INFOGRAPHICS - 56% OF CYPRUS COVID CASES SINCE 1 JULY WERE MEN

 in-cyprus 3 October 2020  - by Josephine Koumettou

The Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health released on Saturday its latest infographics on the Coronavirus situation in Cyprus as of October 1.

According to the new data, a total of 29 people with Coronavirus died on the island since the start of the outbreak, but for seven of them Covid-19 was not deemed as the final cause of death.

Of the 774 people who contracted the virus since July 1, the majority were men at a rate of 56%.

The recovery rate remains high at 81.8%. There were 49 new hospital admissions since the beginning of July, 34 of whom were discharged from hospital alive.

SCOTLAND-NORTHERN IRELAND BRIDGE IDEA BEING REVIEWED - BUT WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES?

 Sky News 3 October 2020

Could a bridge or tunnel actually be built between Scotland and Northern Ireland?

© Getty The Oresund bridge is viewed as an inspiration for the potential UK crossing

It's an idea that has been suggested several times by Boris Johnson and will now be looked at as part of a national review into UK transport connections.

The study will investigate the feasibility of a fixed link between the two nations including cost, practicality and demand.

But some critics have already dismissed the idea as impractical, arguing the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Mr Johnson has previously put a price of "about £15bn" on building a bridge which could stretch from Portpatrick in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland - a distance of more than 20 miles across the Irish Sea.

© Getty The Oresund bridge links Sweden and Denmark

The Oresund bridge, which is a 10 mile-long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark, is viewed as an inspiration for the potential UK crossing.

Structural engineer and bridge designer Ian Firth said the idea has a "huge number of technical challenges" but that it "ought to be possible" even though it would be "eye wateringly expensive".

Mr Firth, a fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers, said in February of a potential bridge: "My own feeling is that it ought to be possible because at the end of the day it's about money - anything is possible if you throw enough money at it."

© Getty Boris Johnson says a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland could cost about £15bn

Among the challenges he listed, aside from economic and political hurdles, are very deep water, the risk of a ship hitting the bridge and an underwater munitions dump in the sea.

In March, politicians from Scotland and Northern Ireland told Transport Secretary Grant Shapps the billions of pounds a fixed link across the Irish Sea would cost could be better spent on vital infrastructure projects.

And a spokesperson for the UK Chamber of Shipping said the money should go towards improving road and rail links to UK ports.

They said: "There are already a range of ferry operators taking tourists and trade between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

"Spending £15bn-£20bn of taxpayers' money on a bridge simply to replicate what those ferries already do is unnecessary."

The transport study, led by Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy, will set out advice on a "wide range of possible options" to improve the quality and availability of links across the UK, Downing Street said.

Downing St said the Hendy review will also look at the feasibility of various other options designed to boost links to Scotland and Wales, including improving major roads like the A1.

Announcing the review, Mr Johnson said: "The United Kingdom is the greatest political partnership the world has ever seen and we need transport links between our nations that are as strong as our historic bonds."

The review comes after he pledged £100m on 29 road projects in July as he set out how to kickstart the economy following the coronavirus pandemic.

Sir Peter, who ran London's transport network during the Olympics in 2012, said: "Improving links across the UK on the basis of the wider economic benefits that increased investment will deliver will be of benefit to everyone in the UK."

He is set to publish his recommendations next summer.

FIREY SATURDAY FOR PAPHOS - SECOND FIRE IN A FEW HOURS [at Tsada]

 Filenews 3 October 2020

A few hours after the fire broke out on the edge of the Tala-Emba communities and put homes at immediate risk, a new fire at 3pm caused fire fighters to mobilize again. This time the fire exploded for an unknown reason in a very small area between the communities of Tsadas-Koilis.

In the area they operate volatile means since the area is essentially inaccessible to the ground forces of the Fire Department and while in the meantime it burns trees, crops and wild vegetation. In relatively close proximity are cyta's antenna station, as well as some of the most remote houses between the communities.

In the photos published by eyenews and taken just now, it is clear that there is a danger to a natural beauty landscape.

We recall that earlier today, a battle with the flames to limit them to agricultural blocks and prevent their expansion into the houses that are a stone's throw away on the borders of the communities of Embas and Talas, were given for a long time by the fire forces of Paphos. The fire, which is estimated to be due this time to human irresponsibility and in particular to the attempt of some to burn, has caused damage to a house located in a rural area, while it has affected for some time the movement of vehicles on the road Talas-Embas-Paphos, since it occurred at a point literally next to the road.

The firefighting work was also co-operating with the Fire Brigade helicopters based at Paphos airport, since despite the small size of the fire front, its proximity to houses and the residential core of Tala was of great concern.

The fire was finally brought under control two hours later.

ONE KILLED, 19 MISSING IN FLOODS IN FRANCE AND ITALY

 in-cyprus 3 October 2020 - by Josephine Koumettou

A fireman died and 19 people were missing in France and Italy after a storm hit border regions of the two countries, causing heavy flooding that swept away roads and damaged homes, authorities said on Saturday.

The storm, dubbed Alex, ravaged several villages around the city of Nice on the French Riviera. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi called it the worst flooding disaster in the area for more than a century after flying over the worst-hit area by helicopter.

“The roads and about 100 houses were swept away or partially destroyed,” he told French news channel BFM.

At least eight people were missing in France, authorities said. These included two firemen whose vehicle was carried away by a swollen river, according to local witnesses cited by several French media.

In Italy, at least one person died and up to 11 people were missing, local authorities said.

A fireman was killed by a falling tree in the Valle d’Aosta region, while three people travelling in a van were swept away by flood waters in Val Roya on the border with France.

Six German trekkers were among the missing after failing to return from a trip in the mountains in the province of Cuneo.

Officials in the Piedmont region reported a record 630 mm (24.8 inches) of rain in just 24 hours in Sambughetto, close to the border with Switzerland. The Piedmont regional chief Alberto Cirio called on the government to declare a state of emergency.

Television images shot in Italy showed several roads and bridges in the northwest of the country had been swept away by flood water and numerous rivers were reported to have burst their banks.

Eric Ciotti, a member of French parliament who is from one of the worst affected villages in the area, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, said several villages were cut off as they are located in steep-sided valleys of the mountainous region.

Meteo France said that rains of 450 mm (17.7 inches) of rain were registered over 24 hours in some areas – the equivalent of close to four months of rain at this time of the year.

There was more rainfall than on Oct. 3 2015, when floods caused the death of 20 people in and around the French Riviera city of Cannes, Jérémy Crunchant, the director of civil protection, told France Info.

Venice, a long-delayed flood barrier system successfully protected the lagoon city from a high tide for the first time on Saturday, bringing big relief following years of repeated inundations.

(Reuters)

Pictured: A firefighter is seen next to a partially submerged car after heavy rains caused flooding in the town of Limone Piemonte, Italy, October 2, 2020. Picture taken October 2, 2020. Vigili del Fuoco

632 DRIVERS BOOKED IN FIRST 36 HOURS OF NEW HEFTY TRAFFIC FINES

 in-cyprus 3 October 2020 - by Josephine Koumettou

Cypriot drivers appear to not have been deterred by new stricter fines on traffic violations put in force on October 1 aimed at tackling the increasing number of road accidents caused by irresponsible behaviour.

Police said that 632 drivers were booked in the first 36 hours alone from the implementation of the new regulations, most of them for speeding, others for using their phone while driving, parking in disabled spaces or on double yellow lines.

The majority of fines on the first day of the new measures were in Limassol (174) and 218 were handed out on the highway.

Head of the Traffic Department at police headquarters Yiannakis Georgiou told Phileleftheros that “it is sad that some people defied the new rules from day one. We will continue our checks with zero tolerance,” he noted, adding that police will do this without ‘ambushing’ drivers on turns, at locations where the speed limit changes or by hiding behind trees or signs.

Georgiou explained that the new legislation enables traffic police to arrest a driver when they exceed the speed limit by more than 75%, the permissible alcohol limit by 70% or by 55% for new drivers. At the same time, the offender will appear before the court imminently and a request will be submitted that they be banned from driving for as long as the court deems fitting.

Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis said on Friday that “issuing fines is not an end in itself; it’s an important deterring factor to get drivers to think twice before parking illegally or speeding or drinking before driving.”

UK SCAM PURPORTING TO COME FROM HM COURTS & TRIBUNALS SERVICE

 This was received by someone who has not been back in the UK for 2 years.   Please be alert -  the email address of the sender is usually a good clue that it is a scam.   This one came from: admin@buyfeetpictures.com 

Total cost:
£12.24

 

For the following: the use of a vehicle on a road in the charging area which a charging scheme applies without payment of the appropriate charge, at the date  and timestarted below

 

Date: 26.09.2020

Time: 16:24 PM

 

 

 

If you do not respond before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of service of this notice a charge certificate may be issued which would increase the penalty charge to £48.96 GBP.

 

Failure to then pay the increased penalty charge may result in the outstanding balance being registered as a debt in the County Court

 

 

You have 14 days beginning with the date of service of this notice to pay the discounted penalty charge of £12.24. if this is not paid by 15/10/2020then the full penalty charge of £24.48is payable.

 

Penalty Charge Notice Number:

xxxxxxx

 

Automated payment reference:

yyyyyyyy

 

How to pay your Penalty Charge

 

To pay by Credit or Debit Card

 

1. Click here to pay by card online & click on Pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Click here to pay

This is the quickest and easiest way to pay and receive a receipt as your payment is immediately credited to Charge Notice

 

Contact Centre

 

1.Telephone 0343 222 3331(temporarily unavailable)

FIRE IN TALA 3 OCTOBER - Main road to Emba closed for a while [includes photos by John Delaney]

 

There was a fire today which seems to have originated in the area below the Chinese development just off the main road going down to Emba.   The fire spread, jumped across the main road and spread into the fields.  Several fire engines, two fire helicopters and police cars attended.  The main road was blocked off to traffic for around an hour and a half until the fire was brought under control.

All pictures by John Delaney - most follow item from Filenews re incident below

Filenews 3 October 2020 - by Dora Christodoulou

A battle with the flames to limit them to agricultural blocks and prevent their expansion into the dwellings, on the borders of the communities of Embas and Talas, has been going on for an hour.

The fire, which is estimated to be due this time to human irresponsibility and in particular to the attempt of some to burn, has already caused damage to a house located in a rural area, while it also affected the movement of vehicles on the Road Talas-Embas-Paphos, since it occurred at a point literally next to the road.

The firefighting work has been in place for a few minutes and two of the Fire Brigade helicopters based at Paphos airport reacted to the incident, since despite the small size of the fire front, its proximity to houses and the residential core of Tala is a cause for concern. The fire is now under control and intensive efforts are being made to completely extinguish it.

100 YEARS AGO A PANDEMIC WAS RAGING AND THE US PRESIDENT BECAME INFECTED. SOUND FAMILIAR?

 Sky News 3 October 2020 - by Corky Siemaszko, NBC News

A pandemic was ravaging America, thousands were dead or dying, and the president was infected.

© Getty Woodrow Wilson became sick in April 1919

His name was Woodrow Wilson and one century ago he was in a situation similar to the position Donald Trump finds himself in now.

Only then, the illness that laid Mr Wilson low had been dubbed the Spanish flu, not the coronavirus that has infected Mr Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and more than seven million other Americans.

And when Mr Wilson got sick in April 1919 while in Paris negotiating the end of World War One, his wife, Edith, quickly stepped in to make sure as few people as possible knew the president was ailing.

© Getty Donald Trump leaves the White House for Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland

"Wilson's wife was able to conceal his illness by setting up a bubble around him," Thomas Schwartz, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told NBC News.

"They explained the disease as coming from overwork, something people would have believed as Wilson was known to be a workaholic."

Mrs Wilson did the same thing a few months later when Mr Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke and she stepped in to help run the country in the waning days of her husband's presidency.

© Getty Woodrow Wilson caught the Spanish flu

Mr Trump, on the other hand, announced via Twitter early on Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19 and were self-isolating.

They were among the 300,000 Americans who got infected this week with the coronavirus, the latest NBC News figures showed.

"It was a very different media environment back then," Prof Schwartz said.

The first news radio broadcast in the United States did not happen for another year and most Americans got their news from newspapers that did not cover the president as closely or as critically as they do now, he said.

While the federal government and other institutions like Johns Hopkins University report daily how many people in the US have died of COVID-19 (209,103 deaths out of 7.3 million confirmed cases, according to the NBC News tally), most Americans back in Mr Wilson's day did not grasp how deadly the Spanish flu was.

It wound up killing 675,000 Americans and 20 to 40 million people around the world.

"Against the backdrop of World War One, President Wilson significantly downplayed the 1918 pandemic that infected a quarter of Americans," Dr Howard Koh, a Harvard University professor who was the assistant secretary of health and human services during the administration of President Barack Obama, said in an email.

© Getty Mr Trump has dubbed himself a 'wartime president' during the pandemic

"A century later, the deadliest pandemic since has arrived on President Trump's doorstep. Unfortunately, pretending that a pandemic does not exist will not make it so."

Mr Wilson immunised himself from the harsh criticism Mr Trump has received for his bungled response to the coronavirus by simply not talking about the Spanish flu.

"Woodrow Wilson never made a public statement of any kind about the pandemic," Patrick Maney, a professor of history at Boston College, said. "As a result, it's one of the least known catastrophes of any kind."

Not that Mr Wilson would have listened if anybody told him to focus more on the pandemic and less on the war, said John Barry, author of The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.

"Much like Trump, he did not tolerate criticism from friend or foe," Mr Barry said of Mr Wilson in an interview with The New Yorker.

"All this makes Wilson's complete silence on the pandemic understandable in only one context: he would do nothing to distract him or the nation from the war effort."

Mr Schwartz largely agreed. "Wilson did face some criticism for the way he handled the pandemic, but not at the level Trump has," he said.

"Part of the reason is because World War One really overshadowed the pandemic, somewhat diminishing the degree to which Wilson was criticised."

Mr Trump, who never served in the military, dubbed himself a "wartime president" as the pandemic was accelerating.

But he has also repeatedly downplayed the danger of COVID-19 and politicised the recommended safety precautions like wearing masks by refusing to don one in public until just recently.

Not only has the Trump base taken its mask avoidance cues from the president, but so also has his family. And now, Mr Trump himself has fallen victim to his own false messaging.

In addition, a Cornell University study suggested that Mr Trump was responsible for at least 38% of the COVID-19 misinformation that has stymied the public health response to this plague and sown so much confusion in the American public.

Among other things, Mr Trump promoted unproven "miracle cures" for the coronavirus and claimed with zero evidence that the pandemic was a "Democratic Party hoax" aimed at derailing his presidency.

While publicly diminishing the pandemic's danger during daily briefings or at campaign rallies where his followers rarely wore masks or practiced social distancing, Mr Trump was caught on tape privately telling the reporter Bob Woodward back in February that COVID-19 was "deadly stuff".

The result was a chaotic response to an unfolding crisis in a country where a big chunk of the population doesn't seem to understand it is still in danger.

"Rather than heeding the warnings of 1918, this country has continued to underestimate this virus - and we can't allow that to continue any longer," Dr Koh said.

This article first appeared on NBC News.

GERMANY AT 30 - THE NICEST MAJOR COUNTRY ON THE PLANET

 Cyprus Mail 3 October 2020 - by  Gwynne Dyer

German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves a church during festivities to mark the 30th anniversary of the German reunification, in Potsdam, Germany, October 3, 2020. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi

I have just spent two weeks driving around Germany interviewing people (mostly climate scientists, since you ask), and I have come to the conclusion that it is the best-run – and quite possibly just the best – major country in the world right now.

Some small countries are absolute jewels, of course, but it’s easier if you’re small. Big powers fight more wars, contain more divisions, suffer nastier and more ridiculous delusions of grandeur. But if you only consider countries with more than 50 million people, then Germany today is the fairest, the least conflicted, the most peaceful, actually the nicest major country on the planet.

That wasn’t true thirty years ago, and it may not be true thirty years hence, but it’s worth noting because Saturday marked the thirtieth anniversary of the unification of Germany in 1990, just one year after the Berlin Wall came down. Compared to what happened after the first time it was unified, it has all worked out rather well.

The first unification of Germany, in 1871, was achieved by war, and led to more and much bigger wars – not entirely Germany’s fault, of course, but certainly the consequence of the sudden appearance of a highly nationalistic new great power in the heart of Europe.

After the Second World War, Germany was divided into three. The eastern third was emptied of Germans and given to Poland (in compensation for the eastern third of pre-war Poland, which was kept by the Soviet Union). The middle part, also under Soviet occupation, became Communist-ruled ‘East Germany’, while the rest, with most of the population, became ‘West Germany’.

The ‘two Germanies’ became the cockpit of the Cold War, with huge armies of tanks ready to roll and nuclear weapons not far behind them. Many people understood that this could not go on forever, that some day the country would have to be reunited – but they were terrified by the prospect. They feared that the process of reunification might trigger a war, and they also feared a reunited Germany.

Lord Ismay, the British general who became the first secretary-general of the Nato alliance (which included West Germany), put it bluntly: “Nato exists to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.” French journalist and poet François Mauriac said it more elegantly: “I love Germany so much that I’m glad there are two of them.”

If the trigger to end the East German Communist regime had been in British, French and American hands, it might never have been pulled. But it was actually in the hands of the East Germans themselves, and in 1989 they brought down their oppressors without a shot being fired. All the other Communist states of eastern Europe followed suit.

There was great joy in both parts of Germany – the street party after the Berlin Wall came down was probably the best and certainly the longest I have ever attended – but there was considerable trepidation elsewhere. However Mikhail Gorbachev, the reformist Soviet leader, reassured everybody by declaring that Moscow had no objection to German reunification, and the deed was done thirty years ago this week.

It has worked out very well. There are sad people and even wicked people in Germany, like everywhere else, but as a society it radiates contentment. Unflustered competence lubricated by a general tone of good-will make minor daily transactions less of an ordeal, and the strident nationalism that now disfigures so many other countries is conspicuous by its absence.

In the place of that the Germans have a dedication to the European project: like ‘Amens’ in a church, invocations of ‘Europe’ punctuate political conversations. And if you say this is a defensive reaction against Germany’s terrible history in the two generations before 1945, I would probably agree – but what’s wrong with that?

Even the economic contrast between the formerly Communist-ruled east and the rest of the country, to the great disadvantage of the former, is gradually eroding: average incomes among ‘Ossis’(easterners) are now up to almost 90 per cent of ‘Wessi’ earnings. All the ‘coolest’ cities, the magnets that attract the young, are in the former east: Berlin, Dresden, and now Leipzig.

It’s not paradise, but when you compare it with the incompetent, belligerent populism that prevails in formally democratic countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India, it looks pretty good. ‘Wir schaffen das” (We can manage this), said Chancellor Angela Merkel when over a million mostly Muslim refugees arrived in Germany in 2016, and four years later it looks like she was right.

‘Mutti’ (Mummy), as Germans call her, has been chancellor for half of the past thirty years, so there will be a collective holding of breath when she retires next year. But the world would be a better and safer place if there were more countries like Germany.

Plus there’s no speed limit at all on the autobahns. Where else can you drive at 160 kph and have cars whooshing past you all the time?

Gwynne Dyer’s new book is ‘Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)’

ACCIDENT & CRIME ROUND-UP FROM in-cyprus TODAY - 3 October

in-cyprus 3 October 2020 - by Josephine Koumettou

24 year old man dies as a result of a road collision

A 24 year old man died in a road collision in Nicosia while a 31 year old has been arrested for causing the accident.  The victim has been identified as King Prestly Saha, a Bangladeshi national.

Police said in an announcement that the accident took place around 7.50 pm on Friday on John Kennedy avenue in Pallouriotissa.  The 31 year old suspect was reportedly driving in the wrong lane and collided with the motorcycle ridden by the 24 year old who was working as a delivery driver and then abandoned the scene.  The victim, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Nicosia Hospital by ambulance where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Subsequent investigations uncovered the suspect’s whereabouts and he was located and arrested in the Geri area.  The 31 year old was also breathalysed and police said that the final reading was 79mg, close to four times the legal limit of 22mg.  The Nicosia Traffic Department is investigating.

Ayia Napa murder attempt - SBA hand over suspect

SBA Dhekelia handed over to Cyprus police on Friday a 25 year old British national who had been wanted by the Famagusta CID in relation to the attempted murder and injury of a 27 year old, also from the UK, in Ayia Napa in the early morning hours of Friday.

The incident took place around 3.30 am on Friday when the Ayia Napa police were informed of an injured man in the Ayia Napa central square.  Members of the Ayia Napa police station then sped to the scene where they spotted the 27 year old with injuries in the abdomen.

The man was taken to the Famagusta General Hospital where he underwent surgery. Doctors said initially that his condition was serious but that he is now out of danger.  Police investigations in the area revealed the man’s identity as an SBA Dhekelia soldier and that his injury was the result of a fight with other individuals.

Another individual aged 22 has also been arrested in relation to the same case. The 22 year old was at the scene when police arrived on the morning of the incident and appears to know the victim.  The 22 year old tried to flee when he saw police but the latter managed to cut him off. The man was then searched and police found in his possession a knuckle duster and a small plastic bag containing white powder believed to be cocaine.  The Famagusta CID is investigating.

Four arrested for brawl with knives

The Paphos police have arrested four people amid investigations in a case of possession of offensive weapons following a scuffle in the Mehmed Pasha area of Moutallos on Thursday night, the CNA reports.

Police said that the incident took place on Thursday around 9 pm for reasons that are yet to be established.  During questioning, the four denied any involvement in the case.  Investigations are ongoing.

FITCH RATINGS AFFIRMS CYPRUS RATING AT 'BBB-' WITH A STABLE OUTLOOK

 in-cyprus 3 October 2020 - by Josephine Koumettou

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Cyprus`s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at `BBB-` with a Stable Outlook.

In a press release Fitch says that Cyprus`s rating balances its institutional strength reflected in per capita GDP and governance indicators in line with the `A` median rather than `BBB` and a track record of robust economic recovery and sound fiscal policy prior to the COVID-19 shock with balance sheet weaknesses, in particular, further increase in the high public debt and declining, but still elevated non-performing exposures (NPEs) in the banking sector.

Cypriot Minister of Finance Constantinos Petrides, in a press release points out that Fitch maintains the creditworthiness of the Republic of Cyprus in the investment grade with a stable outlook. He also notes Cyprus’s institutional strength reflected in per capita GDP, governance indicators, a history of strong economic recovery and sound / prudent fiscal policy prior to the coronavirus crisis are the factors maintaining the rating of the Republic of Cyprus.

Furthermore, Fitch notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a deep recession of the Cypriot economy in 2020, similar to many rating peers. GDP contracted by 11.6% qoq in 2Q20 following a 2.1% fall in 1Q20. Tourism was hit particularly hard, with tourist arrivals more than 80% lower in January-August 2020 than a year ago, while domestic demand was more resilient due to the relatively low infection rates and limited lockdown measures.

Fitch forecasts a 6% GDP contraction in 2020 followed by a 4% rebound in 2021 and 2.7% growth in 2022 based on positive qoq growth rates from 3Q20 onwards. The forecast implies that the level of GDP will be 2pp lower in 2021 than the pre-crisis level. Cyprus had a strong track record of growth before the pandemic with average growth in the five years to 2019 of 4.4%, above the `BBB` median of 3.6%. Fitch maintains its assumption of 2% growth potential over the medium term, unchanged by the pandemic.

It says that the pandemic ended the gradual improvement in the labour market, which started in 2014 from a peak unemployment rate above 16%, but the deterioration from 6.3% in 4Q19 to 6.8% in 2Q20 was comparatively mild. The subdued labour market impact of the deep recession is partly due to government support measures and the flexibility of key industries, like tourism, reflected for example in the high share of seasonal foreign workers in the sector.

Fitch notes that the fiscal easing response to the pandemic and the decline in revenue due to the economic fall-out will lead to an estimated budget deficit of around 5% of GDP in 2020, compared with the persistent underlying budget surpluses pre-pandemic, which peaked at 3% of GDP in 2019. Moreover, it says that the budget deficit for January-July was EUR931 million in 2020, compared with a surplus of EUR386 million in the same period in 2019. This implies a EUR1.3 billion deterioration in the fiscal balance, approximately 6% of annual GDP. The government estimates that the full year cost of all fiscal measures will be equal to 4.5% of GDP.

Fitch forecasts the budget deficit to fall below 2% of GDP in 2021, driven by the economic rebound and expiry of the temporary support measures. Although the European fiscal rules will not be enforced in 2021, the budget balance is expected to remain well within the 3% threshold of the Stability and Growth Pact over the medium term.

It forecasts the gross general government debt (GGGD) to GDP ratio to increase to 113% of GDP in 2020, compared with 95% in 2019 and a previous peak of 109% of GDP in 2014, and well above the current `BBB` median of 36%. The declining trend of the public debt to GDP ratio between 2014 and 2019 reflects the combination of buoyant economic growth and significant fiscal adjustment and has increased the capacity to absorb the pandemic shock. The declining trend of the GGGD/GDP will resume in 2021 and debt will fall close to 100% of GDP by 2024. The track record of significant fiscal consolidation and prudent fiscal policy is an important rating strength in the current environment.

It says that the large banking sector remains a weakness, notably very high NPE ratios that are still weighing on capital and profitability.

According to Fitch NPEs are likely to increase due to the COVID-19 shock. About half of total performing loans in Cyprus are in a moratorium until end-December 2020. The measure will limit the increase of NPEs in the short term and support borrowers` liquidity in 2020. It remains hard to assess which portion of these loans will become non-performing.

(CNA)

NEW RADIO STATION FOR PAPHOS & LIMASSOL AREA - VIVA!

 

Viva! FM - now in Paphos on 104.3FM, and in Limassol 104.5FM.  Playing hits from the 60s to today.

Available on Alexa - see Facebook Alexa set up

Breakfast show - Dave Asher - from 7am

Midmorning - Jason Collins - from 10am to 1pm

Weekends - Andrew Ellinas

Newsreader - Kristiian Yeo

Phone - 99 930 747

email - sales@vivafm.fm

Viva Fm website

36 STUDENTS INVOLVED IN TWO CRIMINAL CASES

 Filenews 3 October 2020 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis

They are shocked by the involvement of students in only two recent criminal cases, one at Paralimni High School and the other at the 4th Primary School of Lakatamia.

A total of 36 minors are alleged to be involved in these two cases of delinquent behaviour, while the Police are reportedly investigating one case, and any offences committed by teachers. According to the information of "F", in the case of the vandalism at Paralimni High School and the throwing from a balcony of chickens, rabbits and pigeons, testimony appears to have emerged about 23 students, either for the theft, for the mistreatment of birds, or for the lighting of Bengali which are considered explosives.

Also, according to a police spokesman, any involvement of professors in this case is also being examined, in the sense that they did not intervene to stop the incidents, i.e. they did not prevent or prevent the commission of an offence. Police investigations are ongoing and a number of statements have been received from both students and teachers as well as citizens to whom the animals belonged. When the case is completed the relevant file will be forwarded to the Legal Service for further handling, as several 17-year-old students are involved.

With regard to the arson of the multi-use hall and other spaces at the 4th Primary School of Lakatamia, the members of the Nicosia T.E.A. initially identified ten underage students who appear to be involved in this serious case. Testimony then emerged against three others, bringing the number of suspects involved to 13.

Because minors are involved in this case, the police handle the case differently, inviting those involved in the department with the escort of their parents without arresting them. It is estimated that the outcome of this case will be different from the case in Paralimn, although the offences committed are equally serious.

The damage from the arson reaches, according to the first calculations, perhaps as much as 100 thousand euros. According to our information, when the examinations are completed the file will also be put to the Legal Service to study the options available, as people under the age of 14 involved in offences are not taken to court.