Saturday, July 4, 2026
91687438-a361-4915-9c8c-2fd2d0203f2f
| Summary | ⛅️ Mostly clear until night. |
|---|---|
| Temperature Range | 22°C to 30°C (71°F to 85°F) |
| Feels Like | Low: 78°F | High: 99°F |
| Humidity | 84% |
| Wind | 11 km/h (7 mph), Direction: 218° |
| Precipitation | Probability: 0%, Type: No precipitation expected |
| Sunrise / Sunset | 🌅 05:39 AM / 🌇 08:04 PM |
| Moon Phase | Waning Gibbous (64%) |
| Cloud Cover | 19% |
| Pressure | 1006.73 hPa |
| Dew Point | 74.08°F |
| Visibility | 5.73 miles |
Animal Rescue Cyprus (ARC) is appealing to the public for support amid an ongoing shortage of volunteers and an ongoing legal dispute over the land housing the shelter in Paphos.
As a non-governmental organisation, combining a registered charity, an associated veterinary clinic and international affiliations with EUROPETNET and IPATA, the ARC (former Paphiakos & CCP Animal Welfare) receives a high influx of animals.
“We’ve had more animals brought in this year than last year while dealing with a 90 per cent decline in the number of volunteers. We need more hands and feet on the ground,” Sumani Ochse, PR and marketing manager at ARC shelter told the Cyprus Mail.
The shelter’s involvement in an ongoing closed court case concerning the land on which it operates further complicates its situation. The process does not seem to be reaching any final decision.
“There is no concrete information, but in terms of the outcome, they are working towards an alternative,” said Ochse. “There are potential plans to establish a shelter in Ayia Varvara, however details are unclear. Will it be run by local municipalities or by the government?”
ARC stands on the premise that throughout this strenuous process, “as we are waiting for this to be settled, the animals cannot wait, our operations have to continue”.
The shelter accommodates horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits and cats, but the dogs are a vulnerable group that demands more time and attention. Some 600 dogs are sheltered in the ARC, including those that have been adopted, but remain under the shelter’s care while waiting to go to their new homes.
Volunteers who can spare one hour after 5pm to care for them, by cleaning cages and walking them, are urgently needed. Among the dogs, there are also breeds that cannot be mixed, such as pit bulls or Rottweilers, whose needs differ from the rest.
What all animals at the shelter have in common, however, is their need for medical attention, food and love, Ochse said.
“Our priority remains the welfare of the animals.”
Phone contact: 99756877
A 53-year-old Lithuanian woman was arrested in France on a European court warrant for allegedly usurping Greek Cypriot property in the north.
According to the police, the process of extraditing the woman to Cyprus, which had issued the European arrest warrant, is underway.
Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris, the real estate agent was arrested at the airport of Nice when she was about to travel with her daughter.
Kibris reports that t the woman announced her own arrest in a video, claiming to have lived in Cyprus for 15 years and having established “a licensed company following legal procedures in the northern part of the island and operates in accordance with the law.”
The deputy ministry of migration on Friday announced that it would not be proceeding with plans for the creation of a facility for unaccompanied minors which had been set to be built in the Lycavettos area of Nicosia.
“In any case, the project will not proceed,” the ministry said.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), a source said that the facility was intended to home “vulnerable people” who were to be repatriated and would not serve as a permanent residence.
According to the source, the building will be renovated and placed under the control of the deputy ministry, while there had never been any suggestion of housing unaccompanied minors in the area.
The announcement comes after a group of residents expressed their disagreement with the deputy ministry’s alleged intention to create such a facility in the neighbourhood, arguing that there had not been a public consultation about the project.
Coordinated efforts to solve problems facing the wider urban area of Limassol were at the centre of a meeting at the Limassol municipal council and district members of parliament on Friday.
During the meeting, the attendees raised broader and specific problems faced by the municipalities under the leadership of Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis, Amathus mayor Kyriakos Xydias, Kourion mayor Pantelis Georgiou and Polemidia mayor Andros Theodorou.
Speaking at the meeting, Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis stressed that Limassol was the city with the greatest development potential in Cyprus, which he said continued to generate “wealth, jobs and host significant investments” which contributed “decisively” to the country’s economy, while at the same time facing daily challenges that required decision-making, political will and the close cooperation of all institutions.
“For this reason, we consider it particularly important to have continuous and institutionalised communication with all of you. Many of the issues facing Limassol pass through the House of Representatives, through the parliamentary committees, parliamentary oversight, legislative initiatives and the promotion of decisions that can accelerate projects and reforms,” he said.
Armeftis cited the city’s priorities, saying these included the reform of the local government itself, the ongoing traffic problem, and the need to increase state funding and expressed opposition to what he described as the state’s “urge to increase taxes”.
“The implementation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, the strengthening of public transport, bus lanes, transfer stations, cycling infrastructure and green routes are no longer options, but a necessity,” he said.
He emphasised the need for a speedy continuation with mayor state infrastructure projects including the northern bypass from Ypsonas to Yermasoyia, the connection of the coastal road with the Franklin Roosevelt street and highlighted the need to create affordable housing and the development of the western part of the city.
“[These] are projects that will determine the functioning of the city for the coming decades,” he said.
Amathus mayor Kyriakos Xydias described the meeting as the foundation of a joint effort to address the city’s problems and provide solutions to improve the quality of life for residents.
Denouncing the lack of administrative and financial autonomy of the local municipalities, he spoke of attempts to “strangle” the local government, saying that the local government reform had shifted responsibilities whilst failing to transfer resources.
“Those who really want to modernise a state must give the state’s best ally the ability to help it and not treat it in the worst way,” he said.
Xydias demanded that city planning be transferred to the responsibility of the municipality, saying the latter could “no longer tolerate each government department being imposed on us and millions being lost in failures”.
Mayor of Kourion, Pantelis Georgiou, made special reference to the issue of the British bases in Akrotiri. He announced that the municipality had decided to take legal action, which he said would “open a new chapter for Cyprus”.
“We have experienced processes and seen confrontations that have clearly proven that no one cares about the safety of citizens. A system that has a huge area paralysed and administratively cannot respond,” he said, referring to the drone attack that occurred in the region during the US’ war on Iran in March.
The mayor of Polemidia, Andros Theodorou, referred to the problems faced by the municipalities after the local government reform, as well as the planning of his municipality, and called on MPs to contribute constructively.
“You can support the claims of the municipalities to the competent ministries, promote the necessary legislative regulations, contribute to the acceleration of procedures and claim more state and European resources for projects that have a real impact on society,” he said.
Limassol, he emphasised, did not need “fragmented solutions” but joint planning, cooperation and consistency.
“What we need is a strong alliance between local government, parliament and government, so that we can turn challenges into opportunities and create a more modern, more humane and more sustainable Limassol,” he said.
Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Andreas Tsouloftas, said that there was “a feeling that Limassol is the most neglected district in Cyprus”, highlighting that of the 2026 budget amounting to €1.1 billion, only €28 million had been allocated to the city.
“If we take into account the city’s contribution to the country’s GDP, which is close to 50 per cent, we should have received €500 million; and if we take into account the city’s population, Limassol should have received €300 million,” he said.
Tsouloftas emphasised that the city had succeeded in attracting major companies in the tech sector which currently accounted for 16 per cent of Cyprus’ GDP, warning that if the conditions that brought the companies to Limassol were not maintained, they might reconsider their location, adding that two tech companies had already left to Poland and Romania.
“If they start to feel that they are living in a city that is not functional, then they will have second thoughts,” he said.
Among other things, Tsouloftas addressed the issue of establishing a technology park, lamenting the fact that progress has been stalled for 24 years, and urged the government and relevant ministries to set deadlines for the projects announced during President Nikos Christodoulides’ visit in the previous year.
Government sources on Friday evening told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the five-member independent investigative team appointed by the Council of Ministers would “immediately” begin its investigation into the findings of the Independent Authority Against Corruption regarding the “Mafia State” case.
The sources said that potential locations for housing the investigative team have been identified, while arrangements are being made for office staff to assist the team and for necessary equipment.
According to the same sources, head of the investigative team, law professor Vasilios Skouris has expressed his intention not to receive remuneration for the services he will provide.
The investigative team comprises Skouris, Sotiris Liasidis, Nikolas Koursaris and Dimitris Tsolakidis.
The government on Thursday announced that the appointment of the criminal investigators would last up to six months, with the possibility of extension, provided that a relevant written and reasoned request is submitted to the Council of Ministers.
Law professor Christos Mylonopoulos, who had initially been appointed as an investigator on Friday evening announced that he would resign from the position as he had represented businessman Michalis Zolotas when he was wanted by the local authorities.
Customs officers in Nicosia seized undeclared tobacco products from travellers at Ledra street and Ayios Dhometios crossing points over two days in late June and early July, authorities said on Friday.
A Romanian citizen carrying cigarettes to Ireland was stopped on June 30, when officers found six boxes of 200 cigarettes without required health warnings or traceability codes.
He was arrested and later released after paying a €360 out-of-court settlement, while the tobacco was confiscated.
On July 1, two British tourists in a taxi heading to the United Kingdom were also checked at Agios Dhometios crossing point.
Officers discovered ten boxes of cigarettes and 250 grams of rolling tobacco, all lacking duty-free markings and safety codes.
The men were arrested and released after accepting a €690 settlement, with all products seized by customs authorities.
Authorities said the checks form part of ongoing efforts to prevent tobacco smuggling through Cyprus crossing points.
The customs department stated that the seized goods were meant for personal transport outside Cyprus but failed to meet EU labelling and traceability standards.
They reminded travellers that undeclared tobacco products may be confiscated and subject to fines under Cyprus customs law.
The Cyprus cybercrime unit has advised the public to stay vigilant following multiple complaints about scam calls and messages impersonating automated payment service operators on Friday.
This warning was prompted by a resident who reported a dubious phone call from a number claiming to be associated with a payment service, where the caller stated that approximately €200 would be deducted from an account.
The matter was reported to the criminal investigation department.
In response, the cybercrime unit said it has been receiving similar complaints in recent months and regularly issues public alerts to raise awareness of such fraud attempts.
Authorities said scam messages and calls are designed to trick recipients into clicking links or sharing personal and financial information.
The unit stressed that further similar attempts are likely and urged the public to remain cautious and verify any unexpected contact claiming to involve financial accounts.
Officials advised users to enable two-factor authentication on all online accounts, check devices connected to their profiles, and regularly review personal contact details stored on social media platforms.
They also recommended using strong, unique passwords for each account and changing them regularly.
The cybercrime unit said suspicious messages, emails or links should be forwarded to the authorities for investigation and blocking measures.
Police said efforts continue to identify and disable malicious links used in such scams.
Government defends Mafia State investigators amid conflict claims
The government on Friday sought to defend the composition of the criminal investigation team appointed to carry out an inquiry into the Mafia State report after concerns over potential conflicts of interest were raised.
Speaking to Omega, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis rejected claims that the appointments were an improvised solution after a series of refusals from other lawyers.
“None of the five reputable lawyers participating in this group was a last resort, for God’s sake,” he exclaimed, insisting the investigators were selected for their experience and that “their resumes precede them”.
He confirmed that the government had indeed been aware of criminal law professor Christos Mylonopoulos’ previous involvement in the Focus case before the appointments were finalised and said his exclusion from that part of the inquiry was to ensure there was no conflict of interest.
Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said there was “no issue of conflict of interest” in the investigative team tasked with examining allegations arising from the anti-corruption authority’s findings, including possible criminal offences involving former president Nicos Anastasiades and other public officials.
Speaking on CyBC radio, Antoniou said safeguards had been introduced to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The cabinet named a five-member team on Thursday.
Antoniou said Mylonopoulos had disclosed from the outset that he had previously acted in matters connected to the Focus case, adding that this admission demonstrated “good faith and transparency”.
He said the head of the investigative team, former European Court of Justice president Vassilios Skouris, subsequently decided that Mylonopoulos would be excluded from all aspects of the inquiry concerning Focus “so that no issue arises surrounding the process”.
Although Mylonopoulos’ exclusion from the Focus element of the investigation was later confirmed, questions emerged over why the conflict had not been publicly addressed when the appointments were first announced.
Letymbiotis subsequently confirmed the cabinet had been aware of the issue before the appointments were finalised and said the exclusion had formed part of the agreed arrangements.
The investigative team is headed by Skouris and in addition to Mylonopoulos, consists of former Family Court president Sotiris Liasides, lawyer Nikolas Koursaris and criminal lawyer Dimitris Tsolakidis.
Their appointment follows the completion of the anti-corruption authority’s investigation into allegations contained in journalist Makarios Drousiotis’ book Mafia State, an inquiry involving around 150 witnesses, approximately 200 hearings and hundreds of exhibits.
The appointments have also prompted wider debate within the legal community over whether an independent prosecutor should supervise the investigation rather than the legal service.
Speaking to news outlet Reporter, advocate Achilleas Demetriades argued that appointing independent investigators represented “only 50 per cent of the effort”, saying an independent prosecutor should oversee the evaluation of evidence and determine whether criminal charges should ultimately be brought.
Demetriades also questioned whether Mylonopoulos’ partial exclusion adequately addressed the issue of impartiality.
“If what they say is true, he should not take the job,” he said.
Other legal commentators have also questioned the continued involvement of the legal service in the next stage of proceedings after the attorney-general George Savvides and deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides recused themselves from handling the matter.
They argue that any prosecutorial decisions should instead be entrusted to an independent prosecutor to strengthen public confidence in the process. In the absence of Savvides and his deputy, the legal service’s prosecutorial council is set to make any decisions about the case.
Antoniou rejected suggestions that political considerations would influence the inquiry and said responsibility for any future criminal prosecutions rests solely with the legal service.
He stressed that “the entire process should proceed with full respect for the presumption of innocence” while reiterating that “no one is above the law”.
He also said the government hoped the investigators would complete their work before the initial six-month mandate expires, although he acknowledged that a reasonable extension could be granted if properly justified.
The five investigators are expected to begin reviewing the anti-corruption authority’s report immediately before determining the direction and scope of the criminal investigation.
A new management programme for fencing-in the free roaming donkeys of the Karpasia peninsula entered its implementation phase on Friday, with authorities in the north beginning to collect animals found outside designated zones.
According to Turkish Cypriot media, the programme is being coordinated by the north’s wildlife research institute and provides for donkeys to be captured, transported to specially prepared, facilities and examined by veterinarians before being fitted with electronic microchips.
Animals requiring treatment will receive medical care before being transferred to controlled fenced areas.
Director of the natural park operating in the village of Vouno, Kemal Basat, said the initiative is to move all free roaming donkeys in Karpasia into managed areas where their health and population can be monitored.
One of the programme’s central measures is the sterilisation of male donkeys to slow uncontrolled breeding and reduce aggressive behaviour.
Each animal will also undergo blood tests and other veterinary examinations before being entered into a database for monitoring.
Basat said free roaming donkeys have placed increasing pressure on the Karpasia ecosystem by damaging endemic vegetation, agricultural crops and water sources used by migratory birds.
He also said the animals have been involved in road traffic collisions across the region.
He argued that simply providing food and water without population management “does not solve the problem” and instead worsens the situation by allowing numbers to continue increasing.
Residents have been asked to report the location, date and time of donkey sightings to assist collection teams as operations continue across the peninsula.
The donkey management plan began in 2023 and is overseen by an eleven-member scientific committee made up of representatives from public bodies, universities and civil society organisations.
Earlier this year, conservationists warned that repeated delays in funding had left injured animals without timely treatment after a donkey died from gunshot wounds sustained days earlier.
The issue also attracted wider attention after Ayios Symeon ‘mukhtar’ Rezvan Inlen called for the eradication of the donkeys, arguing they were destroying crops and threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
His remarks drew strong criticism from animal welfare groups, while Basat responded that the solution lay in structured management rather than harming the animals.
The Supreme Court increased the compensation awarded to a former quarry worker to €95,000 on Friday after ruling that his employer bore full responsibility for a workplace accident.
The court accepted the employee’s appeal and dismissed the employer’s counter appeal, overturning part of an earlier judgement that had found the worker was 30 per cent contributorily negligent and rejected his claim for loss of earning capacity.
The appellant, an engineer and welder employed by a quarry company, was injured in December 2010 while carrying out work assigned by his employer.
The accident occurred when another employee mistakenly activated a conveyor belt, causing the appellant and a colleague to fall into a rock collection chute.
In its judgement, the Supreme Court ruled that the worker had not breached his duty of self-protection and that responsibility for the accident “lies entirely” with the employer.
The court also found that the original award of €50,000 in general damages was insufficient.
It said the worker suffered a dislocated right shoulder and a fractured humerus and underwent three operations.
Taking into account “the pain and the suffering that he suffered and continues to suffer”, together with his permanent injuries and the reduced value of money over time, it concluded that “an amount of €80,000 is correct and fair”.
The judges further ruled that the worker’s permanent injuries had placed him at a disadvantage in the labour market.
Given his age of about 56 at the time he left the company, the court found that €15,000 “constitutes fair and reasonable compensation for the loss of earning capacity”.
The Supreme Court also amended the interest awarded, ruling that the €80,000 in general damages will accrue legal interest from December 9, 2010, the date of the accident, until payment.
The additional €15,000 for loss of earning capacity will bear legal interest from July 13, 2017, the date of the first instance judgement, until payment.
Cross examination of a former nursery schoolteacher continued on Friday in the Nicosia district court trial surrounding the suicide of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou, with defence lawyers repeatedly challenging the basis of her evidence.
The hearing centred on testimony from the teacher, who taught Stylianos during the 2009 to 2010 school year, as defence lawyer Constantinos Kazantzis, representing the boy’s father, questioned her regarding allegations of domestic violence and her own assessment of the child’s behaviour.
The witness accepted that she had no firsthand knowledge of alleged incidents within the family home and said much of what she knew came from colleagues or information passed to the school.
When asked about reports that Stylianos had witnessed threats at home, she replied, “Stylianos himself had not told me that he was present. My colleagues had simply told me that he was present at incidents of threats.”
Questioned about alleged complaints made to police, she repeatedly told the court, “I can’t know exactly what happened. I’m only relaying what I was told.”
The defence also challenged her evidence that Stylianos displayed behavioural problems beyond an attention deficit disorder.
The teacher maintained there was “a noticeable difference between a lively child and a child who presents additional difficulties” and said she believed he was emotionally overwhelmed and unable to express what he was experiencing.
When the defence retorted that “we’re not here to express such opinions,” the witness responded, “I stand by my position.”
Lawyers also questioned her account of an incident in which Stylianos brought a knife to school.
The defence suggested her description was inconsistent because she had continued supervising other pupils before removing the knife.
The teacher said she had been welcoming children into the classroom and safely took the knife away without anyone being harmed.
The witness also acknowledged she could not personally verify claims of domestic violence.
Proceedings ended with a direct exchange over statements Stylianos had allegedly made about his mother.
Defence counsel argued the accounts “do not correspond to reality”.
The witness replied, “from what I knew, from the information I had and from what had been reported, I have no reason to believe that they were false.”
When the lawyer suggested she disagreed with the defence position, she answered, “well of course, you have your own position and I have mine.”
The trial follows several days of evidence from the same witness, who previously described Stylianos’ behaviour at nursery, including incidents in which she said he brought a knife to school, threatened other children and displayed aggressive behaviour.
Earlier hearings also heard emotional testimony as the teacher rejected suggestions she had exaggerated her account.
The proceedings will continue on Monday with cross examination by counsel representing Stylianos’ mother.
The court is examining alleged abuse and neglect within the family, as well as whether state services responded adequately to warning signs before the boy’s death in 2019.
The renewal of service weapon certifications should be accompanied by a periodic psychological evaluation of officers, president of the police union Isotita, Nikos Loizides said on Friday.
“Psychological tests do not examine the mental health of each person so much, but are mainly a personality test. This test is done for recruitment and not for the rest of the career of each member of the force,” he said.
His remarks come three days after the attempted murder of a 46-year-old woman who was shot by her husband police officer with his service weapon several times on Tuesday, with the police telling the Cyprus Mail on Friday that the woman remains in the hospital in a “critical but stable” condition.
Loizides explained that psychological tests are one of the four stages of the police recruitment process, along with written exams, athletic tests and drug tests.
With regard to the possession of service weapons, he said that police officers renew their certification for the use of service weapons every five years, with the process exclusively concerning the technical knowledge and skills for the handling of weapons. There is no form of psychological evaluation.
“It could be, instead of this renewal taking place every five years, that it take place every three and that there be a kind of interview at the same time, so that the psychologists of the police’s human resources department can discern if there is any psychological overload or problem with the mental clarity of each police officer,” he said.
When asked which procedures are currently implemented if there are indications that officers are experiencing mental health problems, Loizides listed three forms of intervention.
Firstly, a supervisor can refer to the psychologists of the police’s human resources department. Should they need it, officers can also seek out mental health support voluntarily.
In addition to mental health support, service weapons can also be withdrawn if a member of the force presents a medical certificate recommending that they do not possess a weapon, for either medical or mental health issues.
Loizides said that a relevant circular had been sent to all members of police on June 22 to promote the mental health support services provided by the human resources branch, offering psychoeducation on issues including stress management, post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumatic events.
Moreover, the police offer confidential personal meetings upon request by police officers or their superiors which take place outside the police premises and under full confidentiality.
The first notification of the new bill increasing benefits for people with disabilities is a “particularly important development”, the confederation of organisations for the disabled (Kysoa) said on Friday.
“After more than 20 arduous years of painful stagnation, disability benefits are increasing,” Kysoa said, pointing out that the last time benefits were readjusted was in 2019 at a cost of €4 million and for a limited number of benefits.
On Thursday, the cabinet approved the new bill, which was announced on Friday by Deputy Welfare Minister Clea Papaellina.
“As a social partner of the state for disabilities in general, our steadfast position was that this first notification should include everyone. And it does, for the first time, equally without discrimination, as the increases are across the board for all beneficiaries,” Kysoa pointed out.
The confederation said thousands of people with severe disabilities, who have been invisible, are now “beginning to become visible, as the disability benefit is being released, along with care, from the minimum guaranteed income and its financial criteria, which subjected people to poverty due to their disability”.
Although the new bill “does not solve decades of problems and omissions”, it does however constitute “a crucial step of justice towards the gradual full realisation of the fundamental right of every person to an independent and dignified life”, Kysoa said.
The ‘Neighbourhood Social Worker’, launched in April 2023, has proved its value and allows for optimism, however there is much more that can still be done, Deputy Welfare Minister Clea Papaellina told a conference to review the institution on Friday.
The programme, she said, has moved from pilot stage to islandwide and since it was launched has contributed to prevention, early intervention and promoting social cohesion, by being close to those who need it.
Papaellina said the programme is part of the project to restructure social welfare services and is being implemented in the framework of the EU’s Thalia 2021-2027 cohesion policy programme.
The programme kicked off with a handful of municipalities and remote communities, and in December 2024 was expanded to cover the whole island.
“Today, the programme is implemented by 34 neighbourhood social workers and 11 supervision officers,” Papaellina said.
There are six for Nicosia, 12 for Limassol, eight for Larnaca and four each for Famagusta and Paphos.
The programme’s implementation confirmed the belief that when social services are present in the communities, they can respond more directly and effectively to meet the immediate needs of the people, the deputy minister added.
“Modern social challenges call on us to invest in services that are accessible, flexible and people-centred, to invest in policies that do not wait for the individuals to seek help, but ensure that they themselves are by their side, within the community where they lives and are active,” she said.
Papaellina pointed out that Friday’s conference was a platform for the exchange of experiences and ideas that would help improve and develop the programme further.
Thousands of visitors attended Robotex Cyprus 2026, the country’s largest robotics festival, held at the University of Cyprus Sports Centre on June 27-28, 2026, bringing together hundreds of competitors and showcasing the latest developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, drones and STEAM education.
The ninth Robotex Cyprus Educational and Sports Robotics Competition attracted 700 participants, including school pupils, university students and adults from across Cyprus, who competed in more than 20 different robotics challenges, demonstrating their technical knowledge, creativity and engineering skills.
The event featured a message from Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou, delivered on his behalf by the ministry’s Director of Cybersecurity Marios Tziapouras.
Among those attending were Research and Innovation Foundation vice-president Andreas Efstathiou, whose organisation supports Robotex Cyprus as its Diamond Sponsor, recognising the festival’s contribution to developing research and innovation skills among young people.
Opening remarks were also delivered by University of Cyprus Department of Computer Science chairman Chrysis Georgiou and Robotex Cyprus Scientific Committee member and IET Cyprus board member Fotini Georgiou, representing the event’s co-organisers.
The festival also welcomed Robotex International chief executive Nathan Metsala, whose visit carried particular significance because Cyprus was the first country to establish Robotex as a national competition.
Metsala also announced that Robotex International 2026 will be staged in South Korea, marking the first time the international competition will be held outside Estonia.
The winning teams from Cyprus secured the right to represent the country at the international finals, continuing a strong tradition of Cypriot teams achieving notable distinctions in recent years.
Primary school teams presented robotics projects based on the theme “Sustainable Development, Green Island”, with many using artificial intelligence applications to propose innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Saturday’s competition programme featured events including Line Following, Folkrace, Maze Solving, Bowling and Archery, while two drone competitions were also held, one focused on autonomous flight and another introducing a new programming challenge.
On Sunday, competitors took part in SUMO robot battles, raced along a 15-metre Rally track and competed in a robotic shot put challenge.
The programme also included the annual Girls Firefighting competition, designed exclusively for girls to encourage greater female participation in STEAM disciplines.
Visitors also enjoyed a number of interactive technology activities throughout the weekend.
On Saturday, attendees were able to experience Drone Soccer for the first time on a specially designed pitch operated by STEAM Cyprus.
Sunday’s programme featured the popular Human versus Robot chess challenge, organised in cooperation with the KAISSA Chess Club, where the SenseRobot competed against both young and experienced chess players.
Another new addition this year was the participation of the Planetarium team, which presented interactive activities focusing on space, exploration of the universe and artificial intelligence applications.
Throughout the two-day festival, Robo.com.cy operated the technical Pit Stop support station for competing teams while also showcasing Kypruino and RoboRover Core, two innovative products developed in Cyprus.
Visitors also experienced virtual reality, 3D printing and other STEAM activities presented by the Research and Innovation Foundation, ECECT, Novatex and the European INVESTech project.
At the same time, JOEY by the Bank of Cyprus distributed gifts and surprises to visitors, while Neapolis University’s robotic dog Laika returned to the event and performances by the Elena Clark Dance School provided artistic entertainment.
Robotex Cyprus was organised by the Cyprus Computer Society in cooperation with the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus Youth Organisation and IET Cyprus.
The event was held under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and received approval from the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and ETEK.
The Research and Innovation Foundation served as Diamond Sponsor, while the Bank of Cyprus continued its support as Youth Supporter and XM as Tech Partner.
Neapolis University was the Gold Sponsor, while Novatex Solutions, ZEBRA Consultants, NETinfo and ICDL participated as Bronze Sponsors, with Robo.com.cy serving as the event’s prize sponsor.
The organisers also said that secondary school students remain eligible for scholarships through the long-standing support of the private higher education institutions Neapolis, EUC, UNIC, Frederick, UCLan, UoL and AUB Mediterraneo.
The event was also supported by dozens of volunteers, while the next milestone for this year’s winners will be the Robotex Cyprus Awards Ceremony, scheduled to take place in October.
By Sarah Coyne
It is that time of year again, with the increase in humidity a trip up into the hills seems like a necessity, especially when it comes to daytime dining. A restaurant I had wanted to try for ages, which was definitely calling my name on a hot day in Paphos is The Farmyard in Kathikas. The temperature may not have been much different, but as we exited the car, the humidity had disappeared, replaced with a cooling breeze. The Farmyard has been open for many years, and today offers Pan-Asian cuisine. It recently won an award as one of the top 10 restaurants in Cyprus, and somehow, the beautiful village of Kathikas in the hills above Paphos is not where you would expect to find such an establishment.
From the outside, it looks like a traditional taverna, betraying its former life, but upon entering, there are no huge hints that this is an Asian restaurant. It is spotless – brilliant white linen cloths and napkins, with sparkling glasses. There are two sections, an interior and a covered terrace, both of which are strictly no-smoking. At the back of the main dining area, picture windows showcase panoramic views across the stunning countryside.
We were greeted by a very friendly waitress who explained the menu and offered drinks straight away. By the glass, they had an excellent Shiraz/Cabernet blend priced at a very reasonable €4.
The menu is extensive and offers every possible option for any serious Pan-Asian foodie. In addition to the main menu, there is also a selection of daily specials. Authentic soup and starters are available, but The Farmyard is rather famous for its Dim Sum and Bao Buns. The Dim Sum is available with 16 fillings, with a choice of three Bao Buns. We decided to go for Cream Cheese, Mushroom and Chilli and also the Spicy Chicken Curry version. Both were marked with a chilli sign on the menu and were served with sweet chilli sauce, soya sauce and chilli bean sauce on the side.
Presentation-wise, both dishes were next level, with four pieces per plate. Taste-wise, they were a revelation, with both dishes steamed to perfection and rich in aromas, with the bold spices coming through. We also ordered a Chicken Satay to start, which was quite different. The subtle heat of the spices was much more prevalent than the peanut in the sauce.
For mains, you are quite literally spoilt for choice, and it is worth noting that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy some very appealing dishes, while there are also gluten-free options. In the end, we decided to share two dishes between the three of us: Deep-fried Chilli Beef and Salt and Pepper Chicken, with one portion of fried rice.
I am not a fan of Asian food drowned in a heavy sauce, and thankfully, these two were not. But they were outstanding. The chilli beef had a real kick, which did not overpower the dish. The meat was generous, soft and succulent. The chicken, with all the flavours of ginger, pepper, bell peppers and spring onions coming through, made a good contrasting choice.
Finally, an impressive dessert menu was presented, showing a keen interest in sweet flavour combinations, and thankfully, no battered bananas in sight. We decided to share two again, although we struggled over which two: Biscoff Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry and Lemon on a Pistachio Biscuit Base.
The cheesecake was presented as a globe coated in Biscoff crumbs. It was rich, creamy and decadent. The chocolate mousse was velvety and offered an explosion of flavours. The presentation of both was beautiful.
Throughout the whole meal, it was the depth of flavours that left the mouth tingling that most impressed. If you live far from Kathikas, the village’s eating options make it the perfect location for a weekend away. But, I am genuinely pleased that I live so far away from this restaurant, as they do takeaway, which would be far too tempting if you lived on the doorstep. We will definitely return, as there are many dishes to try, with the Bao Buns with duck and hoisin sauce and the coconut cheesecake at the top of the list.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Pan-Asian
PRICE Soups from €8.50, Starters from €8, Dim Sum from €8, Bao Buns from €10.50, Noodles from €8, Mains from €11, Desserts €10
WHERE The Farmyard, Kathikas, Paphos
WHEN Tuesday to Sunday 12.30-10pm. Closed on Mondays. Booking recommended.
CONTACT 99 369473
The United States naval ship USS Arleigh Burke docked in Limassol on Thursday ahead of the Fourth of July on Saturday, when America will be marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
“Grateful for Cyprus’s hospitality & partnership as we mark the 250th anniversary of American independence,” the US embassy in Cyprus wrote in a social media post.
The embassy noted that the ship, which is a guided-missile destroyer, had spent “months at sea” protecting US and Cyprus security. Naval records show that the ship has been deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean since April with a home port at the Naval Station Rota in Spain.
The USS Arleigh Burke has docked in Limassol several times previously, including in May 2023 and January 2024.
The arrival at Limassol port comes a week after the embassy hosted a reception on June 23 with guests including President Nikos Christodoulides to celebrate the 250th year of independence. The following day, the US 63rd Army Band performed a concert at Finikoudes beach in Larnaca.
Services at the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Rizokarpaso are set to resume on Sunday following a suspension of more than two months, according to an announcement from the Office of the Presidential Commissioner.
According to an announcement issued on Friday by presidential commissioner Marinos Hartsiotis’ office, the services, which are held on the first Sunday of each month, will restart following President Nikos Christodoulides’ “decisive and personal intervention” with the Turkish Cypriot side, which enabled agreement for their continuation.
It added that “the unhindered exercise of religious rights, respect for places of worship and access for believers” remain issues of high importance, and said it will continue to monitor developments with consistency and responsibility.
The monastery, located in the Karpass peninsula, has historically been one of the most significant religious sites for the Greek Cypriot community.
Traditional accounts relay that Saint Andrew arrived at the site after his ship went off course enroute to Jerusalem and struck the rocks along the coast.
Historical references place a fortified monastery on the site by the 12th century, where Isaac Komnenos is said to have negotiated his surrender to Richard the Lionheart.
The main church dates to the 18th century, while the present monastery buildings were completed around a century later.
The number of contract soldiers eligible for promotion to contract non-commissioned officer (NCO) positions will increase from the originally announced 250 to 400, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas announced on Friday.
Citing growing personnel needs within the National Guard and defence programmes linked to the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (Safe) mechanism, he made the announcement while receiving the results of the written examinations for the first group of contract soldiers (Syop) seeking permanent appointment as contract NCOs (Syp) from Education Minister Athena Kyriakidou.
The ceremony, held at the defence ministry, was attended by members of the House defence committee and National Guard chief lieutenant general Emmanuel Theodorou.
Palmas said the decision to increase the number of promotion posts had been taken in consultation with the finance ministry and fell within the defence ministry’s approved budgetary framework.
He said the move was deemed necessary due to the high level of interest shown by contract soldiers in the promotion process, the National Guard’s increasing need for NCO-level personnel, partly as a result of programmes underway through the Safe mechanism, and what he described as the state’s practical recognition of the important contribution made by contract soldiers to the National Guard’s combat capability and operational readiness.
“With the understanding that National Guard personnel constitute the spearhead and cornerstone of the armed forces, I assure you that we will continue making every possible effort to strengthen and support our personnel, address the challenges they face and continuously improve service conditions and the overall operational framework of the armed forces,” he said.
Addressing those who did not achieve a qualifying score, Palmas urged them not to lose confidence, stressing that additional opportunities would become available whenever new permanent positions are announced.
“Today was the first opportunity given to these people, and there will be other opportunities in the future,” he said.
Explaining the decision further, Palmas said that although 250 positions had originally been announced, discussions with the finance ministry had enabled the number to be increased to 400.
The top 400 candidates based on examination scores will now be eligible for permanent appointment, allowing them to serve in the National Guard until the age of 57 with the rank of sergeant and potentially advance to the rank of staff sergeant.
Palmas thanked Education Minister Athena Kyriakidou for the close cooperation between the two ministries in organising and conducting the examinations.
He added that, following a proposal by the defence ministry, parliament had approved increasing the mandatory retirement age for contract soldiers from 42 to 57, while special monthly allowances had been raised from €100 to €150 for all contract soldiers, and from €200 to €250 for those serving in special operations units, commando forces, underwater demolition teams, demining and explosive ordnance disposal units, as well as for nurses and engineering machinery operators.
National Guard chief Theodorou said the entire process had been conducted with full transparency and in close cooperation with the education ministry’s examination service.
He wished the new contract NCOs success in their careers and assured those who were not selected that they remained “the backbone of the National Guard”, adding that efforts to improve their working conditions and career prospects would continue.
Picture this – it is sunset, light passes through the tall trees of the Kato Amiantos Forest, a soft breeze is in the air and music is about to sound. At the Summer Music Festival 2026 in the Troodos mountains, that is what will happen across 12 evenings.
Pianist Manolis Neophytou prepares a rich programme of diverse music and with acclaimed artists, filling our summer nights with melodies. About to kick off, the festival will run from July 4 to August 30. The first concert at Theatraki Dasous in Kato Amiantos is titled French Fragrance, Russian Passion and takes place this Saturday with Eva Stavrou, Agni Sakka and Manolis Neophytou.
On July 25, graduates and performers of the Limassol Music School will sing alongside Andrea Sofocleous, Sophia Pericleous and Marinos Souglis, presenting the Koita Mia Nixta concert dedicated to the songs of Hadzidakis, Theodorakis, Xarchakou and Loizou.
On the following evening, Masterpieces of Baroque and Classical Opera will sound in the forest with Theodora Rafti and Manoli Neofytou. August’s agenda will begin on Saturday 1 as Panos Oikonomou and Gregoris Artemides improvise From Rock to Jazz.
A Piano and Song Recital will take place on August 5 by more graduates and performers of the Limassol Music School. They will be joined by Alexandra Victoros and Constantina Christodoulou. A Night of Cinematic Music will charm audiences on August 12 with music from Greek and international cinema, performed by Neophytou on the piano.
The Christos Yerolatsitis Trio will play jazz music on August 16, while on the following night, a Serenade Under the Stars will bring songs from Greece, Cyprus, France, Argentina, the UK and more, performed by Vakia Stavrou.
On August 19, a fairy tale for old and young titled Ta Xotika tis Erland will be presented by its author, Zelia Georgiadou, along with Aristos Tsiartas, Neophytou and Marina Neophytou. The festival’s final three evenings will bring an Opera Night on August 22, a Chamber Music Concert on August 28 and a Night of Jazz with Elizabeth Simonian and George Koullas.
Summer Music Festival 2026 – Kato Amiantos
12 music nights from jazz and opera to rock, cinema and chamber music. July 4-August 30. Theatraki Dasous, Kato Amiantos Forest. 8pm (except for July 4 at 7pm). Tel: 99-833944. Some presales available on SoldOut Tickets
So to preface this I'm dyslexic as fuck, hate reading docs of any form. I know the golang docs are good but really struggle to "connect the dots" with a lot of it. My dyslexia is less like letters jumping around and more can't hold onto the written word past about 2, hence long post.
Are there any concepts or particular sharp edges or things to be aware of. Videos I can digest much easier because they usually do complete examples so I can see the pattern and memorise it. I get the concept eventually because it's about experimenting with the pattern, break it improve it etc. A lot of them are more tutorials and less about "things that will catch you out if you're not aware of them" if that makes sense?
Would appreciate any advice!
I have used generic functions for example:
// Ptr returns a pointer to the given value. func Ptr[T any](v T) *T { return &v } Or even on structs, but I never got a proper use case for interfaces with generics, something like
type Namer[T any] interface { // What would go here? } Do you have a specific use case where it is a no brainer to use generic interfaces?
Thanks.
Couldn't find a DB TUI that had all the features I wanted, so I decided to create it.
Still in active development. Obviously written in Go and inspired by Lazygit.
https://github.com/davesavic/pgsavvy
Fully customisable vim-style keybindings + a heap of useful features.
Hopefully you find it as useful as I have!
Hi everyone!
I’m currently in the early stages of learning Go. I see a lot of projects using Makefiles, and I’m wondering: should I dive into them right now, or is it better to focus purely on Go features first?
The community poll option is disabled here, so please share your thoughts in the comments. When did you start using Makefiles in your Go workflow, and is it a must-have for a beginner? Thanks!