Cyprus Beat

In today's episode, the electricity authority has been left in the lurch and smart meter installation has again fallen into a state of limbo, after the administrative court’s decision to forbid the telecommunications authority from being awarded the tender to install smart meters. Elsewhere, the Supreme Court rejected a request from two Helios orphans seeking compensation from the government o...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said green taxation will begin by the end of 2024 and not on April 1. Meanwhile, over 3,500 people will be elected in Cyprus on June 9. Elsewhere, justice officials from Cyprus and the US will cooperate to enhance Cypriot capabilities to counter illicit finance. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has some thoughts that could pave the way for the resumption of Cyprus talks, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday. Elsewhere, the President also said that he is planning and discussing with the cabinet about new measures or extending measures in place already to deal with inflation. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Constantinos Ko...

In today’s episode, dignitaries from 35 countries and representatives of various international organisations descended on Larnaca for a meeting over the Amalthea initiative – Cyprus' humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Elsewhere, the giant water bug, which has been found in Cyprus by scientist...

In today’s episode, the Cyprus Broadcasting Cooperation has had all its bank accounts frozen. Meanwhile, scientists have warned of a giant water bug known as the toe-biter along the shores of Cyprus. Elsewhere, the electricity authority (EAC) were handed a €28,000 fine following the conclusion of investigations into the death of a worker in 2018. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing broug...

In today's episode, Cyprus could generate electricity from natural gas by the middle of 2025, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Tuesday. Elsewhere, preparations have been completed and the vessel Jennifer, loaded with around 500 tonnes of aid is ready to leave Cyprus’ shores as soon as weather conditions permit. Meanwhile, it is no longer necessary to present a negative Covid-19 tes...

In today's episode, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos announced on Monday that representatives from over 40 countries will meet in Cyprus on March 21 to discuss the operational coordination of the next steps regarding the aid corridor to the Gaza Strip. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides discussed with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the intention to schedule the nex...

In today's episode, the government has a ‘Plan B’ for the stalled Vasiliko liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, though it has not yet worked out the timetable for that alternative, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said on Thursday. Elsewhere, scandal continued to rock the church, with a new video surfacing of a woman being beaten with a belt by a monk at the now notorious Osiou Avakoum mo...

In today’s episode, MPs raised the alarm over whether Cyprus is carrying out its duties on money laundering compliance. Meanwhile, a second shipment of aid will be sent from Larnaca to Gaza within the coming days, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said. Elsewhere, the European Commission referred Cyprus to the European Court of Justice due to its failure to fulfil obligations under the Habitats...

In today’s episode, the humanitarian aid ship Open arms finally set sail from Larnaca for Gaza. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides will meet the UN Secretary-general's personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin on Saturday. Elsewhere, a teenager has contracted measles and is in hospital. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy Maria Holguin said “a lot of ideas” had been raised at her meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides. Elsewhere, the ecclesiastical court will convene within the week over the two monks involved in an alleged sex and cash scandal. Also, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos will be travelling to Lebanon on Tuesday to meet with his cou...

In today's episode, Cyprus was gearing to send around 150 tonnes of aid to Gaza on Sunday afternoon, after it received the final seal of approval from Israel. The vessel will set off on Monday morning. Elsewhere, over 2,000 people living in Cyprus illegally were deported or repatriated this year, police said. Meanwhile, the story surrounding the monks embroilled in an alleged sex and cash scan...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides warned of large increases in the price of motor fuel. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she is "so proud" of Christodoulides. Elsewhere, parliament said the state health services organisation (Okypy) needs to rein in its expenses. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus...

In today’s episode, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is to visit Cyprus to discuss the implementation of the maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza. Meanwhile, the energy regulator (Cera) ruled out a price increase on electricity bills. Elsewhere, the Austrian government threw its weight behind Cyprus' plan to declare parts of Syria safe to return migrants. All this and more...

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday evening highlighted the importance his government is putting on restarting Cyprus talks, despite the difficult stance of the Turkish side. Speaking during a televised speech on his first year as president, Christodoulides went over the initiatives his government has taken to “better the daily life of all Elsewhere, a 31-year-old Uk...

In today’s episode, the search for the body of a six-year-old child reportedly thrown into the sea from a boat carrying irregular migrants to Cyprus was called off on Monday lunchtime. Elsewhere, the significant role of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp) in efforts to “restore peace, stability, and international legality in Cyprus,” was hailed by President Nikos Christodouli...

In today's episode, Monday marks exactly 60 years since the passage of United Nations Security Council resolution 186, which, among other things, created the UN’s Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp). Elsewhere, a poll showed Nikos Christodoulides’ popularity to have been greatly diminished since his election as President a year ago. Meanwhile, one in three Cypriots is overweight, the Cyprus...

In today’s episode, an investigator will face criminal charges for deliberately failing to properly investigate the road death of Andreas Loizou in 2012. Meanwhile, the Attorney-general ordered the trial of Turkish Cypriot lawyer Akan Kursat be suspended since the key witness in the case is dead. Elsewhere, parliament gave the nod to the establishment of a deputy ministry for migration and asylum....

In today’s episode, Cyprus' entry for this year's Eurovision song contest was revealed to be Liar, which will be sung by Silia Kapsis. Meanwhile, MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek was slammed for campaigning in the north for re-election by Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar and the north's 'foreign minister' Tahsin Ertugruloglu. Elsewhere, Cyprus received one asylum application per 78 inha...

In today's episode, the investigation into Thanasis Nicolaou’s death was negligent and irresponsible, the Limassol district court heard on Tuesday. “The omissions are so many, so great, that it crosses the boundaries of gross negligence and borders on a cover-up,” former investigator into the case Savvas Matsas told the court. Elsewhere, cabinet greenlighted the creation of an oversight body f...

In today’s episode, the inquest into the death of National Guard officer Thanasis Nicolaou, found dead in 2005, continued, with state prosecutor Xenia Xenophontos questioning forensic pathologist Dimitra Karayianni regarding her examination of Nicolaou’s hyoid bone. In other news, the solution to the Cyprus problem is of fundamental importance for the balance in the Mediterranean, Italian Presiden...

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said he hoped UN Secretary-General personal envoy Maria Holguin would soon be able to meet with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the Cyprus problem. Elsewhere, cabinet will shortly approve the new National Sanctions Implementation Unit, Christodoulides said, stressing that there can be no discussion when it comes to sanctions viola...

In today’s episode, legislators dubbed the commercial development done in a protected area in Ayia Napa "a classic crime". Meanwhile, the auditor-general will report the Cyprus Broadcasting Cooperation (CyBC) to the anti-corruption authority on suspicion of "abuse of power". Elsewhere, Morphou Bishop Neofytos said he "honours" Russian President Vladimir Putin "at...

In today’s episode, government subsidies on electricity and fuel tax will be extended into the spring. Meanwhile, a large fire that broke out in Limassol severely damaged an abandoned listed mansion. Elsewhere, a top court in the European Union rejected an attempt to drop the protected status of halloumi. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, two people were hospitalised following an explosion in the Nicosia suburb of Engomi. The explosion had occurred in a three-storey building, which suffered extensive damage. Elsewhere, although it made front page news in the north, police said they received no information that a group of eight young Turkish Cypriots said on Monday they had been attacked by Greek Cypriots dur...