Cyprus Beat

In today’s episode, the House of Representatives has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire there and urging Russian troops to depart Ukrainian territory. President Nicos Anastasiades has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” actions violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, and around...

In today's episode, Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis will represent Cyprus at today’s emergency European Council meeting on Ukraine instead of President Nicos Anastasiades, who is currently in Dubai and is due to speak at Thursday’s international business forum Expo 2022. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot politicians voiced their opposition to the charges faced by journalist Ali Kismir for an art...

In today's episode, Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios has reportedly assured the tourism industry that the government is devising a contingency plan in the event of a flare-up in Ukraine and possible sanctions on Russia, adversely impacting tourist arrivals from the two countries. Meanwhile, the further easing of restrictions should take place over the course of weeks, not months, one of...

In today’s episode, a memorandum of understanding which attempts to alleviate Cyprus’ migration pressures was signed with the EU yesterday. There’s also the latest Covid-19 measures which will now permit dancing at entertainment venues with more than 150 people, provided that those present - vaccinated or unvaccinated - have a 24-hour negative test. Elsewhere, the transport ministry has defended c...

In today's episode, the Ministry of Health has announced that weekly rapid tests for children aged four and above in preschool will begin today. In other news, Archbishop Chrysostomos has called on members of the Synod to behave within the framework of decency and seriousness, after some members were already campaigning for who would be his successor, and opposition to the British Bases being invo...

In today's episode, following a lengthy debate on the House floor, parliament yesterday passed a law establishing an anti-corruption authority. Meanwhile, the finance minister warned Gesy, the national health system, is currently in danger of collapsing due to flawed implementation. In other news, four additional UK Typhoon jets have landed in RAF Akrotiri as part of Britain’s Nato contribution am...

In today’s episode, the interior minister has said that more European aid will be given to Cyprus to help deal with increasing migrant flows. Elsewhere, the police have procured 96 new vehicles, most of which are ‘smart vehicles’, 42 connected to the ANPR system. There’s also the report by the Cyprus Labour Institute, which showed that the purchasing power of the average salary in Cyprus is curren...

In today’s episode, a search that lasted much of the day for a missing three-year-old girl after her twin was found alone in the buffer zone early on Tuesday morning, finally located her in the Pournara migrant camp. In other news, UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is on a three-day official visit to the island, has praised the long history of friendship and common values between...

In today's episode, Cyprus’ legal system was tested and failed in its handling of the 2019 Ayia Napa gang rape case, the chairwoman of the House human rights committee said yesterday. In other news, Turkey has said it will not extradite three suspects arrested in Istanbul in relation to last week’s assassination of Turkish Cypriot businessman, Halil Falyali, and the cost of the damage caused by fi...

In today’s episode, Cypriot citizens living in the Ukraine are advised to leave the country due to increased risks of escalating tension. In other news, British citizens have now been classed as third country nationals as a result of Brexit and are therefore no longer allowed to vote in local elections, and a documentary by Netflix titled “Tinder Swindler” has hit the Top 10 in Cyprus after it app...

In today's episode, after news emerged that a doctor was facing criminal charges for allegedly sending fictitious invoices for payment, it has now been revealed that a number of such investigations are underway. Meanwhile, traffic violations have dropped by half ever since speed cameras went ‘live’ compared to the period during which they were used on a pilot basis. In other news, any relaxations...

In today’s episode, shocking scenes were captured at the Pournara migrant reception centre as dozens were injured during a mass fight. And in the health care sector, a Gesy doctor is set to be prosecuted as claims were made for payments for services which were never provided. Elsewhere, the finance minister criticised the Health Insurance Organisation over its claims of understaffing, despite the...

In today's episode, farmers working near the village of Denia in the buffer zone on Tuesday reported they were threatened by five soldiers from the north, some of whom were armed. Meanwhile, the ministry of health said that thousands of children had the opportunity to attend lessons in person thanks to the Test to Stay policy, as secondary school teachers criticised the measure, saying it will lea...

In today's episode, the government said yesterday it will use any safeguards in the contract governing the long-awaited liquefied natural gas import terminal, sounding an upbeat note that any differences with the contractor would get ironed out. In other news, the police confirmed yesterday that the US university from which the former volunteerism commissioner claims to have graduated says it has...

In today’s episode, three police officers in Paphos have been suspended pending an investigation into how two suspects escaped detention cells at the city’s police headquarters. In other news, an 18-year-old man has been arrested in Nicosia after losing control of his car and smashing into four teenage girls standing in front of a supermarket wall, and Centre-right DIKO will be the ruling party or...

In today’s episode, we hear that major delays are now expected in the construction of the LNG import terminal at Vasilikos, in Limassol. There’s also the third earthquake to be felt in Cyprus in less than a month. Elsewhere, MPs have criticised the government’s proposed infectious disease bill - saying it has not addressed their concerns over inadequate checks and balances on the state. But on a h...

In today’s episode, Akel MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek has said he will challenge in court the claim that he is violating the constitution by holding an unpaid teaching post at the University of Cyprus while simultaneously serving in the European parliament. In other news, police said they will investigate whether mistakes were made in their handling of the 2019 Ayia Napa gang rape case after the supreme...

In today's episode, the expected loosening of some Covid-19 restrictions appear to have been shelved, amid reports that the BA.2 Omicron subvariant has been detected in Cyprus. Meanwhile, an online petition has been launched calling for the immediate resignation of Archbishop Chrysostomos after he placed a dozen priests on mandatory three-month leave because they are unvaccinated. In other news, a...

In today’s episode, the Supreme Court on Monday overturned a conviction against a young British woman who was accused of lying about being gang-raped in 2019. In Covid-related news, fully vaccinated children and those who recently recovered from the virus will now be excluded from the test-to-stay policy, and the largest cruise ship in the world, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Wonder of the Sea...

In today's episode, the current epidemiological picture in Cyprus is good and the issue of relaxations will be on the table during a meeting tomorrow, a member of the government's scientific team has said. Epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis said that epidemiological indicators show a decrease in cases but more importantly, a decrease in hospitalisations. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar...

In today's episode, a three-year-old boy, who has been hospitalised with serious heart disease at the Makarios children’s hospital in Nicosia, has been denied treatment abroad because his parents are unvaccinated. Meanwhile, the EuroAsia Interconnector, the most expensive project Cyprus has ever been involved in has been approved for €657 million in funding from the EU. In other news, commuters in...

In today's episode, Cyprus’ imports from the UK have plunged a whopping 43 per cent as a result of Brexit, making the UK fall from third to seventh place. Meanwhile, Cyprus has seen the last of the Elpis weather system that brought freezing temperatures, storms and gale force winds, but the cold front accompanying it will remain in the area until Saturday. In other news, the cabinet has also appro...

In today’s episode, the island’s traffic camera system has suffered from an early setback as no fines have yet been issued despite thousands of violations having been recorded. In other news, a bill to remedy the island’s unregulated hostel tourism industry is set to be ready within one month, and Alpine skier, Yiannos Kouyoumdjian, will be Cyprus’ sole representative at the Winter Olympics next m...

In today’s episode, the supreme court yesterday declared null and void a parliamentary resolution last April that had called on the attorney-general and the deputy attorney-general to abstain from taking legal action over the findings of a report into the defunct citizenship-by-investment programme. In other news, MPs have begun discussing the sensitive issue of legalising euthanasia, and the ‘Elp...

In today's episode, deputy leader of the Green Party Efi Xanthou said the "Test to Stay" scheme to be introduced in schools today to allow close contacts to stay in lessons will only create more problems. Meanwhile, the full picture of the new "parliament" in the north, for which elections were held on Sunday, is also expected on Monday. In other news, no information collected so far indicates tha...