State looks to the future after devastating fires

MOUNTAIN communities yesterday made a desperate plea for immediate financial assistance in the wake of the fierce forest fires that swept through the Saittas area last weekend.

Initial estimates place the cost of the blaze at £1 million. That includes damage to houses, farmsteads, agricultural equipment and crops.

THE COMMITTEE on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) announced Monday the positive identification of 28 missing persons whose remains have recently been exhumed.

The bodies were identified by bi-communal teams of scientists in two laboratories – the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, and the CMP Anthropological Laboratory.

A NICOSIA man has been found guilty by a Criminal Court of indecently assaulting and sexually harassing his young niece.

On Friday, the 45-year-old was found guilty by the three-judge panel after a lengthily trial which resulted in the victim being forced to testify against him.

PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday met with children cancer patients and their parents as part of this year’s Make A Wish Foundation week.

The meeting took place at the presidential palace in the morning with Papadopoulos promising “direct help” to the foundation so that more children’s wishes could be made a reality and that their families were financially supported.

ARSONISTS yesterday targeted a drug squad officer’s car, setting it ablaze during the early hours of the morning, police said.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 2am in Larnaca while the vehicle was parked outside the owner’s home.

The blaze caused £1,000 worth of damage to the car, police said.

A WOMAN who repeatedly beat and assaulted her separated husband has been spared prison by a Nicosia judge.

Yesterday, the court had heard how the 35-year-old mother of two had assaulted her husband by throwing a jug at him.

A 23-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist died yesterday after crashing his vehicle in Larnaca.

The Polish man, who was working in Cyprus, was the third person to be killed on Cyprus’ roads in the last week. No specific reasons for the crash was given, but there were no other vehicles involved.

A 21-YEAR-OLD Polish man died yesterday after he was found unconscious during the early hours of Sunday in what authorities believe was a drug-induced coma.

Marios Kozorofsky was found at Lady’s Mile beach in the Limassol district during a joint operation between British Bases and government police following a tip off that drugs were being used at a dance party in the area.

BANK employees union ETYK may have to answer charges that it caused unfair competition in the market following its order to commercial banks not to process transactions with the National Bank of Greece.

Last week the union urged employees not to cash any cheques issued by NBG and freeze all wire transfers relating to that bank.