Huginn Daily

Thursday, July 30, 2026

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• Nicosia general hospital goes robotic

  Nicosia general hospital has gone high tech, with the introduction of a robotic barista, but there is a catch: unless you have a Visa card, you won’t be getting a cup.

  The AROS 24/7 Robo Café, developed by Cyprus-based robotics company AROS, is the latest example of automation entering everyday life.

  The fully autonomous kiosk promises freshly prepared coffee in under a minute without any human intervention.

  Customers place their order through a touchscreen before a robotic arm grinds the coffee, prepares espresso-based drinks and serves them.

  The menu offers various milk options, flavoured syrups, and decaffeinated coffee, and operates 24/7.

  On paper, it sounds like a glimpse into the future. Curious after seeing others use the machine, I decided to give it a try myself.

  Watching the robotic arm move with precision was genuinely fascinating. There is something impressive about seeing technology perform a task normally carried out by an experienced barista.

  Unfortunately, that initial excitement faded quickly.

  The ordering process felt slower than expected and, once the coffee arrived, it failed to justify either the wait or the price.

  More importantly, the experience felt surprisingly empty. Buying coffee has never been just about the drink. Those small human interactions are part of what makes grabbing a coffee enjoyable.

  Standing silently in front of a machine waiting for a robotic arm to hand over a cup may be efficient, but it lacks the warmth that many people associate with café culture.

  Although the pros for a 24-hour automated café in a hospital environment are pretty clear, I couldn’t help wondering whether a robotic coffee station offers enough advantages over a conventional vending machine.

  One visitor summed it up simply: “It’s the experience, but it’s not worth the money.”

  Another was not so impressed, “It takes less time to order from a vending machine and the taste is better.”

  Perhaps the most striking comment came from a hospital security guard. “If they replace baristas,” he asked, “when will they replace us? Then there will be no jobs left.”

  His concern highlights the broader debate surrounding automation.

  While supporters argue that robots improve efficiency, consistency and availability, critics fear they may gradually erode jobs and remove the human element from everyday services.

  Whether robotic cafés become commonplace remains to be seen.

  As a demonstration of innovation, the Robo Café is certainly impressive, but the best part of buying a coffee isn’t the drink itself – it’s the person handing it to you.

• Forestry department insists Platania campsite will reopen after backlash

  The forestry department sought to reassure the public on Wednesday that the Platania camping site will reopen following planned upgrade works, after an announcement stating it would no longer operate as a camping area triggered widespread public criticism.

  The clarification came hours after the department announced that Platania had “ceased to be considered and/or operate as a camping area”, prompting a tirade of reactions from campers.

  Forestry department spokesman Glafkos Kyriakou said the announcement was intended to facilitate the removal of caravans and other unauthorised structures ahead of redevelopment works, rather than signal the site’s permanent closure.

  “This specific announcement was issued after input from the legal service so that we can proceed with the department’s planning,” he explained.

  “It will definitely reopen. When they leave the place, we have said in the past that we need about one to one and a half years for the upgrade.”

  The department has previously said Platania requires extensive improvements before it can safely resume operations.

  The announcement nevertheless drew strong criticism on social media, with users accusing the department of depriving families of one of the island’s few affordable holiday options.

  The president of the Platania Free Campers Association, Marios Stylianou, criticised the decision to shut the site entirely during the upgrade process.

  “They force people to go camping freely, which is prohibited, resulting in our forest land not being controlled at all,” he said. “When we discussed upgrading the campsite in phases, they did not accept and decided to close it down.”

  The department has also reminded the public that erecting any structure, including tents and caravans, within a state forest requires permission from the director of the forestry department.

  The campsite at Stavros tis Psokas remains the only operational campsite on state forest land.

• Christodoulides hails ‘international momentum’ on Cyprus problem

  International engagement on the Cyprus problem has “intensified”, with EU special envoy for Cyprus Raffaele Fitto due to visit the island on Friday, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday.

  Speaking at a reception for the Cypriot diaspora’s central council at the presidential palace, Christodoulides said the recent visit by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reflected “the increased interest on the part of the international community, the UN and the EU” in efforts to advance the Cyprus issue.

  He said the heightened diplomatic activity was the result of a deliberate strategy pursued since his administration took office.

  “All this did not arise by chance but is the result of a very specific strategy that proves in practice that when we have clear goals and a strategy, we can bring results that strength of our country,” he said.

  Christodoulides said Fitto’s visit would further demonstrate the European Union’s commitment to the Cyprus issue following his appointment by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the bloc’s special envoy.

  He further described the appointment as evidence that the Cyprus problem is now recognised as “a European problem that is a priority for the EU.”

  The president also referred to the conclusions adopted by the European Council in April 2024 and a joint letter sent by the presidents of the European Commission and European Council to the UN Secretary General in March 2025, saying both reaffirmed the European Union’s principles and commitment to supporting the settlement process.

  Addressing members of the Cypriot diaspora, Christodoulides described their contribution to Cyprus as “invaluable” and “of decisive importance”, thanking them for promoting the country’s interests abroad.

  “The voice of Cyprus, your own voice, is heard loudly abroad and all of you are the best ambassadors of our homeland,” he said.

  He also praised the unity shown by Cypriots overseas despite political differences.

  “All of you transcend dividing lines and political differences, operate as a single entity and show us in practice the path we must follow in Cyprus,” he said.

  Christodoulides said Cyprus would continue pursuing “a multidimensional and active foreign policy” with “a clear Western European orientation“, arguing that both the country’s “growing international role” and its EU council presidency term demonstrated the effectiveness of that approach.

• Erdogan: Turkey will not abandon Turkish Cypriots

  Turkey will “not abandon” the Turkish Cypriots and will “continue to defend” what it considers their rights in the Levant, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded talks in Cyprus aimed at advancing the peace process.

  Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey was closely watching developments concerning Cyprus and warned against initiatives which, in Ankara’s view, excluded the Turkish Cypriot side.

  “We are carefully monitoring every step taken by circles that wish to turn Cyprus into a part of new military structures and geopolitical calculations,” he said, an apparent allusion to Israel’s growing military cooperation between Cyprus and Greece.

  Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s position that any future negotiations on the Cyprus issue must recognise what Ankara describes as the “sovereign equality” of the Turkish Cypriots.

  “No initiative that ignores the sovereign equality, rights and legitimate interests of Turkish Cypriots in the eastern Mediterranean can be crowned with success,” he said.

  He also repeated Turkey’s commitment to supporting the Turkish Cypriot community, saying Ankara would “never allow, no matter what the cost, for them to relive the old suffering.”

  Erdogan described Turkey’s role on the island as a matter of “national security”, signalling that Ankara had no intention of changing its position despite renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations.

  His remarks came hours after Guterres completed meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, during which he announced plans to convene a new enlarged meeting on Cyprus once sufficient progress had been made on confidence-building measures and preparations for renewed negotiations.

  Erdogan also referred to planned infrastructure projects, affirming Turkey’s intention to proceed with an undersea natural gas pipeline to the north.

• Turtles fitted with satellite trackers in Cyprus

  Two sea turtles nesting in Cyprus are being tracked by satellite for the first time, allowing the public to follow their movements across the Mediterranean.

  The Mediterranean Turtle Research and Conservation Society announced on Wednesday that satellite transmitters were fitted in June to a female green turtle and a female loggerhead turtle nesting in Lara Bay, one of the Levant’s most important breeding sites for both species.

  The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy as part of efforts to better understand the migration of Cyprus’ sea turtles.

  MedTRACS said the monitoring programme will provide researchers with information on migration routes, feeding grounds, habitat use and the threats turtles face during their journeys.

  The turtles have been named Andrea and Lara.

  Andrea was named in honour of Andreas Dimitropoulos, who founded Cyprus’ Sea Turtle Conservation Programme in 1978.

  MedTRACS said his “pioneering work laid the foundations for the conservation of sea turtles in Cyprus and the wider region.”

  Lara was named after Lara Beach, which the organisation described as “the heart of the programme” and one of the Mediterranean’s most important nesting beaches for both green and loggerhead turtles.

  The organisation said the satellite tracking initiative marks the first time transmitters have been attached to female turtles nesting in the Gulf of Lara.

  Members of the public can follow the movements of both turtles through online tracking maps, allowing them to observe their migration across the Mediterranean in real time.

  Sea turtles are highly migratory species, travelling vast distances between nesting and feeding grounds.

• Christodoulides: Guterres statements leave ‘no room for interpretation’

  President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ statement following the latest Cyprus talks was “not open to any interpretation”, rejecting suggestions that its contents could be read differently.

  Addressing members of the Cypriot diaspora’s central council at the presidential palace, Christodoulides said the secretary general’s remarks were clear and unambiguous.

  “The statement of the UN Secretary General does not admit of any interpretation whatsoever different from what he stated,” the president said.

  His comments come after Guterres concluded meetings with Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, during which he announced plans to convene a new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem once sufficient progress had been made on confidence building measures, the methodology of the talks and substantive issues.

  Guterres said there was consensus among the two sides and the three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, that another enlarged meeting should take place, but stressed it would only be held after “adequate preparation” to maximise the prospects of success.

  “We will work in consultation with the two sides and the guarantors, to create the conditions for the meeting’s success,” he said.

  The UN chief also appealed to both leaders to intensify efforts to rebuild trust through confidence building measures, saying Cypriots had delivered a clear message during his visit.

  “They want to see their leaders make compromises and to walk that last mile towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue”, Guterres said.

  Welcoming members of the Cypriot diaspora, Christodoulides described the current period as “a critical juncture” for the Cyprus issue and said developments over the previous two days had required his full attention.

  He told those attending that he wanted to brief them on the latest developments before discussing a series of issues behind closed doors.

  The president’s remarks came ahead of the first visit by European Commission Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto to Cyprus in his capacity as the European Union’s special representative for the Cyprus problem.

  Fitto is expected to meet both Christodoulides and Erhurman tomorrow as part of the EU’s support for the settlement process.

• Fitto to meet Christodoulides and Erhurman during first Cyprus visit as EU envoy

  European Commission executive vice president Raffaele Fitto will visit Cyprus on Friday for the first time since being appointed the EU’s special representative for the Cyprus problem, the Commission confirmed on Wednesday.

  During the visit, Fitto is scheduled to meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

  The visit comes a day after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres concludes his visit to Cyprus and forms part of the European Union’s efforts to support the UN led settlement process.

  “The visit confirms the European Union’s commitment to contributing to finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and to supporting the ongoing efforts of the UN, as well as the personal commitment of Secretary General Guterres to achieving this goal,” a European Commission spokesperson told CNA.

  The Commission said the visit falls within Fitto’s mandate to contribute to efforts aimed at reaching a settlement under UN auspices.

  According to the Commission, Fitto will carry out his role “in close cooperation and coordination” with the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin.

  Fitto was appointed as the EU’s special representative for the Cyprus issue while serving as executive vice president of the European Commission with responsibility for cohesion and reforms.

  The European Union has repeatedly expressed support for a comprehensive settlement under the framework of the United Nations and has maintained that it stands ready to contribute to the process within the limits of its competencies.

• Investigation examines chain of command over Kalo Chorio fiasco

  Questions over who authorised the destruction of ammunition at the Kalo Chorio firing range have moved higher up the military chain of command, with information suggesting the commander of the 70th Engineer Battalion acted on instructions from the National Guard general staff before the wildfire that spread to nearby communities.

  According to Politis, the investigation, led by Brigadier General Savvas Stefanos, is examining who authorised the operation and why it was carried out during extreme heat after a fire broke out on Monday, forcing the evacuation of Ayia Anna and Psevdas.

  According to the same report, the destruction of the ammunition was conducted in the presence of foreign experts, and the battalion commander did not act independently, instead receiving orders to enact the operation by the National Guard’s general staff.

  The findings of the investigation are expected to be submitted to Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas by next Wednesday.

  The inquiry is also examining the circumstances that led to the blaze, which began during the destruction of military explosives before spreading beyond the firing range.

  Ayia Anna community leader Anastasis Georgiou said residents had been informed three days in advance that ammunition would be destroyed at the range.

  “This is the third fire that has broken out in the community of Ayia Anna in recent times,” he said.

  “Every year at this time, when the explosions start at the firing range, we wait for the fire to come.”

  The defence ministry has previously acknowledged that relocating the firing range has been requested by neighbouring communities for years.

  Speaking to Politis, ministerial spokesman Sofianos Philippides said the issue had been raised repeatedly but stressed it was not the appropriate time to decide whether the range should continue operating.

  Palmas is expected to meet community leaders on Friday to discuss the impact of the fire and the future operation of the facility.

  The latest developments come after the company responsible for Cyprus’ CyAlert emergency warning system apologised for a technical failure that delayed emergency notifications during Monday’s wildfire.

  Residents of Ayia Anna reported receiving evacuation messages late or not at all as the fire advanced towards the village.

• Greece welcomes Guterres’ support for Cyprus solution

  Greece’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said it welcomes United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ support for efforts towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, after Guterres’ visit to the island concluded with a tripartite meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

  Guterres, the ministry said, “remains firmly committed to the good offices’ mission towards finding a comprehensive, just and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem within the United Nations’ parameters”.

  “We also welcome his announcement of the holding of an informal enlarged meeting with the aim of restarting the talks, based on the agreed framework, under the auspices of the UN,” it said.

  It added that “Greece, in solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus, and recognising the importance of maintaining the momentum which has been built on the Cyprus issue over the last two and a half years, remains ready to contribute constructively to a successful informal meeting”.

  Additionally, it said that it will encourage “every effort and initiative to build trust, as a necessary condition for the resumption of talks”.

  “The resolution of the Cyprus problem, within the parameters set by the United Nations security council, and the reunification of the island, remain a firm goal,” it said.

  Guterres had earlier announced plans for a new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem to be convened “after adequate progress” is achieved on the matters of confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of the talks.

  He said there is a “consensus” among both sides and the island’s three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, for such a meeting to be held, and also stressed that the UN does not wish for “another enlarged meeting to end without result”.

  Additionally, he said that Cypriots “want to see their leaders make compromises and to walk that last mile towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue”, and also want “a future in which this island is defined not by division, but by cooperation, opportunity and peace”.

  He closed by stressing that “a solution in Cyprus is crucial, not only for the people of Cyprus themselves, but also as a factor of stability in a region which is becoming increasingly unstable”, before warning that “no solution means that Cyprus is much more vulnerable to a region which is largely in flames”.

• Annita: Guterres’ visit keeps prospect of resuming negotiations open

  House President Annita Demetriou on Wednesday said that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ announcement of his intention to hold a new enlarged meeting “keeps the process and the prospect of resuming substantive negotiations open”.

  Guterres had announced his intention to hold a new enlarged meeting following a tripartite meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

  Demetriou said of this announcement that “while there were no developments which could mark a substantive step forward and a date was not set for an enlarged five-plus-one meeting, it is important that the convergences already achieved continue to form the next steps”.

  “The current juncture demands seriousness, responsibility and, above all, focus, so as to achieve the necessary progress which the secretary-general expects,” she said.

  She added that her party, Disy, will “continue to contribute consistently and in a constructive spirit to every genuine effort which keeps open the prospect of resuming substantive negotiations”.

  These negotiations, she said, must be held “within the agreed United Nations framework and in line with the principles and values of the European Union”.

  Guterres had earlier announced plans for a new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem to be convened “after adequate progress” is achieved on the matters of confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of the talks.

  He also said that his envoy Maria Angela Holguin has been “working with the parties” and “building on past UN efforts”, while also working based on “what she has heard directly from Cypriots themselves”.

  Regarding his contacts on the island, he said that he “also had the opportunity to hear from many Cypriots”, and that “their message was clear: they want progress”.

  “They want to see their leaders make compromises and to walk that last mile towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue. They want a future in which this island is defined not by division, but by cooperation, opportunity and peace. That was also the spirit of my frank and constructive discussions with the two leaders, both separately and together,” he said.

  He added that “both Erhurman and Christodoulides assured me of their determination to continue to work in earnest” with Holguin, and said that prior to the convening of an enlarged meeting, “we will work in consultation with the two sides and the guarantors, to create the conditions for the meeting’s success”.

• Red alert issued for forest fire risk on Thursday

  The forestry department warned that the risk of forest fires will reach Red Alert level on Thursday, urging the public to exercise extreme caution to prevent fires.

  The department appealed to people to be particularly careful during outdoor activities and to avoid any actions that could ignite a blaze.

  Anyone who sees smoke or fire is urged to immediately call the forestry department on 1407 or the fire service on 112.

  The department also reminded the public that causing a fire is a criminal offence and carries severe penalties.

• Forest fire near Polis Chrysochous brought under control

  A forest fire that broke out near Prodromi in the municipality of Polis Chrysochous on Wednesday afternoon has been brought under complete control, the forestry department said.

  The blaze started at 3.54pm in the Alonia area and was fully contained by 4.10pm after burning around five acres of wild vegetation.

  Eight forestry department firefighters with three fire engines and four fire brigade firefighters with two fire engines took part in the operation.

  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

• Guterres praises efforts of missing persons committee

  UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep appreciation” for the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) during a visit to its anthropological laboratory in Nicosia on Wednesday.

  Guterres was briefed by the committee’s Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and UN members on its humanitarian work before observing the scientific procedures used to identify missing persons.

  “The secretary general expressed his deep appreciation for the CMP’s bicommunal operation, which locates, identifies and returns the remains of missing persons to their families,” the committee said.

  It said Guterres praised the committee’s efforts to provide “long awaited answers” to families who have endured decades of uncertainty over the fate of their relatives.

  He was accompanied by UN undersecretary general for political and peacebuilding affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, undersecretary general for peace operations Jean Pierre Lacroix and the UN Secretary General’s special representative in Cyprus and head of Unficyp, Khassim Diagne.

  The CMP was established in 1981 under UN auspices following an agreement between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

  Its exhumation, identification and return of remains project became operational in 2006, with the European Union remaining its principal financial contributor.

  According to the committee, the remains of 1,075 missing persons from both communities have so far been identified and returned to their families for burial.

  As of June 30, a total of 1,719 of the island’s 2,002 missing persons had been exhumed. Of the 1,510 Greek Cypriots reported missing, 764 have been identified while 746 remain unaccounted for.

  Of the 492 Turkish Cypriots listed as missing, 311 have been identified and 181 remain missing.

  The committee continues to rely on international donor support to carry out its bicommunal humanitarian work locating, identifying and returning the remains of those who disappeared during the intercommunal violence of 1963 and Turkish invasion of 1974.

• Yellow weather warnings issued for next two days

  The Met Office issued two yellow warnings on Wednesday for high overnight and daytime temperatures, with hot conditions expected to continue into Thursday.

  The first warning will be in force from 9pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday, when the minimum temperature in Nicosia is forecast to remain at or above 26C.

  A second yellow warning has been issued for Thursday afternoon and will apply from 2pm until 5pm.

  During that period, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 40C.

  The warnings come as Cyprus continues to experience a prolonged heatwave, with elevated overnight temperatures expected to provide little relief from the daytime heat.

• Turkey calls for end to ‘Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent stance’ after Guterres visit

  Turkey’s foreign ministry called for an end to “the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent stance” after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded his trip to Cyprus on Wednesday.

  “We welcome with appreciation the efforts put forth by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the Cyprus issue since the beginning of his tenure,” it said.

  It added that “in this period, in which common ground towards a solution between the two sides on the island still does not exist, we believe that focusing on progress in key areas of cooperation under the process launched by Guterres in 2025 will serve to build trust”.

  “On the other hand, we once again emphasise that the perspective for a solution will not materialise unless the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent stance changes, and its actions, which also negatively affect regional security, come to an end,” it said.

  It then said that “we would like to once again draw attention to the fact that tried and exhausted solution models from decades past are now behind us”.

  “As the motherland and a guarantor state, we reiterate that a fair, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue can be achieved based on the realities on the island, grounded in the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people,” it said.

  It added that “as always, we confirm that our support for the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot people is unwavering”.

  Guterres had earlier announced plans for a new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem to be convened “after adequate progress” is achieved on the matters of confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of the talks.

  He said there is a “consensus” among both sides and the island’s three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, for such a meeting to be held, and also stressed that the UN does not wish for “another enlarged meeting to end without result”.

  Additionally, he said that Cypriots “want to see their leaders make compromises and to walk that last mile towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue”, and also want “a future in which this island is defined not by division, but by cooperation, opportunity and peace”.

  He closed by stressing that “a solution in Cyprus is crucial, not only for the people of Cyprus themselves, but also as a factor of stability in a region which is becoming increasingly unstable”, before warning that “no solution means that Cyprus is much more vulnerable to a region which is largely in flames”.

• Municipalities to stage three-hour strike over state funding dispute

  The Union of Cyprus Municipalities will stage a three-hour protest strike on August 3 as a first measure of reaction, having rejected the government’s latest funding proposal, which they claim shifts the burden of local government reform onto citizens.

  The municipalities’ union deemed the interior ministry’s proposal insufficient, warning that lack of funding would lead to service cuts or increased taxes and fees.

  They noted that the issue goes beyond municipal finances, highlighting the need to protect residents from the costs of state reforms.

  They argued that without proper government support, municipalities would struggle to maintain services, develop projects and improve residents’ quality of life.

  The union challenged the government’s claim that state funding for municipalities would double, stating the comparison was based on a reduced grant of €70.8 million, frozen since the financial crisis, rather than the €104.8 million allocated in 2010.

  Government revenues rose by 132 per cent from 2010 to 2024, but state grants to municipalities will only increase by 42 per cent by 2026.

  The union’s request for inflation-adjusted grants was denied.

  They criticised the proposal to tie future increases to 50 per cent of growth in the state’s net primary expenditure instead of government revenues, claiming it would not guarantee stable, long-term funding.

  They also opposed reviewing funding every three years, given the rising costs of energy, fuel, infrastructure, services and staffing.

  The union argued that funding for main road maintenance and compensating municipalities for lost development licensing income should not be included in the basic state grant, as these are linked to local government reform responsibilities.

  While supporting the reform, the union warned that inadequate funding could undermine the benefits of mergers, which enhance efficiency and service delivery, leaving municipalities unable to meet public expectations.

  The union intends to present detailed evidence at an upcoming press conference.

• Two cases of FMD under investigation

  Two suspected cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) are under investigation following initial positive results pending confirmation, head of the veterinary association Demetris Epaminondas said on Wednesday.

  “There are some positive tests. However, this alone is not enough to characterise a case as a confirmed case,” he said

  The two cases, which were made public on Monday, relate to livestock units in Avgorou and Pentakomo, where no previous cases had been recorded.

  “If all the characteristics provided for by the regulation are not present, it cannot be classified as a confirmed case,” said Epaminondas.

  He said that more information is being collected and had yet to be evaluated as further tests were needed before the two incidents could officially be categorised as FMD cases and further measures could be taken.

  Epaminondas added that the regulation specifies the characteristics that must be met in full for a case to be confirmed.

  “That is why we are continuing the investigation, so that we can properly assess the two cases,” he said.

• Police report 23 in Paphos electric scooter crackdown

  Twenty-three people were reported during a targeted operation against the illegal use of electric scooters and other personal mobility devices (PMDs) along the Paphos seafront on Tuesday evening, the police said on Wednesday.

  Twenty were cited for various violations, with three reported for riding scooters on the pedestrian walkway, where it is prohibited; their scooters were confiscated.

  This operation is part of a campaign by Paphos municipality and traffic police to enforce personal mobility device legislation and improve road safety.

  Authorities plan more targeted operations, focusing on riders and rental companies lacking municipal permits.

  Since the start of 2026, there have been 132 violations related to personal mobility devices in the Paphos district.

  Authorities reminded the public that privately owned electric scooters are allowed only on roads with a speed limit of up to 30 km/h, in cycle lanes and in designated shared areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

  Scooter use is prohibited in pedestrian streets and squares without specific permission.

• ‘I am more hopeful about a Cyprus solution than I was before Guterres came’

  Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Wednesday said that he is now “more hopeful” that a solution to the Cyprus problem can be achieved than he was before United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived on the island at the beginning of the week.

  “I see Guterres’ visit to the island as important and positive. I think Guterres’ visit has demonstrated to those here the extent of his interest in the Cyprus problem,” Erhurman said upon his return to his official residence following the day’s trilateral meeting with Guterres and President Nikos Christodoulides.

  He added that “a second point which underlines its importance is the delegation he brought with him”, before stressing that “the delegation included people at the highest level within the UN’s bureaucracy” – undersecretary-general for peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo and his undersecretary-general for peace operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

  “A third important point is that he met both Christodoulides in the south and my delegation in the north. This means that the position of two equal leaders under the UN umbrella was reiterated,” he said.

  The fourth “important point”, he said, is that “the meetings were held in Nicosia”. This had been a point he had stressed at great length immediately following his election last year, lamenting that enlarged meetings had been held in Geneva and New York with no result, while it would be more convenient for all for the leaders to meet in Cyprus.

  “Although there were not many concrete outcomes, I believe the visit was important and positive in terms of its results,” he said, before stressing the importance of confidence-building measures between the island’s two sides.

  “From the very beginning, I emphasised that if negotiations were to be established, it would be important to take some positive steps regarding confidence-building measures,” he said.

  He added that “on the other hand, as Guterres said, we were also saying that this time, things need to be different”, and said that the Turkish Cypriot side had presented his four-point plan for negotiations to restart in earnest “as the methodology”.

  “We have always said that we cannot arrive at a solution unless we lay the foundations correctly. Laying those foundations correctly means making meaningful progress in the confidence-building measures and the methodology. Therefore, this has been confirmed to some extent by Guterres’ approach in the meetings and his recent statements,” he said.

  He also pointed out that Guterres has held contacts with representatives of the governments of Cyprus’ guarantor powers in recent weeks, and also “emphasised his confidence in their continued support”.

  “He also stated that he had reached an agreement with the guarantors regarding a five-plus-one meeting, provided that the sufficient preparations are made,” he said.

  The term “five-plus-one” is used to describe an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem, involving the island’s two sides, its three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the UN.

  On this front, Erhurman stressed that “it is clear that the secretary-general continued this process in close contact with the guarantors”, and said to this end that “we, too, will continue to conduct this process in very close and full consultation with the Republic of Turkey, a guarantor country, as we have done until now”.

  “We have been saying from the very beginning that we do not want negotiations for the sake of negotiations, or a five-plus-one meeting for the sake of a five-plus-one meeting. If there is to be a five-plus-one meeting, we want it to be one which guarantees results, and if there are to be negotiations, we want them to be negotiations which will lead us to a solution,” he said.

  He said that this position was “emphasised in Guterres’ press conference”.

  “Guterres also said that he wants to hold a successful five-plus-one meeting which will pave the way for a solution. Therefore, I find it positive that the focus on results has been so clearly underlined,” he said.

  He also stressed that the day’s trilateral meeting was “the first time I have seen a roadmap in front of me”, with an enlarged meeting to be convened after progress locally, and as such said that all parties should “avoid actions which undermine confidence while working on confidence-building measures and the methodology”.

  This was in reference to the matters of property-related arrests made by the Greek Cypriot side, as well as hopes for new crossing points to be opened, with Erhurman stating that these two matters are also intrinsically linked.

  “If, while trying to open new crossing points, an environment is created in which people are afraid to cross, the crossing points may become effectively meaningless,” he said.

  Additionally, he said he had raised at the tripartite meeting the international isolations faced by the Turkish Cypriot side, before stressing that “a solution in Cyprus is key for regional peace”.

  He also confirmed that he, like Christodoulides, will meet the European Commission’s Cyprus problem envoy Raffaele Fitto on Friday.

• Cyprus revenues from Kronos gas project expected to stay modest

  Gas field decision unlocks domestic energy opportunities, expert says

  The final investment decision to develop the Kronos natural gas field in block 6 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone offers an opportunity to exploit the area’s remaining gas reserves for the island’s domestic needs, according to energy expert Charles Ellinas.

  Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Ellinas described the final investment decision by the Eni and TotalEnergies consortium as an important milestone that could pave the way for wider development of Cyprus’ offshore gas resources.

  “This is certainly a historic development because, after 15 years, we are finally moving towards the process of exporting natural gas,” Ellinas said.

  He explained that annual production from the Kronos field is expected to reach around five billion cubic metres of natural gas, of which approximately four billion cubic metres will be destined primarily for European markets.

  “Europe imports around 300 billion cubic metres every year, while we will be sending four billion, so it is a small contribution rather than a solution for Europe,” he said.

  Ellinas also stressed that these exports will not transform Cyprus into an energy hub, arguing instead that Egypt will assume that role.

  “Natural gas from both Cyprus and Israel is transported to Egypt,” he said.

  “Israel has signed an agreement to export 20 billion cubic metres of natural gas to Egypt, around four to five times more than Cyprus. Egypt then uses the gas for its own needs alongside its domestic production or exports it,” he added.

  Turning to the financial impact of the project, Ellinas argued that Cyprus will receive relatively limited economic benefits because of concessions made during negotiations.

  “Unfortunately, Cyprus’ revenues from this project will be very low because, in order for it to proceed, Cyprus made significant financial concessions and accepted additional risks, substantially reducing the country’s benefit,” he said.

  “I do not expect Cyprus’ benefit to exceed 0.5 per cent of GDP once production reaches its peak in around four to five years, because during the first three years almost all revenues will go towards recovering the companies’ costs, while Cyprus’ share until 2031 or 2032 will remain very low,” he added.

  Ellinas also said that the development of the Kronos field by Eni increases the likelihood that the remaining natural gas discoveries in block 6, namely Zeus and Kalypso, could also be commercialised.

  “This gives the Cypriot government an opportunity,” he said.

  “Having already made these concessions, and with further concessions likely to Eni to advance the Zeus field, the government should insist that Kalypso is developed solely to meet Cyprus’ domestic needs,” he continued.

  He argued that the planned import of natural gas through Vasiliko is facing repeated delays and has become extremely expensive, making domestic production the more affordable option.

  “If we want cheap natural gas, we need to bring in our own,” Ellinas said.

  “Kalypso is a relatively small field, but it creates an opportunity for negotiations to secure natural gas for Cyprus, certainly after 2030,” he added.

  On electricity prices, Ellinas said there was little indication that costs would fall in the near future, despite growing investment in renewable energy and storage technologies.

  “Energy storage will help prevent energy from being wasted, but it will not solve the energy problem because it does not generate new energy,” he said.

  “Nor will it help unless the way electricity prices are determined by the market changes,” he continued.

  “At the moment, the profits generated by renewable energy go into the pockets of those who own the renewable energy projects, while consumers see no benefit at all,” Ellinas said.

  “The law needs to change so that the benefits of renewable energy are shared more fairly,” he added.

  Commenting on the planned electricity interconnection linking Cyprus with Greece and Israel, Ellinas said it would require at least another six years before becoming operational.

  “That means we are looking at 2031 at the earliest before it begins operating, assuming the European Investment Bank ultimately decides to proceed, which I believe it will,” he said.

  Looking ahead, Ellinas maintained that any measures capable of significantly reducing electricity prices are unlikely to materialise before the end of the decade.

  “The solutions that will reduce electricity prices lie beyond 2030,” he said.

  “Until then, we need to focus on changing the way electricity is generated, traded and used in Cyprus so that we stop reaching these deadlocks, such as the current power cuts caused by demand exceeding production or the repeated faults in the system, while the electricity grid also requires upgrading,” Ellinas said.

  “We need to prepare properly and put everything in order so that we are ready by the end of the decade,” he concluded.

Github

• Copilot code review: Agent skills and MCP now generally available

  Copilot code review support for agent skills and MCP servers is now generally available for all Copilot Pro, Pro+, Business, and Enterprise users. Previously announced in public preview, these capabilities let you bring your team’s tools, standards, and external context directly into every code review.

  What’s included

  • Agent skills let Copilot code review invoke your team’s internal tools and coding standards during a review. Add a SKILL.md file under a skill subdirectory in .github/skills to extend Copilot’s analysis with context and instructions specific to your repository or organization.
  • MCP server connections pull context from third-party platforms your team already uses (e.g., issue trackers, documentation systems, service catalogs) directly into the review.
    • All MCP tool calls performed by Copilot code review will be limited to read-only.
    • Any MCP configurations you’ve already set up for Copilot cloud agent automatically apply to Copilot code review. Note that the GitHub and Playwright MCP will be turned on by default.

  What’s new

  • Attribution on skills and MCP comments: Copilot code review now indicates when a comment was generated using agent skills or MCP context, so you can see your skills and MCP servers in action.

  Getting started

  If you configured agent skills or MCP servers during the public preview, no changes are needed. Your existing setup continues to work now that these features are generally available.

  For new users:

  • MCP servers: Add your MCP configuration under repository settings → Copilot → MCP servers. Store authentication tokens under repository settings → Secrets and variables → Agents. See example MCP configurations to get started.
  • Agent skills: Under .github/skills, create a skill-specific directory, then add a SKILL.md file to that directory with the context and instructions you want Copilot code review to use. For more details, see the agent skills documentation.

  The post Copilot code review: Agent skills and MCP now generally available appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Default model enablement for Copilot Business and Enterprise

  We’re introducing a global default enablement policy for generally available Copilot models on Copilot Business and Copilot Enterprise plans. Instead of requiring admins to manually turn on each new model as it ships, models that become generally available will now be on by default. We’re adding a single opt-out control for organizations and enterprises that need stricter governance.

  What’s changing

  Today, a new default availability for released models policy is available in your enterprise and organization model settings. For the next 28 days, this policy is configurable but has no effect on model availability — nothing changes for your users yet.

  On August 26, the policy takes effect:

  • Models you haven’t explicitly configured will be relabeled from “unconfigured” to “inherits default” and will begin following your policy setting. If your policy is enabled (i.e., the default), those models become available to your users. If it’s disabled, they stay off.
  • “Inherits default” is a live, dynamic state that always tracks your policy. You can flip the policy at any time and all “inherits default” models follow immediately.
  • Explicit choices are always preserved. If you’ve deliberately enabled or disabled a specific model, that setting is never touched.
  • Open-weight models (e.g., DeepSeek, Kimi K2.7) and models not covered by GitHub’s data retention agreement (e.g., Fable 5) are excluded from default enablement regardless of your policy.

  Use the next 28 days to review your model settings. If you’re happy with models being available by default, no action is needed. If you’d rather manually approve each model, set the policy to disabled before August 26.

  The post Default model enablement for Copilot Business and Enterprise appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• CodeQL 2.26.1 improves analysis accuracy and framework coverage

  CodeQL is the static analysis engine behind GitHub code scanning, which finds and remediates security issues in your code. We’ve recently released CodeQL 2.26.1, which improves framework coverage for Go, Java/Kotlin, and JavaScript/TypeScript, and reduces false positives in Rust analysis.

  Language and framework support

  C/C++

  • Models-as-data flow summaries now use fully qualified field names, such as MyNamespace::MyStruct::myField. Unqualified field names remain supported but will be removed in 12 months.

  Go

  • We’ve improved modeling for the log/slog package, including slog.Logger methods, With, WithGroup, Attr, and Value. This expands coverage for applications using structured logging.

  Java/Kotlin

  • We’ve added source, sink, and flow summary models for org.apache.poi.

  JavaScript/TypeScript

  • We’ve added support for Angular’s @HostListener('window:message', ...) and @HostListener('document:message', ...) decorators. CodeQL now recognizes the decorated method’s event parameter as a client-side remote flow source.

  Query changes

  Go

  • The improved log/slog modeling expands coverage for the go/log-injection and go/clear-text-logging queries.

  Java/Kotlin

  • The java/path-injection query now recognizes input validated with @javax.validation.constraints.Pattern as sanitized, reducing false positives.
  • The java/ssrf query now treats the first argument of Spring WebFlux’s WebClient.UriSpec.uri method as a request forgery sink, which may produce additional valid alerts.

  JavaScript/TypeScript

  • The js/missing-origin-check query now analyzes Angular message event handlers declared with @HostListener.

  Rust

  • The rust/hard-coded-cryptographic-value query now treats arithmetic, bitwise, and string append operations as barriers. This reduces false positives when code combines hard-coded constants with nonconstant data, such as when incrementing a nonce or appending variable data to a constant prefix.

  For a full list of changes, please refer to the complete changelog for version 2.26.1. Every new version of CodeQL is automatically deployed to users of GitHub code scanning on github.com. The new functionality in CodeQL 2.26.1 will also be included in a future GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES) release. If you use an older version of GHES, you can manually upgrade your CodeQL version.

  The post CodeQL 2.26.1 improves analysis accuracy and framework coverage appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Using Go as a solo dev

  I was speaking with a friend about solo dev stacks. He's a Python/Django dev. I'm all in on Go. How many of you are solo devs using Go? What are you building? I've had a few web app ideas for awhile but language hopped a bit before settling on Go. I wanted something with concurrency builtin without the overhead of a virtual machine.

  submitted by /u/aegloswinterborn
  [link] [comments]
• Building a real-time voice chat system in Go – architecture and resources?

  Can anyone recommend open-source Go projects implementing a real-time voice chat server (Discord/TeamSpeak-like)? I'm looking to study the architecture and networking design rather than WebRTC tutorials.

  submitted by /u/abdulla_k23
  [link] [comments]
• pgx.CollectRows: Nice APIs Don't Have To Be Slow

  submitted by /u/raserei0408 [link] [comments]

• discord-delete: bulk-delete your Discord messages from your data export, with adaptive per-channel pacing

  discord-delete bulk-deletes your own Discord messages and reactions from your Discord data export. The export has the exact channel and message IDs, so there is no search step: the run is one DELETE per message. It cleared my own account, 400k+ messages, in a bit over a week. There's a GIF of it running at the top of the README. Discord's delete buckets are per channel, so each channel is cleared serially, multiple in parallel. Per-channel spacing uses AIMD to settle on the fastest rate Discord tolerates: widen on a 429, tighten on success. Bubble Tea TUI/headless. Pure Go with CGO off. There's a demo package in the repo, so you can try a dry run without a token or your own data. Automating a user account breaks Discord's ToS and can get it banned. submitted by /u/DatCodeMania [link] [comments]

• What do you use fuzz tests for, other than parsers?

  Fuzz tests are great for parsers, encoder decoders and validators. What else are you using it for?

  Curious to know if anyone is extensively using the fuzztest stdlib.

  What kinds of bugs have you caught with it? Does it make sense to fuzztest a http or grpc handler? If so what about side effectful handlers? Typically fuzzing is reserved for pure functions.

  Overall how do you decide "you know what, a suite of fuzztest would be fantastic for this"?

  submitted by /u/sigmoia
  [link] [comments]
• NEXUS — enterprise secrets management CLI (Go, open-source)

  Built a secrets manager with age encryption, AES-256-GCM backup, Ed25519 audit logs, and a full REST API. Single binary, zero deps. Like HashiCorp Vault but deploys in 5 minutes.

  nexus secret create prod/db/pass "s3cret"

  nexus secret get prod/db/pass

  nexus backup create --output ./backups

  Looking for feedback on CLI ergonomics and the API design. PRs/issues welcome.

  https://github.com/ConstantineCTF/nexus

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