Cyprus Beat

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus faces disruption on Thursday as a three-hour strike hits airports, schools, and public services over the Cost-of-Living Allowance (CoLA). Also, Cyprus will spend a €1.1 billion EU loan from the SAFE programme over five years to strengthen defence and support local defence industries, Defence Minister Vassilis Palmas announced.Elsewhere, three of five Greek Cypriots arrested in northern Cyprus in July were released on bail on Wednesday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said there are “manifest interests” working to ensure that the Great Sea Interconnector will never be constructed.Meanwhile, Gerapetritis also denied that his father-in-law is the subject of the European public prosecutor's office (EPPO) investigation into the Great Sea Interconnector project, which was announced last week.Also, Cypriot members of the European parliament on Tuesday addressed the chamber in Strasbourg for the first time since the wildfire which tore through the Limassol district and killed two people in July and demanded more help from the European Union to help the island, and the rest of the bloc, fight future wildfires.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, despite yet another meeting earlier on Monday failing to yield any breakthrough on the contentious Cost‑of‑Living Allowance (CoLA), trade unions -SEK, PEO, PASYDY, and DEOK - confirmed that they would proceed with the general strike planned for Thursday, September 11.Elsewhere, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said Monday that the final cost of the Great Sea Interconnector remains uncertain, with estimates ranging between €2 billion and €3 billion.Also, authorities and economic analysts are warning that Cyprus must dramatically increase its spending on climate adaptation.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched an investigation into the Great Sea Interconnector, the planned electricity link between Cyprus, Greece and Israel. The government has intensified efforts to strip citizenships granted under Cyprus' now-defunct investment scheme, with seven investors and 19 relatives losing their passports this week.Also, Cyprus faces an acute nursing shortage, with employers, hospital associations and doctors warning that the system is at breaking point.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis warned of “consequences” for any “third country” which seeks to obstruct the construction of the Great Sea Interconnector, which, if complete, will link the energy grids of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.Elsewhere, just 13 per cent of Cypriots favour the idea of Turkey joining the European Union, according to data published by the EU's Eurobarometer survey.Also, the House refugees committee discussed the creation of a new national fund to reimburse Greek Cypriots who lost access to their immovable property as a result of being displaced during or after Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in 1974.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Larnaca's district government is suing a metal recycling factory where an explosion injured three people for operating without a licence since 2014. Elsewhere, UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin's planned Cyprus visit was postponed due to an “unforeseen issue” and will be rescheduled.Also, trade unions called a general strike for September 11 after talks failed to secure the full reinstatement of the cost-of-living allowance (CoLA). All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos warned he could abandon his tax reform plans entirely if parliament amends them excessively. Elsewhere, Cyprus confirmed it has received the report from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the Limassol mountain wildfire that killed two people.Also, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday demanded advance notice of procedural changes at Cyprus' crossing points, after rumours of new rules from a Republic software update sparked panic.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the 'pre-election restrictions' came into effect in the north on Sunday, officially marking the beginning of the process ahead of the upcoming 'elections', scheduled to take place on October 19.Elsewhere, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna will pay working visits to Moldova and Hungary from August 25 to 27, as part of preparations for Cyprus's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026.Also, a 28-year-old man was arrested in Larnaca on Saturday afternoon in connection with a drug possession investigation, police said.  All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, more than half of the 81,000 vehicles recalled in Cyprus due to faulty Takata airbags have now been fixed, according to the road transport department, however 33,000 remain pending as the deadline until October nears. Elsewhere, Cypriot aid bound for Gaza arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod, the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.Also, parents in Cyprus are being urged to shop smart this back-to-school season, as a new survey by the Consumers Association reveals wide price differences across school supplies.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In toady's episode, the wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon between Tsada and Koili is now close to containment, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis announced.Elsewhere, a controversial rule in Limassol's Amathus area limiting households to two dogs is under scrutiny after the top veterinary official said no clear legal framework exists for such measures.Police said on Sunday that no explosive device was found after a search at a premises in Ayia Napa, which had earlier been evacuated following information about the possible presence of a bomb.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis said that the main challenge after the Limassol wildfires is to restore tourism quickly in affected areas. Elsewhere, a 26-year-old man was arrested early Monday in Larnaca on suspicion of drug possession and traffic offenses.Also, a recent poll shows President Nikos Christodoulides (52%) and former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides (51%) as the likeliest candidates for the 2028 presidential election.All this and more in today's Daily New Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus remains dangerously unprepared for wildfires, Green MP Charalambos Theopemptou said.Meanwhile, former volunteer commissioner Yiannakis Yiannaki was acquitted of five of the eight charges he faced regarding the forgery of a high school diploma, a university degree and a letter of recommendation.Elsewhere, the Supreme Court has ruled that it is legal for the authorities to use specialised software to identify the IP addresses of people who distribute images of child sexual abuse on the internet.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, fire brigade chief Nikos Longinos defended his actions during the wildfire which tore through the Limassol district and killed two people last month, saying he could not go above the heads of cabinet and direct the emergency services' response to the fire.Meanwhile, outgoing United Nations special representative in Cyprus Colin Stewart said a solution to the Cyprus problem is “not for the United Nations to impose”.Elsewhere, bus drivers in Larnaca on Tuesday evening rejected a proposal of new terms presented to them by the labour ministry, with their indefinite strike as such set to continue.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, president Nikos Christodoulides said Monday that the U.S. Elsewhere, UN envoy Colin Stewart urged both sides in Cyprus to "listen to each other" during his farewell meeting with President Christodoulides on Monday.Also, a man died and another was injured on Monday in two separate sea incidents, prompting fresh warnings from Cyprus' Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC).All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, two of the five Greek Cypriots arrested near Galatia, north Cyprus, on suspicion of espionage have been remanded in custody for a further three months, possibly until the end of October, pending trial. Elsewhere, a newly enacted law allowing state officials to waive their pensions while in active service has proven ineffective, media reported Thursday.Also, a standoff has erupted between private pharmacists and the health ministry over proposed reforms to pharmacy opening hours.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, cabinet decided on the amount of aid for victims of last week's wildfire that swept through Limassol villages, leaving hundreds of people homeless and wrecking businesses.Meanwhile, the 112 emergency alert system is moving forward on schedule and could be awarded by September if no appeals are filed, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou confirmed.Also, all residences and businesses impacted by last week's fire will be subsidised by up to €500 in their last issued electricity bill, the EAC announced.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, local mayors in Limassol say there is still no clear plan from Civil Defence on how to distribute aid collected for wildfire victims, with volunteer centres overwhelmed and some temporarily closed due to lack of coordination. Elsewhere, a national Public Warning System is now expected by mid-2026, after a previous tender was scrapped over objections. Civil Defence revised and relaunched the process, amid criticism over the system's absence during recent wildfires. Also, a senior official told a Nicosia court that land registry records used in the trial of Israeli developer Simon Aykut are reliable.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, firefighters continued to battle a massive wildfire in Limassol district on Thursday, with at least 120 square kilometres burned, two people confirmed dead, and dozens of homes and vehicles destroyed. Elsewhere, Cyprus has received international support as it struggles to contain the massive wildfire in Limassol district.Also, mobile speed cameras in the Limassol district will not be in operation until Monday, the police said on Thursday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, statements made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to the north on Sunday were branded a “blatant offence to international and European law,” by government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis on Monday.Elsewhere, the Road Transport Department (TOM) will undergo a total overhaul as part of measures to be implemented after a report prepared by the inquiry commission into the history of faulty airbags, the transport ministry announced on Monday.Also, the mother of the late national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou has published a statement on social media, claiming fresh scientific evidence points to strangulation as the cause of her son's death.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus marked 51 years since the Turkish invasion of 1974, on Sunday.Elsewhere, According to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), more than 800 individuals are still unaccounted for.Also, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stressed that diplomatic efforts will continue despite Turkey's rigid stance.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the second enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem to be held this year drew to a close on Thursday evening, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres swiftly announcing that further such meetings will take place in the coming months.Elsewhere, over 900 cases of child abuse have been reported in Cyprus over the past three years, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said on Thursday, as the national strategy and action plan for 2025–2028 was unveiled. Also, people using pay-as-you-go SIM and e-SIM cards in Cyprus must now register their identity with their service provider by November 10, the communications commissioner's office announced on Thursday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Thursday 2am Cyprus time marked the start of the second enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem this year, held at the UN's headquarters in New York. Elsewhere, the rape complaint, for which Cyprus was chastised by the European Court of Human Rights for violating key human rights, is set to be reopened - though Deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides will not take part in the proceedings. Also, Police on Wednesday issued another warning after a 32-year-old woman lost €14,085 to scammers.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, motorists are facing possible delays on Wednesday as crews work on the Nicosia-Larnaca motorway. Elsewhere, Cyprus marked 51 years since the Greek junta-backed coup which ousted Archbishop Makarios III in 1974.Also, Turkish Cypriot opposition leader Tufan Erhurman on Tuesday urged President Nikos Christodoulides to show true commitment to solving the Cyprus problem.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the week ahead will be “critical” for the Cyprus problem, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Sunday.Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar doubled down on his opposition to the appointment of Johannes Hahn as the European Union's envoy for the Cyprus problem.Elsewhere, it's “too early to judge” whether or not last year's sweeping government reforms were a success, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the European Commission's 2025 rule of law report, released Wednesday, praised Cyprus for its reforms in the legal service, particularly efforts to separate the attorney-general's advisory and prosecutorial roles. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides hailed Cyprus' “excellent relations” with Lebanon during Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's visit to Nicosia on Wednesday.Also, an 80-year-old man was murdered at his Limassol home early Wednesday, with his 47-year-old son admitting to the stabbing.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought you by the Cyprus Mail.

The Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, drilling at the Pegasus-1 well has detected a 350-metre column of natural gas, the government announced on Monday, giving no more clues about the significance of the find – but separately sources told the Cyprus Mail that the “news from Pegasus is good”.Elsewhere, the United Nations is “working hard to get results” on confidence-building measures regarding the Cyprus problem ahead of next week's enlarged meeting in New York, UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin said.Also, Cyprus was touted as a potential location for a planned camp to be built to house Palestinian people who are to be “temporarily” relocated out of Gaza, according to reports.All this and more in todays' Daily News Briefing brought you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the results of the latest drilling in Cyprus' EEZ, at the Pegasus site in Blok 10 are set to be announced today by Energy Minister George Papanastasiou.Elsewhere, a disagreement over land boundaries is behind an attempted murder in Paphos on Saturday night, assistant Paphos police chief Michalis Nicolaou said on Sunday.Also, conditions for the resumption of negotiations must be created at the upcoming enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem in New York, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said on Sunday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Cyprus violated key human rights in its handling of a rape case involving Disy politician Andreas Ttaouxis, sharply criticising the authorities and deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides. Also, President Nikos Christodoulides will travel to New York for an expanded UN-led meeting on the Cyprus problem, to be held on July 16 and 17, without political party leaders, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Thursday.Elsewhere, former district court judge Doria Varoshiotou will appeal her dismissal at the end of her two-year probation, her lawyer Achilleas Demetriades said Thursday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Cyprus' Cabinet has approved draft laws to modernise the country's legal and audit services, seen as a key pledge of President Nikos Christodoulides' government. Elsewhere, Cyprus' government has urged the Supreme Judicial Council to publicly explain why Doria Varoshiotou was denied a permanent judgeship.Also, the parents of a 22-month-old child hospitalised with severe burns were remanded for five days on Wednesday in Limassol.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the design of new ‘smart' bus stops across the country is “unprecedented and unacceptable” due to poor visibility for passengers and drivers, the Audit Office said on Tuesday in a report into the issue, in which it also criticised the department of public works.Elsewhere, one day after the shortage of lifeguards in Larnaca was lamented, a similar situation was reported in Limassol where only 43 out of 79 approved lifeguard positions have been filled.Also, Cyprus ranks first worldwide for the share of female OnlyFans content creators according to newly released statistics from a marketing company specialising in adult content.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail. 

In today's episode, the prisons department on Monday sought to rubbish allegations of unhygienic conditions for inmates – including tainted food and unclean showers – attributing such claims to “ulterior motives”.Elsewhere, Cyprus' rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2026 offers a “unique opportunity” for the country to promote itself “as a trustworthy partner, with added value in a region of crucial importance”, President Nikos Christodoulides said.Also, only 11 of 19 lifeguard towers in Larnaca have any lifeguards, district supervisor of Larnaca lifeguards Savvas Ioannou, said on Monday.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a holidaymaker in Ayia Napa has reported valuables worth over eleven thousand euros stolen from his beach bag while swimming on Saturday.Elsewhere, Cyprus has finally joined a Europe-wide push to protect people in bars and clubs, years after other EU nations rolled out safety schemes like ‘Ask for Angela'.Also, Cyprus' agriculture minister says climate change and rising costs are putting big pressure on the country's farmers.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, a law designed to help thousands of ‘trapped buyers' get a title deed on their property which they have paid for in full was passed by the House plenum on Thursday as the government hailed the development.Elsewhere, the government's plan for the introduction of courses in foreign languages at state universities is to serve interests other than those of the universities themselves, Akel warned on Thursday.Also, the European People's Party on Thursday offered its support to Cyprus' efforts to join Europe's Schengen zone.All this and more in today's Daily News Briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.