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1. Trump envoy says Middle East has no democracies, allies react angrily

“I don’t see any democracy anywhere,” Tom Barrack said on December 7, referring to the broader Middle East. “Israel may claim to be a democracy, but in this region, what has really worked best, whether you like it or not, are benevolent monarchies,”...

2. The racism we refuse to see: Islamophobia

While antisemitism has reentered public discussion over the past two years, driven by bloody events and the propaganda surrounding them, Islamophobia is the issue that should demand our attention if we truly want to talk objectively about racism, discrimination, and injustice....

3. Migration’s mark on the Cypriot economy and society

New data from the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection shows the Cypriot economy’s heavy reliance on foreign workers who reside and work on the island....

4. The war isn’t televised

If the goal of the October 7, 2023, attack, as I personally believe, was to prevent regional cooperation and achieve an Arab coalition under a new jihad, the result has been a complete failure. ...

5. Cyprus launches voluntary return plan for Syrians ready to return home

The Cypriot government on Thursday rolled out a new voluntary repatriation plan for Syrian families who wish to return home, as the country begins to rebuild in the wake of a long civil war....

6. Christodoulides walks a diplomatic tightrope with high-stakes visit to Israel

President Nikos Christodoulides’ upcoming visit to Israel on May 4 comes at a critical time for the Eastern Mediterranean, with energy disputes, shifting alliances, and ongoing conflicts shaping the region’s future....

7. Israeli army leads civilian tours inside occupied Syrian land

In a move sparking international attention, and concern, Israel’s army is leading guided tours for civilians deep into occupied Syrian land, turning former conflict zones into hiking destinations....

8. Cyprus and the Netherlands: A strong but often overlooked bond

The Netherlands, a key player in both the EU and NATO, remains somewhat of an unknown entity in Cyprus—aside from Amsterdam’s popularity as a travel destination and the well-known football club Ajax....

9. Barbershop battle brews in Nicosia’s old town as Cypriot barbers face extinction

In Nicosia’s Old Town, a quiet battle is playing out—one haircut at a time. On one side are the last five Cypriot barbers still operating in the walled city, clinging to tradition and fearing extinction. ...

10. Turkish media: Discontent over Cypriot Foreign Minister's visit to Syria

11. Turkey announces killing of 15 Kurdish fighters

Turkey announced today that it had killed 13 Kurdish fighters in northern Syria and two in Iraq....

12. Cyprus-U.S. relations grows under Biden, but what’s next with Trump?

In recent years, Cyprus and the United States have significantly strengthened their ties, with Joe Biden's administration taking bold steps to solidify the relationship....

13. Over 900 Syrians withdraw asylum in Cyprus

In a surprising development, more than 900 Syrians in Cyprus have either withdrawn their asylum applications or revoked their international protection status in just one month, signaling a shift in migration patterns. ...

14. Israeli President Herzog visits Cyprus amid regional diplomatic shifts

The visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Cyprus on Thursday, following the 10th Trilateral Summit involving Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt, is seen as a calculated move amidst significant regional developments. ...

15. Turkish FM Fidan visits occupied Cyprus amid key regional shifts

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s two-day visit to the occupied territories, taking place today and tomorrow, is considered particularly significant. ...

16. Political Islam is changing. What it means for the Middle East and Cyprus

Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) is often regarded as the father of modern militant Islam. He reshaped the concept of jihad, transforming it from its Quranic meaning into a radicalized interpretation that gave rise to political Islam. ...

17. Assad poisoned in alleged assassination attempt

In a shocking turn of events, former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is reported to have been poisoned in what may have been an assassination attempt....

18. Asma al-Assad denied UK return for cancer treatment

Asma al-Assad, the wife of fallen Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, is facing a difficult reality in her battle with cancer. ...

19. Weird flex, but OK

"We did it first" appears to be the government's message, as six months after Cyprus suspended processing asylum applications from Syrians....

20. Syria’s new leader calls for lifting sanctions, says country no longer a threat

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new de facto leader of syria, has urged the international community to lift sanctions on the war-torn country, insisting syria no longer poses a threat to its neighbors or to the west....

21. Prisoner freed by CNN news crew turns out to be Assad regime torturer

In a bizarre twist that reads like a thriller, a recent CNN report went viral for helping to free a Syrian prisoner — but the man they rescued turned out to be not just any detainee. He was a notorious member of Bashar al-Assad's regime, reportedly involved in torturing civilians....

22. How Assad’s regime stashed millions while Syria crumbled

It turns out, while Syria was crumbling under war and sanctions, Bashar al-Assad’s regime was quietly flying millions in cash to Moscow....

23. Israel seizes Golan Heights buffer zone after Assad's fall

After the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel seized control of a crucial buffer zone in the Golan Heights, an area that has been a source of ongoing geopolitical tension....

24. The amphetamine that toppled Assad

The rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria came as a surprise to many. After a fierce, multi-day assault, rebel forces captured the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. ...

25. Asma Assad 'not welcome' in the UK, says Foreign Secretary

The British wife of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Asma Assad, has been confirmed as a sanctioned individual and is "not welcome" in the UK, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. ...

26. Cyprus sees slow Syrian asylum withdrawals amid ongoing instability

The flow of Syrians requesting to withdraw their asylum applications in Cyprus remains low, despite the growing number of inquiries from individuals seeking information about the process. ...

27. Syrian refugees in Cyprus urge government to facilitate their safe return to Syria

A group of Syrian refugees in Cyprus, known as ''Syrians in Cyprus,'' has submitted a letter to Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection, Nicolas Ioannidis,...

28. The dust has yet to settle in Syria

Many Syrian parents at my child’s school expressed a desire to return home now that Bashar al-Assad’s regime has collapsed. I urged them to wait. ...

29. Kurdish community in Cyprus calls for U.S. action to halt Turkish attacks in Syria

The Kurdish community in Cyprus called on the United States for help to stop attacks by Turkey and Ankara-backed groups in northern Syria....

30. The surprising rise of al-Jolani and its implications for Syria and Cyprus

No one expected that al-Jolani, a man who began his journey in the Salafi jihadism of al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, would lead such a counteroffensive from the anti-Assad Sunni opposition....