In today’s episode, Cyprus has been authorised to buy military hardware directly from the United States government.

Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides hailed the ceasefire agreement struck between the State of Israel and insurgent group Hamas in Gaza

Elsewhere, Turkish Cypriot opposition party CTP leader Tufan Erhurman leads the way in the first poll of the year to ask Turkish Cypriots who they plan to vote for in this October's leadership election.

All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.