Nicosia

Greece will support Cyprus's candidacy for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2024-2025 term, diplomatic sources said on Saturday. 

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias informed Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos about this decision of the Greek government during their bilateral meeting in Nicosia on Friday.

The eastern Mediterranean can provide a key energy corridor to Europe through a planned electricity cable connecting the power grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel and a potential natural gas pipeline, the three countries' top diplomats said Friday.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is currently in Nicosia for a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, held a meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday. 

Turkey's National Security Council on Thursday supported maintaining the positive climate in bilateral ties with Greece that emerged in the wake of the devastating earthquakes on February 6, adding that it would benefit both sides.

In a statement after convening in Ankara, the council added that ongoing developments in the Aegean and the East Mediterranean are being followed closely.

The governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC), Constantinos Herodotou, said on Wednesday there is concern in the markets that problems with some European banks could evolve into something bigger. He added however that the European Central Bank (ECB) was reassuring about the health of the European banking system.

Cyprus' justice minister has unveiled a host of measures to combat fan violence at sporting events, including pre-game drug and alcohol tests, increased body searches and tougher policing.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will travel to Nicosia on Friday to take part in the trilateral meeting with Cyprus and Israel which will focus on the further enhancement of cooperation in sectors such as energy, addressing natural disasters and protection of the environment.

It's now been a few weeks since China brokered an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalize relations. The deal, and China's role in it, shocked many countries in the region, including the US, and is already having a ripple effect across the Middle East.

Cyprus is currently facing a serious issue with its 5% value-added tax rate for first-time homeowners, as the European Commission has issued a final warning to Nicosia to pass a bill that regulates the issue, which has been ongoing since 2020.

Nicosia says a new effort by Greece and Turkey to improve their relations is positive, but Greek Cypriot officials have been less excited about Athens and Ankara supporting each other's bids in the United Nations.