Quantcast
Channel: Cyprus Mail
Viewing all 6907 articles
Browse latest View live

Cards stacked when ‘man versus state’

0
0
Paphos General Hospital

IT MAY ring like a cliché, but the success of litigants more often than not depends on how deep one’s pockets run. In a labyrinthine legal system, winning frequently means having the staying – read spending – power to bleed out, as it were, the other side.

For plaintiffs, this is further compounded where medical negligence is concerned. Indeed, it’s fair to say that here the cards are stacked against the plaintiff, as the personal account of Gavin Jones (scroll down for ‘The Man versus the State’) amply demonstrates. It took Jones about six years to get some measure of satisfaction – if one could even call it that – after his mother – well known Cypriot artist Thraki Rossidou Jones – died while in care in a state hospital.

An inquest found that she had suffered an unnatural death, implying medical negligence. That was the first hurdle; the next was the actual lawsuit. The red tape, delaying tactics and legal chicanery placed in Gavin Jones’ path is like something out a bad dream. Seeking justice rather than compensation, he eventually decided to settle, realising that the presiding judge in the courtroom was, to put it mildly, not very friendly to his cause.

In general, proving medical negligence is extremely difficult. Due to the nature of the beast, a plaintiff needs to put an expert witness on the stand. That means getting a doctor to testify against another doctor. And it’s no secret that’s a tall order, especially in a small society such as Cyprus.

“Doctors are very reluctant to testify against a colleague,” says Nikos Rotsides, managing director at Rotsides & Co. law firm.

So prevalent is this ‘code’ among physicians here that at times plaintiffs have to resort to bringing in experts from abroad.

That aside, the logistics are daunting. Doctors, being well-paid professionals, require a high retainer for sacrificing their time in a courtroom. Usually the average Joe can hardly afford this.

“By contrast, the defendant – a doctor – can afford to retain two or three expert witnesses, not to mention hiring the top-dollar lawyers out there,” says Rotsides.

He, as well as other lawyers, tell the Mail that most medical negligence cases are settled, as plaintiffs come to realise the strain – mental and otherwise – of going the whole nine yards.

Statistics for medical negligence complaints are hard to come by. The Cyprus Medical Association does not keep such records. Rulings must be sought at the courts themselves, and can be obtained only on permission from court authorities. Even then, the dossiers there are not computerised, nor are they categorised by subject on hard copy, and you’d presumably have to sift through a stack of files to find what you want.

Moreover, records are kept only of decisions, so it’s not easy to discover how many applications were actually filed.

But through the kind assistance of legal portal Leginet, the Mail was able to obtain some rough data. The numbers are telling: from 1997 to 2012 there were 16 rulings on medical negligence at the Supreme Court, of which one was a criminal case. In district courts, there were around 30 judgments from 2008 to 2013, but it was not possible to determine which of these were appealed.

Send to Kindle

Thai vote goes peacefully, but political paralysis looms

0
0
thai(1)

Elections in Thailand passed off peacefully on Sunday but the country was no nearer to ending its intractable political conflict, with the government facing the prospect of months of paralysis, protests and complex legal challenges.

Voting was disrupted in about a fifth of the country’s constituencies, but no major violence was reported, despite armed clashes between supporters and opponents of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that wounded seven people on the eve of the ballot.

Voting ended at 3 p.m. (0800 GMT), but no results will be announced on Sunday, meaning little change to an uneasy status quo. Yingluck will remain caretaker premier for weeks, facing continued anti-government protests and the prospect of a slew of legal challenges aimed at invalidating the poll.

The usual campaign billboards, glossy posters and pre-election buzz were noticeably absent this time, as were many voters fearful of violence or bent on rejecting a ballot bound to re-elect the political juggernaut controlled by Yingluck’s billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Former premier Thaksin, 64, is loved and loathed, but his parties have won every poll since 2001. His opponents say he is a corrupt crony capitalist who tailored policy to enrich himself and ruling by proxy from exile in Dubai, where he lives to evade jail time for graft.

Further voting is already scheduled for Feb. 23 after problems with advance balloting last Sunday, while polls in nine southern provinces where candidates were unable to register may not happen for weeks.

“To those of you who went out and prevented ballot boxes from being delivered, thank you,” protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a speech at one of seven rally sites in Bangkok, where anti-Thaksin sentiment is strong.

Voting was disrupted in 18 percent or 69 of 375 constituencies nationwide, the Election Commission said, affecting 18 of 77 provinces, where demonstrators calling for an appointed government succeeded in sabotaging the vote.

With the main opposition Democrat Party boycotting the poll, Yingluck’s Puea Thai Party is expected to win comfortably.

Its leader said the election showed the public believed in democracy.

“The people are not afraid and they came out to vote today,” said Jarupong Ruangsuawan, who is also Interior Minister. “We’ve fought hard for democracy in Thailand and we proved that most Thais believe in the democratic process.”

Even if the result were known, victory celebrations for Yingluck would probably be muted. With many parliamentary seats unfilled, she could be exposed to legal attacks, intensified protests and unable to pass bills and budgets crucial to reviving the economy, Southeast Asia’s second-biggest.

INTRACTABLE CRISIS

Anti-government demonstrators say Thaksin subverted Thailand’s fragile democracy by entrenching money politics and using taxpayers’ money for generous subsidies, cheap healthcare and easy loans that have bought him loyalty from millions of working-class Thai voters in the north and northeast.

With broad support from Bangkok’s middle class and tacit backing of the royalist establishment, old-money elite and military, the protesters want to suspend democracy, replacing it with an appointed “people’s council” to reform politics and erode Thaksin’s influence.

The latest round of tumult in the eight-year political conflict erupted in November and underscored Thaksin’s central role in the long-running struggle, both as hero and villain.

Yingluck was largely tolerated by Thaksin’s opponents but her party miscalculated when it tried to introduce a blanket political amnesty that would have nullified Thaksin’s graft conviction and allowed him to return home.

Many Thais see history repeating itself after a cycle of elections, protests and military or judicial interventions that have polarised the country and angered Thaksin’s “red shirt” supporters, who staged crippling blockades in Bangkok in 2010 and have vowed to defend his sister from any overthrow attempt.

Thailand’s military has remained neutral so far, but the judiciary has taken on an unusually large number of cases in the past two months in response to complaints against Yingluck and Puea Thai that could result in the party’s dissolution and lengthy bans for its top politicians.

There is also a chance the election could be annulled, as it was in 2006, over a technicality. The Election Commission is braced for a deluge of complaints and challenges.

Even if Yingluck wins a fresh mandate, analysts say opposition against her remains entrenched and continued stalemate is almost certain. Yingluck said she hoped the various camps could find a way to break the deadlock.

“This election is part of the democratic process,” she told reporters. “I hope all sides can help solve each of the country’s problems. Overall, today was a positive signal.”

Send to Kindle

Oxlade-Chamberlain fires Arsenal back to the top, Liverpool stumble

0
0
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (2-L) fires in his second goal of the game

Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, out for five months with a knee injury, scored twice to lead his team to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday and back to the top of the Premier League.

They might only stay there until Monday when Manchester City, who they knocked off the summit, play third-placed Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, but the 20-year-old Oxlade-Chamerlain’s return to fitness should be a huge boost for the Gunners in the title run-in.

Arsenal have 55 points from 24 games, followed by City on 53 from 23 and Chelsea on 50 from 23.

Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, are fourth with 47 points.

“I’ve been off the pitch for a while and its great to come back with two goals and help the team to a win,” the 20-year-old midfielder told Sky Sports.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was injured in the opening match of the season against Aston Villa, has made three substitute appearances in the league as well as starting in the FA Cup against Coventry City before Sunday’s return to full Premier League action.

Manager Arsene Wenger decided to play him in the centre of midfield rather than his usual wide position and was rewarded for his decision.

“Crystal Palace were well organised and united in their desire to do the job,” Wenger said.

“They are a physically strong side and we knew we had to take advantage of our chances, and we did.”

Arsenal needed to be patient to break down a well-organised Palace side who have improved since Tony Pulis became manager at the end of November.

Although they rarely threatened, they defended well until the second minute of the second half when Oxlade-Chamberlain found space at the far post to score with a delicate lob from a Santi Cazorla cross.

Palace went close to an equaliser when Cameron Jerome headed straight at Wojciech Szczesny, but the game was all but over when Oxlade-Chamberlain scored to make it 2-0 after a neat one-two with Olivier Giroud in the 73rd minute.

That was his first goal for Arsenal since December 2012 and his first in any match since scoring for England against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium in June.

Palace remained just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

SCHOOLBOY HOWLER

Earlier, a schoolboy howler by defender Kolo Toure cost Liverpool victory when he gifted West Brom the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

His mistake came after 67 minutes when, under no pressure, he played a loose ball straight across his own 18-metre line to substitute Victor Anichebe standing unmarked on the edge of the box and the former Everton man fired past Simon Mignolet.

Toure could only hold his head in his hands after his dreadful defending which enabled Albion to grab a point from the match Liverpool largely dominated.

“He is an experienced guy so he knows it was a mistake,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the BBC.

“He is devastated because he is a real conscientious guy. There is no blame for any of them.

“Unfortunately, it has cost us two points but, hopefully, we will see it as a point gained at the end of the season.”

Liverpool took the lead in the 24th minute after Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez linked up on the right of the penalty area with the Uruguayan crossing to the far post where Daniel Sturridge tapped home.

Sturridge has now scored seven goals in his last six successive Liverpool appearances either side of a nine-match injury absence and Sunday’s strike was his 50th in the Premier League.

Send to Kindle

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died of apparent drug overdose -NYPD source

0
0
hoffman(1)

Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won an Oscar for the film “Capote,” was found dead in his New York City apartment on Sunday of an apparent drug overdose, a New York Police Department source said.

The source said Hoffman, 46, was found dead after a friend of the actor placed a 911 emergency call. The source gave no further details but the New York Times, citing a law enforcement official, said investigators found a syringe in Hoffman’s arm and an envelope containing what was believed to be heroin.

Born in upstate New York, Hoffman won an Academy Award for the 2005 biographical film “Capote,” in which he played writer Truman Capote. He also received three Academy Award nominations as best supporting actor, for “The Master” in 2013, “Doubt” in 2009 and “Charlie Wilson’s War” in 2008.

Hoffman burst onto the film scene after more than a dozen earlier roles, in 1997′s “Boogie Nights,” in which he played a lovelorn gay man in the movie about the porn industry.

While he appeared in blockbusters such as “Twister” and “The Hunger Games” series, Hoffman was more associated with the independent film world for his intense portrayals of often disturbing and complex characters in such films as “Happiness,” in which he played an obscene phone caller, and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.”

In the latter film he played a son who schemes to rob his parents’ jewelry store, resulting in their deaths. But Hoffman could also play nice, as in “Magnolia,” in which he played the role of an angelic nurse.

Hoffman spoke in the past of struggling with drugs, including a 2006 interview in which he told CBS he had abused “anything I could get my hands on. I liked it all.”

Send to Kindle

Super Seahawks walking in a winter wonderland

0
0
Super Bowl XLVIII Denver Broncos against the Seattle Seahawks

The National Football League took a gamble when it went against convention and decided to stage the Super Bowl at an outdoor stadium in New Jersey during the winter but it proved a great success.

Especially for the Seattle Seahawks on Super Sunday.

A week after snowfall in the greater New York metropolitan area brought concerns that the Super Bowldate could be in jeopardy, a spring-like wave of weather arrived, putting more than 82,000 fans at MetLife Stadium into a party mood.

By the end of the game, it was the Seahawks’ turn to celebrate under a sky full of green and blue confetti marking their 43-8 trouncing of the Denver Broncos.

Seattle proved that defense still rules in the Big Game as they embarrassed the usually high-scoring Broncos to win their first NFL championship in franchise history.

The top-ranked Seattle defense shut down the top-rated Broncos offense and record-setting quarter back Peyton Manning, creating four turnovers and transforming what was expected to be a nail-biter into a Super Bowl XLVIII rout.

Five previous times the NFL’s top-rated defense had faced the league’s number one offense, and the defenders led 4-1 in those encounters.

Seattle and their “Legion of Boom” defensive secondary, fast-covering linebackers and determined pass rushers, upheld the tradition on an unseasonably mild night in the first outdoor venue in a winter-weather location.

AMAZING TEAM

“This is an amazing team,” said Seahawks coach  Pete Carroll at the Lombardi Trophy presentation on the MetLife Stadium field. “These guys would not take anything but winning this ballgame.”

Seattle turned two interceptions into second-quarter touchdowns for a 22-0 lead at the intermission, the second coming on a 69-yard interception return by linebacker Malcolm Smith, who received the Most Valuable Player award.

“It’s just a tremendous feeling,” said Smith, who also secured Seattle’s NFC title-clinching victory over San Francisco by intercepting a last-gasp pass that was tipped by his team mate Richard Sherman.

Defensive end Cliff Avril jarred Manning as he was throwing on the play and Smith corralled the floating pass in the middle of the field and took off for the end zone.

“Man, it’s incredible,” said Smith. “It’s the way our defense is set up. We just run to the ball. I’m just the one today. It happens all the time like this. It feels great.”

The Seahawks, who led the NFL in creating turnovers, also recovered two fumbles in the lopsided contest that gave them a first Super Bowl crown in their 37-season history.

OMINOUS BEGINNING

The comprehensive victory was kick-started just 12 seconds into the contest with a two-point safety on a bad snap over Manning’s head into the end zone on Denver’s first play for the quickest Super Bowl tally ever.

After Denver’s second half kickoff, Percy Harvin also took 12 seconds to score, racing 87 yards into the end zone to confirm the romp was on in taking Seattle’s lead to 29-0.

Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson, leading the second youngest team ever to play in a SuperBowl, took the spotlight from five-time NFL Most Valuable Player Manning by completing 18-of-25 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

“We believed that we could get here,” Wilson said. “At the beginning of the season I told our guys, ‘Hey, why not us?’

“We had the talent. We had the coaching. We have the best fans in the National Football League. We wanted to win it all.”

Manning, who set NFL records for most touchdown passes and yards passing in a single season, was throttled in the first quarter as Seattle put their stamp on the game by playing Denver receivers tight and registering crunching hits when they did catch the ball.

“We knew they were fast. It was still a matter of us doing our jobs better and we didn’t do that tonight,” said Manning, who failed to win a second Super Bowl ring and saw his career postseason record fall to 11-12.

“I think we played a great football team. We needed to play really well in order to win and we didn’t come anywhere close to that.”

Seattle out-gained Denver 148 yards to 11 in the first quarter but only led 8-0. When they stepped up their pass-rushing pressure on Manning, the Seahawks harassed him into the interceptions that helped break the game open.

With the Broncos desperately far behind, Manning took to the air in a futile attempt to make it a contest, and in the end set a Super Bowl record with 34 completions, while receiver Demaryius Thomas set a record for most receptions with 13.

“It was a combination of coverage and pressure as it always is in pass defense,” Denver coach John Fox said about the Broncos’ difficulty in getting their pass attack going.

“There is a reason why they were the number one team in defense during the season. Give them credit.”

Send to Kindle

European shares lurch lower on emerging market jitters

0
0
FTSE_2238857b

EUROPEAN shares fell to their lowest level in more than a month on Monday, knocked back by data showing China’s economy losing momentum and by growing worries about the impact on companies from emerging market turmoil.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index, which in January had its first monthly loss since August, was down by 1 per cent at 1,277.77 points in late session trading.

The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index also declined by 1.4 per cent to 2,972.64 points, while uncertainty over the near-term outlook drove up the Euro STOXX 50 Volatility Index by 8 per cent to 23.56 points.

Fresh evidence of a slowdown in economic growth in China came after China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dipped in January.

Emerging markets, which depend heavily on investment from the likes of China and the United States, have been hit by this uncertainty over the outlook for China and a scaling-back in U.S. economic stimulus measures.

The winding-down of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s bond-buying programme has pushed up returns on U.S. Treasuries, causing investors to buy back into Treasures while selling out of emerging markets assets.

“What’s been interesting has been the scale and the rapidity with which the emerging markets have unwound,” said Christopher Mahon, director of asset allocation research at the Global Multi Asset Group at Barings.

“Although we don’t think equities will do badly, and will end up higher than they were at the start of the year, we think it will come with more volatility than 2013 had,” added Mahon.

Shares in companies with a significant exposure to emerging markets fell sharply. Cement maker Lafarge fell 3.8 per cent while Spanish bank Banco Santander – which is exposed to Latin America - also weakened 2.8 per cent.

The STOXX Europe 600 Banking Index was also knocked by a 6.8 per cent fall at Swiss bank Julius Baer after the company posted lower-than-expected earnings.

In spite of the current emerging market turmoil, many investors with a long-term view over the whole of 2014 remain optimistic for the prospects for European equities this year.

Such investors say European stocks should gradually move up over the course of the year as the region’s economy slowly recovers.

However, those with a more short-term view said now was not the time to go back into the equity market.

Montaigne Capital fund manager Arnaud Scarpaci said the Euro STOXX 50 could soon fall back to the 2,700-2,730 point range while David Thebault, head of quantitative sales trading at Global Equities, also expected more near-term volatility.

“It’s not yet time to buy this dip,” said Thebault.

Send to Kindle

Yanukovich back at work, street protests go on

0
0
Anti-government protest in Ukraine

UKRAINE President Viktor Yanukovich returned to his desk on Monday after four days of sick leave, while the political opposition pressed for further concessions to end more than two months of street protests.

“He is back at work,” a presidential spokesman said.

Yanukovich, caught in a tug of war between Russia and the West, is seeking a way out of a sometimes violent confrontation with protesters who have occupied city streets and public buildings following his decision in November to spurn a trade deal with the EU and accept financial aid from Moscow.

His first urgent task, after returning from an absence that some saw as a tactical gambit to gain time, is to name a new prime minister to succeed Mykola Azarov, who stepped down on January 28 under pressure from the protest movement.

The speaker of parliament, an ally of Yanukovich, told lawmakers on Monday ahead of a new session of the legislature starting on Tuesday that the president was still planning to discuss the choice of premier with opposition leaders.

In other concessions, Yanukovich last week approved the repeal of recent anti-protest laws and offered a conditional amnesty to activists who have been detained in the unrest.

But opposition leaders, who have received huge backing and promises of financial support from the United States and EU governments, were pressing on Monday for further concessions.

Send to Kindle

Cameron steps in to keep World Cup beer flowing

0
0
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and France's President Francois Hollande stand at the bar as they arrive for lunch at The Swan Inn, in Swinbrook, central England

PRIME Minister David Cameron intervened in a row between the pub industry and the government on Monday to try to make sure pubs can stay open late and show soccer matches involving England during the World Cup.

The time difference between Britain and Brazil, where the tournament is being held, means kick off for England’s tournament opener against Italy on June 14 is 11pm – a time when many pubs without special licences would be drawing down their shutters for the night.

Cameron has ordered ministers to re-think a decision to refuse permission for extended opening hours nationwide. The initial decision meant pubs would have had to apply individually for late licences.

“We want the pub trade, police and local authorities to work together to ensure people can enjoy World Cup matches responsibly and safely,” said a spokesman for Cameron’s office.

A consultation over the decision, involving local authorities and police, will be carried out by the Home Office (interior ministry), the spokesman said.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), which made the initial application, welcomed the decision, saying that around 4m Britons watched England’s 2010 World Cup opener against the United States from pubs.

“I am delighted that the Prime Minister has intervened to back Britain’s pubs and make clear that England’s World Cup campaign is a time for celebration,” said BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds.

Send to Kindle

Beirut suicide bomber kills one, target unclear

0
0
Explosion in Beirut kills at least one

A suicide bomber killed himself and one other person when he detonated explosives in a minibus in southern Beirut on Monday, a Lebanese security source said.

Lebanese television footage showed the chassis of a vehicle with no roof. Smoke rose in the air and debris lay on a street. Body parts, including a head, were on the road.

The target of the attack was not immediately clear. The minibus exploded on a highway in Choueifat, in the south of the capital, which links several parts of the city.

Last month two bombs hit residential areas of Beirut where the Shi’ite militant Hezbollah group has a strong presence.

A bystander said the minibus had been heading in the direction of those areas, which suggested the detonation may have been premature. It was not immediately clear if the bomber had been a passenger or the driver of the vehicle.

A man working at a petrol station near the site of the blast said: “There was glass everywhere. We saw a head. Then the legs landed near the station.”

Lebanon is reeling from the fallout of Syria’s civil war next door. Hezbollah has sent fighters to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against majority Sunni Muslim rebels.

Lebanese and Syrian Sunni militants supportive of the Syrian uprising have targeted Hezbollah areas with attacks, including a bomb attack on Sunday in the northern Shi’ite town of Hermel.

Four car bombs have exploded in Hezbollah’s strongholds in southern Beirut since July. A pair of suicide bombings at the Iranian embassy killed at least 25 people, including an Iranian diplomat, in November.

Send to Kindle

Troika grants slight breathing space on privatisation bills

0
0
Troika officials heading into the finance ministry on Monday

By Angelos Anastasiou

A SHORT extension to preparing and submitting bills regarding the privatisation of semi-government organisations (SGOs) was granted to the government by the troika delegation on Monday.

Top officials of the troika’s Cyprus mission arrived on the island on Sunday to perform its third review of the country’s adjustment programme, agreed to with the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – collectively, the troika – in exchange for a €10 billion bailout loan in March 2013.

Headed by IMF mission chief Delia Velculescu, the troika delegation held a kick-off meeting with Finance Minister Harris Georgiades on Monday morning when they were briefed on a number of issues, including the progress of the roadmap for privatisations.

Exceeding two hours in length, the meeting with Georgiades was described as “comprehensive” and took place in a “positive climate”.

During the session, the troika delegation was briefed on a small delay in preparing and implementing the legal framework on the privatisation of SGOs, and is reported to have looked favourably on the government’s request to push the deadline back from the end of January to mid-February, deeming the two-week hold-up “not a problem”.

In order to raise a budgeted €1.4 billion in revenue by 2018, the troika-mandated privatisation of SGOs is designed to auction off stakes in the telecoms company (CyTA), the electricity authority (EAC), the ports authority (CPA), and several others, to private investors.

The latest developments in the consolidation of co-operative financial institutions were also discussed, in light of last week’s successful submission of the co-ops’ restructuring plan to the EU’s Competition Commission.

The co-ops, poised to receive a €1.5 billion capital injection from the troika bailout money in March, need to be merged into 18 institutions – down from 93 pre-consolidation – and restructured before the tranche can be released.

However, a legal tangle concerning one of the co-ops risks derailing the timeframe and has had the troika wondering whether the funds should be released at the end of March as originally planned, or upon completion of the consolidation process. This prompted the finance ministry to fast-track the introduction to the House of a bill simplifying procedures and facilitating the completion of the consolidation process by March end, irrespective of pending court decisions.

Georgiades also updated the troika delegation of the planned overhaul in the public welfare system, focusing on the introduction of the Minimum Guaranteed Income programme, which is set to come into effect in July this year.

Other items on the troika delegation’s agenda included the ongoing effort to restructure the public service, and the prospects of lifting restrictions on capital flow.

Further consultations held with the troika at a lower level addressed the need to fight undeclared labour, with the labour ministry considering adopting a computerised system that would enable it to monitor employment in real time and record personnel information, and time worked, in order to identify instances of illegal employment.

Government deputy spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos expressed confidence in achieving a problem-free review.

“Deliberations have started and we hope to once again pass the review successfully. Our assessment thus far, and hopefully that of the troika as well, suggests that no problems will arise,” he said.

Later on Monday the troika delegation met with the  Employers and Industrialists Federation and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The heads of the organizations told the press that during the meeting they pointed out the need for the banking system to further stabilise so that additional liquidity can flow into the market.

Send to Kindle

Cancer cases increase but still low compared to EU

0
0
Breast cancer is the most common form of the disease for women

AT LEAST 3,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed in Cyprus each year, as 1,200 people die from the disease, data shows.

According to the data obtained by the Cyprus News Agency yesterday, at least 3,000 new cases are diagnosed every year with breast cancer being the leading form in women, and prostate cancer in men.

“There is a significant rise since records started being kept, between 1998 and 2009,” said Pavlos Pavlou, head of the health monitoring unit.

Pavlou was positive, however, despite an increase of about 3.0 per cent, or 3,000 people a year.

“Cancer is a very common disease around the world and Cyprus is at relatively low levels when compared with other European countries,” he said.

The most common forms of cancer in men between 2005 and 2009 were prostate, colorectal, throat, lung, bladder, stomach, and Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Breast cancer was by far the leading form of the disease in women, followed by colorectal, thyroid, uterus, throat, lung and Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Nicos Philippou, director of the cancer patients and friends association, said health authorities should focus on “cancer that can be prevented and cancer that we can treat.”

Phillipou said substantive steps have been made as regards treatment, but also prevention and early diagnosis.

“We always stress that we must concentrate on the prevention aspect. There are oncology centres in Cyprus where good work is being done,” he said.

 

 

Send to Kindle

Minor earthquake in Paphos (updated)

0
0
news-briefs-rect42

A MINOR earthquake of 4.0 in the Richter scale shook the Paphos area shortly before 8:30 pm on Monday night.

Local police confirm having received several calls from the public reporting a light tremor that lasted no more than three or four seconds, but no injuries or damage as of yet.

Such reports came both from within the town of Paphos and several of the district’s villages, including Polis Chrysochous, Pachyammos, Argaka and Pomos.

Residents in the area confirmed indoor objects shaking but no damage caused, and some appear to have found the rumbling sound preceding the tremor more unnerving than the actual shaking.

In a statement, the Geological Survey Department said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.0 on the Richter scale, which is consistent with locals’ descriptions of the incident.

At a depth of 20 kilometres, the tremor’s epicentre was the area around Kannaviou village, some 23 kilometres north-east of Paphos.

The Geological Survey Department is monitoring the development of the phenomenon, its statement concludes.

The quake appears to have caused greater concern among public than its magnitude may have warranted, due to disturbing images of devastation coming out of the Cephallonia island, repeatedly upset by moderate to strong earthquakes in the last few days.

Send to Kindle

Race is on to save Cyprus Airways

0
0
CY

By Constantinos Psillides

THE CABINET-APPOINTED committee to deal with Cyprus Airway’s (CY) problems met for the first time on Monday, in the first of many meetings as the airline races against time to stave off bankruptcy.

CY has to find a strategic investor, implement a restructuring plan and find another buyer for their Heathrow airport timeslot, in an attempt to secure liquidity before the 2014 summer season.

The specially appointed committee consists of Finance Minister Harris Georgiades, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotripis, Accountant-General Rea Georgiadou and head of CY board Tony Antoniou.

A source inside the finance ministry told the Cyprus Mail that Monday’s meeting was very productive but there is an apparent need to speed the process up.

“Mr Antoniou promised that he will inform the committee on their attempts at finding a strategic investor as well as their restructuring plan. Things are looking good but we need to move swiftly,” the source said, adding that the next meeting was scheduled for the end of the week.

Antoniou also briefed the committee on the meeting he had with troika technocrats on Saturday, who he assured that Cyprus Airways will not be needing any more government aid. After the troika meeting Antoniou was very optimistic, telling reporters that there is a chance the national carrier would post profits for 2014.

The national carrier posted losses of €55.8m for 2012, doubling its 2011 losses of €23.9m.

But it remains to be seen whether Cyprus Airways will have a chance to implement their restructuring plan, as the EU Commission hasn’t given the green light yet.

And even if the restructuring plan is successfully implemented, it could all be for nothing if the EU rules that Cyprus authorities weren’t acting within EU law when they gave CY over €100 million, via a €73million rescue loan in December 2012, and a €31.3 million contribution to a capital increase in early 2013.

CY could be ordered to return the state aid, which would result in bankruptcy.

Finding a buyer for the Heathrow timeslot could prove even more challenging. Cyprus Airways’ credibility took a hammering after a 15m dollar deal with Qatar Airways fell through, due to breach of confidentiality clauses included in the initial agreement between the two parties. CY was accused of leaking vital information regarding the deal to the press, resulting in another carrier proposing a better deal to Qatar Airways. The aviation consultant that mediated the deal sent a scathing letter to the CY board, accusing them of breaking the agreement and calling their credibility into question.

 

Send to Kindle

Ivanovic blasts open title race as Chelsea win at City

0
0
Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic celebrates his goal

Branislav Ivanovic’s first-half cracker and tactical mastery by Jose Mourinho helped classy Chelsea to a 1-0 win at blunted Premier League title rivals ManchesterCity on Monday.

Chelsea’s battling win was the first time previously rampant City have failed to score at home this season and sent the Londoners level on 53 points with the second-placed Mancunians, two points behind leaders Arsenal after 24 games.

Ivanovic struck just after the half hour when Ramires’ effort was blocked by Vincent Kompany and fell for the Serbian right back, who let fly first time from the edge of the box and saw his powerful left-foot shot nestle in the far corner.

City had chances to equalise but a dangerous Chelsea side, who also hit the woodwork three times, were always a threat on the break in an absorbing contest at the Etihad stadium. (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Ken Ferris)

 

Send to Kindle

Number of building permits fell 26 per cent by November 2013

0
0
ÅÑÃÁÓÉÅÓ ÓÔÇÍ ÏÉÊÏÄÏÌÉÊÇ ÂÉÏÌÇ×ÁÍÉÁ

Amid the financial crisis discouraging new investment, construction activity contracted sharply in 2013 compared to the previous year, according to the latest figures released by the statistical service.

The number of building permits issued by municipal and district authorities between January and November 2013 was 26.2 per cent down compared to the corresponding period in 2012.

A total of 4,947 permits were issued for this period in 2013, compared to 6,701 the previous year.

The total monetary value of these permits was 28.9 per cent lower than for the corresponding period for 2012, and the total surface area was reduced by 30.6 per cent. Permits for residential units dropped by 29.2 per cent.

The number of building permits issued in November 2013 stood at 479, compared to 554 permits for November 2012. The total value of the November permits was calculated at €92.8m, down from €148.26m in November 2012.

Based on the November 2013 permits, it is anticipated that 366 residential units will be built, compared to 565 residential units for November 2012.

According to the statistical service CySTAT, building permits constitute a leading indicator of future activity in the construction sector.

 

Send to Kindle

Couple sought in scam case

0
0
police1_5

Police are looking for a Limassol couple believed to have conned several people out of thousands of euros using a run-of-the-mill pity scam.

The suspected fraudsters, an Albanian national and his Greek Cypriot female partner, are believed to have swindled four persons out of some €14,500.

According to Limassol CID, scam victims gave the couple money after being told that the Albanian man’s brother suffered from a serious illness and needed money to get treatment abroad.

The swindle victims were shown medical certificates – that turned out to be fake – ascertaining the man’s illness.

The scam, which dates back to 2012, was accidentally exposed when one of its victims chanced upon the Albanian man’s brother and, talking to him, realised that the latter was in fine health.

Police have secured a warrant for the arrest of the two suspects, who may have fled the country. If so, authorities here would seek a European arrest warrant.

 

Send to Kindle

India hopes for friendly resolution of tax snag

0
0
ÐÑÏÅÄÑÏÓ ÁÍÁÓÔÁÓÉÁÄÇÓ - ÄÉÁÐÉÓÔÅÕÔÇÑÉÁ ÕÐÁÔÏÕ ÁÑÌÏÓÔÇ ÉÍÄÉÁÓ

The government of India is hoping for a ‘friendly resolution’ of the snag that has come up in regard to its double taxation agreement (DTA) with Cyprus, the country’s new ambassador said on Tuesday.

Presenting his credentials to President Nicos Anastasiades at the Palace, Shri Ravi Bangar, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Cyprus, added that his country was keen to maintain the high level of bilateral relations.

For his part, Anastasiades said Nicosia was looking forward to the completion of negotiations leading to the signing of a revised DTA.

“Any differences that arose cannot, and must not, be allowed to cast a shadow over the development of our relations,” the President told the Indian diplomat.

Anastasiades went on to speak of a number of bilateral agreements that are pending and need to be concluded “within the spirit of mutual understanding.”

Nicosia and New Delhi are currently in the process of renegotiating their DTA after the latter suspended the agreement last November, when India labeled Cyprus a “notified jurisdictional area”, effectively overturning the original tax agreement between the two countries, after deeming that Cyprus had failed to provide information requested by the Indian tax authorities.

The government here scrambled to put out the fire, dispatching a delegation to New Delhi later that same month in a bid to begin smoothing out the differences.

 

Send to Kindle

Ukraine opposition seeks to cut president’s powers

0
0
Pro-European protests in Ukraine

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich, battling mass unrest against his rule, faced demands from the opposition on Tuesday for a constitutional change that would seriously curtail his powers.

Yanukovich was still weighing whom he might name as his new prime minister to calm the crisis on the streets – though rumours swirled that he could be considering a hardline ally who at the moment heads his administration.

As the Ukrainian central bank intervened again to stop panic demand for dollars weakening the hryvnia currency,  Ukraine sharply criticised EU heavyweight Germany after comments by its foreign minister that sanctions should be used as a threat unless a political solution was found soon to end the crisis.

At least six people have been killed in the past two weeks in unprecedented politically-linked violence in Kiev, whose centre is now a heavily-barricaded fortified protest zone.

Fierce clashes between riot police and squads of radical protesters have prompted global concern that the ex-Soviet republic, a substantial buffer territory of 46 million people between Russia and the EU, might plunge into civil war.

Though there has been no violence in Kiev for several days, Western governments have warned Yanukovich that it risks flaring up again unless he can find a compromise with the opposition.

Yanukovich triggered the uprising on the streets last November when he walked away from a trade deal with the European Union in favour of closer economic ties with Russia.

Though his move was rewarded with a $15-billion offer of credits and cheap gas from Moscow for Ukraine’s ailing economy, it provoked outrage among millions of Ukrainians who dream of a European future for their country.

TUG-OF-WAR

Caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between  Russia and the West, Yanukovich faces tough choices over his future alliances.

The United States and its EU allies are backing the protesters, though largely with words rather than deeds or cash. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hefty economic lifeline comes with a condition that he forms a government that suits Moscow.

Ukraine quickly reacted after German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier raised the issue of sanctions.

The foreign ministry called in Berlin’s ambassador to Kiev and said later in a statement: “It was emphasised that there was a need for an objective assessment of the development of the internal political processes of the situation in our state and that provocative statements should be avoided.”

Yanukovich, according to reported comments by a political ally, has said he will not use force to clear the streets, where hundreds of protesters are camped out on Independence Square or in occupied municipal buildings.

The opposition, buoyed by Western expressions of support, pressed on Tuesday in parliament for a return to a previous constitution which would mean Yanukovich losing some of the key powers he has accumulated since being elected in 2010.

These include appointing the prime minister and entire government as well as regional governors.

The opposition also wants an unconditional amnesty for protesters detained in the unrest to be broadened into an unconditional pardon for all those being held by police.

“One of the ways out is the redistribution of powers held by the authorities. After that we can be more certain of changes in the country,” said boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, one of the main opposition leaders.

GOING TO SOCHI OLYMPICS

“We have to make swift changes and return to the 2004 constitution in order to even out the powers of the president,” said far-right nationalist leader Oleh Tyahnibok.

Analysts say any return to the 2004 constitution – something which the pro-Yanukovich majority in parliament seems unlikely to allow – would automatically mean an early presidential election, another key demand of the opposition.

A leading lawmaker from Yanukovich’s Party of the Regions was quoted in local media late on Monday as saying the president had told his allies he would not declare a state of emergency or use troops or other force to clear central Kiev’s protest zone.

“We have the capacity to free administrative premises and even the Maidan (main square) by force,” Yanukovich was quoted as saying by lawmaker Yuri Miroshnichenko. “I will never do that because these are also our citizens.”

It is unclear what options Yanukovich now has. His office said he was preparing to go to Sochi in Russia to attend the opening of the Winter Olympics later this week – a visit which could provide a chance for further talks with Putin.

Russia has released $3 billion of the promised $15 billion lifeline, but Putin has since hinted there may be no more coming until Moscow sees the colour of the next Ukrainian government.

The sub-text seems to be that Moscow will keep the credits from coming on stream if Yanukovich brings in a government that will tilt policy back towards the West.

Yanukovich has yet to appoint a successor to Russian-born hardliner Mykola Azarov, who stepped down as premier on Jan. 28.

But several news websites picked up a comment by an opposition figure that he believed Yanukovich would pick Andriy Klyuev, at present his head of administration, for the hot spot.

But Klyuev, a former first deputy prime minister and former head of the National Defence and Security Council, is seen by most protesters as being behind a police crackdown at the end of November and his appointment could prove risky.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was due to hold talks on Wednesday with Yanukovich and with opposition leaders.

Other EU officials have played down comments by Ashton that Europe and the United States are working to offer funds to help Ukraine enact reforms.

However, the US State Department said Washington and the EU were in preliminary discussions on financial help for Ukraine if a new technocrat government is formed. A senior State Department official is due in Kiev this week.

Send to Kindle

Co-op Central Bank staff stage one-hour strike

0
0
coop

Some 300 employees at the Co-operative Central Bank (CCB) went on a one-hour ‘warning’ strike at 1:30 pm on Tuesday to protest a 15 per cent pay cut imposed by the finance ministry.
Those striking are members of bank employees’ union ETYK, which had been in prolonged talks with the CCB over salary and benefit cuts already agreed by SEK, PEO and PASYDY unions, who represent the rest of Co-op employees – roughly 2.700.
Following deadlock, the dispute was referred to the labour ministry’s mediation service to resolve, which urged the two sides to return to the table for further negotiations.
Growing increasingly impatient, the CCB management attempted to bypass the union and present individual union members with the option of accepting the cuts or facing redundancy.
In a general assembly convened to decide a response, ETYK members unanimously authorised the union’s leadership to proceed with “dynamic measures” requesting that “all its members be involved” – meaning bank employees at commercial banks too.
Slashing payroll cost was part of the effort to restructure the co-ops, a necessary precondition of the bailout through a €1.5 billion capital injection, due to be paid out at the end of March.
A comprehensive restructuring plan was due to be submitted to the EU Competition Commission for approval on January 31.
Pressed for time, finance minister Harris Georgiades settled the dispute two days short of the deadline by issuing a ministerial decree imposing the same pay cuts applied to non-ETYK Co-op employees, causing the union to deem the ploy “blackmail”.
Deeming the decree “unacceptable, unfair and dictatorial”, ETYK instructed its members at the CCB to hold a one-hour strike on Tuesday.
“We demand the immediate revocation of the unfair, improper and undemocratic decree issued against our CCB colleagues, which we have already instructed our legal team to initiate annulment procedures,” ETYK said in a statement, calling for the resumption of “healthy and constructive” negotiations.
ETYK’s Christos Panayides said that if Tuesday’s strike does not bear fruit, the union considers all future options to be on the table.
“This is a warning against the government’s decision. Our future action will depend on developments,” he said.
Holding the strike at 1:30pm had no impact on the public as this is the customer service is cut off in retail banks.

Send to Kindle

Free internet zones to be created

0
0
wifi

Plans are afoot to provide free wi-fi in city centres and tourist areas, according to the House commerce committee
“We are on track to create free internet zones in Cyprus, in places where many people congregate, markets, beaches and businesses and other places so that Cyprus can become a model and a leader in freedom and free use of the internet,” said committee chairman, DISY’s Lefteris Christoforou.
The long term plan is for 140 areas to benefit.
Opposition AKEL MP Costas Costas agreed, saying the plan should go forward as soon as possible.
It was frustrating, he said, to see that Cyprus was ranked 25th out of 28 member states in the provision of electronic services by the government. Promoting e-government was an imperative, he added.
DIKO’s Angelos Votsis said the commerce ministry had prepared a study on the issue.
He said it would take around three weeks to finish consultations with the municipalities and hoped that within a month there would be something to announce.

Send to Kindle
Viewing all 6907 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images