Daily Archives: July 28, 2007

SUFFOCATING temperatures yesterday engulfed the island for yet another unbearably hot day, hitting a maximum 42 degrees centigrade inland.

According to the weather services, the heat wave is set to continue until Monday from when temperatures are expected steadily to drop.

THE LIMASSOL area suffered a late night power cut on Thursday night, lasting until Friday’s early hours.

The areas affected were Kolonaki, the Yermasoyia tourist district and the industrial area of Ayios Athanassios.

The power cut lasted from 9.43pm until 1.30am on Friday morning, and was not thought to have been related to Thursday’s earthquake.

THE Protection of Competition Committee yesterday gave the green light to the Cyprus Cement Company and the Vassiliko Cement Company to merge, saying the merger was compatible with competition rules.

A brief statement said the decision was taken after consultations and exchanges of opinions, and following a report into the merger.

HEALTH inspectors have won their battle with the Health Ministry over having to purchase testing samples from their own pockets.
A statement from the Ministry said yesterday that from August 1, inspectors would be able to obtain cash up front to buy their samples after a special fund was created for the purpose.

CRIMINALS beware. A bill has been prepared allowing the testimony of undercover police officers to be admissible in court.

Until now, many cases were thrown out by the courts, which claimed the suspect’s human rights were being violated.

TOURISM revenues for May 2007 have shown a 7.1 per cent increase compared to the same month last year, with revenues for the month up by £7.9 million.

Revenue from tourism reached £119.8 million, or 204.6 million euros in May 2007, compared to the £111.9 million, or 191.1 million euros in May 2006.

THE TRANSPORT Ministry has agreed to open talks with the International Airline Carriers Association (IACA) to discuss the controversial hike in airport charges under new operator Hermes.

IACA wanted the government to intervene in their row with Hermes, because under the operator agreement, the state will receive 33 per cent of airport revenues.

A DRUNK driver was yesterday jailed for three years for fatally injuring a boy of 17 in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Savvas Savva, 29 from Tseri, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Giorgos Mavrikios by negligent driving and abandoning the scene of the accident, but denied drink driving, despite twice failing a breathalyser later that morning.

FAMAGUSTA’S famous walled city has been named one of the world’s top one hundred endangered sites of historical and cultural interest, in a list compiled by the World Monuments Fund (WMF).