PROTECTIVE barriers around a Paphos canal where a 13-year-old boy drowned earlier this month will be tightened, Yeroskipou Municipality decided yesterday.The new measures will include ways to help people who have fallen in get out. In addition to the boy who drowned a couple of weeks ago, a father and his two children died there in 2007.“It was decided that the current fencing around the water canal, facing the area’s schools and especially in the direction of the bridge and its parapet, should be reinforced, as should the warning signs, in accordance to the updated European standards,” the municipality announced yesterday... 2 comments

THE ENTIRE Paphos district was last night shaken by an earthquake, with data indicating the tremor registered between 3.5 and 4 on the Richter scale. The tremor took place at 9.50pm and reports claimed it raised concern among the district’s residents. No damage had last night been recorded. Only minutes later, resident of Pervolia in the Larnaca district were also hit by a tremor registering 5.0 on the Richter scale. No damage was reported... 12 comments

A MUTILATED hunting dog has survived the first operation to save her life, performed by vets at an animal charity in Paphos.The dog, which staff at the organisation named ‘Sorrow’ had been sliced from her chest to her throat in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen.The animal was rushed to Paphiakos and CCP animal welfare by a passerby  a week ago after being discovered abandoned on the roadside in Anavargos village.Suzanne Ashmore, the public relations manager of the charity said: “She has made it through the first operation which was performed last week and she will require at least one more.”The wounds were so severe that the animal had been left with her jaw bone hanging out... 19 comments

A 13-YEAR-old Bulgarian boy drowned yesterday while trying to retrieve a ball from a canal in the Paphos district.The boy slipped and fell into the canal in Yeroskipou and remained underwater for 30 minutes before rescuers managed to pull him out at around 12.30pm.He was rushed to hospital where doctors succeeded in restarting his heart but the boy was already brain dead.He was pronounced dead at around four after his heart stopped beating.The 13-year-old had been playing in the area near the Yiannakis Taliotis lyceum when he tried to retrieve a ball from the water department canal.An area resident tried to pull the boy out but was unsuccessful.More residents scrambled on the scene but were unable to find the boy, who had sank... 5 comments

 THE 15th Hot Dog show will take place in Paphos today. Organised by Paphiakos and CCP animal welfare, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever.“The event opens at 8am and we have loads going on before the dog rounds get underway,” said event organiser Suzanne Ashmore.With over 100 stalls, entertainment for children including a bouncy castle, water sports and donkey rides, this event is a fun packed day out for all of the family.Although popular, according to Ashmore, the event isn’t a money spinner for the charity as all of proceeds just about cover the costs incurred.“The hot dog show is more about raising awareness of the charity and letting people know that we’re here and the services we provide,” she said. ... 11 comments

TWO people, a man and a woman, were in police custody yesterday after a Paphos pensioner was found left for dead in the middle of the Amargetis-Pentalia road on Thursday night.Police are looking at a scenario where the 75-year-old man, Phidias Kanaris, from Amergetis in Paphos was hit by the man during an argument and subsequently run over by him, and left fatally injured in the middle of the road. They believe he was then run over a second time by a woman on her way home from work who also left him there and fled the scene... 5 comments

A 36-YEAR-OLD man was critically injured yesterday at Paphos’ archaeological museum after he fell from a height of six metres.According to police, the man, who works for a company installing fire safety equipment, was on the roof of the museum when he tried to pull at a cable but lost his balance and fell.He is suffering from contusions to the head and other parts of his body. Due to the seriousness of his condition he was transferred to Nicosia general hospital... Read on

POLICE are investigating alleged child abuse at a special education unit of public kindergarten in Paphos, it emerged yesterday.The case had been reported by parents before Easter, prompting education authorities to suspend a teacher, a speech therapist and an assistant – all female.No other information was immediately available.The chairman of the district’s public kindergartens federation called on the authorities to resolve the case but also safeguard the child and the family by maintaining confidentiality.“We demand a full and thorough investigation of the incident because such serious issues must not go unpunished nor swept under the carpet,” Marios Ignatiou said. ... 1 comment

 A RETIRED British ex pat is this years Bens X factor winner. The Paphos singing competition saw vocalists of all ages pitted against each other for their chance to be the winner of the €1,000 in cash prizes which was up for grabs. The event was held in aid of Help for Heroes.Winner, 63-year-old Kathy Goldring from Yeroskipou said she was delighted to receive the €700 first prize, €200 of which she donated to the Help for Heroes charity... 1 comment

The name says it all really. This trendy, gay-friendly bar - found at the end of Bar Street in the middle of the tourist area in Kato Paphos - is now a cornerstone of the local nightlife scene and a popular choice with those looking for something ‘different’.Established in 1993 Different caused a bit of a stir in Paphos, as it was and remains the only ‘gay bar’ in the town. But obviously, you don’t have to be gay to visit and, in fact, some nights many of the customers of this modern venue aren’t.An evening here will leave you giggling. The staff enjoy a friendly chit chat with customers and the atmosphere is relaxed and decidedly chilled. It’s a case of ‘anything goes’ and it’s a great place to spend an evening to dance the night away or to chill out and relax... Read on