Cyprus Beat

In today's episode, hundreds marched on Akrotiri base on Sunday against the British Bases turning Cyprus into an “aggressive launch pad” for the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, with its eyes on upcoming elections, Disy has selected 90 per cent of its candidates for local government and MEPs, party leader Annita Demetriou said. Elsewhere, the most important thing for the real economy is to reduce non-p...

In today’s episode, the United Kingdom is using its Akrotiri base in Cyprus to conduct bombing raids in Yemen. Meanwhile, state officials blatantly looked the other way to allow a Limassol fish farm to operate illegally for 15 years, MPs heard. Elsewhere, the ongoing clashes between Attorney-general George Savvides and Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides will be discussed at the parliamentary ins...

In today's episode, some of the outgoing ministers could not contain their dissatisfaction over the cabinet reshuffle during the handover ceremonies on Wednesday, ranging from pointedly not thanking the president, or by referencing the “sudden replacement” they were hit with. Meanwhile, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Wednesday that the possible introduction of English language u...

In today’s episode, Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis both exceeded the €1 million legal limit in their presidential election spending last year. In other news, new cabinet members "were appointed based on their ability to implement President Christodoulides' pre-election pledges" and not because of party allegiances, according to Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymb...

In today’s episode, four new ministers are expected to take up their duties on Wednesday, following President Nikos Christodoulides partial and widely anticipated cabinet reshuffle. In other news, there is no disagreement between President Nikos Christodoulides and political party leaders on the Cyprus problem, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday. Elsewhere, hospitalisatio...

In today's episode, a meeting to discuss how to improve road safety in Cyprus, following a tragic New Year accident that killed four people from the same family, will be held later Monday. Meanwhile, party leaders from Diko, Edek, and Depa will meet President Nikos Christodoulides this week to discuss his intention on a cabinet reshuffle before his completes 18-months in office. Elsewhere, ahe...

In today's episode,  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is disappointed over the lack of progress in resuming Cyprus talks and has called on both sides not to miss other opportunities for dialogue. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides assured his ministers that he would personally inform them about the reshuffle, dispelling media reports suggesting the changes would be completed befor...

In today's episode, police on Wednesday confirmed reports that the arrest of a Turkish Cypriot lawyer in Rome was connected to the illegal sales of Greek Cypriot properties in the north. Meanwhile, negative Covid tests and mask use will be mandatory in nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dentists, and facilities for vulnerable groups, the Covid-19 scientific advisory committee and He...

In today’s episode, the first shipment of humanitarian aid from Cyprus and the United Kingdom for the people of Gaza arrived at Egypt's Port Said. Meanwhile, the driver of a pick-up truck which crashed into another vehicle, killing its four occupants, was remanded in custody for six days. Elsewhere, the military plans to beef up Cyprus' air defences. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat br...

In today’s episode, two grandparents and two grandchildren died after being involved in a road traffic collision. Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides said in his New Year message there is "no magic wand" to tackle the myriad of challenges Cyprus faces. Elsewhere, Israel's outgoing Foreign minister said the country is prepared to let ships deliver aid to Gaza immediately. All t...

In today's episode, the new EU asylum and migration deal was slammed by left-wing party Akel, which has charged that the pact will cement the problem of refugees getting stuck in southern Mediterranean states - Cyprus included. Meanwhile, security and logistical issues appeared to be at the forefront of ongoing delays in delivering the humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, it emerged on Thursd...

In today's episode, Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis on Wednesday said that in light of recent attacks carried out by the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi militant group on ships in the Red Sea, the Cypriot government has taken temporary measures to protect Cypriot ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and northeast Africa. In other news, the paediatric ward at Mak...

In today’s episode, opposition Akel hit out at Archbishop Georgios and the state broadcaster on Tuesday, after CyBC broadcast the prelate’s speech on Christmas instead of the president’s message. Elsewhere, the road from Arsos to Pyla has 550 metres left to complete the works, the Turkish Cypriot ‘mayor’ or Pergamos said on Tuesday. Also, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is embroiled in a briber...

In today’s episode, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou unveiled “a grand plan” aimed at helping migrants integrate in Cyprus.   Elsewhere, there has been an increase in Syrian asylum applications, the interior ministry said on Thursday, while noting that the cases are difficult to deal with as the people concerned cannot be returned home due the fact their country is considered unsafe. Meanwhi...

In today's episode, Cyprus wants to go tough on migrant smugglers and will set up a special unit on illegal migration within the police force, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the minimum wage will go up from €940 to €1,000 a month, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou announced after a cabinet meeting, in a move that has left the island’s largest trade...

In today's episode, a ship named as Lyme Bay, the first humanitarian aid ship sent from Cyprus to Gaza, was still waiting to dock on Tuesday, after it left Larnaca at the weekend, in a move heralded by the government as the start of the humanitarian maritime corridor, and amid continued visits with Israeli officials to hash out the details of where the aid will go. In other news, Cyprus active...

In today’s episode, after weeks of intensive discussions and preparations, Israel has given the green light for a humanitarian aid corridor to open between Cyprus and Gaza. Meanwhile, the transport ministry announced 40 intercity buses will undergo inspections, following revelations that problematic buses were reportedly put on the road. Elsewhere, the 2024 state budget looks set to pass the House...

In today's episode, after weeks of intensive discussions and preparations, Israel has given the green light for a humanitarian aid corridor to open between Cyprus and Gaza. Meanwhile, from the first day of the new year a new UN envoy for Cyprus is expected to be in place, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday. Elsewhere, so many people visited the Christmas village in Fikardou on Sund...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides said he would visit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he was invited. In other news, the government wants the European Union to consider declaring parts of Syria "safe". Elsewhere, Father Christmas visited the Makarios hospital. All these stories and more in today's Cyprus Beat.

In today’s episode, it was revealed that a fish farm has been operating illegally for years in a Limassol village, destroying the environment around the Kouris dam. In other news, four Cyprus-based companies and one individual were hit by United States sanctions for being complicit in furthering Russia's war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, Cyprus joined 152 other countries voting in favour of a Un...

In today’s episode, the government on Tuesday sought to downplay the notion that it supports spying on journalists, in relation to new EU legislation. In other news, Turkish Cypriot leaders have rejected Israeli allegations that the north was being used by Iran to harbour terrorists with the aim of attacking Israelis in Cyprus. And a total of 943,978 people are now registered on GESY, Health Minis...

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides met the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday at an event a Ledra Palace hosted by the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (Unficyp), in what is the two leaders’ first meeting since last July. Meanwhile, two Iranian nationals may face deportation after they were linked to a foiled terror attack against Israelis and Jews in Cyprus, police...

In today's episode, Israel helped Cyprus foil an Iranian-ordered attack against Israelis and Jews on the island, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday, as Cypriot authorities remained tight-lipped citing national security issues. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou said Cyprus is treating the upcoming holiday period as ‘high-risk’ in light of the war raging i...

In today’s episode, Greece and Turkey agreed to reboot their relations, establishing a roadmap designed to usher in a new era of closer ties. Meanwhile, buses will be running back to normal by Monday or Wednesday at the latest, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said.. Elsewhere, recent weeks have witnessed a surge of Covid-19 cases across Cyprus. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brou...

In today’s episode, Cypriot children displayed below average competencies in the 2022 report of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa). Meanwhile, the government gave its consent for the individual pegged by the UN secretary-general to be his envoy in Cyprus. Elsewhere, a 29-year-old woman was sentenced to two years in prison in the north on Wednesday for stealing 700TL (€22.41)...