VIETNAM VIRUS OUTBREAK HITS FACTORIES, AUSTRALIAN STATE CLOSES LARGE PARTS OF ECONOMY

Cyprus Mail 3 August 2020 - Reuters News Service

A woman wearing a protective mask sells vegetables during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Hoi An tourism town, Vietnam July 31, 2020. Paul Mooney/Handout via REUTERS. NO RESALES NO ARCHIVES. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

A novel coronavirus outbreak that began in the Vietnamese city of Danang more than a week ago has spread to at least four city factories with a combined workforce of about 3,700, state media reported on Monday.

Four cases were found at the plants in different industrial parks in the central city which collectively employ 77,000 people, the Lao Dong newspaper said.

Vietnam, praised widely for its decisive measures to combat the coronavirus since it first appeared in late January, is battling new clusters of infection having gone more than three months without detecting any domestic transmission.

Authorities on Monday reported one new case linked to Danang, a tourism hot spot where a case was detected on July 24, Vietnam’s first domestically transmitted case in 100 days.

The source of the new outbreak is unclear but it has spread to at least 10 different places, including the capital, Hanoi, and the business hub of Ho Chi Minh City, infecting 174 people and killing six.

Twenty-three percent of the latest infections are asymptomatic, the government said in a statement.

The country of 96 million has confirmed at least 621 infections, with six deaths.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Monday early August was a “decisive time” to contain the new outbreak, which he said could have a more “critical impact” than previous waves of infection.

Vietnam has carried out 52,000 tests for the coronavirus in the past seven days, according to a Reuters analysis of official data.

The government said on Saturday it planned to test Danang’s entire population of 1.1 million people, part of “unprecedented measures” to fight the outbreak. The city imposed a lockdown last week, closing entertainment venues and banning movement in and out of the city.

Authorities said on Sunday that the strain of virus detected in Danang was a more contagious one, and that each infected person could infect 5 to 6 people, compared with 1.8-2.2 for infections earlier in the year.

Australia’s second most populous state will close retail shops, limit construction projects and curtail manufacturing around the city of Melbourne in order to slow the spread of coronavirus, the state premier said on Monday.

Victoria state said on Sunday it would impose a nightly curfew and tighten restrictions on people’s movement.

State Premier Daniel Andrews, however, said large industries would have to close for the next six weeks. Victoria has recorded several hundred new COVID-19 infections each day for the last few weeks.

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CYPRUS GETS EBRD AND EU FINANCING FOR NATURAL GAS

Cyprus Mail 3 August 2020 - by Gina Agapiou

The gas terminal will be built at Vasilikos

Cyprus’s dependency on oil for energy will be reduced after a €374 million landmark project introduces natural gas to the country for the first time.

Cyprus will benefit from cleaner air and reduced energy costs thanks to the introduction of natural gas to the country, with a project jointly financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union (EU).

The EBRD is providing a €80 million loan to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company of Cyprus (ETYFA) for the acquisition of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and the development of related infrastructure. The FSRU will be permanently anchored about 1.3 km off the coast of Limassol in Vasilikos Bay and will connect directly to the adjacent Vasilikos power station, the largest power plant in Cyprus.

The EU is extending a €101 million grant for the project under the Connecting Europe Facility. The remaining project costs will be funded by a €150 million loan from the EIB and a €43 million equity contribution from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

ETYFA is jointly owned by the Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA) of Cyprus and EAC, both state-owned entities.

“After a number of years of hard work, we managed to lay the foundations for developing this project of major importance for the energy future of Cyprus” Chairman of DEFA and ETYFA Symeon Kassianides said on Friday.

Currently, about 90 per cent of the island’s electricity supply relies on the importation of petroleum products and its energy system is isolated, without interconnections for electricity or gas. The new investment will allow Cyprus to replace expensive and polluting heavy fuel oil with cleaner natural gas.

The project is expected to reduce the country’s CO2 emissions by 10 per cent and lead to a substantial reduction in local air emissions (sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides). In the longer term, the flexible gas-fired Vasilikos power plant will play a key backup role as Cyprus moves increasingly to wind and solar power as part of an accelerating green transition in the EU.

“I would like to thank the European authorities and the EBRD for enabling us to come closer to the realisation of a national vision that will allow Cyprus to make the transition to a new energy era” added Kassianides.

“This is a milestone project for Cyprus and we are proud to support it. The project will be a major step forward in Cyprus’s decarbonisation trajectory. It will reduce both global and local pollution without compromising the island’s long-term transition to a low-carbon energy sector” EBRD Head of Energy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Harry Boyd-Carpenter, said.

The remaining project costs will be funded by a €150 million loan from the EIB and a €43 million equity contribution from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

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CORONAVIRUS - FIVE NEW CASES IN THE NORTH

Cyprus Mail 3 August 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

Five new cases of the coronavirus were detected in the north on Sunday, authorities announced in the evening.

According to the announcement, 1,531 people were tested in 24 hours, and of these five tested positive.

They had all been in contact with other confirmed case and are already in quarantine.

The total number of cases in the north is 151 while four people have lost their lives.

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NEW DIALYSIS UNIT TO BE BUILT AT PAPHOS HOSPITAL

Cyprus Mail 3 August 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

Building work on a new dialysis unit at Paphos general hospital will start at the end of this year and is expected to be completed within 30 months, head of the nephrology department Lakis Gioukas said on Monday.

The construction of the unit was the result of a meeting held at Paphos hospital attended by Gioukas, the director of the hospital Spyros Georgiou and representatives of state health services Okypy, the health ministry and the department of public works.

Tenders are expected to be completed by the end of October, Gioukas explained, adding it is going to be a modern European-standard unit for renal patients.

It will be constructed on an area of about 860 metres and will have 27 hemodialysis stations, a peritoneal dialysis ward, a ward for minor surgeries and outpatient facilities.

It will be housed in a building next to the ICU.

There has been great interest by private constructors and Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou for the project, the head of the nephrology department said.

For years, there have been calls for a new dialysis unit at the state hospital as there has been an urgent need for more dialysis machines to keep up with demand.

Dialysis patients have held numerous protests, complaining about overcrowding at the existing unit. They warned there are health and safety risks, the beds are too close to each other and they are catching germs and diseases from each other.

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TIKTOK OWNERS WILL RELOCATE TO LONDON FROM BEIJING

in-cyprus 3 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

TikTok owner ByteDance will move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers, The Sun newspaper reported.

ByteDance’s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon, the newspaper said, adding that the move was likely to upset U.S. President Donald Trump who has considered banning TikTok in the United States.

It was not immediately possible to reach TikTok for comment.

Microsoft Corp said on Sunday that it would continue discussions to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance, and that it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by Sept. 15.

(Reuters)

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MONDAY AUGUST 3 - CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL UPDATE

in-cyprus 3 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Australia’s second-biggest city Melbourne entered its first day of tougher restrictions and the Philippines decided to reimpose a stricter lockdown in and around the capital, reflecting worries about getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.

AMERICAS

* White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Sunday he was not optimistic on reaching agreement soon on a deal for the next round of legislation to provide relief to Americans hit hard by the pandemic.

* Honduras will extend its coronavirus curfew for another week through to Aug. 9, the security ministry said.

* Major League Baseball (MLB) postponed Saturday’s game and Sunday’s double-header between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers after initial rapid tests showed another player and “multiple” staff on the Cardinals may have COVID-19.

* Argentina broke past 200,000 COVID-19 cases on Sunday and Colombia set a daily record as grim milestones topple in Latin America, pushing the world’s worst affected region towards a combined 5 million cases.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* The Hong Kong government’s decision to postpone an election for the city’s legislature by a year, by invoking emergency legislation after a spike in coronavirus cases, may be unlawful, the city’s bar association said.

* China said 36 of its new confirmed cases were locally transmitted, including 28 in Xinjiang, while another seven were imported infections involving travellers from overseas.

* Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah has been admitted to hospital after catching the coronavirus, he said on Sunday, becoming the most senior politician in the country to test positive for the disease.

EUROPE

* Millions of COVID-19 tests able to detect the virus within 90 minutes will be rolled out to British hospitals, care homes and laboratories, the country’s health minister said.

* Cyprus will introduce compulsory testing for all arrivals from Greece from Aug. 6, health authorities said.

* Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said on Sunday he has contracted COVID-19 and will self-isolate at home for two weeks.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* Flights between Turkey and Iraq have been suspended because of rising coronavirus infections in Turkey, Iraq’s Aviation Authority said.

* Kuwait has banned until further notice commercial flights to 31 countries it regards as high risk due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Saturday.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* Asian share markets turned mixed on Monday as U.S. lawmakers struggled to hammer out a new stimulus plan amid a global surge of new coronavirus cases, though a squeeze on crowded short positions gave the dollar a rare bounce.

* Asia’s factory pain continued to ease in July with contraction slowing in big export-reliant nations, adding to hopes the region is steadily emerging from the devastating hit of the coronavirus pandemic.

* France will push for financial sanctions under the EU’s 750 billion euro ($880 billion) coronavirus recovery fund against states that undermine fundamental human rights, its junior European affairs minister told the Financial Times newspaper.

(Reuters)

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UK REAFFIRMS 'STRONG SUPPORT' TO CYPRUS' REUNIFICATION

in-cyprus 3 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

UK Minister for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton has reaffirmed her government’s  “strong support” towards the divided Mediterranean island’s reunification.

In a letter this week to President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, Christos Karaolis, Morton also said that a settlement should be based “on the internationally accepted model of a bi- zonal, bi-communal federation”.

And she assured that London encourages all sides “to engage constructively and demonstrate they are committed to making progress towards a settlement.”

Morton’s letter comes as a response to a letter by Karaolis addressed to Boris Johnson to mark the 46th tragic anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In his letter, the Federation President urged the UK Prime Minister to exercise “proactively and constructively” the power he has to “make a lasting difference” in relation to Cyprus.

On Security and Guarantees, the Foreign Office Minister notes that the UK “has always made clear that we are open to whatever arrangements the two sides and other Guarantor Powers can agree to meet the security needs of the two Cypriot communities.”

Morton comments that the events of 1974 continue to cast “a long shadow” over Cyprus. “We remain convinced that the best way to address these issues is through a just and lasting settlement on the island,” she adds.

Acknowledging the concerns expressed by Karaolis regarding missing persons in Cyprus, she writes that is remains “a very sensitive aspect” of the Cyprus problem.

She states that the UK shares these concerns, she commends the important work undertaken by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, and she notes that UK authorities remain in regular contact with the Committee to establish how they may further support its work.

“The UK’s commitment to a deal on Cyprus remains unwavering. Ultimately, it is for the sides to agree on the details of any final deal and will require the support of Greece and Turkey and – importantly – successful referenda in each community,” adds the UK Minister for the European Neighbourhood in her letter to the UK Cypriots’ Federation President.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and respect of the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

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PROFITS FROM GAMBLING GO TOWARDS ADDICTION PREVENTION

in-cyprus 3 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

One per cent of overall profits from gambling in Cyprus goes back to support mechanisms for young people who become addicted to it, according to Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides.

Responding to a letter by Opposition Akel MP Skevi Koukouma, the Minister also said this budget is spent on a strategy promoting responsible gaming and dealing with cases of gambling addiction.

This is what Philenews reported on Monday, adding that a total of €516,614 have gone towards that goal, so far. And that the Cyprus National Betting Authority has an additional €210,187 budget for this.

The plans include the creation of a specialized prevention and intervention centre aimed at providing information and support to gamblers and the general public.

As well as strengthening existing centres providing services to people experiencing addiction problems.

Educational seminars to be carried out in schools and elsewhere are included.

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GREECE MOVING TO CATEGORY B FROM 6 AUGUST

Greece is being moved to category B as of 6 August 2020

Following the detection of an increased number of COVID-19 cases amongst travellers returning from various parts of Greece, the Ministry of Health announces that, after evaluation, Greece is to be moved to category B with effect from 6 August 2020 In order to ensure public health and to monitor the epidemiological picture, in addition to the increased controls carried out on flights from the United Kingdom, the sample laboratory tests carried out on passengers on flights from Greece, are increased from today until 6 August. It is noted that Cypriot citizens and their family members and those legally residing in the Republic have the option to undergo the molecular examination upon arrival at Larnaka and Pafos Airports. The cost of the examination shall be borne by the travelers. All other passengers are required to have undergone a laboratory test 72 hours prior to departure at the latest and to possess a Certificate proving a negative PCR test for the virus, as is the case for all Category B travelers. It is further underlined that all passengers, regardless of nationality, are required to apply for the CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours before the departure of their flight. ( MK/DC )

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THE HOGSHEAD PUB ROCK CONCERT - INSANITY - 20 August

THE HOGSHEAD PUB ROCK CONCERT - INSANITY

Thursday 20 August - 9pm

Four piece Rock Band Insanity will be performing Live n' Alive for the second time @ the Hogshead Pub in Emba.  An event not to be missed .    Rock / Alternative / Classic Tunes all night long

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