In today’s episode, Cyprus came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of workers across all sectors went on a three-hour, island-wide strike over an impasse between the government and unions on the full restoration of the cost-of-living allowance.

Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades ‘challenged’ UN Special Representative Colin Stewart to set the record straight by either denying or confirming negative comments the latter allegedly made about the Greek Cypriot side.

Elsewhere, two ancient Cypriot coins and a part of a wall mural were turned over to the government at the embassy in Washington DC, after they were illegally imported to the US seven years ago, the antiquities department announced.

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