AUTHORITIES have amped up security at Cyprus’ two airports following the botched attack of a Detroit bound airliner on Christmas day.
Umar Farouk Nigerian Abdulmutallab, 23, has been charged with attempting to blow up a Northwest Airlines jumbo plane as it approached Detroit on a flight from Amsterdam with almost 300 people on board.
Abdulmutallab was overpowered by passengers and crew after setting alight an explosive device attached to his body, and was later treated for burns.

A HEAVY police presence in the centre of Nicosia ensured that there were no unpleasant incidents during Sunday’s rival protest marches. The two sets of protestors were kept apart by the police and dispersed peacefully when it was made clear that neither group would be allowed to go beyond a certain point on Makarios Avenue. One group was demanding action against illegal immigrants, while the second group – led by the immigrants’ support group KISA – was protesting against the racist objectives of the former. 

THE fragile government coalition appears to be holding for the time being after alliance party leaders yesterday met with President Demetris Christofias to discuss ways of improving cooperation.
The leaders agreed to have more frequent meetings in a bid to improve the coordination between the coalition parties.
“The President expressed his views regarding how he sees the cooperation between coalition parties becoming more efficient,” DIKO chief Marios Garoyian said after the meeting.
Garoyian said Christofias had assured him of his determination for better cooperation between the parties which form the ruling alliance.

THOUSANDS of travellers were inconvenienced on Christmas Eve when a malfunction with the runway lights at Larnaca airport stopped dozens of planes from landing or taking off.
Hermes, operators of the airport, said the blackout on the runway was caused by a short—circuit in the lighting system, most likely precipitated by the heavy rainfall in the area.
Technicians went to work at once, but it was not until Friday morning that the repairs were completed and normal service resumed from the Larnaca terminal.
In a statement, the company apologised for the inconvenience. Civil Aviation said there had been plans to install new lighting cables by February next year, as the current cables were about 35 years old.

WITH THE hours ticking away to the smoking ban, the association of bar owners warned yesterday that the new law will be unenforceable as it is riddled with holes.
Association head Fanos Leventis claimed, for example, that establishments have not been informed on the proper procedures for putting up no-smoking signs.
He said that while the law requires all bars and restaurants to put up appropriate signs, it does not clarify what “appropriate” is.
The signs must be placed in highly visible spots and the writing must be readily legible. Failure to do so will result in a fine of up to €1,000.

THE U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting police in the investigation into the theft of the body of late former president Tassos Papadopoulos, a spokesman said yesterday.
An FBI official attached to the US embassy in Greece visited Cyprus last week and was briefed on the investigation into the gruesome act that took place earlier this month, police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said.
The FBI agent also visited the cemetery in Deftera, just outside Nicosia and departed for Athens after two days.
Katsounotos said the agent prepared a report, which was passed on to the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C where it will be assessed.
“We are waiting for the FBI to define what kind of help we should ask for,” Katsounotos told reporters.

SPAIN yesterday pledged its full support and encouragement to the ongoing talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to unite the island.
“We will give our full support … and will encourage this talks procedure,” Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Zapatero said after a meeting with President Demetris Christofias.
The Spanish Premier said his country will do everything it can if requested “to try and contribute to their (talks) successful progress.”
Christofias reiterated his commitment to everything he can so that the talks will yield the result “we all desire.”
“Our aim is to rid Cyprus of the occupation and secure human rights and the welfare of all citizens without exception in a reunited Cyprus.” Christofias said.

FIVE PEOPLE, one of whom is in critical conditions, were in intensive care yesterday with H1N1 flu as the fourth stage of the vaccination programme got underway.
Vaccines as of yesterday were made available to all persons aged six months to 65, regardless of whether they are in high risk groups or not. 
Immunisation is also still available to people over 65 who are in high risk groups.
“Clinical studies have shown that healthy older people have partial immunity to H1N1, developed from previous instances of flu strains, which were similar,” said Dr Chrystalla Hadjianastasiou, head of the special committee on H1N1.
Currently five people are being treated in the island’s intensive care units for H1N1 and complications arising from it. 

CYPRIOTS have sent a record number of SMS messages this Christmas with 13.5 million messages being sent on Christmas Day alone.
Last year, by comparison, 8.87 million text messages were sent on Christmas Day.
“It doesn’t undermine people’s use of phone calls: if they’re going to call a person they will anyway,” said Alexia Gialouridou, spokesperson for CyTA.  In fact, though precise figures were not available, CyTA was able to confirm that telephone calls over the Christmas period were roughly the same as last year.