Cyprus Beat

In today's episode, the hearing for a judicial review filed by former state pathologist Panicos Stavrianos at the Supreme Court began with accusations of conflict of interest against the state legal services, over the death inquiry which ruled that guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou was murdered. Meanwhile, Sigma TV chief executive officer Chrysanthos Tsouroullis briefly had his X account locked afte...

In today’s episode, passenger complaints about poor treatment by airlines are at an all-time high, the Cyprus consumers association said on Tuesday. Elsewhere, plain clothes officers are patrolling the island’s beaches as dozens of thefts have been reported by beachgoers, police spokesman Christos Andreou said on Tuesday. Also, football’s governing body in Cyprus unveiled on Tuesday tougher sancti...

In today’s episode, the Chinese CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd ( CMC) should never have been awarded the Vasiliko liquified natural gas (LNG) project President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday, as damning statements of blame continued over the sunken deal. Elsewhere, a 50-year struggle to see stolen antiquities returned to the island has finally come to a close, the director of the antiquities depa...

In today's episode, the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal in Vasilikos will proceed and be completed despite the withdrawal of the Chinese consortium of companies from the project, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou assured on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cyprus “will likely take crucial and bold decisions” in the coming months, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday night s...

In today’s episode, after endless wrangling, the Vasiliko liquified natural gas (LNG) project was pronounced dead on Thursday by the Chinese-led construction firm CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd (CMC). Elsewhere, the government on Thursday signed an agreement granting all workers in the central government and the broader public sector a 1.5 per cent rise on their base salary – the first such across-the-...

In today’s episode,hundreds of ‘trapped buyers’ of property may never receive title deeds, as their purchases are tied to developers’ mortgages on buildings ridden with irregularities. Elsewhere, disgraced United States Senator Bob Menendez is to be stripped of his honorary citizenship of Paphos, the town’s mayor Phedon Phedonos said on Wednesday. Also, the health ministry and the Health Insurance...

In today’s episode, three party leaders announced they do not have any personal vehicles in their wealth declarations for 2024. Meanwhile, Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides said Attorney-General George Savvides has been "threatening [him] with dismissal for months". Elsewhere, the north's 'education ministry' reacted with "deep sorrow and concern" over images dra...

In today’s episode, the Supreme Court ruled that former state pathologist Panicos Stavrianos may file a case to annul a court ruling which found national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, who died in 2005, was strangled to death. Meanwhile, Cyprus spent a total of €44.4 million on hosting Ukrainian refugees in 2022 and 2023. Elsewhere, a drone illegally delivered two packages into the central prison. A...

In today’s episode, after three years of debate in committee, parliament on Thursday voted through tweaks to the legislation governing wealth declarations, of capital statements filed by state officials and Politically Exposed Persons. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides lamented “tragic mistakes” made by the state on the 13th anniversary of the Mari explosion, which killed 13, on Thursday....

In today’s episode, the Cyprus Mail were granted access on Wednesday to the 37 asylum seekers (25 here, 12 more in Akaki) who’ve been stranded in the buffer zone for weeks – in some cases, since May 15. Elsewhere, the international community is inching closer towards giving up on hopes of solving the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, Disy leader Annita Demetriou said...

In today’s episode, the contract between the state Natural gas infrastructure company (Etyfa) and the CPP-Metron Consortium (CMC) is headed for termination. Meanwhile, Cyprus and the FBI are to work together on clearing Cyprus' name in relation to the citizenship by investment programme. Elsewhere, the electricity authority (EAC) must "change" to be a competitive organisation by the...

In today’s episode, mixed reactions followed the open letter published over the weekend by United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin. Meanwhile, there has been a steep rise in domestic violence cases. Elsewhere, Cyprus will "wield its diplomatic tools" over the recent Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) meeting, to which Ersin Tatar was invited. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat brief...

In today's episode, police arrested a 49-year-old woman on Sunday, as a suspect for promoting property sales in the north on Greek Cypriot land. Meanwhile, an open letter by UN Secretary General personal envoy for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin was seen as an encouraging message by Nicosia, according to government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis. Elsewhere, the met office issued a yellow weath...

In today’s episode, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his strong concerns over the "significant" militarisation of the buffer zone. Meanwhile, European Union funding to support the north has reached a total of €688 million since 2006. Elsewhere, vaping may be responsible for reduced IQs. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus...

In today's episode, Italian energy giant Eni is reportedly considering divesting from specific projects, including Cyprus, but Nicosia on Wednesday said they had so far received no information. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy suffering from what turned out to be acute appendicitis was subjected to a nightmarish ordeal for over 24 hours, before finally getting the surgery he urgently needed. Elsew...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said he remains hopeful United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin would continue her efforts despite her finding no common ground between Cyprus' two sides. Meanwhile, there will be "disastrous consequences" if the war in the Middle East spreads to Lebanon, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said. Elsewhere, a British Cypriot cand...

In today’s episode, the UN Special Representative for Cyprus and head of Unficyp Colin Stewart said on Monday that he is concerned over increased militarisation of the buffer zone, seemingly called by the stalled political process towards Cyprus talks. Elsewhere, the first planning permit was issued on Monday through the fresh district organisation umbrella system, which ushered in a new era for l...

In today’s episode, a group of Cypriot students on a school trip to Switzerland have become stranded after heavy rainfall cut off the village they are staying in. Elsewhere, Britain has used RAF Akrotiri to send over 80 military transport planes to Beirut since the bombing of Gaza began, the Declassified UK website has reported. Also, the health minister has called on doctors set to strike this co...

In today’s episode, the European People’s Party has included the Cyprus problem in its list of top 10 priorities, President Nikos Christodoulides announced in Brussels on Thursday, amid a flurry of meetings linked to the Cyprus problem, top EU posts and the Middle East. Elsewhere, the council of ministers decided on the retraction of two more “golden passports” issued to Russian oligarchs, it emer...

In today’s episode, a ship was loaded with 2,000 pallets of humanitarian aid and expected to sail on Wednesday from Larnaca port to the US-built pier in Gaza, amid growing concerns for the project’s viability and a lawlessness on the ground which is hampering humanitarian efforts. Elsewhere, Hezbollah’s threats are not in touch with reality as Cyprus’ role in Gaza is strictly humanitarian, Foreign...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday said he would not engage in a public debate with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan over allegations Cyprus is an “operation centre” for Israel’s war in Gaza. Elsewhere, three Cypriot newspapers, including the  Cyprus Mail , featured on a list of EU media outlets that Russia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was banning access t...

In today’s episode, police arrested a 32-year-old man for recording swimmers in Larnaca, it emerged on Monday. Elsewhere, flights to Larnaca airport were delayed due to a power outage in Manchester, which affected several flights on Monday. Also, an Israeli media outlet on Monday had listed four locations that Hezbollah could attack in Cyprus, should the country actively support Israeli military s...

In today’s episode, hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s threat to consider Cyprus as a “part of the war” should it continue to allow Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises garnered a generally muted reaction from leadership figures in the world and in Cyprus. In other news, the fire brigade’s budget for 2024 is €12 million higher than it was last year, Public Order Mini...

In today's episode, the head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened Cyprus for the first time on Wednesday, saying Hezbollah could consider it “a part of the war” if it continued to allow Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises. Meanwhile, the Cypriot government is in the “final stage” of its quest to secure visa-free travel for its citizens to the United...

In today’s episode, Archimandrite Nektarios, who has been embroiled in the Osiou Avakoum monastery scandal, was remanded in custody for eight days. Meanwhile, Cyprus' final decision over whether to stump up the required €100m to partake in the Great Sea Interconnector project is still pending. Elsewhere, doctors at public hospitals decided to call off a strike they had planned for Thursday, sa...