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1. Cigarette prices could soar to €7.50, smuggling set to spike

Cigarette smokers in Cyprus may soon feel a heavier pinch in their wallets if proposed European tax changes go ahead, industry officials warned this week....

2. Our bright future

After all, as we have repeatedly pointed out, the EU’s involvement in the Cyprus issue would merely be supportive of any potential UN initiative. And therefore, the terminology of “more active involvement” deployed by President Christodoulides belonged to the realm of wishful thinking...

3. Cyprus Customs crack down on fake condoms: 24,000 confiscated

Customs officers have pulled the plug on thousands of counterfeit condoms in Famagusta, seizing more than 24,000 knockoffs from a warehouse and a local store....

4. Smuggled tobacco from occupied north seized on Limassol–Larnaca highway

What began as a routine traffic stop on the Limassol–Larnaca motorway ended in a seizure of untaxed tobacco believed to have been transported from the north, highlighting once again the challenges authorities face in policing illicit trade across Cyprus....

5. ICE detains 5-year-old, stoking outrage in Minnesota schools

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained at least four children from the same Minnesota school district this month, including a 5-year-old boy, raising alarm among parents, educators, and local officials....

6. Customs seize 210 cartons at Larnaca airport

Three passengers heading for the UK got an unexpected boarding delay on Monday after customs officers at Larnaca Airport opened their luggage and found it packed with cigarettes, not clothes....

7. A Nicosia mansion finds new life in the heart of the city

In the heart of Nicosia, just steps from the iconic Venetian walls, stands one of the city’s most distinctive architectural gems....

8. Trying to sneak tobacco into Cyprus? Customs just sent a €2,000 message

Customs officers at Larnaca Airport stopped a 29-year-old passenger earlier this month after discovering large quantities of tobacco and electronic cigarettes hidden in his luggage, the latest in a string of cases highlighting how often undeclared smoking products try to slip through Cyprus’ entry points....

9. EU to impose temporary €3 customs fee on small imported parcels

Starting 1 July 2026, small parcels entering the European Union will be subject to a flat customs fee of €3, a measure aimed at regulating the surge in low-value shipments from overseas e-commerce platforms. ...

10. US to demand five years of social media history from tourists

Visitors from dozens of countries, including Greece, who travel to the United States under the visa-free program may soon face new entry requirements: authorities could ask them to provide their social media history for the past five years....

11. Greek retail giant Jumbo heads to Canada with first Ontario stores in 2026

Greek retail giant Jumbo is taking its next big step abroad, this time to Canada. The chain, known for its toys, home goods, and seasonal products, plans to open its first three stores in Ontario in 2026, marking its 12th market globally....

12. Spike in raw meat smuggling worries Customs

Cyprus’ Customs Department is sounding the alarm after two back-to-back cases of raw meat being brought from the occupied north into the Republic, a practice officials warn poses serious public health risks....

13. EU to require digital toy passports for every product sold

The EU is giving its toy safety rules a major makeover, and parents might breathe a little easier because of it....

14. Europe moves toward ‘military schengen’

The European Commission is pushing ahead with plans to make it easier and faster for troops and military equipment to move across Europe, while also modernizing the continent’s defence industry....

15. In Turkey’s ''new era,'' Cyprus remains the red line

Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, used a budget-committee hearing in Ankara to sketch out Ankara’s foreign-policy priorities, from its fragile thaw with Greece to long-standing disputes in the Aegean and the future of the Cyprus talks....

16. American woman gets 15-year sentence over 35 kilos of cannabis

A 35-year-old woman from the United States was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison after admitting she tried to bring 35 kilograms of cannabis into Cyprus hidden in two suitcases....

17. Authorities seize over 10,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes in two Larnaca incidents

Larnaca law enforcement and customs officials intercepted two rental commercial vehicles carrying massive quantities of untaxed tobacco products in what may be linked smuggling cases. ...

18. Turkish Cypriot man caught crossing with 200kg of meat, bones, and animal skins

Cyprus customs officers have seized roughly 200 kilograms of raw meat found in a vehicle entering the Republic from the occupied northern areas, warning again about the public health risks linked to unregulated animal products....

19. Mavroyiannis: ''A crack is opening and we must exploit it''

A ''crack'' has opened in the decades-old Cyprus problem, and the Greek Cypriot side must seize the moment, says former UN negotiator and presidential candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis....

20. British journalist detained in U.S. after criticizing Israel--a warning for travelers?

British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday, a move that has sent shockwaves through Britain’s Muslim community and beyond....

21. Cyprus emerges as key hub in UK stolen car trade

Cyprus ranks among the top destinations for vehicles stolen from the United Kingdom, a new study by Thatcham Research and the UK’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service shows....

22. Cyprus to present six-point Gaza plan to EU Council

Cyprus is expected to present a ''six-point plan'' to the European Council today, outlining concrete steps for the next phase of implementing the Gaza peace agreement signed earlier this year at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit....

23. Woman caught smuggling cocaine in bra and underwear at Larnaca airport

Police seized more than half a kilo of cocaine at Larnaca airport on Monday, arresting a 23-year-old woman who allegedly tried to smuggle the drugs into Cyprus by hiding them on, and inside, her body....

24. Customs seize 13,000 cigarettes at Larnaca Airport

Customs officers at Larnaca Airport intercepted a passenger carrying a large quantity of cigarettes destined for the United Kingdom....

25. Cypriot tradition came to life at Alphamega Hypermarkets

The 1st Cypriot Tradition Festival titled “Cypriot and Authentic” took place on Sunday, 28 September, at the outdoor area of Alphamega Engomi, attracting a large, enthusiastic crowd. Visitors of all ages enjoyed an authentic experience, full of flavours, music, games and images of Cypriot tradition that we all love and want to preserve....

26. Bayern Munich bus trapped at Limassol port amid customs strike

Bayern Munich’s team bus is enjoying an unexpected layover at Limassol port, thanks to an indefinite strike by customs officers that has brought much of the port to a standstill....

27. Larnaca Marina dredging on track for 2025 finish, minister says

The dredging of Larnaca Marina is moving ahead as planned and is expected to finish by December 2025, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis said Friday, reassuring boat owners that smoother sailing is on the way....

28. Alphamega Hypermarkets to host the 1st Cypriot Tradition Festival ''Cypriot and Authentic''

29. Man arrested at Larnaca airport with 22 kilograms of cannabis

A 34-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning at Larnaca Airport after police discovered more than 22 kilograms of cannabis in his luggage, authorities said....

30. Larnaca Airport set to become trade powerhouse, bringing jobs and faster shipping to Cyprus

Cyprus is moving forward with plans to establish a cargo hub and aircraft maintenance services at Larnaca Airport, aiming to boost trade, connectivity, and economic activity, officials said....