In today's episode, Cyprus was once again the launchpad for British bombing raids in Yemen, as the United Kingdom, together with the United States, conducted its third round of strikes. Meanwhile, another pro-Palestine protest took place on Sunday, this time in Limassol. The protest took place on the Molos seafront promenade, with attention focused on the plight of the children in Gaza. Elsewhere, House President Annita Demetriou described the arrival of UN Envoy Maria Angela Holguin as a “positive first step” at an event held in honour of Eoka fighters. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Attorney-General George Savvides said he would be referring lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou to the Bar Association for potential disciplinary offences after the latter claimed the legal service was corrupt Meanwhile, the Health insurers' organisation has begun its comparison of doctors' salaries from 2022 and the second half of 2023 Elsewhere, Serdar Denktash said the 14-point package of measures prepared for the Turkish Cypriots by President Nikos Christodoulides are "an admission of guilt". All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou sought to ease concerns of a multi-million euro arbitration cost the government may be forced to pay out amid a halt in construction works at the liquefied natural gas terminal at Vasiliko. Meanwhile, a study found Cyprus to be in the top ten most xenophobic countries. Elsewhere, socioeconomic inequalities in Cyprus risk "further estrangement" between the two sides, the United Nations Security Council cautioned. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the most important thing is to listen, not just to leaders, but to society, the UN secretary general’s personal envoy to Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin said on Tuesday following her first meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Meanwhile, December 2023, with an average islandwide temperature of 14.5C, was the second warmest December, the met office said. Elsewhere, a driver charged with causing a fatal accident has had his prison sentence increased to three years following a decision of the court of appeals made public on Tuesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides announced plans to create a “digital citizen” mobile application, on which people can access government services. Elsewhere, the cost of compensating every single Greek Cypriot for every single piece of land lost in 1974 may top £22.4 billion (€26.3bn), former Immovable Property Commission chairman Ayfer Said Erkmen has said.   In other news, anaesthesiologists working at Makarios hospital are refusing to participate in some abortions citing religious reasons, it emerged in parliament. All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, UN Secretary-General Personal Envoy for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin arrived in Cyprus on Sunday evening, according to the UN in Cyprus. Meanwhile, three men arrested under suspicion of rioting during the Ael-Apollon match last week, were remanded for four days by the Limassol district court on Sunday. Elsewhere, police conducted a raid on the central prisons on Sunday morning, to find information in relation to the case of prosecutor’s car set on fire. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, House Speaker Annita Demetriou said lifetime benefits for the President and the House speaker need to be abolished. Meanwhile, a child died at the Makarios hospital after having been rescued from a wooden boat off the coast of Cyprus. Elsewhere, Archbishop Georgios said gay marriage would negate the gospel. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides faced robust questioning following his speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Meanwhile, measures to tackle organised crime came under fire. Elsewhere, influencer and YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou announced he will stand in June's European Parliament elections. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, the project team for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Vasiliko has recommended that Cyprus halt further payments to the Chinese-led contractor if the latter fails to conform to the contract, it transpired on Monday. In other news, police on Monday announced eight measures aimed at tackling organised crime and football violence. Elsewhere, following the discovery of a dead homeless woman in an abandoned house in Limassol, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Social Insurance Marilena Evangelou said on Monday that many efforts had been made to provide the woman with shelter. All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a homeless woman was found dead in an abandoned home in Limassol over the weekend. An autopsy set to take place on Monday is expected to shed light on the cause of death. Meanwhile, a total of 190 migrants were rescued off the coast of Cape Greco in three separate boats, police said on Sunday. Elsewhere, a health ministry decision mandating all adult rape and sexual violence victims go to Nicosia’s Makario hospital for any examination, irrespective of which city they live in, has sparked a barrage of fury and concern. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, police chief Stelios Papatheodorou proposed the deployment of armed police on the streets. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Mustafa Hurben was handed a small fine for his refusal to complete his military duties. Elsewhere, Antonis Antoniou of the Giovani Group plead not guilty to the charges he faces regarding the golden passports scandal. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Attorney-general George Savvides strongly condemned Tuesday night’s attack on a public prosecutor’s car, which also prompted her colleagues to go on a work stoppage on Wednesday. Meanwhile, police are continuing investigations into the shooting in Aglandjia, while the 49-year-old victim of the attempted murder, travelled abroad without giving a police statement. Elsewhere, a man who attempted to burgle a house before falling asleep drunk on his victim’s kitchen floor was sentenced to three and a half years in jail. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a Turkish Cypriot lawyer arrested in Italy over selling property in the north filed an objection to Cyprus’ extradition request on Tuesday, arguing the central prisons would not be safe for him.Meanwhile, investigations into the attempted murder on Monday afternoon in Aglandjia are progressing rapidly, police spokesperson Christos Andreou said.Elsewhere, following mounting complaints from the capital’s residents, municipalities in Nicosia are to confiscate electric scooters if they are left “abandoned” in public places.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, nothing untoward was found concerning the conduct of three senior members of the Olympic Committee, the Sports Ethics Committee said.  Meanwhile... a 50-point action plan for migrant integration is set to go for approval before cabinet at the beginning of March, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said.  Elsewhere, British citizens living outside their country, among whom over 40,000 are believed to live in Cyprus, are to be handed the vote in their country’s elections, following an announcement by the country’s ruling Conservative Party.     All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, hundreds marched on Akrotiri base on Sunday against the British Bases turning Cyprus into an “aggressive launch pad” for the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, with its eyes on upcoming elections, Disy has selected 90 per cent of its candidates for local government and MEPs, party leader Annita Demetriou said. Elsewhere, the most important thing for the real economy is to reduce non-performing loans as they have been in the banking sector so the economy can function without obstacles, according to Finance Minister Makis Keravnos.. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the United Kingdom is using its Akrotiri base in Cyprus to conduct bombing raids in Yemen. Meanwhile, state officials blatantly looked the other way to allow a Limassol fish farm to operate illegally for 15 years, MPs heard. Elsewhere, the ongoing clashes between Attorney-general George Savvides and Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides will be discussed at the parliamentary institutions committee. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, some of the outgoing ministers could not contain their dissatisfaction over the cabinet reshuffle during the handover ceremonies on Wednesday, ranging from pointedly not thanking the president, or by referencing the “sudden replacement” they were hit with.Meanwhile, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Wednesday that the possible introduction of English language undergraduate programmes at Cypriot public universities is “being discussed”.Elsewhere, police were investigating a racist rape comment against Volt MP Alexandra Attalides on Wednesday, as she called on the attorney-general to take a stand on whether it was hate speech.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis both exceeded the €1 million legal limit in their presidential election spending last year. In other news, new cabinet members "were appointed based on their ability to implement President Christodoulides' pre-election pledges" and not because of party allegiances, according to Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis. Elsewhere, Cyprus pressed the European Union to designate Syria, or at least parts of it, as a "safe country" to whence migrants can be repatriated.  All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, four new ministers are expected to take up their duties on Wednesday, following President Nikos Christodoulides partial and widely anticipated cabinet reshuffle. In other news, there is no disagreement between President Nikos Christodoulides and political party leaders on the Cyprus problem, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday. Elsewhere, hospitalisations of patients with Covid-19 have increased by almost in a third in the last week, Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said on Monday.   All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a meeting to discuss how to improve road safety in Cyprus, following a tragic New Year accident that killed four people from the same family, will be held later Monday. Meanwhile, party leaders from Diko, Edek, and Depa will meet President Nikos Christodoulides this week to discuss his intention on a cabinet reshuffle before his completes 18-months in office. Elsewhere, ahead of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar’s appointment, it emerged on Sunday that President Christodoulides requested the UN intervene on Cyprus’ behalf to stop Turkish violations in the buffer zone. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode,  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is disappointed over the lack of progress in resuming Cyprus talks and has called on both sides not to miss other opportunities for dialogue.Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides assured his ministers that he would personally inform them about the reshuffle, dispelling media reports suggesting the changes would be completed before the 18-month mark, which is when they would be eligible for ministerial pensions.Elsewhere, internationally acclaimed football star Cristiano Ronaldo has become an investor in UFL, a new free-to-play football video game, created by a company in Paphos.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, police on Wednesday confirmed reports that the arrest of a Turkish Cypriot lawyer in Rome was connected to the illegal sales of Greek Cypriot properties in the north. Meanwhile, negative Covid tests and mask use will be mandatory in nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dentists, and facilities for vulnerable groups, the Covid-19 scientific advisory committee and Health Minister Popi Kanari agreed on Wednesday. Elsewhere, workers at the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) said they will ramp up industrial action this month, calling a 24-hour strike for January 16. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the first shipment of humanitarian aid from Cyprus and the United Kingdom for the people of Gaza arrived at Egypt's Port Said. Meanwhile, the driver of a pick-up truck which crashed into another vehicle, killing its four occupants, was remanded in custody for six days. Elsewhere, the military plans to beef up Cyprus' air defences. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, two grandparents and two grandchildren died after being involved in a road traffic collision. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides said in his New Year message there is "no magic wand" to tackle the myriad of challenges Cyprus faces. Elsewhere, Israel's outgoing Foreign minister said the country is prepared to let ships deliver aid to Gaza immediately. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the new EU asylum and migration deal was slammed by left-wing party Akel, which has charged that the pact will cement the problem of refugees getting stuck in southern Mediterranean states - Cyprus included.Meanwhile, security and logistical issues appeared to be at the forefront of ongoing delays in delivering the humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, it emerged on Thursday, as the government continued to skirt providing clear answers over the matter.Elsewhere, A 33-year-old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison by the Paphos criminal court for smuggling over 26 kilogrammes of cannabis into Cyprus.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis on Wednesday said that in light of recent attacks carried out by the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi militant group on ships in the Red Sea, the Cypriot government has taken temporary measures to protect Cypriot ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and northeast Africa. In other news, the paediatric ward at Makarios Hospital is 90 per cent full with children suffering with respiratory infections, the department chief Dr Avraam Elias said on Wednesday.  And this year, Cyprus recorded 33 fatalities in traffic accidents, police said on Wednesday, urging drivers to be cautious.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, opposition Akel hit out at Archbishop Georgios and the state broadcaster on Tuesday, after CyBC broadcast the prelate’s speech on Christmas instead of the president’s message. Elsewhere, the road from Arsos to Pyla has 550 metres left to complete the works, the Turkish Cypriot ‘mayor’ or Pergamos said on Tuesday. Also, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is embroiled in a bribery scandal affecting former Turkish vice-president and Cyprus problem adviser in Turkey Fuat Oktay that link Oktay to Turkish Cypriot businessman Halil Falyali. All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou unveiled “a grand plan” aimed at helping migrants integrate in Cyprus.   Elsewhere, there has been an increase in Syrian asylum applications, the interior ministry said on Thursday, while noting that the cases are difficult to deal with as the people concerned cannot be returned home due the fact their country is considered unsafe. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides said the Israeli government had not yet approved the docking of the ship initially identified as the British vessel RFA ‘Lyme Bay’, reported by various sources as the first humanitarian aid ship sent from Cyprus to Gaza. All this and much more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus wants to go tough on migrant smugglers and will set up a special unit on illegal migration within the police force, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the minimum wage will go up from €940 to €1,000 a month, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou announced after a cabinet meeting, in a move that has left the island’s largest trade union dissatisfied. Elsewhere, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at discussing the implementation plans of the ‘Amalthia’ initiative for humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a ship named as Lyme Bay, the first humanitarian aid ship sent from Cyprus to Gaza, was still waiting to dock on Tuesday, after it left Larnaca at the weekend, in a move heralded by the government as the start of the humanitarian maritime corridor, and amid continued visits with Israeli officials to hash out the details of where the aid will go. In other news, Cyprus actively supports the aviation sector, aiming to increase the nation’s air connectivity, President Christodoulides said on Tuesday during the naming ceremony of a SKY express plane called ‘Cyprus’.  And another 15 vultures have arrived in Cyprus from Spain as part of ongoing efforts to save the endangered Griffon Vulture species on the island, it was announced on Tuesday.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, after weeks of intensive discussions and preparations, Israel has given the green light for a humanitarian aid corridor to open between Cyprus and Gaza. Meanwhile, the transport ministry announced 40 intercity buses will undergo inspections, following revelations that problematic buses were reportedly put on the road. Elsewhere, the 2024 state budget looks set to pass the House after Annita Demetriou threw Disy's weight behind it. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, after weeks of intensive discussions and preparations, Israel has given the green light for a humanitarian aid corridor to open between Cyprus and Gaza.Meanwhile, from the first day of the new year a new UN envoy for Cyprus is expected to be in place, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday.Elsewhere, so many people visited the Christmas village in Fikardou on Sunday afternoon that police announced they had to change traffic arrangements.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said he would visit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he was invited. In other news, the government wants the European Union to consider declaring parts of Syria "safe". Elsewhere, Father Christmas visited the Makarios hospital. All these stories and more in today's Cyprus Beat.

In today’s episode, it was revealed that a fish farm has been operating illegally for years in a Limassol village, destroying the environment around the Kouris dam. In other news, four Cyprus-based companies and one individual were hit by United States sanctions for being complicit in furthering Russia's war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, Cyprus joined 152 other countries voting in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. All these stories and more in today's Cyprus Beat.

In today’s episode, the government on Tuesday sought to downplay the notion that it supports spying on journalists, in relation to new EU legislation. In other news, Turkish Cypriot leaders have rejected Israeli allegations that the north was being used by Iran to harbour terrorists with the aim of attacking Israelis in Cyprus. And a total of 943,978 people are now registered on GESY, Health Minister Popi Kanari said on Tuesday.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides met the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday at an event a Ledra Palace hosted by the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (Unficyp), in what is the two leaders’ first meeting since last July. Meanwhile, two Iranian nationals may face deportation after they were linked to a foiled terror attack against Israelis and Jews in Cyprus, police said. Elsewhere, former presidents of the Republic and former presidents of the House of Representatives stand to lose some lifelong perks - like the limo and a driver - if a bill tabled by MP Alexandra Attalides gets enacted into law. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Israel helped Cyprus foil an Iranian-ordered attack against Israelis and Jews on the island, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday, as Cypriot authorities remained tight-lipped citing national security issues. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou said Cyprus is treating the upcoming holiday period as ‘high-risk’ in light of the war raging in the Middle East. She stressed the country was upping security measures amid fears of a ‘lone wolf attack'. Elsewhere, a 17-year-old is in critical condition after he was hit by a car in Limassol, and flew into a pavement due to the impact. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Greece and Turkey agreed to reboot their relations, establishing a roadmap designed to usher in a new era of closer ties. Meanwhile, buses will be running back to normal by Monday or Wednesday at the latest, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said.. Elsewhere, recent weeks have witnessed a surge of Covid-19 cases across Cyprus. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cypriot children displayed below average competencies in the 2022 report of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa). Meanwhile, the government gave its consent for the individual pegged by the UN secretary-general to be his envoy in Cyprus. Elsewhere, a 29-year-old woman was sentenced to two years in prison in the north on Wednesday for stealing 700TL (€22.41). All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the police investigated nearly 500 cases of domestic violence and issued 93 arrests during the months of September and October, statistics released on Tuesday showed. Meanwhile, around 500 of the 570 buses which were taken off the road on Monday are now back in service, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said. Elsewhere, Cyprus urgently needs to upgrade its electricity grid to enable further penetration of renewables, helping drive down the cost of power, the energy regulator advised. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, schools and commuters descended into chaos after more than 500 buses were taken out of service amid fears they were not safe for use.  In other news, a team of US experts from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has arrived in Cyprus to investigate sanctions violations, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed. And the government has confirmed having received a request by US energy giant Chevron seeking an extension to the completion of a key engineering study for the Aphrodite natural gas project.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday paid an impromptu visit to Ayios Dhometios, and specifically to the area of Maria’s House in the buffer zone inspect measures taken, following a Turkish incursion last week. Meanwhile, the government will announce when automatic fire extinguishing systems for buses will be acquired, following a school bus fire last week. Elsewhere, over a thousand people gathered in Nicosia on Sunday to march in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli bombing continued. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the audit service and the presidential palace were sparring again on Thursday, after the former released a special report saying use of service vehicles to transport the president’s children by themselves was illegal, which then led to a further row over the renovations at the presidential palace. Meanwhile, government spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed the activation of diplomatic and military measures along the UN buffer zone, following incursions by the Turkish army over the past few days. Elsewhere, a Limassol court this week ruled in favour of a group of depositors with now-defunct Laiki (Popular) Bank who saw their savings wiped out in the March 2013 ‘haircut’, awarding them €5.7 million in compensation. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the audit service and the presidential palace got into a row on Wednesday after reports indicated that an announcement is due to be issued on President Nikos Christodoulides’ overtime hours and stipends paid to him from 2013 to 2018, when he was serving at the presidential palace on secondment from the foreign affairs ministry. In other news, during a blood donation event organised by the Palestinian embassy in Nicosia to commemorate the victims of the conflict in Gaza, Palestinian ambassador Abdallah Attari said the ultimate goal of his people “is to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.” And a group of 179 newly sworn police officers officially pledged their commitment to uphold the laws of the Republic at the Cyprus police academy on Wednesday.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the first humanitarian aid packages for Gaza will arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday and will be sent to the besieged strip within days, the government said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou conceded that Cyprus cannot become an energy hub in the eastern Mediterranean, as it lacks the necessary infrastructures. Elsewhere, “all is calm” in the buffer zone around the Ayios Dhometios area, Unficyp spokesman Aleem Siddique said, after alleged Turkish Cypriot incursions in the area on Monday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, members of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp) have been placed on alert after reports appeared late on Monday of a contingent of Turkish Cypriot soldiers who gathered in the buffer zone near the Ayios Dometios checkpoint in Nicosia, purportedly for construction work. Meanwhile, the interior ministry presented the House finance committee with a budget more than 10 per cent higher than the year before, with its main focuses on housing policies, dealing with the migration issue and local government reform. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Giorgos Perdikis has told Green Party members “for God’s sake come and talk to me about it” if they have a problem with how the party is being run under his leadership, after being re-elected as the party's leader. Meanwhile, Akel members have approved four changes to the party’s structure aimed at modernising the party. Elsewhere, people belonging to vulnerable groups should stay indoors, the Labour inspection department said on Sunday, as high concentrations of dust have been detected in Cyprus’ air. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, MPs heard that significant legal and staffing challenges are slowing down the creation of a deputy ministry for migration, which has been deemed an important move for Cyprus given the huge uptick in arrivals of asylum seekers over the past decade Meanwhile, the transport ministry on Thursday announced the purchase of 40 electric vehicles to be used for official government business. Elsewhere, the third Cyprus-Serbia intergovernmental cooperation summit led by the two countries’ presidents Nikos Christodoulides and Aleksandar Vucic took place on Thursday in Belgrade. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the attorney general dampened hopes for criminal convictions over sanctions evasion on Wednesday, after he told deputies those may be difficult to achieve but pledged there would be thorough investigation over the allegations which came to light through the ‘Cyprus Confidential’ publications last week. Meanwhile, contractor Cyfield announced that it would be stopping the road network in the Akamas peninsula as of Wednesday until all issues are settled, while the government was heavily criticised as “pathetic” for being unable to coordinate the works. Elsewhere, a thorough investigation is underway into reported cases of pharmacists practising with fake degrees, the pharmaceutical services said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou on Tuesday spoke of “cautious optimism” regarding talks with energy giant Chevron over development of the Aphrodite offshore gas field. Elsewhere, prison guards have been instructed to carry out thorough checks on inmates to find illicit mobile phones as the justice ministry is trying to clampdown on organised crime unfolding in the facility, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou said on Tuesday. In other news, apartments in new high-rise developments in Trikomo (Iskele) are selling for more than £200,000, newspaper Diyalog reported on Tuesday. All this and much more in today’s News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the ongoing back and forth between the government and Chevron continues, with the government expected to respond to Chevron's letter. Meanwhile, a total of 181 employees of the City of Dreams Mediterranean lost their jobs, with the casino's operator Melco citing "the ongoing conflict in Israel". Elsewhere, the European Union's One Stop Shop for Green Line trade has commenced its operations. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Palestinian ambassador to Cyprus Abdallah Attari said in an interview to the Sunday Mail that what is happening in Gaza 'is genocide'. Attari stressed that Hamas hostages should return to their homes but also the 6,000 Palestinian prisoners currently detained in Israel should return to their own homes, as well as the Israeli army officers in Gaza. Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man is undergoing a three-day remand period imposed on him on Sunday, on suspicion of being involved in the violent clashes among football fans in Limassol last week. Elsewhere, Isotita trade union voiced its support for the announced 24-hour strike and protest organised by the hourly paid guards of the game fund outside the presidential palace on Sunday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, health authorities in the United Kingdom have approved a drug which aims to cure beta thalassaemia and sickle cell disease. The drug is called Casgevy and utilises a gene-editing tool as Crispr to manipulate the DNA of beta thalassaemia and sickle cell disease sufferers. Meanwhile, Parliament passed a new law on Thursday which sets out the rights and responsibilities of both employees who work remotely and their employers. Elsewhere, the forestry department in a written report has blamed the electricity authority (EAC) for the near catastrophic fires in Paphos forest, as well as that in Palaichori, this past summer. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government said on Wednesday that police were already investigating most of the cases in the ‘Cyprus Confidential’ report released a day earlier by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which claimed Russian oligarchs and billionaires had been laundering money through Cyprus ahead of the Ukraine invasion.Meanwhile, a 45-year-old prison guard, who was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the police in connection with a drug smuggling case at the central prisons, was apprehended on Wednesday morning.Elsewhere, Hundreds of students took to the streets across Cyprus, as celebrations to mark 40 years since the north unilaterally declared the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ began on Tuesday.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a global investigation on Tuesday claimed to show how Russian influence in Cyprus and on local service providers helped oligarchs and billionaires structure their wealth over the years preceding the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In other news, Cyprus has seen witnessed 26 fatal traffic accidents so far this year, resulting in 28 deaths, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou said. Of these, nine were attributed to careless and distracted driving. And Britain is considering using “air and maritime options” from its bases in Cyprus to get more aid into Gaza, it was reported on Tuesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the top EU official for crisis management said on Monday that there were practical issues with the logistics of creating a sea route, or humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza, as proposed by Cyprus.Meanwhile, migrant arrivals from Syria have doubled in the last couple of months following the outbreak of war in Gaza, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said.Elsewhere, more than 20,000 tickets were sold in 24 hours for Ed Sheeran’s upcoming concerts in Larnaca, breaking a Cyprus box-office record.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus would be ready to discuss the issue of abolishing the need for unanimity in EU foreign policy, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday, a day before leaving for Berlin to take part in working dinner of EU leaders. In other news, a fatal strain of cat Covid which has killed thousands of animals on the island has reached the UK, reports said on Sunday. And the vine-growing mountain village of Vouni is set to become the proud location of Cyprus’ first ever recognised Wine Sommelier School.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, a court decision awarding over €780,000 to a depositor who lost his Laiki Bank savings due to the 2013 'haircut' ignited a wave of reactions. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides outlined a proposal to open a maritime corridor to help to deliver more aid to Gaza at a humanitarian conference in Paris. Elsewhere, the interior ministry said they agree on the recommendations for stricter checks made in an audit service report on the golden visa programme. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government is working towards safeguarding Cyprus’ name abroad where sanctions are concerned, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said after a high-level briefing at the presidential palace. To this end, technical support from the British government on creating a sanctions implementation unit is in its final stages and details are expected to be submitted within the month. Meanwhile, more than two dozen remand and deportation orders were issued on Wednesday, following the arrests of migrants in a fight at Pournara reception centre two days prior. Elsewhere, House president Annita Demetriou said parliament “is sending a resounding message of no tolerance for bullying”, as a bill to criminalise bullying at school, at work and in the army was put to the House legal committee. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou got tough on Tuesday, warning migrants that had caused trouble the previous night they would be deported if they failed to respect the hospitality of Cyprus. In other news, Cyprus’ proposal to establish a humanitarian aid sea corridor to Gaza will be discussed by President Nikos Christodoulides at an international meeting in Paris on Friday. And elderly refugees are requesting assistance from the fire service to carry their groceries upstairs due to the absence of elevators, the House refugees committee heard on Tuesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said the United Nations requested a short pause of construction work in the Pyla area. Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is in the process of formulating a decision on the EuroAsia Interconnector. Elsewhere, police were continuing efforts to establish the motives for the murders of Thanasis Kalogeropoulos and Alexis Mavromichalis. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides discussed the humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza through Cyprus with both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jordanian King Abdullah II.Blinken made an unannounced stop in Cyprus on his way to Turkey, after visiting the West Bank on Sunday, and having a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Meanwhile, Cyprus responded to a request from Chevron to extend a deliberation period for the ‘Aphrodite’ gas field in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Sunday.Elsewhere, Two men arrested in connection with the murder of Thanasis Kalogeropoulos last week, were remanded on Sunday for eight days by the Limassol District Court.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the retail price of petrol has dropped by 8.33 cents per litre after the House of Representatives unanimously passed a law to slash fuel duty on Thursday. In other news, House President and DISY party leader Annita Demetriou has called for Syria to be classed as a safe country, so that Cyprus can send back Syrian asylum seekers. And public hospitals will be able to effectively handle increased needs for treatment linked to the conflict in the Middle East, Health Minister Popi Kanari said on Thursday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, further measures will be taken by police, following two high-profile Cyprus gangland murders almost 36 hours apart, police said on Wednesday. In other news, refugees in Cyprus will only be eligible for the Guaranteed Minimum Income once they have continuously lived in the Republic legally for five years, cabinet decided on Wednesday. The new amendment of the social benefits laws aims to ensure Cyprus is not an attractive destination for migrants as part of the government’s broader policy on migration. And banks on Wednesday agreed to extend the foreclose freeze for primary properties but stressed it was the last time this would happen, urging the government and parliament to find a solution once and for all. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, a proposal to establish a humanitarian aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza was "received positively" by Israel, President Nikos Christodoulides said. Elsewhere, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said the government is working towards making Cyprus energy independent. There was also an attempted murder in Nicosia. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Yermasogia awoke to a shocking gangster-like execution after a 55-year-old man was gunned down by two hooded attackers firing from a Kalashnikov type rifle and a pistol. Elsewhere, personnel at Pournara migrant reception centre will be increased to accelerate the asylum application processing time - as concerns grow over the crisis in the Middle East.  There’s also the warning from the health insurance organisation that surgeries are to be placed under greater scrutiny, as reports emerged on Monday of over 90,000 operations carried out in the space of one year within the state healthcare system (Gesy). All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus’ foreign ministry is advising Cypriot nationals to avoid all travel to Lebanon, calling on citizens abroad to register with the online registration platform Connect2CY. Elsewhere, Cyprus has reached out to the EU for help including requesting items such as tents, after 194 migrants arrived to the island’s shores, it emerged on Sunday. There’s also UN special representative Colin Stewart warning that the new UN envoy to Cyprus should be seen as the last chance to solve the Cyprus problem. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the United Nations Secretary-General has picked the person who will act as envoy to Cyprus with the task of kickstarting stalled reunification talks, it emerged on Thursday. In other news, President Nikos Christodoulides has discussed with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts an “idea” for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea. And police have confiscated 500kg of synthetic narcotic substances hidden inside cardboard drums, in what could be the largest ever drugs haul in Cyprus. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, healthcare workers in public hospitals went on a nationwide strike amid demands for equal pay. In other news, the House ethics committee examined potential squandering of public money in relation to the large delegation sent to Malta by the Olympic Committee (KOE) for the Games of the Small States of Europe. Elsewhere, ten men arrested on suspicion of being in a people smuggling ring were released after a police remand request was rejected by the Paphos district court. All these stories and more are in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a doctors and nurses strike at all state hospitals will go ahead today after an eleventh-hour meeting between the state health services organisation (OKYPY) and trade union representatives failed to reach agreement. In other news, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou warned developments in Israel and Gaza could impact Lebanon’s ability to monitor its shores, raising the risk for an increased influx of migrants trying to come to Cyprus. And the government announced its plan to tackle ‘the housing problem’ as it said that €77 million will be spent over the next five years. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the proposed state budget for 2024 focuses on fiscal stability and achieving greater strides towards the ‘green transition’ and digital transformation, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said on Monday. Meanwhile, a seven-year-old girl is in very serious condition at the Makarios children’s hospital after suffering a brain hematoma in an apparent freak accident on the highway. The police announced that the girl was struck in the head by a rock which appears to have fallen loose from a truck. Elsewhere, Cypriot Aristotelis Valaoritis will take a place in the book of Guinness World Records after breaking the record for the most wine glasses balanced on the head. He did this by balancing 319 glasses stacked on nine trays last week. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Israeli leaders requested Cyprus to convey the ‘real’ situation in Israel to the European Union, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday after his visit in Tel Aviv this weekend. Christodoulides held separate meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening following his attendance at the International Peace Conference in Cairo. Meanwhile, police on Sunday said they are investigating the assault of an Israeli man in Larnaca who was putting up posters of children kidnapped by Hamas. Elsewhere, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, is set to participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday, which will take centre stage in addressing several pressing global matters. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the government announced the reinstatement of the electricity subsidy as part of a raft of measures aimed at helping people through the cost-of-living crisis. Elsewhere, Cyprus has become a net recipient of European Union funds. There’s also outrage in the halloumi community, as Cyprus cheesemakers' association chairman Marios Constantinou said the Agriculture Ministry instructed producers to "abolish" goat's and sheep's milk halloumi. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the EAC announced it will take the energy regulatory authority to court to appeal Cera’s rejection of its request for a 25 per cent increase in basic tariffs. Elsewhere, Cyprus is preparing for further increases in arrivals from Israel, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said. There’s also praise from health officials for a female shopper’s quick action that saved the life of a 46-year-old father who suffered a heart attack at a Nicosia mall. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus will make every attempt to deescalate the situation in Israel, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday night after an EU Council teleconference on the situation there. In other news, the Presidential palace “seeks to be a beacon of ecological awareness,"  First lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulides said on Tuesday launching a campaign to reduce landfill waste. And a 42-year-old woman was sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Paphos district court on Tuesday, after her 10-year-old daughter drowned in the swimming pool of their villa in the Coral Bay area on July 20.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Cyprus has received 26 requests from 26 countries for support in transporting third-country nationals currently in Gaza or Israel to their home countries via the island. Meanwhile, TUS Airways announced the resumption of flights to and from Tel Aviv, effective from Tuesday. Elsewhere, Green Party MP Alexandra Attalidou announced she was resigning from the party, slamming it for its "catastrophic" position on the Cyprus problem. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, A ship with over 2,000 people on board is expected to leave Israel on Monday as the US embassy evacuates it nationals by sea to Cyprus. Meanwhile, with three gold and two silver medals, Cyprus ranked third in The Economist’s economic pentathlon which calculated how the 27 EU member states perform on the five major challenges facing them, namely demand/inflation, debt, demography, decarbonisation and decoupling from the world’s autocracies. Elsewhere, hundreds of people took part in a march in support of the Palestinian people under draconian security measures on Sunday night on Athinon Avenue in Larnaca. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the interior minister informed the House interior committee of his plans to create a Deputy Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Elsewhere, the House plenum passed a resolution condemning the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel – though not unanimously. There’s also the European General Court’s decision to reject Cyprus’ application to mark the word “Grilloumi”, describing the case as “unfounded”. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the feeling of uncertainty weighed heavily at Larnaca airport as Israelis fled for safety in Cyprus or desperately tried to return to reunite with their families back home. Meanwhile, arrivals continued at both airports and ports as authorities on the island dealt with thousands of people fleeing Israel. Elsewhere, all charges against lawyer Andreas Pittadjis in the golden passports case were dropped. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government on Tuesday activated the national ‘Estia’ action plan for the reception of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in Israel, as the first emergency flight was operated by the Portuguese air force. The plan entails Cyprus acting as a hub for third country nationals fleeing the country before being repatriated to their own countries of origin. Meanwhile, the Audit Office added fuel to the fire after Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos once again criticised the city’s airport, speaking of “unacceptable manipulations” on behalf of the former government regarding the concession agreement for its development and management. Elsewhere, two men have been remanded in custody for eight days after posing as doctors to scam thousands of euros out of the elderly in Limassol. The pair are believed to have stolen between €2,500 and €3,000. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides reiterated his deep concern regarding the unfolding situation in Israel, underlining the shock and sympathy felt by the whole of Cyprus. In other news, construction on the road between the villages of Pyla and Arsos is set to begin later this month after a “mutual understanding” was found to solve the buffer zone dispute on Monday. And the assignment of army conscripts to 'easy' posts appears to be based not on merit, but rather on a soldier's family background and connections, the auditor-general said in a report released Monday.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the majority of Cypriots who wanted to leave Israel have already done so and now only a small number remain, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodoros Gotsis, said on Monday morning. Security in and around the island has been heightened and developments are being closely monitored, President Nikos Christodoulides assured. Meanwhile, this week Cyprus will be collecting aid for ethnic Armenian refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh area, following a military intervention by Azerbaijan, which saw thousand flee. Elsewhere, Christodoulides said on Sunday that the Republic of Cyprus has given the UN the all-clear to appoint UN adviser to evaluate the prospects of restarting talks on the Cyprus issue. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the issue of multiple pensions being given to state officials will be discussed at the house finance committee in two weeks, following an uproar that President Nikos Christodoulides is receiving a pension in addition to his salary as president. Elsewhere, the Ayia Napa gang rape trial began with an adjournment at the Famagusta criminal court. There’s also the signing of a contract to install 4,450 new bus stops and shelters and upgrade over 1,000 existing bus stops. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, MPs highlighted the years of blunders over waste management which led to an EU early warning report saying Cyprus would fail to meet targets by 2025. Elsewhere, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos delivered the state budget for 2024 with a promise of cost-of-living relief measures by the end of the month – and a look ahead to next year’s ‘green taxes.’ There’s also the announcement from the sports ethics committee that it recommended criminal proceedings be brought against Cyprus Football Association (CFA) president Giorgos Koumas, while his lawyers hit back saying his right to be innocent until proven guilty is being violated. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a new carbon tax is on the way, the government confirmed on Tuesday, at a time when households are already heaving under the pressure of rising fuel prices impacting the cost of living.Meanwhile, a 47-year-old Syrian national arrested in Chlorakas on August 31 for burglary, spreading fake news, instigating violence, inciting others to commit a crime and knife-wielding is set to face trial on October 12.Elsewhere, Limassol “has all the qualifications needed” to be named European Capital of Culture 2030, mayor Nicos Nicolaides said, outlining the town’s bid for the title.All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (Greco) said in a report on Monday that while Cyprus’ legislation says all the right things on paper, the fight against corruption is compromised by institutional flaws. In other news, the justice minister said that the appointment of a new police chief is the sole responsibility of the president, as speculation grew about a possible reshuffle at the top of the police force. And Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that faster processing times of asylum applications have received a boost with the recruitment of 25 additional examiners. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit ww.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Cyprus on Sunday marked 63 years since its independence, with a parade in the capital attracting scores of people. European Parliament president Roberta Metsola also attended following an official invitation by President Nikos Christodoulides, where he said her presence sent powerful messages. In a speech after the parade, where members of the national guard illustrated a show of strength, the president described Cyprus as "the most precious thing we have" and vowed to protect it above all else. Elsewhere, two people have been remanded for three days in connection with the death of a 29-year-old Serbian national, who was run over Limassol. Police on Sunday said the case was being treated as manslaughter. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

Amid mounting complaints over the cost of living, the government on Thursday said it may bring back electricity and fuel tax subsidies in the near future. Speaking to public broadcaster CyBC, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos did not rule out reinstating subsidies on electricity bills or the lower VAT rate on motor and heating fuel. Elsewhere, Unficyp said they have no intention of abandoning the Ledra Palace hotel, and that no official request has been filed by majority stakeholder – the church – despite Archbishop Georgios raising the issue with President Nikos Christodoulides. Meanwhile, organisers of a kolokasi tasting evening on Friday are hoping to bring this love-it-or-hate-it vegetable new fans by pairing it with raspberries and making kolokasi cocktails.

In today’s episode, the council of ministers approved the first budget of the new government with promises of effective support for the middle class and fiscal responsibility. Elsewhere, trade unions say the vulnerable section of society is much larger than official statistics show and more must be done to tackle the cost of living. In other news, Russia's ambassador to Nicosia said Cyprus' tourism has lost a billion euros thanks to sanctions placed on his country and closing its skies to Russian aircraft. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

Authorities on Tuesday remained on full alert all day to deal with the expected arrival of ‘hundreds’ of migrants from Lebanon. Despite information earlier, the waves of migrants did not arrive as night fell. Meanwhile, Cyprus’ coasts of the British bases are teeming with turtles with the highest number of nests recorded within the areas since 2009. Bases environmental experts confirmed 282 nests “at all sandy beaches” within the bases as the season draws to a close. Elsewhere, former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has ruffled further feathers in Cyprus in an interview with TRT during which he said he has not lost any sleep over his calls for a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem.

In today’s episode, deputy government spokeswoman Doxa Komodromou has resigned from her position, the presidential palace said on Monday.  In other news, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said on Monday that he would “never accept” the appointment of a United Nations special envoy to Cyprus. And the ministry of finance has extended the deadline for submission of tax returns until the end of October.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, state hospital workers are set to go on strike after failing to reach an agreement with state health services (Okypy) regarding collective labour agreements and pay rises. Meanwhile, every single employee at the Presidential palace will have their overtime payments examined by the audit service. Elsewhere, the Nicosia municipality unveiled a new parking app with real time updates. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Christodoulides called on his Turkish counterpart Erdogan to work together to send a message of peace for both Cyprus and Turkey. Meanwhile, football referees will return to the pitch this weekend, they announced on Wednesday following a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association and internal meetings. Earlier this week, they had called an “indefinite strike” after a bomb threat against referee Menelaos Antoniou on Monday. Elsewhere, crimefighting in Cyprus took a peculiar twist on Wednesday morning when a man dressed as Batman descended on Limassol district court.The man strode into the building, complete with fluttering cape, tight leather trousers, shinpads and body armour, all in black. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, fuel prices are set to increase “by four or five cents per week until at least the end of the month,” chairman of the Petrol Station Owners’ Association Christos Christodoulou said on Tuesday.  In other news, the appointment of a special UN envoy for Cyprus remained at the top of President Nikos Christodoulides’ agenda as he met with EU officials on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. And commercial banks have so far offered insufficient support amid interest rate hikes, the House commerce committee heard on Tuesday.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, the government will withdraw its request for the University of Cyprus to pay overtime to Doxa Komodromou and inform the university that it will have to claim the money back.  Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides said a meeting between UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday will “determine the next moves on the Cyprus problem”.  There’s also Great British Bake Off personality Paul Hollywood who is reportedly set to wed his partner Melissa Spalding in Cyprus this week. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government is expected to announce unilateral measures towards the Turkish Cypriot community this week, President Nikos Christodoulides said from New York on Sunday. He also mentioned that he has suggestions for confidence-building measures in everyday life. Meanwhile, the demand for halloumi cheese from foreign markets is on the rise, according to Agriculture Minister, Petros Xenophontos. Elsewhere, a patient at the Paphos general hospital was found dead in an indoor garden of the facility on Sunday morning. The 78-year-old British man was treated in the third floor of the public hospital since Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the government decided to set up an interdepartmental team as a focal point for drawing up policies to stem the flow of irregular migrants. Meanwhile, MPs heard that the country's illiteracy rate stands near 10 per cent. Elsewhere, construction of the road between Pyla and Arsos recommenced outside the buffer zone. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, unless the Turkish government “drastically changes course”, Turkey’s EU accession process cannot resume, the European Parliament said on Wednesday, passing the progress report for the country. Meanwhile, Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides on Wednesday welcomed the withdrawal of a request for overtime pay by deputy government spokesperson Doxa Komodromou, in what was the first time ever that overtime pay was requested for a state official. Elsewhere, the zero VAT rate for necessities will be extended for a further six months, while coffee and sugar have been added to the list of products, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos announced on Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos on Tuesday met the bosses of commercial banks in a crunch meeting aimed at getting lenders to provide some relief to customers to compensate for rising interest rates and mortgage payments. In other news, the five Israeli nationals accused of gang raping a British tourist in Ayia Napa had their remand renewed on Tuesday after the judge said there is “reasonable suspicion” they may be implicated in the case.  And Cyprus police are pushing back against the possibility of reducing the €300 fines imposed by recently installed traffic cameras.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades declined to say whether Cyprus’ traffic problem can be solved, instead saying that the state is offering options to commuters. Traffic is once again the office talking point in the congested capital, as the end of summer holidays and the first day of schools reopening led to miserable commutes. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ambassador to Cyprus has not ruled out the possibility of direct flights from Russia to the north. He said there had been interest from both Turkish Cypriot politicians and Russian citizens for the move. Elsewhere, Cyprus’ imports of products from Turkey have skyrocketed over the past few years, soaring to €184.5 million in 2022 compared to just €4.6m in 2013. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the large fire that broke out in the Akrounta area of Limassol was reported to be under control but suspicions remain that arson may have been at play. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday said he was ready to work with Disy as soon as the party deems that this is in the interest of the country - but Disy swiftly stated it will remain in opposition. There’s also the update that moves are underway to establish Volt Cyprus, a political party which will focus on resolving the Cyprus problem, modernising the country and European integration. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the international community must “commit itself to a two-state solution” to the Cyprus problem if negotiations for reunification fail yet again, according to former British foreign secretary Jack Straw. In other news, authorities continue to be lax in collecting income tax, and as a result the state is losing millions each year, the auditor-general said in parliament on Thursday. And the government on Thursday revealed that it will soon bring a bill that will allow the justice minister to issue a decree barring access to websites deemed to have racist or xenophobic content, while also promising other steps to keep an eye on such behaviours in the physical world.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Deputies grilled Cyprus's police chief on institutionalised racism. Police descended on Nicosia's old town to shore up their presence amid rumours of potential violent protests. Meanwhile, 13 people arrested during racist riots in Limassol will appear in criminal court in October. Elsewhere, Israeli mining magnate Beny Steinmetz has been conditionally released from custody. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government is working to highlight Cyprus as an unattractive destination for migration, ministers told the ad hoc House committee on demographics on Tuesday. In other news, an anti-migrant protest set to have taken place outside the presidential palace on Wednesday was cancelled on Tuesday with organisers saying an “out of control” situation would have sent the wrong message. And after 72 hours, extensive search efforts led by the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) has failed to find the crew member of the commercial ship Contship Oak reported lost at sea. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, more than 1,000 people descended on Limassol to attend an anti-fascist protest organised by AKEL; the protest was organised in response to the violent anti-migrant riots, which took place in the city last Friday. In other news, a 20-year-old British tourist reported she was gangraped at her Ayia Napa hotel; five Israeli nationals were arrested and remanded for eight days. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis, reaffirmed their commitment to reinforce their cooperation in energy. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, a tripartite meeting between leaders of Cyprus, Greece, Israel will be held on Monday, to discuss regional issues of interest. President Nikos Christodoulides and his team will hold meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Meanwhile, on Sunday, the president said he considers the upcoming UN General Assembly and October’s European Council Summit to be of decisive importance as regards prospects for the resumption of Cyprus peace talks. Elsewhere, police are also searching for three men that attacked delivery drivers and robbed them in Limassol overnight on Saturday in continued racial violence from Friday night’s anti-migration protest, where far-right nationalists laid ruin to the city and attacked foreigners. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, another Cypriot firefighting team will be leaving for Thessaloniki today, to deal with forest fires that have burned large areas of the country, fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Thursday. In other news, sunbeds will be placed on Lara beach whether there is a permit for them or not, Inia’s community leader said on Thursday, enflaming environmentalists and going against everything the agriculture minister had pledged a day earlier. And police in Paphos arrested a 27-year-old man on Thursday evening in relation to an investigation into an alleged kidnapping which reportedly took place during the troubles seen in Chlorakas earlier this week.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, sunbeds and umbrellas will never be accepted on Lara beach, Agriculture Minister Petros Xenophontos said as he announced the much-anticipated Akamas local development plan, which was updated with new measures approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the state will take all measures necessary to ensure public safety after the riots and violence in Chlorakas, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said after a cabinet meeting. Elsewhere, auditor general Odysseas Michaelides slammed the Jho Low parody account on X (formerly Twitter), accusing it on “obscenely slandering” him and “consciously spreading lies against those it wants to destroy”. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, every means available to the government will be used to ensure safety in Chlorakas after two days of violent clashes, President Christodoulides saıd; the violence is believed to have been instigated by ELAM. In other news, the impact of technical problems in UK air traffic control systems was also felt in Cyprus, causing some flights to be cancelled and others to be delayed. And most of the migrants registered to have been living at the Ayios Nikolaos development in Chlorakas are legally residing in Cyprus, with 219 of the 221 registered legally on the island either as asylum seekers or with protected status. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, political parties on Monday condemned the attacks on people and homes in Chlorakas during an anti-migrant protest overnight, while far-right opposition Elam has instead blamed the attacks on migrants. The government deplored the attacks on migrants, their cars and properties, with government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis saying violence is not acceptable in a civilised country. In other news, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča met President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday in separate meetings. And the auditor office said on Monday that health ministry permanent secretary Christina Yiannaki’s Egyptian dentistry degree is “authentic”, after weeks of speculation over its validity. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, assistant UN Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Miroslav Jenca is set to hold separate meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday. Elsewhere, permanent Members of the Security Council have already started discussing possible candidates who can take on the important role of the UN envoy to Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday. Also, in relation to the arson attack at a mosque in Limassol over the weekend, the president said this was “condemnable” and “does not correspond to the feelings of Greek Cypriots towards Turkish Cypriots.” All this and more in today’s daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, visiting US Senator Robert Menendez on Thursday called on the United Nations Security Council to immediately pass a resolution denouncing recent Turkish actions in the buffer zone in Pyla and said his country should move from “condemnation to action” in its overall approach to the Cyprus issue. Elsewhere, four trade unions representing workers in the Electricity Authority of Cyprus on Thursday pilloried plans for the EuroAsia interconnector, warning that Cypriot taxpayers may end up getting saddled with even higher electricity bills. There’s also the announcement that British bases police found an improvised explosive device during a search of residential properties in the village of Trachoni in the Akrotiri base area. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, police in Limassol carried out operations against a “criminal organisation involved in the smuggling of irregular migrants to Cyprus”, with five arrested and four more wanted. Elsewhere, the US system is a “perfect example” of a federal state to be emulated, according to president of the Pancyprian Association of America, Philip Christopher. There’s also the announcement that a district officer is being investigated after she allegedly asked a woman why she was bothering to renew her elderly parents’ IDs as they were bedridden. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's news, the foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed its “satisfaction” with the United Nations Security Council’s condemnation of Friday’s incident in the buffer zone in Pyla, and it “expects an immediate end to the illegal actions of the Turkish side, based on the call of the UNSC to remove all illegal constructions and prevent further such actions, military or non-military, within and along the ceasefire line. In other news, the relocation operation of migrants housed in the troubled Ayios Nikolaos apartment complex in Chlorakas was completed on Tuesday, Paphos CID chief Michalis Nikolaou told the Cyprus Mail. And the consumers association has called on the government to reinstate the fuel subsidy for two months as petrol prices are up 18 cents per litre from the time it was scrapped back on July 1. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the United Nations Security Council late on Monday expressed its deep concern over the developments in Pyla, in which three UN peacekeepers were attacked after a confrontation with the north.  Elsewhere, the government yesterday decided migrants protesting over their living conditions in an apartment complex in Chlorakas should be kicked out and relocated to Kofinou.  Also, in 2021 Cyprus ranked fourth in the EU in terms of the number of practicing doctors per capita, according to data just released by Eurostat.  All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the UN Security Council is expected to discuss on Monday the incident in the buffer zone at Pyla with the attacks against UN peacekeepers as well as the Turkish plans in the area. In other news, a total of 86 people were rescued off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday afternoon, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Larnaca said.   Elsewhere, between 18,000 and 19,000 hunters were estimated to head out on Sunday as this year’s hunting season began, according to the spokesperson of Cyprus’ Game and Fauna Service, Petros Anayiotos. All this and more in today’s daily news briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou has called on the government to take immediate measures to deal with the negative trends shown by economic indicators in the second quarter of this year - warning that there are signs of a looming crisis. Elsewhere, two Cypriot passport holders were arrested in Singapore as part of an anti-money laundering bust, spurring Cyprus’ interior ministry to assure it would assess the case and revoke their citizenship if necessary. Authorities in Singapore seized assets including properties and luxury cars worth about €498 million. There’s also the update that legal action has been initiated against the bus driver who went viral on social media after taunting the priest at the Apostolos Andreas monastery, according to the north’s ‘interior minister’ Dursun Oguz. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, outdoor jobs in the mountains were banned on Wednesday afternoon, the labour inspection department announced, after the mountain regions recorded the highest temperatures in over 25 years. In other news, most of the property being sold to foreigners in the north is on Greek Cypriot land, reports said on Wednesday, citing data released at the end of July. And human trafficker arrests are increasing in Cyprus, but the sentences imposed by the courts are very low, state broadcaster CYBC reported on Wednesday.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, with the summer at its peak, deputy minister for tourism Constantinos Koumis said tourist arrivals to the island have increased by 32 per cent this year, and expressed the hope that visitors will continue to flow to the island until November. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres intends to make moves to solve the Cyprus problem before the end of his mandate, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Sunday. Elsewhere, as today marks 18 years since the Helios plane crash, a memorial service for 16 victims was held in Paralimni. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode and with the summer at its peak, deputy minister for tourism Constantinos Koumis said tourist arrivals to the island have increased by 32 per cent this year, and expressed the hope that visitors will continue to flow to the island until November. Elsewhere, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres intends to make moves to solve the Cyprus problem before the end of his mandate, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Britain remains unwavering in its support for efforts for a UN-based solution to the Cyprus problem and encourages all sides to persevere and pursue a solution, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the attorney-general’s office filed an appeal on Thursday over Briton David Hunter’s two-year sentence for killing his terminally ill wife. The appeal is on both the grounds of Hunter’s sentence as well the verdict. He was found guilty of manslaughter rather than premeditated murder. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court rejected a case brought forward by Turkish Cypriots in mixed marriages with Turkish nationals seeking Cyprus citizenship for their children, citing that the individuals involved in the case are not “stateless”. Elsewhere, the education ministry has pledged a total of €149 million for the maintenance and improvement of school buildings across Cyprus. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the government insists that the ongoing row between health minister Popi Kanari and the ministry’s permanent secretary Christina Yiannaki is an “internal matter for the ministry”. Kanari and Yiannaki have been engaged in a very public war of words since Monday, when Kanari called on Yiannaki to provide proof of her dentistry degree from Cairo university, and proof that she could speak English. Yiannaki has so far refused. Elsewhere, the Cyprus Public Transport announced that from September 1 the cost of a single route bus ticket in the Larnaca and Nicosia districts will increase from €2 to €2.40. There’s also the development that Cyprus, along with all countries that imposed sanctions on Russia, have had their double taxation agreements suspended.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Director of the Forestry Department Charalambos Alexandrou said due to the relentless heatwave this July, the number of fires within the department’s area of responsibility totalled 70. In other news, drivers got hit with substantial price hikes at the petrol pump on Tuesday, with officials saying the public should probably brace for even more bad news. And a new reception centre for migrants in Limnes is a milestone in strengthening Cyprus' capacity to manage migration pressures more effectively, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Tuesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the fire in the foothills of the Limassol mountains is completely under control and has no active front though firefighting forces remain vigilant in the area on Tuesday. Elsewhere, July 2023 broke multiple heat records as the Cleon weather system smothered Cyprus. The island saw temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius for 16 days in a row. There’s also claims by Edek leader Marinos Sizopoulos that the Electricity Authority (EAC) had 'cheated' some customers out of the subsidies from May to June. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the fire in the Alassa dam area of Limassol on Monday was surveyed and assessed via a helicopter, with fire-response coordinator, Director Andreas Gregoriou from the agriculture ministry on board, as well as the chief of the fire service and the head of the forestry department. The fire is estimated to have burned 7.5 to 10 square kilometres of agricultural and wild lands, according to this latest assessment. Meanwhile, the transport ministry will sign the works contract for the Limnes Migrant Reception project on Tuesday. This is the contract for the creation of the Limnes Reception Centre and the Pre-Departure Centre in Menoyia, Larnaca. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months. Elsewhere, police on Sunday arrested a suspect in a case of premeditated murder committed in the afternoon in Nicosia. According to a police announcement, the victim is 40-year-old Athanasios Kotslis, from Greece. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, private hospitals asserted on Thursday that they cannot – and will not – renew their contract with the Health Insurance Organisation on what they say is a take-it-or-leave-it basis, warning that this could leave the national health system in limbo. Elsewhere, controversy broke out on Thursday following the Famagusta mayor’s invitation to Turkish Cypriots to an anti-occupation event which will take place in the municipality on Saturday. Also, authorities have come together to take coordinated action over rising sea pollution in Limassol, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping announced. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In this episode, embattled former Kiti bishop Chrysostomos has still not left the accommodation at the metropolis despite having been requested to do so after being found guilty of sexual assault. Elsewhere, the audit service slammed President Nikos Christodoulides’ security detail on Wednesday, saying it should have been “significantly reduced” well over a month ago after he and his family decided to move into the presidential palace residence. Also, President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday travelled to Ramallah, Palestine, where he met with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and agreed to a trilateral summit with Greece. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, controversial barbed wire fencing along stretches of the buffer zone may start being removed in September. Elsewhere, British bases authorities are optimistic they will be able to keep bird trapping at record low levels as the blackcap migration period begins.  Also, bilateral relations were underlined on Tuesday as President Nikos Christodoulides met Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman.  All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, British pensioner David Hunter was released from prison after the Paphos criminal court handed him a two-year prison sentence on the count of manslaughter.  Elsewhere, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Cyprus and said Greece and Cyprus “have common goals” concerning the Cyprus problem.   There’s also Lawyer Achilleas Demetriades’ comments that a truth commission would be ‘a new page for the Missing in Cyprus’. Demetriades said truth commissions have been set up all over the world, and that he originally got the idea during Nelson Mandela’s visit to Cyprus. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due in Cyprus on an official visit. One of the main topics on the agenda today will be EU-Turkish relations, President Nikos Christodoulides said, adding that progress in this respect runs through Cyprus. Elsewhere, the Cyprus-Greece ferry from Larnaca to Piraeus marked its first journey over the weekend.  There’s also the new yellow alert issued by the met office on Sunday, warning of high temperatures again today. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the audit service has undertaken an examination of the feasibility of the EuroAsia Interconnector project, it emerged on Thursday. Elsewhere, two dozen protesters gathered at Eleftheria Square in Nicosia on Thursday demanding the government to stop the sex education reform it recently passed. Also, a short hearing at Paphos criminal court on Thursday left little hint at the outcome of David Hunter’s sentencing. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, A&E departments all over Cyprus have recorded increased attendance in recent days due to the severe heatwave gripping the country, with the coastal towns worst hit because of the increased numbers of visitors. Elsewhere, the Bishop of Karpasia, Christophoros, has denied reports that he had verbally agreed to the construction of a masjid, a Muslim place of worship, on the grounds of the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Karpasia. There’s also the upcoming meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, which has been described as a significant step towards efforts to resume negotiations by the government spokesman. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the first few days of operation of the new terminal at the north’s Tymbou airport have been plagued by power cuts and other technical issues. After being officially opened in an extravagant ceremony and seeing commercial passenger services commence on Friday morning, things have been far from plain sailing. In other news, the fire in the Paphos forest that was contained on Tuesday saw the forestry department and the electricity authority (EAC) disagreeing over whether the blaze was caused by unsuitable cable installations. And authorities have reportedly awarded 61 permits for gold prospecting on the island, while another 15 applications are pending. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today's episode, Facebook has disabled a support group page for auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, citing violations of its community standards. The social media platform deactivated the page after receiving numerous complaints about it, possibly including from attorney-general Giorgos Savvides. Meanwhile, two new fixed traffic cameras were switched on in Limassol on Monday morning, bringing the total number of fixed traffic cameras in the country to seven. Elsewhere, the British Veterinary Association, has posted a statement on its website, calling on UK visitors to the island to take precautions against cat covid or feline infectious peritonitis. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas on Sunday ‘warmly’ welcomed the US Senator Robert Menendez’s proposed amendment to the National Defence Appropriations Act (NDAA) extending to three years from one the renewal period on arms sales to Cyprus. Meanwhile, there is no information about the exact number of Cypriots in Rhodes, where a wildfire has been raging for six days, said the director of consular affairs at the foreign ministry Omiros Mavromatis on Sunday. Elsewhere, taxi drivers have turned the outdoor area of the Larnaca airport into a “coffee shop” with authorities seeking appropriate measures to put an end to their inappropriate behaviour, Transport Minister Alexis Vafiades said on Sunday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the current status quo is not and will never be accepted and cannot be the future of Cyprus, President Christodoulides said on Thursday, the 49th anniversary of the first leg of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Elsewhere, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the north on Thursday to partake in celebrations linked to Turkey’s July 1974 invasion, and to officially open the new Ercan (Tymbou) airport terminal. Also, a scheme for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems for residential units will be rolled out likely in September, the energy minister said Thursday, explaining that anyone can apply for it. All this and more in today’s Daily New Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus marks the ‘black anniversaries’ of coup and invasion today on the 49th anniversary of the Turkish invasion.  Sirens blared across the island at 5:20am as a reminder of the first landing of Turkish commandos on the shores of Pente Mili in Kyrenia.    Elsewhere, a deal was signed for the EuroAsia Interconnector, but the cost has spiraled.   The company - EuroAsia Interconnector - signed a record-breaking subsea cable deal with Nexans on Wednesday, however the positive development was overshadowed by Energy Minister George Papanastasiou confirming rumours that the project’s costs had jumped 23 per cent.  There’s also the announcement that the government is aiming for ‘photovoltaics on every roof’ with a proposal providing free installation of solar panels to vulnerable people in exchange for a small bimonthly tariff to the electricity authority.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Turkey’s approach on the Cyprus problem remains one of the main points of disagreement between the EU and Turkey, an EU official said during a briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council, which will be held on Thursday in Brussels. In other news, Larnaca airport raised the alarm on Tuesday afternoon after an incoming aircraft from Israel had a burst tyre while landing, causing the closing of the runway. And Cyprus’ fiscal council noted significant delays in the implementation of commitments related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), in its interim report published on Tuesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today's episode, air quality had reverted back to normal levels on Monday afternoon in Geri, after a recycling plant in the area burned to the ground. Meanwhile, hospitals are ready to handle any further cases of heatstroke and vulnerable groups must exert caution, according to a top health official. State health services organisation spokesman Pambos Charilaou said on Monday morning that three elderly patients are receiving treatment for heatstroke, a day after a 90-year-old man was reported to have died. Elsewhere, a 103-person lawsuit against the state for its Covid policy was rejected at Nicosia district court on procedural grounds. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, a heatwave is expected to start dissipating by Wednesday, with the met office saying that high temperatures will continue Monday. Elsewhere, feverish preparations are underway for the start of the school year, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said, noting that works are ongoing at many buildings to upgrade them and make them safe for children. Also, Defence Minister Michalis Giorgallas will be in the United States this week, to sign a political agreement for the Cyprus national guard to join the State Partnership Programme. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, after a fiery debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the plenum voted down two bills which the government had warned could threaten the financial system as well as the country’s standing in international money markets. Elsewhere, the fires services responded to 21 fires over 24 hours, the service announced on Thursday and issued an urgent warning to the public of extremely heightened fire risk due to the prevailing heatwave. Also, an amendment to the Refugee law drafted by Elam, will mean that all asylum seekers who refuse to consent to medical examinations to determine their age will be presumed to be adults, has passed through parliament. All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the attorney-general’s office in Nicosia on Wednesday night as they decried a “corrupt government [and] corrupt attorney general” over the lack of action in the Thanasis Nicolaou case. Elsewhere, international news outlets were reporting on the decimation of cats in Cyprus from a feline coronavirus strain, saying that 300,000 cats had died - however, the source for that figure said he was misunderstood.  There’s also the met office’s yellow warning of extreme high temperatures for Thursday with the “Cleon” heatwave set to hit Cyprus. Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 43 degrees inland, while even the highest mountainous areas on the island could see temperatures as high as 36 degrees. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, pop singer Michalis Hadjiyiannis submitted his resignation as Deputy Minister of Culture on Tuesday after a little over four months in the job. In other news, City of Dreams Mediterranean, Europe’s first integrated casino resort, had its grand opening on Tuesday night, attended by President Christodoulides. And four advisors working for the government were unlawfully employed and procedures to end their employment should begin immediately, the Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides has ordered in report issued by his office. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In this episode, buying petrol in the north will not be penalised provided it is not for commercial purposes, the customs department said yesterday as they attempted to clarify confusions which were largely brought about by its own officials. Elsewhere, the three defendants in the case of missing 31-year-old Angelos Perikleous – presumed dead – pleaded not guilty to all charges read out to them at Nicosia criminal court on Monday. Also, a marathon session in parliament yesterday failed to avoid a showdown at the House plenum for later this week, where MPs will be voting on a contentious bill tabled by Akel allowing debtors to obtain a court injunction setting aside foreclosure proceedings. All this and more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, foreclosures and non-performing loans are set to feature heavily on Monday, as deputies and the government alike have a flurry of meetings planned over the crucial topics. Elsewhere, a 66-year-old man and a woman aged 65 were remanded for another five days on Sunday at Famagusta district court, as they are believed to have extorted €96,000 from elderly people by pretending to be doctors. Also, Health Minister Popι Kanari assured on Sunday that measures to decongest A&E departments in government hospitals will be effective in bringing in the desired results. All this and more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, foreclosures have been suspended until the end of October, while a special judicial procedure will be created to deal with non-performing loans, cabinet decided on Wednesday. In other news, Cyprus must strengthen the independence and accountability of its prosecution service. Elsewhere, Cyprus has bucked a Europe-wide trend of increased consumption of illicit cigarettes, according to the latest annual study into the matter by KPMG. All this and much more in today’s daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, foreclosures have been suspended until the end of October, while a special judicial procedure will be created to deal with non-performing loans. Elsewhere, Cyprus has bucked a Europe-wide trend of increased consumption of illicit cigarettes, according to the latest annual study into the matter by KPMG. There’s also the concerns raised by the scientific and technical chamber regarding the tendering process of public works, saying that as it currently stands it is vulnerable to abuses of power. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the leaders of the two sides should promote more contact and cooperation as well as the opening of more crossing points, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday in his two separate reports covering developments on the island over the past six months. In other news, a Turkish Cypriot with American citizenship has been awarded €345,000 in compensation for loss of use of his properties in Limassol and also had ownership of the property returned to him. And proper reforms are needed to ensure justice is properly served in Cyprus, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said on Tuesday, ahead of the publication of the European Commission’s Rule of Law report later this month. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In this episode, the Cyprus Consumers Association said on Monday that the price of petrol will soon decrease by approximately 3 cents per litre, just days after an additional 8.3 cents per litre was added. Elsewhere, data gathered by online platform expatistan.com found that the monthly cost of living for a four-member family in Limassol is €4,141, making the coastal city the most expensive in Cyprus and roughly 11 per cent more than Nicosia. In other news, a 22-year-old British woman who was in a coma after a quad bike accident in Ayia Napa, appeared to be showing signs of improvement on Monday. All this and more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, an autopsy today is expected to establish the exact cause of death of a six-year-old girl late on Saturday afternoon in a jet ski accident on Lady’s Mile beach in Limassol. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is set to have a meeting in New York next week with the UN secretary general to underline the island’s readiness to restart negotiations, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday. Elsewhere, pieces of concrete fell from the ceiling into a cell, hitting an inmate in the prison early on Sunday, guards of the Isotita union announced. Fortunately, the union said, the prisoner was on the bottom bunk so was not seriously hurt. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the price of petrol is set to rise by 8.32 cents per litre and heating fuel by 6.38 cents, with petrol station owners saying they have no choice but to add the additional cost. In other news, President Nikos Christodoulides is satisfied by the paragraph about the Cyprus problem in the draft conclusions of the European Council, which held its summit meeting on Thursday. And the deputy ministry of research and innovation has no staff in place to prevent a cyberattack, it emerged on Thursday at the House audit committee. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, following the attorney-general’s announcement that no evidence of criminal wrongdoing has come up in the case of the 2005 death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, his mother Andriana said they would take the case to the European Court of human rights. Elsewhere, The cabinet decided fuel subsidies will be scrapped but electricity bill subsidies will continue albeit more targeted towards vulnerable groups. There’s also the environment department’s warning that there is more water than usual for this time of year at the Paralimni lake, meaning that there are more flamingos.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, with tankers blocking central roads in Nicosia, the association of petrol station owners on Tuesday protested unfair competition from illegal imports of fuel from the north as the finance ministry said the protest served no purpose. Meanwhile, No evidence of criminal wrongdoing has come up in the case of the 2005 death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, and therefore the state will be taking no more action, the attorney-general said. Elsewhere, the tourism industry faces “important environmental and economic challenges ahead,” President Christodoulides warned on Tuesday addressing the Cyprus Hoteliers’ Association’s (Pasyxe) general assembly in Nicosia. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, petrol station owners were set to protest on Tuesday saying they are losing out because of the availability of cheaper fuel in the north. Elsewhere, three people were arrested on Monday afternoon after a boat carrying a total of 50 irregular migrants was spotted in the early hours of the morning by coast guards in the Famagusta district.  While in Limassol, seven people were arrested in what has been described as a foiled terrorist plot on Israeli targets, while one has escaped abroad, after having entered from the north, reports said on Monday. All this and much more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, resistance to proposed reforms comes from the effort to protect specific interests but the government will not succumb to such pressures, Justice Minister Anna Koukkides Procopiou said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Paphos bishop Tychikos on Sunday denied allegations that the church refused to bury non-Christians in local cemeteries. Elsewhere, the sustainable use of pesticide regulation in the EU will be among the topics discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers Council, which is taking place in Luxembourg on June 26-27. Agriculture Minister Petros Xenophontos travelled to Luxembourg to participate in the Council’s works. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus does not currently have the capacity to absorb the full amount of the renewable energy it produces, meaning that the excess amount could be transported to Israel. Elsewhere, the foreign and local experts that will undertake investigations into the controversial ‘golden passports’ issue have been named by the independent authority against corruption. There’s also the release of a trailer for a documentary into the tragic events surrounding serial killer ‘Orestis’ Metaxas. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, it is high time a solution to the issue of ‘trapped buyers’ is found, the House labour committee concluded on Wednesday, as deputies stressed their determination to tackle the almost 100,000 property owners who remain without their title deeds. Meanwhile, Attorney-General Giorgos Savvides appealed the ‘manifestly inadequate’ 11-year prison sentence recently imposed on a man for sexually abusing two minors under the age of 13. Elsewhere, twenty-five Cypriot musicians aspire to break the Guinness World Record by playing on one piano at the same time sending the message that music remains the main form of socialisation. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday announced an upcoming plan to address the housing crisis, and that moves are underway to improve bicommunal ties, in addition to the creation of a mechanism towards greater government accountability will be established. Elsewhere, the municipality of Geroskipou is set to head to the Supreme Court after a permit has been given for the construction of a hotel on church owned land within its limits. In other news, one third more visitors arrived in Cyprus this May than last year, official statistics show. All this and more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, farmers demonstrated in front of the EU House on Monday with hundreds of tractors and pickup trucks, over the controversial nature bill currently being debated in the EU parliament, which will see further axing of pesticide use. Meanwhile, given the large drop in fuel prices compared to a year ago the ending of the VAT on fuel is justified, the president of the Cyprus Consumers Association said. Elsewhere, parliament on Monday gave the green light for unlocking more than 1,800 positions in the public sector, as requested by the government. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Turkey’s direct interventions in the north of Cyprus are putting at risk the prospects for the resumption of Cyprus talks, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has said. In other news, Israel, due to estimated shortfalls in domestic electricity production in the coming years, is keen on seeing the creation of the electricity interconnector with Cyprus, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Sunday. And Cyprus is attempting to lure more tourists from the Middle East but it’s proving to be an uphill battle, Deputy Minister for Tourism Costas Koumis says. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, in talks in Jerusalem on Thursday, Cyprus and Israel discussed cooperation in the development of regional gas infrastructure, such as the ‘Cyprus Gateway’ initiative aiming to transfer natural gas via the island to Europe. Meanwhile, plans were announced by the government for the creation of a new deputy ministry of migration and asylum. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou explained that the new deputy ministry will aim to better deal with the issue of migration and offer better protection to those legally migrating to Cyprus. Elsewhere, the north’s sheep and goat pox issue appears to have spread close to the capital, with six farm animals in the northern Nicosia suburb of Mandres culled on Thursday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, fuel and electricity prices are set to rise as of July 1 following the expiration of relief measures for consumers introduced last year. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides is set to have a call with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres to discuss developments over a more active role for the EU in resolving the Cyprus problem. There’s also the comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that he could return to the negotiating table if the sovereign rights of the north are recognised. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, former Kiti bishop Chrysostomos will be put on a sabbatical until his appeal against a guilty sexual assault verdict concludes, the Holy Synod has decided. In other news, Europe will not be whole until Cyprus is reunited, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said on Tuesday as she welcomed President Nikos Christodoulides to Strasbourg. And Cyprus Airways carried more than four times the number of passengers in May than the same month last year. A total of 66,998 passengers flew with Cyprus Airways in May, surpassing last year’s May figures, when, according to Cyprus Airways, only 14,735 passengers were carried. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, nearly two years after the catastrophic fires of July 2021, which left four dead and forced the evacuation of ten villages, a 69-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in jail by the Limassol criminal court on Monday. Meanwhile, Τurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the north of Cyprus the destination of his first overseas visit following his reelection last month. Elsewhere, former Kiti Bishop Chrysostomos, who was found guilty of sexual assault, might be placed on a forced sabbatical by the Holy Synod, since filing an appeal against the ruling by the Larnaca district court. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, Limassol police have launched a murder inquiry after Christos Charilaou, aged 39, was killed outside his Parekklisia home in Limassol on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Sixteen kilos of cannabis was found in the luggage of a man arriving at Larnaca airport, police said on Sunday. Elswhere, Cyprus has taken the necessary steps at all levels, the foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday after Turkish Cypriots took part in the Turkish Phoenix of Anatolia international military exercise. All this and much more in today’s daily briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, over €30 million in pandemic support was disbursed to almost 5,000 beneficiaries who did not qualify, and no effort has been made to recover the money, MPs heard on Thursday. Elsewhere, by a nearly unanimous vote, and under the watchful eye of Brussels, parliament on Thursday passed a law allowing for a reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent levied on first homes. Also, a trial for two Greek Cypriot suspects that beat 25-year-old Turkish Cypriot Asya Karaali last weekend in Ayia Napa is set to start on July 6. All this and much more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a bill aiming to regulate the contentious issue of government advisors was discussed at the House institutions committee on Wednesday. After weeks of ridicule over questionable appointments for ministerial advisors, the government shared an unofficial draft of the bill with MPs. Meanwhile, the Nicosia criminal court threw out the ‘golden passports’ case on Wednesday, citing a change in the court composition. As a result, the case will have to be refiled, but in the meantime, it has left all four defendants temporarily acquitted of all charges. Elsewhere, complaints are on the rise from Gesy patients about specialists and personal doctors charging increased fees. According to the complaints patients are being told by physicians that Gesy has increased certain co-payments. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the five youths who assaulted a food courier on Saturday “showed great remorse for their actions,” Limassol police spokesman Lefteris Kyriacou said on Tuesday. In other news, the 24-year-old suspect facing charges of the premeditated murder of missing 31-year-old Angelos Perikleous – presumed dead – appeared in Nicosia criminal court on Tuesday. And experts on Tuesday warned that challenges in the real estate market amounted to a “giant problem” as the impact of external issues including inflation and high interest rates are becoming increasingly felt by consumers and constructors alike. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the environment department gave the green light for a large photovoltaic park in Trimiklini, despite the local community’s initial objections. In other news, police on Tuesday reported that a third person seems to have been involved in the assault of a 25-year-old Turkish Cypriot woman in Ayia Napa. And the government will make full use of recommendations by the Group of States against Corruption, according to an official statement on Tuesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Larnaca criminal court erupted into chants of “filthy rapist” after former Kiti bishop Chrysostomos was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for three years. Elsewhere, Health Minister Dr Popi Kanari said that Covid-19 prevented the adoption of quality checks within the national health scheme, an issue the new government plans to tackle. In other news, the family of a 17-year-old who died in a car accident has accused the police of lying to the public saying that no justice has been served, 11 years after the teen’s death. All this and much more in today’s News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’svepisode, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou dismissed media reports on Wednesday which downplayed the government’s reorientation on energy as “wrong”, stating that energy companies and the government are on the same page. Elsewhere, Nicosia district court ruled that the Republic of Cyprus violated the human rights of former defence minister Costas Papacostas during his incarceration in the aftermath of the 2011 blast at Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari where a large amount of ammunition and military explosives kept in shipping containers self-detonated, killing 13 people. In other news, authorities said preventive measures are being taken following an outbreak of sheep and goat pox in the north, with the island's Veterinary Services confirming that it will be inspecting livestock and enforcing a ban on movement of animals as a precaution. All this and much more in today's News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, tourism to Cyprus seems to have recovered from Russian sanctions as arrivals so far this year are eight per cent higher than the record year of 2019 and 38 per cent higher than last year, Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis told MPs. In other news, the sports ethics committee has appointed investigators to look into four top-flight matches, which were played in the last fortnight following claims of suspicious betting activity. And in 22 state primary schools in Nicosia, Cypriot pupils are in the minority, MPs heard on Tuesday as some said the shrinking population on the island has become critical. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the president vowed that Cyprus is shifting gears to end its energy isolation and it is uniquely positioned to contribute to the Eastern Mediterranean’s energy solutions. Elsewhere, the European Commission disagreed with parliament’s compromise proposal over reduced VAT on homes, amid an impending deadline just over a week from now. There’s also Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar congratulating Turkey’s president Recep Tayyp Erdogan following his victory in the presidential elections on Sunday. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Energy Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou said the energy workshop taking place on Monday in Nicosia is the first significant milestone in shaping the decisions for the national energy policy. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the causes of the fire that broke out near Akamas area over the weekend and destroyed 300,000 square metres of forest vegetation. Elsewhere, the ease with which student visas are issued, the inadequate legal framework, and the general lack of controls in the northern part of Cyprus is increasing human smuggling and trafficking through universities. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus is partly to blame for Cyprus’ energy woes and high prices, but the state has let the people down, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Thursday. Meanwhile, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said it will take great courage to break the impasse on the Cyprus problem negotiations, questioning whether all sides have enough willpower to do so. Elsewhere, the Cyprus Football Association has strongly denied what it called “offensive claims” moved by the former chairman of the sports ethics committee Andreas Papacharalambous during the House ethics committee on Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

Former President Nikos Anastasiades again strongly rejected “malicious allegations” over interference in match-fixing investigations on Wednesday as former chairman of the sports ethics committee Andreas Papacharalambous doubled down on his claims. Elsewhere, a 67-year-old man was on Wednesday found guilty of causing the catastrophic fires of July 2021 which left four dead and forced the evacuation of ten villages. In other news and responding to church’s defence of conversion therapies, a bill banning which is set to be voted on by the House today, head of Accept LGBTI Nicholas Tryphonos has said people’s sexual orientation cannot change. All this and much more in the Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, retired British miner David Hunter did everything he could to help his terminally ill wife Janice as her condition deteriorated in the last few years of her life and became increasingly depressed, the Paphos criminal court heard on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Attorney-general Giorgos Savvides said that the audit service is engaging in character assassination and overstepping the lines of free speech, as the two offices continued to exchange barbs. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides pledged to gradually restore shift allowances and overtime pay for civil servants by 2025. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides delivered a stinging verbal attack on the auditor-general, whom he accused of a deliberate and concerted campaign to blacken his name, vowing that he would no longer put up with this situation. In other news, Medical experts and cancer patients alike hope to see new and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease on the island with the inauguration of the Nicola David-Pinedo Cyprus Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) on Monday. And President Nikos Christodoulides will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin later this week where they will discuss the Cyprus problem and the proposal for greater EU involvement in the process. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Cyprus strongly condemned Turkey’s move to reserve areas for naval exercises encompassing north Famagusta. Elsewhere, over 90 per cent of Greek nationals living in Cyprus cast their vote for Greece’s parliamentary elections, which ended with New Democracy having a clear lead. There’s also the latest Cyprus Mail report which detailed the ongoing stress caused to residents in Pissouri who continue to worry about the future of their homes, over a problem that is ongoing for 12 years. After a landslide which tore properties apart, residents have been pleading to the state to help. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, cabinet revoked the Cypriot citizenship of Malaysian-born Jho Low, a fugitive wanted internationally for allegedly orchestrating the theft of $4.5 billion from the Southeast Asian country’s sovereign wealth fund. Elsewhere, three law firms have been reported to the police over suspicions they have violated EU sanctions, the Cyprus Bar Association said. There’s also the row between the auditor-general and the attorney-general as they continue to tangle over the status of the latter, and what Europe's anti-corruption body has to say on the issue. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Christodoulides discussed his proposal for a more active EU role in the efforts to resume talks and reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, as well as the next steps forward during separate meetings he had with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and European Council President Charles Michel. Meanwhile, Cyprus is 29th out of 49 countries in the Council of Europe when it comes to LGBTI+ rights, ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides said. Elsewhere, police announced they have identified the skull found in Koloni as belonging to 79-year-old Briton Ann Naisbitt, who had been reported as missing since the beginning of April. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz against his extradition to Germany, as President Nikos Christodoulides said he will raise the issue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin next week while on a state visit. In other news, MPs on Tuesday sought to put an end to the discrimination among refugees by amending the law to allow everyone living in refugee housing to have title deeds. And police officers on Tuesday unearthed gun casings believed to be connected to the death of Angelos Perikleous, who has been missing for almost a month. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In this episode, British pensioner David Hunter, who killed wife, told the court he ‘regretted what he had to do’. Elsewhere, the payment of the cost of living allowance could saddle taxpayers with a whopping €1.2 billion over the next three-year period, it was reported on Monday. In other news, the energy minister said Cyprus and Israel are working on a deal for a pipeline carrying natural gas from both countries to the island, where it will be liquefied for export to Europe and potentially elsewhere. All this and much more in the daily Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Diko is proud to have played a decisive role in the “selection, support and election of Nikos Christodoulides to the presidency of the Republic,” party leader Nicholas Papadopoulos said on Sunday saying the party had backed “an independent candidate who was not part of the traditional political system”. Meanwhile, the traffic police have been kept busy with more than 2,300 traffic violations recorded in the seven days till Sunday. Elsewhere, a human skull found by a farmer in Koloni on Sunday will be sent for specialised examinations, Paphos police spokesman Michalis Nicolaou said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the government promised to deliver a ‘road map’ on tackling traffic congestion – but also pollution from vehicles – while warning that Cyprus could end up paying tens of millions for carbon allowances for emissions from transport. In other news, Nicosia criminal court on Thursday handed down sentences to four persons, having found them guilty of fraudulently securing papers allowing asylum applicants to stay permanently on the island. And Cyprus’ Eurovision entrant Andrew Lambrou on Thursday secured a spot in Saturday night’s grand final in Liverpool. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In this episode, following heavy criticism in the last few days about people being given government jobs they were not qualified for, President Nikos Christodoulides said a bill will be drawn up to deal with the issue of consultant appointments. In other news, there has been no impact to Cyprus’ financial stability as a result of recent US and UK sanctions, only to its international reputation, Central Bank of Cyprus governor Constantinos Herodotou said. Elsewhere, the 24-hour strike to be held today by public hospital doctors in protest over uncertainty in medical malpractice suit insurance is unnecessary, spokesman of the state health services organisation Okypy Charalambos Charilaou said. All this and much more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said the government has received the first batch of information on natural and legal persons included on the US sanctions list, while two more packages are expected soon. In other news, a final call by David Hunter’s defence team to have his wife’s killing tried as manslaughter as opposed to premeditated murder failed on Tuesday, after the judge said there was enough evidence to continue the case on the charge of premeditated murder. And the use of methamphetamine and other stimulant drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines are below the EU average in Cyprus with cannabis remaining the drug of choice on the island in 2022, according to the drugs squad YKAN. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In this episode, President Christodoulides assured that nothing will be done outside the law after the audit office lambasted the deputy tourism minister’s decision to appoint a 19-year-old without a university degree as his associate. Elsewhere, the trial of Briton David Hunter resumed at Paphos criminal court, where prosecution aimed to get the facts on record of how police were alerted to the murder, as well as Janice Hunter’s manner of death. Also, imprisoned Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz's indefinite hunger strike continued for the fifth day on Monday. All this and much more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, authorities were looking for a 25-year-old man to shed light into the premediated murder case of a 35-year-old woman whose body was found in a Germasoya apartment early on Sunday. The woman was found half-naked, bound and gagged on the ground of the Limassol apartment around 1am. Meanwhile, the uncle of the man suspected of killing 31-year-old Andreas Perikleous, a 24-year-old hacker, will lead police to possible burial sites. Elsewhere, Disy’s newly-elected leader and House President Annita Demetriou said the right-wing party is a model of democratic operation and will move forward with unity as she announced the 25 elected members of its political bureau. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In this episode, former President Nicos Anastasiades deemed the claims made by the former chairman of the sports ethics committee Andreas Papacharalambous “false, unfounded and vulgar.” Elsewhere, trade unions on Thursday gave a thumbs-down to a mediation proposal by the government for a new deal on the cost of living allowance (CoLA), while employers grudgingly agreed to the proposal so as to maintain calm in the labour market. In other news, there is nothing for the government to investigate, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Thursday about the sale of properties in Varosha last week, citing that the documents that were notarised are private sale agreements. All this and much more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, speaking after a meeting with President Christodoulides French President Emmanuel Macron said Cyprus can count on France’s support in the efforts to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and in the field of defence, should the island require military assistance. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot media reported that no sales transaction was made for the three hotels in Varosha through the immovable property commission. Elsewhere, Cyprus’ ranking in world press freedom jumped 10 spots this year to be 55th out of 180 countries across the world. The published figures, however, reveal growing concerns of self-censorship. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Greek Cypriots who sold their property in Varosha did so because they can see no light at the end of the Cyprus problem tunnel and are enduring economic hardships, Famagusta Mayor Simos Ioannou said on Tuesday. In other news, a 24-year-old hacker was re-arrested in Limassol on Tuesday for charges of the premeditated murder of Andreas Perikleous, aged 31. And the cabinet on Tuesday approved zero VAT on certain consumer goods, in a stated bid to provide some relief amid current inflationary pressures. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In todays’ episode, no new evidence emerged on Monday after on-site investigations following the disappearance of 31-year-old Angelos Perikleous last month. In other news, Cyprus marked Labour Day on Monday amid an ongoing dispute on the CoLa (cost of living allowance). Also on Monday, Cyprus marked the 19th anniversary as a full EU member state. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides released the names of his election campaign donors – but only after a discussion in parliament had outed him as having effectively broken the law by not disclosing the information earlier. In other news, the last Cypriot citizen evacuee from Sudan arrived on a night flight to Larnaca, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said, as flights were set to continue throughout the day with more evacuees from other countries. Elsewhere, authorities said investigations were still ongoing over the fire at the Russian cultural centre in Nicosia, although a media report said police had already ruled out foul play. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, over 700 people have been evacuated from Sudan to Cyprus so far, as the island continues to be used as a hub to get Europeans out of the African nation. Elsewhere, oil major Chevron will shortly begin drilling in the Aphrodite field to confirm further deposit quantities. Meanwhile, a large fire at the Russian cultural centre in Nicosia was extinguished in hours on Wednesday but not before it appeared to engulf the building in flames and send a huge smoke plume into the air above it. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides vowed that Cyprus will do whatever is possible to prevent further damage to the country’s reputation, adding that no one will be protected if they are found violating the sanctions. In other news, the mother of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, whose lifeless body was found under a bridge in Alassa back in 2005, slammed the authorities on Facebook on Tuesday in a post directly accusing army officers of dealing drugs. And communities hosting large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers gave out another 'SOS', complaining of rising crime, squatting and general nuisance. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, after almost two decades of the Annan plan referendum on the Cyprus problem, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said that the Greek Cypriot side was rewarded for rejecting the plan, while the Turkish Cypriots have been punished. Elsewhere, a protest which blocked off entry and departure of ships from Larnaca port caused a stern reaction from Kition Ocean Holdings, which warned it was considering legal measures. We also hear that a total of 350 products are set to be included on an electronic shopping basket app called “e-kalathi”, which will allow people to compare item prices from various supermarkets to better determine the total cost of their shopping. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus on Sunday marked 20 years since the checkpoints opened, paving the way for countless Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to come closer. Bicommunal initiative group United Cyprus, called for more checkpoints to open, highlighting how this has facilitated economic development for both sides. Elsewhere, Greek jets last weekend were rescuing a number of people from Sudan including Cypriots. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said he was coordinating with other EU counterparts for evacuation operations, noting Cypriots were also on the list of those to be rescued. Meanwhile, In other news, President Nikos Christodoulides has not excluded the possibility of more sanctions from the US and UK to come, which may also affect Cypriots. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the government said it is gearing into action to tackle the migration crisis, with funding aimed at expanding reception centres, speeding up asylum seeker applications, and increasing voluntary returns to 1,000 a month. Elsewhere, hackers made good on their threat to release a trove of personal data stolen from the Open University of Cyprus, after a deadline for payment of ransom elapsed. There’s also the announcement that the police forces’ top units responded to a mock terrorist attack on Thursday to assess their readiness, in a simulation of terror strikes which included an attack on Kykkos monastery. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the finance ministry confirmed that it may reduce VAT on key goods, with reports indicating these may be slashed on items such as bread, milk and baby food. The finance ministry confirmed news that these discussions were under way with the commerce ministry, but that even if agreed between the two parties they would need EU approval to confirm the rate cuts, as VAT is regulated by Europe. Elsewhere, police in Cyprus have lost trace of an Israeli professor who was arrested on February 16 at Larnaca airport on suspicion of arms trafficking to Libya and China between 2015 and 2023. Meanwhile, the government announced that a national sanctions implementation unit will be set up in Cyprus, which will cooperate with the respective department in the UK. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the Cyprus government on Tuesday stressed it was ready to explore whether there were grounds to begin criminal proceedings against sanctioned Cypriots who have been named by the US and UK for knowingly assisting Russian oligarchs to hide their assets.  In other news, Greek and Turkish Cypriots have become more estranged since the “spectacular collapse” of talks in 2017, according to the latest Crisis Group report on Cyprus – which argues that small, but meaningful, steps can be taken to lay the groundwork for future developments. And the north launched a new airline on Tuesday as Fly Kibris’ maiden flight saw an Airbus A320 travel from Tymbou to Istanbul, with flights scheduled later for Iran, Kosovo, Azerbaijan and other destinations. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, both tourism and the property market in Cyprus are being damaged by outdated and unworkable laws governing swimming pools, which have seen many complexes closing theirs over the last few years.The problem is that Cyprus recognises communal pools found at private complexes as public ones and therefore applies stringent law geared towards public facilities. Elsewhere, the Bank of Cyprus has become the first bank in Cyprus and Greece to receive approval from the European Central Bank (ECB) to pay dividends. The lender is expected to resume paying dividends to its shareholders after 12 years. It also came to light that Cyprus had the highest ratio across EU member states of Ukrainian citizens granted temporary protection for February 2023. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides hastily convened a meeting at the palace on Thursday evening to discuss US and UK sanctions that have led to a punishing blow to Cypriot individuals and companies deemed ‘financial fixers’ for Russian oligarchs. The government has called the matter “especially serious” as local banks also moved to immediately freeze the accounts of the individuals in order to uphold their own credibility, a number of sources confirmed to the Cyprus Mail. Elsewhere, hundreds of needy Cypriot families are receiving support from volunteers or local communities to put food on their table this Easter but demand is up while donations are down at least in Nicosia as inflation continues to bite across the board.   In other news, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou on Thursday floated the idea of importing natural gas quantities from reservoirs in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, to be used for power generation, coupled with exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via a small terminal on the island. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the UK government imposed sanctions on two alleged Cypriot “financial fixers” for “knowingly assisting” sanctioned Russia oligarchs to hide their assets in complex financial networks. Elsewhere, doctors at a private medical centre in Limassol have asked to be given time to relocate, following a majority decision by shareholders to be inducted into the national health system. There’s also the development that Cyprus police rejected a request from the Greek football authority to host the cup final on the island, a few days after Greece’s media reported it was a done deal, while authorities in Nicosia said they had never even received a request. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, eighty per cent of the state’s services have been restored, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday, following the leak on Monday afternoon in the basement of the Ministry of Finance that caused them to be taken offline. In other news, footage of clashes between unaccompanied minors at a Paphos accommodation centre has prompted the city’s mayor to warn that the state is responsible “should the worst happen." And two white rhinoceros that were moved from another zoo located in South Africa are the newest additions to the animals at Paphos zoo, and are settling into their new enclosure.All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, deputy shipping minister called the addition of the Larnaca port to the Cyprus-Greece ferry link “a success for the country and for its economy.” She said the new programme for this summer registered a huge demand. Elsewhere, smart cameras have been installed in “sensitive” areas, such as parks and squares, with more on the way – pending a green light from the personal data commissioner. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides said the upcoming establishment of the National Security Council in Cyprus was long overdue. Christodoulides said that “Geopolitical changes and the constant redistribution of power in the region mandates the operation of such a mechanism”. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a man has come forward after police said they were seeking information following the hospitalisation of a 31-year-old woman in critical condition following in a traffic accident in the early hours on Sunday. Elsewhere, the broader services sector in Cyprus recorded an increase of 6.6 per cent year-on-year in 2022, with accommodation and food services, information and communication and transport and storage recording the most significant increas Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected in the north on April 18, where he is set to officially open the new passenger terminal at Tymbou airport. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the House passed a law making some 1,000 former bank employees eligible for unemployment benefits, in what some commentators earlier called a scandalous arrangement. Elsewhere, civil servants can start and finish work half an hour earlier after the plenum approved amendments to their working hours to alleviate traffic issues. There’s also comments by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos who stated that there are no concerns over an increase in bad loans for Cyprus’ banks. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides arrived in Egypt for a two-day visit on Wednesday afternoon where he discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Elsewhere,Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides said the auditor general had mounted a sexist attack against her for six years. “Today was the pinnacle of a sexist behaviour ongoing for six years. It was behaviour that saw me as simply the wife of a husband and not a woman with her own personality,” she said. Meanwhile, vets have appealed to the health ministry for hospital-grade vaccines for cats amid an upsurge of the fatal disease caused by feline coronavirus. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Spain stands by Cyprus in its search for a just and viable solution to the island’s political problem, while its prime minister on Tuesday said it would take the initiative to bring the two sides on the island together. In other news, well known Cypriot soft drinks company KEAN on Tuesday announced an in principle agreement to sell the company’s shares to BBF, marking a change in ownership after 74 years of operation. And high school students and teachers on the island have developed a prototype robot powered with ChatGPT artificial intelligence technology to harness and improve teaching experiences in the classroom. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the Audit service and the Attorney-general engaged in a war of words after the latter accused the former of lying about a European Commission communiqué that sided with Auditor-general Oydsseas Michaelides on the finance ministry’s decision, which awarded no-bid contracts connected to the Hermes airport concession agreement. In other news, forty-seven areas on the island are still classified as dangerous due to landmines or other active remnants of war such as unexploded artillery shells, bombs and grenades, data reported on the Unficyp website reveals. Meanwhile, the press and information office launched a five-year campaign titled ‘Journalists Matter’ starting with a discussion on how protecting journalists is paramount to protecting democracy. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the main goal is a solution to the national problem that provides for an independent and sovereign state, Government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said on Sunday. Speaking at the memorial service of the Eoka 1955-59 fighters, Letymbiotis said the government is “working for the end of the occupation, the reunification of our country through the achievement of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem”. Elsewhere, the importance of a more active European Union involvement in the Cyprus problem negotiations was highlighted by Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived in Cyprus on Sunday as a guest of John Christodoulou to attend the award ceremony of a student competition held by Yianis Christodoulou Foundation. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode,  Ersin Tatar said Greek Cypriots cannot tolerate the voice of Turkish Cypriots - after students protested the Turkish Cypriot leader as he was heading to a conference at King’s College London. Elsewhere, President Christodoulides laid out his approach on the Cyprus issue, consisting of “cultivating a positive agenda and a positive climate”, during the first National Council session held under his administration. There’s also the issue of firefighting helicopters - with those at the disposal of the authorities being subpar and may even not be airworthy, legislators heard. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, sports fans will be subjected to random alcohol and drugs tests on entry to sports venues while a permanent police team will be established to cover high-risk matches, according to a Wednesday cabinet decision aiming to curb violence in sports stadiums. Justice Minister Anna Prokopiou announced the decisions following the outbreak of violence at a basketball match on Sunday. Elsewhere, around 27 migrants for every 1,000 people arrived in Cyprus from outside the EU in 2021, data released by Eurostat showed, also revealing 22.7 per cent of the island’s citizens were born overseas. Meanwhile, all the relevant services are better staffed and better equipped to deal with fires than they were last year, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides warned on Tuesday that fans need to behave otherwise all sporting matches will be held without spectators, following violent clashes at a basketball semi-final at the weekend. In other news, MPs on Tuesday urged the government to do something about rising interest rates, particularly to shield vulnerable borrowers and prevent bad loans from proliferating - although none had a clear idea as to how this might be done. And the European Commission said on Tuesday it had awarded the first PDO certificate for halloumi (or hellim in Turkish) to a Turkish Cypriot producer.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said he has issued 'strong advice' to commercial banks to focus on loan restructuring for distressed borrowers, as well as to increase deposit rates and contain lending rates amid a high interest-rate environment set to further squeeze consumers. In other news, delivery drivers in Nicosia held a demonstration outside the offices of PEO union following the death of a moped rider last week. And government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis denied there being a rift between Nicosia and Athens over the latter supporting Ankara’s bid for a senior role at a UN agency. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou will promote a plan to the cabinet for restoration of refugee apartment buildings found to be inadequate. Elsewhere, Cyprus signed an agreement to cooperate with the New Jersey National Guard, Defence Minister Michalis Giorgallas said, adding a delegation of US group will be visiting Cyprus later this week. Meanwhile, the Cyprus basketball federation said all future matches will be cancelled until further notice, following rioting at a semi-final match between Anorthosis and Apollon. Fans at the basketball semi-finals fought with police officers on Sunday, and set fire to a bus stop and offices following the match, the fire services reported. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Christodoulides said he hoped to ‘break the deadlock’ in the Cyprus peace process, also pitching to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres his proposal for a more active involvement of the European Union. Elsewhere, one in ten Greek Cypriots travel to Turkey or to the north to receive dental care, the House health committee heard on Thursday. Meanwhile, all public transport will be offered for free this Saturday as part of a campaign marking Earth Hour 2023. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, he interior ministry rejected suggestions it had been well aware of rampant abuse at the online appointment system of the migration department for months, but wilfully chose to look the other way. A damning report pointed the finger at former interior minister Nicos Nouris, claiming that he had known about shady agents selling appointment slots but “closed his eyes” to the matter. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides met with key EU officials where he presented the case for greater EU involvement in the efforts to break the impasse on the Cyprus problem. Meanwhile, the US State Department’s annual human rights report on Cyprus emphasised the challenges faced by asylum seekers while it also singled out overcrowding at the prisons. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Cyprus banking system is resilient and able to cope with the ongoing issues faced by Credit Suisse, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday, echoing the Central Bank’s own assurances from a day earlier. Elsewhere, the Paphos district court renewed the remand of the 31-year-old suspect in the case of Lesya Bykova’s death for three more days, pending the outcome of a second autopsy performed on the body. Meanwhile, the government will spend €100 million over ten years to fix the problems at refugee apartment buildings, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the Central Bank governor will meet with the CEOs of Cyprus’ two major banks today in light of the Credit Suisse rescue. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides leaves for Brussels today, aiming to promote his proposal for more active involvement of the European Union in the Cyprus issue. There’s also the demonstration being held by dozens of the Kurdish cultural organisation “Theophilos” members at the front of the justice ministry over the ongoing extradition trial of Kurdish politician Kenan Ayaz. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides begins his contacts in Brussels this coming week, aiming among other things to promote his proposal for a more active involvement of the European Union in the Cyprus issue. In other news, the online platform to make appointments at the immigration department has been taken down following abuse of the system exposed by the Cyprus Mail. And a woman aged 33 has been remanded for eight days by the Larnaca court after police said they found almost 17 kilos of cannabis in her luggage when she arrived on a flight from South Africa via Cairo on Saturday night. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides and Finance Minister Makis Keravnos are in constant contact with Central Bank governor Constantinos Herodotou, following a 30 per cent slump in shares of Credit Suisse bank in Switzerland. Elsewhere, lawmakers hounded the government for taking its time delivering legislation to tighten up the earthquake-proofing of buildings, saying that lives are at stake. Meanwhile, legislators said they will seek higher state subsidies for assisted reproduction, as one in six couples were said to face infertility issues. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a 32-year-old man on Wednesday was handed a three-year jail sentence by Limassol district court after being found guilty of causing a triple fatal car accident in 2017 that ended the lives of Andreas Yasemi, 32, Dimitris Savva, also 32, and Panayiotis Stefanou, 26. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides met with UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo on Wednesday, in efforts to find a way forward in stalled Cyprus problem negotiations. Meanwhile, about 30 flights to and from Cyprus will be hit by a 24-hour nationwide strike in Greece, estimated to impact almost 3,000 travellers. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus-based Indie gaming company Apella Games has won a major battle against tech giant Apple Inc., which tried to block the startup from registering its name and logo with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, claiming the mark was visually, phonetically, and conceptually similar to Apple’s. Elsewhere, a decision to reduce the frequency blood tests can be carried out on the national health scheme (Gesy) on Tuesday caused outrage among patients. There’s also the president’s statement from Greece that there is ‘no time to lose’ in the effort to resume Cyprus problem negotiations. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis announced on Monday that their governments will institutionalise a coordination body, as a new chapter in Athens and Nicosia relations. In other news, Police confirmed foul play in the case of a 28-year-old woman found dead in the vicinity of Petra tou Romiou in Paphos on Saturday morning. And a British company is being grilled by the agriculture ministry over its ‘buffalomi’ product – a “halloumi style cheese” made from buffalo milk. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Annita Demetriou this weekend became the first female leader of one of the island’s main political parties although the task ahead of the new DISY leader is not a simple one. In other news, boat owners at Larnaca marina on Sunday held a demonstration against plans by private developer Kition Ocean Marina to raise docking fees for the second time in a year. And the enthronement of new Bishop of Paphos took place on Sunday afternoon. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the House voted against another extension to a freeze on property repossessions. Elsewhere, the auditor-general lambasted the University of Cyprus, over a series of alleged irregularities – including their keeping on the payroll a Nobel laureate past his retirement. There’s also the update that Larnaca will in August and September become part of the Cyprus-Greece ferry service as the city’s port will share the timetable with Limassol. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, on international women’s day yesterday, The House education committee heard that men are getting paid up to four times more than female athletes. The issue arose during a discussion to amend the law to ensure gender equality in sport. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides said that gender equality issues are high on the agenda and relevant policies will be promoted in all ministries and deputy ministries. Meanwhile, intrepid mountaineer Evgenios Staroselskiy aims to raise the Cypriot flag over the world’s deadliest summit: K2, otherwise known as the Savage Mountain. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, electricity prices must come down, as expensive energy is sapping people’s disposable income and also raising the cost of production for businesses, new Energy Minister George Papanastasiou stressed on Tuesday. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides said he has a number of political people in mind from EU member states that could play a constructive role in resolving the Cyprus problem. Meanwhile, the adoption of increased security around House Speaker Annita Demetriou and some of her family members, has nothing to do with her having filed a police report of fake news, police announced. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the funerals for the two Cypriots who died in the fatal train crash in Greece last week, were held on Monday. In other news, Health Minister Popi Kanari said the government aims to improve OKYPY hospitals. She stressed efforts should be focused on improving GESY. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos’ office on Monday denied a report that claimed he said the national health scheme was a black hole of funds. And, a 26-year-old of Cypriot origin was arrested in Athens after trying to remove pieces of stone and marble from the Acropolis as souvenirs. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the remains of two Cypriots who died in the tragic train crash in Greece arrived in Cyprus on Sunday evening. Their funerals are set to take place today, where the families have asked for privacy away from the media. In other news, several traffic cameras will become operational across Cyprus starting Monday, police warned on Sunday. And Cyprus has scored 94.4 out of 100 in the World Bank’s Women, Business, and Law index for 2023. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the body of one of the missing Cypriots aboard a train that crashed in Tempi, Greece was identified late on Thursday night. The 23-year-old student, Kyprianos Papaioannou from Avgorou, was identified among the dozens of victims of the deadly collision two days ago using DNA testing. Another Cypriot, 24-year-old dentistry student Anastasia Adamidou from Paphos, remains missing. Elsewhere, in an extraordinary plenary session convened yesterday, the House passed a law extending by another two months a reduction on fuel tax – a matter that should have been addressed before the government switchover. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate reached close to 7 per cent for the last quarter of 2022, figures published by the Cyprus Statistical Service showed, while unemployment among young people stood close to 20 per cent All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, two Cypriot nationals were on board one of the two trains that collided in Larissa, northern Greece on Tuesday night, and are still missing. Local media named then as Kypros Papaioannou and Anastasia Adamidou. The crash has killed at least 38 people and injured dozens of others. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides called on his new ministers to raise the bar high and keep their tone low, as his new cabinet was sworn in on Wednesday. In his speech, Christodoulides pledged his government would be one “for all Cypriots” and would be ruled by transparency, respect and hard work. Meanwhile, the first ever crossover organ transplant involving Cyprus and Israel took place on Wednesday after two kidneys were exchanged at the old Larnaca airport in the morning. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Nikos Christodoulides was officially sworn in as the eighth president - as he vowed that “the Cypriot people will be at the centre of all our policies”. Elsewhere, a woman developed large bedsores after she was hospitalised for a month and her wounds remained untreated, with a doctor claiming that it again shows the “shortcomings” of the national general health scheme Gesy when it comes to elderly care. There’s also the latest February rainfall figures, and a positive announcement from BirdLife Cyprus on reduced trapping with nets. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President-elect Nikos Christodoulides announced his cabinet on Green Monday. It included some high-profile names including well-known singer Michalis Hadjiyiannis as Deputy Minister of Culture, as well as former Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou to the post of Interior Minister. In other news, maternal deaths in Cyprus more than doubled in the past 20 years, making it one of the worst performers across the globe, a report by the World Health Organisation revealed on Monday. And cities in Cyprus emptied on Monday as most people headed out into nature for picnics to celebrate the start of the Orthodox Eastern Lenten period. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, there’s the latest on the new president’s meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Elsewhere, the agriculture minister is pleased over the finalisation of the Akamas local plan. There’s also calls from the Kokkinotrimithia community leader for the Pournara migrant reception centre to be relocated. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, cabinet on Wednesday decided to postpone implementing the Akamas local development plan for another six months. The cabinet decision also entails a four-month window allowing for objections to the plan for the environmentally sensitive area and one of the few undeveloped coastal regions in Cyprus. Elsewhere, after years of delays and shifting timetables, work has begun in Vasiliko for the construction of a jetty to facilitate a floating LNG storage and regasification unit but the completion date has been kicked down the road again, and at an extra cost of €25m. Meanwhile, the percentage of foreign workers a company is allowed to employ and include into collective agreements has been raised from 30 to 50 per cent. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, current Disy leader Averof Neophytou on Tuesday bowed out of the race for the next party leader on Tuesday, in what has narrowed down to a face-off between House President Annita Demetriou and MP Demetris Demetriou. Elsewhere, the Briton accused of killing his terminally ill wife, David Hunter had a “poor showing” in court remembering events that were convenient for him and his case, the state prosecutor argued on Tuesday at Paphos criminal court. Meanwhile, around 1,000 people severely affected by the earthquake that devastated entire cities in Turkey and Syria on February 6 are currently seeking refuge in the north, Turkish Cypriot ‘welfare minister’ Hassan Tatsoi said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, an earthquake was felt in Cyprus and in southern Turkey, Syria and Lebanon about 7pm on Monday. In other news, House President Annita Demetriou is poised to throw her hat in the running for DISY’s upcoming leadership elections, ahead of the deadline for submitting candidacies today.  And an investigation has been launched into an incident regarding a patient who was left naked and uncovered on her bed at the Limassol General Hospital last week. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, President-elect Nikos Christodoulides will do everything possible to achieve some kind of result during his informal meeting next week with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, he said on Sunday. In other news, Archimandrite Tychikos Vryonis, Archimandrite Ioannis Ioannou and Bishop Amathountos Nikolaos have made the top three in the elections for a new bishop of Paphos; the Synod will now decide who will be the 70th bishop for the district. And police on Sunday, during an island wide sweep, arrested 21 people who were on the island illegally, according to an announcement. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, there’s the latest on President-elect Nikos Christodoulides who will meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar next week. Elsewhere, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said his time in politics has come to a close after 10 years. There’s also the continued aid drive by Cyprus for the earthquake victims in neighbouring Turkey and Syria. And don’t miss the latest carnival updates, with major festivities returning for the first time in over two years. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President-elect Nikos Christodoulides met with Disy leader Averof Neophytou at the former’s political office on Wednesday, with both saying it was time to turn the page on the bitterness of the election campaign. Left-wing Akel made a similar assertion, after its general-secretary Stefanos Stefanou held a meeting with Christodoulides. Stefanou heard Christodoulides’ plans to draw people from across the political spectrum for the new government but concluded Akel would not participate if asked. Elsewhere, civil engineers called on the state to subsidise the anti-seismic upgrading of buildings, following the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The Association of Civil Engineers released a video showing the disrepair of buildings around the island. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, as the leadership race in the island’s largest party heats up, its current number two Harris Georgiades has announced his candidacy. In other news, a man who committed the “extremely vile” crimes of sexually abusing three children and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a “blatantly inadequate sentence” has now had his sentence extended for a further five years by the Supreme Court, it emerged on Tuesday. And details emerged on Tuesday of the shocking working conditions under which 14 Indian workers were employed at a Famagusta livestock farm. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, a day after Nikos Christodoulides was voted in as Cyprus’ elected president, the horse trading over cabinet members appeared to be in full swing. The president-elect has highlighted his cabinet will be formed by new faces, people who have not served as ministers before. In other news, a Turkish Cypriot mother and earthquake survivor, who lost her 11-year-old daughter in the wreckage of the Isias hotel in Turkey, described yesterday the tragedy that befell the school group that had gone there for a volleyball tournament. And for the second day in a row, police urged businesses to pay extra attention to their online accounts and transactions after stating that a Limassol-based company found out that unknown people hacked into its servers and stole around €339,000. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Nikos Christodoulides was on Sunday voted the eighth President of the Republic, with the day ending in a declaration ceremony at Eleftheria Stadium in Nicosia which rocked to cheers of his name, applause and loud music. Christodoulides, aged 49, secured 51.97 per cent of the vote. Speaking from the podium, he said “the Cypriot people have spoken,” and called on everyone to leave the past behind and look together to the future united. Meanwhile, turnout for the election reached 72.2 per cent of registered voters, a small increase from the first round last week. That meant that 405,086 people cast a vote. Voting abroad stood at 67.9 per cent compared to 73.8 per cent last Sunday. Elsewhere, all the Turkish Cypriots who died in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey have now been returned to the island as the last of the funerals were held on Sunday. Thirteen funerals were held in Famagusta, Prastio and Ayios Sergios, all for people part of the group from the Famagusta secondary school who had gone to Adiyaman for a volleyball tournament. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades may take a public position in relation to the situation shaping up in the second round of the elections on Sunday after ruling Disy decided that party members should adopt a conscience vote between Nikos Christodoulides and Akel-backed Andreas Mavroyiannis. Meanwhile, hope is dwindling for the group of Turkish Cypriots trapped under the rubble of the Isias hotel in Adiyaman, who are yet to be recovered, the north’s ‘education minister’ Nazim Cavusoglu said, four days after the catastrophic earthquake. Elsewhere, Troodos was hit with a 20-year record deep freeze as temperatures dropped to -12.5 Celsius overnight on Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, dozens of Turkish Cypriot children remained buried for a third day yesterday under the rubble of a devastating earthquake that killed thousands across southern Turkey and in Syria. Also, Turkey has accepted Cyprus’ offer to send rescue teams to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of over 11,000 people. Disy’s parliamentary leader and long-standing MP Nicos Tornaritis has come out in support of Nikos Christodoulides ahead of the second round of the presidential election. Other big names to back the front-runner are former Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou and Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis. The met office issued an orange weather warning overnight on Wednesday, warning of extremely low temperatures on the mountains. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the marathon Disy political bureau meeting on Tuesday night called to settle its stance going into the second round of the presidential election eventually backed a free vote and a party place in the opposition. Meanwhile, seven Turkish Cypriots were reported dead on Tuesday from the large-scale earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria the day before, while efforts continued to uncover more survivors. Elsewhere, Cypriot sommelier Sotiris Neophytidis will represent the island at the Best Sommelier of World contest in Paris, which started on Tuesday and will last until Sunday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, DISY leader Averof Neophytou met the two remaining candidates on Monday as the party continued to deliberate on its course in the presidential election following Neophytou’s exclusion from the final round, a decision that is expected today. In other news, the Cyprus government on Monday said it was saddened by the fatal earthquakes in Turkey and said it is ready to send help. Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, its spokesman Demetris Demetriou said: “It is a humanitarian issue and there is no room for politics in these cases.” And a 23-year-old man found guilty in a drug trafficking case involving around 13 kilograms of cannabis was sentenced to nine years in jail on Monday by the Larnaca criminal court. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, presidential hopefuls Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis will fight it out in the runoff this week after a tough battle on Sunday, which has left out DISY leader Averof Neophytou. Elsewhere, a number of voters have reported they received text messages from presidential candidates calling on them to go vote. Meanwhile, Archbishop Georgios voted in Paphos, singling out the Cyprus problem as his main concern. And an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale at a depth of 10km was recorded in the early hours of Monday in southern Turkey, which was felt all over Cyprus. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides announced that another €35 million is being allocated in subsidies for people to upgrade their homes to be more energy efficient following the success of the previous round of grants. Meanwhile, Cyprus has been classed as a ‘flawed democracy’, ranking 37th in the list of countries analysed by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2022 Democracy Index. Elsewhere, reservoirs in Cyprus are less full than last year despite frequent rain over the past week, with total reserves standing at 67 per cent compared with 76 per cent this time last year. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, with independent candidate Achilleas Demetriades being the latest to publish his detailed funding for the election campaign, presidential hopeful Nikos Christodoulides is left as one of the ‘bigger’ candidates that has yet to reveal any details as to the source of his election funds. Meanwhile, the children’s specially designated accidents and emergencies department has started operating at Nicosia general hospital, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela announced on Wednesday. Elsewhere, the state appears to be in no rush to set up and launch more traffic cameras as 35,000 fines remain unpaid. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, AKEL-backed presidential candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis on Tuesday accused his rival Nikos Christodoulides of stealing one of his ideas – for the third time. In other news, the head of the fledgling deputy ministry for research and innovation on Tuesday, Kyriakos Kokkinos, said the digital journey of the government has started. And Cyprus Airways will start three weekly flights to Dubai in March, it announced yesterday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Wind Energy Association Secretary Christos Tsingis said yesterday that the state must immediately install a centralised renewable energy storage system, and that it was unacceptable for the public to be encouraged to continue with residential photovoltaic installations. In other news, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris admitted mistakes in the management of the citizenship-by-investment scheme, but said that by late 2020 – when the programme was nixed – many flaws had been corrected compared to the situation at its inception in 2007. And hundreds of animals are being poisoned daily, and the stray dog crisis is worse than ever, according to the Cyprus Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA). All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) will be extended for a period of one year instead of the usual six months. Elsewhere, the final step in removing oil and gas facilities from Larnaca’s beachfront has taken place, opening the way for its development. There’s also the theft of a bronze statue in Paphos and the agriculture ministry’s clarification that there is no move to forbid anyone from feeding stray cats in public places. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of workers across all sectors went on a three-hour, island-wide strike over an impasse between the government and unions on the full restoration of the cost-of-living allowance. Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades ‘challenged’ UN Special Representative Colin Stewart to set the record straight by either denying or confirming negative comments the latter allegedly made about the Greek Cypriot side. Elsewhere, two ancient Cypriot coins and a part of a wall mural were turned over to the government at the embassy in Washington DC, after they were illegally imported to the US seven years ago, the antiquities department announced. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus will go into an effective standstill for three hours on Thursday, disrupting everything from schools, airlines, court cases and public transport and other sectors. The nationwide strike set to begin at 12pm and end at 3pm is linked to demands for the cost-of-living allowance. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man suspected of beating to death a 16-year-old girl in the north surrendered himself to the Greek Cypriot police. Elsewhere, the UN in Cyprus has pointed the finger at the Greek Cypriot side for only complaining over the Cyprus stalemate and doing nothing to rectify it. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the transport ministry has warned that a general strike being held around the island on Thursday is set to affect travellers as airlines operating at Larnaca and Paphos airports are scrambling to reschedule flights. Elsewhere, Lycavitos police station in Nicosia appears to have been among the targets of a criminal organisation based in Greece. There’s also the announcement that a second dog park is set to open in Strovolos and is designed for small dogs, while the non-commissioned officer who called homosexuality unnatural in a TikTok video may face criminal charges, police said after completing investigations. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, police on Monday rejected claims of “amateur handling” of anti-riot operations during violent incidents on Sunday during the memorial for EOKA leader Grivas Digenis in Limassol. In other news, presidential candidate Averof Neophytou unveiled his income tax proposal, dubbing it "the most radical reform ever in Cyprus" and claiming it would generate major savings for nearly 130,000 families. And a record €21,000 fine has been imposed for the killing of rare wild birds using poison baits, BirdLife Cyprus said on Monday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, an investigation team has been set up to identify those involved in throwing stones and Molotov cocktails on Sunday during a fight that broke out in Limassol during a memorial service for Eoka leader Georgios Grivas Digenis. In other news, “One of the priorities of the existing government was to create the conditions for the provision of high quality medical and pharmaceutical services to society,” President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday opening a new wing at Famagusta hospital. And the foundation stone of a “cutting edge” project to transform the picturesque Liopetri harbour has been laid. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Russia could not have expected Cyprus to disagree with Europe's collective decisions and ought to engage in a little self-criticism, President Nicos Anastasiades said. His comments came as a response to statements made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who said that Moscow had noted the transformation of Cyprus’ leadership. Meanwhile, Health Minster Michalis Hadjipantela said that over 300 children will be examined by orthopaedic doctors visiting Cyprus from the Shriners Hospital in the US. Elsewhere, the price of holidays from Britain to Cyprus has risen by 15 per cent in the last year. The average cost of a seven-day package holiday this summer in Cyprus is estimated to be £809 compared with £705 last year. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, David Hunter’s daughter begged him over the phone to stay alive in the minutes after he killed his terminally ill wife Janice and then attempted suicide. Paphos court on Wednesday was shown video footage between Hunter and his daughter in which she sought to focus the 74-year-old on staying alive. Meanwhile, Peo trade union said on Wednesday that about three out of four workers are estimated to participate in a nationwide strike next week to demand the full restoration of cost-of-living allowance. Elsewhere, a massive bust on untaxed tobacco products led to the arrest of two suspects in Limassol, as customs officials found 390,640 smuggled cigarettes. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus is “one of the weakest links” in international efforts to seize the assets of sanctioned Russian nationals, while the island hosts dozens of active shell companies that can be traced back to Russian oligarchs, a report by the American news network CBS showed. Meanwhile, the education ministry said on Tuesday it will find an alternative solution for the 250 students who failed to take the Modern Greek exam on Monday after the initial exam was cancelled when one topic was leaked by a teacher. Elsewhere, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to visit Cyprus in mid-February following the presidential elections. He will first visit Nicosia and then move on to Athens and Ankara, with CNN Greece stating that his focus is to calm tempers in the region. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the modern Greek exam being sat by final year students was cancelled on Monday 30 minutes in, as topics on the paper were reportedly leaked by a teacher. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades and his wife Andri met King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Balmoral Castle on Monday, where the two signed a memorandum of understanding on future civilian developments in the British bases areas of Cyprus. And authorities on Monday were assessing the damage from extreme weather conditions in the Larnaca and Famagusta districts ahead of the cabinet meeting tomorrow. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Larnaca and Famagusta were battered by rains and thunderstorms which left people trapped in their homes and cars, as fire services scrambled to rescue members of the public. In health developments, Assistant Professor of infectious diseases at the medical school of the University of Cyprus Dr. Maria Koliou said it is a matter of time before the Kraken covid variant arrives to Cyprus. And President Nicos Anastasiades hailed the biggest achievements he said his administration managed to accomplish, including measures tackling corruption, the national health service, and a strong economy. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, a crucial meeting between trade unions and employers’ organisations has ended in deadlock over reinstating the cost of living allowance (CoLA), with the labour minister – acting as mediator –scrambling find the sweet spot by early next week amid the threat of widespread strikes. Meanwhile, doctors and nurses at state hospitals have decided to go on a two-hour work stoppage next week, in a bid to exert pressure for having certain collective agreements renewed. In a joint statement, the unions said they were taking the action because the state health services organisation had not kept up its obligations in drawing up a new collective agreement for staff. Elsewhere, the rising cost of living, poverty and migration are the biggest concerns among citizens in Cyprus, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, according to the latest Henley Passport Index the Cyprus passport has been ranked 16th in the world in terms of the number of destinations its holders can access without a prior visa, dropping one spot on the table compared to last year. Holders of a Cyprus passport can travel visa-free to 177 destinations. In other news, a secondary education biology book caused an uproar on social media after a page circulated that suggests abstinence from sex before marriage is the only way to truly prevent infection with STDs. Elsewhere, Princess Anne met President Nicos Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday as part of her two-day visit to Cyprus. Anastasiades gifted Princess Anne a silver replica of a 4th century BC goblet, as well as a photographic album of Cypriot veterans of the Second World War, while she presented the President with a signed portrait of her. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, patients organisations expressed outrage on Tuesday over allegations that an elderly person was found tied to their hospital bed using bedsheets. Demanding the state health services (Okypy) investigate the matter, they also said there were damning complaints of lax Covid-19 measures, leading to elderly people contracting the virus. In other news, as the February presidential elections approach, the ballot paper for the first round has been given the go-ahead after the 14 candidates gave their final stamp of approval. Elsewhere, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides has charged Akel-backed independent presidential candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis with taking a populist stance on the economy, criticising his proposed policies and saying it was Akel that brought on the 2013 financial crisis. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nicos Anastasiades decided to refer the contentious law that deals with pre-primary education to the Supreme Court. In other news, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne will undertake an official visit to Cyprus from Tuesday to Wednesday, it was announced by the British High Commission. And the price of petrol fell by 44 cents per litre on January 8 from its historic high of €1.8 per litre recorded in July, according to the Cyprus Consumers Association. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Archbishop Georgios was enthroned as the 76th head of the church on Sunday afternoon, in a ceremony at the Apostolos Varnavas Cathedral in Nicosia. In other news, three fire engines extinguished a fire which broke out in a propane tank valve on Sunday, in the yard of a Larnaca residence. And a woman, aged 53, from Romania, a permanent resident of Paphos, died in a fatal road collision in the early hours of this morning. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today's episode, the UN secretary general’s mission of good offices report detailed a bleak review and outlook for the Cyprus problem, despite a poll finding that a majority hope for a mutually agreed settlement as soon as possible. In other news, plans are being set in motion to create a national suicide prevention scheme the health ministry said on Wednesday as records show a spike in suicides during the 2013 financial crisis, when they were six times higher than almost a decade before. Elsewhere, nightlife is thriving once again and people in the industry are upbeat after a festive period in which clubs and bars were working at full capacity. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the EU has agreed on a “coordinated approach” to the changing Covid situation, adding that included implications for increased travel from China. There’s also the strange case of dozens of kilos of cannabis washing ashore along Famagusta beaches, in both the government-controlled areas and the north. Elsewhere, the police announced that over 100 people have been arrested in Paphos in the past year for offences related to domestic violence while six more remain wanted. Finally, the labour minister said that a meeting between all sides has been set for next week in a bid to clinch some arrangement staving off strike action threatened by trade unions of the Electricity Authority. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said there is “No reason for concern so far” regarding the surge in China Covid cases, as some nations began imposing restrictions on travellers from the Asian country. In other news, Labour Minister Kyriacos Koushos said that one of Cyprus’ largest reforms has been implemented starting this year with the national minimum wage now in force. And authorities in the north of the island have reportedly seized several packets containing 75 kilograms of cannabis that washed up on the beach. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, A young mother was killed on Saturday night in a car accident that occurred after 10pm on the Akrotiri – Kolossi road near the village of Trachoni. In other news, as of 1 January 2023, Cyprus will for the first time be implementing a minimum wage set at €940 per month. And reflecting on his 10 years in the post, President Nicos Anastasiades said that Cyprus has endured and overcome several challenges including the financial crisis, the global Covid-19 pandemic, but “the open wound” of the country is the unresolved Cyprus problem. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela is threatening to revoke the licences of doctors working in a private hospital in Nicosia who turned away two women in urgent need of medical treatment on Christmas Eve. Hadjipantela also spoke of a third incident that took place at an A&E department of a private hospital in another district on Wednesday night where a patient was told to seek help at a public hospital. In other news, Cyprus and India have signed a letter of intent for a ‘migration and mobility partnership’, initiating the process for an eventual agreement on migration between the two nations. Elsewhere, vandals defaced a street sign bearing the name of the late former President Demetris Christofias, put up in the Nicosia suburb of Geri only on Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus this year recorded the lowest number of deaths from road collisions since the start of data-keeping. There’s also second phase of the electric vehicle scheme, with a €10m budget aimed at offering 2,518 grants. Elsewhere, the Supreme Court has agreed to an appeal reducing the prison sentence of a man who killed his father in Lefkara from 16 years in jail to 12. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, some 1,300 people will be hired in the police force and the fire department during the course of 2023. According to a briefing to parliament given by Justice Minister Stefi Drakou during the next year the police will be beefed up by 700 constables and around 300 special police officers. In other news, the “indifference” shown by the public about taking part in elections for the new Archbishop are a matter for concern, the new prelate said on Tuesday. The turn out in the people’s vote last Sunday was only 30.2 per cent. Elsewhere, a new survey shows that three-quarters of Cypriots are unsatisfied with the justice system, while many retain reservations about the impartiality of judges. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos gave an overview of several solutions to the island’s chronic traffic issues in the coming years, aimed at significant improvements or even possibly a solution to the traffic problems in Cyprus. In other news, newly elected Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios said Cyprus was still waiting for its freedom and that people are expecting the Church to give solutions. And Turkey has accused Cyprus of increasing tension in the Eastern Mediterranean after a consortium of Italian and French energy companies found more natural gas off the island. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, there’s the latest on the prison saga as the director’s lawyers hit out against the legal service’s decision to not proceed with action against drug-squad chief Michalis Katsounotos. Elsewhere, trade unions gave the government and employers a two-week ultimatum to agree to the full reinstatement of the cost of living allowance CoLA), dangling the threat of industrial action otherwise. There’s also the latest on the trial of the 74-year-old Briton accused of the murder of his wife in Tremithousa last December. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Between two and three trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been uncovered in exploratory drilling in block six of Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone, the energy ministry announced. In other news, After more than a week of strikes, Wolt delivery drivers agreed to put a halt to their protests and resume work. The agreement was made after a timeline was set to resolve the differences between employees and employers. Elsewhere, The Cypriot flag will be flown on Antarctica’s highest peak on Christmas day, in a historic first. The expedition to Mount Vinson will be part of Seven Summits Cyprus, which aims to raise the Cyprus flag on the world’s highest peaks. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, in an unexpected turn of events, the charges faced by the 74-year-old Briton accused of the murder of his terminally ill wife in Tremithousa last December remained unchanged despite hopes it would be mitigated to manslaughter, as his trial continued on Tuesday. In other news, the four-year-old child hospitalised with strep-A is too ill to be transferred to Israel for the time being but the health ministry is on standby for any changes to the decision. Elsewhere, Cyprus’ coastal Pissouri and Kalopanayiotis in the mountains made it onto the UN’s ‘Best Tourism Villages’ of 2022, alongside 30 others ranging from Austria to Vietnam. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, nurses of PASYDY union on Monday condemned the recent verbal and physical attack against an ambulance worker, a day after PASYNO nurses’ union threatened to take legal measures over the incident. In other news, speculation about who will become the next archbishop took off on Monday, following the results of the popular vote the day before, with some analysts giving Paphos bishop Georgios a clear advantage while others predict a tie between him and Limassol bishop Athanasios within the Holy Synod. And despite a lower demand for meat this year, butchers have said they will need to import lamb from Greece. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Bishop Athanasios of Limassol won the popular vote in the election for Archbishop on Sunday, meaning the Holy Synod will chose between him, Isaias of Tamasos and Georgios of Paphos as to who will be the next leader of the Church. In other news, demonstrators at Limassol Zoo on Sunday said they would continue their protests until the facility is closed down. And nurses’ union PASYNO has threatened to take legal measures against the ministry of health and the state health services OKYPY after another member was attacked while treating a patient, this time in Limassol. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the EU Council yesterday called on Ankara to stop all actions that could potentially upgrade the breakaway state in the north of the island, a development welcomed by the foreign ministry. In other news, some 200 Wolt drivers were striking across Nicosia and Limassol yesterday, over accusations they were being exploited and getting pay cuts amid increasing costs. Elsewhere, candidacies for the February 2023 presidential elections will be formally submitted on January 5, the interior ministry said yesterday, while December 27 is the cutoff for registering in voter rolls. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the labour minister appeared doubtful on Wednesday that an agreement can be reached soon with electricity authority workers after a strike threat was called off at the last moment. In other news, the New Cyprus museum – with a price tag of €144m – will be the number one tourist attraction for the millions of Cyprus’ visitors, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said on Wednesday. The minister has set high expectations for the project’s success, stating that it will be one of most important museums in Europe. Elsewhere, Cypriots remain amongst the most skeptical of the EU’s handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with only 53 per cent approving overall of the bloc’s support for Kyiv. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Electricity Authority (EAC) unions called off a strike planned for Tuesday in an eleventh hour decision on Tuesday evening, which means there will be no power cuts. The U-turn was due to the intervention of Labour Minister Kyriacos Koushos, who has committed to arranging meetings between unions and the ministers of energy and finance in the coming week. In other news, the row over the cutting of a line from a play with an LGBTI+ message is still ongoing as children’s rights commissioner Despo Michaelidou blasted the education ministry and saying the move should be reversed. Elsewhere, dozens of Cypriots stranded at Stanstead airport for over a day after their Ryanair flight did not depart on Monday morning as scheduled finally arrived on the island on Tuesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode we heat that power cuts will take place from Wednesday if there is increased electricity demand or adverse weather conditions, as a result of a strike by the electricity authority staff that will partially suspend operation of the Dhekelia power plant. In other news, the 33-year-old who admitted to murdering two Russian women in late 2021 was handed a 25-year prison sentence yesterday morning. Elsewhere, theCyprus Theatre Organisation yesterday slammed the education ministry for its special committee that approves theatrical productions for schools, calling it ‘backwards’ and an ‘instrument of censorship,’ following criticism for removing a line from a play. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the interior minister is disappointed that no agreement has been reached in Brussels with regard to a proposed regulation to address situations of weaponising migration and asylum. There’s also the latest poll on the presidential elections which appears to show that since October, favourite, Nikos Christodoulides has seen a slight drop in support while Akel-backed Andreas Mavroyiannis' support has grown. Elsewhere, it was announced that parking at the old Nicosia hospital ends today as construction of the new Cyprus Museum begins. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In todays’ episode, trade unions representing workers at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus have announced measures as of next week that could potentially lead to rolling power cuts, including over Christmas during periods of peak power usage. The government has in turn accused the unions of misleading the public while hinting at strong action of its own. In other news, the House on Thursday gave the nod to the state budget for fiscal year 2023, in what was parliament’s final act of the year before going into mandatory recess ahead of the coming presidential elections. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar have agreed to meet again following their brief discussion during a reception at Ledra Palace, government announced on Thursday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar attended a reception at the Ledra Palace Hotel, hosted by the United Nations on Wednesday. All parties involved stressed that this is a social meeting, from which nothing is expected. In other news, eligible students at Cyprus-based universities are to receive a €500 living allowance amidst a price hike in rents and a shortage of student accommodations. Students abroad will also be granted €200 to cover the price of their plane ticket. Elsewhere, the Council of Ministers approved a law amendment proposal requiring that all car crashes be logged in the road transport department database. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Justice Minister Stephie Dracou said yesterday she will call a meeting with the police following the violent clashes between fans at football match in Limassol. The clashes between Ael and Apollon fans that broke out after the match was cancelled on Sunday resulted in a police officer being injured and shops in the area neighbouring Tsirion stadium damaged. In other news, junior opposition party Dipa on Tuesday confirmed they would be voting for the 2023 state budget, making parliament's passage of the bill all but a foregone conclusion. Elsewhere, four out of ten university students say it is easy for them to access illegal substances within 24 hours if they wanted to, according to a recent survey by the Cyprus Addictions Authority. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that AEL football club lashed out at police yesterday over the decision to postpone a derby with Apollon citing safety reasons after football fans started throwing rocks and firecrackers on the pitch. In other news, the injury of a six-year-old during an attempted murder in Oroklini over the weekend has ignited fears there may be heavy payback, while the charge against the 74-year-old Briton that admitted to killing his wife in their home in Tremithousa, near Paphos, in December 2021 will change from pre-meditated murder to manslaughter. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, there have been major price hikes for basic necessities in November compared to the previous month, according to the Cyprus Consumers Association. In other news, police are searching for clues on who may be behind an attempted murder case in Larnaca, that left a six-year-old child and 42-year-old man injured. And a large number of interventions by the Ombudswoman’s office this year concerned the “inalienable” right of children with disabilities to equal and non-discriminatory or inclusive access to education. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the HIO has faced renewed criticism for paying extortionate rates on medicines, far more than the government used to before the rollout of the national health system, Gesy. Elsewhere, Cyprus has repatriated close to 7,000 migrants during 2022 and is a model within the EU for such returns. There’s also the latest from the candidate for the position of the US Ambassador to Cyprus - Julie Fisher - who said she would use the full weight of her office to support Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated efforts to reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, House President Annita Demetriou criticised Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou over sex education in schools’ interference. In other news, MPs discussed a bill to ban LGBTI+ conversion therapy with individuals facing up to three years in jail for carrying out such “pseudo practices.” And petrol stations are set to reduce the price of fuel in the upcoming days, according to the president of the Cyprus Consumers’ Association, Marios Drousiotis. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday said the government, and the president cannot remain indifferent on claims on corruption, with the anti-corruption authority set to investigate allegations made in books by former presidential adviser Makarios Droushiotis. The author said in three recently published volumes that corruption was rife across all levels of government. In other news, the director of the central prisons Anna Aristotelous will meet Anastasiades on Tuesday to discuss “current issues” and clarify any ongoing misunderstandings. Elsewhere, a four-episode UK series named Love Rat is due to be filmed in Cyprus. The series, produced by Clapperboard Studios and distributed internationally by Entertainment One (eOne), will be shown on Channel 5. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the election campaign team of presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides opted for total radio silence yesterday amid a swirling political uproar after reveals about a 'secret deal' he struck up with his main backers, junior opposition party DIKO. In other news, central prisons director Anna Aristotelous’ lawyers said there is a clear attempt to undermine her after she reported police corruption; and a swathe of the Karpasia peninsula is being carved into a military zone at the orders of the ‘government’ in the north, reports said yesterday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, in an interview published in the Sunday edition of the German newspaper Die Welt, President Nicos Anastasiades said that Cyprus could supply the European Union with natural gas much sooner, if Brussels strengthened its support for the development of the supply infrastructure. In other news, the island’s former Foreign Minister and current presidential frontrunner Nikos Christodoulides allegedly came to a secret agreement with centrist party DIKO in return for the party’s backing in the elections, local media reported on Sunday. And, one death per day from coronavirus is recorded, according to Michalis Voniatis, member of the scientific advisory group in Cyprus. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, members of the public have reported that shops are taking advantage of today’s Black Friday shopping spree to enforce some shady pricing practices, the consumer protection service of the ministry of commerce said. In other news, opposition legislators piled on public broadcaster Cybc yesterday and accused it of devolving into mouthpiece for the government, during a discussion of the organisation’s budget for 2023, coming up for a vote at the plenum in early December. Elsewhere, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook Cyprus early on Thursday. According to the department of geological survey, the epicentre was 30 kilometres northeast of Paphos. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the finance ministry denounced the 12-hour strike by electricity authority workers which kept customer service centres closed resulting in “unnecessary inconvenience”. In other news, the 300 contract officers’ posts for the policing of the buffer zone to stem illegal migration have not yet been filled and the deadline has been extended, police spokesman Christos Andreou said yesterday. Elsewhere, the interior ministry issued an apology yesterday, after letters went out to dead people to register to vote. The issue came to light, after a father published a letter online from the civil registry and migration department, asking for a person due to turn 18 to register to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that the tourism sector showed ‘tangible growth’ in 2022, which was on Tuesday put down to increased air connectivity and policies introduced by the government over the last 10 years. In other news, ‘Dangerous medicine’ is not being practiced at the Paphos general hospital, state health services organisation Okypy said yesterday after criticisms were levelled against the facility. We also hear that the issue of glamping has returned to discussions at the House of Representatives, after they were previously rejected. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, conditions at Paphos general hospital are “tragic, appalling and utterly shameful," Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos said yesterday, calling on patients to publish footage of conditions on social media. In other news, low-cost airline Ryanair announced five new routes departing from Paphos airport starting next summer yesterday, as well as an increase in the airport-based fleet from two to four aircrafts. And the first large-scale Christmas village, which will be held in Polis Chrysochou this year, has given tourist shops and restaurants the incentive to remain open in the winter for the first time. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, cases of animal cruelty have shown a ‘frightening’ increase, while since the beginning of the year, the Animal Police has investigated 57 criminal cases, according to head of the department Vyron Vyronos. In other news, children are right to be angry with the state of the world, Commissioner Despo Michaelidou said to mark International Children's Rights Day, and a 27-year-old was arrested on Sunday for attacking a woman and an off-duty police officer at the A&E at Nicosia general hospital. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the vast majority of Cypriots, more than two thirds, feel dissatisfied, anxious and angry about the general state of affairs in the country, while almost 70 per cent think that corruption is endemic, a new presidential-election poll has revealed. In other news, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will remain committed to being involved in the process of finding common ground to restart Cyprus talks, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Miroslav Jenca said on Thursday. Elsewhere, Cyprus is seeing a growing interest from the international film industry, with a Cyprus-USA co-production currently in the final stage of production. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the two additional supreme courts envisioned within the justice reform package passed in summer – and aimed at speeding up the snail’s pace rate of court cases – are to be shelved until July 1. In other news, Cyprus' health services will get an €80m revamp through the Cyprus Tomorrow plan, which includes the completion of the first phase of the long-awaited new mental hospital. Elsewhere, Russia’s war in Ukraine is looking to play a significant role in the upcoming elections for archbishop, with the throne’s hopefuls making statements on the unity and stance of the church. The Bishop of Tamasos Isaias denounced the Russian Patriarchate categorically, because it supported the war in Ukraine. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, overcrowding is a perennial problem at the central prison but has grown worse in recent years, the ombudswoman said on Tuesday after completing an investigation, and calling for immediate action to solve the problem. In other news, thousands of students protested across the island on Tuesday, condemning 39 years since the north’s unilateral declaration of independence. President Nicos Anastasiades said “the sad anniversary of the declaration of the pseudo-state is another reminder of Turkey’s illegal actions. Elsewhere, the pay gap between men and women in Cyprus is 9 per cent, meaning that women on the island earn 91 cents for every euro earned by men, Commissioner for Gender Equality Iosifina Antoniou said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the elections for a new archbishop will be held on December 18, the Holy Synod said yesterday. Nominations will be submitted on November 22. In other news, “2022 has been the most successful in terms of fire management and prevention efforts for decades,” the forestry department said yesterday. And the House human rights committee debated a proposed bill to create a specialised queue for vulnerable groups at public and private sector services including pregnant women. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the Holy Synod is set to meet this morning to discuss the next steps forward regarding the election of a new archbishop. In other news, Labour minister Kyriacos Koushos is to begin meetings this week with unions and labour associations over the cost-of-living allowance. And a row has been brewing over the status of the unrecognized, breakaway state in the north ‘TRNC’. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday called France a ‘key strategic partner’ of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, welcoming the growing ties between Nicosia and Paris on a range of issues of common interest. Anastasiades held a working meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, during which he conveyed his thanks for the “excellent relations” between the two leaders over the last few years. In other news, businesses and residents of the Lykavitos area in Nicosia voiced ‘desperation’ on Thursday over the restricting of a section of upper Makarios Avenue to one-way traffic, saying the change had adversely affected their livelihoods and day-to-day movements. Elsewhere, members of the public were able to view Archbishop Chrysostomos as of Thursday morning laid out so that people could pay their respects to the Church prelate. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the House legal affairs committee yesterday held an in-depth discussion on the spyware case investigated by the European parliament’s Pega committee and the involvement of Cyprus. The group of MEPs visited Cyprus last week and on Tuesday said Cyprus had become a centre for the export of surveillance software. In other news, the Cypriot captain of the “Prudent Warrior” ship was repatriated yesterday, after months of being held in Iran in a diplomatic dispute between Athens and Tehran. Elsewhere, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay arrived in the north on Wednesday and visited the construction site of the controversial ‘Kulliye’ project, an Islamic government complex. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, officials are upbeat that the UK tourism market is buoyant, with Cyprus now setting its sights on the US. Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said in terms of arrivals from Britain, the island had welcomed 90 per cent of the number that visited in 2019, a record year. In other news, a report on the use of Pegasus software presented at the EU parliament on Tuesday by the Pega committee said that Cyprus has become a centre for the export of surveillance software in recent years. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades spoke at the UN climate conference COP27 in Egypt on Tuesday, emphasising that Cyprus is fully prepared to reduce its CO2 emissions. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the funeral of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the independent Church of Cyprus, who died yesterday morning will be held on Saturday at 12pm at the Apostolos Varnava cathedral at the archbishopric.  With the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, the caretaker of the Church of Cyprus will now initiate procedures for elections leading to the nomination of a new Prelate. In other news, a compromise over CoLA (Cost of Living Allowance) seems unlikely at the moment, Labour Minister Kyriacos Koushos said yesterday after a meeting between unions and employers. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus has died aged 81 after a long battle with cancer. According to an announcement from his doctors, the Archbishop passed away peacefully at 6.40am on Monday. A session of the Holy Synod is expected to convene within the day and government events have been cancelled. In other news, three more inmates were arrested in connection with the murder of a Turkish Cypriot at the Nicosia central prisons on October 27, police said. It is understood that he had been bludgeoned to death. Elsewhere, The met office has issued a yellow warning for storms and rain today between 12 noon and 8pm. Rainfall is expected to vary between 35 and 50 millimetres per hour, with possible hail. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that tuberculosis and HIV positive cases at the Pournara reception centre for asylum seekers have been screened and there is ‘no cause for concern’ - after the interior ministry released alarming stats. Elsewhere, the transport ministry has called on airport employees and companies to respect the relevant decrees and regulations, a day after an unlawful work stoppage caused travel chaos at Paphos airport. There’s also the latest on the Cyprus-Greece ferry, a driving test scandal in Paphos, and a giant strawberry sculpture in Derynia. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the attorney general said yesterday that the independent criminal investigation findings on the infamous ‘spy van’ case in 2019 cannot be made public as they are part of a criminal investigation. The AG spoke to journalists after meeting members of the European parliament’s committee of inquiry on Pegasus and other spyware (Pega) - currently in Cyprus to shed light on the ‘spy van’ affair, as well as other spyware cases in Greece. In other news, thousands of passengers were stranded at Paphos airport on Wednesday amidst a protest by ground staff which affected around 20 flights.   Elsewhere, the BQ1 Omicron variant is expected to be confirmed in Cyprus, too, according to a government Covid advisor – but offered that it appears no more severe than those causing current infections. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, medicine shortages have been the biggest problem for patients during the first nine months of the year, head of the patients’ association Marios Kouloumas said on Tuesday. According to Kouloumas, the observatory of the association said that the majority of complaints they received from January to September this year referred to medicine shortages. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday that his main concern was preserving the unity of Disy. He was responding to suggestions that he was not fully behind the party’s presidential candidate Averof Neophytou. Elsewhere, for the second year in a row, Christmas villages will be set up in Derynia, Polis Chrysochous, Fikardou, Agros, Kyperounta, Kalopanayiotis and Kalavasos throughout the festive period. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, ten people working at the prison have been suspended after a Turkish Cypriot inmate at the Nicosia central prisons was beaten to death. In other news, the police chief did not rule out the possibility of banning fans from football games following fights that broke out before, during and after a match between Apollon and Apoel at the Tsirion stadium on Sunday; and electricity prices rose sharply - by almost a third - in Cyprus during the first half of the year, according to data just released by Eurostat. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the leader of the People’s Party in the north, Kudret Ozersay, accused the United States of putting its own national interests ahead of regional stability and “violating” airspace in the north of the island as a means of sending a message to the Turkish Cypriot side following the US lifting a decades-old arms embargo against Cyprus. In other news, two men are wanted by Larnaca police in a case involving the attempted murder of a 34-year-old man in a hit-and-run that took place on Saturday night; and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar demanded the identification and conviction of those responsible for the death of a 41-year-old Turkish Cypriot inmate at the Central Prisons in Nicosia last week. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode we hear that during the two years of restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, police carried out 3.2 million checks on the public and issued 42,482 fines, raking in almost €6 million for state coffers from the 16,474 fines that were paid. There’s also the opening of Makarios Avenue in Nicosia as a “shared space” for pedestrians and authorised vehicles, in what the municipality hopes will lead to more environmentally friendly use of the road. Elsewhere the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) said they were currently assessing a bid by a foreign investment fund to acquire a second major hospital in Nicosia, amid concerns that the concentration of hospitals under a single holding company may lead to an oligopoly in the healthcare sector. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Thursday that Paphos has re-emerged as a ‘centre of intellect’, and praised the mayor and the local council for their diligent efforts in upgrading the city’s infrastructure. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the use of spyware software will be the focus of discussions between Cypriot and EU lawmakers, which will meet on November 2 - after links to the island became a point of interest in a Greece eavesdropping scandal. There’s also the postponement of a key ‘golden passport’ scandal trial to November 30. Elsewhere, a police officer has been suspended after he was caught trying to smuggle irregular migrants from the north to the government-controlled areas last month. And don’t miss the bizarre case of a man being identified via DNA tests as the person who torched a schoolroom 15 years ago. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cypriot courts did not violate the right to a fair trial of three people sentenced to life in prison for the 2010 murder of the Dias publishing group CEO Andis Hadjicostis, according to a European Court of Human Rights ruling. In other news, tensions are rising in and around the buffer zone after a Greek Cypriot farmer on Tuesday was approached by Turkish military personnel near Denia in Nicosia. Elsewhere, the two doctors at the Makarios children’s hospital who were suspended pending an investigation into the death of one of their patients have reportedly appealed their suspension. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the health condition of Archbishop Chrysostomos remains critical, according to the latest medical announcement issued on Monday. Newer medical announcement will be issued depending on the progress of the archbishop’s health. In other news, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides yesterday defended the 2023 state budget as being a "responsible" one, with substantially augmented spending on social assistance as well as growth-oriented projects. Elsewhere, a 24-year-old cycled around the entire island in just one day over the weekend to raise funds for thyroid cancer. The incredible feat, accomplished by Alexandros Agrotis, began from Deryneia on Saturday afternoon, where he began a journey through the state-controlled areas through the night. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican today as part of his third official visit there during his ten-year term. In other news, a new species of dangerous mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has been found in Limassol, according to reports on Sunday, and the amount of water that has poured into the island’s dams so far this month has broken previous records according to weather portal KitasWeather. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, we hear that the row over dangerous buildings has reignited after a small part of an apartment building in Limassol detached and fell to the pavement – with a similar, but separate incident occurring later on Thursday. Elsewhere, Nicos Christodoulides looks set to wipe the floor with his rivals in the 2023 presidential race, the latest poll published by state broadcaster CyBC has shown. There’s also the latest on Makarios Avenue in Nicosia - which will be closed to private vehicles as of October 27 once redevelopment works have been completed. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the state health services has vowed significant spending on the national health service Gesy with a projected €250 million for 2022-2024, while also acknowledging complaints and the need to constantly improve. In other news, Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III arrived yesterday to visit Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who has been fighting intestinal cancer. According to reports, the archbishop’s health has been deteriorating in recent hours, prompting the patriarch’s visit. Elsewhere, the public service commission has suspended director of Veterinary Services Christodoulos Pipis for three months. The reason is the instances of Brucellosis found in cattle in a Larnaca livestock farm, which resulted in the need to cull approximately 1,200 animals. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Cyprus economy is expected to grow by 5.7 per cent this year, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday addressing The Economist conference in Nicosia. In other news, a 69-year-old man who admitted shooting his son with a shotgun after a family argument has been sentenced to five years in jail. Elsewhere, works and renovations have begun on the Cetinkaya football pitch located in the buffer zone, after the north struck an agreement with Unficyp, reports said on Tuesday. The Cetinkaya field, which is located down the road from Ledra Palace in the buffer zone, will be turned over to the team after the works are completed, and is set to be named Taksim field, so called ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugruloglu said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, torrential rains and storms battered the island yesterday, with rainfall expected to continue through to Thursday. Larnaca experienced heavy flooding while parts of Nicosia were similarly affected. According to fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis, by around 3pm they received some 90 calls for help from across Larnaca district. Off-duty firefighters were called in to assist. Civil Defence crews were also deployed. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday sought to play down comments he made about the three main candidates being partners – which drew strong reactions from all political camps. The president said that the media was fussing over what was in fact a humorous remark, after saying that he would have influence over whoever was elected. Elsewhere, Australian Cypriot singer Andrew Lambrou will represent Cyprus in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a day of isolated thunderstorms on Sunday left several roads across Cyprus flooded, including the highway between Limassol and Paphos. In other news, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said Cyprus will not sit idly amid the flow of irregular migrants from the north; and increasing prices for coffee and ingredients such as sugar and milk may leave a dent on the island’s coffee culture. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, we hear that President Nicos Anastasiades said that as things stand Cyprus will not send weapons to Ukraine, following the buzz generated by earlier remarks from the government spokesman. In other news, authorities yesterday did not rule out foul play after a body in an advanced state of decomposition was found outside Limassol general hospital. Elsewhere, Cyprus is in the final stages of implementing a policy that aims to mitigate the emerging challenges of climate change on a regional level, which will be presented on the sidelines of the United Nations World Summit on Climate Change COP27, taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on November 8. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the trial of David Hunter, who faces charges of the pre-meditated murder of his wife, has been postponed for fifth time since his arrest last December. He has been held in custody since then. The new date was set for November 18, 2022. In other news, the barbed wire along the green line to discourage irregular migrants arriving from the north was produced in Turkey, it was reported yesterday. According to a report in the north, the company responsible for placing the barbed wire along the green line in Akaki and Peristerona to stop irregular migrants is a Greek company, which gets it materials from Turkey. Elsewhere,the cabinet yesterday decided to initiate the withdrawal of citizenship from three investors and seven of their dependents after an investigation by the interior ministry. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday he had made both correct and wrong decisions during his term as leader. “The countdown to the end of the term has begun and I will be watching the country’s progress from afar. At some point I hope some of the important reforms during my presidency will be recognised,” Anastasiades said. In other news, the final plan for the Akamas proposed by the environment department is being examined to find a balanced solution, according to Interior Minister Nicos Nouris. Elsewhere, as a response to further violent behaviour, the Larnaca district court has banned a 22-year-old man from attending sporting events until his trial date in November after he admitted to bringing flares to an Anorthosis-Apollon clash on Monday. A second person arrested, aged 19, denied all accusations against him. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the new head of the embattled Health Insurance Organisation which runs Gesy said yesterday they are committed to tackling all outstanding issues affecting the agency, beginning with their budget for fiscal year 2023. Stavros Michail – appointed to the job only last week – said they would work hard throughout the week so that they prepare their budget and forward it to the ministries of health and finance. In other news, the possibility of building a railway, co-financed with the European Union, was floated on Monday after a meeting between government officials and visiting EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean. Elsewhere, the two people arrested in connection with crowd violence during a football match between Apoel and Karmiotissa on Friday will appear in court on October 12. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday that as long as the international community, including the EU turns a blind eye to Turkey's belligerence, it rewards the aggressor. He was addressing an anti-occupation event by Morphou residents in Astromeritis and said nothing else could explain the behaviour of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. In other news, Famagusta police are close to solving 25 residential burglaries after the arrest of a suspect during a stakeout at a housing complex and the discovery of stolen property in his possession. The suspect, a 24-year-old man, was identified by CID Famagusta who police said, participated in a coordinated operation at a residential complex where a number of burglaries and thefts have been committed, with the aim of identifying the perpetrator. Elsewhere, EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean is in Cyprus to attend the opening of the Maritime Cyprus conference in Limassol, which takes place today. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday told Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan the Cyprus problem needs to be solved and efforts made to revive stalled peace talks. The two chatted briefly on the sidelines of a European summit in Prague, amid a backdrop of increasingly bellicose rhetoric from Turkey directed at Greece and Cyprus over maritime jurisdictions in the eastern Mediterranean. In other news, Cyprus is facing a 122 per cent increase in irregular migrant arrivals in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, mainly due to arrivals from Turkey to the north of the island and then over the Green Line, according to the EU’s 2022 report on migration and asylum. Elsewhere, the health ministry signed a joint declaration of intent with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) regional office for Europe for the establishment of an office in Larnaca. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a UN report delivered in Nicosia said yesterday said Europe should show "far greater ambition" on climate change because its overall greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, and so countries must embrace recycling, tighten air quality and spend more on the environment. In other news, the fifth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is set to begin today. Elsewhere, Unficyp has not received any notification about the north’s request to leave their stations in a month if they do not recognise the breakaway regime, the force’s spokesperson told Cyprus Mail yesterday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Nicosia on Tuesday expressed concern over an agreement signed between Turkey and the Government of National Unity in Libya, which is expected to escalate tensions between Ankara and Athens. In other news, police received the conclusions of the latest report into the 2005 death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou. Attorney General George Savvides delivered the circumstances of the 26-year-old conscript’s death, initially attributed to suicide, to the deputy chief of the police. This third inquiry points to murder. Elsewhere, Property sales in the first nine months of 2022 are up by 37.2 per cent, recording the most activity in the real estate market since 2008, land registry data showed. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that Attorney-general George Savvides said his office will be turning over part of the report into the 2005 death of a soldier to the family after they had repeatedly requested the file. Elsewhere, firefighters on either side of the divide were busy on Sunday as numerous fires broke out across the island. There’s also news that a 25-year-old man remained in hospital on Monday after being seriously injured during violence following Sunday night’s football match between Apoel and Ael at Nicosia’s GSP stadium. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the US Pentagon has announced Cyprus’ membership in the State Partnership programme and the cooperation between the Cyprus National Guard and the United States National Guard. Elsewhere, firefighters on either side of the divide were busy on Sunday as numerous fires broke out across the island. There’s also news that Famagusta police are investigating a case of alleged assault causing actual bodily harm, threat and distress involving an underage student at a primary school as the victim. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.D

In today’s episode, we hear that the UN Special Representative in Cyprus Colin Stewart has warned that the scenario of a mutually agreed solution to the Cyprus problem is fading and will not be available much longer. Elsewhere, a source apprised of the negotiations has told the Cyprus Mail that the government’s withdrawal from talks with airport operators Hermes is but a smokescreen intended to kick the can down the road. There’s also the news Turkey will reinforce its military presence in the north after the United States lifted defence trade restrictions on Cyprus. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that Cyprus’ first crematorium is set to begin operations by 2024, six years after the relevant law was first passed. Elsewhere, Police said they will carry out a risk assessment on security issues to his person, raised by state medical examiner Panicos Stavrianos in connection with the death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou. There’s also the news that eight vultures were released into the wild on Wednesday after being sent to the island from Spain to help boost the population in Cyprus. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that all signs are pointing towards a return to normality within the tourism industry - according to experts in the sector. Elsewhere, an app has been launched called Fix Cyprus whereby the public can report issues such as broken traffic lights and vandalism directly to public sector authorities. There’s also the update that Andreas Soudjis - imprisoned in the north over the use of walkie talkies and taking photographs of a military area - will be released on October 7. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that in an apparent jurisdictional spat, a British Bases court has rejected Cypriot authorities' request that they put on trial two suspects arrested in the summer - after Sovereign Base Areas police and officers of Cyprus’ drug squad Ykan seized about 18kg of cocaine hidden in a fruit container. Elsewhere, a fifth Covid vaccine dose could be available by the end of October, while the cabinet just under two weeks ago approved the new bivalent jabs for fourth shots. There’s also condemnation from the Animal Party after what it described as unprovoked attack on two activists, a man and a woman, who were staging a protest against animal cruelty on Ledra Street All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, around 70 ground staff at Paphos Airport staged a lightning two-hour strike on Saturday night over possible redundancies, affecting a total of eight flights where passengers could not collect their luggage. In other news, the annual Pride Parade kicked off on Sunday with a focus on marriage equality as well as raising awareness on issues the local LGBTI+ community faces; and dozens of Greek Cypriots protested in front of the Iranian embassy in Nicosia in support of the struggle for freedom in Iran and the protests that have been taking place there following the death of Mahsa Amini. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, traffic congestion on roads can initially be alleviated through the promotion of mass transit – more bus lanes – and eventually with the construction of a tram system in Nicosia and Limassol, MPs heard on Thursday. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades' meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was cancelled. The meeting had been planned in advance and was also due to address reports that direct flights from Russia were to begin to Ercan airport in the north. Elsewhere, an increase in the positivity rate of coronavirus infections among students was registered after the start of the new school year, according to epidemiologist and member of the health ministry monitoring unit Valentinos Silvestros. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, one in two workers is the victim of bullying, MPs heard on Wednesday at the House legal affairs committee as it kicked off a debate into making bullying a specific criminal offence. In other news, a 65-year-old man has been jailed for nine months after being found guilty of 57 counts including bestiality and otherwise harming animals – having repeatedly snuck into a small farm unit and sexually assaulted the livestock. Elsewhere, the leadership in the north appears to be having second thoughts about opening more crossing points, with the possibility of allowing private vehicles to pass through the Ledra Palace checkpoint. The checkpoint can currently only be used by pedestrians and diplomatic vehicles, but the report said authorities in the north are now considering allowing other vehicles to use it to All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, government sources on Tuesday denied there are plans to launch direct flights from Russia to the north, branding reports saying this as “detached from reality”. The Russian embassy in Nicosia followed a similar line, telling the Russian state agency PIA-Novosti it “refutes any negotiations for the opening of a direct air connection”. In other news, Justice Minister Stephie Dracou said there was never a commitment to upgrade pay grades for prison guards, as affected members of Isotita union continued their indefinite strike with a demo outside the finance ministry. Elsewhere, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos on Tuesday welcomed the arrival of the first large cruise ship, the Rhapsody of the Seas, to Ayia Napa Marina. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the trial of British pensioner, David Hunter, who is facing the charge of premeditated murder of his terminally ill wife, began in Paphos criminal court on Monday, just over nine months after he admitted killing her. They had been married for 56 years. Elsewhere, the energy ministers of Cyprus and Israel are seeking a swift settlement to the dispute over the Aphrodite gas reservoir. There’s also the latest from Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides who said that Cyprus is aligning itself with the West as part of a strategic policy, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the grace period for selling halloumi that is not PDO registered is over, and from today only that which does can be sold, Agiculture Minister Costas Kadis said. In other news, oil companies operating the Aphrodite gas field have approved a €192 million investment to start drilling, Israeli company NewMed said on Sunday, and Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides has called the total lifting of the US arms embargo against Cyprus a “historic decision." All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news, visit www.cyprus-mail.com 

In today’s episode, criminal acts were committed in the case of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou who died in 2005, one of the investigators charged with the third inquiry has said. In other news, a probe expected to wrap up by year’s end should give a clearer picture as to how many individuals are practicing medicine without the necessary qualifications, having taken advantage of flaws in the registration and licensing process, and Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said the ministry would examine a bullying incident at a Limassol gymnasium. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, we hear that cabinet approved the health ministry’s recommendation to proceed with the new ‘bivalent’ Covid vaccines as booster doses for those aged 12 and above. There’s also warm wishes between the UK and Cyprus as they expressed their commitment to deepening relations. Elsewhere, the government spun the new minimum wage in a positive light, saying that in terms of purchasing power, the €940 a month, seen by unions as inadequate, was in fact worth €1,036 in terms of purchasing power standards (PPS). And don’t miss the latest on Damianos and Kostis - two adult green sea turtles who were released back into the wild. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the source of a bad smell that has been troubling Nicosia residents in the areas of Aglandjia, Pallouriotissa and Kaimakli for the last two weeks has been located In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday said that Cyprus Tomorrow, the government’s recovery and resilience plan constitutes his legacy – as he reaches the end of his ten-year term. Elsewhere, two new Covid vaccines are to arrive in Cyprus by next week. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, four key players allegedly involved in the ‘golden passport’ scandal – two of whom leading protagonists in Al Jazeera’s undercover report – would stand trial in the criminal court on October 26, the Nicosia district court decided on Monday. The defendants are former House president Demetris Syllouris, former Akel MP and developer Christakis Giovanis, senior lawyer for the Giovanis Group Antonis Antoniou and lawyer Andreas Pittadjis. In other news, the outdated and inefficient system under which public hospitals operate will be replaced in two years with the introduction of the €46m digital healthcare system. This is the biggest amount ever spent on digitalisation. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday said he hoped the close relations between Cyprus and the UK would continue, after signing the book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II, at the British High Commission. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the EU has recognised the instrumentalisation, or weaponisation, of migration by Turkey through Cyprus' Green Line, the interior ministry has announced. The development offers new possibilities to deal with illegal immigration. Elsewhere, primary schools, kindergartens and special schools reopen this morning. For the 2022-2023 school year, 50,038 children will be in primary schools classes, 12,803 in public kindergartens and 537 in special schools. In other news, in a letter to King Charles, the president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK Christos Karaolis, expressed "deep sorrow" for the loss of Queen Elizabeth. Karaolis noted that Queen Elizabeth had welcomed all of presidents of the Republic throughout her 70-year reign from President Makarios down to President Nicos Anastasiades. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, the nation's figurehead, and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96. In Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades joined the international community in offering condolences for the passing of The Queen. In other news, the government said Thursday it wants to mandate airbags for professional motorcyclists, especially for food delivery drivers, after a spate of serious road accidents, and construction of the 11km-long four-lane highway between Astromeritis and Evrychou is to begin as soon as possible, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos has announced. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, we hear that the Royal Bank of Scotland has given the Turkish Cypriot ‘finance ministry’ until September 15 to return its property in Kyrenia which includes the well-known Jasmine Court Hotel. Elsewhere, a Paphos company engaged in limestone extraction has been fined €23,000 for failing to implement safety and health regulations leading to the death of an employee. There’s also the latest procedures to decrease the number of stray dogs - in a bill aiming to revise the national dogs law, eight days after a stray dog attack against a boy in Limassol. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the petrol station owners have threatened to report the Republic to the European Commission over its alleged inaction as the public buys petrol from the north. Elsewhere, the Green Party has demanded the closure of all zoos operating in Cyprus, both private and government-run. There’s also the latest on the passport scandal, with Larnaca criminal court expected to deliver its judgment in the first trial on November 4. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that a temporary ban has been placed on all off-duty Unficyp military personnel going to the north, following a row on a beach in Famagusta last week. We also hear that the Audit Office said it was carrying out audits of private donations to political parties for the years between 2016 to 2021. Elsewhere, a delegation of a European Parliament committee looking into the use of spyware may visit the island, apparently to investigate any link between Cyprus and the eavesdropping affair in Greece. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will be in Cyprus on Friday, in order to discuss the latest gas find in the island's EEZ with President Nicos Anastasiades, among other issues. We also hear that the positions of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership make it difficult to try to restart Cyprus talks, as stated by Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelou. Elsewhere, twelve irregular migrants who arrived in Cyprus' waters on a speedboat have been taken to the Pournara reception centre, authorities said on Sunday. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that Main opposition Akel is seeking to turn up the heat on the government, revealing that several beneficiaries of the ‘golden passports’ scheme made significant donations to the ruling party. We also hear that a man his wife had a case registered against them at the Limassol court yesterday, after being arrested in connection with an attack on a foreign woman who was renting from them, which was captured on video. Elsewhere, a 64-year-old suspected of murdering a 55-year-old woman has been remanded for eight days by the Nicosia District Court. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the monthly minimum wage has been set at €940 and will be implemented at the start of the new year - although not everyone is satisfied. There’s also the announcement that facemasks are no longer mandatory and children will return to school without having to undergo Covid tests. Elsewhere, police arrested a 64-year-old man in connection with the death of a woman - meanwhile police are also on alert after a clip went viral which shows a middle-aged man beating a female asylum seeker. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that a murder case is being investigated by the Police, after the body of a dead foreign woman was found in Nicosia’s Strovolos yesterday afternoon. There’s also the Bar Association’s investigation into 20 to 25 large legal firms; €70,000 in fines have been paid after they were named in various reports into the citizenship by investment scheme. In other news, the Foreign Ministry has started proceedings with the United Nations after an incident in the buffer zone in Denia on Monday. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that from next month halloumi from all cheese factories in Cyprus will be made based on the PDO specifications. There’s also the warning that irregular immigration is becoming “Cyprus’ second national problem”, a planned protest by parents and students against the likely upcoming Covid measures in schools, and the trouble between Turkey and Cyprus over the island’s EEZ. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear about the welcome development of the discovery of a new gas field offshore Cyprus, although it is estimated that it will not make much of an impact in regional or global markets. There’s also the latest on the discussions to be held with the EU in order to include Cyprus in plans for the bloc’s energy independence following the invasion of Ukraine Elsewhere, a video is doing the rounds on social media which shows someone driving on the highway at 256km/hr when the limit is 100. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the citizenship by investment scheme sparked a blazing row on Thursday at the House watchdog committee amid a series of claims and counterclaims. There’s also the latest on the Cyprus-Greece ferry service which the government has said is set for further improvements. Elsewhere, there’s the latest on the immigration data to Cyprus as well as a work stoppage at Limassol general hospital A&E. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the row at the English School is rumbling on as protests continue over the dismissal of three unionised teachers. There’s also the publication of a part of a ‘top secret’ plan on how the north of the island was to be settled in the wake of the 1974 Turkish invasion. Elsewhere, Disy leader and presidential candidate Averof Neophytou has returned from his trip to the DRC where he discussed the migration issue which Cyprus is facing. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the state will stand by filmmaker Panicos Chrysanthou so his work can be reborn from the ashes, deputy culture minister Yiannis Toumazis said in the aftermath of a large fire that destroyed the former’s home in Pelathousa. Elsewhere, the government was widely slammed on Tuesday over the findings of the audit service report on the citizenship by investment scheme released a day earlier as government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said its conclusions would be looked into. In other news, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides on Tuesday called the discovery of a natural gas field in the Cronos-1 well in Block 6 “a very positive development for the country. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Italian gas giant Eni announced that it has made a significant gas discovery in the Cronos-1 well, located about 160 kilometres off the coast of Cyprus in Block 6. In other news, the audit office’s report into the golden passports found that the public lost millions in lost VAT and unfulfilled investment contracts; and, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said on Monday that the first of two phases in the government’s development of the Akamas state forest area has already begun. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, there was a strong police presence in Lara in the Akamas peninsula on Sunday in efforts to prevent the residents of Ineia from digging turtle nests on Lara beach. In other news, “the status quo in Cyprus and Turkish activity in Varosha are unacceptable and contrary to the resolutions of the UN Security Council,” the president of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez said. And a 46-year-old man diagnosed earlier this month with monkeypox was discharged on Sunday afternoon and will continue to be confined at home. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, a Turkish ‘spy plane’ on Thursday flew over a section of the island’s offshore Block 6 where a drillship is currently prospecting for natural gas. In other news, the statistical office (CYSTAT) revealed over 17 per cent of the population in Cyprus, or 154,000 people, was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2021, and a draft road map for how Covid-19 will be dealt with in the coming months will be discussed by the Health Minister and the scientific advisory team this morning. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis warned that Ineia landowners were entitled to stage protests but not to engage in extreme behaviour or cause damage after the mukhtar threatened to dig up nests at the protected Lara turtle beach next Sunday. In other news, six more companies have been fined between €6,000 and €10,000 for various workplace lapses that resulted in injury to employees, and the Electricity Authority has admitted that many consumers say they were overcharged on their bills. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, vocational training is being given a boost with new facilities underway in Limassol, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou has said. Construction on a brand new, properly equipped building at which the courses would be provided will be completed in the autumn. Elsewhere, the health ministry has prepared a draft plan which details how the state will handle Covid-19 in the months ahead, such as the protocol at schools. The plan is expected to be published by the end of the month and prior to the beginning of the school year. In other news, the three-year-old girl found unconscious on Sunday in a hotel swimming pool in Paphos was on Tuesday confirmed to have died through drowning, according to two state pathologists. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, police are investigating the death of a three-year-old girl who was found floating unconscious in a hotel swimming pool in Kato Paphos on Sunday. A post mortem on the little girl is to be carried out today. Elsewhere, residents of the Akamas village of Ineia have vowed to step up measures to fight against the Akamas local plan to protect the environment, which they say has left them with zero options as regards use of their land. In other news, Panagia Angeloktisti, a Byzantine church located in the village of Kiti, has submitted an application to become an Unesco monument of cultural heritage. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, almost all the presidential candidates piled on Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday, slamming him for what they called his apparent attempt to dodge the televised debates scheduled for next month. In other news, amid heightened concern among the public over costly energy, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus has issued advice to consumers on what to do regarding possible discrepancies between their meter reading and their electricity bills, and the two rivals in Britain’s leadership race to replace Boris Johnson, have both pledged support for Cyprus in separate letters to the UK-based Conservative Friends of Cyprus organisation. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, Deputy Attorney-general Savvas Angelides has denied accusations of an alleged cover-up in the 2019 “black van” spyware scandal which returned to the news after the spyware affair in Greece. In other news, Cyprus issued a total of 22,190 new residence permits in 2021, the largest number of which went to Russians, according to Eurostat figures, and the Water Development Department is urging consumers to conserve water as there is increased pressure on the system in some areas and it may cause problems. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Turkey resumed its hydrocarbon drilling operations in the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday after a two-year hiatus. The Abdulhamid Han, Turkey's fourth drill ship, will operate 55 kilometres off the Gazipasa region in the southern coastal province of Antalya. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades congratulated Cyprus’ athletes after clinching 16th place among 72 countries in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning 11 medals, two gold, three silver and six bronze. In other news, Cypriot authorities managed to return a total of 3,500 irregular immigrants in the first half of 2022, placing Cyprus as the top EU country in immigrant returns relative to its population. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, main opposition Akel hectored the government for its silence over the eavesdropping scandal raging in Greece, and claimed a possible link to the earlier 'spy van' affair in Cyprus. In Athens, two officials have resigned in the wake of reveals that the country's intelligence service tapped the phones of an opposition politician and a journalist - allegedly using spyware known as Pegasus. Elsewhere, by early next year the government will determine whether RES producers generated 'windfall profits' and – should that be the finding – tax those earnings, an official said yesterday. In other news, one of the two tourists who were injured in a buggy accident in Cape Greco on Monday was transported in critical condition to the Nicosia general hospital. The 31-year-old man suffered a brain bleed among other injuries and had to be intubated and transported from the Famagusta general hospital to the capital’s state hospital. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, seven people, contacts, of Cyprus' first monkeypox case, were vaccinated on Sunday, a day after a quantity of the jabs arrived on the island. Cyprus detected two more cases of monkeypox over the weekend and just as 1,260 vaccines arrived on the island on Saturday. Elsewhere, landowners from the Akamas community of Ineia say they will block the roads in and out of the Lara area next Sunday as part of measures they've planned to oppose the government's local plan for the environmentally sensitive region. In other news, Turkey's resolve in the eastern Mediterranean should not be tested, the leader of Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) said on Sunday. Referring to the new mission of Turkey's latest drillship Abdulhamid Han, Omer Celik said Ankara would not "give anyone a pebble, a drop of water, or a breath of air" of thier country. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, hoteliers hope to meet their revised targets for 2022 but are bracing for a difficult 2023 as the cost-of-living crisis eats into the purchasing power of potential visitors and a labour shortage take its toll, Cyprus Hotel Association Director, Philokypros Roussounides has said. In other news, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday it may tax RES producers found to have earned windfall profits as a result of the high tariffs paid to them, and the European Commission has been promoting the idea of creating a bi-communal solar power plant that would “contribute to meeting the energy needs of both Cypriot communities." All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the chairman of the health insurance organisation Thomas Antoniou told the president yesterday that he wishes to resign – citing constant and unprovoked attacks on Gesy. Elsewhere, protesters from local communities near Mitsero have successfully halted the work on the new asphalt factory, after the excavator left the site. In other news, this summer’s Perseids meteor shower is set to be a feast for stargazers as it coincides with a full moon, according to astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas. He said that the peak viewing period will be on August 12, with the ideal time being after 11pm. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the House of Representatives rejected the referral of three bills by President Nicos Anastasiades in a session of the plenum on Tuesday. Two of the bills aimed at scrapping double taxation on fuel and ending the charging of VAT on emission costs in electricity bills, while the third looked to suspend the foreclosures law for three month. Elsewhere, the first case of monkeypox was detected in Cyprus on Tuesday, said the health ministry. The person infected is a 40-year-old man, who tested positive following a molecular laboratory test carried out at the Nicosia General Hospital. In other news, the embattled traffic camera system is to finally move up a gear and exit its extended pilot phase, with another 20 stationary cameras set to be installed within six months. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the president has sent back to parliament three bills passed by the house - two on VAT and electricity, the other on extending a freeze on property foreclosures. There’s also the Nicosia prison debacle, which shows no signs of abating after the police on Monday confirmed that they are now investigating the director and her assistant for leaking classified information. Elsewhere, the health ministry said that updates are expected from the police investigations into the Larnaca-based clinic suspected of carrying out illegal treatments using embryonic stem cells before any actions are taken. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, despite the ongoing pandemic and the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Cypriot tourism is recording significant gains during the 2022 tourist season, according to new reports. In other news, the three villages that were badly affected by the Arakapas fire last summer, said that money donated privately to buy them each a small fire truck was misspent, leaving them with no protection, and within the next few days the work required by the agriculture ministry for the controversial Akamas local plan is expected to be completed. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, the Finance Minister announced on Thursday that the state would absorb a sizeable chunk of cost increases in energy to buffer anticipated rises of up to 25 per cent in bills for households and businesses to the tune of €50 million in the autumn. In other news, Greece and Cyprus accused rival Turkey of stoking tensions as Ankara prepared to dispatch a drill ship to the Mediterranean next month in a search for natural gas, and Cyprus ranks 20th among 27 EU member states in the 2022 edition of the Digital Economy and Society Index. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news updates, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today’s episode, we hear that one of the longest prison sentences imposed by the Cyprus courts was handed down yesterday - as Mamalikopoulos received another 40 years in jail. Elsewhere, the target of the man facing charges for racist and violent behaviour confronted him in court, forcing police to intervene and escort her outside. There’s also the latest on the Agathangelou row, as the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce withdrew its proposal for his appointment to the HIO. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ Unal Ustel on Tuesday told the media that two people have been fired over the use of the wrong photo on lottery tickets. In other news, four people are set to appear in court in September in the ‘golden passports’ case, and have been handed the charge sheets, the police said. And travellers are in for a treat, as efforts are underway so that the Larnaca and Paphos airports will become showcases of the island’s culture. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. For more news direct from Cyprus, visit www.cyprus-mail.com

In today's episode, the Audit Office said it has wrapped up its report on the 'golden passports' and will be releasing it next month. Audit Office spokesman Marios Petrides said the report's findings will "surprise, but not pleasantly". Elsewhere, Cyprus is prepared for the “new pandemic”, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said after a wide-range meeting on monkeypox yesterday, as cases in European Union recorded a 30 per cent increase in the past week. In other news, a photo printed on lottery tickets in the north has landed officials in hot water and started a political media war after it was revealed that depicted fighters holding a Turkish flag were actually Greek Cypriot Eoka fighters rejoicing after capturing a Turkish Cypriot stronghold in 1964. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a meeting to evaluate the new data emerging, as well as how prepared Cyprus is to deal with monkey pox, has been organised for today at Nicosia General Hospital by Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela. Elsewhere, scorching temperatures will continue through Monday, according to a new yellow weather warning from the met office. The maximum temperature is expected to rise to around 40 degrees Celsius again inland. In other news, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said there is no room for optimism regarding the prospects for the resumption of a meaningful and credible negotiation process on the Cyprus problem due to unacceptable Turkish claims. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, oil major Chevron and the Cyprus government have said they are committed to speeding up development of the offshore Aphrodite gas field, with a new well to be drilled in the first quarter of 2023. In other news, health authorities will prepare a road map for autumn, relating to testing and the date when schools will open depending on the state of play with Covid-19, officials announced on Thursday; and the number of visitors to Paphos is “satisfactory,” head of the Paphos regional board of tourism Nasos Hadjigeorgiou said, adding that the goal of approaching the numbers seen in 2019 is still on track. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus marked 48 years since the Turkish invasion yesterday with a memorial service held at the Saint Barnabas cathedral while a tribute was paid at the Tomb of Makedonitissa commemorating those who fell during the Turkish invasion. In other news, Cyprus was upgraded to tier one status in the US’ annual human trafficking report, noting that “the government made key achievements” towards the elimination of such criminal activities; and close to €7 million have been secured in state coffers from the execution of 45,283 fines over the past seven months, recent police data showed, while 1,039 jail terms have been issued. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the proposed Akamas development plan widely misses the mark of its declared intent as key provisions continue to threaten the integrity of the Natura 2000 network, the environment department’s environmental impact assessment concluded. Elsewhere, presidential candidates Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis have so far declined an offer to receive police protection until the elections in February. In other news, three men in their 20s received prison sentences on Tuesday for physically assaulting police officers who spotted them playing football against regulations during the first lockdown in April 2020. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades has tested positive for coronavirus, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said on Tuesday. He said that the President had tested positive during routine tests but reassured the public that his symptoms are mild. Elsewhere, improvements that will reduce the burden on the Lakatamia welfare office that assists asylum seekers are under way, the deputy minister of social welfare Anastasia Anthousi said during an on-the-spot visit. In other news, More than 120.000 Cyprus residents travelled abroad in June, which was a 242.6 per cent increase on the same month last year. Based on the data of the Statistical Service, the travels abroad in June totalled 121.146 compared to 35.361 in June 2021. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that more measures against Covid will be taken if they are deemed necessary. Elsewhere, the health minister said hospitals are ready to deal with an increased number of cases that might stem from the rise of the Centaurus variant which is already spreading through parts of Europe. There’s also optimism from the deputy tourism ministry as it said that arrivals have reached 75 per cent of the levels seen in 2019. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a Greek Cypriot man was arrested on Thursday after he was caught on video kicking a Congolese woman holding her baby, an incident that was universally condemned. In other news, Parliament voted through a legislative proposal that empowers the government to order a price cap on petroleum products, and also passed bills cutting to zero the VAT charged on fuel and on electricity bills; and four people will face a criminal trial over their role in apparently giving naturalisations to foreign investors, the Attorney-general’s office said on Thursday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, 94 per cent believe corruption in Cyprus is widespread, with political parties and the health care system seen as particularly vulnerable to abusing their power, according to a Eurobarometer survey published yesterday. Elsewhere, the health minister and epidemiologists decided not to impose tighter measures despite the increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations. In other news, temperatures will hit 40C inland today, the met office said as it issued a yellow alert – the second in as many days – for extreme hot weather. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, main opposition party Akel has said a bill allowing for a cap on prices of fuel at the pump would head to the House plenum later this week. Elsewhere, Australian fugitive and underworld boss Mark Buddle is set to be extradited to his native country after he was arrested in the north on and taken to Turkey, Turkish Cypriot media has reported. In other news, Omonia is the most popular team in Cyprus, followed by Apoel and Anorthosis, according to a poll conducted by the University of Nicosia. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, electricity bills that will be sent out, will be about 24 per cent more expensive than the last one, an EAC spokesperson has confirmed. In other news, a post-mortem – with inconclusive results – was carried out on Monday on the body of a 44-year-old man who died suddenly late last week, almost exactly a year after he was allegedly shot in the head by the police with a teargas canister gun, and the supreme court upheld one of the biggest sentences imposed for transporting cannabis, as an appellant who received just over ten years imprisonment was unsuccessful in his bid to have it reduced. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today’s episode, we hear that the Paphos mayor has hit back at the interior ministry as the row deepens over dangerous and overcrowded buildings. Elsewhere, the health ministry has issued renewed Covid-19 travel advice as it warned that new measures may be enforced. There’s also the repatriation of a 16th century church icon which was looted in 1974 from the Antifonitis church in the village of Kalograia in the Kyrenia district. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the House of Representatives has finally passed legislation clearing the way for broad reform of the justice system that is hoped will shorten the time of litigation. In other news, Nicosia will work through diplomatic channels to attempt to ameliorate certain references in the recent reports on Cyprus issued by the UN Secretary-General, President Nicos Anastasiades has said, and parliament has passed a law making femicide a distinct crime punishable by an up-to lifetime jail sentence. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, face masks will become mandatory as of tomorrow, following a decision on Wednesday by the cabinet. It was also reiterated that the fine for violating the mask mandate is €300. In other news, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to encourage more direct contact and cooperation between the two communities, expressing his concern about the likelihood that the already difficult climate between the parties could worsen, and a murder investigation has become a double murder investigation after a 73-year-old woman died on Wednesday a month after she was seriously burned in a house arson in the village of Pyrgos in Limassol. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that stakeholders failed to agree on a national minimum wage during a meeting with the president. Elsewhere, the attorney-general announced that he will appeal the 12-month sentence imposed on the British tourist found guilty of the fatal Ayia Napa crash which killed a Swedish mother. There’s also the finance minister’s warning of even higher fuel and electricity prices - mainly due to the EU’s push to transition towards green energy. And don’t miss our feathered friend: the African Desert Warbler, whose first confirmed sighting in Cyprus was captured in Akrotiri. Finally, a protest demanding improved abortion laws is set to take place on Friday outside the US embassy. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a travel company executive in Cyprus said he expected the airport and airline chaos gripping Europe to subside in the coming weeks as thousands of flights have already been cancelled and more people were finally rejoining the workforce. Elsewhere, the government has received a request to transfer electricity to the north because one of its two power stations stopped working. In other news, experts urged the elderly and vulnerable to take their fourth Covid vaccine dose, expressing concern about the increase in infections. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the percentage of flights to and from Cyprus affected by Europe's travel chaos is much smaller than in other countries, deputy minister for tourism Savvas Perdios said while still urging people to travel outside July and August. Elsewhere, the government is intensifying its efforts to curb illegal crossings through the buffer zone, according to Interior Minister Nicos Nouris. In other news, the health ministry on Sunday reminded the public that as of today, the maximum price of individual self-tests is set at €1.70. The price cap was set after some sellers were selling individual tests from a box of five for €2 apiece. The box of five costs €6. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the state health services organisation (OKYPY) on Thursday suggested that the June 2024 target for public hospitals to attain financial autonomy may have to be pushed back, but critics countered that OKYPY’s failure to balance its budget was due to waste and mismanagement. In other news, the Defence Ministry has pledged that if anyone were found responsible for the National Guard accident that led to the fatal injury of a 27-year-old commando, they would be held accountable, and Larnaca hoteliers are ‘relatively satisfied’ with occupancy rates in June, especially in view of the loss of tourists from two of their main markets, Russia and Ukraine, the Larnaca Tourism Board has said, citing the results of a survey. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, around 80 percent of businesses in Cyprus used social media in 2021 to get their message across, a steep rise on 2015 when the figure was just under 60 per cent. Elsewhere, the education ministry launched an investigation and admitted racism is an issue in schools after a Larnaca secondary school graduation ceremony was marred by a racist episode involving a 15-year-old Syrian student. In other news, some nine per cent of young people aged 14 to 18 use cannabis, and one in five of these do so daily, the House legal affairs committee heard on Wednesday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, face masks will become compulsory in pharmacies and laboratories as of tomorrow, less than a month after their use became optional, the health ministry has announced. In other news, Cyprus is at the forefront of a shifting pattern of illegal border crossings on the Eastern Mediterranean route, an EU agency for Asylum report said on Tuesday, and the Paphos criminal court on Tuesday handed six-year concurrent sentences to a 23-year-old man over the rape and sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl from the United Kingdom.  All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today’s episode, we hear that Diko has backed presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides. Elsewhere, the interior minister has called on both sides in the Akamas debate to acknowledge that the truth of the matter likely lies somewhere in the middle. There’s also the president’s call for Cyprus to emerge as a regional firefighting hub, while on social media a filthy intercity bus went viral, and a small earthquake was recorded over the weekend. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, centre-right Diko's central committee unanimously decided to support the candidacy of former foreign minister and independent, Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday. Elsewhere, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has urged both sides in the acrimonious Akamas debate to lower the tone, saying the truth of the new plan for the environmentally-sensitive area was somewhere in the middle between conservationists and landowners. In other news, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos has ordered an investigation after photos and video of a broken-down and filthy Intercity bus went viral on social media. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, flare-ups in at least two locations late on Thursday night dashed hopes that a massive fire raging since Tuesday in the north’s Kantaras area was being brought under control. In other news, DIKO's executive bureau has decided to propose to the central committee that the party back independent presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides in the February elections, and the House of Representatives has passed legislation that allows the police to hire 300 special constables who will be deployed to help stem migrant flows. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the two firefighting planes sent by the Cyprus government on Wednesday to help fight the big fire in the northern part of the island were back in action at dawn today. In other news, DISY leader and presidential candidate Averof Neophytou visited Varosha on Wednesday and warned that if the city, of derelict, collapsing buildings was lost, then Cyprus, too, would be lost; and Cyprus exports up to 5,000 stray dogs and cats every year, deputies heard at the house environment committee on Wednesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, MPs on Tuesday discussed the possibility of a law to cap fuel prices, a drastic move as petrol at the pump continued rising and prices are fast approaching €2 a litre. Elsewhere, Diko and presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides moved a step closer to solidifying their cooperation for the February vote, with the junior opposition party expected to announce its final decision on Sunday. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades and his wife Andri welcomed the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie to the Presidential Palace on Tuesday after the royal couple landed on the island on Monday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos has expressed his ministry’s concern with the high number of road fatalities this year after they have consistently fallen over the last ten years. Elsewhere, former government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos has been named as the new labour minister, a position vacated after the death of Zeta Emilianidou earlier this month. In other news, the first ferry trip between Cyprus and Greece in 21 years docked in Piraeus port on Monday evening was hailed as “very positive” by deputy shipping minister Vassilis Demetriades. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades lauded the resumption of the Cyprus-Greece ferry link after more than 20 years as “historic”, as he addressed the launch of the maiden voyage of the ferry from Limassol port on Sunday. Elsewhere, prisons director Anna Aristotelous is expected to file a written complaint with the attorney-general today after she alleged that she was the victim of an alleged sting by a senior police officer who was trying to secure compromising information on her. In other news, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is "disappointed" at being excluded from the visit to Cyprus of the Earl and the Countess of Wessex, which begins today. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due in Cyprus today on an official visit. The Greek leader arrives here at a time of increasingly belligerent Turkish government rhetoric against both Greece and Cyprus. In other news, feverish preparations are underway for the much-awaited resumption of the ferry link between Cyprus and Greece, which is set to depart from Limassol on Sunday, and The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will visit Cyprus and the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia between Monday June 20 and Wednesday June 22, the British High Commission announced. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the company operating the traffic cameras system is to receive a warning from the government in the wake of a series of failures that are holding up the full implementation of the system. Elsewhere, state doctors suspended a scheduled three-hour strike over the weekend operation of clinics after the health insurance organisation agreed to put off the implementation of the extended hours until July. In other news, police and the foreign ministry carried out over 2,300 deportations or returns of third-country nationals so far this year. Most recently, some 16 nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo who were in detention were deported. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the situation for residents of the Kokkinotrimithia area worsened by the day because of the growing presence of asylum seekers from the nearby Pournara reception centre, according to the village community leader Christakis Meleties. Elsewhere, the legal team of the British woman who claimed she was gang raped in Ayia Napa in 2019 is taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights. In other news, former chief negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis on Tuesday officially announced his candidacy for the presidential elections. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that the government has pledged to continue its efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement without bending to any threats or challenges. Elsewhere, police arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of causing a deadly traffic collision in Paphos over the weekend.  There's also the latest on the protests near the Vasiliko plant after an old tyre dump caught fire during the weekend And don't miss the yellow alert for storms issued by the met office. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Akamas development plan is gearing up to take centre stage amid allegations of backroom deals, electioneering and illegal procedures, while no one can agree anything: not even when the plan will be ready. In other news, a bitter fallout following a divorce appears to be the central cause of the murder-suicide arson attack that unfolded in Pyrgos, Limassol, in a chilling case which shocked the island, and by unanimous vote, the House on Thursday passed legislation aiming to fast-track the return of at least part of the moneys that ex-Laiki’s depositors lost when the bank went into administration in 2013. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, police are investigating a case of premeditated murder and attempted murder after two people were found dead and two others were injured in a house fire in the village of Pyrgos in Limassol. In other news, tests carried out on a man who was admitted to Paphos general hospital on Tuesday night did not indicate monkeypox, and the travel chaos currently being seen at British airports has also impacted Cyprus with just over 1,000 flights to and from the island delayed in May. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the passing of political stalwart Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou was marked around the island on Tuesday with the president announcing that flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast. Elsewhere, controversial lawyer Andreas Pittadjis, whose famous line ‘this is Cyprus’ became a phrase used to laugh at scandals, was fined €4,000 by the Cyprus Bar Association for demeaning the profession. In other news, the Limassol pensioner who admitted to killing his 82-year-old wife carried out the murder for “futile reasons”, the Limassol district court heard during a remand hearing. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Zeta Emilianidou, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, died on Monday at the age of 67. She had suffered a cerebral aneurysm three weeks ago and had been transported by ambulance airlift to a hospital in Greece where she underwent lengthy surgery. Elsewhere, a Limassol pensioner was arrested on Monday morning after going to a police station and informing officers he had killed his 82-year-old wife. The police found her body in the garden of the couple’s house in Ayios Ioannis, in the Limassol district. In other news, three young British women were detained in connection with an alleged assault on a nurse at the A&E department of Paphos general hospital in the early hours of Sunday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, former Cyprus problem negotiator and career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis won a resounding 90 per cent of the votes during Akel's extraordinary conference on Sunday, which was called to approve his candidacy for the 2023 presidential elections. Elsewhere, Cyprus' involvement in the Agapinor-2022 joint military exercise with Israel has sparked heated reaction from Turkey, which accused the government of destabilising the region. In other news, a suspected case of monkeypox that came to the health authority's attention on June 1, turned out to be a case of chickenpox. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a Syrian man – one of 44 irregular migrants aboard two inflatable boats that had set off from Turkey – drowned trying to make it to shore near Lara, Paphos. In other news, the House health committee is piling pressure on the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) to address patients’ concerns over pharmaceuticals offered through the general health scheme (GESY), and fifteen police officers are facing disciplinary procedures over their alleged failings in investigating the reports of missing women who were later discovered to have been murdered by serial killer Nicos Metaxas. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has stated that the number of people that have used the national health system, GESY, is indicative of its success. In other news, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis has said that any cheese that does not meet the specifications set by the protected designation of origin (PDO) cannot be called halloumi, and a total of 12 people were convicted for human trafficking offences in the past year, while a further 33 cases are currently before the courts. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, some 11,000 traffic violations recorded by traffic cameras were deemed invalid, with the company operating them asking that they be rescinded. Elsewhere, the proportion of tourists holidaying in Cyprus on package deals has decreased, with officials at the tourism ministry encouraged that the benefits from foreign visitors are now being distributed across the wider economy. In other news, 37-year-old Charalambos Aristotelous became the tenth man to announce he would stand in the 2023 presidential elections. He will be standing as an independent candidate. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Pedieos linear park is getting a facelift with a budget of over €26 million, the municipalities of Nicosia, Lakatamia and Strovolos announced on Monday. Elsewhere, demonstrators gathered outside Larnaca district court on Monday where former Bishop of Kition Chrysostomos was on trial for assaulting a woman, aged 16 at the time, in 1981. In other news, the island welcomed more than half a million visitors in the first four months of 2022 – nearly ten times the number registered in the same period last year. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a total of €370 million are to be invested by the government in projects to revitalise the mountain areas, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said, stressing it was the aim of the Anastasiades government to give new life to them. Elsewhere, the Cypriot crew member on one of the two Greek-flagged tankers seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces in the Gulf is in good health, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. In other news, criticising the “parties in power” and the “worn-out political system”, the former rector of the University of Cyprus Constantinos Christofides officially announced his candidacy for the presidential elections, while far right party Elam unanimously backed their leader Christos Christou to also stand in the race. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, MPs have pressed the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) to ensure private hospitals, that operate within the general health scheme (GESY) also incorporate their A&E department. In other news, the union for bank workers, ETYK, agreed to suspend – but not entirely call off – strike action at Hellenic Bank, provided management agree to revoke its decision to fire 350 employees, and a 69-year-old man was arrested late on Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder, after he told police he had shot his son with a shotgun. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, there are increasing signs that the tourism industry is getting back on its feet, as hotels in the Famagusta region are expecting to see occupancy rates of 80 percent over the Kataklysmos weekend with a surge of local interest. In other news, a secondary school student has filed a complaint that she was sexually harassed and abused in a classroom during school hours, and a retired military doctor has been arrested in connection with a ring offering families a way to pay their son’s way out of the army, it came to light on Wednesday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus is hoping to attract over two million foreign visitors this year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios, who admitted the loss of around 800,000 potential visitors from the Russian and the Ukrainian markets represents a significant blow for the island. Elsewhere, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou remains in a medically induced coma as she receives treatment in Athens after suffering cerebral aneurism, with President Nicos Anastasiades set to visit her today. In other news, six out of ten of Cypriots aged 25 to 34 hold a degree, the third highest rate in the EU and well above the bloc’s target of 45 per cent by 2030. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, exploratory gas drilling is underway in Cyprus’ block 6 by Total-ENI. Work at the site, dubbed 'Cronos-1', was initially scheduled to take place in the spring of 2020, but put on hold because of the Covid-19 situation. Elsewhere, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is planning a trip to Cyprus as part of an international tour to the region. In other news, discussions are underway to potentially scrap the indoor mask mandate. Members of the scientific team are expected in the next few days to submit recommendations regarding indoor masking to the health ministry. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis hopes that by the summer there will be some movement on the package of confidence-building measures between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides. Elsewhere, Disy leader and presidential candidate Averof Neophytou called for subsidies to the hardest hit producers as part of the support package being formulated by the government in the coming week. In other news, an online concert 'Stand with Ukraine - The Cyprus Edition' to raise donations for the Red Cross will be broadcast on Friday and will be addressed by President Nicos Anastasiades. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a further section of the Varosha beachfront is being opened with sunbeds and umbrellas being placed along a roughly 600-metre stretch of the golden sands. Elsewhere, Cyprus does not meet the terms and conditions to apply for Nato membership and will not apply for the moment, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said. In other news, the island is in the crosshairs of the European Commission for failing to cut down on pollution. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, fiery scenes erupted outside the presidential palace yesterday as sheep and goat farmers held boisterous, disruptive demonstrations. They lit fires, dumped gallons of milk and blocked roads as they protested the low prices they are receiving for their milk and the handling of halloumi cheese. Elsewhere, the Cyprus population is up 9.2 per cent in the last decade to now reach 918,100. Foreign nationals numbered 193,300, accounting for 21 per cent of the population. In other news, the Russian foreign minister said that its stance on the Cyprus problem has not changed. Moscow says that it continues to advocate for a solution based on UN security council resolutions. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a total of 74 bathing areas and two marinas have been awarded a Blue Flag, a significant achievement that bestows added value to Cyprus tourism. Elsewhere, an ambulance driver has reportedly admitted to drug use while on duty, as police confirmed a positive cocaine and cannabis reading from the subsequent narcotest. In other news, as the debate around introducing euthanasia goes on, the bioethics commission said it should be available on the island but only under the strictest of conditions. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou is in critical condition at an Athens hospital after lengthy surgery to treat a cerebral aneurysm. There's also an EU economic forecast warning Cyprus to brace for higher employment and inflation, the health ministry emphasising that the mask mandate remains in force, and an apparent early blunder by the Nikos Christodoulides campaign team.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the new relaxations of the restrictive measures against Covid-19 came into force as of yesterday. Under the new rules, it will no longer be necessary to show a SafePass in public areas except for visits to nursing homes, closed areas, hospital outpatient clinics, medical and diagnostic centres. Elsewhere, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou suffered a cerebral aneurysm on Sunday night and has been transported to a hospital in Athens, the government announced. In other news, the latest bout of dust in the atmosphere was due to have dissipated by this morning after light rainfall in many areas over the weekend. According to the met office, April had seen unprecedented amounts of dust at higher-than-permissible pollution levels. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the National Guard has launched an internal investigation into the death of a 27-year-old female corporal who died on Thursday following an accident at an army camp in Kornos. In other news, former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has announced his candidacy for the February 2023 presidential elections, and an online platform for Cypriots of the diaspora is being created to bring them closer to their roots, the office of the commissioner for the presidency has announced. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, business leaders have called on President Nicos Anastasiades to urgently boost the island’s self-sufficiency in terms of the food supply, warning that based on current data, higher prices, and shortages “will intensify in the near future.” In other news, the interior and justice ministries are requesting that contract police officers be hired as the state steps up its efforts to tackle irregular migration across the Green Line, and the discovery last week of three dead vultures in Paphos is “a huge blow” to the species’ population in Cyprus, the game and fauna service and BirdLife Cyprus said yesterday. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Safe Passes will not be required at entertainment centres, nightclubs and events such as weddings and christenings as of Sunday, the Cabinet decided. Elsewhere, three out of five people in Cyprus said Cypriots are “ready to accept” a female president, while more than half believe eligible voters abstain from elections due to a lack of trust in politicians. In other news, the scheduled launch of a ferry service to Greece seems to have been well received by the public with over 2,000 tickets already booked. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the British bases, comprising three per cent of the island’s territory, will allow for the construction of houses, shops, restaurants and light industrial facilities while third-country nationals will also be able to live and establish businesses in non-military areas of the bases. Elsewhere, Akel general secretary Stefanos Stefanou rebutted claims that their candidate for president Andreas Mavroyiannis was a lackey of the Anastasiades government. In other news, diseases of the circulatory system remained the top cause of death in 2020, while Covid-19 accounted for two per cent of all recorded fatalities, according to data released by the health ministry. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that a key unit of main opposition party Akel voted in favour of Andreas Mavroyiannis as their candidate for the 2023 presidential elections. There’s also the historic deal that boosts development in the British Bases which comes into effect from today and a key meeting between the foreign ministers of Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the US. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a 25-year-old Briton has been remanded for six days following a hit and run accident in Ayia Napa in which a 46-year-old woman from Sweden died, police said. Elsewhere, the fire service is on high alert for the upcoming summer season and is relying on the public’s cooperation and new drones to see it through a difficult period. In other news, main opposition Akel narrowed down their options for who will go on their ticket for the 2023 presidential elections to attorney Achilleas Demetriades and former chief Cyprus negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas expressed his full support to the family of the young man who suffered burns to 45 per cent of his body during violent incidents involving football fans over the weekend in Larnaca. Elsewhere, the House education committee began discussions on longer school days and future plans for all-day schools. In other news, Presidential candidate Giorgos Kolokasides said that Cyprus still suffers from the remnants of English colonial rule and plans for Queen Elizabeth's jubilee must be cancelled. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the electricity authority has announced that energy bills will climb by 6.8 per cent by the end of the month. Elsewhere, a school shooting at Kokkinotrimithia lower secondary school was prevented in November, MPs heard on Tuesday. In other news, political parties, the church, and commercial interests have significant influence over the media in the country, according to a Reporters Without Borders study which ranked Cyprus at 65 globally. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the foreign ministry is in negotiations with Brussels in the hopes of securing an exemption from EU sanctions against Russia in case Cyprus is unsuccessful in obtaining the necessary aerial support equipment needed for firefighting. Elsewhere, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides has pledged support for vulnerable groups in the face of growing inflation and rising costs. In other news, Cyprus has become the first EU member-state to achieve 100 per cent 5G population coverage, even in its most remote areas. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, as Labour Day was marked around the world on Sunday to celebrate the progress made by workers, in Cyprus it descended into a spat between the government and main opposition party AKEL. In other news, Nicosia CID is investigating a case of attempted murder after a man was stabbed with a knife in the centre of town Sunday lunchtime, and this summer is looking to be a busy one for Paphos Airport, with 59 destinations in 21 countries connected through flights by 15 airlines that will gradually exceed 250 per week. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, two children in Cyprus have contracted hepatitis of unknown origin in recent months, the health ministry said on Thursday, adding that it will continue to monitor the situation amid an uptick of similar cases in Europe, the UK and the US. In other news, an 11-year-old boy was treated on Thursday after he underwent surgery following a firecracker injury which led to the amputation of three of his fingers, and twenty five migrants whose inflatable boat was intercepted off the Akamas peninsula on Thursday morning were later in the day transferred to the Kokkinotrimithia Reception Centre for asylum seekers, while police arrested one of the persons on board as the suspected trafficker. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the one-year jail sentence imposed on Turkish Cypriot newspaper publisher Sener Levent by a court in Turkey for offending Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has been commuted to a fine of 9,000 Turkish lira, which is the equivalent of 570 euro. In other news, plans to keep state hospitals open in the afternoons suffered a setback after nursing unions turned down the additional pay offered by state health services, and some 8,200 people received the fourth Covid vaccine, with more than 900 vaccinations carried out after its rollout for people over 60 on Tuesday. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, although no cases have so far been reported in Cyprus of the children’s hepatitis, which has required some to have liver transplants, a local expert has said that infections are expected. In other news, Paphos residents reported they felt an earthquake in the region and other parts of the island on Tuesday night, and graffiti murals will add a splash of colour to six locations in Polis Chrysochous as part of the 7th Fish Festival taking place on Saturday, 30 April. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that a fourth Covid-19 vaccine is available to the over 60s and some select groups, that Cypriots are getting better at recycling and of the firecracker mayhem caused over the weekend. There's also the latest on the government's push towards greater digital transition and Akel's efforts to secure a candidate for the 2023 presidential elections. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, Hellenic Bank will submit a restructuring plan to the Labour Ministry that will include up to 350 compulsory redundancies this year, its CEO Oliver Gatzke has said, a move likely to set it on a collision course with employees’ union ETYK. In other news, Nefeli, a Griffon vulture rescued as a juvenile from a beach in Episkopi in 2019, has been found dead after colliding into power lines, highlighting the risks facing the island’s endangered vulture population, and the case of former Volunteerism Commissioner Yiannis Yiannaki who faces 18 charges relating to the alleged forgery of his high school and university diplomas will be referred to the legal service next month.  All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear of the latest loosening of Covid-19 restrictions, a further four Cyprus passports being revoked, and yet another scam involving luxury cars.  There's also the lucky escape of a Greek paratrooper who was left dangling for minutes at 5,000 feet during a military exercise in Cyprus. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, we hear that Covid-19 restrictions are to be further loosened, the government is to enforce new measures to reduce irregular migration and that progress is being made to introduce a national minimum wage.  There's also a strong denial by Cyprus authorities that there is any involvement in the alleged hacking of British government offices.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today’s episode, the trial of a British pensioner who killed his terminally ill wife, and afterwards tried to commit suicide, has been postponed to June 16. In other news, the SafePass rules have been eased, the Flight Pass has been scrapped, and more relaxations are possible, and a €40 million boost aimed at revamping Nicosia’s walled city was presented yesterday which will provide incentives for young families to move into the area and grants for businesses. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, long-time chief negotiator for the Cyprus problem, Andreas Mavroyiannis, has resigned from his post. In other news, Cyprus and Israel are kick-starting intergovernmental meetings aimed at resolving the longstanding dispute over the Aphrodite/Yishai gas fields, and a man from Russia has been remanded for four days on suspicion of racism and xenophobia, as well as incitement to commit criminal offences. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides has pledged to hold fast amid mounting calls for an increase in government handouts, warning that otherwise the public debt may spiral out of control. In other news, members of the House Transport Committee are calling on the government to work on regulating the use of personal mobility vehicles in Cyprus, most notably electric scooters, and eleven underage, unaccompanied minors are missing, some for up to three years, MPs heard on Thursday as elected officials decried double standards.  All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that the presidential palace is set for a makeover, that the two communities met to promote the role of women in Cyprus peace talks, and that the justice system faces collapse unless MPs pass reform bills.  There's also the bizarre news that a Cyprus based company will offer masturbation pods to employees while at work.  All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides has predicted long-term inflation, calling it the “most dangerous parameter” of the current economic crisis. The minister also voiced doubts about the planned transition to ‘green energy’. In other news, UN experts have said that the Cyprus Missing Persons issue must be depoliticised, and a survey has found that Cyprus averages four car thefts a day, placing it eighth among 15 countries, according to Eurostat data. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a man accused of consistently supplying four girls with crystal meth and heroin was remanded for seven days by the Limassol court yesterday. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades said he is not considering a reshuffle of the national health system Gesy, after repeated calls for a clean sweep. In other news, almost all hotels in Paphos, over 115 units in total, have opened for the season, according the Paphos hoteliers’ association. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, as of Monday a raft of relaxations from Covid-19 restrictions come into force following a Cabinet decision last Thursday. Elsewhere, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos on Sunday estimated that Cyprus will see 50 percent more passenger traffic this year compared to 2021. In other news, Nicosia's longest-running Mayor, Lellos Demetriades, passed away at the weekend at Nicosia General Hospital. He was appointed Mayor of the capital in 1971, a position he held until December 2001. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Cyprus to close its ports to all Russian ships and to deny “privileges” to Russian nationals, as part of an effort to turn the squeeze on Moscow over its invasion of his country. In other news, the health ministry has announced a slew of changes to the Covid-19 restrictions, and prospects for the EastMed pipeline suffered what seems like a final blow on Thursday as a senior US State Department official labelled it expensive and unviable. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we take an in-depth look to the visit of US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland to Cyprus. Elsewhere, in Covid-19 news, the face mask mandate  in outdoor spaces is expected to be lifted this week as discussions are underway for further relaxations of coronavirus measures. In other news, the European Commission has called on Cyprus yet again to take measures to protect its Natura 2000 sites. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, traffic cameras appear to be stuck in the ‘pilot’ phase with 50,000 violations recorded since the start of the year but only 2,000 fines handed out. In other news, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said on Tuesday that Cyprus will not provide weapons to Ukraine as doing so would create gaps in the Republic’s deterrence capabilities; and five cases of suspicious matches out of a total of 12 investigated by a special branch of the police have been sent for prosecution. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the Ukrainian president will address Cyprus’ parliament while a request has been made by the US for the National Guard to hand over its Russian-made weapons systems to Ukraine. There’s also new speed cameras which have been fitted in police patrol cars, a further rise in electricity bills and confirmation that March’s unseasonable deep freeze broke a slew of records. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail news team.

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has called on the public to be patient until Thursday when announcements are expected to be made over the relaxation of coronavirus measures. Elsewhere, as the war rages on in Ukraine, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said that almost 15,000 Ukrainians are currently being hosted in Cyprus, a third of whom were living here when Russia invaded. In other news, a man has been arrested in Limassol for allegedly causing damages to the hotel he was staying in to the tune of €20,000. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus faces a serious problem coping with the number of migrants arriving here daily, while the current Ukraine refugee crisis means less attention and resources diverted to people coming in from other countries, the interior minister has said. Meanwhile, another 50 unaccompanied minors have been transferred from Pournara reception centre for asylum- seekers to a Paphos-based facility, with with more expected to be taken there in the coming days. In other news, Parliament on Thursday passed legislation establishing a junior ministry of culture under the umbrella of the education ministry. All this and more in today’s briefing.

In today's episode, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, said that while Cyprus would inevitably be affected by rising inflation and deteriorating growth, its economy was better equipped to handle the crisis than it was previously. In other news, the cabinet has approved a bill giving trade and energy minister, Natasa Pilides, the power to set a maximum gross profit margin for traders in an attempt to stem price gouging as the cost of basic items continue to soar; and Nicosia police have arrested a 32-year-old woman in connection with a case of obtaining €24,000 from a couple under false pretences. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a senior government official said that three individuals subject to the EU sanctions in relation to Russia's invasion of Ukraine hold a Cyprus passport, adding that checks are ongoing. Elsewhere, the British High Commission has apologised for a UK defence ministry video which displayed a truncated map of Cyprus that did not include the north or the British bases. In other news, a volunteer group of Cypriot doctors and nurses arrived in the Romanian town of Siret, close to the border with Ukraine early on Tuesday to provide medical assistance to refugees fleeing Russia. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus will have to examine all citizenships and residency permits given to Russian or Belarusian nationals "significantly supporting the war in Ukraine" under orders from Brussels. Elsewhere, a new record of 6,494 Covid-19 infections were detected on Monday from 115,930 tests, a positivity rate of 5.6 per cent. In other news, legendary rock band Scorpions will be performing at Limassol's Tsirion Stadium on July 12, as part of their 50th anniversary tour and the release of their album 'Rock Believer'. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris will discuss the increased migration flow from Turkey with EU officials in Brussels on Monday. Elsewhere, ahead of visit her visit to Cyprus tomorrow, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said she was optimistic Cyprus can weather the current economic storm brought about by the war in Ukraine. In other news, police are warning the public that there has been an increase in various kinds of cyberfraud and a rise in complaints, especially in Nicosia, related to electronic fraud. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus supermarkets are not expected to experience stock shortages due to the war in Ukraine, executive secretary of the Supermarkets Association (PASYPE) Andreas Hadjiadamou has said.  In other news, the highest number of first-time asylum applicants relative to the population in the EU in 2021 was recorded in Cyprus, with 14,799 first-time applicants per million residents, according to the latest Eurostat report, and the education ministry has unveiled a national fitness assessment programme for secondary school children as part of concerted efforts with the health ministry to combat child obesity. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, nine young Somali migrants camped outside the Hope for Children shelter in old Nicosia say they will not leave until their situation is resolved. The boys have been in the Pournara reception centre for between five and seven months. Elsewhere, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the administration of a Covid booster jab to children aged 12 and over and the rollout of a fourth vaccine to those aged 70 and over and the immunocompromised. In other news, cannabis use in Cyprus in 2021 increased, whereas cocaine use decreased, the annual report presented by the Cyprus National Addictions Authority showed. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum - consortium partners in Block 10 of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone - have found "high-quality natural gas" in the ‘Glaucus-2’ appraisal well, the energy ministry said yesterday, but there appear concerns over quantity. In other news, bus drivers in Nicosia and Larnaca yesterday decided to continue strike action launched on Saturday after they were sent redundancy letters, and the latest British Post Office annual holiday costs barometer has found Paphos to be the fifth best value holiday destination for British travellers. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Disy leader Averof Neophytou was unanimously ratified as the party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming elections, during Disy’s Supreme Council session on Sunday. His candidacy was ratified unanimously by a show of hands. Elsewhere, The Test-to-Stay measure went into effect on Monday morning at kindergartens, pre-primary and special schools. The decision was taken by the council of ministers last week as part of a series of measures to curb the coronavirus. In other news, the World Happiness Report ranked Cyprus at 41 out 146 nations and territories, slipping slightly since the last report but ahead of its neighbours such as Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, procedures have been set in motion to help some 8,000 Ukrainians who have come to Cyprus as refugees or are stranded here because of Russia’s invasion of their country. In other news, a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose has been deemed “inevitable” amongst the general population and not just for the elderly or vulnerable groups, while the current testing programme may be trimmed, and government services on the web are set to be centralised into a single portal within the next two months. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides has expressed caution over prospects for reviving EastMed pipeline as she said that, even if the pipeline project kicked off immediately, it would not provide a solution to the energy crisis that Europe is experiencing as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Elsewhere, House president Annita Demetriou unveiled the monument for the four Egyptians who lost their lives in the devastating fire that destroyed lives, businesses and homes in the area of Odou last July. In other news, the journalists union on Wednesday said they had held a meeting with the government spokesman seeking more access to the palace and called for an end to a ban on questions following announcements by senior officials. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the finance ministry has revised its forecast for inflation this year from an initial 1.5 per cent to 4 per cent, as petrol prices surge in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Elsewhere, annual vaccinations against Covid-19 are on the cards for the elderly, vulnerable and immunosuppressed as part of a return to normality, state epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis said on Tuesday.   In other news, the Cypriot tourism industry is now operating with a worst-case scenario and will need to tap alternative markets and domestic custom to recover around one third of what will be lost this year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear how the government has vowed to resolve the seemingly chronic challenge of overcrowding at the Pournara reception centre.  President Anastasiades visited Pournara yesterday after criticism from other officials. The government subsequently announced changes to the procedures at the centre. Elsewhere, the NGO Hope for Children announced that it has teamed up with volunteer network Cyprus For Ukraine (CY4UA) on several humanitarian initiatives offering support to Ukrainian families stranded in Cyprus.  And finally, fuel prices are rising again due to the increasing cost of importing fossil fuels as a result of the war in Ukraine, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides said yesterday - offering advice as to how consumers can try to find a better deal.  All this and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today’s episode, President Nicos Anastasiades was this morning due to visit the Pournara migrant camp in Kokkinotrimithia to see for himself the conditions there, after they have been widely criticised over the last few days. In other news, the British Bases have said they are proud of the “fantastic job” pilots operating out of RAF Akrotiri were doing defending the skies above Eastern Europe, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar accused the Greek Cypriots of using sport to underline hackneyed complaints after F1 driver Sebastian Vettel had a Turkish Cypriot flag on his helmet.  All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the president is in Brussels attending an EU meeting to address the sanctions on Russia - where he said Cyprus fully understands what is now happening in Ukraine as the island is itself an occupied country. He accused Turkey of undermining sanctions and serving its own interests. Elsewhere, authorities have said they are investigating the possibility of abuse of a second child belonging to a couple who have been remanded on suspicion of forcefully shaking their two-month baby - leading to her death.  And in Covid-19 news, amid an uptick in infections, an expert advising the government on the pandemic has cautioned against further relaxations. All this and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, police have hailed a whopping 132kg cannabis drugs bust at Limassol port which they say is a “major blow to drug traffickers." And still on crime, four arrests were made on Wednesday and one on Thursday in the case involving officials at the transport department allegedly doctoring documents to pass off damaged second hand luxury cars as new. In other news, almost 3,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Cyprus since February 25, the day after the Russian invasion. The interior ministry announced the figures in attempt to counter criticism that it had not adequately responded to the crisis. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, following an increase in the price for many goods and a shortage of grains on the market, the council of ministers is set to approve the government purchase of 36,000 tons of barley and corn. Meanwhile, a merchant ship carrying fourteen 40-foot containers of food and medical aid for Ukraine left Cyprus on Tuesday. In other news, the cost of renovating the facades of the buildings on Larnaca’s Piale Pasha has risen to €1 million, a sum five times higher than the one originally estimated. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cyprus has collected enough donations for the war-torn people of Ukraine to fill 15 shipping containers, in its biggest-ever humanitarian drive. In other news, the Covid SafePass requirement is to be lifted from certain businesses as of today, and the owners of homes in Pissouri that have either been destroyed or seriously damaged by an ongoing landslide and are still crumbling, have been asked by their lenders to restart payments, even though issues with compensation from the government have not been resolved.  All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the problems Cyprus is facing from the EU ban on Russian flights and the wider implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the island’s economy are set to be a key point of debate in a series of upcoming top government meetings. In other news, tax on petrol is to be cut by seven cents a litre while the period for the reduced VAT on electricity costs is to be extended, the finance minister has announced, and the Covid SafePass requirement is to be lifted from certain businesses while the self-isolation period has been reduced from ten to seven days. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues as we hear that local volunteers are helping out stranded tourists in Cyprus, as over 100 Ukrainians were on holiday when the tanks rolled in.  And as for Covid-19, there are further relaxations of the restrictive measures as PCR and rapid test requirements for vaccinated person crossing the green line has been scrapped. Elsewhere, the cabinet is set to meet later today to discuss changes to the SafePass. The entity charged with running Gesy has announced major changes to the way in which the healthcare system will function, such as a time limit being imposed on how often patients can switch GP. All these and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Cyprus’ goal of attracting more tourists this year than last is achievable, Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios has said. Meanwhile, the first evacuation of 42 civilians, including children and elderly, has been successfully completed, Cyprus foreign ministry spokesman Demetris Demetriou said on Tuesday. In other news, the further easing of coronavirus restrictions including the lifting of SafePass requirements to enter certain places, are expected to be announced later this week. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to dominate the headlines. Russia’s ambassador to Cyprus bluntly said that the EU and the island have shot themselves in the foot by imposing sanctions. Meanwhile, prominent Nicosia lawyer Achilleas Demetriades officially announced his candidacy for the 2023 presidential elections. In other news, British actress Elizabeth Hurley and other cast members of a film being made by a Cypriot company are set to visit the island later this year to promote it. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, thousands of Ukrainians and Russians living in Cyprus are concerned about the war and the impact it will have on loved ones back home, including the relations between Ukrainians and Russians living in Cyprus. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades is departing for Saudi Arabia today and will meet for talks with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and Film on Screen Holdings is planning to build a complex of five studios in Cyprus. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the House of Representatives has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire there and urging Russian troops to depart Ukrainian territory. President Nicos Anastasiades has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” actions violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, and around 100 Ukrainian nationals demonstrated outside the Russian Federation’s consulate in Limassol on Thursday afternoon. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis will represent Cyprus at today’s emergency European Council meeting on Ukraine instead of President Nicos Anastasiades, who is currently in Dubai and is due to speak at Thursday’s international business forum Expo 2022. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot politicians voiced their opposition to the charges faced by journalist Ali Kismir for an article he wrote a year-and-a-half ago which criticised Turkey’s alleged role in the elections in the north. In other news, dancing has finally got the official stamp of approval as the health ministry announced its much anticipated protocol. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios has reportedly assured the tourism industry that the government is devising a contingency plan in the event of a flare-up in Ukraine and possible sanctions on Russia, adversely impacting tourist arrivals from the two countries. Meanwhile, the further easing of restrictions should take place over the course of weeks, not months, one of the government’s advisors said, emphasising the need to learn to live with the virus. In other news, the ‘spy van’ affair that broke out in late 2019 ended with the Larnaca criminal court imposing a €76,000 fine on Israeli company WiSpear Systems Limited. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a memorandum of understanding which attempts to alleviate Cyprus’ migration pressures was signed with the EU yesterday. There’s also the latest Covid-19 measures which will now permit dancing at entertainment venues with more than 150 people, provided that those present - vaccinated or unvaccinated - have a 24-hour negative test. Elsewhere, the transport ministry has defended criticism from the Cyprus consumers association over the government’s intention of introducing fixed taxi fares to and from Paphos and Larnaca airports. All these and more in your daily news briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Ministry of Health has announced that weekly rapid tests for children aged four and above in preschool will begin today. In other news, Archbishop Chrysostomos has called on members of the Synod to behave within the framework of decency and seriousness, after some members were already campaigning for who would be his successor, and opposition to the British Bases being involved in the crisis in Ukraine was expressed by demonstrators on Sunday who held a protest at the entrance to the Akrotiri base. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, following a lengthy debate on the House floor, parliament yesterday passed a law establishing an anti-corruption authority. Meanwhile, the finance minister warned Gesy, the national health system, is currently in danger of collapsing due to flawed implementation. In other news, four additional UK Typhoon jets have landed in RAF Akrotiri as part of Britain’s Nato contribution amid the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. But the arrival of the fighter planes angered left-wing Akel, which spoke of a provocation by the UK to Cyprus and its people, and a threat to the island’s security. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the interior minister has said that more European aid will be given to Cyprus to help deal with increasing migrant flows. Elsewhere, the police have procured 96 new vehicles, most of which are ‘smart vehicles’, 42 connected to the ANPR system. There’s also the report by the Cyprus Labour Institute, which showed that the purchasing power of the average salary in Cyprus is currently 6.8 per cent below 2006 levels. All this and more in your morning briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, a search that lasted much of the day for a missing three-year-old girl after her twin was found alone in the buffer zone early on Tuesday morning, finally located her in the Pournara migrant camp. In other news, UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is on a three-day official visit to the island, has praised the long history of friendship and common values between Cyprus and Britain, and the ban on the entry of unvaccinated people to restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs will be lifted as of next week, the cabinet decided. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus’ legal system was tested and failed in its handling of the 2019 Ayia Napa gang rape case, the chairwoman of the House human rights committee said yesterday. In other news, Turkey has said it will not extradite three suspects arrested in Istanbul in relation to last week’s assassination of Turkish Cypriot businessman, Halil Falyali, and the cost of the damage caused by fires last year came to a staggering €512 million, more than double that of 2020. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Cypriot citizens living in the Ukraine are advised to leave the country due to increased risks of escalating tension. In other news, British citizens have now been classed as third country nationals as a result of Brexit and are therefore no longer allowed to vote in local elections, and a documentary by Netflix titled “Tinder Swindler” has hit the Top 10 in Cyprus after it appears the main character – a con artist – started off in Cyprus. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, after news emerged that a doctor was facing criminal charges for allegedly sending fictitious invoices for payment, it has now been revealed that a number of such investigations are underway. Meanwhile, traffic violations have dropped by half ever since speed cameras went ‘live’ compared to the period during which they were used on a pilot basis. In other news, any relaxations of the Covid-19 restrictions will depend on the suggestions of the advisory team, the health minister has said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, shocking scenes were captured at the Pournara migrant reception centre as dozens were injured during a mass fight. And in the health care sector, a Gesy doctor is set to be prosecuted as claims were made for payments for services which were never provided. Elsewhere, the finance minister criticised the Health Insurance Organisation over its claims of understaffing, despite the fact that it has not yet filled all its vacancies. And in the north, it was reported that a man has been arrested after the assassination of a well-known Turkish Cypriot businessman with alleged links to the underworld. All this and more in today’s briefing.

In today's episode, farmers working near the village of Denia in the buffer zone on Tuesday reported they were threatened by five soldiers from the north, some of whom were armed. Meanwhile, the ministry of health said that thousands of children had the opportunity to attend lessons in person thanks to the Test to Stay policy, as secondary school teachers criticised the measure, saying it will lead to school closures. In other news, the government has announced it will channel 15 per cent of its revenue from the operation of the casino resort in Limassol to finance housing scheme. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government said yesterday it will use any safeguards in the contract governing the long-awaited liquefied natural gas import terminal, sounding an upbeat note that any differences with the contractor would get ironed out. In other news, the police confirmed yesterday that the US university from which the former volunteerism commissioner claims to have graduated says it has no knowledge of his existence, and a man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison following the biggest ever drugs bust with links to Cyprus. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, three police officers in Paphos have been suspended pending an investigation into how two suspects escaped detention cells at the city’s police headquarters. In other news, an 18-year-old man has been arrested in Nicosia after losing control of his car and smashing into four teenage girls standing in front of a supermarket wall, and Centre-right DIKO will be the ruling party or a main part of a coalition government to bring about change after the presidential elections in 2023. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that major delays are now expected in the construction of the LNG import terminal at Vasilikos, in Limassol. There’s also the third earthquake to be felt in Cyprus in less than a month. Elsewhere, MPs have criticised the government’s proposed infectious disease bill - saying it has not addressed their concerns over inadequate checks and balances on the state. But on a happy note, the latest data showed that tourism arrivals in 2021 hovered just below the 2 million mark. All of that and much more in your daily news briefing.

In today’s episode, Akel MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek has said he will challenge in court the claim that he is violating the constitution by holding an unpaid teaching post at the University of Cyprus while simultaneously serving in the European parliament. In other news, police said they will investigate whether mistakes were made in their handling of the 2019 Ayia Napa gang rape case after the supreme court overturned the conviction of the woman who filed and later retracted a complaint she had been raped, and two doctors at the Apollonion Hospital in Nicosia are facing criminal charges in relation to incidents of contamination of patients during eye surgeries. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the expected loosening of some Covid-19 restrictions appear to have been shelved, amid reports that the BA.2 Omicron subvariant has been detected in Cyprus. Meanwhile, an online petition has been launched calling for the immediate resignation of Archbishop Chrysostomos after he placed a dozen priests on mandatory three-month leave because they are unvaccinated. In other news, after the urban taxi sector was not included in the one-off grant announced by the finance ministry for this year, taxi drivers have said they will go ahead with a six-hour work stoppage next week to demand state financial support. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the Supreme Court on Monday overturned a conviction against a young British woman who was accused of lying about being gang-raped in 2019. In Covid-related news, fully vaccinated children and those who recently recovered from the virus will now be excluded from the test-to-stay policy, and the largest cruise ship in the world, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Wonder of the Seas arrived at Limassol port yesterday morning. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the current epidemiological picture in Cyprus is good and the issue of relaxations will be on the table during a meeting tomorrow, a member of the government's scientific team has said. Epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis said that epidemiological indicators show a decrease in cases but more importantly, a decrease in hospitalisations. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said he was ready for an informal dialogue with the Greek Cypriot side and suggests it take place in London, according to reports. In other news, a new BBC documentary airing on Wednesday revisits the famous 1966 case in Britain which prosecuted Cypriot artist Stass Paraskos who was the last artist successfully prosecuted in Britain under the Vagrancy Act 1938. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a three-year-old boy, who has been hospitalised with serious heart disease at the Makarios children’s hospital in Nicosia, has been denied treatment abroad because his parents are unvaccinated. Meanwhile, the EuroAsia Interconnector, the most expensive project Cyprus has ever been involved in has been approved for €657 million in funding from the EU. In other news, commuters in Nicosia and Larnaca will soon be able to use 5G-powered internet in buses and stops, operator Cyprus Public Transport (CPT) announced on Thursday. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus’ imports from the UK have plunged a whopping 43 per cent as a result of Brexit, making the UK fall from third to seventh place. Meanwhile, Cyprus has seen the last of the Elpis weather system that brought freezing temperatures, storms and gale force winds, but the cold front accompanying it will remain in the area until Saturday. In other news, the cabinet has also approved a special €1.5 million plan to support local authorities build improved animal shelters for stray dogs. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the island’s traffic camera system has suffered from an early setback as no fines have yet been issued despite thousands of violations having been recorded. In other news, a bill to remedy the island’s unregulated hostel tourism industry is set to be ready within one month, and Alpine skier, Yiannos Kouyoumdjian, will be Cyprus’ sole representative at the Winter Olympics next month in Beijing. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the supreme court yesterday declared null and void a parliamentary resolution last April that had called on the attorney-general and the deputy attorney-general to abstain from taking legal action over the findings of a report into the defunct citizenship-by-investment programme. In other news, MPs have begun discussing the sensitive issue of legalising euthanasia, and the ‘Elpis’ weather system from Greece continues to bring below average temperatures, storms, and snow, with yet another yellow weather warning in place until 4pm today. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, deputy leader of the Green Party Efi Xanthou said the "Test to Stay" scheme to be introduced in schools today to allow close contacts to stay in lessons will only create more problems. Meanwhile, the full picture of the new "parliament" in the north, for which elections were held on Sunday, is also expected on Monday. In other news, no information collected so far indicates that people in Cyprus were involved in the well-publicised rape of a 24-year-old woman in Thessaloniki, police said. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, following pressure from opposition lawmakers, the government has agreed to amend certain provisions of the ‘Dangerous Infectious Diseases Law of 2021’, which will repeal and replace the current Quarantine Law under which the health minister has issued the coronavirus decrees. Meanwhile, the government is also thinking of expanding the ‘test to stay’ programme to other population groups as a step towards learning to live with the virus, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has said. In other news, according to a Greek lawyer, Cypriots were present at the hotel party where a 24-year-old woman was allegedly gang raped in Greece. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the cold snap continues across Cyprus with temperatures overnight falling to -9 °C in some areas, while mountain communities have repeated their complaints about inadequate heating subsidies. In other news, authorities are starting to investigate claims that a connected group, including a well-known Cypriot family, is involved in drugging and raping women in collaboration with perpetrators in Greece, and work on the Larnaca marina and port development project is due to commence in April 2022. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, confirmed Covid cases will no longer be able to use their SafePass to enter shops and restaurants before their self-isolation period is complete. In other Covid-related news, a 53-year-old man asked to pick up his daughter who had gone to class despite being positive with coronavirus is under police investigation for assaulting a head teacher, and six illegal bird trappers were arrested in the past two weeks, according to numbers published by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) on Tuesday. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the Molnupiravir anti-Covid pill became available yesterday and will protect high risk patients from severe Covid-19 disease. In other Covid-related news, the health minister said yesterday that the ‘test to stay’ policy will be applied in schools for students who are close contacts. Meanwhile, mixed signals came from the government yesterday over the mooted EastMed natural gas pipeline, with President Nicos Anastasiades censuring those prematurely heralding the project's demise, while his foreign minister stated that he always regarded the project as politically problematic. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, decisions on the implementation of ‘test to stay’ at schools will be finalised on Monday as teachers and the education ministry remain at odds over the policy that will allow children who are contacts of Covid cases to stay in school if they test every day for five day. Meanwhile, Syrian nationals living in a particular property development in the Paphos village of Chlorakas and who have been given just days to leave and find new homes, have urged the government to solve the situation peacefully. In other news, as of today, people will be able to choose the vaccine of their choice among the four available jabs at walk-in vaccination centres. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, aced with the prospect of teacher strikes, the government has walked back the launch date for the ‘test to stay’ policy in schools that aims to provide for the daily testing of close contacts of confirmed cases instead of self-isolation. Meanwhile, the future viability of general health scheme Gesy was discussed on Thursday in a meeting chaired by President Nicos Anastasiades, attended by several stakeholders including health officials, the auditor-general and the attorney-general. In other news, Cyprus registered the third lowest decrease in passenger flights among European Union member states in December, according to new data published by Eurostat. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce a ‘test to stay’ at schools, with the aim of keeping them operational and detecting positive cases in a timely manner. Under the rule, close contacts of confirmed cases that have no history of vaccination, instead of having to isolate, will undergo a daily rapid test for a period of five days. Meanwhile, 11 people arrested in connection with a mass brawl in Chlorakas last week were charged and released conditionally. They will appear at Paphos district court for a hearing on February 24, police said on Wednesday. In other news, British bases police sergeant, Loucas Panayiotou, has been awarded the Overseas Territories Police Medal by the queen on the New Year’s Honours list. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Paphos residents have spoken of a “nightmare earthquake” yesterday after one of the strongest quakes recorded in Cyprus rattled the island in the early morning. In other news, the United States has confirmed media reports of its misgivings over the EastMed subsea natural gas pipeline, in an apparent U-turn over a project supported by the former Trump administration, and Ioannis Kasoulides was sworn in as foreign minister yesterday, returning to active service nearly four years after deciding to leave public office. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Disy leader Averof Neophytou yesterday submitted his candidacy as party nominee for the 2023 presidential elections, asserting confidently that his party will win and retain power for five more years. Meanwhile, to replace the former Foreign Minister and possible presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides, President Nicos Anastasiades has appointed veteran politician Ioannis Kasoulides. In other news, schools reopened after an extended Christmas holiday yesterday, but 20 per cent of secondary school students and hundreds of younger pupils were unable to attend, either because they have Covid or are self-isolating as close contacts. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has announced his resignation, expressing an interest in running for president in 2023. In other news, dozens of people gathered outside the Archbishopric in Nicosia on Sunday to protest the ultimatum given to unvaccinated priests to get jabbed or be punished, and a 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged with circulating a forged SafePass document. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode and following expanded Covid measures that came into effect yesterday, President Nicos Anastasiades said the aim had been not to impose a new lockdown. In more Covid news, Cyprus is among a list of countries projected to achieve the vaccination target of 70 per cent of the total population by mid-2022 set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In other news, Two men from Cameroon were found dead on Thursday morning at a house in Lakatamia in Nicosia, after they reportedly lit a charcoal fire to keep themselves warm. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, final decisions over tightening measures against coronavirus will be taken by the Council of Ministers this morning after President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday met the advisory team. In more Covid news, the health ministry yesterday appealed for patience as huge queues again formed at both rapid test and vaccinations sites, saying that nursing staff shortages were partly responsible. In other news, it is believed that stray dogs account for more than 15 per cent of Moufflon deaths on the island. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Covid-19 continues to plague the island as 5,024 tested positive to the virus on Monday and two men aged 84 and 62 died. Hospitalisations have risen to 201, 75 of whom are in serious condition Archbishop Chrysosotmos, meanwhile, has expressed concern that possible new measures, which have so far largely excluded church-going activities, might threaten the January 6 Epiphany ceremonies. In other news, Limassol criminal court sentenced a 33-year-old man to five years in jail yesterday after finding him guilty of the manslaughter. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, within the next few days 100 per cent of Covid-19 cases on the island are expected to be due to the Omicron variant, health minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said on Sunday. Elsewhere, a total of 640 children received the vaccine as one centre at the State Fair in Nicosia was open only to them in the weekend. Finally, investigations are ongoing after the Big Potato erected at the entrance to the village of Xylophagou was chopped down at the start of the new year. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, coronavirus hit a new all-time record on Thursday with 3,851 people testing positive continuing the upward trend that began on Monday. In other news, a new orange weather warning is in place until 5pm today as the met office expects extended bouts of rain coupled with downpours in some areas. Elsewhere, police are reminding public that, as of January 1, the new speed cameras system will be fully operational. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, five deaths and a new record of 3,002 Covid-19 infections were announced yesterday as the government further tightened restrictions in an attempt to halt the unprecedented spread of the virus. In other news, a family tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when a man was accidentally shot dead by his teenage son while the two were out hunting. Elsewhere, the met office has issued a yellow alert, warning of heavy rainfall today and tomorrow. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a 53-year-old man was murdered in central Larnaca on Tuesday evening, police said after they were called to investigate reports of gunshots in the Touzhane area of Mackenzie. In other news, earlier warnings of a further rise in coronavirus cases came true on Tuesday as the health ministry announced a new record of 2,241 positives, breaking Monday’s record of 1,925. Elsewhere, a nurses union has warned that conditions for patients and staff alike at the Athalassa psychiatric hospital are at breaking point, which could lead to a disaster. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus recorded a daily record of Covid cases on Monday with 1,925 people testing positive. A new record for the number of tests done in one day was also recorded at 121,127 PCR and rapid tests. This resulted in a positivity rate of 1.5 per cent. In other news, a 44-year-old man who was detained for six days in connection with a hit-and-run in which a 60-year-old woman died has been referred by the Paphos court for trial on February 3. Elsewhere, around 130 Turkish Cypriots will be interviewed on Tuesday for jobs in the Republic under a recent deal between the main trade unions on both sides to help ease labour shortages, especially in the hospitality sector. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has urged the public to adhere to health protocols amid a surge in new Covid-19 infections and concerns that the Omicron variant could send numbers spiraling. In other news, a 30-year-old man has admitted to breaking into the home of the victim of Sunday’s hit-and-run and the case has been submitted to the district court. Elsewhere, President Nicos Anastasiades tiptoed around questions on the presidential elections on Thursday, as he reiterated that he would not be seeking a third term. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a new archaeological museum - dubbed the 'biggest cultural project in the country' - is to be built in Nicosia at a cost €121m. On a related note, eminent Cypriot archaeologist and Emeritus Professor Vassos Karageorghis had died at the age of 92. There's also Disy leader Averof Neophytou's announcement that he will run for president. Elsewhere, the president vetoed a bill which would indefinitely lower VAT on electricity bills. All this and much more. 

In today's episode, around 600 migrants were transferred out of the Pournara holding camp on Tuesday after 82 people were found positive to Covid-19. In other news, the cabinet tightened coronavirus regulations meaning weekly tests will have to be taken by all workers, except those who have had the booster jab. Elsewhere, Larnaca is a step closer to getting the island’s biggest development project as an environmental impact study greenlighted the proposed €1.2bn port and marina. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, changes to coronavirus measures are on the table during a council of ministers meeting this morning that could see restrictions tightened, and, as of today, fully vaccinated people will be able to pick up self-test kits from pharmacies. In other news, the transport ministry has said that measures to stem bloodshed on the roads are being reviewed, and the supreme court has categorically rejected the notion that judges in Cyprus are not objective. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the orange weather warning issued by the met office remains in place until 1pm today as Storm Carmel hit the island yesterday. In other news, a 74-year-old man who confessed to killing his wife, 75, on Saturday evening was remanded by the court for eight days, and authorities have identified the remains of a seven-year-old boy killed by British soldiers in 1956. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios unveiled details of the ‘National Strategy for Tourism' for 2022 after two devastating years. In other news, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 begins in Cyprus today, and police are investigating one of their own after he sought to fly to Athens from Larnaca without going through security checks. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the state’s 2022 budget looks set to get the green light, as Diko and Dipa expressed support for ruling Disy’s proposal. In other news, as of yesterday, only people who received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be permitted entry areas such as cafes and bars, as well as social events such as weddings and baptisms. They also have to have a negative test. Elsewhere, the government sought to defend its handling of the migration crisis after MPs criticised the living conditions at the Pournara reception centre. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, parents keeping their primary school children away from class in protest over Covid-19 restrictions could face legal sanctions In other news, newly appointed UNSG Special Representative Colin Stewart pledged to work towards finding “a mutually accepted way forward” during his term. Elsewhere, over 20 per cent of footballers in Cyprus that took part in a survey said they had taken part in a fixed official game. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, mandatory self-isolation for Omicron cases and their close contacts will come into effect from tomorrow to prevent the spread of new variant of concern. In other news, the cabinet has approved cuts in VAT on household power bills as part of its policy to tackle the fallout from the rise in the price of electricity, and Lefkara has been recognised as one of the ‘Best Tourism Villages’ by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail

In today's episode, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, will present to the European Union Foreign Affairs Council the options document for the Union's response to illegal actions of Turkey in Varosha. In other news, a 30-year-old man from Syria arrested in connection with the double murder of two Russian tourists in Limassol was remanded for eight days. Elsewhere, an additional 55 kilometres of bicycle lanes are to be developed around the island to promote cycling as a means of transport All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the government plans to go ahead with taxation reform, including raising the corporation rate and introducing carbon tax and fossil fuels taxes to achieve the country’s environmental objectives. In other news, two inmates at the central prisons in Nicosia held their nuptials on Thursday, and a Netflix crew has filmed the wedding for a documentary set for release in 2022; a Greek Cypriot man has been arrested in the north after he unfurled a Greek flag over a monument just outside Varosha. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that an action plan envisages over 300 Covid-19 beds and 65 ICU beds, while a 51-year-old primary school teacher died yesterday after reportedly refusing hospital treatment.  There's also over 100 students and teaches from a single Limassol school reportedly self-isolating. Elsewhere, Diko MP Zaharias Koulias has called for parliament to finally have a say on the pandemic restrictions.  Akel, meanwhile, has officially stated that it will reject the 2022 budget unless major amendments are introduced.  On a lighter note, there's also the latest on the snow in Troodos and Christmas events in Paphos.

In today's episode, Nicosia's mayor proudly unveiled the revamped Makarios Avenue just in time for Christmas. There's the latest on Covid-19: all over 18s are now eligible for boosters, while the government has said that there are fewer absences at schools over the measures. All this and more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a Syrian man was remanded in custody for eight days in Limassol yesterday over the premeditated murder of two women whose bodies were found in Kato Amiandos village. In other news, Covid-19 cases continue to rise with 706 new infections reported on Monday, a day which also saw the also saw the introduction of stricter measures aimed at stopping the recently identified and potentially more transmissible Omicron variant. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the bodies of two Russian women missing since November were found early on Sunday morning at a holiday home in Kato Amiantos after a man suspected of abducting them confessed to their murder. In other news, torrential rains and hail that fell in a short period of time in and around Larnaca created problems in several communities and at Larnaca airport. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Pope Francis began his visit by praising Cyprus as being geographically small, but historically great. The latest Covid measures were also announced, while police are investigating attacks at primary schools across the island. There's also the latest on the death of a 77-year-old in Polis and the announcement that police have issued a public plea for information to help locate a 23-year-old man, who is wanted in connection with the disappearance of two Russian women in mid-November.  

In today's episode, we bring you the latest on the Covid-19 restrictive measures which are to be discussed during the council of ministers meeting - such as a work-from-home order for up to 20 per cent of a business' workforce.  Disgruntled parents are also continuing their protests over the measures imposed at schools, such as the mask mandate.  There's also an investigation into possible medical negligence after a pensioner died in Paphos, the Pope's visit to Cyprus, the first snowfall in Troodos and potential Disy candidates in the 2023 election. 

In today's episode, Cyprus continues to reel under the pressure of increasing migrant arrivals, as the interior ministry said yesterday the figures are 70 per cent higher than the previous year. In other news, teachers’ and parents’ associations have condemned threats against educators as some parents continued to protest against Covid measures for schoolchildren. Elsewhere, a shot went off from a soldier’s gun inside Larnaca airport yesterday morning, prompting an immediate police investigation into the incident. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, stricter measures at airports and the crossing points with the north are likely, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said yesterday. EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said stopping flights from southern Africa was a necessary step in trying to deal with the new Omicron variant. In other news, investigations are continuing into the disappearance of two women from Russia, who were reported as missing since November 17 from their residence in Larnaca. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s news, the health ministry has announced that non-urgent operations are to be postponed as the state healthcare services organisation OKYPY is preparing for a possible increase in hospitalisations following the emergence of the new Coronavirus variant. Elsewehere, the association of recreation centres Osika has called on the state to support the businesses that have remained open and reassess the new Covid measures announced last week. Meanwhile, the education ministry announced that schools will operate normally this week, following reports about the decision of parents to keep their children from school for one period on Monday to protest the new Covid measures. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Covid-19 once again dominates the news cycle as it was announced that children from the age of five will be eligible for the vaccine. There’s also the fallout following the announcement of new restrictions, as parents plan to protest. On a positive note, there’s the latest on Cyprus’ push for electric car use.

In today's episode, the government has announced new measures to fight the Covid surge, including mask mandates for children aged six and above and a SafePass for those between six and 11. In other news, police are cracking down on immigrants residing in Cyprus without the proper permits and, in the north, Turkish Cypriot newspapers have described the continued freefall of the Turkish lira as a total nightmare. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has said the aim of the new Covid-19 measures to be announced on Wednesday is to save the Christmas holidays. In other news, some six million kilos of Halloumi remain unsold mainly because of the pandemic and Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos accused his town’s police of turning a blind eye to the activities of a well-known drug dealer and a trafficker in migrants. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the European Commission will be drafting proposals to harmonise the duration of the validity of the Covid-19 vaccination certificate, while Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has discussed new measures with his scientific advisory team as infections continue to spiral. In other Covid-related news, the first antiviral pill for the virus is expected to be made available in Cyprus mid-December.  In other news, the European Commission’s VAT committee has approved the government’s proposal to cut VAT on household electricity bills. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's news, a subsidy scheme for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is set for approval next month, however there are some concerns with certain aspects of its feasibility. In other news, an apparent tweak to the UK’s Covid travel rules could dampen plans for those Cypriot residents hoping to visit the UK for Christmas, and Cyprus' health minister is meeting the virus scientific advisory committee today to discuss new restrictive measures in the wake of the spiralling number of positive cases. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear that further cuts to electricity bills are on the way to help households tackle the rise in prices. There are also positive developments on the offshore natural gas projects. Another arrest has been made in the bizarre alleged plot to murder the chairman of the Limassol school commission Dinos Ellinas. And from Monday, vaccinated people crossing to and from the north must present a seven-day negative Covid-19 test.

In today's episode, the remains of a woman initially reported to have been removed from her grave have been finally located inside it. Elsewhere, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis watched yesterday as the first batch of halloumi made according to protected designation of origin specifications was produced and 25 Griffon vultures are set to arrive in Cyprus from Spain tomorrow in an effort to strengthen their diminished population. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a new neonatal ICU is to be created to facilitate the work of medical professionals and to allow parents to spend more time with their premature babies. Staying with health, coronavirus boosters will be available for all those aged 40 and above as of today. Elsewhere, a music video for a pop song shot in Varosha has caused offence among Greek Cypriots. All this and more in today's briefing.

In this episode, we outline the rollout of booster shots for all adults in Cyprus, which was approved by the cabinet on Monday. No additional restrictive measures will be introduced for the time being. Elswehere, student demonstrations marked the 38th anniversary of the Turkish Cypriots unilateral declaration of independence and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the options paper on possible EU responses to Turkey’s actions in opening up part of Varosha will be presented at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council in December. All this and more in today's briefing.

In today's episode, DNA tests are set to confirm the identity of the driver of a car killed in a crash early Sunday morning. In other news, a blue Black Friday looms as a chip shortage bites, leaving shoppers in Cyprus with fewer products to choose from, and a crucial government plan to improve treatment for dementia sufferers is still being assessed. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode we discuss Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas' upcoming meeting with the coronavirus advisory team in an apparent bid to hash out differences of opinion. We also look at the migration issue in the island, as Interior Minister Nicos Nouris on Thursday said there was no magic solution to tackling the problem. Meanwhile, authorities were forced to mobilise on Thursday to re-apprehend 61 irregular migrants who tried to abscond on the same boat which police had intercepted a day earlier. All this and more in today's episode.

In today's episode, the government will seek the European Commission's permission to suspend asylum applications from irregular migrants entering the country via the buffer zone. We also discuss the Covid-19 situation in Cyprus and the strong winds in Nicosia on Wednesday. This and more in today's briefing.

In today’s episode, we hear that a price rise for fresh milk has been avoided but there is continued speculation that increases for other goods are expected. Police are also investigating the case of a 26-year-old who claims that she was given a fake Covid-19 vaccine certificate, while the suspect claims that she was in on it. There’s also the latest on the gender pay gap in Cyprus, the impact of the pandemic of the youth’s mental health and promises of cleaner energy use on the horizon.

In today's episode, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has told MPs that Cyprus is in a state of emergency as regards irregular migration, mainly coming through the buffer zone via the north. In other news, the government has given the nod to almost 400 passports for foreign nationals applying under the now-defunct citizenship-by-investment scheme, and new signs warning motorists of the presence of traffic cameras and speed limits will be installed across the island. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear how the island's reservoirs are only at just over 50 per cent capacity due to the dearth of rainfall for this time of the year. In other news, opposition AKEL has called for a meeting of the National Council to discuss a six-page document for a decentralised federation that was drawn up by the Greek Cypriot side, and a 38-year-old man was remanded by the court on Sunday after an alleged attempt to kill another man aged 47. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that the WHO is gravely concerned over rising Covid-19 infections in Europe, as Cyprus is also undergoing a noticeable increase. The government has announced new measures such as the mandatory implementation of the CovScan application and the over 50s now being eligible for boosters. There’s also the deal signed with Israel for the installation of a high-tech surveillance system to monitor the buffer zone. All this and much more.

In today’s episode, we hear that Cyprus has topped 125,000 reported Covid-19 cases. Still on the virus, a father has lost a case to vaccinate his two teenage children despite their mother’s objection. There’s also shenanigans involving civil servants, a debate on femicide, and the need for Cyprus to reduce its emissions - or risk paying even higher electricity bills.

In today’s episode, President Nicos Anastasiades has told the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow that more than €500 million will be allocated by the Cyprus government by 2026 for policies to tackle climate change. In covid-related news, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said the stepping up of measures against the coronavirus is not on the cards right now, though concerns have been voiced over the recent uptick in infections and a possible link to the Delta plus variant. In other news, “Halloumi is not the means to achieve political goals,” a state official said yesterday after reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar tried to get the European Commission to appoint a competent authority in the north for the certification of Turkish Cypriot producers. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said the government had planned to further relax Covid-19 measures, but this was scuppered by the emergence of the Delta Plus sub-variant. In other news, Limassol district court has found a doctor guilty of medical negligence and ordered to pay compensation to a patient of more than €230,000, and officials have expressed alarm at the current rates of violations being recorded by the newly installed traffic cameras. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, importers and manufacturers are warning that while some price increases have so far been kept from the consumer, they cannot remain so, and the full impact will be felt in the new year. In other news, Paphos district court has remanded two people for five days in connection with a stabbing incident over the weekend; the remains believed to belong to a seven-year-old boy killed by British troops during a protest against the former colonial rulers in 1956, have been found. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that Russians are booking hotels in Cyprus to avoid a harsh lockdown back home. There’s also a Eurostat report which shows that 19 per cent of Cypriot children are at risk of poverty, a supreme court case on phone data which has upset the police, and Ochi day celebrations.

In today's episode, Larnaca district court has found three teenagers guilty in the bullying death of a 16-year-old who died from alcohol poisoning in April 2019. In other news, Cypriot citizenship will be granted to two children with a Greek Cypriot mother and Turkish Cypriot father on humanitarian grounds, and the Bar Association is investigating two Cypriot law firms included in the so-called Pandora Papers, which exposed the offshore financial dealings of many leaders worldwide. All these stories and more brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we take a look at the spiralling costs for energy, raw materials and basic goods which were discussed in a House commerce committee meeting. We also take a look at the naturalisation of two children of a bicommunal couple who have so far been refused Cypriot citizenship as well as Pope Francis’ up coming visit to the island. All these stories and more in your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the health ministry has announced that the Delta Plus sub-variant has now officially arrived in Cyprus. In other news, the pilot operation of eight traffic cameras started on Monday morning with the aim of reducing road accidents, and an inquest into the death of a 29-year-old man from Greece is set for November. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a 30-year old man suspected of people smuggling has been arrested after a boat with irregular migrants arrived in Paralimni in the early hours of Sunday. In other news, police have issued over 1,000 fines over the weekend after conducting intense traffic checks in all districts. All these stories and more on your daily news briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, we hear that parliament has passed legislation regulating the use of traffic cameras on roads. There’s also the latest from the diplomatic efforts between Cyprus and Russia, a move by the health minister to update the 1932 law on infectious diseases and a revision of the ‘pay-as-you-throw’ programme. All this and much more.

In today's episode, the transport ministry has delayed the rollout of fines after newly installed traffic cameras recorded about 500 violations in just two hours at a junction in Nicosia. Elsewhere, Turkish Cypriot "prime minister" Ersan Saner resigned after a compromising video went viral on social media and MPs in Cyprus started discussing the introduction of electronic tags to alleviate the overcrowding of the central prison. All this and more in today's episode. 

In today's episode, we take a look at the cost that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic had on the island's health service. Elsewhere, a sex education programme is about to be implemented in primary schools starting next November and a new tenders procedure inviting bids for a Cyprus-Greece ferry link should be rolled out soon. All this and more in today's briefing.

In today’s episode, the government has announced that it will investigate the possibility of price caps on essential goods, in a bid to deal with spiralling price increases. In other news, the defence minister has called for Cyprus to boost defence spending, in light of what he described as Turkey’s inflexible and increasingly hostile attitude. In covid-related news, people aged 60 and over will be able to get a booster shot against Covid-19 as of today.

In today's episode, the issues surrounding the opening up of the fenced-off area of Varosha in the north of the island, is on the agenda of the Council of Foreign Affairs of the European Union in Luxembourg later today. In other news, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has said, "There are no grounds for the start of new Cyprus talks." All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, there's the latest on the coronavirus as booster shots for those aged 60 and above are expected. There's also the latest on worrying reports of surging costs, while the foreign minister has discussed the Varosha developments. Finally, the independent police watchdog has recommended the launch of criminal and disciplinary procedures against police officers in connection with a violent crackdown on a protest last February.

In today's episode, we discuss the temporary suspension of government support to the farmers hit by the massive increase in the price of animal feed. Elsewhere, the Turkish Cypriot side began a new phase of the opening up of Varosha and MPs are considering banning fireworks in the island altogether. All this and more in today's briefing

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades said he is determined to solve all problems in the island's public hospitals. Elsewhere, Covid-19 booster shots are now available to the over 65s and controversial MP Andreas Themistocleous said he will not give up his parliamentary seat after his expulsion from Elam. All this and more in today's briefing

In today's episode, the state health services organisation has said “effective planning” proved decisive in ensuring the country’s low coronavirus mortality rate. In other news, police in Cyprus have arrested a so-called high value suspect as part of a European operation against an organised crime group involved in binary fraud; the state Audit Office has taken the Olympic Committee to task in a new report, and a version of Samuel Beckett’s iconic play 'Waiting for Godot', adapted into both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot dialects, has won two major awards at a theatre festival in Istanbul.

In today's episode, state hospitals are facing serious issues, as patients say they are suffering the consequences of tensions between health professionals and the organisation in charge of running them. In other news, President Nicos Anastasiades said that despite pressure, the Turkish demand to recognise the occupied areas so talks on solving the Cyprus problem can resume cannot be met. Education minister, Prodromos Prodomoou said zero tolerance will be shown for sexual offences in schools, and specialised tests are expected to show a cause of death for the one month old baby that died last week at the Makarios hospital.

In today’s episode, we discuss the latest on the coronavirus measures as some restrictions are expected to be tweaked. There’s also the ongoing coronavirus booster shot campaign, the continued fallout for former Elam MP Andreas Themistocleous and the reopening of the case linked to the death of a 26-year-old soldier in 2005, which appears to have been the result of foul play.

In today's episode, passports take centre stage, as the Cambodian government has rejected reports that Prime Minister Hun Sen has Cypriot nationality and passports from the island ranked 15th globally in terms of ease to travel to other countries. Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades denied any wrongdoing connected to the Pandora Papers and a couple is being accused of sexually abusing and exploiting three children. All this and more in today's briefing.

In today's episode, we take a look at the upcoming discussion on euthanasia in Cyprus. Moreover, 17 potential victims of human trafficking were identified in the island following a Europol investigation into labour exploitation and three men were remanded for allegedly hunting mouflons, a protected species. All this and more in the briefing.

In today’s episode, the Cyprus presidency has said that there is nothing objectionable attributed to Anastasiades in the Pandora Papers. In other news, hundreds of people attended the funeral of prominent lawyer, businessman and owner of the Cyprus Mail, Andreas Neocleous, on Monday; Israel has accused Iran of orchestrating an attempted attack against Israelis in Cyprus, and a secondary school teacher has been remanded in custody as police investigate a complaint he sexually abused an underage female pupil.

In today's episode, prominent lawyer, former Eoka fighter and owner of the Cyprus Mail, Andreas Neocleous, who died on Friday, will be buried in Limassol this afternoon. In other news, Nicosia has given its consent to the appointment of Canadian Colin Stewart as the new UNSG special representative in Cyprus; despite the so-called ‘opening up’ of the electricity market, the jury’s still out on whether consumers will pay less, and Astro-tourism is the new travel trend, whereby tourists can hike by day and stargaze by night. 

In today’s episode, we take a look at prominent lawyer Achilleas Demetriades’ announcement to launch consultations with political parties and civil society groups to assess their views on the problems facing Cyprus before he decides whether to run for president in 2023. We also discuss the protest of the suspension of the English School’s union chair and the release of music by Cypriot artists which will be featured on a popular Netflix series. All this and much more in today’s new briefing.

In today’s episode, we take a look at Elam MP Andreas Themistocleous’ accusation of disrupting a House committee meeting. We also discuss state doctors’ three-hour stoppage yesterday morning, threatening to step up measures if their demands are not met as well as the new operation of a specialised clinic for post-Covid patients. All this and more in today’s briefing.

In today's episode, we take a look at the visit that European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson paid to Cyprus. We also discuss the strike called by government hospital doctors and the island's ongoing struggle to reuse recycled materials in the economy. All this and more in the briefing.

In today's news, President Nicos Anastasiades said his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was creative, and that the differences were recorded. In other news, the health insurance organisation said it is receiving calls daily  from people complaining about GESY doctors or service providers; the 11-month-old Turkish Cypriot infant, Asya Polatli, was admitted to the Makarios hospital for children yesterday to undergo gene treatment for rare, life-shortening spinal muscular atrophy. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s news, we hear about a Simou resident's brave efforts in saving the lives of the dogs she was looking after while their owners were on holiday, when the fire broke out between Simou and Yiolou villages last week. In other news, readers have reported to the Cyprus Mail that hunters are firing far too close to their homes since the beginning of the current hunting season; in covid-related news, the rollout of the third jab for those over 83 starts today. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode we take a look at the legal framework for opening up the electricity market passed by the House of Representatives and the damning report by the state audit office regarding irregularities at Paralimni municipality. We also bring you the latest on coronavirus in the island. All this and more in the briefing.

In today’s episode, there’s the latest from the president’s visit to New York, the health ministry’s urgent call for blood donations and an alleged scandal focused on a gynecologist who was remanded in custody. There’s also updates on the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme and much more.

In today’s episode we take a look at President Anastasiades’ response to his meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres early this morning. In other news, the Interior Minister yesterday waved off demands for a Syrian asylum seeker to be reunited with her family, saying it might open the floodgates to thousands of similar requests and a CABS member was threatened with a shotgun and attacked by a group of bird trappers in the district of Famagusta last week. All this and much more in your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the Consumers’ Association has accused the government of being unwilling to spend a single euro for the relief of its people. In other news, the 2021 capital statements of the president, government ministers, other senior state officials and the House president were published on the parliament's website yesterday, and the fire that raged in the Paphos villages of Yiolou and Simou on Sunday evening was not accidental. All this and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, we hear about the massive fire that raged on two fronts between the Paphos villages of Yiolou and Simou for most of Sunday that was brought under control later in the evening. In other news, as of this week, more than 80 types of retail businesses must also accept plastic money in line with a decree issued by the finance ministry in a wider effort to fight tax evasion, and much more.

In today’s episode, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on whether to uphold or remove the conviction of a British woman who was convicted of lying about being gang raped in Ayia Napa. The House plenum also voted to postpone local government elections as part of the sector’s reform, while supermarkets hit out against the SafePass requirement in food stores. All this and much more in today’s briefing.

In today’s episode, a protest was held outside the Supreme Court to support the appeal of a British woman convicted of lying about being gang raped in Ayia Napa. There’s also the fallout from the disciplinary procedures against a controversial artist, archaeological finds in Protaras and the ongoing debate over elecricity prices. All this and much more.

In today's episode, we take a look at how the government is trying to lower the country's sky-high electricity bills. Elsewhere, we bring you the latest on the House committee meeting incident involving Elam MP Andreas Themistokleous and on two UK Cypriots taking part in the popular show "The Great British Bake Off".

In today's episode, the income and asset declarations of currently serving deputies were posted Monday on the website of the House of Representatives, showing DISY leader Averof Neophytou to be the wealthiest of the party leaders. In other news, opposition parties have slammed the comments made by British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie in an interview published on Sunday in which he voiced support for a decentralized federation; Bahrain’s Tourism minister, Zayed Rashid al Zayani, said the country’s national airline, Gulf Air was considering making Cyprus a transit hub for Europe, and much more.

In today's episode, a total of 330 primary schools will open today, making this the second school year that began during the coronavirus pandemic and the third one affected by it. In other news, the relatives of a British woman whose body has lain unclaimed in the morgue of Paphos hospital since her death in January have been found; Britain is discussing a largely decentralised federation when it comes to the Cyprus problem, and much more.

In today’s episode, the president met with the Holy Synod to discuss statements from bishops seen as discouraging vaccinations. There’s also the EU funding boom for Cyprus, an Akel group discusses the demographic issue, efforts to prevent developments in Akamas and the president’s praise for Cypriot firefighters in Greece.

In today's episode, the withdrawal of an English textbook celebrating Turkey's Kemal Ataturk from state high schools, the ongoing battle to have halloumi registered as a PDO, an incident between a Green party parliamentary assistant and Elam MP Andreas Themistokleous and much more.

In today’s episode, health minister has given the state health services organisation (Okypy) ten days to smooth out the problems regarding long waits in A&E departments in state hospitals. In other news, lawmakers reviewed various ways in which electricity bills might be reduced after August dues shot up by 38 per cent, while yesterday over 45,000 high school pupils returned to school under strict measures to combat Covid-19. All this and much more in today’s briefing.

In today's episode, over 45,000 students return to state secondary schools having to present a SafePass to be allowed entry. In other news, the €1.3bn Recovery and Resilience Scheme could add seven per cent to Cyprus’ GDP and create thousands of jobs, according to Finance Minister, Constantinos Petrides, a public outcry forces the Paphos municipality to abandon plans to paint historic neoclassical buildings, and much more.