The fallout from the recent cabinet reshuffle and the President of the Republic’s remarks on the reactions it provoked, discussions on the tax-free income threshold, the new housing schemes announced by the government, and the death of a man in the occupied areas due to severe weather conditions feature prominently on today’s newspaper front pages.
Alithia leads with the headline “We Are Not a Hotchpotch”, focusing on what it describes as the President’s difficult effort to justify the cohabitation of far-right, right-wing, centrist and socialist figures within the government. In another report, the paper notes that the European Commission replied to MEP Michalis Hatzipantela that a new study is not required for the GSI project. It also highlights the death of a 57-year-old man in the occupied areas as a result of the storm.
Politis headlines its front page with “The First €22,000 of Income Tax-Free”, writing that the government stepped back under pressure from society. Elsewhere, it reports that storm Byron brought devastation to the occupied areas, publishing photographs from the affected regions. In another story, Politis notes that DIKO has firmly returned to the tracks of co-governance following the reshuffle.
Phileleftheros, under the headline “Agreement Reached on Tax Reform”, reports on what it describes as a win-win compromise between the government and DISY, DIKO and DIPA. Through a photo report, it also highlights ongoing erosion problems in Oroklini despite the installation of breakwaters. The paper further reports on tomorrow’s meeting of the two leaders with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy.
Haravgi titles its main story “We Spend Millions and Still Have No Public Transport!”, referring to findings by the Audit Office on overpayments and excessive charges in contracts for public bus transport. In another article, it reports on erosion problems along the Oroklini promenade, while also publishing findings from a European survey on manifestations of xenophobia.
The English-language Cyprus Mail leads with “One Dead in the North as Storm Hits Island”, reporting that dams overflowed, causing problems in occupied Kioneli and Nicosia, while a man lost his life. It also refers to the trial involving five accused persons in connection with the Thanasis Nicolaou case, which will resume in January, and covers the new housing schemes announced by the government yesterday.
The weekly Oikonomiki Kathimerini, under the headline “Cyprus–Germany at Loggerheads over Turkey”, reports on a diplomatic confrontation over the draft conclusions of the Danish Presidency. It also refers to trade agreements Cyprus is expected to sign and highlights the European Commission’s position rejecting the need for a new study on the GSI project.
Destruction and flooding caused by severe weather, the overflow of rivers and dams, and interventions by “civil defence” to rescue citizens trapped in vehicles swept away by torrential waters, while schools remain closed today, dominate the front pages of the Turkish Cypriot newspapers.
Avrupa (Europe), under the headline “Destruction”, reports that roads and properties were flooded, while drivers were trapped in their vehicles due to powerful waters caused by overflowing rivers and dams. It also notes that the “ministry of education” announced that schools in the occupied areas will remain closed today. Elsewhere, the paper refers to the arrest of an Azerbaijani politician in Istanbul and his deportation from the country, with an entry ban imposed under code G82, relating to “activities against national security”. No other topic features on today’s front page.
Halkın Sesi (Voice of the People), headlined “We Surrendered to the Storm”, focuses on the destruction caused in the occupied areas by extreme weather conditions, with flooded roads and rivers, citizens trapped in their vehicles, and the intervention of “civil defence”. Schools will also remain closed today. People whose homes were flooded were transferred to hotels and student residences. The newspaper publishes photographs from various areas in the occupied territories showing flooded streets and overturned vehicles. No other subject is highlighted on the front page.
Kıbrıs (Cyprus), with the headline “Like a Thriller Movie”, writes that dams and rivers overflowed in the occupied areas due to heavy rainfall, while significant damage was recorded in Kioneli, in occupied Nicosia, where properties and roads were flooded following the overflow of a dam. The “council of ministers” convened an emergency meeting and “crisis committees” met in several “municipalities”. The paper also reports that the “state hospital” was placed on alert due to the overflow of a nearby river. Photographs of rescue operations involving citizens at risk are also published. Elsewhere, the paper refers to the health condition of “prime minister” Ünal Üstel, who underwent a minor emergency procedure and is expected to be discharged in the coming days.
Yeni Düzen (New Order), under the headline “Infrastructure Collapsed, the Country Drowned”, reports on the destruction caused in the occupied areas by severe weather conditions, with flooded roads and many people placed at risk due to inundated properties and being trapped in their vehicles. The newspaper publishes photographs illustrating the situation. No other topic appears on today’s front page.