A 62-YEAR-old kiosk owner yesterday scared off an armed robber with a 500ml plastic bottle of water.

The incident occurred at around 5am in Liopetri in the Famagusta district, police said.

One man, one secretary carrying out daunting tasks

AFTER almost three years of stalling in parliament, the proposed law for an Environment Commissioner and Council has been rejected by parliamentary committee.

EAGER to boost a weakened construction sector, the state is trying to speed up the process of issuing licences for golf courses and the housing projects that accompany them.

MOTORISTS rushing to renew their car registration at the last minute have caused an overload to the computer system of the Road Transport Department.

The deadline for the renewal of licenses for motor vehicles ends on Sunday night and only 70 per cent of car owners have renewed them.

THE LABOUR Ministry intends to implement a number of measures and actions to support employment and minimise problems in the sectors most affected by the financial crisis.

One of the main focuses of the authorities is to clamp down on illegal employment.

NICOSIA Municipality is planning to spend almost €32 million on the capital in 2009, Mayor Eleni Mavrou said yesterday.

At a news conference, Mavrou said income in 2009 was estimated at €31.9 million, which is almost equal to the expenditure forecast.

‘He was an actor, not a fighter’ said Turkish professor

THE TURKISH army yesterday launched an investigation into the confession of a Turkish actor who said he had shot and killed an unarmed Greek Cypriot prisoner of war in 1974.

The people of Paphos have, in principal, given their approval to high-rise buildings during an public discussion held in the municipalities of Yeroskipou and Paphos town which provided a forum for locals wishing to voice their opinions.

Kyrenia centre of attention for world poker community

AS MANY as 20 Greek Cypriots are expected to take part in a major Texas Hold ’em Poker tournament at the Merit Casino in Kyrenia this weekend, a source at the casino said yesterday.