after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Friday.

According to a statement from Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides, Anastasiades will leave Cyprus directly after a meeting he is scheduled to have in the morning with party leaders to discuss energy, the Cyprus issue and the economy.

From Saudi Arabia, the President will travel the same day to Bahrain…

Local News January 24, 2015

Insurance arrests could lead to ring of fraudsters (Update)

A 40-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were remanded in Limassol on Saturday on suspicion of insurance fraud.

The man was remanded for six days and the woman for three. Police also arrested the man’s brother, 42, who is due in court on Sunday.
According to police, the 40-year-old appears to have staged nine different car accidents from 2007 to 2014 to collect insurance money.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the latest…

Local News January 24, 2015

Bakery robbed

A man robbed a bakery in Limassol on Friday at knifepoint, police said.
According to the police report, at around 11.50pm a man entered the bakery holding a knife and forced the 46-year old employee to hand over the cash in the registry, around €300.
The man wore a blue and white motorcycle helmet, is of regular build, approximately 1.75m tall, wore jeans, black sneakers and black gloves.

International News January 24, 2015

Doctors group urges measles shots as Disneyland outbreak spreads

By Dan Whitcomb

The leading U.S. pediatrician group on Friday urged parents, schools and communities to vaccinate children against measles in the face of an outbreak that began at Disneyland in California in December and has spread to more than 80 people in seven states and Mexico.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said all children should get the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella between 12 and 15 months of age and again between 4 and 6 years old.

“A…

International News January 24, 2015

Independent Greeks emerge as Syriza coalition option

By James Mackenzie and George Georgiopoulos

The anti-bailout Independent Greeks party has emerged as a potential coalition partner for Syriza should the leftists win Sunday’s election, as polls predict.

Although it is a party of the centre-right formed by rebels from Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ New Democracy, the Independent Greeks share Syriza’s opposition to the terms of Greece’s 240-billion-euro bailout by international lenders.

For weeks, the party, which had 12 deputies in the last legislature, had looked unlikely to get…

Football Sport January 24, 2015

Veteran Heskey set for emotional Liverpool return

The FA Cup holds fond memories for Emile Heskey, but a chance to play against former team Liverpool, when a few months ago he was clubless and working for their TV channel, will be among the sweetest for the former England striker.

Heskey’s career appeared to be done and dusted when he returned from a spell in the Australian A-League, generally perceived to be a final destination for players who once flourished in big European Cups.

A move to second…

Australian Open Sport January 24, 2015

Williams sisters turn back clock in Melbourne

Top seed Serena Williams and her older sister Venus sent a chilling warning to the rest of the women’s draw at the Australian Open on Saturday by both advancing to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time in five years.

Both took a little while to figure out their opponents on Saturday but once they got into the groove of the match were able to advance relatively comfortably.

World number one Serena beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 4-6…

Local News January 24, 2015

University to take over work on toothless incompatibility bill

By Angelos Anastasiou

THE amendment of a toothless bill regulating conflict of interest between public office and private enterprise will be assigned to University of Cyprus experts, according to local press reports yesterday.

The original bill, dating back to 2006 when it was first tabled, was voted into law in 2008, but not before being rendered useless as various deputies attached amendments that suited their individual professional capacities.

For example, a 2011 amendment to the law exempted public officials that…

Local News Comment January 24, 2015

Our View: Deputies are always united when it comes to their personal interests

OUR DEPUTIES may be permanently seated on the moral high ground passing judgment on everyone and mouthing sermons about ethical behaviour, but we doubt there is a single citizen who believes they are fit to occupy such a lofty position. Too many of them are self-serving individuals who resort to continual moralising in order to hide their personal agendas which invariably take precedence over everything else.

We are not saying anything that people do not know, but we were reminded…

Local News January 24, 2015

Officials continue to try and justify Total’s departure

By George Psyllides

TOTAL’S decision to quit its operation in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone is the result of its inability to locate drilling target areas, Foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides said yesterday.

He also noted that the decision was taken way before a Turkish research vessel was sent to the area to conduct seismic surveys, violating the island’s sovereign rights.

Speaking to reporters, Kasoulides said that the government requested that Total stayed in Cyprus.

“We asked the company to continue…

Local News January 24, 2015

30,000 cancer patients in 13 years

By Evie Andreou

MORE than 30,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in Cyprus between 1998 and 2011, Health minister Philippos Patsalis said yesterday, speaking at a press conference to announce the awareness campaign against cancer.

Patsalis said that the “We Can” campaign to mark World Cancer Day on February 4, is being co-organised by the health ministry, the Bank of Cyprus Oncology centre, Europa Donna Cyprus, the Cyprus anti-cancer society and the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (PASYKAF).

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