Huginn Daily

Saturday, August 15, 2026

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• Moni residents in sea sewage battle

  Sewage is overflowing into the sea at Moni as we speak, even as plans go ahead for a desalination plant in neighbouring Monagroulli, which will be removing the salt from the same water and distributing 60,000 cubic metres of it per day to Limassol households.

  Sewage has been dumped in Cyprus seas for years, a practice so acceptable it has been built into how sewage treatment plants are run and no one bats an eyelid.

  The latest sludge to surface is at Moni, where the community has kicked up a stink, with authorities hoping to get a clear picture of its extent soon.

  During the holiday season, sewage treatment plants are working at full capacity due to the influx of tourists and dump excess into the sea, creating an unfortunate vicious circle.

  “Once tourists see this, they are not going to come again,” environmental activist Efi Xanthou, member of Volt and the Ecological Movement of Cyprus, explained to the Cyprus Mail.

  The impact on the Moni plant and Limassol’s sewerage system is particularly dire because it has been working above capacity, as it has had to accommodate the septic tank trucks redirected from the Vati plant, which is currently undergoing repairs.

  As a result, Moni is pumping sewage into the sea in such quantities that prompted the community council to take matters into its own hands.

  In June, the Moni community council reported the high concentration of sewage in the sea, which was by then reaching the beach, and in July the councils of Moni and Monagroulli met with the now former agriculture minister to discuss a new desalination plant at Monagroulli and raised the issue of pollution.

  Moni community leader Giorgos Evripidou told the Cyprus Mail that the Monagroulli desalination plant will be “pumping water from the sea and distributing it into homes”. This desalinated water, he said, will be the same water into which the sewage has been flowing for years.

  The plant at Moni treats sewage and produces irrigation quality water and is supposed to dump any excess only if there is a technical problem.

  In late July, the former environment commissioner met with representatives from the Limassol local district government (EOA) and the Moni plant to discuss the complaints and visit the unit to determine the situation first hand.

  The Moni plant, which is managed by the Limassol EOA, was found to be dumping a higher volume of sewage due to its inability to handle the amounts being directed there from the broken down Vati plant, which has been out of operation since 2025.

  Various ideas were discussed during the meeting but no deadline was announced.

  “There is no deadline mentioned because they have no solution,” said Xanthou.

  “The problem is that every time summer comes we have a humongous number of tourists coming. The Limassol plant, all the sewage plants, are working at top capacity. So, every time they supposedly do some sort of treatment and they dump it.”

  Xanthou said that the sewage unfortunately “ends up on the beach and they are pretending it is a problem with the ships – and it might also be a problem with the ships, so you have two sources of sewage coming onto the beach”.

  Environment department director Elena Stylianopoulou told the Cyprus Mail that “we have to get a comprehensive picture of what is going on and we are at the stage of investigation, which will be wrapped up soon.”

  She said that as soon as the complaints were made, the department launched an investigation.

  “We took some samples and we are taking more just to be sure we have a clear picture. On-site inspections were made at the EOA plant and our aim is to see what is happening with the quantities going in and coming out,” Stylianopoulou said.

  “We are treating it as a priority issue.”

  “I believe things will become clear in the coming days,” she added.

  Evripidou said the issue would “not become clear” in the coming days. “There is no other way for them to get rid of the sewage,” he explained.

  Xanthou said that the problem had been known for years.

  “But it is the first time somebody – Moni – has actually done something about it, they have actually recorded it, with footage and samples.”

  Evripidou has been receiving complaints about the quality of water. “Families come to my office covered in rashes,” he said.

  While the pipeline was supposed to extend 530 metres into the sea, it ended at 120m. “Sludge is flowing into the sea as we speak,” Evripidou said. He added that the community hired divers to take videos of the sewer overflow in the sea and requested answers from the authorities.

  According to Xanthou, “the fact that the government is not answering indicates that they couldn’t care less about the citizens or the environmental organisations.”

  “The fact that they got divers to go out there – and it’s at 100m instead of the 500m that they have always said that it was – is a huge thing.”

  She claimed that the environment department would not do anything because it is a government facility.

  “It is the same problem we have with any source of environmental pollution that comes from a government source because basically they can’t fine the government, they can’t fine themselves.”

  “We have to report the government. It won’t be the first time. They will say they are doing something about it, but they are not,” Xanthou said.

  In terms of the impact of the overflow, Xanthou added that it was not just about sewage, but included any chemicals in household cleaning products.

  “We are violating a lot of [EU] directives, not just safety for beachgoers – it’s any sort of marine life and the ecosystem.”

  She said the overflow infrastructure was built at the same time as the Moni plant. There were supposed to be contingency plans for whenever it was at full capacity.

  But when the environment commissioner found the seabed in the area had turned a greenish colour it was clear that dumping the sewage about 200m from the coastline was not far enough to prevent it from washing up on the shore.

  One option discussed during the on-site visit was to fully utilise all treated water from Moni, which exceeds 30,000 cubic metres per day, by allocating more for irrigation and by storing the rest at the Polemidia reservoir.

  “We will bring divers again. We will test the water again. But the sea at Moni will still be polluted. They have been doing it for years and there is no way of knowing how far the pollution has spread,” Evripidou said.

  The next step, he said was to sue the government. “We have no other choice. We have lost all our blue flags and no one takes any notice of us […] we were informed about the desalination plant from the newspapers,” he explained.

  The Cyprus Mail contacted the Limassol EOA and the fisheries department for comment.

• ‘Let us never accept a future which was imposed by force’, Letymbiotis says

  Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis called on Friday for renewed emphasis on international law as Cyprus marked the 52nd anniversary of the second phase of the 1974 Turkish invasion.

  In a post on X, Letymbiotis said the collective responsibility was to “never get used to injustice”, as efforts continue under the UN Secretary General to seek a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

  “Our response is clear, even more insistence on diplomacy, on international law, United Nations resolutions, the agreed framework and the convergences that have already been achieved,” he said.

  Referring to August 14, 1974, Letymbiotis recounted that Turkey resumed military operations while talks were taking place in Geneva.

  “While diplomacy was seeking a way out, Turkey again chose weapons, to complete the crime,” he said.

  Letymbiotis said the offensive violated the principles of the diplomatic process, truce and ceasefire.

  “International law was trampled. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state,” he said.

  He also referred to refugees displaced in 1974 who believed they would return home within days but died without ever doing so.

  “This is our pain, this is our collective responsibility,” Letymbiotis said.

  He argued that the passage of time could not alter the legal status of the division.

  “Time does not transform illegality into legality, nor occupation into an acceptable reality,” he said.

  Letymbiotis said the current diplomatic effort should remain centred on the agreed framework and existing convergences.

  “Let us never accept as a future what was imposed by force with weapons,” he said, concluding with a call for the “liberation and reunification of our homeland”.

• Grid operator assures no power cuts expected as demand eases

  The transmission system operator (TSO) has assured consumers that no power cuts are expected in the coming days as electricity demand falls and sufficient generating capacity remains available.

  TSO spokesperson Hara Koussiappa informed the Cyprus News Agency on Friday that demand had reached about 1,200 megawatts during midday in recent days, while night-time demand stood at between 950MW and 1,000MW.

  Available production capacity is currently above 1,240MW, providing sufficient coverage of demand and reserve capacity in the event of a generating unit failure.

  “We are not expected to have any cuts or problems in meeting this demand,” Koussiappa said.

  She added that any disruption caused by the loss of a production unit would last only a few minutes while the system was rebalanced.

  The assessment follows electricity supply problems recorded in July, when record demand coincided with failures at conventional generating units.

  Koussiappa said demand had since fallen and that further reductions were expected from Saturday, August 15, as people leave Cyprus for the holiday period.

  “Currently, the coverage of demand is satisfactory,” she said, adding that the situation would be reassessed when holidaymakers return and temperatures change.

  Officials previously told the House energy committee last month that nine ageing conventional units at Dhekelia and Vasiliko will have to be withdrawn after 2029 under European environmental rules.

  The units represent about 750MW of generating capacity. Officials have warned that their withdrawal could create a significant shortfall if planned energy projects are delayed.

  Energy Minister Michael Damianos has said supply should remain adequate until 2030 through existing generators and planned storage capacity, while stressing that natural gas will be needed to maintain sufficient capacity thereafter.

  A 120MW central storage facility is also due to be installed by the TSO from January.

• Turkish Cypriot activist questioned over remarks on Turkish influence in north

  Turkish Cypriot activist Selma Eylem said on Friday she had been asked by police in the north to give a statement over remarks she made to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the situation in the northern part of Cyprus.

  Eylem, a former president of the north’s senior school teachers’ union, said a police sergeant from the judicial affairs department contacted her by telephone and asked her to provide a statement.

  “I asked whether there was an offence or a complaint, and he insisted there was not,” Eylem said, according to Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yenidüzen.

  She said the officer told her he had an “official document” and asked her to attend to give a statement. Eylem said she declined and ended the call.

  She subsequently contacted her lawyer, Oncel Polili, who spoke with police and advised her that there was no legal requirement for her to provide a statement, according to Eylem.

  The request concerned remarks Eylem made during a meeting with Guterres on July 28, when the UN secretary-general met with civil society representatives as part of his contacts on the Cyprus problem.

  Eylem attended the meeting on behalf of the bicommunal peace initiative and handed Guterres a joint declaration signed by 108 organisations.

  She said she told Guterres that the division of Cyprus was harming both communities, while arguing that Turkish Cypriots were facing particular consequences in the north.

  According to Eylem, she told the UN secretary-general that “the northern part of the island has been transformed into a sub-administration of Turkey”.

  She also referred to what she described as “assimilation policies” and alleged that Turkish Cypriots were “being turned into a minority through population transfers” of Turkish settlers.

  “Our will has been taken away, and a solution is urgently needed for the island,” she said she told Guterres.

  Eylem also called on the United Nations to take a more active role in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, rather than simply observing developments on the island.

  She described the request for a statement as “an attempt to exert political pressure”.

  “There are some who are disturbed when these issues are discussed and when the realities are expressed,” she said.

• Questions raised over order not to mine Kyrenia coast before invasion

  The 70th Engineer Battalion was ordered not to lay mines at a key landing point on the northern coast of Cyprus shortly before the Turkish invasion in 1974, according to an account published by Phileleftheros on Friday.

  The report, by Vassos Vasiliou, focuses on the battalion’s movements in the hours before the Turkish landing at Pente Mili and the subsequent fighting around Kyrenia, Lapithos and Karavas.

  According to a draft war diary attributed to then engineer lieutenant Panayiotis Panagopoulos, a detachment of the battalion arrived in Kyrenia at 11.45pm on July 19.

  The unit had been expected to mine the coast at Pente Mili, where a Turkish landing was considered possible.

  Instead, Panagopoulos recorded that the detachment received an order from Stylianos Michopoulos, commander of the 3rd tactical group, not to mine the coast.

  The order was reportedly justified with the words “you have come merely as a precaution”.

  The account reported by Phileleftheros says the engineers were therefore prevented from carrying out preparations at an area where Turkish forces would land hours later.

  A similar account was later given in a television interview by reserve officer Kostas Santamas, who said the engineers had not been permitted to mine the landing point shortly before the invasion.

  The report also cites the testimony of Theodoros Charalambous, then an assistant in the 4th Staff Office of the Higher Tactical Command.

  He said the 70th Engineer Battalion had received orders on July 19 to lay mines at beaches five and six miles from Kyrenia, but that Michopoulos prevented the operation.

  Charalambous has attributed Michopoulos’ decision to instructions from the Greek junta under dictator Dimitrios Ioannides.

  He also cited an audio recording from a July 20 war council in Athens in which Ioannides is reported to have said “let them enter Kyrenia and then intervene”.

  The 70th Engineer Battalion subsequently became heavily involved in the fighting around Lapithos and Karavas.

  On August 5, an engineer company was sent into the area to lay a minefield.

  According to a later account cited by Cyprus Mail, the minefield was almost completed by the evening, but the engineers were ordered to remain close to the front line and continue their work the following day.

  On August 6, Turkish forces launched a major attack in the area. Of the 53 engineers involved, 22 managed to escape, while 31 were reported missing.

  The fighting left the battalion with some of the heaviest losses suffered by a single National Guard unit during the invasion.

  The question of whether the National Guard was deliberately restrained on orders from Greek commanders, inadequately prepared by the misuse of weaponry taken by Archbishop Makarios’ paramilitary units or simply overwhelmed remains contentious.

• Cyprus problem remains an issue of occupation, says Dendias

  Greek defence minister Nikos Dendias said on Friday that the Cyprus problem remains an issue of “illegal military occupation” as Greece marked the 52nd anniversary of the second phase of Operation Attila.

  In a message posted on social media, Dendias paid tribute to those killed during the Turkish invasion of 1974, saying “we honour the memory of our fallen Greek and Cypriot brothers, who fought for the freedom of Cyprus”.

  “We do not forget the missing and their families,” he added.

  Dendias said the passage of time had not diminished the importance of remembering those events, adding that Greece “honours the memory” of those who died and continues to remember the missing and their families.

• Three police officers suspended over alleged assault in Paphos nightclub

  Three police officers have been suspended following a complaint that an individual was assaulted at a nightclub in Paphos, police said on Friday.

  The officers, aged 36, 43 and 44, were placed on leave on the instructions of deputy police chief Panikos Stavrou while the case is investigated.

  Police said the alleged assault took place in the early hours of Thursday, August 13, while the three officers were off duty.

  The investigation began after a member of the public reported that he had been attacked by four people while at a nightclub in Paphos.

  Police subsequently established that three of the four people allegedly involved were members of the force.

  The three officers are being investigated for assault causing actual bodily harm.

  The case is being handled by Paphos CID.

• Seven police officers face criminal investigation over Alexui allegations

  An independent criminal investigation has been opened into allegations made by Ioanna Fotiou, known publicly as Annie Alexui, against seven police officers.

  Fotiou said on Friday that she had been informed by the watchdog tasked with investigating complaints against the police (Aadipa) that two criminal investigators had been appointed to examine her complaints.

  She said she was preparing to consult her lawyers about how she would give evidence and expressed a preference to do so online.

  The complaints were first submitted in April after Justice Minister Costas Fitiris directed the material to the independent authority.

  The authority subsequently informed attorney-general George Savvides and requested that an independent criminal investigator be appointed.

  Fotiou has accused seven officers of misconduct and corruption but has repeatedly said the complaints submitted so far represent only part of the material she claims to possess.

  “There are other police officers about whom I have much more serious material,” she said.

  Among the senior officers she has publicly accused is deputy police chief Michalis Katsounotos.

  Her allegations against him concern what she describes as the protection of criminal interests and failures to properly investigate serious cases.

  Katsounotos has previously been the subject of separate allegations by former central prisons director Anna Aristotelous, who accused him of abusing his authority and colluding with a convicted prisoner to obtain compromising material against her.

  An independent investigation found no evidence of corruption, while the attorney-general decided against prosecution on public interest grounds.

  Fotiou has also raised the unresolved 2012 death of 17-year-old Andreas Loizou at the Mouttayiaka underpass in Limassol.

  At the time, Katsounotos was head of Limassol traffic police.

  The case became the subject of allegations of a cover-up involving a high-ranking politician’s daughter, although no charges were brought and authorities attributed missing records to technical difficulties.

  Another senior officer named by Fotiou is deputy police chief Panikos Stavrou.

  In May, she published extracts from a sworn statement connected to the investigation into the murder of Alexis Mavromichalis, known himself as Alexui, and claimed the material supported allegations that Stavrou had received money from individuals involved in organised crime.

  The affidavit contained a witness account referring to contacts within the police who could allegedly “arrange their business” and included a reference to “Panikos”.

  It also alleged that Stavrou appeared in footage receiving a briefcase containing money.

  The alleged footage was said to have been stored on a USB device later recovered by police, although the device was reportedly damaged and its contents could not be retrieved.

  Those allegations had previously been examined by the police’s internal affairs service, though the investigation did not establish evidence of criminal wrongdoing against Stavrou and no offences were substantiated.

  No alleged video has been publicly produced by Fotiou.

  Fotiou has also accused other police officers and public officials of misconduct, claiming that she has recordings, videos, screenshots and other material supporting her allegations.

  She has said that she became so distrustful of Cypriot authorities that she sought asylum in Russia.

  “I don’t know why we had to get this far for this to happen,” she said on Friday, referring to the appointment of investigators.

  She also claimed that she had been forced to document her interactions with police herself because she believed her allegations would otherwise be dismissed.

  Fitiris has repeatedly said that allegations must be submitted through established legal procedures rather than social media.

  Fotiou had previously insisted she wanted to provide recordings of conversations with police officers and other material she claimed showed misconduct and cover-ups.

  Authorities have also been examining to obtain her formal testimony while she remains abroad.

  The case is separate from the 13 arrest warrants issued against Fotiou in January following complaints by police officers, MPs and members of the public over alleged offences including harassment, the publication of false information and violations concerning personal data.

  Among those who filed complaints were Katsounotos, former Paphos police chief Nicos Tsappis and other serving officers.

• 36-year-old arrested over alleged attempted murder in Nicosia

  A 36-year-old man was arrested in Nicosia on Friday over the alleged attempted murder of a 29-year-old woman.

  Police said the man was arrested at noon and is being investigated over offences including attempted murder, assault causing actual bodily harm and violence against women.

  The 29-year-old woman went to Nicosia general hospital after being injured, where upon doctors found bruising, swelling and haematomas on various parts of her body.

  The suspect is due to appear before Nicosia district court on Saturday, when police are expected to seek a detention order.

  Police are continuing their investigations.

• Cyprus GDP grows 3.3 per cent in second quarter, outpacing eurozone average

  President and Finance Minister welcome the latest figures, highlighting prudent government policy

  Cyprus recorded 3.3 per cent annual economic growth in the second quarter of 2026, more than three times the eurozone rate, according to preliminary data released by the state statistical service (Cystat) on Friday.

  Specifically, the Cypriot economy’s seasonally adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3.3 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2025, while growth accelerated on a quarterly basis to 0.8 per cent, up from 0.5 per cent in the first quarter.

  The expansion was driven mainly by wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repairs, information and communication, financial and insurance activities, and construction, the statistical service said.

  The latest figure represents a slight acceleration from the 3.0 per cent annual growth recorded in the first quarter of 2026.

  The economy had expanded by 4.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025, 3.5 per cent in the third quarter and 3.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.

  Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said the latest figures showed that the economy continued to expand at a strong pace, demonstrating its resilience and momentum despite a challenging international and European environment.

  “The Cyprus economy is therefore growing at a rate more than three times that of the eurozone,” Keravnos said, pointing to the eurozone’s 1 per cent growth rate over the same period.

  He explained that the performance was “neither accidental nor temporary”, attributing it to prudent fiscal management, financial system stability and stronger investor confidence, as well as the dynamism of Cypriot businesses and workers.

  At the same time, Keravnos said the government remained conscious of international uncertainties and the pressures facing households and businesses.

  “That is why we do not approach the positive indicators with complacency,” he said.

  The government, he added, aimed to “turn the favourable economic performance into greater fiscal security, new investment, more and better-paid jobs“, as well as “targeted support for society“.

  President Nikos Christodoulides also welcomed the figures, saying they demonstrated the economy’s strong growth potential and resilience.

  “With a growth rate of 3.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, Cyprus has once again recorded a performance more than three times the European average,” Christodoulides said.

  “The new strong performance of the Cyprus economy confirms that our country continues to follow a stable growth path, despite the challenges and uncertainties of the international environment,” he added.

  The president said the figures also reflected what he described as responsible, methodical and prudent economic policy, including continued reforms, efforts to attract investment, improved competitiveness and the use of Cyprus’ comparative advantages.

  “This is a policy that has also strengthened the credibility of the Republic of Cyprus and creates greater scope for targeted policies for the benefit of society,” Christodoulides said.

  He added that this approach was being pursued “far from populism and cost-free declarations that have cost our country and the Cypriot people”.

  Christodoulides also linked the economic performance to what he described as continued positive assessments from international rating agencies and increased confidence in Cyprus among investors and businesses.

  “The strong growth path is also reflected in the labour market, with our country maintaining one of the lowest unemployment rates in the European Union,” he said.

  The president credited businesses and workers with playing a decisive role in sustaining the economy’s performance.

  “Behind this course are the workers and businesses of our country, whose contribution is decisive,” he said.

  He added that the government would continue pursuing a stronger, more competitive and resilient economy, with the ultimate aim of improving citizens’ daily lives and creating greater security.

  The statistical service cautioned that the latest figure is a preliminary estimate, designed to provide an early indication of economic growth 45 days after the end of the quarter.

  It is based on fewer sources of information than the quarterly national accounts estimates, which are published two months after the end of the reference quarter.

• Why this Limassol pub is a local favourite

  Can a restaurant really be everything to everyone without falling into the trap of being the best at nothing? It is a tricky balancing act indeed, but if any one establishment has come close to pulling it off in Limassol it’s the Nags Head pub.

  Good food, strong beer selection, reasonable prices, and enough screens for everyone to catch the game regardless of seating position. The Nags Head has all of these things.

  A lot of effort has gone into evolving the pub into what it has become today. It has been gradually renovated, restructured, expanded, and the menu has changed from what it was 15 years ago. Not only have new items been added to the selection during this time but old favourites have been improved and elevated.

  Case in point, our last visit did not entail anything particularly exotic. Our mains consisted of a pork chop and chicken kebab. Did they nail both dishes? Yes, they did. The pork chop was prepared as described, medium to well done, preventing the meat from drying out and becoming chalky due to excessive cooking, a mistake I’ve seen elsewhere in Cyprus. Similarly, the chicken kebab (you get three skewers) was still tender and juicy while knowing full-well that it’s been cooked long enough to avoid any nasty surprises.

  Moreover, both dishes were served with a generous side salad, in its own bowl no less, and ample French fries. Your taste buds will thank you, although your nutritionist may have a slightly different opinion. The chicken also came with pitta bread and tzatziki. The pork chop usually comes with barbeque sauce on the side but the restaurant was happy to replace it with something else.

  Prior to our mains, we started the evening in true pub style with a pint of beer (they have a robust selection, including local and foreign lagers, along with various ales) and their beef tacos. The portion includes three tacos, in a hard shell, with fresh salad, tomatoes, beef mince (I tasted this individually and it’s very well-cooked on its own) and grated cheese. You also receive a small tub of guacamole on the side. An excellent starter and one I wouldn’t mind turning into a main.

  Even though we were quite stuffed, we ventured into their dessert menu and ordered a crepe to share. It was drizzled with copious amounts of chocolate spread, lots of strawberries, and topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Need I tell you that it was so good it left me guilt-ridden for the rest of the week?

  This pub essentially ticks all the boxes. But so far, you’d be right in thinking “food, alcohol, and sports; what’s so special about this place?”. Well, in an adjoining room, there is a semi-independent but not really ‘separate’ shop called Shooters. Yes, you get served food and drinks from the same place. But there’s one key difference from the rest of the pub. There are several pool tables and dart boards to keep you entertained. It’s essentially a play area for adults and one this particular pool-lover enjoys visiting.

  So, to revisit my opening remarks, how does one describe the Nags Head? It’s a jack of all trades, yes, and a master of practically all of them.

  VITAL STATISTICS

  SPECIALTY: Pub food, including grilled items, burgers, sandwiches, and more

  WHERE: Nags Head pub, Stymfalidon, Limassol

  WHEN: Sunday-Thursday 8am-2am, Friday-Saturday 8am-3am

  CONTACT: 25 318277

  HOW MUCH: Chicken kebab €15.50, pork chop €17.90,

• Self-Host Weekly (14 August 2026)
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• MP calls for action over family living in a shipping container

  Akel MP Argentoula Ioannou has called for state intervention over the reported living conditions of a grandmother and her grandson living in a container without water, electricity or a bed.

  Ioannou raised the issue in a Facebook post accompanied by video footage, saying the family had lost their home and property after a bank foreclosure and were now living among stacked shipping containers.

  “Since last Thursday, they [the government] have been informed about these images of destitution involving a grandmother and grandson,” Ioannou wrote, accusing authorities of failing to act despite being informed of their situation.

  She said the pair were living in squalor with only a few belongings in a container on a plot of land.

  Ioannou said a dilapidated structure on the site had effectively been turned into a bedroom.

  The MP called on the deputy social welfare minister to visit the site and see the conditions for themselves.

  “Come, deputy minister, and let me take you down the dirt road leading to the containers,” she wrote, describing it as “the road of misery”.

  She said the grandmother and her grandson had been waiting for state assistance since last year.

  Ioannou also lambasted what she described as official inaction, writing that the welfare state should “show some sensitivity” and “at the very least, be ashamed”.

  In a further reference to the reported conditions, she claimed the site was affected by rats and mosquitoes and urged officials visiting the area to wear protective clothing.

  The authorities had been informed of the family’s situation a week before Ioannou’s post, according to her account.

• Planned music festival at Kyrenia Castle sparks political backlash

  Kyrenia mayor Akis Violaris has called on the government to intervene over the planned Nexus electronic music festival at Kyrenia Castle, saying on Friday that the participation of European artists at the event was a cause for concern.

  “We are saddened by the fact that European artists are participating in this festival,” Violaris remarked, calling on the government to act to prevent the event from taking place at the historic castle.

  He described the venue as “a monument of historical and cultural heritage of our country” and urged the government to intervene “dynamically” to seek the cancellation of the event.

  The foreign ministry is handling the matter through diplomatic channels, according to a source at the deputy cultural ministry cited by the Cyprus News Agency.

  Diko condemned the planned event, arguing that “international festivals in the occupied areas” should not be treated simply as cultural or entertainment events.

  The party said the event and its international promotion could send “wrong messages” by familiarising international audiences with what it described as the “faits accomplis of the occupation”.

  Diko called on the government to take “appropriate actions” and stressed that “the occupation does not become less illegal because it is promoted through music, tourism or international events”.

  Nexus is scheduled to take place at Kyrenia Castle on September 18 as part of the EXIT World Tour.

  Organisers describe it as the first time that the EXIT festival experience will be brought to Cyprus.

  The choice of Kyrenia castle is also in keeping with EXIT’s wider approach to staging events at historic and prominent locations.

  The festival’s traditional home is the Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad, while its 2026 global tour is being promoted around the use of “iconic locations” for music events.

  That use of a historic site has also raised questions over the protection of the castle itself for such an event, with the potential effect of crowds, staging and sound equipment.

  The event will feature international electronic music acts including Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz, Italian duo Mathame, Cairo-based DJ Baset and Polish-born producer ANII.

• Fidan accuses Cyprus, Israel and Greece of alliance against Turkey

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday accused Greece, Cyprus and Israel of forming a security alliance aimed at containing Turkey, as Ankara defended its own emerging defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

  Speaking at a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati, Fidan contrasted the recently announced Turkish, Saudi and Pakistani cooperation with what he described as an existing alignment between Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem.

  “Before we signed our own alliance, Israel, the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece came together and created a security alliance in the Mediterranean,” he said.

  Fidan said the purpose of the three-way cooperation was evident, pointing to the geographical positioning of Turkey and Egypt on either side of the Levant.

  “The goal of this alliance is clear,” he said.

  He was referring to the new defence cooperation between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which Ankara has presented as a regional arrangement rather than a pact directed against another country.

  Fidan said the initiative was intended to increase cooperation, allow countries in the region to take greater responsibility for their own security and strengthen deterrence.

  He said Egypt was being consulted over possible participation, describing it as a “natural partner” for Turkey.

  The remarks come as cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel has expanded beyond their established political and energy ties.

  In June, the three countries and the United States launched the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Centre in Houston, with plans for cooperation on energy security, offshore gas, infrastructure, research and the protection of critical infrastructure.

  The initiative forms part of the 3+1 framework involving Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the US.

  Officials have presented the cooperation as a means of strengthening regional energy security and economic connectivity.

  Israeli defence ministry director general Amir Baram further remarked in July that Cyprus and Greece could form part of a wider security and economic network stretching from India and the Gulf to the Eastern Mediterranean.

  Ankara has previously objected to the growing cooperation. In April, Fidan accused Greece of pursuing “extremely dangerous policies” and described the developing regional alignment as potentially aimed at “encircling Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

  Cyprus rejected those claims, while Greece said its partnerships were peaceful and “not directed against third parties”.

• Monk to appear before criminal court in October

  The 51-year-old monk accused of the attempted murder of a 53-year-old employee of the Saint Neophytos monastery in Tala, Paphos, was referred to the Paphos criminal court on Friday with a new trial date set for October 7.

  During Friday’s proceedings, defence lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou told the court that the chances of his client being convicted were “almost non-existent”, dismissing any suggestions that the monk poses a flight risk.

  He described his client as “highly regarded by the people of the Paphos district” and said that he had no reason or motive to leave Cyprus.

  The prosecuting authority pushed back, requesting the monk remain in custody until his next appearance before the Paphos criminal court.

  The 51-year-old is accused of attempted murder, transportation of an offensive instrument and stabbing.

  The monk had been arrested on August 7 and was taken into custody after a fight broke out in the monastery over him occupying two cells – one of which was formerly occupied by his father.

  According to sources, a delegation of priests had visited the monastery and made recommendations to a 51-year-old monk to leave his keys to his cell and abandon it.

  The monk allegedly reacted and stabbed a 53-year-old monastery worker in the throat with a sharp object.

  According to the report, he then attacked a 27-year-old priest injuring his hand with a sharp object.

  The case is scheduled to go before the Paphos criminal court on October 7. In the meantime, a decision on whether he will remain in custody until then is due on August 18.

• Manhunt underway after stabbing in Zakaki

  A manhunt was underway in Limassol on Friday after a 24-year-old man was stabbed during an argument at a building site in Zakaki.

  According to police, the incident occurred at around 10am when the 24-year-old was working at the site and became involved in an argument with two men aged 20 and 22.

  During the incident, the 22-year-old allegedly attacked the worker with a knife, injuring him in the abdomen and lower extremities.

  The two suspects then fled the scene and were seen on closed-circuit television running towards a vehicle before driving away at high speed.

  The injured man was taken to Limassol General Hospital, where doctors found superficial wounds to his abdomen and legs, as well as an injury to an artery in his left knee.

  He was subsequently transferred to Nicosia General Hospital for further treatment. His condition was described by doctors as being out of danger.

  Police are investigating a case of grievous bodily harm and are continuing efforts to locate the two suspects.

• Cyprus commemorates anniversary of second phase of invasion

  President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday said the second phase of the Turkish invasion in 1974 left “even deeper scars on the tragedy on our homeland and our people”.

  “Fifty-two years is a long time. The unacceptable status quo cannot be the future of our homeland and our people,” he said, speaking on the 52nd anniversary of the second round of the invasion on August 14, 1974.

  “Fifty-two years later, the wounds remain open,” he said, stressing the need for an end to occupation and achieving a sustainable and functional solution.

  “[A] solution on the basis of the resolutions of the United Nations and the agreed framework, the negotiating acquis, and of course the principles, values and law of the European Union,” he said.

  He said that as a result of persistent efforts, a new push by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was now underway to resume talks where they were interrupted in Crans-Monatana in 2017, so that both sides could go “the last mile” toward a solution to the Cyprus problem.

  The president added that Guterres’ visit to the island and his decision to convene a new expanded meeting following appropriate preparation had created a new outlook that made him “cautiously optimistic”.

  He said that ongoing efforts to involve the European Union more actively in the process had borne fruit and made a “decisive contribution” to the process.

  Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos in a statement earlier in the day said Turkey’s crimes in 1974 were “not forgiven”.

  “Fifty-two years since the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Turkey’s ongoing crime is not time-barred, not forgiven, not covered up,” he said in his post on X.

  Lasting just three days, the second phase saw Turkey occupying the cities of Famagusta and Morphou as part of the operation dubbed “Attilla II”. It followed shortly after the United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to foreign military intervention in Cyprus in a resolution dated July 20 in the wake of the first phase of the Turkish invasion.

  The second phase followed the collapse of the peace talks in Geneva, which Turkey used as a pretext, having already transferred additional armed forces on the island.

  “While talks were underway in Geneva to find a peaceful solution, Turkey went ahead with its plans, expanding the barbaric invasion and illegal occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus,” Christodoulides said.

  By August 13, 1974, rumours were rife about an imminent new Turkish advance, and at 3am on August 14, Turkish Foreign Minister Turan Gunes spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. He spoke in code: “Ayse goes on vacation.” Ayse was the name of Gunes’ daughter.

  The message meant that the second phase of the invasion could begin immediately.

  Shortly afterward, Turkish forces launched its second offensive, sending tanks in two directions towards Famagusta in the east and towards Morphou in the west of the island.

  Within almost three days, that is, by 6pm on August 16, the Turkish tanks reached Famagusta and Morphou, thus completing the implementation of their plan. The Turkish troops were reinforced with tanks and air support and advanced from the Kyrenia bridgehead.

  The operation extended Turkish control to approximately 36 per cent of Cypriot territory and established the borders that exist until today.

  The occupation of Famagusta and Morphou, combined with the territory seized during the first phase, saw between 162,000 and 180,000 Greek Cypriots (almost one-third of the total Greek Cypriot population) forced to abandon their homes in the occupied northern part after the two phases of the invasion. Between 45,000 and 60,000 Turkish Cypriots living in purely Turkish Cypriot villages, enclaves and mixed villages in the southern part of the island moved to the occupied northern part in the following months.

• Emergency services on ‘full alert’ over holiday weekend

  Emergency response teams of public hospitals and the Okypy ambulance service remain standby and ready to deal with “any emergency” over the weekend, Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charliaou said on Friday.

  “Whether due to traffic accidents or other situations, such as strokes or heart attacks, [the services] are always properly staffed, so that they can respond,” he said.

  Charilaou said that during the summer period, an increase in patients is sometimes recorded, with Okypy noting incidents of heat stress, minor accidents and sunburn linked to the very high temperatures.

  “[The emergency response centres and the ambulance service] are always staffed with all the necessary doctors and relevant personnel,” he said.

  Regarding traffic accidents, Charilaou noted that this was a year-round issue, but pointed out that during the summer months increased traffic on roads, particularly on certain days, made accidents more likely.

  “We are alert for anything that may happen [and hope that] everyone will travel safely to their destinations, without any issues,” he said.

  As for incidents recorded in the accident and emergency units (A&E), Charilaou explained that data is logged daily with “no particular change from previous years” being recorded thus far.

  “The incidents are about the same, both in number and nature,” he said.

  Regarding the current situation in the A&E units, he said that there has been increased traffic due to the summer vacations among staff and specialist doctors in the private sector.

  According to Charilaou, many people were taken to the A&E unit due to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, however, currently no patient is hospitalised.

  He said that these incidents mainly concern vulnerable groups of the population including children and elderly people with cardiovascular and pulmonary problems, which were typically examined and later discharged without requiring hospitalisation.

• Red alert for forest fires on Saturday

  The forestry department on Friday issued a red alert for forest fires due to expected mass public outings for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary holiday on Saturday.

  The department appealed to the public to be particularly careful and to avoid activities that may cause fire, including the use of electrical tools that produce sparks or flames, as well as throwing cigarettes or matches, emphasising that the lighting of fires is only permitted in the barbecue areas of picnic areas.

  The department called on anyone who notices smoke or fire to immediately dial 1407 for the forestry department or 112 for the fire department.

• What to do in Paphos this August

  Music nights, outdoor cinema experiences, concerts with 12 saxophones, shadow theatre and summer song await this month in Paphos as the city’s cultural agenda fills up. A series of mostly free events is coming up in the last two weeks of August, spread around various locations.

  Up next at Kimonos Garden Screenings is an August 14 screening which will present the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Starting at 9pm, this 1968 film is also the final one in the summer cinema series of Kimonos Art Centre at Attikon Open Air Theatre.

  A walking stand-up comedy performance in English and Greek arrives on August 16 as the Petreidio Foundation organises the Walking Microphone Show by Stantar Kkomety. The event invites audiences to follow the performance, which will begin from the Paphos Medieval Castle at 8pm and walk towards the Municipal Baths.

  Old, popular folk songs will sound at the square in front of Stoa 12 at the Municipal Market on August 17 as musicians take the floor to present an evening of Greek music. Entrance is free, and the live performance starts at 8pm.

  Οne more cinema night is planned for August 19 as the Petreidio Foundation screens the film All Roads Lead to Rome on a big screen at Venus Bleu Beach. The screening begins at 8.30pm, and this is a free event.

  Then, on August 24, the Archaeological Museum of Paphos hosts the Saxophonic Festivity. An evening concert featuring 12 saxophones will serenade audiences as the museum opens its doors at 7pm and welcomes guests with free entry.

  A day later, the Cyprus Film Archive will present a summer film screening at Attikon Open Air Theatre at 8.30pm (free entrance), before a shadow theatre performance takes place at Anavargou Square on August 27.

  An exciting musical union concludes the month’s cultural events as soprano Mariza Anastasiade and Rumba Attack join forces to sing songs of love and the moon. Doikitiria Square will welcome musicians and audiences on August 29, enjoying a charming musical evening under the light of the full moon.

  Cultural Events of Paphos Municipality

  Outdoor film nights, music performances, shadow theatre and more. Throughout August. Several Paphos locations. www.pafos.org.cy

Github

• Multiple redirect URIs and token refresh for OAuth apps

  We’ve released multiple updates to the OAuth app and GitHub App platforms to support more secure app development:

  • OAuth apps can opt in to expiring access tokens and refresh tokens.
  • OAuth apps can have multiple redirect URIs.
  • Both GitHub Apps and OAuth apps can enable wildcard matching for redirect URIs if needed.

  Rotating tokens for OAuth apps

  OAuth apps can now request a short-lived token during the user authentication flow. If an app opts in, they get an access token that lives for eight hours and a refresh token that’s valid for six months. When the access token expires, the app uses the refresh token to get a new token pair.

  Developers can add refresh token support to their app in two ways:

  1. Include the offline_access scope in their authentication request, which triggers the short-lived token pattern. This is how developers should test and roll out this change in their app.
  2. Set their app registration to always use short-lived tokens. This can be used to force old clients to update and ensure that all clients are getting short-lived tokens.

  Short-lived tokens are enabled by default for all new applications. If your authentication SDK doesn’t support the refresh token flow, you can disable this while updating the SDK.

  For more details on how to use expiring tokens with an OAuth app, see the “Authorizing OAuth apps” documentation.

  Multiple redirect URI support for OAuth apps

  OAuth apps can now register up to 10 redirect URIs (called “callback URIs” on GitHub), making it easier to support multiple environments, domains, or deployment configurations without creating separate apps.

  Developers will find a new Add redirect URI button in their application settings, which can be used to add additional URLs to match against.

  Wildcard matching for redirect URIs

  OAuth apps and GitHub Apps can now enable wildcard matching for each redirect URI configured. This can allow redirects to multiple related sites (e.g., tenanted subdomains of your app) without registering a redirect URI per tenant.

  When enabled, wildcard matching allows an authorization code (and user) to be sent from GitHub to any URL that matches a subdomain or additional path off of the redirect URI.

  Wildcard matching can be abused if the site being redirected to does not have strong control over its routes (e.g., if it hosts user content). Review your app architecture before enabling this.

  Apps with only one redirect URI have wildcard matching enabled. This is a legacy behavior of GitHub that is now visible and controllable. Please review your apps and disable wildcard matching if you do not need it. This applies to all OAuth apps and any GitHub App that had a single redirect URI registered.

  These improvements will all be included in GitHub Enterprise Server 3.23.

  For more information about creating and managing your app’s redirects safely, see user authorization callback URLs for GitHub Apps and creating an OAuth app.

  Join the discussion in the GitHub Community.

  The post Multiple redirect URIs and token refresh for OAuth apps appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Grok 4.6 is now available in GitHub Copilot

  Grok 4.6, xAI’s latest reasoning model, is now rolling out in GitHub Copilot. It is designed for agentic coding and complex multi-step workflows.

  In our internal testing, Grok 4.6 showed strong results across terminal-based coding tasks in Visual Studio Code and Copilot CLI. It performed especially well on longer-horizon tasks requiring sustained reasoning and tool use, making it a strong fit for complex coding workflows.

  This model is billed at provider list pricing under usage-based billing. See GitHub Copilot’s pricing for models and requests for details.

  Availability in GitHub Copilot

  Grok 4.6 will be available to Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise SKUs.

  You’ll be able to select the model in the model picker in:

  • Visual Studio Code
  • Visual Studio
  • Copilot CLI
  • GitHub Copilot cloud agent
  • GitHub Copilot app
  • JetBrains
  • Xcode
  • Eclipse

  Rollout will be gradual. Check back soon if you don’t see it yet.

  Enabling access

  Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Business plan administrators must enable the Grok 4.6 policy in Copilot settings. The policy is off by default.

  Learn more

  To explore all models available in GitHub Copilot, see our documentation on models and get started with Copilot.

  Share your feedback

  Join the GitHub Community to share your feedback.

  The post Grok 4.6 is now available in GitHub Copilot appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• GitHub Copilot weekly releases — August 10

  From new models and portable plugins to smoother agent workflows, this week’s updates make GitHub Copilot more flexible across editors, the command line, and the Copilot app.

  GitHub Copilot, general

  • Kimi K3 is rolling out to Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise plans.
  • MAI-Code-1.1-Flash is rolling out in GitHub Copilot with native image understanding and improvements to coding quality, instruction following, tool use, and performance.
  • Build a plugin once and use it across compatible agent tools with Agent Plugins 1.0, now generally available in VS Code, Copilot CLI, the GitHub Copilot SDK, and the GitHub Copilot app.

  GitHub Copilot app

  • Installed plugins are now easier to manage. See each plugin’s current version, update plugins individually, or update them all at once from Customize or Settings.
  • Talk through an agent’s question before answering by opening it in a side chat while the original question waits for your response.

  Try the Copilot app.

  GitHub Copilot CLI

  • Manage all your subagents and their tasks in /tasks.
  • Queue prompts, shell commands, and supported slash commands while an agent turn is running.
  • Combine --plan and --mode autopilot in headless mode (-p) to have the agent produce a plan and then implement it.
  • Use /rewind to restore Copilot changes without requiring git or discarding user edits.
  • /app command now preserves session and folder context when opening the Copilot app.

  Install the Copilot CLI.

  GitHub Copilot for JetBrains

  • Keep useful context across agent chat sessions with Copilot memory, so you don’t have to repeat the same project details or preferences.
  • Use local Ollama models in JetBrains with new support for Ollama as a BYOK (bring your own key) provider.

  Read the full JetBrains update.

  VS Code 1.133 Release updates

  • Switch models without leaving your Claude session by choosing between Claude BYOK and built-in Copilot models for each new turn.
  • Stay oriented in long chats by keeping the relevant prompt pinned as you scroll.
  • See HTML changes immediately without manually refreshing the integrated browser.

  Explore everything that’s new in the full release notes.

  The post GitHub Copilot weekly releases — August 10 appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Ever had go vet miss something? Going through some common cases live

  We went through over 1,000 open source Go repos looking for bugs that go vet doesn't catch. Found a fair amount, and most of them are simple, common mistakes that still made it into production. Hosting an online event on August 27 to go through some of them and how to catch them, and would be curious to hear if others have run into similar cases that slipped past go vet. submitted by /u/Xadartt [link] [comments]

• GopherCon UK 2026

  submitted by /u/jamietanna [link] [comments]

• Google Open Source broken outside of Chrome?

  Something I've noticed recently is all source links for the standard library and x packages on pkg.go.dev are broken.

  They link specifically to cs.opensource.google, which has worked up until now.

  Now I am greeted by a blank page, and looking in the console I see the following error:

  Uncaught ReferenceError: chrome is not defined

  I use Firefox. I have been able to recreate this error on Safari. It does not happen in Google Chrome (I have not tested other Chromium-based browsers).

  If this is intentional and not a regression, should the official Go documentation be linking to a hostile platform when alternatives exist?

  For now, using go doc locally is fine, but this doesn't feel right.

  submitted by /u/Jamza
  [link] [comments]
• Go Vulnerabilities

  Considering switching to Go since in theory to me it should have fewer vulnerabilities than other frameworks since so much is built into the stdlib and you don’t need to pull in dozens upon dozens of dependencies and transitive dependencies for simple tasks. Vulnerabilities in other languages and frameworks have been getting out of hand lately. Has that been hitting Go too? Do you find yourself constantly bumping versions to avoid CVEs?

  submitted by /u/PastramiDude
  [link] [comments]