SIMERINI: “Infected food causes panic”. Panic has spread throughout the occupied area over revelations that large quantities of tomatoes and grapes were found to contain large amounts of pesticides. On Thursday, the Turkish Cypriot authorities carried out control checks at hypermarkets and shops to verify if other products had been affected. Meanwhile the consumers’ association in the north cautioned prudence when buying fruit and vegetables.
ALITHIA: “Uncle to go to court”. A 35-year-old man accused of sexually abusing his two underage nieces over a period of six years will stand trial on 13 charges of indecent assault, rape, abduction, corruption and unnatural licentiousness. The alleged crimes took place between 1993 and 1999. On Thursday, the court set his trial date for January 15 next year. Until that that time he will remain in police custody.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Guns to criminals from the occupied areas”. Underworld figures from the free and occupied areas have been collaborating over recent days. The authorities have received information of 100 rods of dynamite, explosives and a slow burning fuse from a quarry in occupied Kythrea. The ammunition was then passed over to the free areas unnoticed and handed over to criminals. This is not the first time weapons have crossed the Green Line, the paper said.
MACHI: “Casinos backed by Greek companies”. Greek companies have expressed an interest in investing in casinos in Cyprus, revealed Cyprus Tourism Organisation president, Fotis Fotiou. Although he refused to name the companies, he said a study was currently under way to assess how many casinos could be opened and in what towns. Revenues from running casinos in Cyprus are expected to reach £50 million.
POLITIS: “Fanieros to bring doctor from USA”. Convict Antonis Fanieros is trying to bring US Harvard medical professor, Dr Steven Zeitels, to examine him after the Attorney-general said he would only be granted 15 days leave to go to the United States for surgery. Fanieros claims he is a victim of vengefulness and because he would need to be in the US recuperating for longer than two weeks, he said he would be trying to bring the doctor to Cyprus instead.
KYPROS SIMERA: “Pontian and Paphian conflict”. The problem between Pontians and Paphians has increased in recent days with a heightening of attacks against Pontian students. Paphos circles have started to talk of the danger of a “social explosion”, but their requests for measures to stamp out the problem have fallen on deaf ears. Unfortunately the problem has turned into a vendetta and locals are afraid of where the violence will lead.
