Power Cut on Monday Due to Maintenance Work on 26th March 2018

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 There will be a power cut on Monday between 09:00 and 15:00 hours due to maintenance-repair work at Alsancak Substation. 

Areas affected will be from the western side of Karaoğlanoğlu, Edremit and Karmi villages to the eastern side of Karsiyaka. 

The power will last for six hours the Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority has advised.

-Lgc

Finally a Turkish Cypriots gets justice for attack in South Cyprus

The South Nicosia District Court sentenced a 20-year-old man this week to four months in prison suspended for three-years and ordered to pay a €1,000 fine after admitted that he had taken part in the 2015 student attack against vehicles belonging to Turkish Cypriots.

Eleven more defendants who pleaded not guilty will be referred to trial.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily ‘Politis’, the 20-year-old was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm, property damage, unrest and cultivating a spirit of intolerance.

The court said that such actions cannot be justified on the pretext of patriotism, or the struggle against the Turkish occupation. On the contrary, it said, they undermine the constitutional structure of the state.

Patriotism, the court said, is exhibited by a productive contribution to social structures and not through acts of violence and intolerance. The court said that it took into consideration that the defendant was a minor at the time, his clean criminal record, that he has expressed remorse and that he agreed to testify as a prosecution witness.

On November 16, 2015, during a student protest against the anniversary of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in the north (UDI), students attacked three cars with Turkish Cypriot plates on three different occasions, which led to the injury of two Turkish Cypriots. The three cars were also damaged.

In the Turkish Cypriot press, ‘Kibris’ newspaper comments that the court verdict to punish the Greek Cypriot students is a very important development. The paper adds that the fact that the one of the Greek Cypriot attackers was given a jailed sentence is very important for the Turkish Cypriots and is also something being expected. “The fact that justice starts giving punishments for the attacks taking place in South Cyprus would not only be a deterrent against similar incidents but also is important for the development of trust between the two communities. We wish that all the attackers against the Turkish Cypriots would stand trial and would be punished appropriately”, the paper adds.

Additionally, columnist Resat Akar, in a commentary in Turkish Cypriot daily ‘Diyalog’ describes the decision of the Court as a very important development, he adds however, that it is remarkable that the sentence handed down to the student was suspended. Akar wonders what the meaning of the punishment is if it is not be implemented. “If the punishment given was to be implemented, we would take on board that the Greek Cypriots changed mentality. If we want a viable solution [to the Cyprus problem], there is no other remedy than preventing racist behaviour and implementing effective decisions. Changing the educational system which is based on hostility to the Turkish Cypriots would be the first step”, he concluded.

Cyprus Mail, Kibris, Diyalog

TIME TO CHANGE TOMORROW 25TH MARCH 2018 IN NORTH CYPRUS

Dear All in Northern Cyprus, Clocks are going forward 1 (One) Hour at 3.00am by tomorrow  Sunday 25th March 2018.  Please check your timezone settings to correspond to your current time zone.
The last this happened, I almost missed a crucial appointment (Hahahahah...),  So please Cyprus students don't miss the school bus due to time change. Lolzzz

THE SHADOW REDUCES THE NEVRUZ - YESTERDAY

During the Nevruz celebrations held yesterday in the picnic area belonging to Iskele Municipality, blood pressure rose and six people were taken into custody ... 

Each year traditionally organized by the Newruz Order Committee, some people were forced to intervene in police action against illegal terrorist organization PKK. 

Police intensified security measures taken in celebration of newruz, 2 people were detained on the grounds that 6 women were involved in illegal activities. 

The event, organized by the East and South East Cultural Association and the Cultural Association of Pir Sultan Abdal, was organized in the İskele Municipality Picnic area. 

The police did not allow the terrorist organization's slogan and the banner to open in this way in any way. During the Nevruz celebration, the police cut off the electric current for a period of time when the terrorist organization was playing music and slogans. There was a short-term tension on this. Then they stepped jetty Police Director Ahmet five. First of all, those who celebrate their festivities by addressing the crowd, said there is no need for tension. Those who participated in the event, such as they want to celebrate the holidays, Beşlerler said that they would not allow the terrorist organization to play music and slogans. 

6 PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED

After this was done, the area was re-energized and the music was accompanied by halay. Then a neurosis fever was burned. 

SLOGNES ATILDI

‘Priceless’ artefacts discovered in Bağlıköy

Emine Hilkat, of the Antiquities Department, said they had sent a team to investigate after being tipped off about the existence of the mill, which is at least 100 years old and could date back to Ottoman times. It has been unused since the early 1960s.

She said the artefacts were “priceless as they are part of our culture”, adding: “We will do anything and everything in accordance with the relevant laws to keep them safe and secure, bringing them to the public in the best way possible.”

The department wanted to raise public awareness that there were still historical treasures to be discovered, she commented.

Taner Kerimoğlu, of the Bağlıköy Eco-tourism Association, said: “It’s essential to bring our past and cultural value into the village. This will bring great publicity to our village and we will be happy to share such culture with people who visit.”

I’m trying to leave my boyfriend but my mother says it’s ‘hysteria’

The dilemma I’m a 21-year-old student living at home with my parents. My boyfriend and I have been together since the age of 17. For the past year I am certain that I have fallen out of love with him, I never want to be intimate any more and I think we’ve outgrown each other. I’ve tried breaking up with him a few times, but I get teary and swallow my words, or something arises and his familiarity feels safe. We plan to go travelling to southeast Asia this summer. We’ve been talking about it for a while and savings have been put away. I’ve tried turning to my mother for advice, but when I wanted to break up last Easter, she told me I couldn’t because it was the final term of uni and it would disrupt his exam revision. This time, she says it would be cruel because he’s been planning the trip. She labels the times I have mentioned something is not quite right as “hysteria”. The situation is upsetting and my indecisiveness is a monster, but my mother telling me to carry on as normal for his sake leaves me confused.

Mariella replies No wonder. Truth be told we parents don’t always get it right. We’re also pretty bad at admitting it when we make mistakes… or is that just me? Anyway, I’m already digressing. This is not about your parents and nor should it be. I’m not sure why your mother is so committed to you remaining with your boyfriend, but I’m pretty sure she’s got it wrong.

There’s certain to be comfort for her in knowing that you are in a functional relationship with a decent guy, but her sense of security can’t be what dictates your choices. Then again, you are not making it any easier for her. If you’re endlessly revisiting the topic and being indecisive about what you should do there’s every reason for her to think that you remain undecided. Are you? It’s certainly not the impression I’m getting from your letter.

There’s also going to be an element of wish fulfilment for her in keeping you together right now. I know if my daughter was heading off around southeast Asia I’d be delighted if she had a nice boyfriend in tow. But the feelings you’ve described offer little room for ambiguity or indeed censure and there’s not a whiff of hysteria about them to my mind.

There’s nobody who can answer to your feelings for this man, or absence of them, other than you. If your relationship has evolved into a friendship, there’s no benefit in continuing to string him along. You’re just perpetuating the misery for both of you. Of course he’ll be upset, but sparing someone’s feelings is never a good reason to stay in a relationship. There are kind ways to let a lover down and from what you’ve said here you would do better to work on a gentle explanation that allows you both to walk away with dignity, rather than endlessly revisiting the question of whether or not you should be splitting up in the first place.

- The Guardian

North Cyprus students arrested for robbing 15 houses and 5 shops in Girne

About Eight Zimbabwe students have been arrested in connection with robbery / theft of some goods or items including laptops, stereos, cash and other electronic gadgets. The Girne Police are investigating to ascertain the exact number of operations they have carried out around Girne and other areas in Cyprus.

They were made to appear before the Girne criminal court to answer to charges related to burglary, breaking and entry and other heinous charges and the presiding judge asked that they remain in custody for two days while the police gathers more evidence.

Police in a statement said other suspects are still at-large and in no time, they hope to round them up.

Frankly speaking, I still cant believe that in this times and age of advance digital technology and surveillance security camera coverage all-over Cyprus, i am shocked that a group of fearless student can pull such stunts. Wow!  Even a fool should know He/She will be caught.

I salute their courage !   

New marina to be built in the north

A new marina is to be built at Famagusta in the north of the island, it was reported on Tuesday.

According to Turkish Cypriot media reports, authorities announced plans to construct a new marina aimed at attracting more visitors.

‘Minister’ of tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu said the new marina will be positive for the breakaway state.

Ataoglu said that there was a significant rise in the number of yachts in the Mediterranean, reaching a million, and that new investment areas in France, Spain and Italy which currently hold 75 per cent of the marina capacity in the region was limited.

He also said that rise in pollution, overcrowding and prices in the Western Mediterranean made the north of Cyprus and other regional countries attractive.
The creation of new well-built marinas on a build-operate-transfer model was imperative and very important, he said, to meet rising demand.

Famagusta will open a door to the world with the new marina, Ataoglu said.

The project, according to Ataoglu, was designed as a social-cultural complex by giving particular importance to the needs of the people of Famagusta and the north in general.  Apart from the berthing facilities, a customs office as well as social spaces such as cafes, restaurants and a car park would be included in the project.

There are currently two marinas in the north, one in Kyrenia and one at Yialousa in the Karpas peninsula

Alsancak Council Worker Stabbed to Death

A man was stabbed to death in Alsancak at lunchtime on Tuesday during an argument with his tenants who live on the ground floor of his house.

Memduh Ulugün, 53, who worked for Alsancak council and had returned home for lunch, received six stab wounds to his chest during an argument with his tenants, a married couple Mehmet and Meryem Doğu.

The attack took place in Zeytinlik Sokak, while horrified onlookers were unable to intervene.

They were told to keep away and that this was a matter of honour.

The husband attempted to run away after the incident. However, both husband and wife were arrested. The police had problems dispersing the shocked and angry crowd which had gathered.

Kibris

Why women set their wedding dresses on fire

Scorned brides are saying “yes” to trashing the dress. lolzzz. This is interesting .....

It’s become somewhat of a trend for women to destroy their wedding dress after being dumped or mistreated by a husband or fiancé. Kristy Scott is the one of the latest to join this ex-wives’ club.

After discovering her husband cheated on her, the Louisiana woman covered her wedding dress in paint and then set it on fire — just as anyone might want to do after finding out her husband of 16 years was two-timing her with a pal. According to Metro,Scott’s husband had been having a three-month affair with a mutual Facebook friend.

“I wanted to burn the dress, because I couldn’t burn the marriage,” she told Metro. “I got my friend, she had a professional camera, we went down the bayou, on a road, and did my thing.” That is, she covered the gown with pink and purple paint before returning to her friend’s yard, where she set it ablaze. “It was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” she said. “It definitely helped me get through everything.”

How does simply setting a material object on fire mend a broken heart? “They have been burned at the altar and burned in the relationship. It becomes a way to release the anger and hurt they have experienced.

It’s apparently an effective method for moving on, because brides around the world are doing the same. Briana Barksdale, who survived an abusive marriage, recently hosted a “divorce garage sale” to rid herself of the memories from her harrowing relationship. The day’s centerpiece, a fluffy white bridal gown she wore 13 years ago, was not for sale, though.

“This is for every woman who has ever been in a relationship that was abusive, that hurt, that they shouldn’t have stayed in, that they didn’t know how to get out of,” the Houston resident said to news cameras before dousing the displayed dress with gasoline. Surrounded by friends and family, she then sparked a lighter at the hem of the gown in the driveway of her home. “Burn, baby, burn,” the divorcée sang out as the gown burst into flames.

Engaged Teacher Had Sex With 13-Year-Old Female Student From Her School

A teacher was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison for sexual battery after she pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old female student.

Brooke Rosendale was a fifth grade intervention specialist and a girls volleyball and basketball coach at Riverdale School in Ohio. According to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE, Rosendale had sexual contact with the teen in January and February of 2017. The incidents did not happen on school grounds.

According to the arrest report, Rosendale was not the girl’s teacher, but they had met through the school’s extracurricular programs.

Rosendale, 27, was engaged to her long-term boyfriend when the incidents occurred.

In March 2017, the teen’s parents reported the incidents to the school district. After the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal probe, Rosendale resigned from her position. She has also relinquished her teaching certificate.

Rosendale was initially charged with three counts of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Under a plea agreement on January 26, she has been found guilty of one count of sexual battery. The other two counts were dropped.

After her release, Rosendale will register as a Tier 3 sex offender and will no longer be able to work with children. She must also pay $225 in restitution to the family of the student.

In court on Wednesday, Rosendale apologized for her actions. The parents of the student appeared in court, but opted not to make a statement to the court.

“I want to apologize to the family,” Rosendale said in court. “I know I hurt them and I apologize.”

Rosendale’s attorney, Peter Halleck, did not immediately return PEOPLE’s call for comment, but he told the court that his client accepted responsibility for what she had done. He said that she was remorseful for her actions.

The presiding judge seemed unmoved by Rosendale’s apology. Hancock County Judge Reginald Routson questioned whether Rosendale fully understood the gravity of her actions. He cited a letter that she had written to the court, which he said indicated that she minimized her responsibility and placed some of the blame on the student.

Steve Helling,People.

Four people seriously injured in Vienna knife attacks

Four people were seriously injured in two knife attacks in one district of the Austrian capital Vienna on Wednesday evening but any motive or connection between the assaults was unclear, a police spokesman said.

The stabbings - the first of which took place at 6.45pm (GMT), occurred in Vienna's Second District, which includes the famous Prater park as well as the Praterstern transport hub. It also houses much of Vienna's small Jewish community.

"A man attacked a family - a father, a mother and their 17-year-old daughter - with a knife. The three people were seriously injured and their lives are in danger," the spokesman said.

"And half an hour later there was another attack ... at Praterstern and here a person was also seriously injured and their life is in danger. We do not know to what extent there is a connection here and any motive remains unclear," he said.

Witness Silvia Franke said she was about 100 metres away when the incident happened.

"I saw how someone in the middle of the street was screaming and shouting - I thought he was beating his dog judging from his hand movements," she said. "And in reality he was stabbing this man."

"He could have stabbed me as well had I been there by chance," Franke said. "He had lost all control." 

Another knife attack shortly afterwards in the same area seriously wounded a 20-year-old Chechen, Mr Maierhofer said, adding a male with Afghan nationality had been arrested.

Officers were investigating whether the two attacks are linked.

Vienna has not experienced deadly attacks by Islamist militant like the ones that have struck Paris, Berlin and Brussels since 2015.

Wife of Iranian-Canadian who died in jail barred from leaving Iran: son

LONDON (Reuters) - The wife of an Iranian-Canadian environmental activist who died in prison in Tehran last month was barred from leaving Iran, one of her sons said, in an unexplained move that drew an angry response from Canada.

Raam Emami said in an email to journalists that security forces had not allowed his mother Maryam Mombeini to get on a plane to Vancouver with him and his brother on Wednesday night.

Mombeini is the widow of Kavous Seyed-Emami, an environmental activist and sociology professor who was arrested on Jan. 24 and died in prison. Iran's judiciary said Seyed-Emami, 63, had committed suicide.

The family has called for independent probe into his death.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, said in a message posted on Twitter that she was "outraged" to learn that Mombeini had been barred from leaving Iran.

"We demand that, as a Canadian, she be given the freedom to return home," she added.

Iranian judiciary officials were not immediately available for comment.

Seyed-Emami was the managing director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which seeks to protect Iran's rare animals. Iran's judiciary said he had set up the NGO as a cover to collect classified information on Iran's missile program.

Raam Emami said the family decided to leave Iran after being constantly "harassed".

"The government raided our home and seized all of our valuables (most importantly deeds to our homes), we can no longer stand this state of constant terror," he said.

Raam Emami has previously said that the family was under pressure from authorities not to publicize the case of Seyed-Emami.

"The authorities told our lawyers to tell the brothers 'to shut up or we'll shut them up,' Emami said, adding government agents had told him they were watching him.

Human rights activists have reported that at least six detainees have died in prison in the last two months in Iran. The judiciary has confirmed three deaths in custody but said all three had committed suicide.

Bilateral ties between Iran and Canada worsened in 2003 when an Iranian-Canadian photo journalist, Zahra Kazemi, died in Tehran’s Evin prison while in custody.

Canada cut all diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati in Washington, Editing by William Maclean)

Tillerson says African countries should weigh Chinese loans carefully

Faki and Tillerson hold a news conference at African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Moussa Faki, of Chad, and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hold a news conference after their meeting at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 8, 2018. 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that African countries should weigh Chinese loans carefully, while adding that Washington was not trying to keep Chinese investment away from the continent.

Tillerson, a former Exxon chief executive, is seeking to bolster security alliances on a continent increasingly turning to Beijing for aid and trade.

The top U.S. diplomat may also seek to smooth relations after U.S. President Trump reportedly dismissed some African nations as "shithole countries" in January. Trump later denied making the comment.

"We are not in any way attempting to keep Chinese dollars from Africa," Tillerson told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital during his first diplomatic trip to the continent. "(But) it is important that African countries carefully consider the terms of those agreements and not forfeit their sovereignty."

Though the United States is the leading donor of humanitarian aid to Africa, China surpassed the U.S. to become Africa's largest trading partner in 2009.

Beijing has pumped billions into infrastructure projects, though critics say there is often little upside for local economies because Chinese firms and labor build the roads and rails.

Tillerson took that line on Thursday, saying that Chinese investments "do not bring significant job creation locally" and criticized how Beijing structures loans to African government.

If a government accepts a Chinese loan and "gets into trouble", he said, it can "lose control of its own infrastructure or its own resources through default." He did not give examples.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, visiting Zimbabwe on Thursday, told reporters he did not think it was appropriate for Tillerson to criticize China’s relationship with African countries.

Tillerson arrived in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, on Wednesday and visited the African Union headquarters on Thursday. The complex was fully funded and built by China and is seen as a symbol of Beijing's thrust for influence and access to the continent's natural resources.

Ethiopia is home to some of Beijing's biggest investments, from a railway to Djibouti that opened last year to factories and industrial parks.

His comments followed a speech earlier this week in which he criticized "China's approach" to Africa which he said encouraged dependency through "opaque contracts" and "predatory loan practices".

"We welcome Chinese participation, but we hope they will follow international rules, international norms and respect the sovereignty of countries," he said on Thursday.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Erhurman and Ozersay on First Official Visit to Ankara

Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman and Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay are on their first official visit to Ankara since being elected to office.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister visited Anıtkabir this morning before meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.

Following the meeting, the two prime ministers will hold a joint press conference.

A lunch will also be hosted in their honour by the Turkish Prime Minister.

Erhürman and Özersay will also be meeting with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Recep Akdağ.

In the afternoon, the two will be received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Speaking to reporters before his departure for Ankara, Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman said that in addition to following the established practice of conducting the first visit abroad to Ankara, the visit was aimed at discussing with Turkish officials the economic and financial protocols.

“We shall also be discussing as to how we can further develop our relations, how we can move forward and cooperate for the development of the TRNC. Naturally we shall also be discussing the Cyprus Problem, to evaluate the conditions we are currently in. Our foreign minister had launched initiatives on the hydrocarbons issue and so we need to exchange views on that”, he said.

Responding to a question on the economic and financial protocols, Erhürman said that this issue will be taken up as soon as the state budget is passed.

BRT

Las Palmas vs Barcelona: TV channel, kick-off time and team news for La Liga encounter

Ernesto Valverde's side stuttered with back-to-back draws in early February but have since recovered - and can put clear daylight between them and Atletico Madrid with victory here.
It's been a tough season for Las Palmas who are the second lowest scorers in the league, but they are only one point behind Levante in 17th.

Airline staff in furious row with passenger over size of her carry-on bag - even though it fits in measuring rack

A passenger had a heated row with airline staff when they said her carry-on bag was too large – even though it fitted inside their measuring rack.

Natalia Rutkowski, 27, was checking in for a flight from Chicago to New Jersey with her mother Anna, 58, when United Airlines staff told her that her handbag was too big.

The account executive from Lyndhurst, New Jersey was asked to place the piece of luggage into a test rack at O’Hare International Airport.

But even though she managed to fit the bag into the rack, staff tell her it is oversized and that it will have to be checked for a $25 fee.

Video of the incident shows airline staff removing the bag and putting it in sideways before claiming that it does not fit, despite the fact that there appears to be space below it.

After speaking with various staff members, the mother and daughter were eventually allowed to board the flight home to Newark Airport, NJ, with their baggage.

Ms Rutkowski claims the encounter was “like saying a dog is a cat”, and left her and her mother, a Russian-born maid service manager who speaks limited English, feeling humiliated.