Cyprus Beat

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.

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades has tested positive for coronavirus, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said on Tuesday.

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.

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.

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.