Search

181. From animal pens to vacation retreats: The illegal conversion of Akamas shelters

Several months prior to the scheduled implementation of the Akamas plan, stone buildings are emerging in the heart of the forest, completely unrelated to livestock housing, which abounds in the surrounding area. ...

182. Visa fraud scandal widens after airport arrest

Cyprus Police made headway in an investigation into visa fraud over the weekend, following an airport arrest in connection with an illegal network where Syrians rejected for refugee status ended up paying middlemen for subsidiary protection...

183. Seven arrested in residence permit scandal

184. Police arrest civil registry official in residence permit scandal

In a significant development, the Ministry of Interior has reported the arrest of a public official from the Civil Registry and Immigration Department. ...

185. US citizens exit Portugal as demand for 'golden visas' plummet 37%

Following the abolishment of the Golden Visa scheme of Portugal some expatriates are leaving the country, based on the report of Bloomberg....

186. Minister and Council president advocate for holistic sex ed

Minister Athena Michaelidou and Anastasia Papadopoulou, President of the "Voice" Council, joined forces today at the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth to deliver a joint press conference on the topic of sexual education for students. The purpose of the conference was to emphasize the significance of implementing comprehensive sexual education in schools....

187. Assault case: Two men hospitalized with serious injuries

The condition of a 41-year-old man injured at his Protaras residence on June 8 has shown improvement as he receives treatment at Nicosia General Hospital. ...

188. Groundbreaking court to tackle first home foreclosures

The groundwork for the establishment of a specialized jurisdiction court, which will exclusively handle issues related to the foreclosure of primary residences, will be laid on Thursday....

189. Parliament approves reduced VAT rate on first homes

The plenary session of the Cyprus Parliament passed on Thursday almost unanimously a law allowing for the imposition of a reduced VAT rate of 5% on the first 130 sqm of a primary residence, including both houses and apartments...

190. Finance minister warns of VAT consequences

With the deadlines long expired and the saga of amending the Value Added Tax Law to apply the reduced rate of 5% to specific residential square meters dragging on, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos sounds the alarm, emphasizing the palpable risk of Cyprus being taken to the European Court and fined....

191. Convicted drug felon gunned down outside home

Police are investigating a possible mob hit after a convicted drug felon was shot and killed outside his residence in Limassol district over the weekend...

192. Trespasser injured after home owner fires shot

A man in Limassol is in critical condition after an elderly home owner, who was arrested on murder charges, said he fired a shot at someone who was attempting to steal electrical cables near his property...

193. EC urges Cyprus to comply with EU VAT rules for homes

The European Commission has called on Cyprus to comply with EU VAT rules for dwellings by sending a reasoned opinion to the country, included in the Commission’s June infringements package. ...

194. Local home buyers feel priced out in divided Cyprus

Cypriots on both sides of the divided island have been noticing real estate prices going up in recent years due to foreign buyers willing shell out more, with reports suggesting the trend is going nowhere but up...

195. An effective foreclosure framework is important, says FinMin

An effective and functional foreclosure framework is crucial for encouraging borrowers to restructure their debt, due to the high stock of non-performing loans (NPLs), the Cyprus Ministry of Finance said in a press release on Tuesday....

196. Illegal bird trafficking ring busted

An illegal wild bird trafficking ring was dismantled after a joint collaboration between the Game and Wildlife Service and Police....

197. EC challenges 5% VAT proposal for primary residences

Finance Ministry Director-General George Pantelis informed the parliamentary Finance Committee that the European Commission disagrees with the consensual proposal agreed upon in Parliament regarding the imposition of a reduced VAT rate on the construction or acquisition of a primary residence....

198. Real estate: A closer look at prices and rental trends

With the chapter on imposing a reduced VAT rate of 5% on primary residences as a social policy measure finally moving towards resolution, an unresolved issue that has been lingering in the real estate market for years is being addressed....

199. EBA tightens its grip in response to sanctions

Following the uproar caused by the lists of sanctions issued by the US, UK, and European authorities, the European Banking Authority (EBA) is tightening its standards in response. ...

200. Kyriakides: 'Our goal now, medicines for all'

"I have always envisioned a European Health Union, where the European Union would be intimately connected to every citizen regarding health matters....

201. Uncle says Little Hacker was scouting for burial sites

The disappearance of a Limassol man feared murdered has become more complicated after the uncle of the main suspect, known as Little Hacker, offered to point investigators to possible burial sites claiming they were picked by his nephew...

202. Russia blames US for drone attack

Russia attacked several Ukrainian cities with explosive drones overnight, though Ukraine said Thursday that it had managed to shoot most of them down. Russia called the attack payback for what it claims was an alleged attempt by Ukraine to attack the Kremlin in Moscow using drones on Wednesday....

203. Commissioner in Cyprus to probe Russian asset freeze

Commissioner Reynders will request information on the total value of the assets of 'Russian oligarchs' in Cyprus that have been frozen by the authorities he told Cyprus News Agency in an interview, noting that so far, according to official figures 104 million euros in assets have been frozen, which is considered a low amount...

204. Moscow accuses Kyiv of trying to assassinate Putin

President Vladimir Putin's office reported that Ukraine carried out two drone attacks overnight with the intention of hitting the Russian President's Kremlin residence....

205. More details and questions emerge in disappearance case

New developments and more questions emerged on Tuesday in the disappearance of a Limassol man after police re-arrested the main suspect hours before his remand expired, with reports saying the judge heard about new incriminating statements from other jailed suspects...

206. Cyprus tightens criteria for immigration permit scheme

A revised set of criteria on the expedited process for granting immigration permits to third-country nationals who invest in Cyprus will be in effect as of May 2, 2023, the Interior Ministry announced on Friday....

207. Disappearance less clear after cops nab hacker’s pal

A man said to be an acquaintance of Little Hacker, the detained suspect in a disappearance case possibly linked to cryptocurrency theft, has also been nabbed by police after investigators became suspicious over partial statements he had made, but charges still remained unclear...

208. Finance Minister considers lowering VAT rates for basic necessities

The Minister of Finance of Cyprus, Makis Keravnos, has announced that the Ministry is considering measures for banks and credit-acquiring companies to absorb high-interest rate increases, as well as reducing value-added tax (VAT) for basic necessity products to tackle high prices....

209. Finance Minister requests containment of lending rates for housing loans

The Finance Minister of Cyprus, Makis Keravnos, has written letters to the Director General of the Cyprus Banks Association and the Director General of the Association of Credit Acquisition Companies and Credit Facility Managers, requesting measures to control rising lending rates for serviceable loans up to €350,000....

210. Numerous foreclosure sales expected in 2023 and 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of divestments since 2020 have led to the creation of a considerable volume of properties for disposal that banks and credit purchase companies have on their balance sheets....