BRITISH BASES PRESS RELEASE ON UK-CYPRUS JOINT SAR EXERCISE

 in-cyprus 7 September 2020 - by Maria Bitar

British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie and Lieutenant Junior Grade Anastasios Paraskevopoulos from the Larnaca Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre (JRCC) paid tribute to the close working relationship between the UK and Cyprus after a successful search and rescue exercise off the coast of Limassol today.

The exercise, which was led by the Larnaca JRCC saw assets from Cyprus’ Police Aviation Unit, the UK’s HMS ENTERPRISE and the British Bases’ 84 Squadron – with a member of the Cyprus Navy on board – simulate a joint rescue of a missing person and the evacuation of an injured crew member from aboard a ship.

HMS ENTERPRISE is a multi-role survey vessel which has recently returned to Limassol having been deployed to Beirut immediately after the recent deadly explosion in the port.

She operated alongside the Lebanese Navy Hydrographic Service to conduct a survey of the approaches to the port.

Speaking after the exercise, the British High Commissioner said: “Such exercises are vital for maintaining our search and rescue preparedness and an excellent opportunity to bring our nations together in training. We value our long-running cooperation with Cyprus in both SAR and crisis response, and we look forward to continuing to work together, including through live exercises, to the benefit of both our countries and the wider region”.

Commander of the Cyprus British Forces Major General Rob Thomson, pointed to the importance of that working relationship saying that “today’s exercise further strengthens an already close working relationship between our two nations. Our crew from RAF Akrotiri’s 84 Squadron have worked successfully alongside their colleagues in the Republic of Cyprus on an almost daily basis, fighting fires during this very busy summer period. To be able to utilise the capabilities of HMS Enterprise whilst it is moored in Cyprus was also an opportunity too good to miss”.

“We will do this together” Major General Thomson added in Greek.

Commanding Officer of HMS ENTERPRISE, Commander Cecil James Ladislaus, added: “Having been deployed across the globe this year, the importance of working with our international partners cannot be understated. At the start of this year, we needed to conduct a casualty evacuation using helicopter support. This sort of thing could happen to any mariner, anytime, anywhere – it is in our best interests to train and work together like this to ensure that we are ready should the unexpected occur”.

Officer Commanding of 84 Squadron, Squadron Leader Alan Ross, said: “Lives can depend on how well we work together, so it is important to get it right first time. That is why we train in complex and difficult environments at a national level”.

JRCC Operations Department Officer, Lt Jr Gr Anastasios Paraskevopoulos, said: “JRCC consider planning and executing joint exercises with aeronautical assets in the Nicosia FIR as very important. This kind of exercise contributes to enhance even more the existing excellent cooperation with the Royal Navy and Air Force, 84 SAR Sq, and it is a great opportunity for all participants to share knowledge and experience in SAR matters”.

Bilateral cooperation between the UK and Cyprus on SAR incidents and tackling natural disasters has strengthened over the years.

With the cancellation of Argonaut as a result of Covid-19, today’s exercise was the first UK–Cyprus exercise of 2020.

It is expected that more joint SAR exercises will take place later in the year.

Read More

HEALTH MINISTRY WARNS OVER ULIPRISTAL ACETATE

 in-cyprus 7 September 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

The Health Ministry on Monday warned that 5-mg Ulipristal acetate which is used for the treatment of symptoms of uterine fibroids can cause liver injury – including the need for liver transplantation.

That’s why PRAC has therefore recommended the revocation of the marketing authorisations of these medicines – Esmya and generic ones.

“The PRAC considered all the available evidence in its review, including reported cases of serious liver injury. Patient and healthcare professional representatives, including experts in gynaecology, were also consulted,” the announcement said.

“Since it was not possible to identify which patients were most at risk or measures that could reduce the risk, the PRAC concluded that the risks of these medicines outweighed their benefits and that they should not be marketed in the EU,” it added.

The use of 5-mg ulipristal acetate medicines for uterine fibroids had already been suspended as a precautionary measure while awaiting the outcome of this review, it also said.

Moreover, ulipristal acetate is also authorised as a single-dose medicine for emergency contraception.

This recommendation does not affect the single-dose ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive (ellaOne and other trade names) and there is no concern about liver injury with these medicines.

The PRAC recommendation will now be forwarded to EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP), which will adopt the Agency’s opinion.

 

Read More

Dao Hoang Hon

 Dao Hoang Hon

Photo Shoot Summer 2020

Read More

Karadeniz'in Muhteşem Koyları: Kefken ve Kerpe'den İzler ve Yansımalar

Pandemi dolayısı ile kısıtlanan hayatlarımıza küçük bir nefes alma durağı şart olmuştu artık, zira sıcaklardan dağılan bünyelerin de bir dayanma gücü vardı! ancak nereye gidecektik?. İstanbul'da her yer tıklım tıkıştı! En sonunda uzun zamandır aklımızda olan ve İstanbul'a çok da fazla uzak olmayacak bir yere; Karadeniz kıyılarına doğru uzanmak fikri.... daha o dakikada, usumuza düşer düşmez

Read More

KRITOU TERRA WATERFALLS, A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS

 Cyprus Mail 6 September 2020 

The upper waterfall is now accessible by road

Once a secret idyll known only to locals, the Kremmiotis waterfalls have become the must-have post on social media

By Bejay Browne

Summer 2020, and the Kritou Terra waterfalls have become the essential Instagram post during a year when we were all stuck in Cyprus and desperately looking for somewhere different to go.

Thousands of visitors have flocked to the tiny Paphos village to experience and be seen at the two Kremmiotis waterfalls.

Community leader Dervis Charalambous told the Sunday Mail there were even some days in August when a thousand cars drove to the waterfalls using one of the access roads and a further 500 used the road from Polis.

This all led to logistical and safety issues.

Public access was made easier to the first waterfall in 2014. For that, read a road suitable for cars and dotted with picnic tables and barbecue pits. Since then, what had been a secret idyll known only to locals became increasingly popular. A nature trail to the second was cleared a few years later and fame quickly followed.

Then, this year, a tsunami of visitors.

But this meant that was intended to be an extra attraction for a picturesque, historic village with plenty of attractions already has become a victim of its own success.

People have flocked to the cool, green-covered upper pool, where it’s possible to have a dip, followed by a trek down the trail to the moss-coated rocks of the second. This has a small cave-like tunnel carved into the rock and leads from one side to the other which visitors can crawl through.

“It was created by a man named Savvas Michael, who wanted to fetch water from one side to the other to water his fields. Now it’s famous with everyone. People must be careful here and act properly,” said Andreas Achilleous, the village vice president.

Charalambous said that the huge increase in traffic has led to a number of safety issues being brought to the fore, in particular, the danger that fires could pose to the public.

This was highlighted by a recent fire in the area, which thankfully occurred away from the waterfalls, he said, as that could have been disastrous. The council has already placed warning signs along the route.

“It is very dangerous if a fire breaks out, and we have all of these people visiting the waterfalls here. It is quite difficult to get out of this spot and near the river, it would be impossible for people to exit the area quickly,” he said.

The community council has also placed a meter on the road leading to the falls to measure traffic flows accurately.

Charalambous said that it is hard to cope without the support of the state and the authorities.

“I have told the president that we need some money to improve things in the area, for example we have two roads leading to the waterfalls, and there is a river in the middle. We need to connect them by a bridge, but it would be difficult as the river is high and it would be costly,” he said.

The project would cost in excess of around 100,000 euros he said.

“We just don’t have the money and I am hoping that we can get some help from the state,” he said.

The Lower Falls Can Be Reached By A Nature Trail

Meanwhile the village has been left overwhelmed if happy with its new-found fame. Along with the waterfalls, the village is home to the island’s first casino built in 1878 and is the birthplace of the 18th century dragoman Hadjigeorgaki Kornesios, whose childhood home is still there. The 16th century Ayia Katerini church and the 12th century Ayia Paraskevi church are added attractions.

“We have had thousands of visitors this year and this has helped the local economy, but we have been so very busy and most of the residents here are elderly and over the age of 70,” said Charalambous.

With the visitors have also come tonnes of rubbish left around the waterfall area, he said.

There is no-one else to clean the area so Charalambous takes a truck and clears the rubbish himself.

“There is no-one to help me and it’s been a big problem,” he said.

While the village has largely welcomed its time in the spotlight, some residents are saddened by the loss of what was once a little-known spot.

“I remember taking my family with a picnic and scrambling down a tiny path choked with weeds to get to the falls. We would be the only ones there,” said Nicoletta Pavlidou who has a holiday home in the area. “But once they built the road and widened the pool, we knew it was only a matter of time before the crowds came.”

Read More

TWO NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS TODAY

 Filenews 6 September 2020

The Ministry of Health announces that, according to an update received today by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit from contracting laboratories, a total of 2,150 laboratory diagnoses have identified 2 new cases of COVID-19 disease.

In detail, virus-positive individuals emerged as follows:

• Of 279 samples taken through a private initiative, 1 case was identified.
• Of 44 samples taken through the process of tracing contacts of already confirmed cases, 1 case was identified.

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

• From samples taken as part of a passenger and repatriated check, 1,424 laboratory tests were carried out,
• From samples taken from the Microbiological Laboratories of the General Hospitals, 93 laboratory diagnoses were completed,
• From samples taken under the programme of referrals from Personal Physicians and special team control through the Public Health Clinics, 241 laboratory diagnoses were completed, and
• From samples taken as part of the migrant structure control programme, 69 laboratory tests were carried out.

Therefore, and on the basis of the data so far, the total number of cases is 1,509.

In addition, two people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are being treated in a ward at Famagusta General Hospital. Two patients remain intubated in the Intensive Care Unit of Nicosia General Hospital.

Source: eyenews

Read More

CLINICAL TRIALS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CORONAVIRUS BASED ON HORSE ANTIBODIES

 Filenews 6 September 2020

Researchers in Costa Rica are to begin clinical trials of a cheap treatment against coronavirus, based on antibodies taken from horses, injected with the SARS-Cov-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, according to scientists.

Prepared by the Clodomiro Picado Institute at the University of Costa Rica, horse antibody therapy is to be tested on 26 patients by mid-September, Roman Makaya, the president of the Social Security Fund, which manages public health centers, told Reuters.

Costa Rican authorities hope to be able to start implementing treatment more widely in hospitals if the results of the second phase of the study are encouraging. In Costa Rica hospitals 471 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 .

"We are proud to know that this product will save lives until the vaccine reaches the population. We do it with our own sources, without having to wait in line or compete with other countries, as seems to be the case with potential vaccines," said Alberto Alape, a coordinator of this research project at the Institute.

Similar efforts are also underway in Argentina and Brazil, while in Belgium scientists use llamas.

Researchers in Costa Rica argue that their method of treating COVID-19 is based on the experience of using horse antibodies to manufacture antiophical serums.

The researchers introduced the protein from China and the UK and injected it into six of the 110 horses that the Institute uses in the tests. Weeks later, when the animals developed several antibodies, they took blood from the horses and used the antibodies from the plasma as a raw material for the injectable serum.

If this method succeeds, researchers say they want to share this cheap treatment with other Central American states, most of which are poorer than Costa Rica.

Source: RES

Read More

REMAND FOR MAN WANTED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE - LIMASSOL

 Cyprus Mail 6 September 2020 - by Evie Andreou

A 25-year-old man wanted since last year for attempted murder was arrested on Saturday during a police campaign in the Limassol centre, part of efforts to clamp down on crime.

Another man, 22, was found to be residing in the country illegally, while 76 reports were made for various traffic offences.

The 25-year-old was wanted since April 2019 after allegedly stabbing his flatmate, 22, in their Paphos home during a scuffle. He was remanded on Sunday for eight days. He is being investigated for attempted murder.

He was arrested during a coordinated police campaign in the Limassol centre aimed at stamping out crime.

The police operation covered the Saripolou, old port, Limassol Marina, Enaerios, Epichosi and Molos areas and the Anexartisias, Agiou Andreou and Gladstonos streets.

During the operation, 78 vehicles with 123 passengers and 185 pedestrians were checked as well as 14 businesses. Five businesses were booked for not having the necessary permits while 76 reports were made for traffic violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol or without a driver’s licence, illegal parking, and failure to stop at traffic signs.

Officers also seized two cars and two motorcycles.

Read More

PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A STOLEN MITSUBISHI COLT - KMJ 419

STOLEN VEHICLE

A Silver Mitsubishi Colt,  KMJ 419 was today, Sunday 6 September, stolen from Lemba.

If you have any information please call 26 806060, or 1460. 

Read More

RECLAIMING - BACK AGAIN TO BLUES ROCK - Yurts in Cyprus, Simou, Polis - 26 September

 

RECLAIMING: Back Again to Blues Rock

THE ZILLA PROJECT, MARIOS DANOS AND THE DIZZY BEES, THE REAL THING

Yurts in Cyprus, Simou, Polis

Saturday 26 September 6pm

Reservations: spaces are limited so please reserve your tickets by text message to 97629148 or Email: info@yurtsincyprus.com

Payment: Cash on the door. Entrance €20 adult, kids under 12 free

Gate opens at 5pm, music starts at 6pm

A popular annual event this time is back in the Autumn! Spaces are limited to 250 people in light of our covid19 restrictions. You will also be required to observe social distancing - no problem as our venue boasts 1500 sqm. As quoted by Cyprus Mail: "venue that's pure heaven: an escape from the heat of the city into cool foothills", "the audience: like you, they're escapists, a friendly bunch who appreciate mindful moments and getting back to nature". So no need to encourage you any more - just turn up, experience bliss and celebrate the beginning of Autumn with fine music!

Strictly NO OWN FOOD AND DRINKS - it will all be available to buy. Although there are plenty of rock walls to sit on please bring a cushion or blanket for your comfort. Also, evenings can get chilly so be prepared. NO HIGH HEELS. We want to make sure we keep you off the road after a few beers so we offer FREE CAMPING (limited though, book in advance). Yurt accommodation is also available. We'll be also setting up a car sharing public group on Facebook closer to the event. Sound amplified as usual by The Sunset Sound. We've actually built the venue to complement their amazing talent! Food by @FitBoxDiet

Directions: From Pafos - follow B7 to Polis. After Giolou village turn RIGHT to Simou. 500m before Simou turn left to Sarama. Drive down to the bottom of the valley (about 2.5km) until you come to a narrow bridge. Turn right immediately after the bridge onto a track to Sarama. Wiggle wiggle for 250m and take first left to Sarama. Then after less than 100m uphill take first LEFT - You're there! Do not follow SatNav, Google Maps etc. - can be deceitful!

Read More