THE UN wants the two sides to adopt a game plan to resolve outstanding issues in peace talks this year and is hoping for a deal by mid 2012, envoy Alexander Downer told Reuters in an interview yesterday.

“We don’t have a deadline as such, but obviously everybody is working to try to get the agreement done before Cyprus takes over the [June 2012] presidency of the EU,” said Downer.

That position had been adopted by a number of EU leaders and President Demetris Christofias, he said.

Referring to the tripartite meeting on July 4, Downer said: “We will want this meeting to be a meeting that really helps to drive the process forward towards the end of the year, for the rest of the year. We want it to be a bit more than a routine stock taking.”

NURSES yesterday claimed they were being overworked at the Nicosia General Hospital due to a lack of staff, according to nursing manager Thalia Patsia who was speaking at an event yesterday to mark International Nurses Day.

“The workload at the Nicosia General Hospital has increased due to a large influx of people because of the economic crisis,” said Patsia stressing that more staff are needed to make up for this.  Patsia suggested that people might be turning to public healthcare as opposed to private because of the economic crisis.

CHILDREN could now be at risk from hypertension, or high blood pressure as it is better known, according to Dr Philippos Stylianou, president of the Cyprus Society of Hypertension.

Stylianou was speaking at a news conference yesterday commemorating Worldwide Hypertension Day, usually marked on May 17 but is happening a week earlier due to the elections on May 22.

As part of their campaign the association is setting up kiosks in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos on Saturday from 10am until lunchtime, where doctors will be measuring blood pressure for free and handing out leaflets.

PRESSURE is mounting on the government to perform when it assumes the EU rotating presidency in June next year and take responsibility for key financial services reform and a possible surge of economic migrants from outside the union.

However, the message from the Commission is that help will be at hand during the busy six month term at the head of the EU.

European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier – in Cyprus yesterday to meet with the government and key stakeholders said: “The Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012 is extremely important because the majority of laws will reach legislative maturation during the second half of 2012.”

THE PAPHOS Warriors, an Arsenal affiliated soccer school, has put a call out for would be cheerleaders to attend tryouts for a new squad.

Warrior’s spokesperson and cheerleading coach Cathy Alexandrou told the Cyprus Mail: “We are looking for girls with a great personality, enthusiasm and commitment.”

Tryouts for the squad will take place tomorrow and on May 21st at 11am at Olymipco grounds in Yeroskipou.

Alexandrou said: “We need to have a feminine balance to the Warriors and as I used to be a cheerleader it seemed like a natural progression for the team.”

Also working as a professional dancer, Alexandrou along with two other female professional dancers will hold the try outs which will start with a warm up and then light routines.

THE PALESTINIAN community in Cyprus will hold a demonstration to commemorate the 63th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine this Sunday in the capital.

Every May 15, Palestinians around the world commemorate the anniversary of the creation of Israel, referred to as Nakba (the Catastrophe), marking the expulsion and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in 1948.

According to a Cyprus-based organiser, a march will be held on Sunday, starting at 12pm at Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, heading to the Israeli embassy “to demand the end of Israeli occupation and the right for all Palestinian refugees to return to Palestine”.

WEAPONS, ammunition and explosives were discovered around midday on Wednesday in Kellaki, Limassol following a tip off.

Police found plastic bags in a field containing a number of explosives, two hand grenades, 172 gun cartridges, five different types of guns and two pistols.

They also found a mortar projectile, seven detonators, a wireless radio transmitter and detonation cord. Limassol CID are investigating.

TWO illegal workers and a number of unlicenced gambling machines were located on Wednesday during a police sting in the Ayios Antonios area in Nicosia.

Police found eight personal computers used for gambling purposes, coupons for bets on football and dog races, notes mentioning specific individuals and a total of €610 in cash.

Ten firecrackers and a pump containing dangerous gasses were found in the possession of a Romanian woman who said she was in charge of the betting shop.

Three boxes containing syringes and medication suspected to consist of anabolic steroids were sent for further testing.

A FunDay event is taking place this Sunday for anyone and everyone who appreciates delicious food, games, sports, homemade goods and a whole host of other interesting activities, and stalls to peruse and buy from.

The event is aimed at raising money for children’s charities and more specifically to buy a particular piece of equipment for the Makarios Children’s Hospital.

According to one of the organisers of the event, Katerina Liasis, there will be something for everyone at the 100-150 stalls, ranging from souvlakia and lokmades to homemade jam and bread.

THE GREEN party is holding a pre-election event at the Crown Plaza in Limassol today, to introduce its 12 candidates for the May 22 parliamentary elections.

The informal event will begin at 7.30pm and may include an English speaking chapter.

For more information contact Limassol MP Candidate Roxane Coudounaris Vernardakis on 99 666799 or by email to [email protected]