Author: George Psyllides THE GOVERNMENT and ruling AKEL yesterday appeared satisfied by DIKO's decision to stay in the government coalition. "We welcome the decision of the Democratic Party's central committee decision to continue its participation in the government," government spokesman Stefanos Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author: Helen Christophi THE LUKOIL in downtown Nicosia's Nikis Avenue was in chaos yesterday, with long lines snaking around the block and frustration boiling over, as motorists scrambled to fill their tanks at the only petrol station open in the area. Motorists sat in long lines waiting to get Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author: George Psyllides A T.V. PRESENTER and her brother yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges related to the murder of media boss Andis Hadjicostis last month. Full story

THE TURKISH Cypriot 'parliament' yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Greek Cypriot parliament's rejection of guarantor rights last Thursday. According to the Bayrak website, Turkish Cypriot 'deputies' condemned parliament's rejection last week of guarantors or Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

The European Union's executive recommended on Wednesday launching accession talks with Iceland, the start of a process that Reykjavik hopes will lead to EU membership by 2012. The European Commission said Iceland met many of the EU criteria on democracy and human rights but called in a statement Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides said here today that after adopting the Lisbon Treaty, the EU can undertake action in order to support tourism, adding that the EU has the competency to support, coordinate and complement moves by the member states. Addressing a public Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story

2010 should be a year of improvement for the Middle East as a sluggish global recovery gains momentum and investor confidence rebuilds, Moody's Investors Service predicted in its first annual "Middle East Sovereign Outlook" report. Indeed, Moody's only sovereign rating actions in the region so far Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story

Author: George Psyllides Aa FREE HEALTH care to Turkish Cypriots in the government-controlled areas between 2003 and 2009 has cost the state some e1/432 million, lawmakers heard yesterday. During that time there were 92,569 visits by Turkish Cypriots to state hospitals and other healthcare Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author: Sebastian Heller Aa IN A SECRET ballot, DIKO central committee members last night voted by an overwhelming majority to stay in the government coalition, following weeks of speculation and meetings. Full story

Author: Stefanos Evripidou THE FINANCE Ministry has come under fire from public employees' union PASYDY over a most unlikely subject- the hiring of new staff. The union's general secretary Glafcos Hadjipetrou sent a letter to the ministry and House Finance Committee complaining that the 44-plus new Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story