COMPLETION AND DELIVERY OF TWO ADDITIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC PARKS

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Andreas Nicolaides

Two additional photovoltaic parks, with a total capacity of 2.5MW were completed and connected to the EAC national network, from L&T Sun Power Ltd. The two parks are part of a larger development program of photovoltaic parks of the company, aiming at producing energy from Renewable Energy Sources with a total capacity of 10MW.

L&T Sun Power Ltd, combines the joint efforts and the common goal of the investors and company’s shareholders which are Justy Business Ltd of Dr. Kirill Zimarin and Mr. Andrey Vedenkov, Lanitis Energy Ltd, of the Lanitis family and T.P. Timotheou Ltd, of Mr. Timotheos Timotheou for the continuous supply and the enrichment of the energy production balance in Cyprus from environmentally friendly sources. This privately funded investment is substantially helping Cyprus meet its EU obligations and the overall goal for greener energy.

The two parks that were recently connected, one in Dali of 1.5MW and one in Geri of 1MW, come to contribute significantly to the further production and supply of energy in Cyprus from Renewable Energy Sources. The delivery of the two parks will be followed in a short time by the completion of 3 additional parks that will increase the total supply of energy to 10MW.

More specifically, for the installation of the two parks, 6.228 photovoltaic panels and 40 voltage converters were placed in an area of 46.900 square meters. The two photovoltaic systems have the capacity to produce and supply about 650 home residences with clean energy. They will also assist in the conservation of 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, which would require 85.000 trees to absorb them from the environment.

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INTERIOR MINISTER WANTS REMEDIES TO TOWN 'GHETTOS'; BUILDING PERMIT IRREGULARITIES

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris wants all four big municipalities in Cyprus to remedy illegalities regarding violations in building permits or dilapidated premises turned into places where many foreigner nationals live together.

This means that foreign nationals who almost live in ‘ghettos’ in parts of the four cities will have to be accommodated elsewhere, Philenews reported on Tuesday.

The Minister has called on Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos municipalities to list all such buildings and then either the local authorities or the state or jointly to carry out targeted checks.

The Minister’s thinking is that dilapidated buildings are dangerous and could cause the death of many people if they collapse.

He also pointed out the possible noise and other pollution sparked by the piling of too many residents in one place.

And finally, the fact that most of these buildings could be renovated and used by local authorities.

 

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MEN FINED €800 EACH FOR BREAKING QUARANTINE

Cyprus Mail 4 August 2020 - by staff reporter

Two foreign nationals were fined €800 each on Monday for violating quarantine rules after arriving on the island in a yacht last month.

The two men, 42 and 33, should have self-isolated in their boat for 14 days but were caught outside by police at lunchtime on July 30.

The case was filed on Monday morning with the court handing the pair a fine of €800 each.

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EASY JET EXPANDS LIMITED SCHEDULE AS SUMMER BOOKINGS RISE

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

British low cost airline easyJet said it planned to fly about 40% of its capacity over the rest of the summer, more than originally scheduled as bookings were stronger than expected despite ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic.

After planes were grounded for months until mid-June bringing airlines to their knees, the tentative return to flying in Europe has been threatened by rising COVID-19 cases, prompting the UK to bring back travel restrictions for Spain.

But easyJet said late summer bookings were “performing well” and it would now fly 40% of last year’s capacity in its fourth quarter, compared to earlier guidance of 30%.

It also said its fourth quarter loss would be smaller than the headline loss before tax of 324.5 million pounds ($424 million) which it posted for the three months to the end of June, which reflected over two months when travel was halted.

The pace of easyJet’s capacity recovery is behind Europe’s largest budget carrier, Ryanair, which said for July it would fly about 40% of normal capacity, rising to 60% in August and 70% in September, and Wizz Air which is at about 70%.

But Ryanair was forced to cut its annual passenger target last week, warning of the impact of a potential second wave of the virus.

EasyJet said on Tuesday it remained focused on costs. Its operational cost cash burn during its third quarter was lower than the previously guided 30 to 40 million pounds per week, putting total cash burn at 774 million pounds for the quarter, lower than guidance of 1 billion pounds.

The airline said in May it would need to cut 4,500 jobs and become more efficient to stay competitive and survive the pandemic which will result in a much smaller travel market.

(Reuters)

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TUESDAY AUGUST 4 - CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL UPDATE

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

The World Health Organization has warned that there might never be a “silver bullet” for COVID-19 in the form of a perfect vaccine.

And that the road to normality would be long, with some countries requiring a reset of strategy.

EUROPE

* Millions of tests able to detect the coronavirus within 90 minutes will be rolled out in Britain, the health minister said.

* France said the number of people in intensive care units for COVID-19 stood at 384 on Monday, versus 371 on Friday, the second time in a week that figure has increased after declining for 16 weeks.

* Norway stopped all cruise ships with more than 100 people on board from disembarking at its ports from Monday.

* Greece will make mask-wearing compulsory on the decks of ferries sailing to its islands, extending the requirement beyond indoor public spaces.

AMERICAS

* The U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said states with high coronavirus case counts should reconsider imposing lockdown restrictions, emphasizing the need to get cases to a low baseline before the fall flu season.

* Congressional Democrats and Trump administration officials resumed talks aimed at hammering out a coronavirus relief bill, after missing a vital deadline to extend relief benefits to tens of millions of jobless Americans.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* Vietnam is embroiled in a “decisive” fight against the coronavirus, its premier said, focusing on the city of Danang where infections have appeared in four factories.

* Tens of millions of people in and around the Philippine capital will go back to a strict lockdown from Tuesday.

* Australia’s second-biggest city, Melbourne, already under night curfew, announced fresh restrictions on industries including retail and construction.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* One person is dying from COVID-19 every seven minutes in Iran, state television said.

* Three cabinet ministers in Gambia have tested positive for COVID-19, the presidency said.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* COVID-19 survivors suffer higher rates of psychiatric disorders, according to a study conducted by San Raffaele hospital in Milan.

* Rival drugmakers AbbVie Inc, Amgen Inc and Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc have begun treating patients in a trial to quickly show whether a drug from each company can be repurposed and used against COVID-19.

* U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co is beginning a late-stage trial to study whether one of its experimental COVID-19 antibody treatments can prevent the spread of the virus in residents and staff at U.S. nursing homes.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* U.S. manufacturing activity accelerated to its highest level in nearly 1-1/2 years in July as orders increased despite a resurgence in new infections.

* Asia’s factory pain continued to ease in July with contraction slowing in big export-reliant nations.

(Reuters)

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TWO COVID-19 CASES DETECTED AT STATE-DESIGNATED LAB

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Two covid-19 cases were detected at Nicosia-based NIPD Genetics which is the designated laboratory by the government to carry out the molecular tests, the company announced on Monday.

The announcement also said that the two infected scientists were working at the head laboratory in Engomi, Nicosia. And that they had no contact with the public when an island-wide sampling was taking place over the past recent days.

“NIPD Genetics informs that no sampling is carried out within its laboratory in Engomi, and no service to the public is provided there,” the announcement also said.

“The two cases were detected during routine, systematic tests carried out among staff, a practice which takes place since last March,” it added.

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POLICE REPORT 52 BREACHES OF CORONAVIRUS MEASURES WITHIN 24 HOURS

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Police carried out 1352 checks across Cyprus over the past 24 hours and reported a total  52 cases of violations of measures to contain the novel  COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, nine owners of premises and 43 individuals were reported, a police statement also said.

In Nicosia, 174 checks were carried out and 14 citizens were reported.

In Limassol, 504 ckecks resulted in reporting 2 premises and 16 citizens.

In Larnaca, there were 233 checks with 4 reports for citizens, in Pafos 141 checks with 3 reports for premises and 9 for citizens, in Famagusta 194 checks with 3 reports for premises while in Morphou 106 checks were carried out without any reports.

The police also reported 70 cases in regard to the Cyprus Flight Pass, that is, passengers arriving without having it filled in, and 3 for violations of measures against the spread of COVID-19 at Larnaca airport. That is, not wearing a mask which is now mandatory in Cyprus.

There were also 35 reports at Pafos airports related to the Cyprus Flight Pass. (CNA)

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CRUCIAL CYPRUS-RUSSIA DOUBLE TAX TREATY TALKS SET FOR AUGUST 10

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Crucial negotiations on the avoidance of double taxation between Cyprus and Russia are scheduled for August 10 and 11, and will be headed by Minister of Finance Constantinos Petrides.

This is what the Ministry of Finance said in a press release late on Monday.

Cyprus seeks to continue dialogue and reach an agreement on the crucial agreement, insiders told CNA.

“Officially we did not agree on a deadlock”, the sources pointed out, adding that Cyprus was exhausting all possibilities to reach an agreement through diplomatic and political contacts, but there is still no result.

The same sources stated that the contacts are continuing and that the Cypriot side is seeking a meeting on the issue.

“Cyprus now expects from Russia. We have put forward some positions and we seek to continue our communications and reach an agreement since we did not officially agree on a deadlock”, the sources of the Ministry added.

Russian Ministry of Finance announced Monday that it will initiate denunciation of the double tax agreement with Cyprus from August 3, saying that Cyprus’ proposals on amendments to tax laws are unfeasible.

The Russian Finance Ministry held negotiations with the Cyprus’ Ministry of Finance on amendments to the Russian-Cypriot double taxation agreement in respect of increasing the withholding tax to 15% for dividends and interest payments.

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BEGINNER HANDBUILDING CERAMIC COURSE - The Makers Space, Tala

BEGINNER HANDBUILDING CERAMIC COURSE

The Makers Space, Tala

6 weeks, 2 hours per week, €180pp - maximum 6 people

Enquiries and bookings to Lee-Anne on 96 894368

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Per Press Reports, King Emeritus Juan Carlos of Spain Has Relocated to Cascais, Portugal

Numerous outlets in the Portuguese press, which have been picked up by Spanish media, are reporting that King Emeritus Juan Carlos of Spain moved to Estoril, Cascais, Portugal. The reports have not been confirmed. It is possible that the Household of King Felipe VI will not issue a statement regarding the relocation of the former Spanish monarch. Juan Carlos reigned as King of Spain from 1975 until 2014.

The Spanish royal family in 1952 at the Villa Giralda, Estoril.
Left to right: Infanta Pilar, Infante Juan Carlos, the Countess of Barcelona, Infante Alfonso (seated), Queen Victoria Eugenia, the Count of Barcelona, and Infanta Margarita.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Estoril is well-known to Juan Carlos, whose family spent many years in exile there. The Count and Countess of Barcelona lived at the Villa Giralda, which was sold decades ago, from 1946 until 1976. Indeed, the youngest sister of King Juan Carlos, the Infanta Margarita, married her husband Dr. Carlos Zurita y Delgado at Estoril in 1972.

Estoril

The family of Juan Carlos is fondly remembered in the community of Estoril. It has the potential to be the ideal place for the former Spanish monarch to spend his time. He will be close to Spain and able to receive visits from his family and friends there without issues.

Embed from Getty Images

Zarzuela Palace

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Sofía of Spain will not be joining her husband of fifty-eight years in Portugal. The queen will remain at her apartment in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, where she lives together with her sister Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark. Queen Sofía remains very popular and frequently carries out public engagements on behalf of the royal house.

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