HIGHEST TEMPERATURES TO BE RECORDED IN JULY-AUGUST SINCE 1983

 in-cyprus 1 September 2020 - by Maria Bitar

According to the Meteorological Service of Cyprus, during the month of August 2020, high maximum temperatures were recorded in several areas of Cyprus.

On August 31, 2020 the Athalassa Radiosonde Station recorded the third highest maximum temperature since 1983 at 44.5°C.

On August 1st 2020 it was the highest at 45.6°C and the second was on July 2, 2017 and it stood at 44.6°C.

At the Athienou Station the highest temperature recorded since 1978 was on the 31st of August 2020 and it stood at 44.1°C.

At the Prodromos Forest College Station on the same day the highest temperature was 37.0°C, which is the highest recorded since 1958.

The average daily highest temperature this August was recorded at the Athalassa Radiosonde Station and was 39.5°C, while the second highest was in August 2010 and it was 39.3°C.

In August 2020 the thermometer at the Athalassa Radiosonde Station reached or exceeded 40°C, a total of 12 times, just like in August 2010.

This summer, during the months of July and August, there were two new consecutive records, since the average maximum daily temperature was from 1983 until today for the Athalassa Radiosonde Station for July 39.7°C, and for August 39.5°C.

The combination of the warm months of July and August makes the two months the hottest since 1983 when the Station was established.

(Philenews/CNA)

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Engagement of Prince Philippos of Greece and Nina Flohr Announced by King Constantine II

Prince Philippos and his fiancée Nina Flohr

The Office of HM King Constantine II of Greece has released the following happy news: 

Their Majesties King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie are delighted to announce the engagement of their youngest son, Prince Philippos, to Nina Nastassja Flohr, daughter of Thomas Flohr and Katharina Flohr. Nina and Philippos were engaged on the island of Ithaca, in Greece early this summer. The details of their wedding will be released in due course.

On her Instagram account, Nina wrote: “My dearest Philippos. I love you today, I will love you tomorrow and forever. You make us happier, better and stronger. I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark

Philippos is the third son and youngest child of HM King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes (née Denmark). The prince was born at London on 26 April 1986. Philippos joined four older siblings: Princess Alexia (b.1965), Crown Prince Pavlos (b.1967), Prince Nikolaos (b.1969), and Princess Theodora (b.1983).

Photograph taken on the occasion of the baptism of Prince Philippos

King Juan Carlos of Spain holds his nephew and godson Prince Philippos while the Duke of Edinburgh looks on

The Princess of Wales with her godson Philippos

On 10 July 1986, Prince Philippos was baptised into the Greek Orthodox faith at St Sophia's Cathedral in London. Among his godparents were his uncle King Juan Carlos of Spain, his first cousin twice removed the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess of Wales, his aunt Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and his first cousin Infanta Elena of Spain.

The King and Queen of the Hellenes with their children

Philippos of Greece was raised in London; he visited Greece for the first time in 1993. As part of his primary education, the prince attended the Hellenic School at London, which was founded by his parents. Philippos went on to study Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC; he graduated from Georgetown in 2008 with his bachelors. 

Philippos with his family after his graduation from Georgetown University

The Royal Greek Brothers (l to r): Nikolaos, Pavlos, and Philippos

The prince lives in New York City. Since 2014, Philippos has worked as an analyst for Ortelius Capital, "an alternative investment group specializing in hedge funds and private equity." Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark has been in a relationship with Nina Nastassja Jade Flohr (b.22 January 1987), the only child of Swiss billionaire Thomas Flohr, founder of VistaJet, and his ex-wife Katharina Konečný. Philippos and Nina attended the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Mr Jack Brooksbank in 2018.

Newly engaged: Prince Philippos of Greece and Nina Flohr
Photograph (c) Prince Nikolaos of Greece

Congratulations to Philippos and Nina! 

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NEW BARRIERS FOR EUROPE AND UK EVEN IF BREXIT DEAL IS STRUCK, MICHEL BARNIER WARNS

 Evening Standard 1 September 2020 - by Nicholas Cecil

© Provided by Evening Standard

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier today stepped up warnings across Europe that there will be new barriers with the UK even if an 11th-hour trade deal is struck.

Ahead of travelling to London to try to break the deadlock in negotiations, he tweeted guidance from the European Union that “changes are inevitable” and businesses, citizens and public bodies should prepare for them.

Mr Barnier was due to hold emergency talks today with UK chief Brexit negotiator David Frost amid a stand-off over state aid rules and fishing rights.

In a tweet directed at Croatia, he highlighted the guidance which states: “Even if the EU and the UK enter into a very ambitious partnership by the end of 2020 covering all areas agreed in the Political Declaration, the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, internal market and customs union at the end of the transition period will inevitably create barriers to trade and cross-border exchanges that do not exist today.

“Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, from 1 January 2021, far-reaching consequences for public administrations, businesses and citizens will be visible.”

The warnings follow similar Twitter messages directed at other EU nations and come amid concerns that Britain could end up having left the European bloc with no deal at the end of the year.

Both sides are accusing the other of blocking progress in the talks.

A UK government spokesperson said: “It is the EU’s refusal to agree with us arrangements they have agreed with other major trading partners that is the cause of the difficulties, and will remain so until the EU accepts that the UK’s future subsidy arrangements are a matter for the British people and Parliament, not the EU.”

However, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian blamed the UK’s “intransigent and unrealistic attitude”.

John Dickie, director of strategy for business group London First, said it was now “crucial that both sides work hard to agree a deal as quickly as possible. Businesses need time to prepare for the new arrangements, and their bandwidth has been squeezed by the pandemic.”

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HUNGARY EXEMPTS SOME VISITORS FROM BORDER LOCKDOWN, EU SAYS DISCRIMINATION ILLEGAL

 Cyprus Mail 1 September 2020 - Reuters News Service

Orban has often been at odds with Brussels over what the EU and his critics in Hungary say is an erosion of the rule of law and the independence of the media and judiciary.

 Hungary has decided to exempt tourists visiting from three neighbouring states from a lockdown of its borders that took effect on Tuesday, provided they test negative for COVID-19 beforehand, prompting a rebuke from the European Commission.

The EU executive said Hungary’s move to admit visitors from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia but not from other EU member states amounted to discrimination and was illegal.

Hungary said last week it would close its borders to foreigners from Tuesday to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. Returning Hungarian citizens can leave a 14-day quarantine only if they provide two negative COVID tests.

However, after talks with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed to let Czech visitors who have already booked holidays in Hungary for September enter the country, the Foreign Ministry said.

The easing was subsequently extended to Poland and Slovakia, the ministry said in a statement. Visitors coming to Hungary have to produce a negative COVID test not older than five days, which Budapest says represents sufficient safety guarantees.

The EU Commission in Brussels said Hungary’s decision clashed with the bloc’s rules on free travel.

“Any measures that do not comply with those fundamental principles of EU law should of course be immediately retracted,” European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said, adding he would raise the matter with Budapest.

Orban’s nationalist government, in power since 2010, has often been at odds with Brussels over what the EU and his critics in Hungary say is an erosion of the rule of law and the independence of the media and judiciary.

As of Tuesday, Hungary had reported 6,257 coronavirus cases with 616 deaths. The number of new cases has surged in recent days, just as Hungary prepares to start a new school year.

Its economy shrank by 13.6% year-on-year in the April-June period this year due to the pandemic and the lockdown it prompted. Authorities eased the lockdown measures in May.

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GREECE IN TALKS WITH FRANCE OVER FIGHTER JETS, AS EAST MED TENSIONS RISE - Source

 Cyprus Mail 1 September 2020 - Reuters News Service

Image: Ronnie Macdonald ( ronniemacdonald@gmail.com)

Greece is in talks with France and other countries over arms purchases to boost its armed forces, a government official told Reuters on Tuesday, as tensions grow over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

A day earlier, Greece’s finance minister said the country is ready to spend part of its cash reserves on arms purchases and other means which will help increase its “deterrence force”, after years of belt-tightening in defence spending.

“We are in talks with France, and not only with France, in order to increase our country’s defence potential,” a government official told Reuters. “Within this framework, there is a discussion which includes the purchase of aircraft.”

The official added that no final decisions had been made. Greek media reported on Monday that Athens had agreed to acquire 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets from France.

“There is no agreement as written in several media. However, there are discussions on a number of subjects,” a French government source said, without providing further detail.

Greece has been at odds with neighbouring Turkey over a range of issues including overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region, based on conflicting claims over the extent of their continental shelves.

Tensions escalated last month after Ankara dispatched the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel in a disputed area following a pact between Athens and Cairo ratifying maritime boundaries.

France and Germany have tried to mediate to defuse the tension, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held two calls with United States President Donald Trump last week.

On Monday night, Turkey extended the Oruc Reis vessel’s work until Sept. 12. The Turkish advisory came after the EU called for dialogue with Ankara.

Greece’s foreign ministry called the advisory illegal and urged Turkey “to desist from its daily rants and to work for security and stability in the region.”

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TRANSPORT COMPANY SAYS WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT BUS STRIKES

 Cyprus Mail 1 September 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

Bus drivers gathered at Solomou Square terminal in Nicosia on Tuesday (Christos Theodorides)

Cyprus Public Transport, the company running buses in Nicosia and Larnaca, has said they were not informed about Tuesday’s strike by the employees’ unions.

The four unions said on Monday the Larnaca company has failed for the second month running to pay the correct salaries and was also going back on issues the two sides had previously agreed.

Union PEO said workers have not yet received their dues in Nicosia until the end of August which is why a work stoppage was necessary. The strike began at 5am.

Cyprus Public Transport, however, considers the strike is “a huge injustice” for the company, adding, “a strike is being carried out without the company being informed about the alleged problems that exist.”

“If there really was good will from the unions to solve the problems, they would have to give us at least a day or two to clarify the problems first,” a statement said.

“This is a reckless action on the part of the unions since they do not take into account the damage caused to the passengers, who will not have the means to go to work.”

According to the company, they received a letter from the unions informing them about the strike only a day ago.

Regarding Nicosia, the bus company’s statement said, “salaries to our employees were paid yesterday. Not all of our employees have received their payslip with the detailed statement of net salary and deductions. So how can they say that they are not paid in full if they do not know what they have been paid?”

”Immediately after the payment of the salaries, the human resources department of our company is at the disposal of the employees to answer any questions.”

The only issue pending is that of the providence fund, for which a meeting with the ministry of labour has been arranged for Wednesday.

“Cyprus Public Transport is at the disposal of the unions to discuss the problems with understanding and in a spirit of cooperation, in order to solve them, while apologising to the public for any inconvenience.”

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PETROL STATION BREAK IN - CHLORAKA

 Filenews 1 September 2020 - by  Dora Christodoulou

Two people broke into a petrol station in Chloraka shortly after 2 a.m. The two were in a double-cab, which drove into the window of the front of the service station office, which they crushed and then after entering the interior, they grabbed €300  from the cash register and fled the scene before the arrival of the Police.

The brazen action was taken despite the fact that a monitoring circuit was installed at the service station and despite the fact that the company is located on the main avenue of Chloraka, a road artery with continuous traffic regardless of the time.

As recorded on the closed circuit of the service station, 20 minutes after 2.00 in the morning, a double-cab vehicle whose traffic data cannot be distinguished arrives at the site and immediately the driver directs it to the window of the entrance of the premises. The vehicle crashes into the entrance, while immediately afterwards the passenger can be seen leaving the vehicle, entering the interior and taking money from the cash box, then returning to the vehicle with which they leave the scene.

The incident was reported to the police by the owner of the gas station who was alerted by the alarm system and rushed to the scene. According to the first on-the-spot examinations, the perpetrators took from the fund a sum of €300 which was in a box.

The case is being investigated by the Paphos T.E.A.

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Looking Back: August

The last time I did a "looking back" post for August, it started like this: August was a good month! As usual, it was filled with lots of outdoor activities, family and friends! I love summer! Well this year sure is different! Not that I do not love summer, but this year was not filled with very many outdoor activities, family or friends! In fact, COVID, topped with a healthy dose of forest fires, has really put the kibosh on pretty much everything! But I still managed to eek out a few "summer" activities! 

Running: I won't lie; running has been a bit meh lately. I am having a hard time getting motivated to go out, and the fact that there were several very hot weeks, and then thunderstorms and then smoke, has only added to my enthusiasm, or lack thereof. However, I did get out and about each weekend a little, including a fun hike with my brother and Dad at the beginning of the month. Total running miles ended up being 215 miles, including the hiking trip. 

Running in the smoke

Reading: Some people watch a lot of Netflix; other people read a lot of books! I fit very strongly into the latter camp. In August I read 11 books (7 of them were audiobooks). My favorites were (1) Unorthodox: this is a book about a Hasidic Jewish girl in Brooklyn and her struggles to live within the confines of her religious group. I learned a lot, for instance, did you know that the Hasidic women all shave their heads and then wear a wig or a shawl? (2) One of Us is Lying: this book reminded me of The Breakfast Club; it is about a group of highschoolers and one of them dies unexpectedly and we have to find out if he was killed, and by whom. Each person has a distinct personality and it is fun to try to figure out who-done-it. (3) Know my Name: this book was about a woman who got assaulted on the Stanford campus and how helpless she felt. It was powerful and had many uncomfortable moments, but it really makes you feel how she felt (and still feels) after the trauma. 

Travel: Ah, travel, what is that? Just kidding. At the beginning of the month, I met up with my brother and my Dad and we did a backpacking trip in the Sierras for a couple of days. This was a lot of fun, as it's been a while since we have done a hike together (I think the last one was climbing Mount Shasta in 2013; can that be right?) It was fun to be with the guys and also interesting to see the dynamic change. My Dad used to plan everything and carry everything and be the leader and this time, we decided on the location together, I planned all of the meals and carried all of the food and had the maps, and my brother carried my Dad's tent. We are now peers more than father and kids and it is fun to make decisions together. Other than that trip, I spent the rest of the weekends at home. 

Hiking with the lads

Etc. & Misc.: Speaking of spending the weekends at home, I have been studying a lot and taking some breaks to experiment with making dehydrated food, protein bars and balls for backpacking (anybody have a protein bar/ball recipe with no flour and no sugar that is high in calories and stays together and can be carried on the trail for several days?) If asked what I spent the majority of my money on in the past 6 months, it would definitely be food! Other than that, I have been picking things from the garden (figs, tomatoes, peppers) and hanging out with Gato. 

What have you been up to? Do you have any good book recommendations? What was the most fun thing you did in August? 

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PAPHOS MUNICIPALITY BANS USE OF POOL TO TWO FEUDING SPORTS CLUBS

 Cyprus Mail 1 September 2020 - by Bejay Browne

Paphos municipality has banned two sports clubs from using the municipal swimming pool, until they sort out a conflict between them, a spokesman told the Cyprus Mail on Tuesday.

“The municipality of Paphos is sadly watching the internal disputes that have broken out within the Nautical Club of Paphos and led to the creation of a new Water Polo Club,” he said.

The municipality considers that these phenomena are to the detriment of the children of Paphos who are involved in swimming and other swimming pool sports, and also to the detriment of sports in Paphos in general, he noted.

“It seems that the matter may be very serious, and the municipality decided not to allow either of them to use the facility of the Evagoras Pallikaridis swimming pool for training at present.”

In the light of these, “unpleasant and unacceptable developments”, the municipality decided to suspend the use of the pool by both, as the situation in their administration seems to be leading to extremes, with the possibility of even criminal acts, he said.

“In addition, the municipality calls on the Swimming Federation, as well as all other stakeholders, to intervene immediately to find a final solution to the problem,” he said.

He clarified that the Evagoras Pallikaridis swimming pool remains is open and is operating normally for the other sports programmes.

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NICOSIA PRISON WARDEN CAUGHT WITH HARD DRUGS, ANABOLIC TABLETS

 in-cyprus 1 September 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

A Nicosia Prison warden has been arrested and remanded in custody after hard drugs and anabolic tablets were found in his possession, an announcement by the prison management said on Tuesday.

The arrest was made on Monday and his suspension is imminent, it added.

The warden was caught with 4.5 grams of cocaine, anabolic tablets, a number of bottles containing liquid that was sent to the laboratory for testing and a substantial  amount of  money.

“Prevention and combating of corruption is top priority for us and our actions over the past recent years have proved this,” the management said.

“A total of five wardens have been arrested, suspended  or/and sentenced by a court or/and fired,” it added.

The arrests were made possible through cooperation with the anti-drug squad of the police force.

 

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