Gorbachev’s tragedy – a flawed reformer on an impossible mission
Lauded in the West as the man who helped bring down the Berlin Wall and end the Cold War without bloodshed, Mikhail Gorbachev was widely despised at home as the ...
Our View: Could passport irregularities have taken place without go-ahead of president?
The release of the auditor-general’s report on the citizenship by investment scheme nine days ago sparked a political row in which everyone has become involved – the political parties, presidential ...
Our View: Cashless benefits have unintended consequences
According to reports at the weekend, the state is to get tougher on benefits handed out to migrants and asylum seekers.
Some of the measures make sense such as better ...
Ukraine’s six months of resistance, resilience and resolve
By Judith Garber
August 24, 2022 marked the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
Sadly, the day also marks six months since the Russian government launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine – ...
What shall we do with the climate refugees?
You wait ages for the bus, and then three come along at once. Books are a bit like that, too, although in this case it’s only a pair of ...
We must be realistic about the new Cyprus gas discovery
It’s significant, but serious challenges remain
With the world gripped by an ever-deteriorating energy crisis, with gas supplies and prices playing a central role, the discovery of a new ...
Bank of Cyprus largely saved the economy after 1974
By Evdokimos Xenophontos
In 1974 foreign banks were totally unwilling to participate in financing the Cyprus economy. It was up to the banking authorities, the finance ministry and the Bank of ...
The separation of church and state
Whoever is elected as archbishop is the church’s affair, but likewise it should not meddle with the state
It is known that the Archbishop Chrysostomos has reached the age ...
Criminal barristers strike in self defence
Rail staff, dockers, rubbish collectors, postal workers and now even criminal barristers are on strike or will be going on strike in Brexit Britain. If higher pay is not forthcoming ...
Odysseas overdosing on ecstasy following report on passports
ATTENTION-CRAVING auditor-general Odysseas will have experienced heights of ecstasy unknown to ordinary mortals in the last week, during which he was the only story playing.
He released the report about ...
Our View: BoC must not fall into the hands of a private equity firm
The government quite understandably is concerned about the efforts of the US-based, Lone Star private equity firm to take over the Bank of Cyprus and sees this as a threat ...
Our View: Hospital staff sympathy-ploy strikes will not win over public
Public sector unions have always been strike-happy, but the two-hour work stoppage at the Limassol general A&E, which also sparked a sympathy strike by the Paphos hospital staff, ...
Disco ain’t dead: how Beyoncé resurrected dance music and its queer history for Renaissance
By DAVID BURTON
If you felt the world stop turning for a moment in July, it’s because Beyoncé dropped her new album, Renaissance.
Rolling Stone has described her as ...
Our View: Businesses will most probably find ways round the minimum wage
The labour ministry will hold one final meeting with representatives of unions and employers organisations and will subsequently issue a decree setting the national minimum wage. Labour minister Kyriakos Koushos ...
Our View: Are we to wear masks forever?
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela declined to lift the mandate requiring masks to be worn in all indoor spaces. “The experts are clear that ...
What do you do for your country? What does it do for you?
THE WAY THINGS ARE
By Colette NiReamonn Ioannidou
Four Cypriots graced an OPAP sponsored supplement in the Sunday Mail on July 31. Renowned and respected, they have brought credit to Cyprus.
...
Who, in the end, will undertake the criminal investigation?
By Achilleas Demetriades
An initial reading of Auditor-general, Odysseas Michaelides, findings reveals the corrupt system relating to the Cyprus Investment Programme (CIP). I would like to congratulate the auditor-general on ...
No Independence Day celebrations but we remain defiant
By Ruslan Nimchynskyi
On August 24, 2022 Ukrainians celebrate Independence Day, marking the 31st anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence.
It was our biggest national holiday, celebrated by millions of ...
Our View: Things are looking up for Cyprus energy, but that could change
When Noble Energy made its first discovery in the Aphrodite field in 2011 there was rejoicing and expectations, encouraged by politicians, that Cyprus would be selling natural gas a few years ...
Our View: President’s laxness over citizenship scheme unjustifiable
The auditor-general’s eagerly awaited report about the notorious citizenship by investment scheme was released on Monday and catalogued a long list of irregularities. There were violations of procedures, violations ...
Modi’s prediction for India is very ambitious
Last Tuesday, on the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to turn India into a developed country within the next 25 years. If all goes well, that ...
New European Innovation Agenda to scale up EU
By Mariya Gabriel
Innovation is critical to navigate the twin green and digital transitions and to secure the EU’s strategic autonomy. The New European Innovation Agenda, adopted by the ...
Tales from the Coffeeshop: No sign of love among the bleeding obvious
THE RESTORATION of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel are not directed against Cyprus and do not affect relations between Cyprus and Israel, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos told our own ...
Our View: Time for foreign ministry to take on some responsibility
The foreign ministry on Wednesday issued a statement which said among other things: “For yet another time we are watching with astonishment and concern the effort of Turkey to distort ...