Alsancak resident Nick Stather was unable to return home to North Cyprus after visiting his elderly father in Wales. This is his story:

But don’t buy that air ticket just yet …

MORE than half of the British expats who finally arrived on a repatriation flight this week were nearly sent straight back to the UK in a row over their residency permits, Cyprus Today can reveal.

Water levels at the country’s main Geçitköy dam have dropped by more than a third over the past month – prompting fresh fears of a mid-summer shortage with repairs to the damaged supply pipeline from Turkey still not underway.

There was further wide spread condemnation this week of the agreement between the UK and the South to hand control of a large part of Britain’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) to the Greek Cypriots.

Prime Minister Ersin Tatar faced an angry crowd outside parliament this week, demanding that the borders with the South be opened. Mr Tatar and his government are resisting calls to lift the barriers – but last night President Akıncı piled on the pressure, claiming health experts backed limited opening as early as Monday.

A long-running battle over unsanctioned development at the Esentepe Municipality Beach took a new turn this week when work was again officially halted by a court order.

In the first tests, the result was reported to be negative.

The month of June is normally the height of the wedding season in North Cyprus when hundreds of young couples tie the knot in a sunshine ceremony.

Girne’s Wednesday Market is famous for fresh fruit and vegetables and also features clothing, gardening supplies, bric-a-brac and antiques.

The parents of a desperately ill baby have launched a worldwide search for a blood stem cell donation after being told that their child may have just three weeks to live – and although the family are Turkish, corona virus restrictions mean the people of North Cyprus cannot help.

A NEW tender will be launched by the Lapta municipality for a marina and hotel project – after two firms pulled out of their bids following a scandal that caused a political storm that shook the government.