Cyprus Beat

In today's episode, the company operating the traffic cameras system is to receive a warning from the government in the wake of a series of failures that are holding up the full implementation of the system. Elsewhere, state doctors suspended a scheduled three-hour strike over the weekend operation of clinics after the health insurance organisation agreed to put off the implementation of the exten...

In today's episode, the situation for residents of the Kokkinotrimithia area worsened by the day because of the growing presence of asylum seekers from the nearby Pournara reception centre, according to the village community leader Christakis Meleties. Elsewhere, the legal team of the British woman who claimed she was gang raped in Ayia Napa in 2019 is taking the case to the European Court of Huma...

In today's episode, we hear that the government has pledged to continue its efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement without bending to any threats or challenges. Elsewhere, police arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of causing a deadly traffic collision in Paphos over the weekend.  There's also the latest on the protests near the Vasiliko plant after an old tyre dump caught fire during the week...

In today's episode, the Akamas development plan is gearing up to take centre stage amid allegations of backroom deals, electioneering and illegal procedures, while no one can agree anything: not even when the plan will be ready. In other news, a bitter fallout following a divorce appears to be the central cause of the murder-suicide arson attack that unfolded in Pyrgos, Limassol, in a chilling cas...

In today’s episode, police are investigating a case of premeditated murder and attempted murder after two people were found dead and two others were injured in a house fire in the village of Pyrgos in Limassol. In other news, tests carried out on a man who was admitted to Paphos general hospital on Tuesday night did not indicate monkeypox, and the travel chaos currently being seen at British airpo...

In today's episode, the passing of political stalwart Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou was marked around the island on Tuesday with the president announcing that flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast. Elsewhere, controversial lawyer Andreas Pittadjis, whose famous line ‘this is Cyprus’ became a phrase used to laugh at scandals, was fined €4,000 by the Cyprus Bar Association for demea...

In today's episode, Zeta Emilianidou, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, died on Monday at the age of 67. She had suffered a cerebral aneurysm three weeks ago and had been transported by ambulance airlift to a hospital in Greece where she underwent lengthy surgery. Elsewhere, a Limassol pensioner was arrested on Monday morning after going to a police station and informing officers he had...

In today's episode, former Cyprus problem negotiator and career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis won a resounding 90 per cent of the votes during Akel's extraordinary conference on Sunday, which was called to approve his candidacy for the 2023 presidential elections. Elsewhere, Cyprus' involvement in the Agapinor-2022 joint military exercise with Israel has sparked heated reaction from Turkey, which...

In today’s episode, a Syrian man – one of 44 irregular migrants aboard two inflatable boats that had set off from Turkey – drowned trying to make it to shore near Lara, Paphos. In other news, the House health committee is piling pressure on the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) to address patients’ concerns over pharmaceuticals offered through the general health scheme (GESY), and fifteen police...

In today’s episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has stated that the number of people that have used the national health system, GESY, is indicative of its success. In other news, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis has said that any cheese that does not meet the specifications set by the protected designation of origin (PDO) cannot be called halloumi, and a total of 12 people were convict...

In today's episode, some 11,000 traffic violations recorded by traffic cameras were deemed invalid, with the company operating them asking that they be rescinded. Elsewhere, the proportion of tourists holidaying in Cyprus on package deals has decreased, with officials at the tourism ministry encouraged that the benefits from foreign visitors are now being distributed across the wider economy. In o...

In today's episode, the Pedieos linear park is getting a facelift with a budget of over €26 million, the municipalities of Nicosia, Lakatamia and Strovolos announced on Monday. Elsewhere, demonstrators gathered outside Larnaca district court on Monday where former Bishop of Kition Chrysostomos was on trial for assaulting a woman, aged 16 at the time, in 1981. In other news, the island welcomed mor...

In today's episode, a total of €370 million are to be invested by the government in projects to revitalise the mountain areas, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said, stressing it was the aim of the Anastasiades government to give new life to them. Elsewhere, the Cypriot crew member on one of the two Greek-flagged tankers seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces in the Gulf is in good healt...

In today’s episode, MPs have pressed the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) to ensure private hospitals, that operate within the general health scheme (GESY) also incorporate their A&E department. In other news, the union for bank workers, ETYK, agreed to suspend – but not entirely call off – strike action at Hellenic Bank, provided management agree to revoke its decision to fire 350 employee...

In today’s episode, there are increasing signs that the tourism industry is getting back on its feet, as hotels in the Famagusta region are expecting to see occupancy rates of 80 percent over the Kataklysmos weekend with a surge of local interest. In other news, a secondary school student has filed a complaint that she was sexually harassed and abused in a classroom during school hours, and a reti...

In today's episode, Cyprus is hoping to attract over two million foreign visitors this year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios, who admitted the loss of around 800,000 potential visitors from the Russian and the Ukrainian markets represents a significant blow for the island. Elsewhere, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou remains in a medically induced coma as she receives treatme...

In today's episode, exploratory gas drilling is underway in Cyprus’ block 6 by Total-ENI. Work at the site, dubbed 'Cronos-1', was initially scheduled to take place in the spring of 2020, but put on hold because of the Covid-19 situation. Elsewhere, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is planning a trip to Cyprus as part of an international tour to the region. In other news, discussions are und...

In today's episode, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis hopes that by the summer there will be some movement on the package of confidence-building measures between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides. Elsewhere, Disy leader and presidential candidate Averof Neophytou called for subsidies to the hardest hit producers as part of the support package being formulated by the government in t...

In today's episode, a further section of the Varosha beachfront is being opened with sunbeds and umbrellas being placed along a roughly 600-metre stretch of the golden sands. Elsewhere, Cyprus does not meet the terms and conditions to apply for Nato membership and will not apply for the moment, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said. In other news, the island is in the crosshairs of the Europe...

In today's episode, fiery scenes erupted outside the presidential palace yesterday as sheep and goat farmers held boisterous, disruptive demonstrations. They lit fires, dumped gallons of milk and blocked roads as they protested the low prices they are receiving for their milk and the handling of halloumi cheese. Elsewhere, the Cyprus population is up 9.2 per cent in the last decade to now reach 91...

In today's episode, a total of 74 bathing areas and two marinas have been awarded a Blue Flag, a significant achievement that bestows added value to Cyprus tourism. Elsewhere, an ambulance driver has reportedly admitted to drug use while on duty, as police confirmed a positive cocaine and cannabis reading from the subsequent narcotest. In other news, as the debate around introducing euthanasia goe...

In today's episode, we hear that Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou is in critical condition at an Athens hospital after lengthy surgery to treat a cerebral aneurysm. There's also an EU economic forecast warning Cyprus to brace for higher employment and inflation, the health ministry emphasising that the mask mandate remains in force, and an apparent early blunder by the Nikos Christodoulides campai...

In today's episode, the new relaxations of the restrictive measures against Covid-19 came into force as of yesterday. Under the new rules, it will no longer be necessary to show a SafePass in public areas except for visits to nursing homes, closed areas, hospital outpatient clinics, medical and diagnostic centres. Elsewhere, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou suffered a cerebral aneurysm on Sunday n...

In today’s episode, the National Guard has launched an internal investigation into the death of a 27-year-old female corporal who died on Thursday following an accident at an army camp in Kornos. In other news, former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has announced his candidacy for the February 2023 presidential elections, and an online platform for Cypriots of the diaspora is being created...

In today’s episode, business leaders have called on President Nicos Anastasiades to urgently boost the island’s self-sufficiency in terms of the food supply, warning that based on current data, higher prices, and shortages “will intensify in the near future.” In other news, the interior and justice ministries are requesting that contract police officers be hired as the state steps up its efforts t...