January 17 Daily News Briefing

Cyprus Beat

In today’s episode, the United States’ decision to allow the Republic of Cyprus to purchase military hardware directly is “a development of historic importance”, President Nikos Christodoulides said.

Meanwhile, United Nations under-secretary-general for peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on February 10, Tatar’s office announced.

Elsewhere, lawyers representing journalist Ali Kismir, who faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of having “insulted” the Turkish Cypriot armed forces, requested that the case against him be referred to the north’s constitutional court on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.