Cyprus Beat

In todays’ episode, trade unions representing workers at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus have announced measures as of next week that could potentially lead to rolling power cuts, including over Christmas during periods of peak power usage. The government has in turn accused the unions of misleading the public while hinting at strong action of its own. In other news, the House on Thursday gave...

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar attended a reception at the Ledra Palace Hotel, hosted by the United Nations on Wednesday. All parties involved stressed that this is a social meeting, from which nothing is expected. In other news, eligible students at Cyprus-based universities are to receive a €500 living allowance amidst a price hike in rent...

In today's episode, Justice Minister Stephie Dracou said yesterday she will call a meeting with the police following the violent clashes between fans at football match in Limassol. The clashes between Ael and Apollon fans that broke out after the match was cancelled on Sunday resulted in a police officer being injured and shops in the area neighbouring Tsirion stadium damaged. In other news, junio...

In today's episode, we hear that AEL football club lashed out at police yesterday over the decision to postpone a derby with Apollon citing safety reasons after football fans started throwing rocks and firecrackers on the pitch. In other news, the injury of a six-year-old during an attempted murder in Oroklini over the weekend has ignited fears there may be heavy payback, while the charge against...

In today's episode, there have been major price hikes for basic necessities in November compared to the previous month, according to the Cyprus Consumers Association. In other news, police are searching for clues on who may be behind an attempted murder case in Larnaca, that left a six-year-old child and 42-year-old man injured. And a large number of interventions by the Ombudswoman’s office this...

In today’s episode, the HIO has faced renewed criticism for paying extortionate rates on medicines, far more than the government used to before the rollout of the national health system, Gesy. Elsewhere, Cyprus has repatriated close to 7,000 migrants during 2022 and is a model within the EU for such returns. There’s also the latest from the candidate for the position of the US Ambassador to Cyprus...

In today’s episode, House President Annita Demetriou criticised Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou over sex education in schools’ interference. In other news, MPs discussed a bill to ban LGBTI+ conversion therapy with individuals facing up to three years in jail for carrying out such “pseudo practices.” And petrol stations are set to reduce the price of fuel in the upcoming days, according to...

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday said the government, and the president cannot remain indifferent on claims on corruption, with the anti-corruption authority set to investigate allegations made in books by former presidential adviser Makarios Droushiotis. The author said in three recently published volumes that corruption was rife across all levels of government. In othe...

In today’s episode, the election campaign team of presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides opted for total radio silence yesterday amid a swirling political uproar after reveals about a 'secret deal' he struck up with his main backers, junior opposition party DIKO. In other news, central prisons director Anna Aristotelous’ lawyers said there is a clear attempt to undermine her after she report...

In today's episode, in an interview published in the Sunday edition of the German newspaper Die Welt, President Nicos Anastasiades said that Cyprus could supply the European Union with natural gas much sooner, if Brussels strengthened its support for the development of the supply infrastructure. In other news, the island’s former Foreign Minister and current presidential frontrunner Nikos Christod...

In today’s episode, members of the public have reported that shops are taking advantage of today’s Black Friday shopping spree to enforce some shady pricing practices, the consumer protection service of the ministry of commerce said. In other news, opposition legislators piled on public broadcaster Cybc yesterday and accused it of devolving into mouthpiece for the government, during a discussion o...

In today's episode, the finance ministry denounced the 12-hour strike by electricity authority workers which kept customer service centres closed resulting in “unnecessary inconvenience”. In other news, the 300 contract officers’ posts for the policing of the buffer zone to stem illegal migration have not yet been filled and the deadline has been extended, police spokesman Christos Andreou said ye...

In today's episode, we hear that the tourism sector showed ‘tangible growth’ in 2022, which was on Tuesday put down to increased air connectivity and policies introduced by the government over the last 10 years. In other news, ‘Dangerous medicine’ is not being practiced at the Paphos general hospital, state health services organisation Okypy said yesterday after criticisms were levelled against th...

In today's episode, conditions at Paphos general hospital are “tragic, appalling and utterly shameful," Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos said yesterday, calling on patients to publish footage of conditions on social media. In other news, low-cost airline Ryanair announced five new routes departing from Paphos airport starting next summer yesterday, as well as an increase in the airport-based fleet f...

In today’s episode, cases of animal cruelty have shown a ‘frightening’ increase, while since the beginning of the year, the Animal Police has investigated 57 criminal cases, according to head of the department Vyron Vyronos. In other news, children are right to be angry with the state of the world, Commissioner Despo Michaelidou said to mark International Children's Rights Day, and a 27-year-old w...

In today's episode, the vast majority of Cypriots, more than two thirds, feel dissatisfied, anxious and angry about the general state of affairs in the country, while almost 70 per cent think that corruption is endemic, a new presidential-election poll has revealed. In other news, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will remain committed to being involved in the process of finding common gro...

In today's episode, the two additional supreme courts envisioned within the justice reform package passed in summer – and aimed at speeding up the snail’s pace rate of court cases – are to be shelved until July 1. In other news, Cyprus' health services will get an €80m revamp through the Cyprus Tomorrow plan, which includes the completion of the first phase of the long-awaited new mental hospital....

In today's episode, overcrowding is a perennial problem at the central prison but has grown worse in recent years, the ombudswoman said on Tuesday after completing an investigation, and calling for immediate action to solve the problem. In other news, thousands of students protested across the island on Tuesday, condemning 39 years since the north’s unilateral declaration of independence. Presiden...

In today’s episode, the elections for a new archbishop will be held on December 18, the Holy Synod said yesterday. Nominations will be submitted on November 22. In other news, “2022 has been the most successful in terms of fire management and prevention efforts for decades,” the forestry department said yesterday. And the House human rights committee debated a proposed bill to create a specialised...

In today’s episode, the Holy Synod is set to meet this morning to discuss the next steps forward regarding the election of a new archbishop. In other news, Labour minister Kyriacos Koushos is to begin meetings this week with unions and labour associations over the cost-of-living allowance. And a row has been brewing over the status of the unrecognized, breakaway state in the north ‘TRNC’. All thes...

In today's episode, President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday called France a ‘key strategic partner’ of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, welcoming the growing ties between Nicosia and Paris on a range of issues of common interest. Anastasiades held a working meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, during which he conveyed his thanks for the “excellent relations” bet...

In today's episode, the House legal affairs committee yesterday held an in-depth discussion on the spyware case investigated by the European parliament’s Pega committee and the involvement of Cyprus. The group of MEPs visited Cyprus last week and on Tuesday said Cyprus had become a centre for the export of surveillance software. In other news, the Cypriot captain of the “Prudent Warrior” ship was...

In today's episode, officials are upbeat that the UK tourism market is buoyant, with Cyprus now setting its sights on the US. Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said in terms of arrivals from Britain, the island had welcomed 90 per cent of the number that visited in 2019, a record year. In other news, a report on the use of Pegasus software presented at the EU parliament on Tuesday by the Pega...

In today’s episode, the funeral of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the independent Church of Cyprus, who died yesterday morning will be held on Saturday at 12pm at the Apostolos Varnava cathedral at the archbishopric.  With the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, the caretaker of the Church of Cyprus will now initiate procedures for elections leading to the nomination of a new Prelate....

In today's episode, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus has died aged 81 after a long battle with cancer. According to an announcement from his doctors, the Archbishop passed away peacefully at 6.40am on Monday. A session of the Holy Synod is expected to convene within the day and government events have been cancelled. In other news, three more inmates were arres...