In today’s episode, the United Kingdom’s bases in Cyprus are “hugely important at this time”, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said, amid an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

Elsewhere, there has been “no wave of cancellations” of tourist bookings in Cyprus in recent days while the conflict Israel and Iran has escalated, Cyprus chamber of commerce and industry (Keve) chairman Philokypros Rousounides said on Tuesday.

All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, India expects to finalise a free trade agreement with the EU by the end of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, while Cyprus, which assumes the EU presidency in 2026, said better ties would be its priority.

Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday confirmed the country would increase its presence in the Middle East, with the BBC reporting this increased presence will include Typhoon fighter jets and air-to-air refueler aircraft.

Also, the drug problem in the island’s schools has risen to the level of organised crime involving recruitment, trafficking and distribution and the failure to put a stop to it is systemic, MPs heard on Monday.

All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday during the Ocean Conference in Nice.

Elsewhere, Cyprus celebrated the Kataklysmos festival on Monday, a water-linked tradition marking 50 days after Easter.

Also, Police launched an investigation on Monday after a quad bike was found burning in Ayia Napa at around 2.45am.

All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday laid the foundation stone for Phase 2 of Cyprus’ airport expansion project, which is set to increase capacity to over 17 million passengers annually by 2027. 

Elsewhere, the old state fairgrounds in Nicosia will be transformed into a 250,000-square-metre nature park, scrapping earlier plans for a tech hub and commercial development, MPs heard on Thursday.

Also, lawmakers on Thursday voiced frustration over continued delays in expanding the neonatal intensive care unit at Makarios Hospital, with construction stalled due to a legal dispute between the contractor and the state health services organisation (Okypy).

All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, House president Annita Demetriou spent over €18,700 on hotel accommodation during a July 2023 trip to London, with €15,172 covering rooms for her entourage of eight—including officials, CyBC staff, and a security guard—and €3,621 for her own stay, according to a report by the audit office. 

Elsewhere, Nicosia municipality is under fire over its decision to partly reopen Makarios avenue to private vehicles, a move critics say undermines sustainable urban mobility goals.

Also, the government has no plans to scrap the 12 per cent pension ‘penalty’ for those retiring early at 63, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou told MPs on Tuesday, sparking a heated exchange in parliament.

All this and more in today’s Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.