ALMOST every week we read newspaper reports about operational problems at state hospitals. Operations cancelled because the hospital ran out of consumables, patients sent away because hospital equipment was in a state of disrepair, specific drugs in short supply, opening of new departments constantly being put off: the list of problems is endless. 
Then there are the investigations into dubious dealings. There was an investigation into the purchase of medicine by the Pharmaceutical Services, a few years ago, while currently an investigation is being conducted into the grossly inflated price agreed for expensive equipment for Limassol General Hospital.

PRESIDENT DEMETRIS Christofias will reportedly play host today to the Saudi Arabian royal billionaire currently holidaying with his entourage off the coast of Latchi in his 90-metre long luxury yacht.
According to yesterday’s Politis, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal will travel by helicopter from his yacht anchored in the Chrysochous bay on the west of the island to Christofias’ more humble holiday abode in Kellaki in the Limassol district. The paper reported that Al-Waleed will make the trip also accompanied by a police helicopter.
Forbes magazine estimated Al-Waleed’s net worth at US$19.4 billion, making him the 19th richest man in the world. The Saudi prince is reported to have amassed his fortune through investments in real estate and the stock market.

BEFORE THE ink could dry on a DIKO press release regarding Friday’s marathon meeting of the Executive Bureau, party vice-president Nicolas Papadopoulos yesterday disputed the very conclusions of that meeting. 
The bureau met for five hours on Friday in another effort to bridge the gap between DIKO members who support the government and those who publicly criticise its policies, particularly over the handling of the Cyprus problem and the economy.
In a statement released yesterday, party spokesman Fotis Fotiou said the meeting set out a clear framework of the party’s positions before the National Council meeting on Tuesday, which includes support for President Demetris Christofias’ three-proposal package recently announced for the ongoing talks.

TWO suspects held in connection with the theft of 172 kilos of plastic explosives from a Limassol army depot had been in telephone contact with three other individuals over 60 times in the days around the ordnance disappeared.
The two non commissioned officers, aged 36 and 35, were arrested a day after the discovery of the break-in at the unit at Palodia, north of Limassol, nearly two weeks ago.
Police, who have secured the suspects’ phone records, told a Limassol court yesterday that the men had spoken to three specific individuals more than 60 times in the days around when the theft took place.
Police said they have questioned numerous people and searched several venues but so far there is no sign of the explosives.

PLACES of interest in Nicosia such as museums and churches will shortly have extended opening hours, in order to make the capital’s historic and cultural heritage more accessible to both locals and tourists.
The Folk Art Museum, the Byzantine Museum and Art Galleries – located in the Archbishop Makarios III Cultural Centre – and Nicosia churches will be the first to stay open longer.
The Archbishopric is also considering opening its doors from 9.30am to 5.30pm, while the Antiquities Department will shortly consider a proposal for extending museum opening hours on normal working days. However, museums will continue to be shut on Mondays, in line with current European practice.

A MAN was killed trying to cross the motorway on the outskirts of Nicosia on Friday night. The 39-year-old man from Sri Lanka tried to cross the Nicosia-Limassol highway near the Tseri flyover at around 11pm when a 77-year-old man from Nicosia hit him while driving his car towards Limassol.
The 39-year-old was rushed to Nicosia General Hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed his death. Nicosia Traffic police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

TEMPERATURES soared over the 40 degrees Celsius mark yesterday, at some point reaching 43 in Nicosia, the state broadcaster CyBC reported yesterday.  The scorching temperatures are expected to continue until mid-week, accompanied by high levels of humidity, particularly in the south-eastern coastal region.
Senior Met officer Cleanthis Nicolaides told CyBC that some relief in the form of cooler breezes could be found on the east and west of the island in the coastal regions but that the heat wave was not expected to let up until Monday, after which the island will see a gradual drop in temperatures.