Huginn Daily

Saturday, June 13, 2026

fd7e5c27-c300-4c83-b2ca-72132ec1536e

Weather

XKCD

Other

• Cyprus proposes €389m EU budget for Turkish Cypriots

  The Cypriot government has proposed that the European Union provide €389 million worth of support for the Turkish Cypriot community over the course of the seven years between 2028 and 2034, as it submitted its proposal for the bloc’s multiannual financial framework for the seven-year period.

  The figure amounts to a little short of €56m per year, and aligns with the level of funding proposed by the European Commission when it submitted its own proposal for the forthcoming multiannual financial framework last year.

  While the proposed allocation for the Turkish Cypriot community amounts to only around 0.02 per cent of the total €1.73 trillion budget proposed by the Cypriot government, and an even smaller proportion of the €1.76 trillion, it does represent a significant increase from the €240m allocated for the period between 2021 and 2027.

  At the most recent annual allocation, in September last year, €33.7m was provided to the Turkish Cypriot community by the European Commission, which said it wished to “support its socioeconomic development and facilitate Cyprus’ reunification process”.

  “The aid programme aims to boost trade between the two communities across the Green Line by facilitating the alignment of Turkish Cypriot products with EU standards, for instance in the dairy and agricultural sectors,” it said.

  It added that “support will also be directed to Turkish Cypriot small and medium-sized companies, as well as to entrepreneurs to help them grow and consolidate their businesses”.

  “Another priority is to improve the skills of workers, teachers, and children with special needs, as well as continuing EU-funded scholarships for Turkish Cypriots in EU member states,” it said.

  It went on to say that in last year’s allocation, it wished to “support projects in the areas of energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, and environment protection, including bicommunal cooperation on the rehabilitation of Nicosia’s main riverbed”.

  Additionally, the allocation included direct support in the form of €2.6m for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and €2.5m the bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage.

  Of these two allocations, the EU pointed out in September last year that since 2006, it has now allocated more than €43.7m to the CMP, which it said constitutes “more than 80 per cent of the funding for the CMP in this period”.

  It said of its support for the technical committee on cultural heritage that this year’s allocation brought its total support for it to €35m.

  More than €760m worth of funding has been allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community through the programme since 2006.

• Teens arrested for theft, lead police to stash of phones

  The police arrested two individuals on Friday in connection with conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary and theft.

  The police said a 43-year-old man who owns an electronics shop in Nicosia reported at 9am that unknown people had broken into his shop overnight.

  During investigations, the police secured testimony against two people aged 17 and 15.

  The two teenagers were arrested just after 1pm and showed the police where they had hidden 19 mobile phones and a smartwatch.

  On Saturday, they will be taken before the Nicosia district court for remand orders.

  Police investigations are ongoing.

• German usurper’s certiorari request dismissed

  A request lodged by German real estate agent Eva Isabella Kunzel to be permitted to register privileged writs of certiorari and prohibition, with the aim of annulling an interim decision by the Nicosia criminal court and suspending her trial, has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

  Kunzel, who has been held in custody since her arrest in July 2024, is accused of illegally advertising and promoting Greek Cypriot-owned properties in the occupied north.

  On Friday it was announced that the defence on Thursday challenged the legality of four European search warrants secured by the prosecution in Nicosia in 2024, through which testimony was collected from the German authorities.

  It said the court that issued the orders was not authorised to do so and that the defendant was notified months afterwards, depriving her of the right challenge them, thus violating her right to a free trial.

  Judge Alexandros Panayiotou dismissed the arguments.

  The court further said the applicant did not provide any reasonable explanation as to why she did not request time to file an appeal.

  With the rejection of the application, the trial before the Nicosia criminal court continues as normal.

• Cyprus among EU states with highest increase in employment

  Cyprus is among EU member states with the highest increase in employment during the first quarter of 2026, Eurostat said on Friday.

  In the first quarter of 2026, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 in the EU stood at 76.3 per cent, up from 76.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025.

  Labour market slack – all persons who have an unmet need for employment, including unemployed people – stood at 10.9 per cent of the extended labour force aged 20-64 in the first quarter of 2026, down from 11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025.

  Between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, Italy with 0.5 percentage points (pp), as well as Belgium, Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovakia and Sweden with 0.4 pp each, registered the highest increases in the employment rate among the 11 EU countries where employment rose.

  The employment rate remained stable in six EU countries and decreased in another ten EU countries, with the biggest decreases recorded in Latvia with -0.8 pp, Ireland -0.7 pp, as well as in Slovenia and Finland -0.3 pp each.

• No new FMD cases found in testing

  No positive cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have been detected during ongoing testing in the restriction zones, particularly around Pachna, while vaccinations are set to resume next week, members of the epidemiological team said on Friday.

  The announcement came after a meeting with the Veterinary Services.

  Speaking afterwards, team member and Tepak professor Demetris Tsaltas said only a small number of farms remained to be tested.

  “There are still a few farms pending in Pachna and we hope the results there will also be negative,” he said.

  According to Tsaltas, “830 livestock units across Cyprus have so far been inspected, excluding the remaining pending tests in the Pachna area.”

  In Paphos, all second-round tests have returned negative results, while similar testing is due to continue within the 10-kilometre restriction zone in Limassol.

  Tsaltas said approximately 2,293 cattle, or 3.5 per cent of the national herd, have been culled since the outbreak began. A further 43,411 sheep and goats, representing 9.5 per cent of the total population, and 23,242 pigs, or 7.7 per cent of the national herd, have also been culled.

  Over the past week, 31 livestock units have been tested, with results from 25 already returned.

  He praised the contribution of the police and National Guard in managing the outbreak.

  “The assistance offered by the police and National Guard has been very, very important,” he said.

  According to Tsaltas, police have been dealing with minor breaches of the relevant decrees, while National Guard personnel have assisted with disinfection operations.

  “I believe that for the time being we are managing to control the situation and of course we will continue along the same lines,” he added.

  Tsaltas said that before one concludes that the danger is over, an evaluation must be carried out and vaccinations must continue.

  He said the current programme is expected to continue until early or mid-August.

  “So far, the combination of biosecurity measures, vaccinations and restrictions appears to be working,” he said.

  Tsaltas also urged farmers and members of the public to remain vigilant and report anything unusual to the Veterinary Services or the police.

  “This is something that concerns us all, not just the farmers,” he added.

  Tsaltas was not able to say when farming units that saw their livestock culled would be able to start bringing in new animals.

  “Some preconditions must be met beforehand,” he explained.

  For the time being, he added, those units would remain empty. “Luckily summer is here, with sunny days and high temperatures helping destroy the virus.”

  “We estimate that by autumn there will be no new cases. The units can then be inspected, a small number of animals introduced and tested, and we can begin considering the restoration of the farms,” he said.

• Teenage Syrian escapes police custody, turns himself in

  A 17-year-old Syrian held at Omorfita police station escaped police custody on Friday afternoon and disappeared, only to turn himself in a couple of hours later.

  The police had launched a manhunt with officers and patrol cards to recapture the teenager, who had been arrested to facilitate investigations into a case of theft and illegal possession of property.

  A crisis centre was set up and investigations continued into the circumstances of the escape.

  The teenager will now face additional charges.

• Applications open for stray cat sterilisation scheme

  Local authorities, animal welfare groups and vets have until June 26 to express interest in the 2026 islandwide stray cat sterilisation scheme, the Veterinary Services said on Friday.

  Interested parties must apply at district veterinary offices.

  The Veterinary Services stated that individuals and unregistered volunteer groups caring for many stray cats cannot apply directly and must go through a local authority or a registered animal welfare organisation.

  A list of participating organisations and local authorities will be published on the Veterinary Services website after the application period closes.

  Private sector veterinarians are also being invited to join the scheme.

  Participation is limited to registered veterinarians operating properly equipped clinics capable of carrying out surgeries and providing post-operative care for cats.

  The Veterinary Services said the aim is to distribute sterilisation procedures fairly among participating clinics, regardless of the number of veterinarians working in each facility.

  Veterinarians who do not own a clinic may still participate but must declare the clinic where procedures will be carried out and submit a cooperation agreement with that facility.

  The sterilisation programme forms part of ongoing efforts to manage Cyprus’ stray cat population through humane and organised measures.

• Next days ‘decisive’ for Cyprus issue says president

  The next days until UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin returns to Cyprus will be decisive for the Cyprus problem, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday, expressing optimism that an expanded meeting to usher in the resumption of negotiations for a settlement will be able to be announced.

  Referring to his meeting earlier in the day with Holguin, Christodoulides said they had a “very interesting discussion” and that the effort was ongoing.

  Holguin, he said, would be returning to the island after meetings in Turkey, Greece and Brussels.

  Christodoulides added that he discussed the Cyprus problem on Thursday with European Council president Antonio Costa and that he would be in Brussels next week where he would be meeting Costa again, as well as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

  “We are working towards one and only goal, the convening of an expanded meeting, during which the resumption of negotiations will be announced,” he said.

  The president said he was not focusing on dates, but on the substance of the issue. 

  Asked if he was concerned over Turkey’s stance that appeared to be escalating over the past days, Christodoulides said Holguin would be discussing this in Turkey on Monday. 

  The aim, he reiterated, was to resume talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.

  Christodoulides pointed out that UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres had met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in March and after that an effort was launched.

  “If this effort does not bear fruit, then someone is to blame. But I will not go there. Neither will I become involved in nor do I hope that a blame game will emerge. From what we are discussing, I am optimistic that we can reach the goal of an expanded conference, during which the resumption of talks can be announced,” he said.

  Christodoulides will be convening the National Council on June 22, after his return from Brussels. 

  He said all parliamentary party leaders have been invited and that he would continue to keep the parties that are no longer in the House updated.

  “We are at a crucial juncture, I want us to move collectively,” he said.

• Cyprus and Lithuania sign relocation agreement under EU migration pact

  Cyprus and Lithuania on Friday signed a memorandum of cooperation on the relocation of applicants for international protection from Cyprus to Lithuania, marking one of the first concrete solidarity measures under the European Union’s new pact on migration and asylum.

  The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the informal ministerial meeting on the migration pact taking place in Nicosia.

  Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides signed the memorandum on behalf of Cyprus, while Lithuania was represented by Indre Gaspere, director of the migration department under the Lithuanian interior ministry.

  The agreement forms part of the solidarity mechanism established under the EU’s new migration and asylum framework and is intended to support the practical implementation of the principles of shared responsibility and European solidarity.

  For Cyprus, which remains one of the EU’s frontline member states due to its geographical position, the deal is seen as a significant step in easing migration pressures and sharing responsibility more evenly across the bloc.

  Authorities said the memorandum represents a tangible example of support for member states carrying a disproportionate burden in the management of migration and asylum applications.

  The relocation arrangement is also expected to contribute to a further reduction in the number of asylum seekers currently residing in Cyprus.

  Relocation of applicants for international protection is one of the key solidarity measures included in the new migration pact, aimed at ensuring a fairer distribution of responsibilities among EU member states and improving the management of migration pressures faced by countries at the Union’s external borders.

  Cyprus welcomed Lithuania’s participation in the initiative, expressing appreciation for what it described as a practical demonstration of European solidarity and a meaningful contribution to the bloc’s collective response to migration challenges.

  Officials said the agreement highlights how European cooperation can deliver concrete and effective solutions to shared challenges, strengthening both the resilience of frontline member states and the overall cohesion of the European Union.

• Additional buses to Ayia Napa for beachgoers

  The bus service linking Nicosia and the Famagusta tourist area are set to increase as of Saturday to meet the summer season demand.

  The transport ministry said on Friday that in cooperation with Intercity Buses, more buses would be added to the Nicosia bus line to Ayia Napa and Paralimni during the morning hours and the return service in the afternoon.

  The additional service provides more options for travelling to Ayia Napa and Protaras, facilitating access by public transport and supporting safer, organised and sustainable transport during the summer months, the ministry explained.

  The routes can be found on the Intercity Buses website.

  For additional information or clarifications, the public can contact the Road Transport Department call centre at 22807000 or Intercity Buses at 80007789.

• Delivery platforms defend food distribution procedures

  Foody and Wolt have both assured they have procedures and mechanisms in place to maintain high standards of hygiene and safety in food deliveries.

  On Friday, Foody clarified that there have been no recorded systematic incidents that suggest there is a problem with cleanliness or hygiene in delivery boxes fitted on motorcycles.

  The platform told the Cyprus News Agency that documenting a direct connection between food going off during the distribution process was “particularly difficult” due to the fact that the food is packaged and does not come into direct contact with the delivery cool box.

  Foody on Friday and Wolt on Wednesday said that hygiene was a priority and that they regularly checked food delivery equipment, and followed up on any complaints by customers.

  The health services said on Wednesday they had sent letters to OEV and Keve concerning food deliveries through online order platforms, including those carried out by car.

  Following the health services’ letter, Wolt said it would be upping its game.

  On Thursday, the health services said they planned to launch inspections of food delivery drivers to examine the conditions under which food and beverages are transported.

  Foody said it also had a ‘Rider Academy’ app, through which delivery drivers were continuously guided on the proper handling of orders and maintaining hygiene and safety standards.

  On Wednesday, the Cyprus Consumer Association said it had approached delivery drivers to inspect motorcycle cooler containers. Association president Marios Drousiotis said that only two drivers agreed to open their boxes for inspection.

  Although not all boxes can be considered to pose a health risk, Cyprus’ summer temperatures and the failure to sanitise the containers after each use can lead to increased dangers.

  Employers’ union OEV deputy director Lena Panayiotou told the CyBC that “the necessary checks are being carried out regarding the procedures for transporting and delivery ready-made food”.

  Such measures, she said, were training delivery drivers and replacing their delivery equipment every six months.

  However, following the recent food poisoning incident at a Limassol wedding, “taking additional measures is being examined”, Panayiotou said.

  The state health services, under the health ministry, has also sounded the alarm after the Limassol incident, which saw 70 people reporting Salmonella symptoms and 21 requiring hospital treatment.

  Politis said the services have been receiving more and more complaints over the past months regarding dirty and damaged cool bags, which constitute a critical hygiene gap from the time the food leaves the kitchen until it reaches the consumer.

• Attorney-general dismisses retirement speculation

  Attorney-general George Savvides firmly rejected reports on Friday suggesting he intends to retire early from office, describing claims of an impending departure as being utterly unfounded.

  Speaking in response to questions concerning reports that he could step down in September, Savvides said there had never been any intention on his part to leave the position before the end of his term.

  “There was never any thought or intention to resign,” he said.

  His comments followed news outlet Omega’s reporting, regarding a possible early retirement as part of the government broader changes allegedly being considered among senior state officials.

  The reports also included speculation regarding potential successors to the post, with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos among the names mentioned in connection with the position.

  Savvides moved swiftly to dismiss the claims, making clear that he has no plans to relinquish his role.

• Terror suspect released on €1m bail

  A 57-year-old man charged in a terrorism case alongside two other suspects was released on €1 million bail on Friday after a court rejected a request for his continued detention.

  “The entire testimony concerning the 57-year-old that allegedly links him to the present case presents weaknesses. Therefore, the request for his detention is rejected and specific conditions are imposed,” the Larnaca criminal court said in its ruling.

  The man faces charges of terrorism and participation in a criminal organisation alongside two co-defendants aged 32 and 38. He had appealed against his detention, denying any involvement in the case.

  According to the court, the defendant’s alleged connection to the case stems from packages containing suspicious materials which were received by relatives.

  As part of his release conditions, the 57-year-old must sign a €1 million bond with creditworthy guarantors, surrender all travel documents and report to a police station four times a week.

  The court heard that he has lived in Cyprus for 40 years and has four children employed in the country’s security services, including the police and National Guard.

  One of his children serves in the Cyprus police and reportedly has access to law enforcement databases, while three others are employed by the National Guard as contract soldiers.

  Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas on Wednesday urged the public to distinguish between the investigation involving the father and the professions of his children, stressing that any relevant inquiries would be carried out by the competent authorities.

  Police had previously arrested the 57-year-old’s brother but later released him after finding no evidence linking him to the case.

  According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the two remaining suspects are believed to have planned acts of terrorism against Israeli targets in Cyprus.

  Authorities allege that the 38-year-old, who reportedly entered the Republic through the north, was the central figure in the operation and was responsible for planning activities, manufacturing explosives and selecting targets.

  The 32-year-old suspect, a Palestinian national living in Cyprus with his wife and child, has been linked to two properties – one near Governor’s Beach in Limassol and another in the Kamares area of Larnaca.

  Authorities reportedly discovered quantities of chemical substances and raw materials at the two properties, including ammonium nitrate, which investigators believe could have been used in the manufacture of explosives.

• Makarios III Technical School wins top prize in anti-bullying video competition

  Makarios III Technical and Vocational School in Nicosia has won first prize in the nationwide student video competition “Together We Stop Bullying” with its short film I See You, the school announced on Friday.

  The competition, organised by the education ministry in partnership with the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation and MHV Group, aims to raise awareness of school bullying and encourage young people to address the issue through creative expression.

  The winning entry earned a €50,000 cash prize, which will be used to upgrade school facilities and enhance students’ educational experience.

  According to the education ministry, I See You stood out for its authenticity, emotional impact and powerful social message.

  The film follows a student who experiences bullying and explores the emotional and psychological consequences of repeated abuse. A central feature of the production is the use of white stones as a symbol of the burden carried by victims of bullying.

  The ministry said the symbolism effectively highlighted the often unseen effects bullying can have on young people.

  The film reaches its climax when classmates choose to intervene and support the victim, collectively forming the message “I See You” – a scene organisers described as a “powerful expression of empathy, solidarity and shared responsibility,”

  The project also emphasises the role of bystanders, highlighting how those who witness bullying can help stop it through support and action.

  Students involved in the production were Styliana Charalambous, Fotini Gypsiotis, Vasiliki Kakouri, Maria Neokleous, Chrysovalanto Christofi and Marios Skallas.

  The school credited teachers Eleni Xanthoudaki Varnavas, Dimitra Aristodimou, Mary Armostis and assistant headteacher Kleanthis Kleanthos for supporting students throughout the creative process.

  The education ministry described the award as a source of pride for the school community and said the project demonstrated how young people can contribute positively to addressing social issues when given opportunities to express themselves.

  “Together we can stop bullying,” the ministry said, describing the film as a reminder that even small acts of support can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected.

• Residents reject EAC timeline for pylon relocation in Polemidia

  Residents of the land development organisation’s (Koag) Adonis II housing complex in Pano Polemidia remained dissatisfied on Friday after the electricity authority (EAC) outlined plans for the gradual relocation of an electricity line running adjacent to their homes.

  The proposals were presented during a meeting involving EAC representatives, Polemidia mayor Andros Theodorou and a delegation of residents. The meeting followed an intervention by President Nikos Christodoulides earlier this week after residents raised concerns during the foundation stone ceremony for the nearby Adonis III residential project.

  EAC spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou said the authority had proposed an interim solution involving the relocation of part of the existing overhead line by approximately 80 metres.

  “For the good of the residents themselves,” she said, part of the line crossing above the residential complex would be moved early next year, while a further section would be removed in next September.

  She said the final plan remains the complete removal of the line and its relocation around 1.5 kilometres away.

  However, the project depends on a series of procedures, including road registration and approvals involving several state authorities.

  “Once everything is ready, the EAC will move at a rapid pace so that this line is completely removed from people’s homes,” Papadopoulou said.

  The authority also intends to request electromagnetic field measurements from the University of Cyprus at both the existing installation and the proposed temporary route.

  “Although the distance sounds very short, the difference in electromagnetic field measurements is huge and the goal is to protect the residents who live there,” she said.

  Residents outright rejected the timetable, arguing that they have already waited years for a permanent solution.

  Speaking on behalf of residents, Marina Theodorou said the proposals failed to address concerns over the health and safety of families living near the infrastructure.

  “Despite the assurances we have been receiving since 2021, they told us that the pillar next to us will be moved in almost a year and a half,” she said.

  “When they were telling us that a definitive solution would be found, they did not explain to us that their actions would take five to six years.”

  She said residents would seek a further meeting with President Christodoulides, who had offered to remain involved if the outcome of Friday’s discussions proved unsatisfactory.

• Suicide attempt signalled ‘immediate danger’, court told

  Court proceedings into the suicide of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou continued on Friday with the cross examination of criminal investigator Andreas Andreou, who said that when a child attempts to end his life, this alone is “an indication of immediate danger” and should not be handled with standard criteria.

  Stylianos took his own life in September 2019. Evidence heard in previous proceedings showed he had been living in a household where multiple incidents of domestic violence had been reported. During an earlier hearing, Andreou cited the teenager’s own account, in which he said his father would beat him with a belt and “beat him like a dog” at the family farm.

  The court has also heard that Stylianos attempted to take his own life in May 2019, several months before his death.

  Lawyer Andreas Christou suggested that bruising under the teenager’s chin caused by a gun barrel could not be substantiated scientifically. Andreou replied that “there never had been such scientific evidence.”

  The cross examination also focused on evidence and official documents, with the defence trying to prove that there had not been adequate information or a suggestion to superiors that protective measures should be taken by state officials.

  Andreou said it was not an excuse that a superior was not aware of a situation as it was their job to make sure they were briefed.

  A school report from September 2019 was also presented to the court. It described Stylianos as a child in good spirits who had friends, spent time on his father’s farm and displayed no significant issues other than learning difficulties.

  The court heard that there had been no proposal for protection or the removal of Stylianos from his home. Andreou once again insisted that the accused senior welfare officer should have made a point of knowing anyway as it was her duty to do so.

  Andreou also testified that, despite the teenager’s reluctance to seek psychological support and the family’s lack of cooperation, authorities could have sought a court order requiring the parents to secure psychiatric or psychological assistance for him.

  It was also said in court that if the welfare officer was responsible for examining a case and making proposals to his seniors, then the responsibility lies with that officer.

  Lawyers for other defendants said their clients had not been working at the welfare service offices in question when the issue first arose, but deemed it necessary to observe and support Stylianos’ family.

  They said that their client had forwarded written reports concerning violence to the responsible department, however the police had not been informed.

  The same welfare officer had also visited Stylianos’ school in September 2018, where the teenager had denied that there had been a violent incident. The defence lawyer said the responsibility lies with the violence department and not his client. He also said that removing Stylianos from his family at that point would not have been in his interests.

  The court also heard that interdepartmental procedural guidelines had never been submitted to the House of representatives for approval.

  Defence lawyers argued their clients had done everything reasonably possible under the circumstances, a position Andreou rejected.

  The case centres on allegations of ongoing domestic violence by Stylianos’ father, the role of his mother in reporting incidents to the authorities, and the actions of social welfare services and police.

  In May, two defendants, both welfare officers, pleaded guilty and received suspended prison sentences.

  The next hearing is scheduled for June 15 at 11am, when Andreou’s cross-examination will continue.

  Earlier stages of the case revealed that independent investigators had recommended prosecutions against multiple police officers, including police chief Themistos Arnaoutis, although the legal service later concluded there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against them.

• Bishop of Morphou files cybercrime complaint over fake AI video

  Bishop Neophytos of Morphou filed a complaint with the police’s cybercrime unit on Friday after the circulation of an artificial intelligence-generated video falsely portraying him giving medical advice on social media.

  In a statement, the bishopric said the video presents Neophytos offering recommendations on the treatment of joint conditions.

  Church authorities stressed that the content is fabricated and has no scientific basis.

  The bishopric described the footage as a misleading AI-generated production and warned that it could create confusion among members of the public, particularly individuals seeking information regarding medical treatments and health conditions.

  Church officials said the video contains “misleading content and false information” and does not reflect any genuine statements or positions made by Metropolitan Neophytos.

  They added that the material had been created without authorisation and was being circulated online in a manner that could deceive viewers.

  The statement expressed concern that people suffering from health issues could be influenced by the claims presented in the video.

  For that reason, the bishopric urged the public not to trust the content and to avoid sharing it on social media or through messaging platforms.

  Describing the video as a “scam”, the bishopric called on anyone who encounters it online to ignore it and delete it immediately.

• Cyprus signs double tax treaty with Hong Kong

  The Republic of Cyprus on Friday signed an agreement with the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China aimed at eliminating double taxation on income and combating tax evasion and tax avoidance.

  “The agreement creates a modern and reliable framework for tax cooperation that is expected to facilitate business activity and strengthen investment flows as well as trade transactions,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

  “It will also contribute to reducing the overall burden by encouraging sustainable investments, without creating opportunities for tax evasion or tax avoidance, while ensuring legal certainty,” the ministry added.

  According to the announcement, the bilateral agreement provides for a clear tax treatment of transactions between the two jurisdictions, offering certainty and stability for investors.

  The convention also provides for the exchange of tax information between the competent authorities and establishes procedures for the settlement of tax disputes.

  “The signing of this agreement reflects the importance attached by the government to the development of strong economic and political ties with international financial and commercial centres, particularly with partners such as Hong Kong, strengthening the prospects for cooperation in an ever-evolving global economic environment,” the ministry said.

  The ministry said that the agreement was signed on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus by Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Koula Sophianou.

  She was accompanied by Cyprus’ Honorary Consul in Hong Kong Harindarpal Singh Banga.

  On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the agreement was signed by Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui.

• Ukrainian national gets two-and-a-half-year sentence for property usurpation

  A 41-year-old man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Nicosia permanent criminal court on Friday after admitting to the exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the north.

  According to a police statement, the offences centred on the advertising and promotion of properties illegally constructed on land belonging to Greek Cypriot owners in villages in Kyrenia and Famagusta.

  The court imposed two-and-a-half years following the defendant’s guilty plea to all 18 charges.

  The case follows legal proceedings that began in 2025 when the accused, identified at the time as a Ukrainian national, was brought before the Nicosia district court and referred for direct trial before the criminal court.

  At that hearing, prosecutors outlined allegations including conspiracy to commit a felony, fraudulent transactions involving property belonging to another person and conspiracy to defraud.

• Students and parents protest graduation cancellation at English School

  More than 70 students and parents gathered outside the English School in Nicosia on Friday to protest the cancellation of this year’s graduation ceremony.

  The ceremony was cancelled following reports of extensive vandalism during May’s “pinta” celebration, a tradition observed by final-year students.

  According to the school, damage included overturned furniture, graffiti and offensive messages in numerous classrooms.

  Protesters called on school authorities to reconsider the decision and allow the graduation ceremony to proceed. The group gathered on a road adjacent to the school before marching to its main entrance.

  Students said school officials had shown little willingness to engage in efforts to find a solution.

  The English School did not respond to the Cyprus Mail’s requests for comment.

  “The headmaster won’t accept any meetings with parents or students,” one student told the Cyprus Mail. “A group of about 40 people wanted to go and say sorry so we could move on, but they wouldn’t accept the meeting.”

  The student added that school officials had proposed delaying any potential meeting until after examinations.

  “That defeats the purpose, because after the exams we wouldn’t be able to get the graduation back. It would be too late,” the student said.

  Another student said the number of pupils willing to apologise was closer to 20.

  According to a report by Politis, school officials had previously invited those involved in the pinta celebrations to come forward and take responsibility. When no students did so, the graduation ceremony was then cancelled.

  The school estimates that between 50 and 70 students took part in the vandalism. There are roughly 160 students in the graduating class.

  “We’d do voluntary service, come and clean the school. We were willing to do absolutely anything, even come and apologise,” another student told Cyprus Mail, adding that no route had been offered to reverse the decision.

  A further student acknowledged that “things got out of hand” during the pinta celebrations.

  “Not everyone was involved in the activities, and therefore we believe that not everyone should be punished because of the incident,” the student said.

  Parents also criticised the school’s decision.

  Parent Alexia Panides said the school was “more than happy to promote our children when they win awards and showcase their achievements”.

  “Yet when it comes to one of the biggest moments of a student’s life, after seven years of waiting, they have indiscriminately punished everyone,” she said.

  Parent Nicolina Neocleous called the school’s actions “unbelievable” and “ridiculous.”

  “The headmaster has refused to negotiate or even discuss the matter,” she told the Cyprus Mail.

  In place of the traditional graduation ceremony, students will receive their diplomas at a simplified presentation without the usual celebrations.

• Self-Host Weekly (12 June 2026)
  Become a paid subscriber to access the newsletter’s full-text RSS feed or continue reading on selfh.st.

Github

• Copilot code review: New configurations and controls

  With new organization runner controls, Copilot content exclusion support, and the removal of the character limit on repository custom instructions, Copilot code review is now easier to tailor to your needs within your repository and organization.

  ⚙️ Organization runner controls

  With the release of Copilot code review’s agentic architecture, we announced that Copilot code review is powered by GitHub Actions. By default, Copilot code review runs on the standard GitHub-hosted runner, but teams can configure self-hosted or large runners for more control over the runner type. To support ease of setup of custom runners, Copilot code review’s runner type can now be configured at the organization-level, meaning that one configuration can apply to all repositories within the organization.

  Organization admins can now:

  • Set Copilot code review’s default runner to be automatically used across all repositories, without requiring each repository to be individually configured.
  • Lock the runner setting so the organization default overrides any individual repository configurations.

  To set this up, navigate to your organization, then go to Copilot -> Runner type -> Runner type configuration. Your configuration will apply to both Copilot code review and Copilot cloud agent if both are enabled.

  🛡️ Content exclusion support

  Copilot code review now respects repository, organization, and enterprise-level Copilot content exclusion settings, so you can prevent Copilot from utilizing specified files or directories during its review. Repository administrators can configure excluded paths in repository settings using path-based rules.

  This gives you control over which repository content is available to Copilot code review, helping you align reviews with your team, organization, or enterprise’s boundaries, or prevent Copilot from utilizing context that isn’t relevant to the review.

  For more information, check out our docs about configuring content exclusions for Copilot.

  📝 Custom instructions character limits have been removed

  Previously, Copilot code review would stop reading copilot-instructions.md and *.instructions.md files located under the .github directory once the file reached 4000 characters in size. That limit has now been removed, allowing additional customization and flexibility in your custom instructions.

  Join the discussion within GitHub Community.

  The post Copilot code review: New configurations and controls appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• GitHub Actions: Minimum version enforcement timeline for self-hosted runners

  GitHub Actions is resuming enforcement of version requirements for self-hosted runners on github.com and GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Data Residency. This change is part of a broader effort to rebuild the core of GitHub Actions to increase our reliability and availability. In early 2024, the Actions team began rearchitecting the backend services that power job execution and runner communication—a foundational investment in the reliability, availability, and performance our customers depend on. The new architecture now handles over 120 million jobs per day, more than three times the volume before the migration, and enables enterprises to start seven times more jobs per minute than previously possible. Resuming version enforcement is the next step in completing this migration: as all runners move onto the new platform, older runner versions that are incompatible with the updated infrastructure can no longer be supported.

  There are two requirements that together keep a runner compatible with the new platform:

  • To configure or (re)register a runner: The runner must be on version 2.329.0 or later. This is the minimum version required for the new architecture to recognize the runner and allow it to connect.
  • To continue executing workflow jobs: The runner must stay up to date by installing each new runner release within 30 days of its publication. This is an existing requirement but was not consistently enforced in some cases.

  Version 2.329.0 is only the minimum required to register with the new platform and receive updates. It is not a permanent minimum version for running jobs. The effective minimum version for job execution moves forward over time as new runner releases are published.

  Runners with auto-update enabled meet the 30-day requirement automatically, as long as they can reach the update service.

  Runners with auto-update disabled must be upgraded manually on a regular cadence. Meeting the registration minimum on its own isn’t enough. A runner pinned to 2.329.0 that never updates again will not pick up jobs.

  Any release of the software, whether a major, minor, or patch version, qualifies as an available update. If the runner is not updated within 30 days of an update being available, the GitHub Actions service will stop queuing jobs to it. Additionally, when a critical security update is published, GitHub Actions will pause job queuing to the runner until the update has been applied.

  Enforcement timeline

  Ahead of each enforcement date, Actions will run temporary brownouts. Brownouts will start by intermittently blocking registration of unsupported runner versions, then expand to also intermittently blocking job execution on unsupported runners. These brownouts help you identify outdated runners and take action before enforcement begins.

  GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Data Residency: Full enforcement begins July 31, 2026.

  GitHub Enterprise Cloud: Full enforcement begins September 25, 2026.

  After each enforcement date:

  • Self-hosted runners below the minimum version required for registration (e.g., runners older than 2.329) won’t be able to register or reregister.
  • Existing runners below the minimum version required to execute workflow jobs (i.e., a higher version than the registration minimum) will stop running workflow jobs, even if they were previously registered.

  All brownouts run from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET on the dates listed below.

  GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Data Residency

  Enforcement date: July 31, 2026

  Week	Cadence	Type	Outcome	Dates
  Week 1	1 day	Config	Runners on older versions cannot be registered	June 29
  Week 2	2 days	Config	Runners on older versions cannot be registered	July 6, July 8
  Week 3	3 days	Config, and Config + Runtime	Runners on older versions cannot be registered; on the Config + Runtime day, they also will not execute jobs	July 13 (Config), July 15 (Config + Runtime), July 17 (Config)
  Week 4	3 days	Config + Runtime	Runners on older versions cannot be registered and will not execute jobs	July 20, July 22, July 24
  Enforcement	—	—	Full enforcement begins	July 31, 2026

  GitHub Enterprise Cloud

  Enforcement date: September 25, 2026

  Week	Cadence	Type	Outcome	Dates
  Week 1	1 day	Config	Runners on older versions cannot be registered	August 24
  Week 2	2 days	Config	Runners on older versions cannot be registered	August 31, September 2
  Week 3	3 days	Config, and Config + Runtime	Runners on older versions cannot be registered; on the Config + Runtime day, they also will not execute jobs	September 7 (Config), September 9 (Config + Runtime), September 11 (Config)
  Week 4	3 days	Config + Runtime	Runners on older versions cannot be registered and will not execute jobs	September 14, September 16, September 18
  Enforcement	—	—	Full enforcement begins	September 25, 2026

  What you’ll see before enforcement

  To help you prepare, Actions will provide:

  • Runtime job annotations when workflows run on outdated runners.
  • APIs and tooling to help you identify unsupported runner versions and plan upgrades. To start, we have added the runner version to the REST API.

  If you don’t upgrade your self-hosted runners before enforcement:

  • New runners may fail to register with Actions.
  • Existing runners may stop picking up or executing jobs.
  • Workflows targeting unsupported runners may remain queued or fail.

  Identify runners that need upgrading

  If your organization uses GitHub Enterprise Cloud or GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Data Residency, enterprise owners can audit which runner versions are currently registering by querying the audit log for the following runner registration events, each of which includes the runner version:

  • org.register_self_hosted_runner: Registration events scoped to an organization
  • repo.register_self_hosted_runner: Registration events scoped to a repository
  • enterprise.register_self_hosted_runner: Registration events scoped to the enterprise

  Note: Audit log events are recorded at registration time. This gives you visibility into runners that are actively registering, but is not a complete inventory of all connected runners. For large fleets, consider querying via the audit log REST API rather than the UI.

  What you need to do

  To avoid disruption to your CI/CD workflows:

  • Upgrade all self-hosted runners to the latest supported version.
  • Update installation scripts, VM images, container images, and deployment automation.
  • Recreate runners you’ve built from older cached images or templates.

  Note: This change applies to github.com, including GitHub Enterprise Cloud and GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Data Residency. GitHub Enterprise Server isn’t impacted at this time.

  Upgrading your self-hosted runners ahead of time is the best way to ensure uninterrupted use of Actions. For more information, see the self-hosted runner documentation.

  Share your feedback

  Join the GitHub Community to share your feedback or for any questions.

  The post GitHub Actions: Minimum version enforcement timeline for self-hosted runners appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Google has released API for pkg.go.dev to support AI coding

  The API is in beta stage. Now it allows to: List packages and modules Search modules List vulnerabilities Inspect package symbols (functions, structs and variables exported by the package) Google adapts Go for AI-coding era and to compete with other platforms and languages submitted by /u/BankApprehensive7612 [link] [comments]

• Hypothetical scenario: If, starting tomorrow, it were forbidden to install Node.js and npm on any computer in the world, how could Go meet the needs?

  deno, bun, pnpm, etc. would also be prohibited.

  Programming in JavaScript would still be allowed.

  Think about all the tools you use; how they could go from being machine-side JavaScript to being Go.

  submitted by /u/pwfos
  [link] [comments]
• Opinion on a cli tool I want to make

  I've been poking around with CLIs and had an idea for a tool that parses a project's source code, evaluates architectural flaws, and uses an LLM to suggest refactorings. From what I've seen, you can already detect a lot of issues statically like God structs. Would a tool like this actually provide value?

  submitted by /u/Interesting-Life5118
  [link] [comments]
• Why is Go dominating in CNCF landscape ?!?

  I started learning Go a year ago, I have made many projects using it (cli, backend, bots), but I have figured out that I am more intrested in Go's use case at cloud/cncf (K8s, docker, cilium, etcd)

  I recently submitted a PR to Kubebuilder and I really enjoyed it, I felt like this what I am meant to write.

  ​

  I am currently learning cilium (eBPF based CNI) and I want to contribute to it.

  ​

  But I dont know what type of engineer are these who build CNCF orgs..system/infra engineers ??

  ​

  Pls help me learn this side of golang, share me all the knowledge and resources you got on this (golang cncf contributor), what all concepts should I learn ? Roadmap or path ?

  submitted by /u/ChocolateDense4205
  [link] [comments]
• MaxBytes Middleware in Go: Same Trap, Different Escape

  Hello gophers. This is a follow-up to my timeout middleware post from last year. This time it's about per-route request body size limits: a similar silent failure to solve, a similar API and DX, but a сompletely different solution underneath. Happy to get feedback or answer any questions. submitted by /u/destel116 [link] [comments]

• GopherCon Europe 2026 side events

  I'm going to Gophercon Europe 2026 in Berlin next week.

  I'm used to go to blockchain confs where a lot of side events are usually happening in the same time in the same city.

  I was wondering if there were some side events for this event as well ?

  submitted by /u/ijusttookadnatest-
  [link] [comments]
• Directory-based migrations?

  So I have been thinking of a way to contain and group my migrations directory.

  Currently, I'm using Goose's embed migration features. It's all good and working just fine. But, I'm thinking what if I have, for example, a directory for base migration, auth migrations, etc migrations.

  It would be something like this:

  • 0001_base/
    • 0001_some_trigger.sql
    • 0002_something.sq,l
  • 0002_auth/
    • 0001_user.sql
    • 0002_session.sql
  • 0003_etc/

  ihave been searching and asking LLMS about it, but I do not think it's a common thing to do! So I wonder why? Am I missing something?

  submitted by /u/nidal_bakir
  [link] [comments]
• Beautiful and secure email client in the terminal for everyone!

  It's a TUI email client written in Go — handles multiple accounts (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, custom IMAP/JMAP), renders HTML emails including inline images via Kitty graphics, and has a markdown composer with contact autocomplete and draft autosave. Security was a first-class concern. You get PGP signing with YubiKey support via PC/SC smartcard, S/MIME signing and envelope encryption, and optional at-rest AES-256-GCM encryption with Argon2id key derivation (specs at https://secretbox.floatpane.com ) -- passwords are never stored, just verified against an encrypted sentinel. Credentials go through the OS keyring where available, OAuth2 for Gmail and Outlook. There also is a plugin system. Plugins are sandboxed Lua — no os/io/debug access — and they can hook into pretty much everything: incoming mail, sending, folder switches, composer keystrokes. I just added a body manipulation hook so plugins receive both the raw email source and the rendered ANSI output. There are 6 built-in themes including Catppuccin Mocha, and you can define your own in JSON — full color palette control over accent, text, danger, links, etc. On macOS it syncs with the system appearance automatically. Keybindings are all remappable through config, and the Lua plugin system lets you reshape the UI further -- custom status bar text, keyboard shortcuts scoped per view, notifications. For localization, 11 languages are supported out of the box: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic. Arabic includes proper RTL direction handling. Language is picked up automatically or set in config. We are currently in the process of making v1, which will be a huge update, having a lot of features previously not supported! submitted by /u/andrinoff [link] [comments]

• Kioshun - yet another in-memory cache (fast)

  Last time I posted about Kioshun, it was about one year ago. Back then it was more like a learning project, a way for me to understand different caching algorithms, cache internals, etc.

  I regret a couple of the choices I made back then, so a couple of months ago I decided to give it another try. My goal was to create something that could "adapt" to its surrounding environment while making it as fast as possible without sacrificing hits.

  After going back and forth between different algorithms, researching and testing different scenarios, I ended up with a kind of hybrid approach: SIEVE style eviction with TinyLFU style admission + ghost queues and adaptive tuning. This is still basically work-in-progress and some of my design decisions could probably be judged as bad practice so I'm fully open to feedback.

  I tok the Ristretto benchmark suite (P3, P8, S3, DS1, OLTP, LOOP) and ran it against Kioshun, Ristretto, Theine and Otter. Those seem to be the most used ones. I also have tiny microbenchmarks suite that I put together with my local LLM (Qwen).

  100,000 entry cap:

  trace	OPT	kioshun	theine	otter	ristretto
  p3	62.00%	44.94%	38.14%	36.41%	21.22%
  p8	77.12%	59.85%	54.10%	56.56%	55.83%
  s3	25.42%	13.46%	11.90%	9.06%	9.80%
  ds1	5.16%	1.97%	1.51%	1.57%	1.36%
  oltp	79.56%	79.29%	76.67%	76.41%	28.30%
  loop	99.80%	99.26%	99.79%	99.60%	90.39%

  trace	kioshun	theine	otter	ristretto
  p3	71.3	61.5	58.7	34.2
  p8	77.6	70.2	73.3	72.4
  s3	49.3	46.8	35.6	38.6
  ds1	36.8	29.3	30.4	26.4
  oltp	98.8	96.4	96.0	35.6
  loop	99.4	100.0	99.8	90.6
  geomean	67.9	62.1	59.5	44.8

  Disclaimer about AI usage in the project: I’m running Ollama with Qwen3.6 on my MacBook Pro and used it mostly for comments, documentation and some small portion of the code. Mostly for small refactors/helpers.

  repo: https://github.com/unkn0wn-root/kioshun

  submitted by /u/unknown_r00t
  [link] [comments]
• is using plugin a good way to do this?

  I have a hexagonal app and want to decouple certain adapter implementations from the main repo so that I can add adapters as needed without having to touch the main code base. Anything from storage, notifications, orchestration etc.

  I'm looking at the standard plugin and hashicorp/go-plugin and wondering if it's a good way to do this. I'm not sure about go-plugin for e.g. storage adapters, although deployments will always be localhost so maybe a network hop doesn't matter?

  There's no strict requirement on when this happens - in my head this happens at build time and running in Docker with config loading whatever adapters.

  Is there a best practice way to do this? is hashicorp/go-plugin a good approach? I'm hoping anyone has experience with this.

  submitted by /u/DirectOwl4640
  [link] [comments]