In today’s episode, ExxonMobil’s drilling rig will start drilling in mid-January at the ‘Electra’ target, located in Block 5 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), for approximately one month, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Pope Francis’ reference to the Cyprus problem in his Christmas message is “more proof” of the international interest in the matter that highlights the need to resume negotiations, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday.

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