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Fire Service starts campaign to clear areas along buffer zone, Spokesperson tells CNA

The Fire Service has launched an inspection campaign of the areas along the buffer zone to identify vulnerable spots to ask competent state authorities for the necessary clearing and clean-up work so that houses and buildings in the government-controlled areas are not threatened, Fire Service Spokesperson Andreas Kettis, told CNA, here on Friday.

In his statements to the Cyprus News Agency, Kettis said that after a fire that broke out in the Nicosia district and threatened many properties in the government-controlled areas, “we started a campaign to inspect along the buffer zone, as we are doing island wide at this time in all communities, to identify where there are vulnerable spots and to appeal to the competent state authorities to carry out the necessary clearing of rubbish or brush clearing, so that properties and houses in the government-controlled areas are not threatened.”

Referring to an incident on Thursday when a Fire Service Officer was “arrested” by Turkish occupying “authorities” during an inspection concerning vegetation clearance at the boundaries of the Buffer Zone close to the government-controlled areas and was later released, he said that the Fire Service attempted to do this yesterday.

Kettis said there is a serious issue with fires that start in the occupied areas and spread to the government-controlled areas, as was the case in Nicosia where houses and properties were threatened, and the aim is to inform local authorities and the communities bordering the buffer zone so that the necessary brush clearings and clean-ups are carried out to avoid any threat to the government-controlled areas.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Sri Lanka U19 women cricketers to tour India

The Sri Lanka Under-19 women’s cricket team will tour India during June and July to take part in a bilateral series featuring both One-Day and T20 formats.

During the tour, the team will play three T20 and three One-Day games.

The Sri Lanka team will leave for India on 18 June.

The itinerary:

22 June: First U19 T20 at Chennai

24 June: Second U19T20 at Chennai

27 June: Third U19 T20 at Chennai

30 June: FirstThe Sri Lanka Under-19 women’s cricket team will tour India during June and July to take part in a bilateral series featuring both One-Day and T20 formats.

During the tour, the team will play three T20 and three One-Day games.

The Sri Lanka team will leave for India on 18 June.

The itinerary:

22 June: First U19 T20 at Chennai

24 June: Second U19T20 at Chennai

27 June: Third U19 T20 at Chennai

30 June: First U19 One-day at Pondicherry

3 July: Second U19 One-day at Pondicherry

6 July: Third U19 One-day at Pondicherry

U19 One-day at Pondicherry

3 July: Second U19 One-day at Pondicherry

6 July: Third U19 One-day at Pondicherry

Ministry backs down in B1.6bn AI controversy

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry says it plans to negotiate with the TH-AI Passport project provider to adjust contract details regarding the pay-per-use concept, in an effort to tamp down public criticism and ensure optimal benefits.

The payment will be based on the actual number of project users, said DES permanent secretary Patchara Anantasilp.

Any adjustments will be linked to the terms and conditions of relevant contracts, he noted.

“The project cannot proceed with its original conditions after the government heard public concerns, as we intend to maintain the public’s benefits,” said Mr Patchara.

The ministry held a public hearing on Thursday to clarify the project.

Under the first phase of the project, the government plans to spend around 1.6 billion baht to procure professional and premium generative artificial intelligence (AI) models for 5 million Thais to use for free.

However, questions surrounding procurement procedures, project scope, budget transparency and the selection of the winning bidder have triggered scrutiny from opposition politicians, academics, industry stakeholders and civil society groups.

The winning bidder was TH Consortium, which consists of Turnkey Communication Services Plc, a Thai ICT engineering solutions specialist, and Human Intelligence Co Ltd, a joint venture between Thai and Hong Kong investors building digital education infrastructure in Thailand.

The hearing attracted around 500 people, including several politicians, academics and students.

Participants included DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob, Mr Patchara, a representative from Human Intelligence, and a representative from Microsoft (Thailand).

The Human Intelligence agent said the company expects to negotiate with the ministry to ensure the best possible outcome for the public.

Mr Patchara said the project offers 14 brands and 31 models of premium AI platforms, targeting three groups: students, government personnel, and the public, including small businesses.

The project’s price comparison was conducted using proposals from eight bidders to determine the project’s outcome.

NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN

“If the contractor intends to demonstrate transparency and sincerity, I believe this matter should be negotiable,” Mr Chaichanok said.

He said the ministry must wait for Mr Patchara to gather all information and proceed with the negotiations.

“This is a critical point because it signifies we are amending the contract conditions, not cancelling the contract,” said Mr Chaichanok.

Mr Patchara said the contract was signed and the terms of reference (ToR) cannot be cancelled, though payment has not been made to the winning bidder.

Payment is divided into five instalments, with the first payment due after the contractor submits the initial project plan and performance results.

“The ToR cannot be cancelled, but we are in the process of contract management, allowing the contractual parties to negotiate additional provisions for the public benefit,” he said.

TIES TO THE WINNING BIDDER

Mr Chaichanok admitted he was familiar with the project winner before the bidding, but said this was normal, akin to knowing people in other businesses or projects in sectors unrelated to the DES Ministry.

He insisted he had no involvement in the procurement process.

During the hearing, Teerachai Kotrakul, a former parliamentary candidate for the People’s Party, questioned the transparency of the project’s procurement, the drafting of the ToR, and possible links between political figures and the winning contractor.

Mr Teerachai said several important questions remained unanswered, particularly the project’s quick development, the design of procurement requirements, and the rationale behind certain public relations components specified in project documents.

He asked whether senior minister officials or political executives had personal relationships with the winning bidder.

The issue has attracted public attention, especially regarding requirements involving advertising placements at convenience stores and airports, which critics said resemble specifications found in another government project under a different ministry.

Mr Patchara said a contractor cannot be unilaterally terminated, and the ministry has no intention of cancelling the agreement.

LOTS OF QUESTIONS

Mr Teerachai also questioned the proposed use of outputs generated by foreign AI models to help develop Thai AI capabilities, warning such practices could potentially conflict with the terms of service or intellectual property rights of overseas AI providers.

In addition, he noted the project’s implementation timeline required the platforms to be used be registered within 30 days of the contract signing, offering full operations within 90 days of the contract signing. This schedule is unusually quick for such a large project, said Mr Teerachai.

The compressed timeline has fuelled speculation that the contractor may have had prior knowledge of project details, or begun preparations before the contract was officially awarded, he said.

Karndee Leopairote, Democrat Party deputy leader and MP, asked the ministry to clarify which path will be taken: continue with the original plan, continue with significant modifications, or completely change the vision and start afresh.

“Instead of the questionable goal of distributing services to 5 million people, which many doubt is feasible or cost-effective, we should pivot our thinking towards supporting local AI entrepreneurs. Many of them are struggling; we need to find ways to help them grow and create sustainable jobs,” said Ms Karndee.

Sri Lanka’s Nazri Nizar elected to YPO Global Board in historic first

For the first time in the 76-year history of the Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO), a Sri Lankan has been elected to its Global Board, with business leader Nazri Nizar securing a position on the governing body of one of the world’s most influential leadership organisations.

The appointment was confirmed at the YPO Annual General Meeting held on 21 May.

Nizar will serve as a YPO Director from 2026 to 2029, and will concurrently serve as Chair of the YPO Global Forum Committee.

Founded in 1950, YPO is a global leadership community comprising more than 38,000 chief executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across 150 countries. Collectively, its members lead organisations generating approximately $ 9 trillion in annual revenue, placing YPO among the most influential peer leadership networks in the world.

Unlike traditional business associations, YPO is built around the philosophy that leadership is a lifelong pursuit. Through a combination of executive education, peer learning, and confidential leadership forums, the organisation provides a platform for business leaders to learn from one another’s experiences and navigate the personal and professional challenges that accompany leadership. At a time when organisations are navigating unprecedented technological, economic, and social change, platforms such as YPO continue to underscore the importance of learning, collaboration, and leadership across borders.

Nizar’s election follows years of service within the organisation. He has previously served as Chapter Chair of the YPO Colombo Integrated Chapter, been a member of the YPO South Asia Regional Board, and, most recently, served on the YPO Global Forum Committee.

In addition to his responsibilities as a Global Board Director, Nizar will lead the Global Forum Committee, which oversees one of YPO’s most valued and enduring member experiences.

Commenting on the appointment, Nizar said YPO had played a defining role in shaping his leadership journey.

‘YPO taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about continuous learning, trusted relationships, and the willingness to grow through the experiences of others,’ he said.

Describing the appointment as both humbling and inspiring, Nizar said he hoped the milestone would encourage more Sri Lankan leaders to engage with global platforms, contribute to international conversations, and share their experiences with peers around the world.

Nizar currently serves as Group Managing Director of Richardson Holdings, a diversified Sri Lankan enterprise with interests spanning engineering, infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, and out-of-home advertising.

His election represents a notable achievement for Sri Lankan business leadership and reflects the increasing contribution of Sri Lankan executives within international leadership networks.

CARIBBEAN-ENERGY-Key measures outlined to harmonise EV charging standards across CARICOM

Safety measures, charger installation requirements, and inspection procedures are among the areas identified as critical to harmonising electric vehicles (EVs) charging infrastructure across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

A statement issued by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that the charging infrastructure for EVs in the region came under focus during a recently held webinar to discuss the standardisation and harmonisation of the facilities to ensure interoperability. It said participants shared experiences and sought more information on the EV landscape in the region. Director of Ziklag Consulting Group Company Limited, Dr. Soren E. Maloney said that while there is acceleration of EV uptake across CARICOM, member states are at different stages in developing standards for the charging infrastructure.

Maloney, whose presentation focused on Guyana’s experience with EV charging, made references to the challenges countries face, such as small technical workforces, limited budgets, and insufficient capacity to develop standards and regulatory capacity.

‘Interoperability therefore is a challenge,’ he said, highlighting the importance of institutional and process flow clarity, stakeholder feedback, embedding capacity-building, and developing standards that reflect local conditions, market maturity, and scale.

‘You can’t cut and paste standards from other regions or countries,’ he advised and warned that standards should not lock countries into a particular technology.

President Christodoulides to meet with Holguin in the afternoon

President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, is expected to meet anew with the UN Secretary-General Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, on Friday evening, in their second tete-a-tete since the UN envoy’s arrival to the island, earlier this month.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at 5:00 p.m. (local time) at the Presidential Palace.

On Saturday, María Ángela Holguín is also expected to meet again with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman.

Holguín’s meetings with the two leaders follow the initial meetings she held with them last Monday.

On Tuesday, the Personal Envoy held separate meetings with the two negotiators. The possibility of a joint meeting was not discussed, ahead of the new separate meetings with the leaders.

According to CNA sources, during her meetings with the negotiators, Holguín continued discussions on preparations for an informal multilateral meeting planned for late July to early August. According to the same sources, the talks are focused ‘solely on substantive issues’ and not on Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs).

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format that was expected to take place before the end of 2025, is yet to be announced. María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha passes away at 47

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati passed away on Thursday night at the age of 47, the Royal Household Bureau announced on Friday morning.

The princess died peacefully at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 7.48pm on Thursday despite receiving continuous medical care from a team of doctors who had closely monitored and treated her condition to the best of their abilities.

HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha had been hospitalised since Dec 15, 2022, after collapsing due to a heart-related condition while training her pet dog in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima province the previous day.

Since May 21, the royal medical team had been closely monitoring the health of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha due to a severe infection that remained uncontrolled and affected the function of several major organ systems, the bureau said in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, doctors detected an abdominal infection caused by inflammation of the large intestine in April. This caused HRH’s condition to become unstable, further causing low blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and abnormal blood clotting.

According to the announcement, her condition gradually deteriorated thereafter until her passing on Thursday night.

His Majesty the King has commanded the Royal Household Bureau to arrange royal funeral rites with the highest honours in accordance with royal tradition. HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha will lie in state at Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok.

HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the eldest daughter of His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Soamsawali Krom Muen Suddhanarinatha.

BELIZE-FINANCE-Belize denies false claims regarding procurement process

The Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF) has ‘categorically’ rejected accusations levelled at it regarding the award of contracts to a particular contractor under projects implemented through the Fund.

In a statement, the BSIF said that it has become aware of social media posts containing the allegations and ‘categorically rejects any suggestion of favouritism, improper influence, or preferential treatment in the award of contracts’. The BSIF expressed ‘deep concern over the dissemination of inaccurate and misleading information that has the potential to damage the reputation of the institution and the confidence of the public, development partners, contractors, and beneficiaries.

‘BSIF is a statutory body entrusted with the implementation of development projects on behalf of the Government of Belize and is funded through partnerships with various multilateral development banks.’

It said as such, all procurement activities are conducted ‘under stringent procurement, fiduciary, financial management, auditing, and oversight frameworks established by these institutions and are subject to multiple layers of review and accountability’.

BSIF said that contrary to the assertions being circulated, under the procurement frameworks governing BSIF-financed projects, contracts exceeding prescribed thresholds are subject to open competitive tendering, ensuring broad market access, transparency, and equal opportunity for all eligible firms.

‘Procurement opportunities are publicly advertised and evaluated against predefined technical, financial, legal, and administrative criteria,’ it said, adding that consequently, contract awards are based on responsiveness and value for money considerations rather than bidder identity, resulting in awards being distributed among a diverse pool of contractors that have successfully met the requirements of competitive procurement processes across multiple project cycles and sectors.

Furthermore, BISF said all procurement processes it has undertaken ‘are documented and subject to rigorous review mechanisms, including independent evaluation committees; internal management review; procurement oversight by financing institutions where applicable and external audits conducted by independent auditors.

It said financial management reviews and fiduciary assessments and monitoring missions by development partners also fom part of the process.

‘These controls exist specifically to prevent the type of misconduct being alleged and to ensure that public and development resources are utilized responsibly and transparently.

‘The Belize Social Investment Fund remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, fiduciary responsibility, and procurement integrity in all aspects of its operations,’ the statement added.

Cyprus Presidency: EU27 agree to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova

Under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Union is moving ahead with the opening of the first Cluster of Chapters in the accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, within the framework of two Intergovernmental Conferences to be held on Monday, 15 June. The development follows agreement among the Permanent Representatives of the EU member states, who capitalised on the momentum generated after Hungary lifted its two-year veto last week.

The first Cluster covers the fundamental values and principles underpinning the European Union, from the rule of law and democratic institutions to judicial independence. It represents the most substantive phase of the accession process, forming the backbone of the negotiations.

In a statement, the Cyprus Presidency noted it is “proud to have driven forward this historic moment”, adding: “As Presidency, we worked intensively to reach this outcome. This is a milestone and a recognition of the aspirations, resilience and hard work of the two candidates that have chosen Europe and its values. As we take this important step together, we reaffirm that the European Union is strongest when it stands united, principled and open to those committed to its values.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa described the development as decisive for the future of the EU. In a joint statement, they said: “Today, the European Union took a major step forward. All Member States agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova. At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals, the backbone of the accession process.”

“This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable,” von der Leyen and Costa added. The two EU leaders described enlargement as “a strategic choice”.

“By bringing our nations closer together, we strengthen peace, security and prosperity across our continent. In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest. Enlargement remains one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future,” they concluded.

The Intergovernmental Conferences, the formal bilateral meetings at which representatives of EU member states and a candidate country conduct accession negotiations, will be held at ministerial level in Luxembourg, where EU Councils traditionally convene during the month of June.

Community health workers get dedicated medical insurance cover

The National Treasury has allocated funds for a dedicated medical insurance scheme for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), marking the first time such a scheme will be funded through the national budget.

The Treasury has proposed Sh396 million for CHP health insurance in the financial year starting in July, a provision that was not included in previous budgets.

This marks a shift from previous arrangements. In 2025/26, for example, the government set aside Sh3.2 billion for CHP stipends and operational support, but made no specific provision for medical insurance. The new standalone allocation is the first explicit budgetary commitment to protecting CHPs against health risks associated with their work.

‘As a country, we value the services offered by our health workers. To build workforce capacity, I propose Sh3.2 billion for stipends and Sh396 million for medical insurance for Community Health Promoters,’ Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said.

Safety net

CHPs are trained community members who serve as a link between communities and formal health facilities. Often travelling on foot or by motorcycle, they conduct home visits, provide health education, support disease surveillance and facilitate referrals, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.

Kenya has deployed more than 107,800 CHPs across all 47 counties, with each promoter responsible for about 100 households. Shared across the workforce, the Sh396 million allocation amounts to approximately Sh3,672 per CHP annually.

Since their formal rollout in October 2023, CHPs have reached 2.7 million households within four months, delivering services to an estimated 13.5 million Kenyans and screening more than 1.1 million people for high blood pressure.

Despite their growing role, CHPs have historically operated with limited support. Stipend payments only began in February 2024 under a cost-sharing arrangement between the national and county governments. Under the arrangement, each level of government contributes Sh2,500 per month, providing a total stipend of Sh5,000.

In practice, however, many counties pay between Sh2,000 and Sh3,500, and the amounts are often inconsistent. Until now, medical insurance has not formed part of the CHP benefits package.

The proposed allocation addresses this longstanding gap. CHPs working in remote and challenging environments face occupational health risks but have lacked an institutional safety net in the event of illness or injury.

Beyond improving welfare, insurance coverage could strengthen workforce retention and motivation, helping sustain continuity in community-based health services.