Новости за 24.09.2015

EUROPEAN banks’ bad loans have more than doubled since 2009 to stand at about €1trn at the end of 2014, according to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) paper released on Thursday. High levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) to companies, particularly small and medium-sized firms, were dampening credit supply and tying up bank capital that could […]

FOR a third consecutive year, the Limassol municipality invited locals and visitors to a unique night reviving the Middle Ages, complete with kings, knights, courtiers and jesters.  The Medieval festival takes place on Sunday at the municipal market, the site of the medieval castle. Starting the festival will be the procession of the ‘royal family’ […]

TWO more persons were arrested on Thursday in connection with the loans swindle case at the now-defunct Ayia Fyla cooperative bank. The two suspects– aged 65 and 66 – both hail from Limassol. They were expected to appear in court on Friday, where police would request that they be remanded in custody. Police sources said […]

SENIOR state broadcaster (CyBC) employee Sophia Mouaimi, against whom a police investigation is underway after reports of abuse of power and blackmail, has been suspended from her duties, the Cyprus Mail has learned. Against Mouaimi, who works at CyBC as a programmes officer, screenwriter and director, a police probe was launched earlier in the month, […]

By Andreas Cremer Volkswagen will name Matthias Mueller, the head of its Porsche sports car brand, as its chief executive as it tries to recover from a scandal over its rigging of US vehicle emissions tests, a source close to the matter said on Thursday. Mueller, 62, has been widely tipped to succeed Martin Winterkorn, […]

By Michele Kambas and Lefteris Papadimas The resignation of a junior Greek minister hours after his appointment has exposed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to fierce criticism and highlighted the challenge he faces to keep a fractious coalition together. With the ink barely dry on Wednesday’s cabinet appointments by the newly re-elected prime minister, deputy infrastructure […]

By Darya Korsunskaya and Andrew Osborn President Vladimir Putin phoned Elton John on Thursday to say he would be ready to meet up for a chat after the British singer requested a meeting to discuss his concerns about gay rights in Russia. Putin’s call came just a week after a pair of Russian comedians tricked […]

By Evie Andreou THE Cyprus Potato Marketing Board (CPMB) is ready to hand over its tasks to the private sector under the condition that the government transfers the assets of its packaging plant to the new private marketers to help them stay afloat, the head of the CPMB Michalis Lytras said on Thursday. Dismissing press […]

By Annette Chrysostomou SOME 13,000 new jobs are expected to be created over the next decade, with an important contribution by the human resource development authority (HRDA) that will reduce problems in employment, Labour minister Zeta Emilianidou said on Thursday. “An allocation of €130m from the European Union social cohesion fund will cover the programmes […]

By Philip Pullella and Scott Malone Pope Francis told Congress on Thursday that the United States should reject a ‘mindset of hostility’ to immigrants, directly addressing a thorny subject that is dividing the country and stirring debate in the 2016 presidential campaign. In a historic first speech by a pope to a US Congress, the […]

By Orhan Coskun and Humeyra Pamuk Turkey’s prime minister will tell world leaders next week Ankara can play a key role in stopping a spread of terrorism, including Islamic State, but expected understanding for its own battle against Kurdish militants. Washington, while considering the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a terrorist group, sees the affiliated YPG […]

CYPRIOT authorities are waiting on manufacturers Volkswagen (VW) for more information as to which cars are installed with faulty emissions-reporting software, the Competition and Consumer Protection Service said on Thursday. VW were expected to release a new statement on Friday, a service official said. “We are expecting to be briefed as to which cars are […]

A SUPREME Court ruling seems to have left a huge gap in the market allowing pharmacies to be able to operate on whatever timeframe they like without any working hours to adhere to. The case challenged in court by Panayiotou G. Loizou Ltd Pharmacies in Paralimni sought to annul a decision by the state Pharmaceutical […]

By Andria Kades THE Paphos Sewarage Board (SAPA) trial resumed on Thursday with the court rejecting one of the defence lawyer’s request to remove a judge from the case citing a conflict of interest stemming from ‘close relationships’ with former mayor Savvas Vergas. The objection was raised by AKEL councillor Giorgos Shailis’ lawyer, his brother […]

By Mohammed Ghobari At least 10 Muslim worshippers performing Eid al-Adha prayers were killed on Thursday when an Islamic State suicide bomber disguised as a woman blew himself up at a mosque run by Yemen’s Houthi group, security sources said. Islamic State’s branch in Yemen said the attack at al-Balili mosque, just outside the Old […]

By Annette Chrysostomou TOURISM and government officials are working to find a way around strict EU visa regulations in order to be able to attract some 300,000 visitors from China a year, compared to the paltry 1,000 that visit the island at present, a meeting at the Foreign ministry concluded. “We discussed other solutions that […]

By Andreas Vou Marcos Baghdatis was knocked out in the second round of the St. Petersburg Open on Thursday in convincing fashion at the hands of Tommy Robredo, 7-6, 6-1. The Limassol native came into the match on the back of Tuesday’s first round win against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis. Baghdatis hit seven aces and took […]

By Maria Gregoriou We may have had our first signs of rain, but that won’t be putting a damper on our night life, oh no, we are still very much into partying on the beach all day long if we have to. And who will we be partying to this Sunday at Guaba Beach Bar […]

France and Britain are concerned about a ‘very significant’ increase in Russian military presence in Syria, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and UK counterpart Michael Fallon said in Paris on Thursday. “The Russian build-up in Syria only complicates an already complicated and difficult situation,” Fallon said, speaking at a joint news conference on the […]

By Stephanie Robb Sometimes a hearty, homey taste of local and simple dishes fuels demand and little cafés and restaurants are popping up around the island trying their hardest to offer their interpretation of what simple traditional cuisine can be. One of these places is Glykolemono, located in the heart of Limassol, just a breath […]

Deputy Attorney general Rikkos Erotokritou was dismissed from his position on Thursday for inappropriate conduct by a decision taken unanimously by the Supreme Court. Attorney general Costas Clerides had filed a request for his deputy’s dismissal last May, after Erotokritou reacted to the announcement of the findings of a criminal investigation by former judge Panayiotis […]

No agreement has been reached for lifting a roadblock in Deryneia that leads to the Turkish-occupied city of Famagusta. The two sides have maintained diverging proposals over the issue, following an announcement by the island’s leaders to open a crossing point last May. However, a Greek Cypriot source with knowledge on the subject told the […]

By Alan Baldwin The late Jules Bianchi will be foremost in the thoughts of the Manor Marussia Formula One team this weekend as they brace for a return to the Japanese Grand Prix circuit where he had his horrific accident last year. The 25-year-old French driver died in hospital in southern France in July, nine […]

By Rosie Ogden THE eighth round of the European Rally Championship (ERC), the CNP ASFALISTIKI Cyprus Rally, takes place this weekend and it should be an exciting race, as there are just two more rallies on the calendar after Cyprus – in Greece and Switzerland – with the main contenders for the title very close […]

By Andria Kades A nationwide campaign across the island is trying to amass up to 33.2 cubic meters of shipments to help Middle Eastern refugees in Lesvos, Greece. The one-day campaign on Saturday October 3, between 9am and 6pm, is being organised by a group of volunteers called Zitite Elpis (Asking for Hope) with collection […]