Member states accept MEPs' demands on oversight. Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou THE GOVERNMENT yesterday urged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to put words into practice following his call for peace on the island. “Turkey needs to move from words to deeds and demonstrate that they want a solution in Cyprus,” said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, adding, “what’s important is not what is being said but what everyone does” Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou A GROUP of historians and educators from across the divide yesterday celebrated the start of renovation work on the first civil society home to straddle the buffer zone. The inter-communal Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) has spent three years fund-raising and lobbying to get all the permits, contracts of sale and general support needed to turn the run down ... Full story

Author:  Simon Bahceli OUTGOING E.U. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has promised to look into the environmental impact of the giant ‘TRNC’ flag on the Pentadaktylos mountain range following a complaint by DIKO’s MEP Antigone Papadopoulou. Full story

Andis Handjicostis, managing director of the DIAS media group, which includes Sigma TV, was murdered last night in Nicosia. Full story

POLICE yesterday announced the successful completion of an operation to deport 50 non-EU foreigners living in Cyprus who had been classed as illegal immigrants. According to police the operation was carried out “with complete success” on December 15  when the 50 foreign nationals were sent back to their home countries by means of a special flight from Larnaca International Airport which departed at 4pm. ... Full story

The relatives of the 121 victims killed in the worst air disaster in the history of Cypriot and Greek aviation gathered on Friday in memorials to mark the fourth anniversary of the tragedy. Full story

I love the wild side of North Cyprus, from the migrating birds to the wild flowers that herald the arrival of spring in the mountains, but most 'eco-minded' visitors just want to see one sight, hatching sea turtles in northern coast of Cyprus . It certainly is heart-warming to see these miniature turtles scuttle to the sea, if a little distressing to realise that ... Full story

I'm sure I don't need to tell any rental villa owner here that the UK recession has meant holidaymakers have either opted to stay at home this summer, or leave booking their holiday until the very last minute in search of bargains. However, there are signs that 'last minute' might actually be now, as national newspaper are pushing our articles saying "book now, as ... Full story

It's not often I find myself gently nodding in agreement with an article in The Washington Post ( EU and Turkey: still talking barely ) but this one was an exception. On Tuesday, talks resumed on Turkey's entry to the EU, and as the paper's correspondents said; "While neither side says the process is dead, few question that Turkey's goal of joining Europe's club ... Full story