News Stream

Cyprus parliament suspends foreclosures

The House of Representatives voted in its last plenary before summer recess an amendment to the foreclosure law that foresees a freeze in foreclosures and suspension for loans eligible for the ESTIA loan relief plan...

New law criminalizes sex buyer behaviour

The House has passed a law criminalizing customers who pay for sex with trafficked women, while it rejected an amendment that would provide a legal recourse for defendants who use a plea of ignorance as their defence...

Cyprus rejects extradition of Kurdish activist

A Kurdish man wanted by German authorities on terrorism-related charges won’t be extradited, following a decision by a Larnaca court that found political beliefs were behind the persecution...

Which way will SYRIZA go?

It will take a couple of months before we see what kind of style SYRIZA plans to adopt in its reprised role as the country’s main opposition party. For the time being at least, it appears willing to cut some slack to the new government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. ...

The new government, image and symbolism

The first indications from the new government are sending out all the right signals. Tuesday’s handover ceremonies at the ministries confirmed a return to normalcy, after a decade-long crisis that painfully divided the country. Both sides should be given credit for the civilized political discourse that prevailed during the change of guard. It is hoped that this spirit will continue during the debates that are expected to take place in Parliament, not only in the sense of a more sophisticated rhetoric, but also, hopefully, in the approval of some government bills by the new main opposition....

First parts of Russian S-400 system delivered to Turkey

Turkey’s purchase of the Russian defense systems, which Washington says are not compatible with NATO’s defense network, is one of a series of issues which have put the allies at odds. ...

Isabelle Dumont the new French Ambassador to Cyprus

Isabelle Dumont will succeed René Troccaz as the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Cyprus. The 44-year-old diplomat is currently serving as the French Ambassador in Ukraine. ...

Neo Plaza construction up for grabs

Companies from Greece and Cyprus are showing interest in building Neo Plaza, a price-slashing outlet mall in west Nicosia...

Christodoulides: Nicosia completely satisfied with EU measures

Speaking on state radio Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the the government is completely satisfied with the final proposal on EU measures against Turkey. ...

House debates 'sex buyer' legislation

Two proposals in parliament on the purchase of sexual services have taken politicians and the public by storm, with human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors in the backdrop...

Nicosia wants tougher measures against Turkey

The sanctions that were discussed on Thursday by national envoys of European Union member-states against Turkey over its illegal drilling activities off Cyprus do not, reportedly, go far enough for Nicosia, which wants tougher measures. ...

Spotty storms in the afternoon

Weather officials say there is a chance of brief showers and even thunderstorms on Friday afternoon, mainly in the southeast, while maximum highs will reach upper 30’s around the capital...

Woman dead after Larnaca car accident

An elderly woman was killed in an accident on Thursday when she was struck by a car on the Kornos-Kofinou old highway, in Larnaca district....

Bus driver cries foul over airport assault

A Turkish Cypriot bus driver says Greek Cypriots threw rocks at his vehicle at Larnaca International Airport where he had gone to pick up tourists...

George Low murder still open case

The unsolved murder of George Low was back in the headlines this week, with some new information about additional possible suspects and a frustration over two identified suspects who remain at large...

Mobile phones now work across divided Cyprus

The United Nations has lauded the news that mobile phone coverage has been extended to both sides of the divide on the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. ...

Tourist describes scenes from resort town hit by hurricane

EU signals sanctions on Turkey over Cyprus drilling

The European Union will put on hold high-level talks with Ankara and negotiations on an air transport agreement, as well as freeze funding for Turkey next year, over “illegal” drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters...

Guests evacuate hotel in Limassol

Authorities went on alert Thursday morning following reports of chemicals spilled in a storage area of a local hotel...

Britain says Iran attempted to block its oil tanker

Three Iranian vessels tried to block the passage of a British ship through the Strait of Hormuz but withdrew after warnings from a British warship, the British government said on Thursday. ...

Displaced Greek Cypriots up in arms over land

Dozens of Greek Cypriot families in Limassol are up in arms over a land dispute, accusing the government of lying to them as they face lawsuits from a Turkish Cypriot property owner...

Large areas of Halkidiki without power after deadly storms

About 80 percent of Halkidiki, and specifically the first and a small section of the second peninsula that make up the regional unit, remained without power a day after storms and gale-force winds toppled trees and utility poles, the head of the union of Public Power Corporation employees (GENOP) said Thursday....

UNFICYP mandate extended for another six months

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has recommended that the Security Council extends UNFICYP’s mandate until January 31, 2020 in recognition of its continued contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability. ...

Six killed as severe weather hits Greece

Nicosia bypass closer to the start line

The long-awaited Nicosia bypass on the perimeter of the capital is a step closer to the start line, with reports saying a tender could be announced as early as next week...

Muggy as heat index soars

Officials issued another yellow warning Thursday due to extreme heat, with maximum highs reaching 41 degrees inland and humidity on the rise all around the coast...

Cyprus aims to be among the first to regulate blockchain technology

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and more specifically, Blockchain, can offer endless possibilities in many different fields, according to speakers addressing the Cyprus Blockchain Summit, on Wednesday, in Nicosia. Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said that Cyprus aim to be among the first countries to regulate aspects of DLT. The creation of the regulatory framework should be flexible, so that it will promote innovation and provide legal certainty and protection for both consumers and investors, House President Demetris Syllouris noted from his part...

No preliminary agreement on EU sanctions on Turkey

According to a diplomatic source that informed the press in Brussels the discussion on EU sanctions against Turkey will continue Thursday afternoon, as today there was no agreement...

Cyprus pushes for ferry link with Greece

The government is looking for ferry links to Greece as cheaper alternatives to costly flights, with the shipping deputy minister hoping there will be a weekly connection by next summer...

Lukewarm reaction to EU sanctions on Turkey