DIPLOMAT ASKED TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT IN CRISIS-HIT LEBANON

 pa media 31 August 2020 -By Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue, Associated Press

© Bilal Hussein Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Mustapha Adib (AP/Bilal Hussein)

A Lebanese diplomat has been appointed to form a new government in the crisis-hit country after winning the backing of major political parties.

President Michel Aoun asked Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib, to form a new government after he secured 90 votes in the 128-member parliament.

The consultations were being held hours before French President Emmanuel Macron was due to arrive for a two-day visit, during which he is expected to press Lebanese officials to formulate a new political pact to lift the country out of its multiple crises.

At least 190 people died and 6,000 were injured in an explosion on August 4, which devastated the city’s port and caused widespread damage to residential and commercial areas in the capital.

The government resigned less than a week after the blast.

© Provided by PA Media Mustapha Adib said his number one priority will be to implement reforms to regain the trust of the Lebanese and international community (AP/Bilal Hussein)

Mr Adib told reporters his number one priority will be to quickly form a government able to implement crucial reforms to regain the trust of the Lebanese and international community.

He said he will form a Cabinet of experts and will work with parliament to “put the country on track of improvement and to end the dangerous financial, economic and social drainage”.

“The opportunity in front of our country is narrow, and the mission that I accepted is based on all political groups knowing that. The government should be formed very quickly,” he added.

Mr Macron and other world leaders as well as the International Monetary Fund have refused to give assistance to Lebanon before its leaders enact major reforms. The swift consensus around Mr Adib, a little known diplomat, signalled a sense of urgency by Lebanon’s traditional politicians to try and contain the rapidly worsening economic and financial crisis and show movement ahead of Mr Macron’s visit.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri emerged from his meeting with Mr Aoun telling reporters his 18-member bloc had given its backing to Mr Adib. He called for the formation of a government of experts “that implement reforms aimed at restoring the world’s confidence in our economy so we can start to emerge from this crisis”.

Mr Adib, who returned from Germany to Lebanon on Saturday, was the only name to emerge as a favourite for the post of prime minister, who according to Lebanon’s sectarian-based power sharing system has to be a Sunni Muslim. The candidate who gets the most support is asked to form the new cabinet, but Lebanon’s divided political class has often been bogged down over who holds senior posts and key ministries.

Mr Adib was named by four former prime ministers, including Mr Hariri, on the eve of Monday’s consultations.

Earlier on Sunday, the head of the powerful Hezbollah militant group, Hassan Nasrallah, said his supporters will co-operate and facilitate the formation of a government that would be able to improve economic conditions and undertake major reforms.

The Iran-backed militant group, which has a dominant role in Lebanon’s politics, has come under intense criticism and public scrutiny as the country faces multiple devastating crises. Hezbollah and its allies were also expected to name Mr Adib.

Even before the explosion, an unprecedented economic crisis had already sapped the Lebanese currency of more than 80% of its value, driving unemployment, poverty and inflation through the roof.

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ONE NEW CASE TODAY - 'IMPORTED'

 Filenews 31 August 2020

The Ministry of Health informs that, according to an update received today by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit from contracting laboratories, a total of 1,916 laboratory diagnoses have identified 1 new case of COVID-19 disease.

The virus-positive atom resulted from 1,190 samples taken as part of a passenger and repatriated check, a Polish man who arrived in Paphos through Germany on Saturday..

In addition, the following laboratory tests were carried out, without the detection of a case:

• From samples taken as part of the programme of referrals by Personal Physicians and control of special teams through the Public Health Clinics, 164 laboratory tests were completed,
• From samples taken through a private initiative, 307 laboratory diagnoses were completed,
• From samples taken from the Microbiological Laboratories of the General Hospitals, 112 laboratory diagnoses were carried out,
• From samples taken at the barricades, 43 laboratory tests were completed,
• From the student control program, a laboratory examination was carried out.
• From a programme carried out by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order to check the staff working on the premises of the Courts, we have had a result for 11 samples, and
• From samples taken through the process of tracing contacts of already confirmed cases, 88 laboratory diagnoses were carried out.

Therefore, and on the basis of the data so far, the total number of cases is 1,488.

In addition, seven COVID-19 patients are being treated at Famagusta General Hospital, including one in the Increased Care Unit. In the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital, a patient is still being treated intubated.

Source: Eyenews

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FOREIGN OFFICE REITERATES UK POSITIONS ON CYPRUS SETTLEMENT AND EEZ ISSUES

 in-cyprus 31 August 2020 - by Maria Bitar

The Foreign Office has responded to two letters sent by UK Cypriots to Prime Minister Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, respectively, by reiterating the British government’s positions on the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s drilling activities affecting the Cypriot EEZ.

Responding to the first letter by 25 UK Cypriots to Johnson on the occasion of the tragic anniversaries of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, the Foreign Office officials provide assurances of the UK’s ongoing support for a just and lasting settlement to reunite Cyprus.

“The events of 1974 continue to cast a long shadow over Cyprus. The best way to address these issues is through a just and lasting settlement on the island. The UK’s commitment to a deal on Cyprus remains unwavering”, reads the letter.

Such a settlement, reuniting Cyprus “would unlock significant economic benefits through increased opportunities for trade, investment, and tourism, and open up the possibility of new energy and economic partnerships in the region”, adds the Foreign Office response, also pointing to benefits in terms of regional security and stability.

The second letter, a response to 16 UK Cypriots that had highlighted to Raab Turkey’s provocations in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, states that the UK “has been clear from the start, in both public and private, that we deplore Turkish drilling in the waters around Cyprus”.

It adds that the UK Government has made this view known to Turkey at a ministerial and official level.

“The UK has consistently stated our support for the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit the oil and gas in its internationally agreed Exclusive Economic Zone. We continue to believe Cyprus’ oil and gas should be developed for the benefit for all Cypriots”, the response letter continues.

It also notes that the UK judges it as “critical for stability in the Mediterranean and for the integrity of the rules-based international system that disputes such as this are resolved, not through force, militarisation or coercion, but through dialogue and in accordance with international law”.

“Ultimately” the letter carries on to say, “the most enduring way of resolving difficult issues is to achieve a Cyprus settlement and we encourage all parties to redouble their efforts in pursuit of that”.

“As such, the UK is a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of this issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation”.

On the issue of guarantees and the future security of Cyprus, the Foreign Office letter restates that the UK is “open to whatever arrangements the two sides and the other Guarantor Powers can agree on in order to meet the security needs of a reunited Cyprus”.

(CNA)

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NORTH CYPRUS - AKINJI 'LOSES' IN THE SECOND ROUND, MAJORITY WANT SEPARATE TURKISH CYPRIOT STATE

 Filenews 31 August 2020

First in the upcoming illegal "presidential elections" shows a poll by the Turkish company Geziji, Mustafa Akinji, followed by Ersin Tatar, Tufan Erhiurman, Kundrat Ozersai, Erhan Arikli, Derdar Denktas and Fuat Turkoz Chiner.

The poll was presented by the company's own president, Murat Geziji, in occupied Nicosia, saying it was conducted on 21.22 and 23 August with 4530 respondents in all 6 "provinces" in the occupied territories, using the method of personal interviews. As last time, Mr. Geziji also released photos of the team of researchers taking buses to the various towns and villages for interviews.

According to the result of the survey on illegal "presidential elections", 33.4% said they would vote for Mustafa Akinji , 32.1% Ersin Tatar 16.6% Tufa Erhiurman ,9.6% 2% Kundret Ozersai ,5.1% Erhan Arikli ,3.4% Serdar Denktas and 0.2% Chiner who is the candidate of the Nationalist Republic (Grey Wolves) party.

In the second round ,when asked if it was between Akinji and Tatar who they would vote for, respondents answered 50.8% of Ersin Tatar and 49.2% of Mustafa Akinji.

When asked about the performance of Mustafa Akinji's five-year term as occupying leader on the Cyprus issue, 45.2% considered his performance positive and 54.3% failed.

The survey also included a question about how they find Mr Akinji's role in the development of Turkey-pseudo-state relations, with 58.3% saying their role was not positive and 31% saying they were positive.

To the question what are their expectations of the person to be elected to the position of occupying leader and noted that each participant was given more than one answer, the results are as follows: 77.1% expect to establish good relations with Turkey, 62.9% to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, 58.6% to understand well from the economy, 53.6% to be able to handle foreign policy issues and to work together with the pseudo-government and 53.5% to pay attention to the protection of the T/C culture.

It wants two states 78.2% of Turkish Cypriots

The survey also included questions about the Cyprus issue, with 78.2% of respondents answering the question of "what solution do you prefer" between the two separate states, and 21.8% saying that "there must be a federation with the R/Cs".

When asked about Turkey's guarantees, 81.1% replied that they should continue, 4.1% should be cancelled and 4.9% that there should be an EU and UN guarantee system.

When asked how they assess Turkey's seismic surveys and drilling to protect the rights of the "TDBK" - as the pseudo-state refers to it - in the context of the "blue homeland", 76.8% replied that it supports them and 13.4% that it does not support them.

When asked how they assess Ersin Tatar's announcement of the construction of a new 100-bed hospital in occupied Nicosia after his visit to Turkey, 57.8% replied that he considers it positive and 29.9% negative.

Source: Eyenews / CYPE

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THE UPGRADED FIRST MUNICIPAL MARKET OF LIMASSOL REOPENS

 Filenews 31 August 2020 

Official first today for the reopening of the 1st Municipal Market of Limassol, with Mayor Nikos Nikolaidis looking forward to the revitalization of the city center, referring to the best market in southeastern Europe.

The Mayor of Limassol visited at noon the upgraded 1st Municipal Market which opens its doors in the afternoon and is a collaboration of the Municipality of Limassol with a private company.

In a statement, Mr. Nikolaidis said that "a place built in 1918 comes back to life after many years of inaction and inactivity".

"The upgraded Limassol Municipal Market, which connects tradition and the modern element, will certainly be a model and will not be an exaggeration if it is said to be the best in southeastern Europe" he said and expressed his confidence that, in combination with the other projects of the Municipality, it will revitalize and upgrade both the city center and the quality of life of all citizens.

For his part, Vasos Koilanis, director of "AGORA", as the place is now called, said it is a historic day, as it revives the old grocery store of Limassol after two years of "hard work with several difficulties".

He added that the new multi-room includes 14 restaurants with cuisines from all over the world, two bars, a café, an ice cream shop and 13 shops made from traditional and modern products. In addition, there is a traditional bakery, deli, fruit shop, liquor store and hairdresser, as well as a children's play area and event area.

Source: Eyenews / CYPE

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IN 'BATTLE READINESS' IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - THE 'CHARLES DE GAULLE'

 Filenews 31 August 2020 

The French fleet's flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle accompanied by an unknown number of French navy ships and submarines is expected to sail directly into the Eastern Mediterranean, according to French media reports citing information from the French Ministry of Defence.

The "jewel" in the crown of the French navy is sailing in the Mediterranean on an "unspecified mission", according to reports, such as the French lemarin.ouest-france.fr.

Being France's most important strategic weapon, no more details have been announced for security reasons, but as military analysts point out, the departure from the Naval Station of Toulon is made with the aircraft carrier in "battle readiness", i.e. with a full combat load which includes a number of Rafal fighter aircraft, flying radars and strategic armament of maximum range missiles, anti-submarine arsenal as well as the sophisticated electronic detection, targeting and electronic interference systems developed by the French war industry with the special characteristic that there are no countermeasures available to any other country.

The deployment of the French navy in the Eastern Mediterranean at the moment follows recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that "Turkey understands only by deeds", while Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the same time directly threatened Greece and France that they would "pay a heavy price".

Source: Eyenews /ert.gr

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CYPRUS ECONOMY IN 2020 HIT HARDER THAN IN 2013

 Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Gina Agapiou

Cyprus euro

COVID-19 has hit the Cyprus economy in this year harder than the 2013 crisis.

The Cyprus economy shrank almost twice as much in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same period during the financial crisis of 2013, according to data published by the statistical service.

The island’s economy shrank by 11.9 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020, after expanding by 0.9 per cent in the previous period, the statistical service said on Monday.

In 2013, GDP contracted 5.9 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year. Resilience in private consumption and the contribution from tourism helped the economy during the crisis, the finance ministry had said.

The vast effect on the Cyprus economy of the lack of tourism revenue is best visible in individual sectors.

Some of the main contributors to the decline in GDP were the hotels and restaurants, manufacturing, construction, transport, storage and communication, wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, arts, entertainment and recreation; and other service activities,” Cystat said.

The contribution to GDP from manufacturing in Cyprus decreased to €223.85 million in the second quarter of 2020 from €240.43 million in the first quarter of 2020. The contribution to  GDP from Manufacturing in Cyprus averaged 243.65 EUR Million from 1995 until 2020.

During the same period, the contribution to GDP from construction decreased to €288 million from €359.50 million in the first quarter of 2020. The average contribution to GDP from construction amounted to €306.06 million from 1995 until 2020.

Meanwhile, retail sales in Cyprus dropped 2.6 percent from a year earlier in June 2020, following a revised 4.7 percent fall in May and a record slump of 28.9 per cent seen in April.

To gauge how much tourism was affected, there was an 85.3 per cent decrease on arrivals for the period of January to July this year. The result? Tourism revenue plunged by 87.8 per cent to a mere €122 million in the first six months of the year, compared with around €1billion in the same period of 2019.

This, along with the lockdown measures that restricted citizens’ movements and decreed for the temporary closure of businesses led to the significant decrease in the second quarter, according to the service.

“The implementation of precautionary measures and relevant decrees to address the negative consequences of COVID-19 disease had a direct impact on the Cyprus economy which exhibited a slowdown during the first quarter of 2020 and a substantial decrease during the second quarter of 2020” said the service.

On a quarterly basis, the economy shrank by 11.6 per cent, the most in more than five years, after shrinking 1.3 per cent in the previous period.

In the first quarter of 2020, the economy grew 0.9 per cent year-on year, matching a preliminary estimate and slowing from a 3.2 per cent expansion in the previous period.

According to Trading Economics, it was the weakest growth rate since the last quarter of 2014 where the economy shrank 1.1 percent.

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EXPLAINER - HOW COMMON COLD VIRUSES ARE BEING USED IN VACCINES FROM RUSSIA, CHINA

 Reuters 31 August 2020 - by Allison Martell and Julie Steenhuysen

© Reuters/Dado Ruvic A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration

By Allison Martell and Julie Steenhuysen

(Reuters) - The modified common cold viruses behind high-profile COVID-19 vaccine candidates from China's CanSino Biologics and Russia's Gamaleya Institute have been studied for decades, but are still not widely used.

© Reuters/Thomas Peter FILE PHOTO: China's vaccine specialist CanSino Biologics Inc in Tianjin

The following are some details of their development, how they work and past and potential future uses:

WHEN WERE THESE VIRUSES FIRST USED IN MEDICAL RESEARCH?

The modified adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) viruses used in these vaccines were first created by Canadian researcher Dr. Frank Graham at a Dutch lab in the 1970s.

Graham planned to use them to study mechanisms underlying cancer, and distributed the human kidney cell line that makes them, called HEK293, to researchers all over the world.

"The cells became tremendously widespread and popular" among researchers, said Graham, now retired in Italy.

WHAT ARE VECTORS USED IN VACCINES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Vectors are materials used as mechanisms to carry genetic information into human cells. Modified viruses that cannot replicate on their own and so will not cause infection can be used as vectors to carry genes from the target virus into human cells to induce an immune response against that virus.

Ad5 vectors were tested in early gene therapy, which aims to install a missing gene or replace a mutated or damaged one. They were largely abandoned after an 18-year-old died in 1999 from an immune system overreaction after receiving a large dose during a gene therapy trial.

Some researchers believe the strong immune response that caused problems with gene therapy makes these vectors well suited to vaccines, where much lower doses are used and a protective immune response is the objective.

HAVE AD5 VECTORS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST?

At McMaster University in Canada, Graham and collaborators developed a variety of Ad5 vectors, including for a rabies vaccine used on wild raccoons in the province of Ontario.

He and other researchers began developing an Ad5-based vaccine against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and published preclinical data. It was set aside when that pandemic ended.

In 2011, CanSino licensed an experimental tuberculosis vaccine based on Ad5 from McMaster researchers.

The Chinese company's focus later shifted to an Ad5-based Ebola vaccine at the request of the Chinese military, according to Dr. Thomas Evans, current chief scientific officer at Vaccitech, who was involved with the tuberculosis project. The Ebola vaccine was approved for military use in 2017.

Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed Russia's coronavirus vaccine, also used the Ad5 platform to develop an Ebola vaccine, which they said has been administered to about 2,100 people.

WHAT ELSE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT USING AD5 VECTORS?

In addition to the Ad5-based COVID-19 vaccines, an inhaled version of the experimental tuberculosis vaccine is still under development at McMaster, Dr. Zhou Xing told Reuters. His team is also in the early stages of developing an inhaled COVID-19 vaccine, testing Ad5 and another vector based on a chimpanzee adenovirus.

(Reporting by Allison Martell in Toronto, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Christine Soares in New York and Polina Ivanova in Moscow; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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BRITISH AIRWAYS - 18 FLIGHTS A WEEK TO CYPRUS

 Filenews 31 August 2020

According to today's announcement by Hermes Airports on social media, British Airways will operate 14 flights per week for Larnaca-Heathrow and another 4 flights per week for the Paphos-Heathrow route.

For more information visit www.britishairways.com

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TWO WANTED FOR BUILDING BREAK-IN AND THEFT IN NICOSIA

31/08/20

Police are asking for information that can help identify the persons pictured, who are being sought to facilitate investigations into a case of building break-in and theft, committed on 30 August 2020, in Nicosia.

 

Anyone who knows anything that can help locate them is kindly requested to contact the Nicosia POLICE at 22-802222 or the Citizen's Contact Line at 1460 or the nearest Police Station.

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EU OFFERS 400 MILLION EUROS TO WHO-LED COVID-19 VACCINE INITIATIVE

 Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Reuters News Service

The European Commission said on Monday it would contribute 400 million euros ($476 million) to an initiative led by the World Health Organization to buy COVID-19 vaccines.

The initiative, dubbed COVAX, aims to purchase 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 of potential COVID-19 shots from several vaccine makers.

The EU Commission is negotiating advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines with several drugmakers on behalf of the 27 EU states and has said in past weeks EU governments cannot buy vaccines through parallel procurement schemes.

“Today, the Commission is announcing a 400 million euro contribution to COVAX for working together in purchasing future vaccines to the benefit of low and middle income countries,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

The Commission added in a statement that it was ready, together with EU states, “to put expertise and resources at work within COVAX to accelerate and scale-up development and manufacturing of a global supply of vaccines for citizens across the world, in poor and rich countries.”

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FUEL TERMINAL REMOVAL TIMEFRAME ON SCHEDULE, ASPHALT PLANT DISPUTE RUMBLES ON

Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Peter Michael

The storage facilities at Larnaca

Energy Minister Natasa Pilides said on Monday the government is intent on committing to the timeframe of summer 2021 for transferring the fuel terminals in Larnaca decided between the president and the companies on Friday.

In statements after a meeting with Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras, the municipal council and President Nicos Anastasiades, Pilides said the timeframe for moving the storage facilities and a controversial asphalt plant will be kept.

Last Friday, the government and the companies agreed to a timeframe of one year to transfer the fuel storage facilities in Larnaca to Vasilikos.

“For liquid fuel, companies have already stopped work in Larnaca, and all that is left is the process of demolishing [the facilities], which is already in the works,” she said.

Pilides added that for the off-loading of fuel at Vasilikos harbour the issue left is for a study to be completed within two months, regarding the feasibility of importing fuel at the harbour.

“All the other ongoing processes will continue, so there is as little delay as possible,” she said.

On the asphalt plant, she said there will be meetings at the energy ministry this week to set timeframes based on preparations being made by the port authority and the companies.

The plant is controversial and plans to relocate it from Dhali to the Vasilikos area has angered nearby residents who said they will protest on Tuesday.

The nine communities of the Vasilikos area said they would shut down the entrance to the under-construction energy centre on Tuesday morning, following the decision to move the plant.

The asphalt plant was originally located in the Dali and Tseri area before protests by residents there led to a government pledge in July to be move the plant to the Vasilikos area.

Since then the nine villages there have warned they too were ready to protest.

The head of the villages’ coordinating committee and the mayor of Kalavasos, Lefteris Fokas said on Monday the villages’ (Kalavasos, Tochni, Zygi, Mari, Maroni, Psematismennos, Asgata, Pentakomo,, and Choirokitia) residents would block the four entrances to the energy centre from 8am to 10am.

Residents will be protesting at the entrance to Mari, the junction of the old Nicosia-Limassol road, the waste management plant in Pentakomo, and the entrance to the centre from Vasilikos.

Fokas said back in 2014, the communities agreed with then Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis the energy centre would be constructed in the area, but also no factories causing pollution, including ammonia, methanol, or asphalt would be moved to the area.

He warned the communities would take the case to European Union court, if the decision is not overturned. Fokas added they could present all the communication on the matter they had with energy ministry.

Previously, Fokas said four of the objecting communities would be between 1,500 to 500 metres from the proposed site of the plant

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CORONAVIRUS - AUTHORITIES TO DRAW UP GUIDELINES ALLOWING PROTESTS

 Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Jean Christou

Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis at police headquarters on Monday (PIO)

Police will not act against hundreds of demonstrators who staged a protest against Covid restrictions outside the presidential palace on Saturday night, it was announced on Monday.

Instead the health ministry will draw up a list of guidelines for protests that will include people needing to stay 1.5 metres from each other, and wear masks during protests.

The decision was taken at a meeting between police and Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis and officials from the health ministry to discuss the protest, attended by hundreds of people on Saturday. The attorney-general had also been consulted.

Yiolitis said the restrictive measures “which we have responsibly endured for months now are not intended to harm democracy nor are they politically motivated or expedient. They are universally applied in almost all countries that have been affected and are hopefully temporary”.

“They have one and only purpose, to save lives and to treat patients,” she added.

Part of the rules will be making protest organisers responsible for ensuring the social distancing and mask wearing.

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An Imperial and Royal Wedding Next Month: Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma to Marry Archduchess Gabriella of Austria in September

Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, Archduchess Gabriella of Austria, and their daughter Victoria.
Photograph (c) Swiss Press.

According to reports, HRH Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma and HI&RH Archduchess Gabriella of Austria will marry next month. The couple became engaged on 22 October 2017 in Switzerland when Henri popped the question to Gabriella. It is not yet known where their September 2020 nuptials will take place. The pair are second cousins: both are great-grandchildren of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and her husband Prince Félix (1893-1970; né Bourbon-Parma). Henri and Gabriella have a daughter, Victoria Antonia Marie-Astrid Lydia, who was born on 30 October 2017.

Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, Archduchess Gabriella of Austria, and their daughter Victoria.
Photograph (c) Swiss Press.

Prince Henri Luitpold Antoine Victor Marie Joseph of Bourbon-Parma was born at Roskilde, Denmark, on 14 October 1991. Henri is the youngest child and second son of Prince Erik of Bourbon-Parma (b.1953) and Countess Lydia Holstein-Ledreborg (b.1955), who married in 1980 and divorced in 1999. Henri's paternal grandparents are Prince Michel of Bourbon-Parma (1924-2018) and Princess Yolande of Broglie-Revel (1928-2014). Henri's maternal grandparents are Count Knud Holstein-Ledreborg (1919-2001) and Princess Marie Gabrielle of Luxembourg (b.1925).

Archduchess Gabriella of Austria, Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, and their daughter in the stroller.
Photograph (c) Swiss Press.

Archduchess Gabriella Maria Pilar Yolande Joséphine-Charlotte of Austria was born at Geneva on 26 March 1994. Gabriella is the youngest child and second daughter of Archduke Carl Christian of Austria (b.1954) and Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg (b.1954), who married in 1982. Gabriella's paternal grandparents are Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria (1918-2007) and Princess Yolande de Ligne (b.1923). Gabriella's maternal grandparents are Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (1921-2019) and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (1927-2005).

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HEALTH & LABOUR GUIDELINES ISSUED AS TEMPERATURES SOAR

 Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Peter Michael

The health and labour ministries on Monday issued warnings to vulnerable groups, and workers as temperatures were set to hit 44C inland.

The met office on Sunday issued a red weather warning that will be in effect from 1pm until 5pm Monday.

The health ministry said the public should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and non-essential movement and exercise.

According to the ministry, people should wear relaxed and light colour clothes and use hats and sunglasses if it is necessary to be outside.

People should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, coffees and eating heavy or fatty foods, including chocolates and spicy foods. The ministry suggested people eat light foods, vegetables, juices, and significant amounts of water.

According to the ministry, the public should also use their air-conditioning, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Another suggestion was for people to take cooler showers, during the day, and to avoid using ovens.

Vulnerable groups (children, the elderly, and pregnant women) need to take extra care.  The ministry suggested parents should dress their infants in light clothing and consult their paediatrician for recommendations on the correct amount of liquid to give to their children.

Individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, such as respiratory or heart issues, should consult their doctor on any potential special measures they may need to take.

The ministry also called on people to make sure children, the elderly, and pets are not left in vehicles with closed windows.

Workers and employers were also cautioned to take the necessary measures to protect from the high temperatures.

The ministry said they should consider modifying their work methods or consider cancelling the job for the day if necessary.

According to the ministry, a programme should be drawn up so that the most difficult jobs are done during the cooler hours.

Workers should also get short breaks often to rest in a shady, cool area or air-conditioned area.

The ministry also suggested workers be rotated at their jobs, accordingly.

Workers should also avoid, when possible, difficult tasks outside during the hottest hours.

Employers need to supply cool drinking water to their employees.

Workers should also wear protective head coverings, if outside.  They should also wear light coloured and relaxed clothing.

The ministry suggested they avoid eating large meals or sugary foods and drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Workers should also be trained to be able to deal with the weather conditions.

 

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A&Es AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS WILL BE INCLUDED IN GESY FROM SEPTEMBER 1

 Cyprus Mail 31 August 2020 - by Jean Christou

Nicosia hospital (Photo: CNA)

The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) announced on Monday that as of September 1 the services of accident and emergency (A&E) departments at public hospitals are included in the health scheme Gesy.

At a later stage and within 2020, there will be information on the integration of A&E services from private hospitals as well as information on specific services that will be offered by each, it said

Therefore, at this stage the visits to A&Es of private hospitals will not be covered by Gesy, the HIO said.

It reminded the public that there was still a €10 fee for visits to A&Es at public hospitals.

“The integration of the services of A&E is a decisive step towards the completion of the full implementation of Gesy,” the HIO said.

It also asks the public to use A&Es for emergencies and accidents and not routine visits.

Those who do visit will enter triage. Accidents and emergencies will be dealt with first. “Non-emergencies do not fall under the health care services provided by the A&E and therefore will not be covered [by Gesy],” the HIO said.

For more information, interested parties can contact the Gesy Service Centre at 17000 (free) or by e-mail at info@gesy.org.cy

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LEBANON HANGING BY A THREAD!

 Cyprus Mail 30 August 2020

Saad Hariri heads the largest Sunnite party in Lebanon and is expected to name his candidate His input is crucial to guarantee that the new PM will have the necessary “cover” to rule

In Beirut, the clock is ticking fast towards the deadline set by Emmanuel Macron

By George Eid, CM Middle East Correspondent

Anyone who follows Lebanese politics will have noticed that the name of the game for the main key players is: “Promise everything but deliver almost nothing”. Based on this very rule the country’s economy has hit rock-bottom along with a historic hyperinflation that sets a new regional record according to world renowned economist, James Hankey.

After years of failed plans and empty promises to implement serious reforms, the ruling political parties have succeeded in devaluing the Lebanese Pound and dragging the country to the negotiation table of the IMF. But even there, they failed to produce solid numbers and a unified stance to consolidate the negotiations, leading to an abrupt halt in the process.

A source at Macron’s Elysee office on Friday, labelled it as “obstructed for political reasons”. The French president even went the extra mile, according to the same source, by saying “the time has come for the Lebanese political parties to move aside temporarily to ensure the formation of a new government that will implement the needed changes”. According to a diplomatic source the French president, who had visited Beirut after the Port Blast, made it clear that a new government is expected within three weeks, before his return to the Lebanese capital on the afternoon of Monday August 31st.

Aside from the government formation, the visit will have four main objectives:

– Pushing for the Implementation of the necessary economic reforms that will get the country back on the negotiation table with the IMF
– Preparing for early parliamentary elections in Beirut
– The reconstruction of the Beirut port
– Containing the coronavirus situation in Lebanon

Meanwhile in Beirut, the clock is ticking fast towards the deadline set by Macron.
The Lebanese President Michel Aoun seems to be concerned with being “on time” with the process of forming a new government and scheduled a date for Lebanon’s binding parliamentary consultations to designate a new PM on Monday, almost three weeks after the government resigned over a deadly Beirut blast.

The consultations that traditionally consume 2-3 days have been placed on the “express lane” this time. The president will meet all the 128 parliament members in one day on a very tight schedule. The process itself being a first of its kind in the last decade!

Macron who keeps a close eye on the situation called his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun on Sunday to reiterate his support for the ongoing efforts to form a new government.

Although the chances of forming a new government soon are slim, the names of four potential candidates for the position of PM are circulating backstage:

– Ex-Minister Rashid Derbas
– Ex-Minister Raya El Hassan
– MP Faissal Karami
– Lebanese Ambassador to Berlin Mostapha Adib

The first two candidates belong the “future movement” political party headed by ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated by Salim Ayyach a member of Iran-backed militia and political party Hezbollah, according to the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) – an international court based near the Hague, in the Netherlands. Saad Hariri heads the largest Sunnite party in Lebanon and is expected to name his candidate His input is crucial to guarantee that the new PM will have the necessary “cover” to rule.

Faissal Karami on the other hand is the candidate of Hezbollah for the position of PM. However, his chances of being designated are very dim. Due to the fact that he does not have the full support of the Sunnite leadership of the country.

As for Ambassador Adib, he is affiliated with Ex-prime minister Najib Mikati. A technocrat on the grey side of Lebanese politics. Seen the current circumstances and Hariri’s insistence on picking a PM away from his own backyard. Adib’s chances are high according to sources from opposing Lebanese political parties involved in the designation process.

As pressure grows from the international community on Hezbollah, the plot thickens and the political situation in Lebanon gets more complicated.

But the Lebanese politicians are not entirely “out of tricks”. One of the old golden ones can really fit this situation. It has been a common practice in the last decade for the president to designate a prime minister who will hold consultations with MPs for government formation. The designated PM will hang fire and wait for the “right time” according to Lebanese political climate. And if things do not fall in line he will dismiss himself.

This scenario that is likely to occur hours before the arrival of Macron would have produced a PM who would meet the French president to prove to him that the political parties in Lebanon have answered his call. And that they are all working hard to form a new government!

However, would the French president really bite the bait?

It is unlikely that he will, but even if he does this will not get Lebanon any step closer to sealing a deal with the IMF.

The international community’s call is loud and clear for any future Lebanese government: the only road a deal with IMF is through economic reforms.

The very reforms that almost every Lebanese politicians has vowed to support but has always failed to do so for years. Simply because the same people who are now required to “fix it” are those who have spent the last 30 years “breaking it”.

This is why Macron and the international community are now tackling the root of the problem by asking the “traditional” political parties to move aside allowing fresh blood into the system. To jump-start it again because “Lebanon could disappear” as a source at Macron’s Elysee stated over the weekend!
Until then, Lebanon will keep on hanging by a thread!

 

• George Eid, is a Beirut-based multilingual (Arabic, English, French, German, Greek) correspondent, anchor and documentary producer, who has worked for several outlets including, Voice of Lebanon and Sky News Arabia (Abu Dhabi). He has reported on several humanitarian and sociopolitical issues and was known to tackle taboo and delicate subjects. He was also among the first teams to enter Aleppo as a reporter with Sky news Arabia in 2012 to cover the Syrian war from a humanitarian perspective. George has a Master’s degree in marketing media and management from Sorbonne IV. Currently he is the head of News Operations/senior correspondent at MTV news Lebanon and a university lecturer at Notre Dame university, USJ, ALAC

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