Fred Ayton, a Royal Navy veteran, was an 18-year-old able seaman torpedoman on HMS Sweetbriar during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He was told he was “making history” by taking part in the biggest ever seabourne invasion.
Fact: Construction of two new desalination plants in Limassol and Famagusta is under review due to prevailing drought conditions and water shortage fears.
Female sea turtles at Parasolia beach in Kiti are facing challenges during the breeding season due to a thick layer of stones from winter storms covering more than half of their nesting area, as well as new sunbeds and umbrellas occupying the rest. The new sunbed renter is obstructing the identification and protection of nests. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) has been informed about the issue, but there has been no update. The writer has been marking nests with sticks and signs and working with experts to protect them. Local councils and sunbed renters have a negative attitude towards protecting the turtles, despite laws protecting sea turtles, their eggs, and hatchlings on every beach in Cyprus since 1971.
Israel plans to allow more oil tankers to dock at a Red Sea port in Eilat despite environmental risks. The government wants to revoke restrictions on the amount of oil that can be unloaded at a jetty in the city, which sits near a coral reef. The curbs imposed in 2021 were eased temporarily during the Gaza war. EAPC, the state-owned company operating the pipeline, wants to receive more oil, but environmental regulators and Eilat’s mayor oppose the plan. Israel is pushing to ensure energy security amid conflicts with various groups. Netanyahu’s office recommended easing restrictions to include fuel for trade and domestic use. The environment ministry expressed concerns about the risks of more oil deliveries and cited past mishaps. EAPC welcomed the government’s U-turn, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Eilat facility for energy delivery. Israel imports most of its oil through seaborne trade, and the Emirati oil deal could be worth about million a year for EAPC. The Energy Ministry emphasized the need to handle oil deliveries properly to sustain the terminal economically.
– Over 70 Eurobank Cyprus TeamUp volunteers, along with their family members, NGO “AKTI,” and Blue Thunder Diving, cleared 822 kg of waste from the beach and seabed at Karnagio, Limassol.
– 588 kg of the waste was mixed, 190 kg was recyclable PMD, and 44 kg was retrieved from the seabed by divers.
– Karnagio is one of the most environmentally-polluted beaches in Cyprus, chosen for the clean-up initiative by Eurobank Cyprus.
– The President of the Board of Directors of AKTI highlighted the importance of initiatives like this in combating plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.
– The Director of Blue Thunder Diving praised the efforts of Eurobank Cyprus and emphasized the importance of keeping the seabed clean for divers.
– Eurobank Cyprus has a Corporate Social Responsibility program that includes the TeamUp group for volunteering in events of social benefit.
Cyprus ranked at the top of Europe in terms of the quality of its bathing waters in 2023, with 97.6% of the surveyed bathing waters on the island receiving an ‘excellent’ score.
States, like California, are exploring alternative ways to recoup lost gas tax revenue by piloting a “road charge” program that charges drivers based on the number of miles they drive rather than how much gas they purchase. The program is optional and participants can earn up to 0 in incentives for providing feedback on their experience. The state is considering this alternative revenue source due to the decrease in gas tax revenue collection and the shift towards electric vehicles. The program includes security protocols to protect personal information, and no action or changes are currently being proposed.
The second edition of the environmental art exhibition RE:SOURCE will feature over 30 Cyprus and international artists selected from more than 100 applications. The exhibition aims to explore the nature-human bond in response to trash pollution and promote actions to tackle the environmental emergency. The artworks will include various mediums such as painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and interactive video art. The exhibition will also offer educational programs, workshops, and quests for all ages. RE:SOURCE 2.0 will be held at The Warehouse by IT Quarter in Limassol from May 18th to 21st, with the opening event on May 17th at 6 pm. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Altamira Real Estate has launched a new campaign featuring 28 apartments and villas in coastal tourist areas in Cyprus. The properties are ready for delivery, renovated, and offered at affordable prices. The campaign will run for two weeks, with bids opening on May 14, 2024. Interested parties can visit altamirarealestate.com.cy for more information.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis acknowledged that the Cypriot tourism sector is in need of foreign workers due to an increase in tourist arrivals, leading to labor shortages.