In today’s episode, the audit service and the presidential palace were sparring again on Thursday, after the former released a special report saying use of service vehicles to transport the president’s children by themselves was illegal, which then led to a further row over the renovations at the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, government spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed the activation of diplomatic and military measures along the UN buffer zone, following incursions by the Turkish army over the past few days.

Elsewhere, a Limassol court this week ruled in favour of a group of depositors with now-defunct Laiki (Popular) Bank who saw their savings wiped out in the March 2013 ‘haircut’, awarding them €5.7 million in compensation.

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