Huginn Daily

Friday, June 26, 2026

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• Limassol set to launch smart parking system in early July

  Limassol is preparing to launch its new smart parking system in early July as installation work continues across the city centre.

  The project is intended to modernise parking management, improve traffic flow and make it easier for drivers to find available spaces in some of the city’s busiest areas.

  First announced by the Limassol municipality in 2023, the project was awarded in June 2025 to Blue Sun Automation Ltd under a contract worth €5.17 million plus VAT.

  It will cover around 2,500 parking spaces across central Limassol.

  Sensors have already been installed in several on street parking locations to provide real time information on space availability.

  Drivers will be able to access this information through a mobile application, helping them locate parking more quickly.

  The app will also allow electronic payments, making the process more convenient and reducing the need for physical tickets.

  Several organised car parks are also being upgraded as part of the project.

  At the Enaerios parking site, changes are planned to entry and exit routes, along with a redesign aimed at improving circulation and increasing capacity.

  Similar works are expected at parking facilities near the Limassol pier, where demand for spaces is often high.

  Although the system is expected to go live within days, pricing has not yet been finalised.

  Discussions within the municipality are continuing, with early indications pointing to a charge of around €1 per hour and a daily maximum of €15.

  Authorities are also examining possible concessions for permanent residents.

  However, officials have stressed that the goal is not to encourage the long-term use of public parking spaces but to improve availability for all users.

  The new system is also expected to help strengthen enforcement.

  Real-time monitoring enables traffic wardens to identify parking violations swiftly and respond efficiently, enhancing compliance with regulations.

  The wider aim is to increase turnover in busy areas, reduce the time drivers spend searching for parking and ease congestion during peak hours.

  The project is part of Limassol’s broader effort to introduce more digital solutions that improve mobility and accessibility across the city.

  Limassol is not the only municipality moving in this direction.

  In Latsia Yeri, installation of a smart parking system began in May 2026 under the Smart Cyprus programme.

  The project includes app-based parking information as well as designated spaces for disabled drivers and electric vehicle charging points.

  Local authorities recognise that installation may cause temporary disruption, but the long-term benefits will include better accessibility and reduced parking search times.

  In Larnaca, a €600,000 smart parking contract was signed in June 2025.

  The system will feature digital management software, mobile payments and pricing that can be adjusted according to demand.

  These projects indicate a shift towards smarter urban transport management in Cyprus, with Limassol’s scheme being one of the largest now underway.

• Kombos: Cyprus ‘not organising’ Gaza Executive Board meeting

  The government on Thursday again sought to distance itself from the upcoming meeting in Cyprus of the Gaza Executive Board, with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos stressing that the island is merely the venue for the gathering.

  The Executive Board will hold a two-day summit in Cyprus next week – on June 30 and July 1.

  “We are not organising, we are not co-organising, we are not participating in the discussions that will take place,” Kombos said, recalling that the Republic of Cyprus has observer status with regard to the Board of Peace, only in what has to do exclusively with Gaza.

  “So this is an initiative undertaken by the organisers. We happen to know some of them, we have frequent contacts. We have submitted our proposals regarding how things are progressing in Gaza, both in the humanitarian field and in reconstruction.”

  But he added that during any bilateral meetings with some of the members of this Executive Board, “our proposals will undoubtedly be discussed.”

  Cyprus’ chief diplomat said that due to the conflict in the Persian Gulf, there has been a significant delay in progress regarding both financing and the implementation of specific projects in Gaza.

  He welcomed the fact that there is now renewed interest in the issue.

  Kombos confirmed that the Gaza Executive Board will discuss the issue of financing, among others.

  Asked if Cyprus could potentially become the “hub” for the reconstruction of Gaza, the minister demurred, saying that at this stage, one must keep in mind that the effort is resuming.

  On whether Cyprus could turn from observer into a member of the Gaza Board of Peace, Kombos called this “idle speculation”.

  He added: “We are not a member, let alone a permanent member. We decided to participate as observers in the part that concerns the activity of the Board of Peace regarding Gaza, which is also based on the UN Security Council”.

  The minister also recalled that during the session held in Washington, regarding the observers and Gaza, the majority of EU member states, including the European Commission, were present.

  “Therefore, we are not walking a lonely path on this issue. We follow and comply with and align ourselves with the majority trend, given our geography and our profile in the context of exercising foreign policy,” he noted.

  Asked whether the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip continues, Kombos said it is, noting that there was another shipment sent relatively recently, including medical equipment and incubators for infants. There is already a next shipment ready for departure.

  Members of the Gaza Executive Board include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Sir Tony Blair, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Trump’s Iran envoy Steve Witkoff.

  The Financial Times reported recently that the Board of Peace fund is empty; despite $17 billion (€15 billion) in pledges, the organisation is stuck in limbo with no money flowing to projects in Gaza.

• Nurses shortage prompts proposal to hire non-EU nationals

  Cyprus faces a dearth of nurses at state hospitals, the health minister said on Thursday, proposing that one quick fix could be to hire people from non-EU countries.

  Speaking in parliament, Neofytos Charalambides revealed that state hospitals in total have a shortage of about 600 nursing staff.

  “Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system,” the minister told MPs.

  “The shortages are not just a number – it directly impacts patients’ safety as well as the work conditions of the healthcare workers themselves.”

  For this reason, the ministry is exploring a slew of measures addressing both the short term and the long term.

  One idea would be to have a “strictly controlled employment” of nurses from non-EU countries.

  This would be a supplementary measure, Charalambides stressed – it’s not meant to replace Cypriot or European nurses.

  “The proposal concerns having up to 10 per cent of personnel at each healthcare facility, under strict conditions.”

  Nurses from non-EU countries would be required to have a solid grasp of Greek, and would be issued work permits for only two years. In addition, they would be not be assigned as shift supervisor.

  The minister asserted that, whatever steps are taken, there is no intention of adversely affecting the entitlements of nurses or creating unemployed among those with a nursing degree.

  He would be seeking “dialogue” with the trade unions on the issue.

  The government has meantime commissioned a study for capacity planning in the healthcare sector.

  Also, the health ministry has reached out to the military, asking whether they’d agree to granting deferments to prospective conscripts enrolled in nursing programmes.

  “We aim to continuously upgrade the healthcare system to the benefit of the patients, with rational management of resources, effective oversight by the ministry, and zero tolerance to abuse or rule-breaking,” the minister noted.

• Police warn of scammers impersonating tax department

  Police on Thursday advised the public to be wary of phishing emails, after an individual reported an attempt to steal their personal information by scammers impersonating the tax department.

  According to the complaint, the person received an email purporting to be from the tax department. The email ‘informed’ the recipient that he/she had just been approved for a tax refund – even mentioning the supposed amount.

  The email provided a link to a fake website resembling that of the tax department. The recipient was urged to click on it to complete the process. This involved providing personal data.

  Having realised it was a scam, the person took no action, instead alerting the police.

  Nicosia CID are investigating.

  Based on this incident, and others, police again advised members of the public to be careful when receiving such emails.

  It recalled that no tax or other state department will send emails asking for passwords or other banking information. In case someone receives such an email, they should disregard it and delete it immediately.

  Members of the public should never disclose personal or banking information via email. They should never fill out any information on websites, other than official government websites.

  If in doubt, people should contact the department in question to verify whether it sent an email. They should do so before clicking on any link provided.

  Using logins with two-step verification is also strongly advised.

  In the event a person provides any banking data to fraudsters, they should immediately contact their bank and then alert the police.

  A phishing email is a fraudulent message designed to steal personal or financial information by impersonating a trusted source, such as a bank or employer.

• Appeal court suspends jail term in robbery case

  The court of appeal on Thursday suspended the prison sentence of a man convicted of robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony, stating that the court of first instance did not adequately consider his personal circumstances.

  The man had pleaded guilty to robbing a complainant of €60 using force, as well as to conspiracy related to drug trafficking.

  The criminal court sentenced him to 18 months for robbery and nine months for conspiracy.

  The appellant and another man met the complainant over a small-scale drug transaction.

  During the incident, the co-defendant assaulted the complainant, stole money and caused injuries, while the appellant left the scene with him.

  The appeal focused solely on the refusal to suspend the sentence.

  The defence cited the appellant’s clean criminal record, remorse, cooperation with the authorities, family difficulties and serious health problems.

  The appeals court ruled that although the district court had considered mitigating factors, it had not properly balanced them against the circumstances of the case.

  Judges noted that the appellant did not play a leading role, there was no evidence of organised planning on his part and he had not reoffended in the time since the incident.

  The prison sentences remain unchanged but have been suspended for three years from the date of the original ruling.

• Three arrested as police seize another 6.5kg of dried poppy bulbs

  Police arrested three people on Thursday after seizing more than 6.5kg of dried poppy bulbs during anti-drug operations in the Famagusta and Paphos districts.

  The arrests were made as part of ongoing investigations by the drug squad (Ykan) targeting the importation of narcotic substances through courier services.

  In Famagusta, officers arrested two men aged 35 and 30 after discovering packages containing dried poppy bulbs with a combined gross weight of 4.45kg.

  Police said the 35-year-old collected a package from a courier company at around 10.20am.

  A search revealed seven packages containing dried poppy bulbs weighing a total of 1.4kg. He was arrested on the spot.

  A subsequent search of his home uncovered another package containing the same substance weighing 1.45kg.

  Investigators also determined that the suspect was residing illegally in the Republic.

  Shortly afterwards, officers stopped a 30-year-old man who had also received a package from the same courier company.

  Police found dried poppy bulbs weighing 1.6kg in his possession and arrested him.

  A third package containing a further 1.6kg of dried poppy bulbs was located at the courier company’s premises.

  The two suspects are expected to appear before the Famagusta District Court on Friday for remand order proceedings.

  In a separate case, investigators linked a package containing 500g of dried poppy bulbs that arrived at Larnaca airport to a 38-year-old man from Paphos.

  The suspect was stopped while riding a motorcycle in Paphos and was found carrying 1g of powder believed to be derived from dried poppy bulbs.

  He was arrested and is due to appear before the Paphos district court on Friday.

  Police said more than 58kg of dried poppy bulb products have been seized in recent days and 13 people arrested as part of the ongoing operation.

  Investigations continue.

• Former auditor general causes stir in first House appearance as MP

  Former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides stirred things up during his first appearance as MP at a House parliamentary committee on Thursday, demanding the Audit Office hand over internal documents.

  His target: his successor at the Audit Office, Andreas Papaconstantinou.

  Michaelides, who in September 2024 was sacked as auditor-general due to conduct unbecoming, demanded that the Audit Office hand over minutes of their meetings having to do with procedural matters – such as the approval of audits and their start and finish dates.

  This drew a reaction from current auditor-general Papaconstantinou, asserting that the House committee has no oversight over the Audit Office.

  “The Audit Office is at your disposal at any time,” he told MPs.

  “You can invite us to brief you about our services and the way we operate. But I have an objection: the House audit committee has no oversight over the Audit Office.”

  But Michaelides doubled down, citing a law which he claimed obliges the Audit Office to comply.

  “It’s not a matter of opinion. The audit committee is the controller of the Audit Office,” he said.

  Coming back, Papaconstantinou said that if MPs insist, he’d seek a legal opinion.

  His objection is that, unlike reports issued by the Audit Office, the minutes of meetings are an internal departmental document, not to be shared with parliament.

  Following the spat, the auditor-general briefed MPs on upcoming reports by the Audit office. These will relate to Guaranteed Minimum Income, the use of buses, the licensing of hotels, and the campaign expenses of MPs during the recent elections in May.

• Proposal to microchip sterilised stray cats gains support

  A proposal to introduce microchips for stray cats sterilised under Cyprus’ nationwide sterilisation programme has received broad support from government services and animal welfare organisations on Thursday.

  The proposal was discussed during a coordination meeting by environment and animal welfare commissioner Antonia Theodosiou following a letter from the Cyprus voice for animals (CVA) federation.

  Representatives of the veterinary services, the ministry of agriculture, rural development and environment departments, the animal police and animal welfare organisations attended the meeting.

  It focused on improving the implementation of stray cat sterilisation programmes and strengthening cooperation among the bodies involved.

  Around 2,200 cats are sterilised each year through the Cyprus sterilisation programme.

  Participants highlighted the important role played by volunteers and animal welfare groups in trap-neuter-return (TNR) schemes, including capturing, transporting, caring for and returning stray cats to their environment.

  Theodosiou also presented measures included in the action plan for the welfare of companion animals, which has been submitted to the relevant ministries.

  This includes more funding for cat sterilisation, a similar scheme for dogs, and digital tools for better stray animal management.

  A key issue is that cats sterilised under the current programme are returned without electronic identification, hindering tracking and management efforts.

  Participants supported proposals for compulsory microchipping of sterilised stray cats and a digital platform for stray animal management.

  The veterinary services emphasised the need to consider upcoming European regulations on owned and stray animals, as additional requirements may impact sterilisation numbers.

  There was also discussion on formally recognising TNR volunteers and creating training programmes to assist them.

  Coordination to enhance sterilisation programmes and stray animal management across Cyprus will continue.

• School bus safety tops new transport committee’s agenda as minister outlines priorities

  School bus safety will be the first issue examined by parliament’s newly formed transport committee next week, following the publication of the Audit Office’s report into the school transport system, MPs announced after the committee’s inaugural meeting on Thursday.

  The meeting, attended by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, also focused on traffic congestion, speed cameras, Takata airbags, taxi licensing and major road projects.

  Speaking after the meeting, Vafeades said the ministry had briefed MPs on the inspections carried out to assess the operation of private vehicle inspection centres responsible for certifying school buses. The report found that 35 per cent of the buses examined at public centres failed the inspections, while 19 per cent of those deemed unsuitable had previously obtained certificates from private testing facilities.

  He said the inspections had resulted in penalties against those who failed to comply with regulations, while some companies had also been referred to court. According to TOM, the technical faults highlighted in the auditor-general’s report had already been identified by them.

  “Our work on road safety and student safety continues and is being intensified,” he said.

  “We had this very bad experience with the buses, but we are continuing the actions we started and will continue implementing them.”

  Traffic congestion, particularly in Limassol, also featured prominently during the meeting.

  Vafeades said the addition of around 10,000 new vehicles to Cyprus’ roads every year was making the problem increasingly difficult to tackle.

  He said addressing congestion required new road infrastructure, a process that inevitably takes time, but added that the ministry and parliament had agreed to work together on possible solutions.

  Among the projects discussed were plans to categorise and prioritise around 60 roads identified by Limassol’s mayors as requiring upgrades.

  Disy MP Charalambos Pazaros said improving the road network should be a priority, arguing that inadequate infrastructure continued to affect the daily lives of citizens.

  He also highlighted staff shortages at the Road Transport Department, saying they were causing significant delays and inconvenience for hundreds of members of the public.

  Diko MP Giorgos Savvides said his party would continue to work constructively with the transport ministry and stressed that the publication of the Audit Office’s report should not create the impression that the ministry had been unaware of problems affecting school buses.

  He said several shortcomings had already been identified by the ministry itself and corrective measures were under way, while the latest findings would help ensure the system operates safely from September.

  “Our children must be transported safely because this is an institution that has been successful,” he said.

  Savvides also called for the long-delayed Paphos–Polis Chrysochous road project to move forward without further delay and urged the government to provide a clear timetable for the start of construction.

• Fidias’ party demands resignation of Savvides and Angelides

  Direct Democracy has submitted a parliamentary resolution calling for the resignation of attorney-general George Savvides and his deputy, Savvas Angelides, on Thursday.

  The proposal was announced before the House by MP Diana Constantinides, who said the resolution had been tabled by the movement as “part of an effort to rebuild trust in public institutions”.

  House President Annita Demetriou confirmed that the matter had been discussed at a meeting of parliamentary leaders and would now be referred to the legal affairs committee before returning to the plenary for consideration.

  The motion comes amid continued criticism over the handling of the Mafia State affair and the next steps following the publication of the anti-corruption authority’s investigation into the allegations originally levied by journalist Makarios Drousiotis.

  The report concluded that former president Nicos Anastasiades may face potential criminal liability for abuse of power.

  In response, the government has announced plans to appoint a team of independent criminal investigators to examine the authority’s findings and determine whether criminal proceedings should be pursued.

  Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said more than one investigator would be appointed and that the selection process would focus on qualifications, suitability and the absence of conflicts of interest.

  The government’s approach has nevertheless drawn criticism from Akel and Alma, both of whom argue that the investigators should be selected by the authority itself rather than the cabinet.

  Alma had further questioned whether President Nikos Christodoulides should have any role in the process considering his previous service in the Anastasiades administration and his appearance as a witness during the investigation.

  Both Savvides and Angelides recused themselves from further involvement in the case last week.

  The government has since maintained that responsibility for appointing investigators now rests with the cabinet under the law.

• AI traffic cameras on table to crack down on mobile phone use

  The government is considering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) traffic cameras to crack down on people using their mobile phones while driving, MPs heard on Thursday.

  Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades revealed the plans at the first session of the House transport committee after the parliamentary elections.

  The minister said road safety remains a top priority for the government.

  The use of mobile phones by motorists has been identified as a main cause of serious traffic accidents.

  “Mobile phones have become a scourge,” he told MPs.

  “We see drivers fiddling even on TikTok for as long as ten seconds. We’re moving ahead with AI cameras that will track anyone holding a mobile. We have no other choice.”

  As to the mobile vans equipped with cameras to monitor speeding and other infractions, Vafeades said the intention is to bring them into the cities where the majority of deadly road accidents occur.

  For the highways, the government is mulling a system that would track a vehicle’s average speed during commutes.

  MPs raised the issue of traffic congestion, with Disy’s Charalambos Pazaros speaking about a problem growing year by year.

  Responding, the minister acknowledged the problem, noting that in Limassol alone some 12,000 new vehicles come into circulation each year.

  He said a list of 60 traffic management projects has been drawn up; priority would be given according to urgency and financing.

  There are plans to open up two avenues – Argyroupoleos and Stavrou – to ease traffic congestion.

  Regarding the planned Limassol northern bypass, the aim is to invite tenders by the end of the year. But the minister hastened to add it would take the project three to four years to complete.

  The northern bypass in Limassol is a €200 million flagship infrastructure project designed to alleviate severe traffic congestion in the city.

  Running parallel to the existing coastal highway, it will connect the eastern areas (Amathus and Yermasoyia) with the western districts (Kourion and Ypsonas). The project is divided into several sections that are being developed independently, with key tenders expected to launch throughout 2026.

• Wine me not

  A few weeks ago, I found myself dancing to Queen’s We Will Rock You near Tsiakkas Vineyards, while enjoying a glass of Vamvakada with friends. In that moment, my mood was shaped by the music, the company and the occasion rather than the wine. That does not happen often.

  Wine is associated with parties, festivals and celebrations of all sorts. Since the ancient days of feasting and banqueting among Romans and Greeks, wine has had a part to play in the celebration of life. Particularly in Europe, where entire regions have hundreds of years of history of viticulture and celebrating harvests, there are a plethora of culturally important wine festivals that are celebrated annually. Whether it is based around the harvest as is tradition, or as a way to bring summer to life and attract visitors from across the world and experience what a local region has to offer, there is plenty going on across the continent.

  Wine brings a sense of celebration and warmth to every holiday occasion, from intimate dinners to festive toasts. While traditions vary around the world – from winter feasts to sun-soaked summer barbecues in both hemispheres – a good bottle of wine remains a common thread linking these seasonal celebrations.

  Around the world, wineries celebrate summer with lively open-air festivals that combine exceptional wines, live music, local cuisine and beautiful vineyard views. Summer is when wine country is at its most vibrant. The vines are full, the grapes ripen under long, warm days and festivals turn quiet villages like Pelendri into open-air celebrations of wine, food and music.

  To make the most of these events, travellers should follow the wine festival calendar and book early. For those who plan ahead, summer wine festivals offer experiences that other seasons cannot match – harvest celebrations, vineyard concerts, sunset tastings that stretch into the evening, and the striking sight of vines heavy with ripening fruit.

  I have personally enjoyed festivals like the one at Tsiakkas, where wine, music and atmosphere come together to create a memorable summer experience. Classical concerts at Ktima Mercouri near the Ionian Sea in Greece, or the frenzied party with wines from Gerards Bertrand from Southern France in Languedoc, Latin and jazz themed parties in Argentina and Chile.

  At Tsiakkas it was more than just dancing and enjoying some excellent street food prepared by the team of Patrikon, located in Tersefanou Larnaca. Most themed festivals, or oenogastronomic parties – Tsiakkas included – offer an exciting opportunity to taste world-class wines, explore new flavours and immerse yourself in the culture of wine regions.

  2025 Tsiakkas Winery Sauvignon Blanc PGI Lemesos, ABV 13%

  This cosmopolitan French variety is sourced from sandy and volcanic vineyards. Straw yellow colours, this white dry displays a broad array of aromas from white gooseberry, passion fruit and peach to chamomile, mint, lime and lemon zest. The palate is full of creamy, supple texture accented by a fresh thread of acidity that builds to persistent finish. Perfect for grilled seabass and citrus herbed butter or shrimp ceviche with citrus and avocado. €14

  2021 Tsiakkas Winery Promara, PGI Lemesos, ABV 12.5%

  This wine epitomises the character and the strength of Promara. From Ayios Ioannis and Paphos vineyards at 700-900m, sandy loam soil, organic and sustainable. Light yellow colour with vibrant acidity and bright refreshing flavours despite its five-year ageing. The nose is full of notes of lemon, lime, white peach, pear and melon, flinty almonds and herbs, give way to a palate full of grapefruit, white flower, gooseberry, with linear acidity and a snappy texture. The wine is full-body, smooth and flavourful, with a finish that is both crisp and satisfying. Ideal with crab cakes, panfried rainbow trout, or sauteed scallops with orange fennel and ginger, goat cheese, and Gouda. €21.50

  2019 Tsiakkas Winery Giannoudi, PGI Lemesos Magnum, ABV 13.5%

  From the Pelendri region, this Giannoudi is bright with deep ruby core, lightening to a ruby garnet at the rim. Highly aromatic with black cherry, pomegranate and red plum fruit along with notes of herbs, vanilla, new leather, pencil shavings and oak. Medium to full-bodied with ripe black cherry, baked strawberry cake and juicy plum on entry, evolving to moderate, fine tannins and notes of leather, dried oregano, wild sage and white rose petal with dusty terracotta. The finish is long and intricate with sweet tobacco, vanilla beans, oak and a lingering note of liquorice. Enjoy with your souvla or a rib eye with green peppercorn sauce. €63

  2020 Tsiakkas Winery Vamvakada PGI Lemesos ABV 13.5%

  A Maratheftiko where Tsiakkas uses the variety’s nickname Vamvakada. Dark red ruby colour, it is supple and beautifully balanced, showing aromas of ripe red cherry, blackberry and plum, that are complemented by floral flavours, creamy oak notes of sweet caramel and vanilla bean. Additional notes of white pepper, cardamom and graphite provide more complexity and continue to develop as the wine breathes in the glass. I would have loved this with spareribs and barbecue sauce, roast turkey legs and cranberry or pepperoni pizza. €16.50

  Tsiakkas Winery Pelendri 25 991080, www.tsiakkaswinery.com

• Cyprus offers condolences to Venezuela after earthquakes kill 164

  Cyprus has expressed solidarity with Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 164 people and caused widespread destruction.

  In its statement issued on Thursday, the foreign ministry said it was “deeply shocked” by the loss of life and devastation caused by the disaster, which struck northern Venezuela and triggered extensive damage in several areas, including the capital Caracas.

  The ministry said Cyprus was closely monitoring developments and stood ready to assist where appropriate.

  “Our thoughts are with the people of Venezuela at this difficult time,” it said, reaffirming the country’s support for those affected.

  The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck within a minute of each other and are among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century.

  Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said at least 164 people had died, while rescue operations continued amid fears the toll could rise further.

  Emergency crews have been searching collapsed buildings, where people trapped beneath rubble have reportedly been heard calling for help.

  Authorities said the worst affected area is the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, where dozens of buildings collapsed.

  The US geological survey has warned that the scale of the disaster could be far greater, with preliminary assessments indicating the possibility of a significantly higher casualty count as search and recovery operations continue.

• Fire victims paid €13m as Cyprus boosts wildfire preparedness

  The government has paid €13 million in compensation to people affected by last year’s devastating wildfire in the Limassol mountain region, while authorities say Cyprus is better prepared for this summer’s fire season with more aircraft, enhanced surveillance and updated emergency plans.

  The figures were presented on Thursday during a meeting of the House interior committee, which reviewed the state’s readiness in terms of personnel, equipment and coordination ahead of the peak wildfire season.

  Interior ministry permanent secretary Elikkos Elia said compensation payments had reached €13 million, with 758 applications submitted on time and all having been examined.

  He said compensation had been paid in full to 119 homes, while 133 homes had received a first instalment, 38 a second instalment and 14 a third instalment. A further 88 families have received a fourth instalment to cover rental costs while their homes are restored.

  Elia said the ministry, district administrations and other services were working together on fire prevention, including clearing dry vegetation, while the Game and Fauna Service and the forestry department are carrying out round-the-clock patrols.

  He also urged parliament to prioritise legislation establishing a new Civil Protection Directorate, describing it as a key part of strengthening the country’s emergency response.

  “We also need the help of citizens to prevent disasters,” he said.

  Responding to questions from MPs, Elia confirmed that the government had received a legal opinion from the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection confirming the legality of the CY-Alert emergency warning system.

  National wildfire coordinator and chief fire officer Nikos Longinos said Cyprus has had 13 firefighting aircraft available since May 1 and expects to add another two before the end of the year.

  He added that €3 million had been allocated to communities for vegetation clearance and stressed that keeping both village perimeters and residential areas clear of combustible material remained essential.

  Longinos said authorities had responded to 1,250 countryside fires since the beginning of the year and that new surveillance cameras had already been installed in rural parts of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

  He also praised the contribution of volunteer groups and said the emergency plans “Pyrsos” and “Polyvios” had been updated ahead of the summer.

  Among other measures, he said authorities had requested 24-hour staffing at rural fire stations, proposed the creation of 14 new stations and were now using meteorological forecasting data to deploy resources more proactively.

  He also confirmed that Cyprus remains responsible for tackling fires inside the buffer zone in coordination with the United Nations, noting that firefighting there is complicated by the presence of minefields.

  Forestry department director Savvas Iezekiel said the department had been operating at maximum readiness since April 1, with all fire lookout stations staffed and firefighting vehicles fully serviced.

  He said Cyprus currently has three electro-optical camera systems monitoring forests and that another 16 will be installed in rural areas. By early 2027, the expanded network is expected to cover around 80 per cent of forests and the countryside.

  Iezekiel also argued that prevention remains more cost-effective than suppression and said controlled burning programmes would be expanded from the autumn.

  Longinos confirmed that 17 new fire engines had been ordered by the Limassol district administration, while another 60 firefighters had been recruited this year and deployed to their home districts.

  He added that “the National Guard has been asked to maintain the wildfire response centre at the Andreas Papandreou air base adding that we are doing our best to lower the chances of a fire starting and spreading, helicopters can take water from Kouris dam if necessary”. 

  During the meeting, Longinos revealed that last year’s wildfire at Farmakas had been caused by an Electricity Authority (EAC) transformer, while officials also highlighted concerns over illegal rubbish dumps after seven of this year’s 1,250 countryside fires started at such sites.

  Following the meeting, committee chairman Aristos Damianou welcomed the preparations but said their effectiveness would ultimately be judged during the coming summer.

  “If similar challenges arise this summer, we hope the commitments made today will be translated into action,” he said, noting that wildfires had become an increasingly serious consequence of the climate crisis.

• US businessman accused of stealing billions from healthcare arrested in Kyrenia

  American businessman Ibrahim Hilmi, who is accused of devising a scheme to defraud over $3.7 billion from Medicare, the United States government-funded health insurance programme that supports elderly and disabled people, was arrested in Kyrenia and brought to America earlier this week, according to the justice department.

  FBI Director Kash Patel said that Hilmi, 58, “is charged with one of the biggest Medicare scams in history” and has been brought to Miami, Florida, following a foreign transfer of custody. Hilmi fled the United States in May 2025.

  In a statement, Patel credited the Miami branch of the FBI, the US justice department and “partners in Turkey” for apprehending Hilmi. He also thanked US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, saying “this case could not have been accomplished without his tireless work.”

  It is not clear what role officials in the occupied north of Cyprus played in the apprehension.

  According to the justice department, Hilmi made an initial appearance in a Florida court on Monday.

  Hilmi, who was a resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida, is charged with health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering in a grand jury indictment dated June 11, 2026.

  The grand jury indictment alleges that Hilmi ran two fake healthcare companies, ABRH Care and Sunshine Senior Solutions, that operated as “shell companies that existed for the sole purpose of fraudulently billing Medicare” and other healthcare entities.

  Starting in December 2024, Hilmi’s fraudulent companies are alleged to have submitted tens of thousands of claims, totalling billions of dollars, for reimbursements from insurers for durable medical equipment, including urinary catheters and wound dressings “that never existed.”

  The indictment notes many of those who used the fraudulent companies to submit claims were “foreign actors” who stole the identities of legitimate medical providers.

  According to the indictment, most of the claims submitted by the two fraudulent companies were not actually paid and “held in suspension,” which can occur when fraud is suspected, but around $5.7 million was deposited successfully into the companies’ bank accounts.

  Millions of dollars were then transferred to shell companies located abroad, the indictment says.

  It adds that the fraudulent companies “provided no services to customers and served no legitimate business purpose.”

  Hilmi’s arrest is part of Operation Gold Rush, a federal effort to crack down on transnational organised crime networks that defraud Medicare.

  US Vice President JD Vance, who is chair of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, also celebrated the arrest in a social media post.

  “If you steal from the American people, there will be no safe harbour for your anywhere in the world,” Vance wrote.

• Parliament backs fuel tax relief extension until end of August

  Drivers will continue to benefit from reduced fuel excise duties after the House unanimously approved a two-month extension of the measure on Thursday.

  The House passed the amendment with 38 votes in favour under an emergency procedure, extending the reduced rates until August 31, for the measure had been due to expire at the end of this month.

  The legislation preserves the existing reductions of 8.33 cents per litre on petrol and six cents per litre on diesel.

  The government estimates the extension will cost approximately €12 million.

  The decision follows cabinet approval earlier this week, whereupon government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the extension was justified because energy prices, while lower than previous peaks, remain above normal levels due to international developments.

  He said the government acted after considering that prices are “still at higher levels than normal, due to geopolitical developments”.

  The proposal was examined by the House finance committee in an extraordinary session before being referred to the plenary for a final vote.

  The reduced fuel duty was first introduced as part of a broader package of cost-of-living measures announced in March.

  Other measures included a temporary zero rate of VAT on meat, poultry and fish and the postponement of planned environmental levies on fuel.

  Fuel prices remain a politically sensitive issue in Cyprus, where transport costs affect households, businesses and supply chains across the economy.

  Previous parliamentary discussions also included calls from some deputies for a reduction in VAT on fuel.

  However, at present EU rules do not permit such a measure under current legislation.

• Traffic disruption hits central Nicosia as roadworks close key routes

  Severe traffic congestion in central Nicosia was reported on Thursday as the closure of Kritis Street and Philippiados Street for roadworks continued to cause significant delays for motorists and disrupt access to businesses.

  As reported by Sigma, the restrictions have been in place since last Friday as part of an infrastructure upgrade programme being carried out by the Nicosia municipality.

  Kritis Street had become a widely used alternative route following traffic changes on Makarios Avenue, making its closure particularly disruptive for drivers travelling through the city centre.

  Motorists faced lengthy queues throughout the area as traffic was diverted onto narrower connecting roads.

  The impact has extended beyond commuters, with business owners reporting reduced customer access and lower commercial activity during a period considered important for summer trade.

  Residents have also reported difficulties reaching properties and finding available parking.

  Congestion has been worsened by the inability of drivers to continue directly through Makarios Avenue, forcing larger volumes of traffic onto adjacent streets and creating bottlenecks across the road network.

  Municipal authorities have directed motorists towards alternative routes, including Kypranoros Street, which recently reopened to traffic, and Androkleous Street, both of which are intended to help ease pressure on the affected section of the city centre.

  The works are intended to upgrade Nicosia’s road network through the recovery and resilience plan with funding from the EU’s initiative, and are being carried out by Cyfield.

  Officials expect construction work on Kritis Street and Philippiados Street to be completed by August 11 under the current timetable.

  The project includes pavement upgrades, improvements to accessibility and road safety, and the creation of additional parking spaces.

• New special education unit announced as children help shape reforms

  President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday announced the creation of a new specialeducation and inclusion unit within the education ministry, bringing together all existing special education services under one structure in what he described as a key step towards a more coordinated system for children with disabilities and their families.

  Speaking during an event at the presidential palace, where children with disabilities were invited to share their experiences directly with government officials, Christodoulides said the new unit would operate within the ministry’s existing structure and would consolidate services that currently operate in parallel.

  “The aim is to create a single point of reference for parents,” he said.

  The announcement formed part of the government’s wider effort to modernise Cyprus’ education system, with the president saying the views expressed by children during Thursday’s discussion would feed into the ongoing consultation on reforming the country’s 27-year-old special education legislation.

  Addressing the children, Christodoulides said the discussion was intended to reverse the usual roles.

  “Until now, in every discussion about your education, we have listened to your parents, teachers and specialists. Today I want to hear from you. You speak, and we are here to listen,” he said.

  He encouraged the children to speak openly about what helps them, the difficulties they face at school and what they believe needs to change.

  The president said the proposed legislation would introduce a more personalised assessment of each child’s needs and aims to ensure all pupils graduate with a common school attendance certificate, replacing the current distinction between students.

  He stressed that the government was not waiting for the legislation to be approved before introducing improvements.

  Among the measures already implemented, he said, were the recruitment of 474 additional support escorts in primary education and 105 in secondary education, together with expanded training programmes for teachers, school assistants and escorts.

  He also highlighted the construction of two new facilities – the Apostolos Loukas Special School and the Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home Special School in Limassol – while noting that all special schools now operate during the summer months to better support families.

  Other measures include extending attendance at schools until the age of 22 and extending parental leave rights for parents of children with disabilities until their child reaches the age of 21.

  Christodoulides also revealed that work is already under way across several ministries on a broader proposal covering what happens after students leave school at 22.

  The plan, which he said will be presented in mid-July, will address education, vocational training, employment and care to ensure continued support into adulthood.

  The event was organised following an initiative by the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled (Kysoa) and was attended by children with disabilities, their families, teachers, the education minister, the deputy ministers to the president and for social welfare, the commissioner for administration and other government officials.

• Griffon vultures breed in Cyprus again after five-year gap

  The Griffon vulture has successfully bred in Cyprus for the first time since 2021, with conservationists describing the development as a major milestone in efforts to save one of the island’s most endangered bird species.

  BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service said on Thursday that five breeding pairs have nested in different parts of the island this year, producing three confirmed chicks.

  The breakthrough comes after years of conservation work and follows a period in which the species suffered major setbacks, including the loss of the last breeding pairs to poisoning incidents in 2022 and 2023.

  “This year marks a historic turning point for the species,” the organisations said in a joint statement.

  They added that the five breeding pairs are expected to make a significant contribution to the recovery of the population, which remains critically low in Cyprus.

  Particularly encouraging for conservationists is that four of the five breeding pairs include birds brought from Spain under the EU-funded Life with Vultures project.

  The birds were released in Cyprus in 2022 and 2023 and have now reached breeding age.

  “The presence of five breeding pairs now creates the conditions for natural population growth through the production of young individuals in Cyprus,” the statement said.

  The three chicks confirmed so far will be fitted with rings and GPS transmitters to allow researchers to track their movements and monitor their survival after leaving the nest.

  Officials also highlighted the return of vultures to traditional nesting grounds. One of the nesting sites had not been used for around 15 years.

  “This development underscores the importance of protecting the species’ historic breeding grounds, as they can be recolonised as the population gradually stabilises and recovers,” the statement said.

  One breeding pair has particular significance.

  It consists of a 13-year-old female of Cretan origin, and a male bird born on the island in 2021, transferred to Cyprus under an earlier conservation programme and released in 2015.

  According to BirdLife, the pair “essentially connects the successive conservation efforts that have been implemented for more than a decade to save the species.”

  To protect nesting birds, authorities introduced special measures around two nests located within the British bases.

  In cooperation with the bases, protection zones were established to reduce disturbance during the breeding season.

  Despite the positive developments, conservationists warned that the Griffon vulture remains under threat.

  “The illegal use of poison baits and electrocution from electricity infrastructure continue to pose the most serious threats to its survival,” the statement said.

  They added that safeguarding nesting areas and maintaining suitable habitats remain essential for the species’ long-term recovery.

  “The recording of five breeding pairs and the confirmation of three chicks demonstrate that coordinated and long-term conservation efforts can yield meaningful results,” the organisations said.

  “After years of uncertainty, this year offers a valid reason for optimism about the future of the Griffon vulture in Cyprus.”

• EU island strategy and long-term budget top talks between Christodoulides and Fitto

  Cyprus’ role in shaping the European Union’s next long-term budget, a new EU strategy for islands and efforts to tackle depopulation in rural communities dominated talks on Thursday between President Nikos Christodoulides and European Commission Executive Vice President for cohesion Raffaele Fitto.

  Fitto is in Cyprus to address Friday’s high-level conference in Paphos on strengthening the EU’s islands and coastal communities, organised by the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU in cooperation with the European Commission.

  The conference follows the commission’s unveiling earlier this month of its first comprehensive strategies for Europe’s islands and coastal communities, aimed at boosting their competitiveness, resilience, connectivity and long-term sustainability.

  Welcoming Fitto to the Presidential Palace, Christodoulides thanked him for his support during Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union, describing his contribution to negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework as “crucial”.

  “What you did for our presidency was instrumental, especially regarding the biggest and most important issue, the multiannual financial framework,” the president said.

  He added that Cyprus looked forward to continuing its cooperation with the commission beyond the end of its presidency.

  Fitto praised what he described as the successful outcome of the Cypriot presidency, saying significant progress had been made on the next EU budget, future cohesion policy and the bloc’s new strategy for islands.

  “I can say this presidency was a very important success for you and for the European commission,” he said, adding that cooperation would continue on the next multiannual financial framework and upcoming initiatives, including the commission’s proposed “Right to Stay” strategy.

  The “Right to Stay” initiative was designed to address population decline in rural, remote and inland areas by helping people remain in the communities where they live.

  Fitto later said that the new islands strategy marked the first time the EU had adopted a comprehensive framework specifically addressing the challenges faced by island regions.

  More than 4,000 inhabited islands across the European Union are home to around 17 million people. While they make an important contribution to Europe’s economy, culture and territorial cohesion, they also face structural disadvantages including geographic isolation, higher transport and service costs, smaller markets and demographic pressures.

  Fitto said the strategy aims to help islands make better use of EU funding under the next long-term budget while tackling what he described as the “cost of insularity”.

  “We now have the opportunity to use the resources available through this strategy to address the major challenge of the cost of insularity,” he said.

  The comprehensive strategy for coastal communities of which Fitto spoke seeks to strengthen the bloc’s blue economy while addressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, housing pressures and the seasonal nature of tourism.

  As one of only three island member states in the EU, Cyprus is expected to be among the countries that stand to benefit most from the new initiatives.

  Fitto is due to visit the village of Ayios Ioannis in Limassol district and the EU-funded Troodos Observatory as part of the “Right to Stay” initiative.

  “The objective is to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while responding to the significant risk of depopulation in inland rural and remote areas,” he said.

  The strategy will bring together regional policy with other sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, transport and tourism, to create a more integrated approach to regional development.

  Fitto said the commission had already received more than 700 submissions during a public consultation on the initiative and plans to present the full strategy in the first months of next year.

  He added that visiting villages during official missions was an important part of the Commission’s work.

  “The goal is to be on the ground and better understand the real needs of these communities,” he said.

  Friday’s conference in Paphos will bring together EU ministers, regional and island authorities, European institutions, experts and other stakeholders to discuss the future development of Europe’s islands and coastal regions and how the new strategies can be translated into practical policies.

Github

• Copilot code review: Analysis depth and efficiency updates

  Copilot code review now uses the built-in file exploration tools available in the Copilot CLI and SDK, significantly improving review cost efficiency with no change to your existing workflow. If you’re in the Medium analysis depth public preview, you’ll also see some new updates centered around configurability and visibility of review depth.

  Configure Medium analysis depth for your organization

  If you’re opted into the Medium review effort level public preview, you now get two updates:

  • Medium attribution in the pull request overview comment: Copilot code review now labels medium analysis depth runs in its pull request overview comment so you can quickly confirm which level generated the review.

  • Organization-level default level setting: Organizations can now set a default review level for unconfigured repositories. Repositories under an organization that has configured the default review level will continue to be able to override that default setting if desired.

  Behind the scenes: CLI-based file tools in Copilot code review

  Copilot code review now uses the grep, rg, glob and view tools from the Copilot CLI and SDK for exploring the source code in its review path. These replace custom tools previously used for file exploration. This capability, along with careful tuning of instructions behind the scenes, has resulted in a more focused review where Copilot finds the code that matters, quickly.

  These efficiency gains have reduced Copilot code review costs by about 20% while maintaining the same standard of review quality. This has been observed in both offline and online evaluation.

  The post Copilot code review: Analysis depth and efficiency updates appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Enterprise-managed settings now support strictKnownMarketplaces in VS Code and GitHub Copilot CLI

  Enterprises can now control which plugins their users can install in GitHub Copilot CLI and VS Code. This setting is now available in public preview.

  Add strictKnownMarketplaces to your enterprise-managed settings.json, and Copilot will only allow plugins to be installed from the marketplaces you’ve explicitly defined. GitHub Copilot automatically pulls and applies these settings for users licensed through your Copilot Business or Copilot Enterprise account. This is a direct way to enforce your client governance strategy prior to tool execution by removing the risk of users installing untrusted plugins.

  This update builds on the enterprise-managed plugins for Copilot CLI and VS Code capabilities we launched earlier.

  To learn more, see our documentation on Enterprise managed client settings.

  Join the discussion within GitHub Community.

  The post Enterprise-managed settings now support strictKnownMarketplaces in VS Code and GitHub Copilot CLI appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Saved views for repository issues – Public Preview and adjustable row heights in projects

  Saved views for repository issues

  Repository Issues pages now support saved views, making it easier for teams to create and share filtered views of their issues.

  With saved views, anyone with triage access or above can create shared views like “Unassigned bugs”, “Needs triage”, or “Customer-reported issues”. Set them up once, and everyone on the repository can access the same view.

  Saved views now live in the new Issues sidebar alongside quick links like Assigned to me, Created by me, Mentioned, and Recent activity, helping you quickly find the issues that matter most.

  The sidebar also gives GitHub Projects a new home, making it easier to move from issues into the planning views your team uses to organize and track work. Milestones and labels are also now easier to access from the same sidebar.

  Adjustable row heights in projects

  You can now set the row height in projects table layouts. Open the view options, pick the row height option and then choose between Single, Medium, Tall, or Extra Tall to give more space for extra information when needed.

  Share feedback in the community discussion — it directly shapes what we build next.

  The post Saved views for repository issues – Public Preview and adjustable row heights in projects appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• More control over your GitHub-hosted runners

  Organizations now have more control over who can use GitHub-hosted runners in Actions. Admins can now disable the standard labels for hosted runners such as ubuntu-latest, as well as add macOS runners to runner groups.

  What you can do with macOS runners

  • Restrict access to macOS runners: Limit which organizations, repositories, or workflows can use specific macOS runners through group-level permissions.
  • Enforce concurrency limits: Control how many macOS jobs can run simultaneously across teams and projects to manage capacity and costs.
  • Route jobs through policy: Reference runner groups by name in workflows to direct macOS jobs only to runners that meet your security requirements.

  Disable standard hosted runners

  To help admins enforce the use of runner groups (including macOS in runner groups), you now have the ability to disable standard hosted runners.
  
  To learn how to disable standard hosted runners and the implications for your concurrency, see the runner groups documentation.

  Availability

  This feature is available on Team and Enterprise plans. Network configurations are not supported for macOS runners at this time.

  The post More control over your GitHub-hosted runners appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Actions steps can now be run in parallel

  GitHub Actions now supports running steps concurrently using background.

  Previously, all steps in a workflow ran in sequence, with each step starting only after the previous step completed. Previously, you could run steps in a non-blocking way using shell backgrounding (&), but that often interleaved logs from multiple steps. This new capability enables steps to run in parallel while retaining separate logs and execution.

  Four new keywords are being introduced:

  • background: true runs a step asynchronously and immediately continues to the next step.
  • wait/wait-all pauses execution until one or more named background steps complete. wait can target one or more specific background steps, while wait-all pauses until all prior background steps have completed.
  • cancel gracefully terminates a background step when you no longer need it, enabling you to start long-running services with a background step.
  • parallel takes a group of steps and converts them to background steps with a wait after, enabling you to easily run multiple steps in parallel. This is syntactic sugar for the “run these steps concurrently, then continue” pattern.

  This update helps you handle common patterns in a single job:

  • Running independent work in true parallel, such as multiple builds at once
  • Starting a background service, running dependent work, then stopping that service cleanly
  • Kicking off non-blocking work that can continue while later steps run, like uploading telemetry while packaging continues

  Read the GitHub Actions workflow syntax documentation for current syntax and usage details.

  The post Actions steps can now be run in parallel appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• npm adds preventive account protection for high-impact accounts

  npm now adds a temporary, preventive safeguard for high-impact accounts—those responsible for the registry’s most widely used packages—whenever it detects a sensitive account change, strengthening protection against account-takeover attacks.

  When a high-impact account changes its email or uses a 2FA recovery code, the account is placed into a 72-hour read-only state and an alert is sent to the account’s previous email address. This closes an attack vector that recent supply chain attacks have exploited: a compromised account changes its email, mints a new token, and publishes malicious versions.

  During the read-only period, you can still install and download packages, view your organizations and teams, and browse account and package settings.

  Actions that could affect the registry or the account’s security—such as publishing, managing tokens, changing package visibility, or modifying org and team membership—are paused until the safeguard lifts.

  No action is needed to restore full access: the account returns to normal automatically after 72 hours, with no re-confirmation step. Packages stay fully available to everyone who depends on them throughout.

  If you believe your account was affected unexpectedly or you need assistance during a read-only period, contact npm Support.

  The post npm adds preventive account protection for high-impact accounts appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux runner images are now in public preview

  GitHub-hosted larger runners now support Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 and RHEL 10 images in public preview, introduced in partnership with Red Hat.

  Organizations can use these RHEL images as the foundation for custom images that include required tools, dependencies, and configurations.

  RHEL images are available in public preview for Linux x64 larger runners. To start using them, create a new larger runner and choose your desired RHEL image under Linux x64 partner images.

  For more information, see the GitHub Actions documentation:

  • Managing larger runners
  • Using custom images

  The post Red Hat Enterprise Linux runner images are now in public preview appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• GitHub Copilot for Jira is now generally available

  GitHub Copilot for Jira is now generally available. Since launching the public preview in March 2026, we have shipped a series of enhancements based on your feedback, including model selection, Confluence context via MCP, custom agents, custom fields, space-level guidance, and review request notifications in Jira.

  Today’s release to general availability builds on that foundation with new capabilities designed to give you greater visibility and control over agent sessions.

  What’s new

  Streaming agent progress to Jira

  You can now monitor the coding agent’s progress directly within your Jira issue in real time. As the agent works, status updates stream back to the Jira ticket so you can follow along without switching to GitHub.

  Post-session steering

  After the agent completes its work and opens a draft pull request, you can now provide follow-up instructions directly in the Jira chat panel. The agent will continue working on the same pull request rather than creating a new one. This keeps your changes consolidated in a single review.

  Simplified onboarding

  We have reduced the configuration required to get started. Connecting your GitHub organization and repositories to the Jira app is now faster with fewer steps at the point of setup.

  What shipped during public preview

  Since launching in March, we delivered two rounds of enhancements:

  • Model selection from within Jira
  • Jira ticket references in pull request titles
  • Confluence context via MCP
  • Custom agents and custom fields
  • Space-level custom guidance
  • Review request notifications in Jira
  • Improved onboarding guidance and error messaging

  Getting started

  Install the GitHub Copilot for Jira app from the Atlassian Marketplace or update to the latest version if you already have it installed.

  • Our documentation about Copilot coding agent with Jira
  • Atlassian Marketplace listing

  We will continue to enhance this integration based on your feedback. For assistance or feature requests, contact GitHub Support.

  The post GitHub Copilot for Jira is now generally available appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Cost centers now support enterprise teams

  Cost attribution across your enterprise can now follow your team structure. You can add enterprise teams as resources in a cost center, and all usage incurred by team members is attributed to that cost center. As membership changes, whether through manual updates or identity provider (IdP) sync via SCIM, attribution updates automatically, with no reassignment required.

  Enterprise teams organize who belongs to a cost center. Budgets and usage caps attach to the cost center itself, so adding a team is how you keep membership current, not how you set spending limits.

  This is especially useful for enterprises that already use enterprise teams to manage access and roles across organizations. You can use those same teams to drive cost attribution, keeping your billing structure aligned with your org structure. It is also the foundation for capping spend by group: once a team is in a cost center, you can set a budget on that cost center and every member inherits it.

  Who can use this feature

  Enterprise owners and billing managers on GitHub Enterprise Cloud.

  To get started, go to your enterprise’s Billing and licensing settings, open Cost centers, and add an enterprise team under “Resources” when creating or editing a cost center.

  To learn more, see Control GitHub costs at scale.

  Join the discussion or submit feedback within GitHub Community.

  The post Cost centers now support enterprise teams appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Proposal Draft: An opt-in guard statement for error boilerplates that preserves explicit err visibility

  Hey everyone,

  I’ve been drafting a formal language proposal for an error-handling mechanic called guard.

  We all know the history of error proposals in Go. Previous attempts like try(), check/handle, or the ? postfix operator were ultimately rejected because they obscured the error value or introduced invisible control flow at the call site. I wanted to see if we could remove the repetition of if err != nil while keeping the error variable completely visible in the source.

  I’ve compiled a deep specification covering AST/SSA rules, packaging boundaries, compiler diagnostics, and automated migration tooling, but I’d love to get the community's temperature on the core design before opening an official issue on the tracker.

  The Core Concept

  The guard statement allows a function or package to declare an error-transformation policy once. The compiler then automatically inlines that policy at downstream call sites where an error is assigned but not manually checked.

  If you write a manual if err != nil block immediately after an assignment, your code takes complete priority and the compiler skips injection.

  func createOrder(userID, itemID int) (Order, error) { // Declare the error wrap policy for this scope. // Note: The compiler automatically infers and supplies the type-safe // zero-value (Order{}) for the remaining return positions at the call site. guard func(err error) error { return fmt.Errorf("createOrder: %w", err) } // Every call site still explicitly names 'err' — no hidden variables user, err := getUser(userID) // On error, compiler emits: return Order{}, inline_guard(err) item, err := getItem(itemID) // On error, compiler emits: return Order{}, inline_guard(err) order, err := buildOrder(user, item) if err != nil { // Manual checks always win and bypass the guard entirely return Order{}, fmt.Errorf("custom ordering failure: %w", err) } return order, nil } 

  submitted by /u/Agile-Gap793
  [link] [comments]
• CPU cores impact on go routines

  Hi Everyone,

  I am not sure how many people here are familiar with k6 (the load testing platform). I have been using it for some time to compare its performance metrics with other load testing tools.

  One thing I am observing is that k6 reports a significantly higher http_req_waiting (time to first byte) compared to other tools. I am wondering whether this could be due to generating a high load (7K–10K VUs) from a single EC2 instance, which might be causing delays on the client side before the response is received.

  What makes this more confusing is that the server-side metrics look healthy, and the EC2 instance running k6 does not appear to be resource constrained:

  • 16 vCPUs
  • 128 GB RAM
  • CPU utilization remains below 30%

  Has anyone encountered something similar or have suggestions on how to debug this? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

  Thanks!

  submitted by /u/aLoN__MuST
  [link] [comments]
• How do you do?

  From another programming language and recently picking in GO. I'm trying to understand how do you do things let suppose i have many services and storage,handler one things i often hear is that dependencies should flow in one direction and that components should depend on interfaces rather than concrete implementations. My confusion is about wiring everything together . If i have many services,handlers storage, then should i have to dump every things in main like initiating each storage in main then passing db pool , initiating each services then passing that storage to each of them as fallows handlers. Does this is the way i have to do or what ? doesn't it will make main function large , do you do the same for production code too. I'm also curious about what architectures people actually use in production go codebase

  thanks!

  submitted by /u/Zestyclose-Wash-348
  [link] [comments]