ANKARA said yesterday it has begun seismic surveys for hydrocarbons in Mediterranean waters, as the government offered to share with Turkish Cypriots the proceeds from gas finds prior to a political settlement.Turkey’s announcement of oceanographic explorations came a day after it signed an agreement delineating its maritime borders with the north’s breakaway regime.Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the surveys would be carried out by CGG Veritas, a French-based geophysical services company. The offshore surveys would take place off Antalya (Turkey) and Cyprus, he noted... 8 comments

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias told world leaders gathered in New York yesterday that Cyprus is committed to a settlement in spite of Turkish provocations in the eastern Mediterranean and despite of Turkish Cypriot backtracking in peace talks.Addressing the UN General Assembly, Christofias condemned Turkey’s “illegal act” of concluding an agreement delineating its maritime borders with the breakaway north, which is not recognized internationally. He called the act “a provocation, not only for the Republic of Cyprus but also for the entire international community... 4 comments

A FLIGHT narrowly dodged disaster on Wednesday afternoon after landing on Paphos airport’s taxiway instead of the main landing strip.The Thomson Airways’ Boeing 737-800 flight from Doncaster had 192 passengers and seven cabin crew on board and was fortunate to avoid a catastrophic crash on the empty taxiway.According to the online aviation news site, Aviation Herald, flight BY3350 was on approach to and cleared to land on runway 29, but aligned with and landed on the parallel taxiway.Hermes Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris confirmed the reports yesterday: “It seems that the captain of a British Boeing 737 landed on the taxiway instead of the main runway... 9 comments

AN unrealistic vision of the future or one that is in fact still quite tangible? These were some of the questions raised by the 20-minute bi-communal mocumentary The Nine O’Clock News in the Year 2030 that premiered on Wednesday night at Chateau Status in Nicosia.The fake news bulletin, anchored by Greek and Turkish Cypriot news presenters, is set 19 years in the future post reunification, with its main aim to plug the economic benefits of such a solution.In this scenario, the reunited island has a female president and a plethora of bi-communal businesses, with the buffer zone having been turned into an enviable wildlife park destined to be the best in the Mediterranean. ... 7 comments

CYPRUS’ energy challenges following the Mari blast, as well as the island’s upcoming EU presidency were discussed in a meeting yesterday between the Commerce Minister and the EU’s visiting Energy Commissioner. In addition to the agenda and preparations for Cyprus’ presidency in July 2012, Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Commerce Minister Praxoulla Antoniadou discussed the aftermath of the July 11 blast which killed 13 and knocked out the island’s main Vassilikos power plant. The duo also talked about renewable energy sources and the need to create an electricity surplus. Antoniadou said the Commissioner showed a keen interest in all matters discussed. ... Read on

FORMER Argentina national coach and football legend Diego Maradona is expected to arrive in Cyprus today in what is believed to be a leisure trip.Maradona, who is currently coaching Dubai-based Al Wahl football club, was anticipated to depart for Cyprus after his team’s league game against Emirates yesterday, and is expected to remain here until Sunday. The 1986 World Cup winner will be staying at Limassol’s Le Meridien Hotel, which due to its high profile guest; will be under strict security measures.Maradona’s spontaneous visit has taken everyone by surprise, including the Cyprus Football Association (KOP), which declared complete ignorance on the matter. ... 4 comments

IN the face of the ongoing financial crisis, the Church of Cyprus has been cutting down on expenses and taking measures to control its finances, the Church’s auditor told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. “Bearing in mind the financial crisis which has been plaguing the island for three years, the Church has been taking measures to control expenses, including wages,” Yiannos Charilaou said. He was responding to a publication by daily Phileleftheros that claimed the Cost of Living Allowance (CoLA) and wage rises were frozen for the 17 members of the Holy Synod including the Archbishop and the Bishops of the Metropolises and Dioceses... 2 comments

THE government will immediately resolve any shortcomings in the prevention and diagnosis of cancer, the health minister said yesterday, after an MP spoke of delays in issuing biopsy results to women. Stavros Malas conceded that the fact that there was a histopathology department only in Nicosia “potentially generates some delays”. He said the ministry is currently looking into the possibility of creating such a department in Limassol, but this should not be expected immediately.He assured, however, that an effort will be made to reinforce the Nicosia department with staff so that results come out sooner... Read on

EMINENT palaeontologists will today unveil the latest findings of their research into ancient Cypriot fossils in an international paleontological congress at Cyprus’ Natural History museum in Nicosia.The congress, organised by the Photos Photiadis Foundation, Natural History Museum and The Association for Protection of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity of Cyprus, brings together a host of leading experts from around the world.Entitled ‘The Pleistocene mammals of Cyprus - New discoveries’, the congress will discuss the existence and later disappearance of several fossilised prehistoric mammals that have been found on the island recently... Read on

SAVE A LIFE today by simply visiting your nearest hospital, to give blood in order to find a bone marrow donor for a young woman in need of a transplant.The procedure will only take a few minutes and is open to anyone.The Karaiskakio Foundation will also be setting up a mobile unit in Nicosia and Limassol on the following dates.Nicosia: September 28, between 12-2pm at TSERIOTIS CONSUMER GOODS Central Offices in Latsia.Limassol: October 10, between 12-2pm at UNICARS & TCG Offices in Zakaki. ... Read on