PAPHOS & PEYIA - ZERO MARRIAGES

Filenews 5 August 2020 - by  Dora Christodoulou

It is well known that for years it has become their central economic activity. The reason for the Municipalities of Paphos and Pegia and the industry of the commission of civil marriages from which they record very large revenues. This year's pandemic emergency, however, has caused an unusual scene, with losses estimated at hundreds of thousands of euros cumulatively.

The officials of the two municipal authorities are now studying their next steps in order to return to full swing in the new year, since they estimate that the rest of 2020 will be in any case non-existent activity in the field of civil marriages due to the problems that still exist in other countries with the virus, but also the malfunctions in aviation.

The return to normality in this sector is considered by the officials of the two Municipalities to be vital because of the very large revenues they have from this activity. Characteristic is the fact, as stated in "F" by the official responsible for civil marriages in the Municipality of Pegia, Maria Yagou, that only last year in the municipal funds received more than 300 thousand euros in revenue from this activity.

"There was a significant increase of 30% compared to the previous year," he explained. "Peyia is particularly popular for civil marriages in Britain in particular, but also in countries such as Russia, Israel, but also Lebanon."

Areas of Pegia such as its famous Fountain, coral bay, the annexed ship Edro II or the Sea Caves, have now become famous places in the field of civil marriage organization, Ms. Yagu pointed out.

Corresponding "high flights" were recorded before the pandemic and in the Municipality of Paphos, which in 2019 recorded a record in earnings from this activity.

The unprecedented situation created by the virus, however, has annihilated the benefits of previous years in this area, with the two local authorities now looking for alternative sources of coverage of part of the huge hole created in their finances.

DORA CHRISTODOULOU

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TURKISH CYPRIOT LAWYER TAKING GOVERNMENT TO ECHR

Cyprus Mail 5 August 2020 - by Elias Hazou

The European Court of Human Rights

The Republic of Cyprus may be legally forced to launch its own immovable property commission, modelled on the one in the north, according to a Turkish Cypriot lawyer who is taking a case concerning Turkish Cypriot property in Nicosia to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In comments to Yeni Duzen newspaper, attorney Murat Metin Hakki said he has filed two applications with the ECHR concerning some four-and-a-half donums of Turkish Cypriot real estate located in the part of Nicosia currently controlled by the Republic.

The applications seek compensation, and were filed to the ECHR after domestic legal remedies were exhausted in Cyprus.

The real estate in question belonged to the Barutcuzade Ahmet Vasıf Efendi Foundation, and concerns four buildings along Egypt and Omirou avenues, as well as an empty tract of land.

The four buildings are the building formerly housing the Egyptian embassy, the former building of the Fulbright Commission, the former building of the US embassy, and the building previously used by the Electricity Authority.

The case earlier filed in Cypriot courts concerned the Electricity Authority building, which Hakki said had been leased out in 1963 and used as a headquarters until 1979.

He claimed the Vasıf Efendi Foundation had been paid rent up to 1976, with payments stopping between 1976 and 1979.

The legal action had sought back-payment of rent together with loss of use and compensation for the years 1979 to 2010.

In 2012 a lower court in the Republic threw out the case, despite Hakki’s contention that the land in question was not abandoned in 1974 and that direct rent was being received post-1974 and, because of this, the property is outside the guardianship law.

He said the lower court had rejected this argument, ruling that only the [interior] minister can be plaintiff and respondent; a subsequent judgment by a higher court on December 18, 2019 upheld that ruling.

The interior minister acts as the ‘guardian’ of Turkish Cypriot properties located in the south.

According to Hakki, the Loizidou v Turkey case set a precedent as Greek Cypriot authorities were using the foundation’s property without any payment and that this constituted a “de facto claim of expropriation.”

The attorney also said: “If the Greek Cypriot government claims it has a say across the island, and that the parts in the north are the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, it should not matter if someone lives in the north or the south.

“Setting a condition that one must live in the south, violates both the right to free movement and to privacy.”

He went on to predict that should the case before the ECHR be successful, in the long term that might force Greek Cypriot authorities to establish an immovable property commission, as there are other similar claims filed by Turkish Cypriots.

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CYPRUS RANKS 35 FROM 85 COUNTRIES IN DIGITAL QUALITY OF LIFE INDEX

Cyprus Mail 5 August 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

Cyprus is ranked 35 among 85 countries globally when it comes to digital quality of life in 2020, according to the Digital Quality of Life (DQL) index published annually.

The DQL research examined a total population of more than 6.3 billion people, 81 per cent of the global population in terms of twelve indicators grouped into five pillars.

Researchers measured internet quality, affordability, e-security, online government services, and e-infrastructure.

This year’s edition of the DQL research concluded that seven out of 10 countries with the highest digital quality of life are in Europe, with Denmark taking the global lead among the 85 countries.

Compared to countries with similar GDP per capita — Spain and Slovenia — Cyprus lags behind in terms of digital quality of life. In the overall DQL Index, Spain occupies 18th position whereas Slovenia is in the 23rd place.

E-security is what Cyprus is best at. In position 25, Cyprus is just below Slovenia and Japan. On top of the list is the UK and at the bottom Bangladesh.

Cyprus has a mediocre internet quality, 36th place globally, and e-infrastructure, 38th globally.

According to the study, countries in southern Europe, such as Greece, Croatia, Spain, to name a few, tend to rank higher in terms of internet quality.

However, Cyprus has one of the least affordable internet connections worldwide. The country occupies 73rd place in terms of internet affordability and ranks just below Morocco and Bahrain.

The United Kingdom, France and Lithuania stand out globally for their e-security while Singapore, the UK and the US lead in the advancement of e-governance services.

Regarding electronic government, measuring how advanced and digitised a country’s government services are, Cyprus is number 43 of the countries included in the study.

13 countries (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Uruguay) out of 85 exceed the expected digital quality of life by outperforming others in providing higher levels of e-security and more affordable internet connectivity.

Three countries in the Middle East, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia with relatively high GDP per capita are underperforming in providing better digital wellbeing for their citizens due to low levels of internet quality and e-security.

The study is based on research conducted by the privacy protection company Surfshark using information provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, Freedom House, the International Communications Union, and other public data sources.

The whole study can be found here https://surfshark.com/dql2020

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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5 - CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL UPDATE

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

EUROPE

* Britons spent 40% of their waking day watching TV and online video at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in April, regulator Ofcom said.

* Greece‘s top scientific adviser warned against complacency over risks lurking from the coronavirus after the country reported its highest single-day increase in infections in weeks.

* Denmark should not allow nightclubs and music venues to reopen given a recent increase in cases and should pause a planned fourth phase of relaxing lockdown measures, its state epidemiologist said.

AMERICAS

* Latin America surpassed Europe on Tuesday to become the region with the highest coronavirus death toll worldwide, according to a Reuters tally.

* An eighth minister in Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s Cabinet has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

* U.S. losses from coronavirus-related fraud and identity theft have reached nearly $100 million since the pandemic emerged in March, while complaints of COVID-19 scams have at least doubled in most states.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* Australia’s second most populous state of Victoria reported its deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak, while the Queensland state said it would closer its border with New South Wales to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.

* South Korean officials are working to keep more than a thousand people displaced by flooding safe and healthy with anti-coronavirus measures in place at crowded shelters.

* Sri Lankans go to polls on Wednesday to elect a new parliament in an election that has been twice postponed this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* The number of people who have died from the virus in Yemen has reached 500, according to a Reuters tally, although aid organizations say the death toll is probably much higher.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* Taiwan provisionally approved the use of dexamethasone, a cheap and widely-used steroid, to treat the new coronavirus.

* The National Institutes of Health said it would launch two trials to evaluate antibody COVID-19 drugs and follow these up with trials for other experimental therapies in patients with the disease.

* Novavax Inc said its experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced antibodies against the coronavirus and appears to be safe, according to initial data from a small, early-stage clinical trial.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* Gold scaled a new high on Wednesday as a weaker dollar and falling bond yields burnished its safe-haven appeal, while shares were mostly lower as investors baulked at the ballooning cost of the coronavirus pandemic.

* Growth in China’s services sector slowed in July from a decade high the previous month, as new export business fell and job losses continued, an industry survey showed.

* Japan’s services sector contracted for a sixth straight month in July, suggesting economic activity remained under pressure.

(Reuters)

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IRELAND DROPS CYPRUS FROM COVID-19 'GREEN LIST'

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Ireland on Wednesday downgraded Cyprus from its “green list” that drops a 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers arriving from countries with a low covid-19 infection rate, according to state radio.

Passengers from countries not on the “green list” of Ireland which has one of the lower rates of infection in the European Union are asked to restrict their movements for 14 days.

The Mediterranean island’s downgrade followed additional measures by Dublin to limit non-essential travel in the wake of an uptick in covid-19 infections in recent days both in Ireland and other European countries.

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BANK OF CYPRUS AGAIN SET TO REDUCE STAFF-RELATED COSTS

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Bank of Cyprus is set to reduce staff-related costs with changes in salaries and early retirement and part time employment options again on the table, according to a July 31 circular by the management.

The Human Resources Department’s circular also informed the lender’s some 3,700 employees that unpaid leave could also be considered, Philenews reported on Wednesday.

“The coronavirus pandemic has affected us all, ushering in a new reality to the labour sector and indicating that we all have to adjust to a new state of play,” the circular also said.

“Within this framework and with the main goal being the provision of facilities to staff that will lead to a better work life balance, we are immediately proceeding with labour institutions,” it added.

It then clarified that for part-time work, earnings will be calculated as a ratio of the agreed number of weekly working hours to the normal full-time working hours.

In addition, it specified that approval of requests of this kind is subject of approval by Management of the Group so that the smooth operation of affected branches/departments continues.

Bank of Cyprus, the island’s largest lender, posted a net loss of €70 million for 2019, due to increased provisions after postponing a sale of non-performing loans and the cost of a voluntary retirement scheme.

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, the bank has been updating macroeconomic assumptions.

 

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CYPRUS SAYS READY TO SEND MEDICAL TEAMS TO LEBANON, AS DEATH TOLL RISES TO 100

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

As death toll from a massive blast which ripped through Beirut port has risen to 100, neighbouring Cyprus has said it stood ready to offer medical aid to the thousands injured.

“Cyprus is ready to accept injured persons for treatment and send medical teams if required,” Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told state broadcaster CyBC on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday’s explosion was heard throughout Cyprus, which lies about 160 kms away.

Christodoulides also said the Cypriot embassy in Beirut, which was closed at the time of the blast, was extensively damaged.

In the meantime, the head of the Lebanese Red Cross told local broadcasters on Wednesday that more victims are under the rubble.

George Kettaneh told LBCI TV by telephone that the Red Cross was coordinating with the health ministry for morgues to take victims because hospitals were overwhelmed.

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AKAMAS COMMUNITIES CONFRONTED WITH SERIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC DECLINE

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Akamas region communities are confronted with a serious demographic decline and they are slowly but steadily deserted, Philenews reported on Wednesday citing statistical data.

Specifically, the population of Inia, Neo Khorio, Droushia, Panos Arodes, Kato Arodes, Androlykos and Kathikas was totalling 2,527 in 1976 compared to 1,498 in 2011. The decrease was up to 41 per cent.

“Akamas communities are on the respirator for years, waiting for governments throughout the years to seriously study their needs and not just succumb to slogans by environmentalists,” said Andreas Christodoulou Mahimos who heads the Neo Khorio community council and is also a member of the community’s Akamas Action Plan.

“Undoubtedly, the next census will record a further population decrease in the area,” he added.

A total of 52 deaths and only seven births were recorded in Neo Khorio over the past eight years, he also said.

The new generation is forced to leave the area because of lack of employment that could secure a dignified standard of living, he added.

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BRITISH WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER HUSBAND IS STABBED WITH KITCHEN KNIFE

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Paphos police have arrested a 53-year-old British woman who appears to have injured her husband with a kitchen knife following a domestic violence incident late on Tuesday.

The husband, also a Briton, is out of danger after sustaining injuries to the abdomen and chest, police said.

The couple live permanently in the coastal city, according to state radio.

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FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CYPRUS READY TO ASSIST DISASTER-HIT LEBANON

in-cyprus 5 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides has expressed Cyprus’ readiness to provide evacuation and other assistance to neighbouring Lebanon after Tuesday’s two huge explosions which left 80 dead and over 4,000 injured.

“Expressing our overwhelming and heartfelt sympathy to the Lebanese people. We are in communication with the Lebanese government and have informed of Cyprus’ immediate readiness to assist, #Lebanon, #Cyprus, @CyprusMFA, @CyprusinLebanon,” Christodoulides wrote on Twitter.

In another tweet the Minister asks “all Cypriots who are in Lebanon to get in touch with the Foreign Affairs Ministry Crisis Management Centre at tel. 99660129 or with our Embassy in Lebanon at tel. +9613572139 for reasons of immediate help in case of need, @CyprusMFA, @CyprusinLebanon.”

Later on Tuesday, President Nicos Anastasiades said in a tweet: “My deep condolences to the Government and the people of #Lebanon, particularly to the families of all those who died at the tragic #Beirut explosions. We wish and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured ones. We stand ready to provide any assistance deemed necessary.”

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