5 million meth pills seized, driver flees into the night

Police seized about 5 million methamphetamine pills from a car as the driver fled into the darkness in Muang district of Chiang Rai on Monday night

Officers from drug suppression units in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were deployed in Monday night’s operation, led by Pol Col Ratthapong Tiasud,deputy commander of Narcotics Suppression Bureau Division 3.

It targeted a drug trafficking network linked to an ethnic minority group in Ban Huai San of tambon Mae Korn in Muang district of Chiang Rai.

They spotted a white Toyota sedan of interest as it descened a hill on Den Ha-Dong Mada Road and followed it. The driver apparently became aware of the surveillance and turned off onto another road leading to Nong Chang Khot orchard, police said.

The driver stopped, abandoned the car and fled on foot, using the darkness and his familiarity with the area to evade capture.

A search of the vehicle found 10 bags containing 2.4 million meth pills. A search of the surrounding area found another 12 bags, bringing the total seizure to 22 sacks containing about 5 million pills. The car was also seized.

The drugs and the vehicle were handed over to investigators at NSB Division 3.

Forensic officers were examining DNA and fingerprint samples taken from the car, hoping for leads to the masterminds behind the smuggling operation.

Tanzania turn AACT bronze into Nigeria Open early charge

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s recent breakthrough in continental women’s golf is beginning to translate into individual success, with Neema Olomi emerging as the country’s leading performer at the Nigeria Ladies Open 2026 after an impressive opening round at the IBB International Golf and Country Club.

Olomi returned a two-over-par 74 to occupy the top position among the Tanzanian contingent and second place overall, giving the country an encouraging start in a competition featuring more than 110 golfers from across Africa.

Her performance was particularly significant coming shortly after Tanzania secured bronze at the All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), where they finished behind champions South Africa and runners-up Kenya.

Rather than allowing the demanding conditions in Abuja to undermine her performance, Olomi drew on her recent competitive experience and course familiarity to produce a controlled round that placed her among the early contenders for individual honours.

She attributed her start to remaining composed, understanding the course through practice and correcting mistakes from previous competitions.

Olomi also revealed that illness had affected her during the AACT, particularly on the second day when she experienced chest discomfort and coughing, but said she was feeling considerably better ahead of the Nigeria Open challenge. Her encouraging start has also been matched by strong contributions from Madina Iddi and Hawa Wanyeche, underlining Tanzania’s growing depth in women’s golf.

Iddi carded a four-over-par 76 to occupy third place, while Wanyeche returned a seven-over-par 79 to sit fourth, ensuring three Tanzanian golfers featured among the leading four players after the opening round.

The results offer another indication that Tanzania’s third-place AACT finish was not an isolated achievement but part of a growing competitive presence in African women’s golf.

For Iddi, however, the transition from team competition to individual golf brings a different psychological challenge, particularly after carrying the responsibility of captaining the national side in Abuja.

She noted that representing Tanzania in a team event comes with a different level of pressure compared with competing for personal honours, where the responsibility rests entirely on the individual golfer.

Beyond the leading trio, Tanzania also enjoyed encouraging performances from Aalaa Somji and Ayne Magombe, who both carded nine-over-par 81s to share fifth position.

Loveness Mungure returned an 84 to share eighth place, further strengthening Tanzania’s presence among the leading players.

Tanzania Ladies Golf Union president Timea Chogo also participated, carding 106, while Magombe’s involvement as vice president demonstrated the leadership’s commitment to supporting the players on the international stage.

With Olomi, Iddi and Wanyeche setting the early pace, Tanzania have established a promising platform for the remaining rounds.

More importantly, their performances suggest that the confidence gained from the AACT podium finish is carrying into individual competition, offering Tanzania another opportunity to demonstrate that its progress in women’s golf is becoming increasingly sustainable.

Lissu’s prison tribute to late brother moves mourners to tears

Ikungi. A tribute written by Tundu Lissu from prison to his late elder brother, Alute Lissu, moved mourners to tears when it was read during a farewell service in Singida Region on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Five family members, including Dr Vincent Lissu and lawyer Ikotri Lissu, took turns reading the message during the service held at the family home in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District.

The emotional moment came when Dr Vincent explained that Tundu Lissu had written the tribute, hoping he would be free to read it personally during his brother’s farewell.

‘Our brother Tundu Lissu wrote this biography believing he would be free so that today he could read it before all of us, but…” said Dr Vincent, pausing as mourners listened in grief.

In the tribute, Mr Tundu Lissu recalled that his last communication with Alute was on October 27, 2026, when his brother sent him a message urging him to abandon a hunger strike he had begun in prison.

He said Alute’s message was unusually emotional and warned him that legal struggles required courage, not death.

‘He told me that legal battles required courage, not death,’ the tribute stated.

Mr Tundu Lissu said he had jokingly asked his brother to apologise for the message, unaware that it would be their last exchange.

The tribute also described the deceased as the second person in Singida Region to obtain a law degree, after Justice Kipenka.

Mr Tundu Lissu recalled that his brother had lived with diabetes and high blood pressure for many years.

He added that five members of their family had become lawyers, following Mr Alute’s example.

Speaking at the service, Mr Ikotri Lissu said the family had a long history of involvement in legal matters, dating back to their father, the late Agostin Lissu, who challenged various issues in court even before independence.

He cited efforts to prevent the relocation of Mahambe Village as one of the legal battles involving the family.

Mr Ikotri also recalled the legal case involving former Arusha Urban MP Godbless Lema, whom Mr Tundu Lissu represented in a challenge over the loss of his parliamentary seat.

He said Mr Alute had supported the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) side during the dispute.

Chadema Mainland Vice-Chairman John Heche arrived at the farewell service, accompanied by Jenerali Ulimwengu. Mr Saed Kubenea and Anthony Komu later arrived to pay their respects.

Cyprus President speaks with Guterres on his way to Antalya COP31 Summit

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday afternoon, CNA learns.

President Christodoulides, who is accompanied by a delegation, travelled to Antalya, Turkey via Rhodes, to participate on Wednesday in the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP31).

According to the same information, the telephone conversation took place at the request of the UN chief in the wake of a meeting on Monday with the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin.

During the telephone call, President Christodoulides and Guterres discussed about Monday’s meeting, the results of which were deemed to be substantial by the UN chief. According to the same information, they also discussed a meeting between Guterres and Turkish President Erdogan, where they also evaluated Monday’s meeting at the UN protected area of Nicosia airport.

Moreover they discussed the next steps concerning a trilateral meeting of the Cyprus leaders with the UN chief, for which planning is ongoing. The location will probably be in Europe, possibly before the end of November, according to the same information.

The President arrived in Antalya on Tuesday evening, while tomorrow he will make an intervention at the COP31 Summit before the Heads of State and Government. On the sidelines of the Summit, he will have bilateral contacts and in this context, he is also expected to meet with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Building permits in first seven months of the year significantly up

During the period January – July 2026, 5,173 building permits were issued in Cyprus compared to 4,195 in the corresponding period of the previous year, recording an increase of 23.3%.

According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the total value of these permits increased by 36.5% and the total area by 37.1%. The number of dwelling units recorded an increase of 60.5%.

It also says that the number of building permits authorised during July 2026 stood at 772, registering a decrease of 3.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The total value of these permits reached pound 418.0 million and the total area 349.6 thousand square meters. These building permits provide for the construction of 1,944 dwelling units.

Medicine security and regional cooperation key for resilient healthcare, Health Minister says

Strengthening the security and availability of medicines, improving preparedness for health emergencies and expanding cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean are essential to building resilient healthcare systems, Cyprus’ Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said on Tuesday.

Addressing the 22nd Annual Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia, under the theme ‘The Geopolitics of Health: Investing in Resilience’, Charalambides said Cyprus’s position as an EU island member state in the Eastern Mediterranean made it particularly exposed to disruptions in international supply chains and instability in the region.

He said the pandemic had demonstrated how health threats could disrupt economic activity, education and public services, while events beyond national borders could directly affect the delivery of healthcare.

During Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026, particular importance was attached to the security and availability of medicines, he said, referring to the provisional agreement on the Critical Medicines Act as an important step towards strengthening supply chains, increasing manufacturing capacity and enhancing cooperation among member states.

‘Implementation of the agreement would be crucial, particularly for patients in smaller markets’, he added.

He also said that Cyprus’s dependence on transport links and the size of its pharmaceutical market left it vulnerable to supply disruptions and commercial decisions taken elsewhere.

The Minister also stressed the importance of health diplomacy and regional cooperation, saying countries in the Eastern Mediterranean could work together on sharing information about emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance, training healthcare teams and coordinating responses to emergencies.

Cyprus could help bring institutions and healthcare teams together through its EU role, its relationship with the World Health Organization and its regional partnerships, he said, adding that stronger health services in neighbouring countries also helped contain risks that could reach the island.

Turning to the domestic health system, Charalambides said the General Healthcare System (GeSY) had widened access to care and strengthened financial protection, while the next priority was to improve quality, place greater emphasis on prevention and ensure better coordination between services.

‘As our population ages and more people live with long-term conditions, regular follow-up can help them remain active and independent and reduce avoidable pressure on hospitals,’ he said.

The Minister also referred to the potential of digital health records, advanced diagnostics and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare delivery and support clinical decisions. However, he stressed that such technologies required secure infrastructure, trained professionals and clear accountability, while patients needed assurances that their personal data would be protected.

He also pointed to climate change, extreme heat, drought and wildfires as growing challenges for public health, calling for closer coordination between health services, local authorities and civil protection.

Resilience, he concluded, requires sustained investment in preparedness between emergencies, so that medicines remain available, appointments can go ahead and patients can rely on healthcare services when needed.

Indian and Polish officials highlight Cyprus’ potential role as an IMEC hub

Officials from India and Poland expressed support for stronger involvement by Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Three Seas Initiative, at the 22nd Economist Cyprus Summit, on Tuesday.

Speaking during a discussion titled ‘The 3 Seas Initiative and the Mediterranean: Closing the interconnectivity loop’, India’s High Commissioner to Cyprus, Manish Manish, said the island’s strategic location, ports, maritime expertise and shipping services could make it an important Eastern Mediterranean hub within IMEC.

For his part, Poland’s Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Ignacy Niemczycki, said that his country wishes for closer involvement of Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean region in the Three Seas Initiative.

Manish said Cyprus could contribute to IMEC through port infrastructure, shipping and maritime services, storage capacity, and digital and energy connectivity, without necessarily serving as a transit point for every shipment.

‘Cyprus need not be a compulsory transit point for every shipment. Its value can lie in providing complementary services and connection to a wider network,’ he pointed out.

He noted that Cyprus had appointed a national focal point within IMEC’s coordination structure, which includes a steering committee and five technical working groups covering strategy, transport, energy, digital connectivity and finance.

He also referred to the launch in October of the IMEC Ports Club, led by Indian infrastructure company Adani, bringing together port authorities and operators, including participants from Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation on supply chains, trade facilitation, digital interoperability and decarbonised energy.

Citing an OECD corridor-wide assessment published on November 5, Manish said the institutional foundations for IMEC were being established, but the challenge was now to turn coordination into commercially viable projects backed by cargo commitments, investment and financing.

The Indian High Commissioner stressed that IMEC extended beyond the movement of goods, encompassing maritime, rail and road links, energy infrastructure, digital networks and logistics hubs. Its success would depend on how effectively these elements were integrated.

Manish called for a phased approach, with countries advancing commercially viable projects rather than waiting for all geopolitical and infrastructure challenges to be resolved. He also underlined the importance of maintaining the participation of Saudi Arabia and other original partners, while developing additional connections through Greece, Cyprus, Oman and other European countries.

Niemczycki said the Three Seas Initiative, initially focused on the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, was increasingly looking towards the Mediterranean as part of a broader connectivity network.

‘We would very much like to see countries such as Cyprus, but also the larger Mediterranean region, involved,’ he said, describing links between the initiative and IMEC as both a business opportunity and a geopolitical one.

He said the Three Seas region had a population of around 120 million and a combined GDP larger than Germany’s, while highlighting the importance of infrastructure serving both commercial and security needs, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Domagoj Juricic, former chief of staff to the President of Croatia and senior consultant at MKPS, described the Mediterranean’s closer integration into the Three Seas framework as a natural evolution.

He said the initiative had initially sought to address weak north-south connections along the EU’s eastern flank. Closer links between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic corridors and the Mediterranean were now increasingly important amid geopolitical changes, energy security challenges and emerging trade routes.

We hope for a Cyprus solution well before presidential elections, Spokesperson says

We hope that a solution to the Cyprus issue will be reached long before the presidential elections in 2028, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday, while he also appeared hopeful that a trilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General will be arranged as soon as possible.

Speaking at a press briefing, the Spokesperson noted that yesterday’s meeting between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, ‘paved the way for the next substantive step in the Cyprus issue, a new joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General himself, focusing on the methodology and substance of the Cyprus issue’.

It is particularly significant that yesterday’s discussion was not limited to Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), he said, noting that the methodology and substance of the Cyprus issue were discussed. ‘And, as the President of the Republic said, positive steps have been taken on specific issues, whilst differences remain on others,’ he added, noting that ‘the key point is that discussions on all three of these pillars will continue both up to and during the meeting in the presence of the Secretary-General’.

The Spokesperson also sa?d that the agreement to open two new crossing points, ‘for the first time since 2018, as well as the initiatives in the fields of education, cultural heritage, the environment and crisis management, constitute tangible steps forward’. Several of these, moreover, are included in the 19 specific proposals submitted by the President of the Republic, he added.

‘And to assess the significance of yesterday’s outcome, it is worth looking at the overall journey we have undertaken since March 2023,’ he said. From a period of almost six years of deadlock in negotiations, with the Turkish side insisting on demands outside the agreed framework for a solution, ‘we have reached the appointment of the Secretary-General’s personal envoy, the holding of two expanded meetings under his auspices, the more active involvement of the European Union (EU) through the appointment of a Special Envoy by the European Commission, and the Secretary-General’s personal visit to Cyprus’, he noted.

‘And today, with specific agreements in place, we are looking forward to a new joint meeting with the Secretary-General, focusing on the methodology and substance of the Cyprus issue,’ he said, adding that this represents significant progress made in a particularly challenging diplomatic environment and a path that was neither a foregone conclusion nor predetermined.

He noted that the aim of the joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General is ‘to build on what has been achieved, so as to create the conditions for convening an expanded meeting and resuming negotiations from the point at which they were suspended in 2017’.

Asked whether there was still scope for an expanded five-party meeting to announce the resumption of talks, the Spokesperson said, ‘of course, we believe there is scope for that’, while when asked when this meeting is expected to take place, the Spokesperson said that the Government has, since yesterday, been in contact with the Office of the UN Secretary-General regarding the Secretary-General’s own schedule, with a view to setting a date in the very near future.

Invited to comment on Holguín’s comments on Friday regarding the possibility of progress on the four crossing points alongside demining, and asked where the issue had stalled in relation to the Athienou – Pyroi and Mia Milia crossing points, he said that, based on the indications they had, this was the prospect – the opening of four crossing points – noting that the Greek Cypriot side’s approach to this had been positive. ‘Unfortunately, this did not prove feasible. One must look at the timing of events and how they have unfolded. In any case, however, yesterday’s UN statement notes that discussions on additional crossing points are continuing. Our assessment is that, if there is a positive response and the will on the other side, we are very close to reaching an agreement on the simultaneous opening of those two crossing points as well,’ he noted.

Regarding demining, the Spokesperson stated that on this issue too, the Greek Cypriot side’s approach ‘has been made public’. A proposal has been drawn up since March 2025 covering 70,000 square metres in specific areas, ‘which, unfortunately, has once again not been feasible’, he said.

Moreover, he said, further meetings between the two leaders will be scheduled to continue the discussion across all three areas – confidence-building measures, substance and methodology – as well as during the meeting with the UN Secretary-General, and expressed the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness for this meeting to take place as soon as possible.

Asked about the position of the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman regarding a package of measures on crossing points, Letymbiotis said that, from what he had seen of the Turkish Cypriot leader’s statements, it concerned a road in the Arsos – Pyla, and recalled that this is the road where, in August 2023, ‘we experienced those unpleasant and unacceptable incidents against peacekeeping force personnel’.

He added that if there is a constructive approach and consistency in the discussions, ‘as well as consistency with what has been agreed to date, a conclusion may also be reached on these two new crossing points’.

He further recalled that both the first expanded conference in Geneva in March 2025 and the second expanded conference had been preceded by extensive discussions specifically on the opening of the crossing point at Kokkina. ‘For us, it remains a priority; it remains an issue on which we believe discussions should proceed, and as such it is included in President Christodoulides’ 19 proposals,’ he said.

Asked about the Turkish Cypriot leader’s references to a package he would be tabling – and that he had even described it as a ‘game-changer’ – and whether this would in fact change the situation, the Spokesperson noted that, in the context of negotiations, it is more sensible for the assessment of whether a proposal is a ‘game-changer’ or not to be made by the party receiving the proposal rather than by the party submitting it.

‘In any case, the President of the Republic had rightly chosen not to make this proposal public. We take every proposal that is tabled seriously, and we assess every proposal submitted on the basis of some very fundamental aspects: whether it will help take another step towards the resumption of negotiations, whether it will help improve the daily lives of citizens, and, of course, whether it is compatible with international law’, he said.

Aked about the CBMs and the restoration of places of worship, particularly churches, which, however, remain closed and consequently require further repairs, and whether this issue has been raised by the President of the Republic, the Spokesperson referred to the very important work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, but also noted that this had already been raised by the President, and had been set out as a measure of mutual understanding, as well as during the expanded conferences, whilst the operation of places of worship in the free areas was covered by the 14 unilateral measures announced by the President of the Republic. He also referred to yesterday’s announcement by the UN regarding the restoration of Maronite churches and an Armenian monastery. He noted, however, that there is scope for significant improvement ‘and we hope that the response from the other side will be commensurate’.

Asked about Holguín’s suggestion to the Greek Cypriot side regarding the possibility of postponing the presidential elections should developments in the Cyprus issue proceed, the Spokesperson expressed the hope that a solution to the Cyprus problem will be reached well before the next presidential elections.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Drilling rig to return to Cyprus in December in Pegasus field, ExxonMobil executive says

Head of global exploration for ExxonMobil, John Ardill, announced on Tuesday a drilling rig will be back in Cyprus in December to conduct additional drilling operations and testing operations at the Pegasus discovery in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

Ardill, who was received at the Presidential Palace by President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, in the presence of Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michalis Damianos, said that these activities will contribute to paving the way for the submission of the field’s development and production plan next year, which he said is a significant next step in advancing the project.

The Minister of Energy said that everything is proceeding according to the established timelines, with a final investment decision for Glafkos and Pegasus expected in 2029, and the first natural gas expected in 2033.

Ardill said that they are delighted to be back in Cyprus following our declaration of commerciality for the Glafkos-Pegasus discovery earlier this year.

“We came back to give the President and his team an update on all the progress we’ve made this year and then looking ahead to our forward plans” he went on to say.

He added that he is “happy to share that we will have a drilling rig back in Cyprus later this year in December and we’ll conduct additional drilling operations and testing operations at the Pegasus discovery.”

These operations, he added, “will help form the path to submit our development and production plan next year, which is a key next step in progressing the project.”

In addition, he noted, they will make new seismic explorations early next year.

“So we’ll have a lot of operations just ahead of us” Ardill said, adding that they have worked with the Ministry and the Minister’s team to make sure they are fully aligned and executing as quickly as possible.

In his statements, Minister Damianos said that they held a very constructive meeting with the ExxonMobil delegation, during which they were briefed on developments regarding the Glafkos and Pegasus fields.

‘We are also moving forward with new drilling operations this year, scheduled for December and we were also updated on further developments within the EEZ’ he said.

The Minister of Energy added that the discussion also covered blocks 4 and 10A.

‘Everything is proceeding according to the established timelines, with the final investment decision expected in 2029 and the first natural gas in 2033,’ he noted.

Replying to questions, he clarified that the final investment decision concerns the Glafkos and Pegasus fields.

Asked whether an agreement has been reached regarding blocks 4 and 10A, or if specific timelines have been set for when they will be made available for exploitation, the Minister of Energy said that at present, “we are in the legal phase of discussions concerning the signing of various contracts, based on our own criteria.”

The Minister added that there is a window of 2-3 months to finalise these agreements so that progress can be made on those as well.

However, he concluded, the priority remains the Glafkos and Pegasus fields, based on the timelines.

Meanwhile, according to a written statement by the Presidency, Ardill said that everything is in place for drilling to commence in December.

The press release says that President Christodoulides and the ExxonMobil Vice President, in the presence of the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, “discussed the next steps regarding the development of the discoveries in the ‘Glafkos’ and ‘Pegasus’ in block 10 of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”

It is noted that President Christodoulides was informed by the ExxonMobil Vice President that the drilling teams have been reinforced with additional personnel to ensure that operations proceed at a rapid pace.

Moreover, the President of the Republic, the press release says, was briefed on the operational schedule for the coming months, as well as on broader aspects of the project.

“Within the coming year, we will submit a development and production plan to the Government for review,” Ardill said, adding that their goal is to proceed with the implementation of the project as soon as possible, the Presidency’s press release concludes.