Island countries

A new sewage plant was opened in Cypriot capital Nicosia by the mayors of northern and southern part of the city as a joint initiative of the city's Greek and Turkish population.

The high-tech plant costs EUR 29 M, with a third of the money provided by the European Union, BusinessWeek reported.

EU supporting water treatment effort in Cyprus

Irish President Michael D Higgins has arrived to the UK on the first official state visit by an Irish head of state, Tuesday.

The four-day trip, which comes three years after the Queen visited Ireland, includes an address to Parliament and a focus on the contribution Irish emigrants have made to UK life, The Guardian reports.

Cyprus's economic crisis could hasten a deal to end decades of enmity between the island's estranged Greeks and Turks, its outgoing United Nations envoy said on Thursday.

Reunification talks resumed between the two sides on February 11.

Business leaders back Cyprus negotiation process