Cypriots flocked to the countryside to celebrate Green Monday, a public holiday rooted in both religious and cultural traditions that marks the start of Lent with fasting foods and outdoor festivities, picnics, games and kite-flying

Union of municipalities has urged chief of police to withdraw the decision to charge Limassol €43.000 for policing carnival parade on Sunday; the move sparked widespread concern as it is the first time police have requested payment for security activity

Forestry college will reopen after nearly a decade with 20 forestry apprentice positions for the Higher Diploma in Forestry programme, a crucial investment to revive Cyprus’s forestry sector with trained personnel

A landmark building in Nicosia was demolished, sparking anger and sadness among locals and architecture enthusiasts; captured on video and shared on social media the demolition has drawn sharp criticism as many see it as a big loss for the city’s heritage

Citizens over the age of 18 will be able to apply for a new national electronic identity card as of 27 January; the issuance of the first 100.000 eIDs will be subsidised by the government: 30.000 of them given out for free and 70.000 available for €15