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Presenting a very complex chart outlining the various options for selling Israeli natural gas at the Frankfurt Gas Forum , Gina Cohen, Energy Expert, considered the technical, commercial or political aspects of each option. “What trumps what?” she asked. One option was pipelines - to the Palestinian Authority, to Jordan or Egypt, about which she commented: “These are in Israel's immediate neighborhood. Very short distance pipelines.” In the order of complexity, politically she said the Palestinians were the easiest customers, Jordanians second and then the Egyptians. Any complications, she said, only emerged on the buyers' side. “Israel is very keen on being able to influence our immediate neighbors. It's very difficult for the buyers to be able to agree to buy Israeli gas,” she explained. frankfurtgasforum.com

CNA - Athena Arsalidou - Nicosia 11/02/2014 13:44 Negotiations aiming at a settlement of the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, resume this week. This has been agreed by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who agreed on a joint declaration by which they express their determination to resume structured negotiations in a results-oriented manner. The joint declaration was read out by the UN Chief of Mission Lisa Buttenheim, after a meeting between Anastasiades and Eroglu held in the UN Protected Area, in the now defunct Nicosia international airport. Buttenheim also announced that the two leaders have instructed their negotiators – Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay  - to have their first meeting this week. According to the joint statement “the negotiations are based on the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

Egg donations thrive off the young and desperate. For years, US college campuses have been plastered with signs imploring young women to “donate” their eggs—for $8,000. More recently, the number of women selling their eggs (and men their sperm) soared amid the recession and high unemployment. Now, because of permissive laws and cash-strapped young women, Cyprus and Spain have become booming centers of egg donation and in vitro fertilization. Countries elsewhere in Europe more closely restrict the business of fertility. So hopeful mothers turn to donors in Spain and Cyprus, heralded as destinations for IVF because of lower costs and quicker turnaround times. According to a 2010 story in Fast Company, prospective parents can receive an egg two weeks after request in Spain versus two years in the UK because of restrictions. In the US, the entire procedure can cost upwards of $40,000 compared to $8,000 in Cyprus. IVF drugs that must be injected in an egg donor every day for t

Map of Cyprus Talks on the reunification of Cyprus are to resume following agreement between Turkish and Greek Cypriots on a negotiations roadmap. UN mediators said the leaders of both sides will meet at a UN compound in the capital Nicosia on 11 February. A roadmap for talks was agreed on Friday after several months of talks. Cyprus split after a coup in 1974 that was aimed at uniting the island with Greece, sparking a Turkish invasion of the island's north. The island was effectively partitioned, with the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots. The Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. It is only recognised by Turkey. The resort of Varosha - abandoned after the 1974 division

Cyprus – The party was in full swing at the glitzy 7 Seas club on Wednesday. A hundred Russian girls turned up (as they always do) for the weekly Ladies’ Night, cavorting in Louboutin heels to loud music as they downed vodka cocktails, chilled Cristal champagne or both. Without a care in the world and Daddy’s credit cards in their pocket, they giggled as swarms of young Russian and Cypriot men in leather jackets and designer jeans chatted them up. And when the music stopped at 3am, the rich young jet-set of the island’s seaside city of Limassol roared away in Porsches and Range Rovers to party the rest of the night away at million-pound mansions in the hills or swish, newly built apartments overlooking palm-fringed beaches. As blonde Katy Mass, a 29-year-old Moscow-born divorcee and businesswoman who was spending an evening at the club with three Russian girlfriends, said simply: “Cyprus is heaven and we Russians love the sun.

A COMPANY dealing in bitcoin exchange will soon open stores in Cyprus, according to a statement issued by the company yesterday. Neo Easycoin said they plan to operate bitcoin transaction shops “to better inform people on what is bitcoin, why it’s the future in monetary transactions and how people can gain access to it”. The company also plans to operate an online transaction server designed for bitcoin users in Cyprus. The company’s site is neo-easy.com but is currently not operational. Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer digital currency that functions without a central authority and was first introduced in January 2009 by a person known only as “Satoshi Nakatomo”. Bitcoins are stored in anonymous “electronic wallets,” or code, and can travel from one wallet to another by means of an online peer-to-peer network transaction.

Nicosia — Banks in recession-hit Cyprus, reeling from a financial crisis, are struggling with non-performing loans that make up nearly half their lending and are hampering efforts to finance a cash-starved economy. The central bank says banks' liquidity is sufficient to absorb NPLs up to a certain point, but fast action is needed as the figure is rising. So government, lenders and borrowers are seeking ways to reverse the trend without further damaging an economy forecast to contract by 8.7 percent in 2013 and another 3.9 percent this year. The total of NPLs -- defined as loans more than three months in arrears or rescheduled several times -- was 23 billion euros ($31 billion) at the end of September, according to the latest central bank figures. That is well in excess of GDP that stands at only 17 billion euros, and represents 42.3 percent of total lending. Fiona Mullen, a director at research consultancy Sapienta Economics Ltd, said they could soon reach 50 percent, be

Feb 3 (Reuters) - Cyprus will complain to the United Nations , it said on Monday, after the Turkish navy expelled a ship looking for gas in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey disputes Cyprus's rights to a swathe of sea to the island's south and southeast that are rich in natural gas reserves, adding to long-standing tensions between the neighbours. Turkey lies to Cyprus's north. The Turkish military said that one of its ships radioed a Norwegian vessel sailing in what it described as its maritime zone, ordering it to leave the area on Saturday night. There was no further incident. The ship was carrying out research for Total, one of three hydrocarbon companies licenced by Cyprus to seach for gas, Cypriot authorities said. "We will continue to monitor the area very closely," a Turkish official said.

Government Requests to Remove Online Material Increase at Google. Governments, led by the United States, are increasingly demanding that Google remove information from the Web. The company received 3,846 such requests to remove 24,737 items in the first half of 2013, an increase of 68 percent over the second half of 2012, according to an update to Google’s transparency report released on Thursday. Google complied with more than a third of all requests. Often, the requests come from judges, police officers and politicians trying to hide information that is critical of them. The most common request cites defamation, often of officials. Others cite local laws governing religion or hate speech, for instance, as when YouTube received requests to remove the “Innocence of Muslims” video clips. “Over the past four years, one worrying trend has remained consistent: governments continue to ask us to remove political content,” Susan Infantino, a legal director at Google, wrote in a compa

Almyra Hotel Pool British Summer Time may often seem to be a contradictory term, but if you're in need of a sprinkling of sunshine while our own thermometers struggle to hit double digits, the island of Cyprus offers a year-round respite only 4 hours away by plane. While the peak temperatures of July and August may be overpowering, Cyprus is an ideal destination for the spring and autumn. Cypriots cite September and October as their preferred time with the water temperature just right for swimming, but a visit in April proved that spring on Cyprus offers beautiful weather, quiet streets and a chance to combine a horizontal holiday with visits to the country's historic and archaeological sights. Anassa Hotel Undoubtedly the grande dame of the island, Anassa has a majestic position on the shore of Asprokremnos Beach, one of Cyprus's most beautiful beaches. Anassa Hotel Cyprus

#Cyprus Going cold on Turkey... IN ANOTHER era, tanks might now be on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul. Over the past year Turkey has seen a crackdown on protests, corruption scandals, a purge of the police and judiciary, paranoid talk of foreign plots and fifth columns, an economic slowdown and more attempts to Islamicise society. Given this turmoil, Turkey’s soldiers would no doubt be tempted to sweep aside the failed politicians (as they have done four times in the past). That the generals have remained in barracks—or, in many cases, in jail—is a sign of democratic progress. But after years of strong growth and political reform, Turkey is sliding backwards, with more than a whiff of authoritarianism about the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose Islamist-flavoured AK party has been in power since November 2002. The Economist Gezi olaylarında yayınladığı bir sayıda ise Erdoğan'ı böyle resmetmişti.

Agia Paraskevi is probably the busiest square mile in Nicosia. Two large buildings loom, uninspiring but imposing. From here the economy of Cyprus is run and was ruined by Bank of Cyprus, the nearly broke bank that was bailed out by taking depositors’ money for its rescue, and the Central Bank, heavily criticised for its extension of emergency liquidity to Laiki, a now defunct bank, even as it was manifestly insolvent. Next to these is the Hilton, teeming with foreign investors flying in to rescue (or to “vulture”, as some put it) troubled Cypriot companies. Between these is the twin church of Agia Paraskevi, one small old limestone building mirrored in a larger, modern copy created to fit more believers, its bells ringing hope as yuppies and bankers pass by, indifferent to its chimes. These men end up in the most strategically placed café of the country, where former Bank of Cyprus senior managers (now unemployed), Central Bank senior staffers, start-up owners and businessmen

(Shocking) Most people know Sean Hyman from his regular appearances on Fox Business, CNBC, and Bloomberg Television, but what they don’t know is that Sean is a former pastor, and that his secret to investing is woven within the Bible. Perhaps that can explain why, despite his uncanny ability to predict precise moves in the stock market, Sean is often laughed at for his unique stance on investing. For example . . . a few months ago Sean appeared on Bloomberg Television. At that time, Best Buy (BBY) was dropping to all-time lows of $16 a share. Sean predicted the stock could go down to $11 a share, and would then quickly rebound to $25 per share, and after that would rally to $40 per share over the next year. Another commentator on the show actually mocked Sean for his stance, saying “$40 on Best Buy? If that’s the case Apple (AAPL) is going to $1,500. That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!” (Editor’s Note: At the time, Apple was trading at $650 per share). Withi

AP Photo/Petros Karadjias Time virtually stopped in 1974 for the Mediterranean tourist playground of Varosha. When Turkey invaded Cyprus in the wake of a coup by supporters of union with Greece, thousands of residents fled, and chain-link fences enclosed a glamorous resort that it's said once played host to Hollywood royalty like Elizabeth Taylor. The town's crumbling, war-scarred beachfront hotels have become an emblem of the country's division between Turks and Greeks. In 40 years, few have set foot inside the town, which remains heavily guarded by the Turkish army and twists of barbed wire. But that grim scene could present a rare opportunity. AP Photo/Petros Karadjias

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Former ECB chief blames governments for euro-crisis BERLIN - The former head of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet, has blamed EU governments for what he called the "worst economic crisis since World War II” and said the eurozone is still at risk. Trichet, who led the ECB between 2003 and 2011, spoke out on Tuesday (14 January) at a European Parliament hearing on the “troika” of international lenders which managed bailouts in Cyprus, Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Echoing EU economics commissioner Olli Rehn’s remarks to MEPs ealier this week, Trichet underlined the "extraordinary" and unpredictable nature of the euro-crisis. But the 71-year-old French banker said he had warned EU governments of growing economic divergences in the euro area as far back as 2005 and that he had criticised member states, notably France and Germany, for ignoring the deficit and debt rules which underpin the common currency. Trichet led the European Central Bank a

The Israeli Air Force has been utilizing UAVs ever since the IAI Scout first flew during the 1982 Lebanon War. Over the last 30 years, Israel's rickety Reagan-era drones have been steadily upgraded into a world-class unmanned aerial fleet. And last Sunday, the IAF unveiled the newest upgrade to its Heron 1 (Shoval) drone, radar capable of identifying targets 300km away. This Eagle-Eyed Heron UAV Can See From Tel Aviv to Cyprus The Heron 1 (Shoval) is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) drone, capable of staying aloft for up to 52 hours with an operational ceiling of 35,000 feet. Developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries, the Heron 1 measures 79 feet long with an 86-foot wingspan and weighs 8,800 pounds. A single Pratt & Whitney PT6A 1,200-hp engine propels the drone along at a brisk 130 MPH. The Heron is capable of flying completely autonomously in all weather conditions—including takeoff and landing—over a pre-programmed flight path

Getting foreign gadgets to play nice with the local power grid is a nightmare any time you travel internationally. Here's why every country on the planet (except yours) totally screwed up indoor wiring. Why Power Outlets Look So Weird in Other Countries In the early days of the electricity craze, just after Nikola Tesla and the Westinghouse company wiped the floor with Thomas Edison's DC power scheme, inventors around the world began working on ways to harness the fantastical energy for household work. Everybody had a different idea of how to do so. In fact, when Westinghouse standardized its operating frequency 60 Hz, it snuffed out nine other potential frequencies. The same is true for the worldwide standard of 120 and 220-240V systems—these two beat out ten other options to become the de facto voltages. However, Germany paid little heed to the US's choice of a 60 Hz frequency. They instead decided on a 50 Hz standard because that's what was already being

The national carrier of Cyprus, founded in 1947, which once flew 707s, Comets, Tridents, Viscounts, DC-8s, DC3 Dakotas, DC-9s, then A300s, A310s and A330s, is now left with just 6 A320s, struggling to survive in the clutches of financial crisis. It's really sad for the locals to turn against an airline with such rich aviation history, which holds a truly excellent safety standard and has been awarded several times. It's tragic irony that the airline has been awarded as Best Performing New Airline, Fastest Growing Airlines in a Thin Route, Highest Raking European Destination, Highest Ranking non European destinations, Fastest growing Airline per geographical region, Most New Destinations and Fastest Growing Airline-Seasonal Routes. 65 years of history are too deeply ingrained to be wiped out... We should let no one chop off Cyprus Airways' golden wings... We trust and support Cyprus' national carrier...

The following is a guest post by my colleague, Theresa Papademetriou, who is the Law Library of Congress Senior Foreign Law Specialist for the European Union, Greece, and Cyprus. Theresa has previously blogged on “New Greek Regulation Designed to Fight Tax Evasion Problem: Will it Work?” Cyprus, which has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and the Euro zone since 2008, was recently on the brink of financial collapse. Its two major banks, the Popular (Laiki) and the Bank of Cyprus were abruptly closed on March 15, 2013 until further notice. A chaotic situation ensued when on March 16, 2013, the seventeen Euro zone members announced their decision to impose a one-time tax on deposits held in Cypriot banks in exchange for a 10 billion euro bailout by the European Union. The tax would amount to 9.9% for deposits exceeding €100,000 ($130.000) and 6.7% for deposits less than that. The decision was endorsed by the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the Interna