Cyprus Beat

In this episode, former President Nicos Anastasiades deemed the claims made by the former chairman of the sports ethics committee Andreas Papacharalambous “false, unfounded and vulgar.” Elsewhere, trade unions on Thursday gave a thumbs-down to a mediation proposal by the government for a new deal on the cost of living allowance (CoLA), while employers grudgingly agreed to the proposal so as to mai...

In today's episode, speaking after a meeting with President Christodoulides French President Emmanuel Macron said Cyprus can count on France’s support in the efforts to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and in the field of defence, should the island require military assistance. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot media reported that no sales transaction was made for the three hotels in Varo...

In today's episode, Greek Cypriots who sold their property in Varosha did so because they can see no light at the end of the Cyprus problem tunnel and are enduring economic hardships, Famagusta Mayor Simos Ioannou said on Tuesday. In other news, a 24-year-old hacker was re-arrested in Limassol on Tuesday for charges of the premeditated murder of Andreas Perikleous, aged 31. And the cabinet on...

In todays’ episode, no new evidence emerged on Monday after on-site investigations following the disappearance of 31-year-old Angelos Perikleous last month. In other news, Cyprus marked Labour Day on Monday amid an ongoing dispute on the CoLa (cost of living allowance). Also on Monday, Cyprus marked the 19th anniversary as a full EU member state. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing broug...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides released the names of his election campaign donors – but only after a discussion in parliament had outed him as having effectively broken the law by not disclosing the information earlier. In other news, the last Cypriot citizen evacuee from Sudan arrived on a night flight to Larnaca, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said, as flights w...

In today's episode, over 700 people have been evacuated from Sudan to Cyprus so far, as the island continues to be used as a hub to get Europeans out of the African nation. Elsewhere, oil major Chevron will shortly begin drilling in the Aphrodite field to confirm further deposit quantities. Meanwhile, a large fire at the Russian cultural centre in Nicosia was extinguished in hours on Wednesday...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides vowed that Cyprus will do whatever is possible to prevent further damage to the country’s reputation, adding that no one will be protected if they are found violating the sanctions. In other news, the mother of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, whose lifeless body was found under a bridge in Alassa back in 2005, slammed the authorities on Fac...

In today’s episode, after almost two decades of the Annan plan referendum on the Cyprus problem, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said that the Greek Cypriot side was rewarded for rejecting the plan, while the Turkish Cypriots have been punished. Elsewhere, a protest which blocked off entry and departure of ships from Larnaca port caused a stern reaction from Kition Ocean Holdings, which warned...

In today's episode, Cyprus on Sunday marked 20 years since the checkpoints opened, paving the way for countless Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to come closer. Bicommunal initiative group United Cyprus, called for more checkpoints to open, highlighting how this has facilitated economic development for both sides. Elsewhere, Greek jets last weekend were rescuing a number of people from Suda...

In today’s episode, the government said it is gearing into action to tackle the migration crisis, with funding aimed at expanding reception centres, speeding up asylum seeker applications, and increasing voluntary returns to 1,000 a month. Elsewhere, hackers made good on their threat to release a trove of personal data stolen from the Open University of Cyprus, after a deadline for payment of rans...

In today's episode, the finance ministry confirmed that it may reduce VAT on key goods, with reports indicating these may be slashed on items such as bread, milk and baby food. The finance ministry confirmed news that these discussions were under way with the commerce ministry, but that even if agreed between the two parties they would need EU approval to confirm the rate cuts, as VAT is regul...

In today’s episode, the Cyprus government on Tuesday stressed it was ready to explore whether there were grounds to begin criminal proceedings against sanctioned Cypriots who have been named by the US and UK for knowingly assisting Russian oligarchs to hide their assets.  In other news, Greek and Turkish Cypriots have become more estranged since the “spectacular collapse” of talks in 2017, accordi...

In today’s episode, both tourism and the property market in Cyprus are being damaged by outdated and unworkable laws governing swimming pools, which have seen many complexes closing theirs over the last few years. The problem is that Cyprus recognises communal pools found at private complexes as public ones and therefore applies stringent law geared towards public facilities. Elsewhere, the Bank o...

In today’s episode, President Nikos Christodoulides hastily convened a meeting at the palace on Thursday evening to discuss US and UK sanctions that have led to a punishing blow to Cypriot individuals and companies deemed ‘financial fixers’ for Russian oligarchs. The government has called the matter “especially serious” as local banks also moved to immediately freeze the accounts of the individual...

In today’s episode, the UK government imposed sanctions on two alleged Cypriot “financial fixers” for “knowingly assisting” sanctioned Russia oligarchs to hide their assets in complex financial networks. Elsewhere, doctors at a private medical centre in Limassol have asked to be given time to relocate, following a majority decision by shareholders to be inducted into the national health system. Th...

In today's episode, eighty per cent of the state’s services have been restored, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday, following the leak on Monday afternoon in the basement of the Ministry of Finance that caused them to be taken offline. In other news, footage of clashes between unaccompanied minors at a Paphos accommodation centre has prompted the city’s mayor to wa...

In today’s episode, deputy shipping minister called the addition of the Larnaca port to the Cyprus-Greece ferry link “a success for the country and for its economy.” She said the new programme for this summer registered a huge demand. Elsewhere, smart cameras have been installed in “sensitive” areas, such as parks and squares, with more on the way – pending a green light from the personal data com...

In today's episode, a man has come forward after police said they were seeking information following the hospitalisation of a 31-year-old woman in critical condition following in a traffic accident in the early hours on Sunday. Elsewhere, the broader services sector in Cyprus recorded an increase of 6.6 per cent year-on-year in 2022, with accommodation and food services, information and commun...

In today’s episode, the House passed a law making some 1,000 former bank employees eligible for unemployment benefits, in what some commentators earlier called a scandalous arrangement. Elsewhere, civil servants can start and finish work half an hour earlier after the plenum approved amendments to their working hours to alleviate traffic issues. There’s also comments by Finance Minister Makis Kera...

In today's episode, President Nikos Christodoulides arrived in Egypt for a two-day visit on Wednesday afternoon where he discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Elsewhere,Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides said the auditor general had mounted a sexist attack against her for six years. “Today was the pinnacle of a sexist behaviour o...

In today's episode, Spain stands by Cyprus in its search for a just and viable solution to the island’s political problem, while its prime minister on Tuesday said it would take the initiative to bring the two sides on the island together. In other news, well known Cypriot soft drinks company KEAN on Tuesday announced an in principle agreement to sell the company’s shares to BBF, marking a cha...

In today’s episode, the Audit service and the Attorney-general engaged in a war of words after the latter accused the former of lying about a European Commission communiqué that sided with Auditor-general Oydsseas Michaelides on the finance ministry’s decision, which awarded no-bid contracts connected to the Hermes airport concession agreement. In other news, forty-seven areas on the island are st...

In today's episode, the main goal is a solution to the national problem that provides for an independent and sovereign state, Government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said on Sunday. Speaking at the memorial service of the Eoka 1955-59 fighters, Letymbiotis said the government is “working for the end of the occupation, the reunification of our country through the achievement of a peaceful...

In today’s episode,  Ersin Tatar said Greek Cypriots cannot tolerate the voice of Turkish Cypriots - after students protested the Turkish Cypriot leader as he was heading to a conference at King’s College London. Elsewhere, President Christodoulides laid out his approach on the Cyprus issue, consisting of “cultivating a positive agenda and a positive climate”, during the first National Council ses...

In today's episode, sports fans will be subjected to random alcohol and drugs tests on entry to sports venues while a permanent police team will be established to cover high-risk matches, according to a Wednesday cabinet decision aiming to curb violence in sports stadiums. Justice Minister Anna Prokopiou announced the decisions following the outbreak of violence at a basketball match on Sunday...