Cyprus Beat

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.