‘Police don’t need anyone’s permission’

POLICE yesterday went on the defensive, after being criticised by the Ombudswoman for last Friday’s sweep operation against migrants in old Nicosia.

Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos was asked to comment on Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis’ claims that no such operation will ever be repeated again and that he hadn’t been informed about it beforehand.

Kitas was ‘helping’ drug officers

A NOTORIOUS criminal convicted of rape and murder claimed he was co-operating with the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) for the arrest of drug traffickers, it emerged yesterday.

Antonis Prokopiou Kitas alleged he was approached in prison by a DLEU member who asked him to help him out with the “drugs scourge.”

Cyprus climbs Euro health index

CYPRUS has climbed two places in the annual European Health Consumer Index (EHCI), ranking at 19 out of 33 countries.

This is below Eastern European Countries such as the Czech Republic and Estonia, but above Spain and Hungary. The Netherlands topped the charts for the second year running, with a record 875 out of 1,000 points.

Students to demonstrate against high tuition fees

THE MOVEMENT for the Reduction of Tuition Fees and the Review of the Law on Private Universities, and the Protoporia Student Movement yesterday announced plans for demonstrations outside the three private universities and outside the Ministry of Education.

Charity Child Development Centre to be Evicted by TEPAK

A ONE-OF-A-KIND educational organisation for children with special needs is being thrown out of the old Limassol hospital to make way for the growing campus of the Technological University TEPAK.

With limited funds and no guarantee of alternative housing, the charity unit is now faced with an uncertain future.

Christofias: Time to end embargo on Cuba

PRESIDENT Demetris Chrisofias participated in the official opening of Cyprus’ first embassy in Havana, Cuba yesterday, in the presence of Ambassadors of other EU member states in Havana.

Commonwealth finance ministers in Cyprus

COMMONWEALTH finance ministers will concentrate on the global financial crisis during their three-day meeting, which starts in Limassol today.

The agenda has been divided in three parts, each dealing with a different aspect of the global financial crisis.

ECHR makes landmark ruling on Greek property in Istanbul

THE EUROPEAN Court of Human Rights (ECHR) yesterday upheld the right of Greek nationals to inherit property in Istanbul, which is denied under Turkish law.

The ruling on a case brought in 2002 by Ioannis and Evangelos Fokas – two brothers from Katerini in Macedonia, Greece – relates to three apartment blocks left to them by their sister, Polyxeni Pistika, who lived in Istanbul.

Study hopes to validate GM ban in Cyprus

THE AGRICULTURE Ministry’s Environment Agency has signed an agreement with the Greek University of Thessaly to carry out a survey related to genetically modified crops in Cyprus.

Talks’ failure will lead to partition

FAILURE IN the current talks will most certainly mean partition for Cyprus, and not a just a benign continuation of the status quo, the International Crisis Group (ICG) says in its latest report due to be published today.