Cyprus Beat

Authorities on Tuesday remained on full alert all day to deal with the expected arrival of ‘hundreds’ of migrants from Lebanon. Despite information earlier, the waves of migrants did not arrive as night fell. Meanwhile, Cyprus’ coasts of the British bases are teeming with turtles with the highest number of nests recorded within the areas since 2009. Bases environmental experts confirmed 282 nests...

In today’s episode, deputy government spokeswoman Doxa Komodromou has resigned from her position, the presidential palace said on Monday.  In other news, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said on Monday that he would “never accept” the appointment of a United Nations special envoy to Cyprus. And the ministry of finance has extended the deadline for submission of tax returns until the end of Octob...

In today’s episode, state hospital workers are set to go on strike after failing to reach an agreement with state health services (Okypy) regarding collective labour agreements and pay rises. Meanwhile, every single employee at the Presidential palace will have their overtime payments examined by the audit service. Elsewhere, the Nicosia municipality unveiled a new parking app with real time updat...

In today's episode, President Christodoulides called on his Turkish counterpart Erdogan to work together to send a message of peace for both Cyprus and Turkey. Meanwhile, football referees will return to the pitch this weekend, they announced on Wednesday following a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association and internal meetings. Earlier this week, they had called an “indefinite strike” af...

In today’s episode, fuel prices are set to increase “by four or five cents per week until at least the end of the month,” chairman of the Petrol Station Owners’ Association Christos Christodoulou said on Tuesday.  In other news, the appointment of a special UN envoy for Cyprus remained at the top of President Nikos Christodoulides’ agenda as he met with EU officials on the sidelines of the 78th UN...

In today’s episode, the government will withdraw its request for the University of Cyprus to pay overtime to Doxa Komodromou and inform the university that it will have to claim the money back.  Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides said a meeting between UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday will “determine the next moves on the Cyprus pr...

In today's episode, the government is expected to announce unilateral measures towards the Turkish Cypriot community this week, President Nikos Christodoulides said from New York on Sunday. He also mentioned that he has suggestions for confidence-building measures in everyday life. Meanwhile, the demand for halloumi cheese from foreign markets is on the rise, according to Agriculture Minister,...

In today’s episode, the government decided to set up an interdepartmental team as a focal point for drawing up policies to stem the flow of irregular migrants. Meanwhile, MPs heard that the country's illiteracy rate stands near 10 per cent. Elsewhere, construction of the road between Pyla and Arsos recommenced outside the buffer zone. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to yo...

In today's episode, unless the Turkish government “drastically changes course”, Turkey’s EU accession process cannot resume, the European Parliament said on Wednesday, passing the progress report for the country. Meanwhile, Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides on Wednesday welcomed the withdrawal of a request for overtime pay by deputy government spokesperson Doxa Komodromou, in what was the f...

In today's episode, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos on Tuesday met the bosses of commercial banks in a crunch meeting aimed at getting lenders to provide some relief to customers to compensate for rising interest rates and mortgage payments. In other news, the five Israeli nationals accused of gang raping a British tourist in Ayia Napa had their remand renewed on Tuesday after the judge said t...

In today's episode, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades declined to say whether Cyprus’ traffic problem can be solved, instead saying that the state is offering options to commuters. Traffic is once again the office talking point in the congested capital, as the end of summer holidays and the first day of schools reopening led to miserable commutes. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ambassador to Cyprus has...

In today’s episode, the large fire that broke out in the Akrounta area of Limassol was reported to be under control but suspicions remain that arson may have been at play. Elsewhere, President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday said he was ready to work with Disy as soon as the party deems that this is in the interest of the country - but Disy swiftly stated it will remain in opposition. There’s also...

In today's episode, the international community must “commit itself to a two-state solution” to the Cyprus problem if negotiations for reunification fail yet again, according to former British foreign secretary Jack Straw. In other news, authorities continue to be lax in collecting income tax, and as a result the state is losing millions each year, the auditor-general said in parliament on Thu...

In today's episode, Deputies grilled Cyprus's police chief on institutionalised racism. Police descended on Nicosia's old town to shore up their presence amid rumours of potential violent protests. Meanwhile, 13 people arrested during racist riots in Limassol will appear in criminal court in October. Elsewhere, Israeli mining magnate Beny Steinmetz has been conditionally released from...

In today's episode, the government is working to highlight Cyprus as an unattractive destination for migration, ministers told the ad hoc House committee on demographics on Tuesday. In other news, an anti-migrant protest set to have taken place outside the presidential palace on Wednesday was cancelled on Tuesday with organisers saying an “out of control” situation would have sent the wrong me...

In today's episode, more than 1,000 people descended on Limassol to attend an anti-fascist protest organised by AKEL; the protest was organised in response to the violent anti-migrant riots, which took place in the city last Friday. In other news, a 20-year-old British tourist reported she was gangraped at her Ayia Napa hotel; five Israeli nationals were arrested and remanded for eight days. A...

In today's episode, a tripartite meeting between leaders of Cyprus, Greece, Israel will be held on Monday, to discuss regional issues of interest. President Nikos Christodoulides and his team will hold meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Meanwhile, on Sunday, the president said he considers the upcoming UN General Assembly and Oc...

In today's episode, another Cypriot firefighting team will be leaving for Thessaloniki today, to deal with forest fires that have burned large areas of the country, fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Thursday. In other news, sunbeds will be placed on Lara beach whether there is a permit for them or not, Inia’s community leader said on Thursday, enflaming environmentalists and going...

In today's episode, sunbeds and umbrellas will never be accepted on Lara beach, Agriculture Minister Petros Xenophontos said as he announced the much-anticipated Akamas local development plan, which was updated with new measures approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the state will take all measures necessary to ensure public safety after the riots and violence in Chlorakas, governme...

In today's episode, every means available to the government will be used to ensure safety in Chlorakas after two days of violent clashes, President Christodoulides saıd; the violence is believed to have been instigated by ELAM. In other news, the impact of technical problems in UK air traffic control systems was also felt in Cyprus, causing some flights to be cancelled and others to be delayed...

In today's episode, political parties on Monday condemned the attacks on people and homes in Chlorakas during an anti-migrant protest overnight, while far-right opposition Elam has instead blamed the attacks on migrants. The government deplored the attacks on migrants, their cars and properties, with government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis saying violence is not acceptable in a civilised...

In today’s episode, assistant UN Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Miroslav Jenca is set to hold separate meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday. Elsewhere, permanent Members of the Security Council have already started discussing possible candidates who can take on the important role of the UN envoy to Cyprus, Presiden...

In today’s episode, visiting US Senator Robert Menendez on Thursday called on the United Nations Security Council to immediately pass a resolution denouncing recent Turkish actions in the buffer zone in Pyla and said his country should move from “condemnation to action” in its overall approach to the Cyprus issue. Elsewhere, four trade unions representing workers in the Electricity Authority of Cy...

In today’s episode, police in Limassol carried out operations against a “criminal organisation involved in the smuggling of irregular migrants to Cyprus”, with five arrested and four more wanted. Elsewhere, the US system is a “perfect example” of a federal state to be emulated, according to president of the Pancyprian Association of America, Philip Christopher. There’s also the announcement that a...

In today's news, the foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed its “satisfaction” with the United Nations Security Council’s condemnation of Friday’s incident in the buffer zone in Pyla, and it “expects an immediate end to the illegal actions of the Turkish side, based on the call of the UNSC to remove all illegal constructions and prevent further such actions, military or non-military, within and...