DRUG use in the army has stabilised, and the situation is better compared to the armed forces of other countries, officials said yesterday.

“The National Guard compares relatively favourably… to the armed forces of other countries regarding the problem of drugs,” said Petros Kareklas, Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary.

THE government yesterday earmarked €52 million to support tourism and construction, as GDP growth figures slowed to 3.5 per cent in the second quarter and the eurozone slid into recession.

BUSINESSES are having difficulties in securing bank loans due to the global credit crunch, the government heard yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting of the financial advisory committee, Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis said considerable attention was given to the cash flow problem faced by businesses due to the credit crunch.

THE PRICE of medicine in Cyprus will remain below the EU average, following the Cabinet’s decision to adopt a new list of medicine prices worth €1.5 million a year to the consumer.

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias last night urged Cypriots to extend the hand of friendship to Turkish Cypriots, saying they should not be tarred with the same brush as Turkey.

He also called for unity among Greek Cypriots, saying that nationalism and chauvinism – along with foreign intervention – was the new “evil demon” facing Cyprus.

A SMALL single-engine aircraft was yesterday forced to land in a Larnaca district village football pitch, police said.

The incident occurred in the small refugee community of Mari at around 10.30am.

During the emergency landing, the 36-year-old South African Cypriot professional pilot hit the plane’s left wing on a leaf sweeper, knocking a piece off.

CYPRUS is doing its best to convince the European Union to reach a decision on scrapie that will have the least possible consequences on the farming sector, Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis said yesterday.

TWENTY-SEVEN Syrian illegal immigrants who entered the free areas through the north were found by Larnaca police yesterday.

According to Larnaca police spokesman Christos Andreou, “27 people – men, women and children were found by the police at the Immigration Department where they went to seek political asylum.”

GOING to the Whitesnake concert on Thursday night was one of the best ideas I have had in years.

Words can’t describe the night that was had by all – my group of friends, little cousin and work colleagues.

In fact, what with the bar being within touching distance, it’s quite a surprise I’m in any fit state to write this at all.