road

What, ’s on this weekend

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What, ’s on this weekend

– A long weekend is approaching, offering cultural events for those staying on the island.
– World Poetry Day will be celebrated with a poetry reading and open mic night at Backstage Gastrobar in Nicosia, hosted by KENO Publications.
– The Belonging exhibition opens at the Goethe-Institut in Nicosia, focusing on artists affected by forced migration, as part of the Assemble programme.
– Azines Mingle event will take place at The Common Room, featuring a zine exhibition, workshop, talks, a zine fair, and live music.
– The 4th Mandarin Festival will be held in Dierona village, featuring mandarin produce, traditional song and dance, and a photography exhibition.

AKEL, Greens voice concerns over Akamas

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AKEL, Greens voice concerns over Akamas

AKEL and the Green Party have expressed concerns regarding the Cyprus government’s handling of the Akamas peninsula issue. The parties met to discuss a memorandum sent by the Green Party to the government. They criticized the government for not complying with European directives concerning habitats, leading to severe criticism from the European Parliament and legal proceedings initiated by the European Commission against Cyprus. AKEL and the Green Party have raised the issue in Parliament and are monitoring the situation in cooperation with environmental organizations. The Green Party submitted memoranda to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Agriculture, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response and calling for upgraded protection of the Akamas area to establish a real national park. They criticized the government’s handling of administrative investigations related to Akamas, with ongoing investigations into the projects deemed destructive to the habitat. The parties are concerned about the government’s actions and the potential legal consequences from the EU.

Food aid from Cyprus reaches starving people in northern Gaza, says charity

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Food aid from Cyprus reaches starving people in northern Gaza, says charity

– A U.S.-based charity reported that nearly 200 tons of food aid reached northern Gaza, having been shipped from the Cypriot port of Larnaca.
– The charity involved is World Central Kitchen (WCK), in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates and Spanish charity Open Arms.
– The food was transported over a 200-mile sea route from Larnaca to Gaza and arrived off Gaza’s coast on Friday, with delivery completed on Tuesday by a convoy of eight trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP).
– The delivered aid is equivalent to half a million meals.
– A U.N.-backed report indicated that famine is “imminent” in northern Gaza, affecting some 300,000 people, with 1.1 million people across Gaza facing “catastrophic hunger.”
– A second shipment of 240 tons of food is prepared in Larnaca, awaiting departure based on weather conditions.
– WCK has expressed readiness to send weekly food shipments to Gaza with international support.
– Aid agencies have highlighted that the amount of food that can be delivered by sea is insufficient for the needs in Gaza and have called for more aid to be allowed in by road.
– Cyprus supports the WCK initiative and plans to coordinate further aid, hosting discussions with officials from various countries on March 21.

Akamas road works moving forward

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Akamas road works moving forward

The Akamas National Forest Park road projects will restart in April, as announced by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. The projects aim to prioritize environmental preservation. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting. The government plans to balance development with environmental conservation in the park, ensuring minimal environmental impact and visitor safety while adhering to legal requirements. A project team will be established for environmental and technical monitoring, and a steering committee will be appointed for decision-making. Consultations with NGOs and local communities will be part of the process.

Limassol’s photo-detection system expands with ten new cameras

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Limassol’s photo-detection system expands with ten new cameras

The expansion of the photo-detection system in Limassol includes the installation of ten new cameras at three key points along the city’s road network to monitor red light violations, white line violations, and speeding. Four cameras are at the intersection of Franklin Roosevelt and Omonia Avenues, another four at the intersection of Nikos Pattichis and Spyrou Kyprianou Avenues, and two on the Limassol Port – Kato Polemidia road. The system aims to reduce fatal and serious road accidents and promote responsible driving behavior.

From sunlight to energy, …or not

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From sunlight to energy, …or not

Cyprus, despite its abundant sunlight, has experienced a slow transition to renewable energy due to various issues. Two significant developments include the statement by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) president regarding the new turbine at the Vasilikos power plant, which can operate on natural gas and potentially hydrogen after modifications, and a letter by ETEK to the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) advocating for the acceleration of ‘Energy Communities’. The past decade has seen a lack of direction in renewable energy development in Cyprus, with the licensing process being restrictive and causing delays. This has resulted in renewable electricity being expensive and not contributing to the reduction of Cyprus’s high energy prices. The introduction of competitive bidding for future projects and the concept of ‘Energy Communities’ are deemed imperative. Green hydrogen, produced from water by electrolysis using renewable energy, has potential in various industries but faces challenges such as the need for large amounts of renewable energy and land, as well as the development of safe storage and transportation methods. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has announced the existence of ‘gold’ hydrogen in underground reservoirs, which could potentially meet global demand for hundreds of years. For Cyprus, developing green hydrogen production depends on land availability and increasing renewable power generation. Preparations for a long-term hydrogen production plan are necessary, focusing on reducing high electricity prices through the switch from diesel/HFO to natural gas and accelerating renewable projects.

The Cypriot village with a language of its own

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The Cypriot village with a language of its own

Tom Cleaver visited Kormakitis, a Maronite village in Cyprus, known for its unique language, Sanna, which is a derivative of Arabic brought to the island around 1,200 years ago from Mesopotamia. Kormakitis, once the largest of four majority-Maronite villages, has around 300 residents and is located in Cyprus’ northwestern corner. The village is significant as the spiritual capital of Maronite Cypriots, who are in full communion with the Catholic Church of Rome. The local church features two boxy cuboid bell towers and an interior with a statue of Saint George and writing in the Syriac script. The visit was organized by the Cyprus Bilingualism Association and the Cyprus Linguistics Society to highlight the linguistic uniqueness of Kormakitis.

Akamas works , ‘on the right track’

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Akamas works , ‘on the right track’

Environmentalists expressed satisfaction with a government report on construction works in the Akamas, which proposes corrective measures to restore environmental damage. The report was welcomed by environmental organizations such as BirdLife Cyprus, Terra Cypria, the Wildlife Protection Association, and the Initiative for the Conservation of Natural Coasts. The infringements addressed include non-compliance with the terms of the Special Ecological Assessment for construction works aimed at improving the road network in Akamas, including unnecessary walls, dumping materials on undisturbed ground, and arbitrary widening of roads. The environmental organizations view the proposed remedies as a positive development for Akamas’ future and appreciate the commitment to re-evaluate future road network improvements and visitor service junctions. However, they are concerned about the incomplete conclusions of the administrative investigation into the works and the lack of responsibility assignment. They await the outcome of a third investigation to attribute responsibility. This issue is underscored by the EU’s decision to refer Cyprus to the European Court of Justice for inadequate protection of Natura 2000 sites, highlighting the urgency of implementing Management Plans for these sites, which are still in progress and lack legal force.

Ten new traffic cameras in Limassol

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Ten new traffic cameras in Limassol

Ten new fixed traffic cameras will start operating in Limassol on Tuesday at three positions. Four cameras will monitor for red light violations, line crossing at junctions, and speed at the junction of Franklin Roosevelt and Omonias. Another four cameras will check for the same violations at the junction of Nikos Pattichis and Spyros Kyprianos. The final two cameras, located along the port road to Kato Polemidia, will monitor speed. The aim of these cameras is to reduce serious and fatal traffic accidents.

Ten new cameras installed in Limassol road network

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Ten new cameras installed in Limassol road network

The traffic light monitoring system will be expanded in the Limassol province with ten new fixed cameras starting from Tuesday, March 19th. These cameras will be installed at three points of Limassol’s road network. Four cameras will be placed at the junction of Franklin Roosevelt and Omonia avenues to monitor running red lights, crossing the white line, and speeding violations. Another four cameras will monitor the same violations at the junction of Nikos Pattichis and Spyros Kyprianou avenues. Two traffic light cameras will be positioned on the vertical road of Limassol Port – Kato Polemidia to monitor vehicle speeds. The aim of this system is to reduce fatal and serious road accidents and to instill proper road awareness.