PHILELEFTHEROS “Looking for an antidote for break-ins” The police are looking for ways to crack down on breaks-ins and theft, as there has been a steady increase in the crime rate. Assistant to the Chief of Police Sotiris Charalambous said he was dissatisfied with the way crime is dealt with. He has called on police to take stricter measures to cut down on crime. CID officials, in the meanwhile, say they are understaffed. Police have now decided that those who work shifts should work longer hours and will be issued letters instructing them on how to operate.
POLITIS “Determined to make cuts” President Tassos Papadopoulos is satisfied with the running of the government. In an interview with Politis, Papadopoulos said he had not yet decided to reshape his government. He stated he would crack down on nepotism and described the cost of the new Nicosia General Hospital as a black hole. He also brought up the operation of Cyprus Airways, CyTA and other public services.
THARROS “Pain behind a closed door” A large family of refugees living in an old Turkish Cypriot home in Potamia, heavily in debt and suffering from health problems is struggling to survive. The father is ill and unemployed after losing his job at the Makarios Hospital three months ago where he had worked for 12 years. The mother is disabled after suffering a stroke while trying to raise her four daughters. One of the daughters, Stella is raising the family. The youngest daughter’s allowance from the state for special needs is what keeps the family alive, but it is not enough. Apart from owing money for a loan the father signed as guarantor, the family must do up the home and pay for doctors.
ALITHIA “Fire threatened old Nicosia” A fire that broke out in a printer’s in old Nicosia on Sunday yesterday threatened the houses next to it. The fire was reported at 11.45am in a two-storey building belonging to Anna Anastasiadou and used by Ioannis Nicolaou as a printing house. The fire was brought under control by the fire fighters, but only after it had destroyed everything in its path and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
SIMERINI “New shake ups for Cyprus Airways” More trouble is on the horizon for Cyprus Airways as some chief stewards are unhappy with the airline’s plan for early retirement. Out of the 11 chief air stewards concerned five of them accepted early retirement with the other six are being supported by their union and refuse to back down. After a meeting held last Thursday to discuss the matter, the only outcome was to arrange another meeting for today. The union has stated it will not attend any meetings unless an agreement is signed that protects the chief stewards.
XARAVGI “Works of art in danger of being ruined” Works of art in the Cyprus Art Gallery are positioned in inappropriate places under unsuitable climate conditions and are in danger of being ruined, the latest Auditor-general’s report has warned. The new roof that should be constructed has not yet been completed. The Auditor-general also said the value of these works was high and they had not yet been insured. She added the works were being neglected, as they were not inspected by professionals.
