The Cyprus News Digest

How do you find out if your car is on the recall list and shouldn't be driven? What needs to be done to save more of our heritage buildings from the bulldozer?

How is Cyprus dealing with the regional struggles in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon? There's an open discussion at the University of Cyprus next week; and we hear about a seminar on new tools to combat the trafficking of cultural property.

A spike in 'flu cases has seen dozens of children hospitalised - what symptoms should you look out for? Mavrokolympos dam breaks, leading to a major water loss; CSR Cyprus promotes sustainability and responsibility and its membership is growing - and even if your company is not a member you can enter their 'best practice' competition.

There's been an increase in reports about abuse of the elderly; United Cyprus is calling for more crossing points to be opened and Friends of the Earth have two upcoming workshops on climate change and biodiversity.

Invasive species are threatening Cyprus' citrus plantations, prickly pears and palm trees; the Environment department gives the go-ahead to a wind farm project that is subject to European Commission infringement proceedings.

The issue of faulty and potentially dangerous airbags rumbles on; new rules issued by some government Ministers threaten transparency and press freedom; Sistema Cyprus teams up with its Greek counterpart for its last concert of the year.

We quiz the Transport Minister about delayed and cancelled government contracts: he says the Paphos-Polis highway will be delivered in 3 years' time; experts from Sweden brief Cypriot hoteliers on sustainable practices in the tourism industry.

We talk to the Deputy Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) about the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

Cyprus' Foreign Minister admits that nowhere near enough aid is getting into Gaza; the AgrOassis project aims to build climate change resilience in regions that are prone to desertification: it will also improve the life of Cypriot farmers.

Critically endangered griffon vultures are dying in Cyprus due to inaction by the authorities; a UCy project studies microplastics; the Mind Body Spirit festival takes place this weekend, and it's Italian Cuisine week