Monday, June 29, 2026
536664d8-934c-4f4b-91ab-99d952e1f1c9
| Summary | ⛅️ Clear throughout the day. |
|---|---|
| Temperature Range | 23°C to 32°C (73°F to 90°F) |
| Feels Like | Low: 70°F | High: 95°F |
| Humidity | 32% |
| Wind | 7 km/h (4 mph), Direction: 194° |
| Precipitation | Probability: 0%, Type: No precipitation expected |
| Sunrise / Sunset | 🌅 05:37 AM / 🌇 08:04 PM |
| Moon Phase | Waxing Gibbous (48%) |
| Cloud Cover | 0% |
| Pressure | 1009.47 hPa |
| Dew Point | 57.08°F |
| Visibility | 10.0 miles |
Renowned Cypriot journalist Sevgul Uludag died on Sunday at the age of 67.
In a career which spanned over four and a half decades, Uludag devoted herself to the cause of Cyprus’ missing, the more than 2,000 people left unaccounted for after intercommunal violence in the 1960s and a Greek-backed coup d’état and Turkish invasion in 1974.
She was meticulous in this endeavour, frequently uncovering detailed accounts of the lives and deaths of the missing, which were then published in both Turkish and Greek in the Yeniduzen and Politis newspaper.
For this work, she was acclaimed at home and abroad, becoming the first Cypriot to be awarded the international courage in journalism award in 2008, while also winning the European citizen’s prize in 2014 and being nominated for the Nobel peace prize in 2019.
Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel said on Sunday evening that she had “made invaluable contributions to the Turkish Cypriot press and the collective memory of our country”.
“She will be remembered for her principled stance in undertaking the responsibility of tracing the whereabouts of missing persons and bringing human stories to light,” he added.
Turkish Cypriot opposition political party CTP representative Fikri Toros said that “beyond being a courageous investigative journalist, peace activist, and powerful writer, Sevgul was an exemplary Cypriot who dedicated her life to being the voice of truth, conscience, and humanity”.
“Her tireless efforts to shed light on the fate of missing persons led hundreds of families to finally find the truth for which they had been waiting for years, while also making significant contributions to strengthening trust, empathy, and shared human values between our communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeniduzen managing editor Mert Ozdag said that Uludag had “devoted her life to the pursuit of truth, considered sharing sorrow a human duty, and believed throughout her life that peace was possible”.
“Sevgul took journalism beyond simply writing news. For years, she listened to the silence beneath the earth. She walked in search of the missing. She listened to, wrote about, and recorded the pain of which no one dared to speak,” he said.
He added that she had “etched into the collective memory of this island the story of mothers’ unceasing wait, fathers’ unanswered questions, and the raves left nameless for years”.
“She taught us that journalism is not just about writing what happened, it is about relentlessly pursuing the truth, reminding us of what has been forgotten, giving a voice to the silenced, and, most importantly, remaining human,” he said.
Two children, aged eight and ten, have died in the British base of Dhekelia after being left in a car to sleep.
According to reports, the children belong to the same family and were found dead in the car.
Police from the British bases attended the scene while an ambulance was also called.
When they arrived at the scene they confirmed that the children had died.
The father and stepmother of the children were later arrested on suspicion of negligence.
The children were reportedly left in the car to sleep while their parents, said to be from Bulgaria, were elsewhere.
They are believed to have suffocated although the exact cause of death is expected to be shown by an autopsy.
A British bases spokesman confirmed that two children had died and officers were currently at a house in Xylophagou in the Famagusta district investigating the cause of death.
Aglandjia residents on Sunday selected Andri Hadjiandreou as their new deputy mayor.
She was standing against Prokopis Prokopiou, and was supported by Akel, Edek, Alma, the Ecologists Movement and the Greens.
The exact share of the vote she garnered is expected to be announced later on Sunday evening.
Voter turn out though was very low, only 4,209 people turned out to vote, which represents 27,7 per cent of those registered.
The by-election was held after Andreas Constantinou was elected MP on the Disy ballot.
Thousands of food deliveries across Cyprus could face disruption from next week as new motorcycle licensing rules prevent learner riders from working unless they are under the direct supervision of a driving instructor.
From July 1, learner motorcycle licence holders will only be allowed to ride on public roads while receiving instruction from a licensed instructor on another motorcycle of the same category or during an official driving test.
For delivery riders, the change effectively means obtaining a full motorcycle licence before they can continue working.
The road transport department (TOM) told the Cyprus Mail it could not provide an exact figure for the number of riders affected because learner licences are issued daily.
However, based on information from driving instructors, “there are more than 1,000 applicants currently awaiting the scheduling of a test date.”
The department insisted the changes were approved under an amendment to the driving licence law in 2023 and businesses “had three years to prepare before the legislation came into force”.
“The implementation of the above provisions aims to enhance road safety and ensure that motorcycle riders are adequately trained and capable of operating the vehicle before riding on public roads,” it said.
Officials added that motorcycle testing capacity has already been expanded.
“From the beginning of the second half of 2025 onwards, the number of motorcycle tests conducted has doubled compared to the immediately preceding period,” the department said.
Additional examiners have also joined during the past month to increase testing capacity further.
Even so, delivery companies and riders fear demand for tests will far exceed supply.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, delivery driver contractor Andreas Skallouris said the change leaves businesses with little room to manoeuvre.
“They are going to need a full motorcycle licence. The government has been suggesting this measure for years. It has been delayed at several points, and it makes our work harder in terms of how we coordinate with our drivers.”
Deliveries by bicycle will become more common as delivery drivers struggle to book a motorcycle test
Current riders say the practical consequences will become clear within days.
Vihaan Verma, who works as a delivery driver, said many riders are still completing the licensing process.
“My brother is riding with a learner’s licence, and I don’t know what he’ll do now. It will take another month before he finishes his certification. Many others also have learner permits, so who is going to deliver all these meals?”
He said some riders have already been told they may have to switch to bicycles until they qualify.
“We’ve been told that those who don’t have a full licence yet will have to use bicycles to deliver. It’s going to slow down orders for sure.”
The impact extends beyond testing alone, for many foreign workers, particularly students from India, obtaining a learner permit is itself the final stage of an arduous administrative process.
Former Wolt employee Abdul Asman said new arrivals often spend months completing immigration formalities before they are even eligible to apply.
“First you need proof of residence, then you need a bank account, which can take ages because of the bureaucracy. After that you need a mobile phone contract and then you wait for your pink slip, which can take around six months. Only then can you apply for a learner’s licence, and that takes another three or four months.”
By the time riders become eligible to sit a practical test, many have already spent close to a year navigating administrative requirements.
Another complication concerns overseas driving licences, as while visitors from for India for example may legally ride motorcycles in Cyprus using a valid Indian motorcycle licence, together with an international driving permit, that arrangement applies only during a temporary stay.
Once a person becomes a resident, Indian licences cannot be exchanged directly for Cypriot licences because India is not among the countries recognised for licence conversion.
Riders must instead pass Cypriot theory and practical examinations before obtaining a full local licence.
Asman said many workers arrive believing their existing licences will allow them to continue riding after relocating permanently.
“Some agencies tell drivers their licences will be accepted in Cyprus when that simply isn’t the case. People arrive expecting to work straight away and then discover they have to begin the licensing process from the start.”
That issue has drawn renewed attention following allegations involving recruitment agencies supplying delivery riders from India.
Earlier this month, a group of 25 Indian nationals publicly appealed to the authorities, alleging they had been recruited under false promises of salaries and working conditions before arriving in Cyprus.
They claim they each paid between €7,000 and €13,000 in recruitment fees before discovering their employment arrangements differed substantially from what they had signed in India.
Police confirmed the case remains under investigation, including possible offences relating to trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation.
While separate from the licensing changes, the allegations have drawn attention to the vulnerability of many third country nationals entering Cyprus’ delivery sector.
Questions have also emerged as to why intermediaries were seeking to recruitment for delivery drivers externally, rather than companies hiring riders from the already well established foreign and student body residing locally.
“Almost all of my drivers are or were students who came over from abroad,” says Skallouris.
“I would say there are more than enough of these men already living in Cyprus.”
The licensing changes prove but another trial upon delivery riders already facing pressures.
Riders have raised concerns over falling delivery fees, increasing fuel costs and commissions charged by fleet managers, which they say can reach between 25 and 33 per cent.
Some also report increasing thefts of motorcycles and attacks by youths during deliveries.
The road transport department insists however that sufficient warning was provided before the law came into effect.
“The potential impacts were assessed during the preparation of the relevant legislation. Any potential effects on the above businesses were given sufficient time to be addressed, as the law was enacted in 2023 and comes into force in 2026.”
Officials added that the department will “continue to make every possible effort, within its capacity, to meet the demand for tests”.
With more than 1,000 applicants already waiting for practical examinations, delivery companies face the prospect of losing riders immediately while those still holding learner permits wait to qualify.
For many already working in the sector, the effect remains immediate.
“Can you imagine half of us on bicycles running around Nicosia, and on what cycling lanes?” Verma remarked. “It’s going to be madness.”
Deputy Nicosia mayor Chrysanthos Fakas on Sunday added his voice to those protesting an exhibition in Nicosia which includes works by the artist who designed the ‘TRNC’ flag.
On Friday the Ecologists Movement had declared outrage at the A Slight Indisposition exhibition ongoing at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (NiMAC) in Nicosia, including participation of Emin Çizenel, who designed the flag.
The Ecologists state that Çizenel is known not only for his artistic career, but also as the creator of the flag of the pseudo-state, which they characterised as a symbol of the Turkish occupation and the partition of Cyprus.
“If this information is correct, the exhibition should be immediately cancelled,” Fakas said.
He was backed by fellow Disy Nicosia councillors who expressed “dissatisfaction and clear disagreement with the hosting of an artist’s work”.
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the event has not been organised by the municipality but called on NiMAC to examines the issue in the light of public outcry.
NiMAC itself said that the artwork by Çizenel called A Lost Moment I actually art of the state collection and was acquired by the Republic in 2007 and was loaned to NiMAC for this exhibition.
The artist and his work, NiMAC said, has been exhibited numerous times in the past without the organisers having any problem.
It said, as with all cultural institutions, it is fully independent and not subject to the approval of Nicosia municipality.
The exhibition hosts a group of artists including other Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
Brussels is the next stop for UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin, who is still working on the instructions of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to hold a new series of contacts with the aim of convening a new expanded conference on the Cyprus problem.
On Monday, Holguin was due to meet President of the European Council Antonio Costa but that meeting has not been put off until July 13.
On the agenda of the meeting will be EU-Turkish issues and how they can contribute to progress on the Cyprus problem.
The envoy has also requested a meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, recognising the important role her new envoy, expected to be appointed in the coming days, can play.
After Brussels, Holguin will return to Cyprus in the first days of July where she will meet both leaders.
Holguin was last in Cyprus in early June where she met both President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. She then went to Athens and Ankara.
The European Union is working on a new strategic playbook to strengthen its mutual defence clause, its defence commissioner has said, warning that Europe must be prepared to replace military capabilities currently provided by the United States.
In an interview with the Cyprus Mail and asked about Cyprus’ efforts to strengthen Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, the EU’s defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius praised the role played by the island during its presidency of the Council of the EU.
“Cyprus did a very good job during its presidency in asking for development of much more operational language on Article 42.7,” he told the Cyprus Mail.
The clause obliges EU member states to provide aid and assistance to another member state which becomes the victim of armed aggression. However, questions have long been raised about how it would function in practice, particularly for non-Nato member states such as Cyprus.
Asked what progress was being made, Kubilius said Brussels was working on a more detailed framework which could eventually become part of a broader European security strategy.
“I am looking for specific language, some strategic playbook on what mutual assistance possibilities we have at the moment, especially in crisis management,” he said.
He added that the EU was also examining the possibility of introducing special arrangements which could be activated before a crisis escalates to the point where Article 42.7 would need to be formally invoked.
“Even before member states can formally invoke Article 42.7, the situation usually becomes more tense,” he said.
“We can have special arrangements on how member states are preparing to assist any member state which is facing more and more troubles.”
According to Kubilius, such mechanisms could help deter escalation by demonstrating solidarity before a crisis reaches a critical point.
When asked about concerns in Cyprus that the island’s security interests could be sidelined as Turkey becomes increasingly involved in discussions on European security, Kubilius reiterated support for diplomatic efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Those are historically painful issues which need to be resolved through negotiations,” he said.
Concerning the role that Cyprus could play in Europe’s evolving defence architecture and following the recent signing of the Security Action for Europe (Safe) agreement, Kubilius stressed Cyprus’ strategic location at the crossroads of multiple security challenges facing Europe.
“We have what we can say 360 degrees of different challenges and threats,” he said.
“On one side we have Russia, on another side we have the Middle East, we have Iran and all the instabilities which are very close to Cyprus and all the Mediterranean EU members.”
Kubilius said the island’s location and security environment made maritime security and drone defence particularly important.
“Maritime security really is one of the key priorities,” he said. “Drone defence initiatives are also very important.”
He added that, as a non-Nato member, Cyprus had a particular interest in the development of European defence mechanisms and capabilities.
On Ukraine, Kubilius insisted Europe remained committed to supporting Kyiv and argued that continued assistance was necessary if Russia was to be persuaded to end the war on acceptable terms.
Asked whether Europe had done enough to help Ukraine, he said the EU and its member states had become the main source of support for Kyiv following the suspension of direct US military assistance.
Kubilius argued that Ukraine had begun to gain momentum on the battlefield.
“As we see, Ukraine starts to prevail, and that’s a very important change in general in how this war is going,” he said.
“That is why we need to strengthen our support in order to convince Putin that it is time to end the war with a just peace.”
He added that Ukraine would require an additional €20 billion in support before the end of the year.
However, Kubilius warned that Europe still faced a major challenge in defence production.
Asked whether Europe was moving quickly enough to keep pace with emerging threats, he said Russia continued to outproduce European manufacturers in key military sectors.
“Russia is still outproducing us,” he said.
“That difference is dangerous because it creates temptation for Putin to think that he can outproduce and outgun us.”
On his use of a quote by US General John Pershing that “battles are won by infantry and wars are won by logistics” at the recent Eurosatory defence exhibition, Kubilius explained that Europe needed not only to increase spending but also fundamentally rethink how military equipment is produced.
He said discussions with industry had highlighted a growing recognition that European defence companies needed to move away from what he described as “haute couture” production, highly sophisticated but expensive systems that are difficult to manufacture quickly and in large numbers.
Instead, he pointed to lessons from Ukraine, where cheaper systems capable of being mass-produced had proved increasingly effective.
“What Ukrainians are showing is that modern warfare demands much cheaper and much more massive products,” he said.
To illustrate the challenge, Kubilius cited figures which he said showed Russia produced around 1,200 cruise missiles last year, while EU member states produced approximately 250.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is expected to manufacture around 700 of its domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles this year alone.
Asked whether Europe could defend itself if future US administrations reduced their commitment to European security, Kubilius said Europeans needed to accept that Washington’s strategic priorities were changing.
“It’s not that they stop loving Europe,” he said.
Rather, he argued, the United States faced growing geopolitical challenges elsewhere and expected Europeans to assume greater responsibility for the continent’s conventional defence.
“When Americans are saying that they ask us to take primary responsibility for conventional defence of Europe, we need to accept that,” he said.
“We spent 30 years not investing into defence, having some kind of naive hope or dreams that Americans forever will take care about European defence spending their taxpayers’ money.”
Those assumptions, he added, were no longer sustainable.
Kubilius also expanded on previous remarks he made earlier in the year suggesting Europe should consider a standing force of around 100,000 troops.
Asked whether this would amount to the creation of a European army, he rejected the idea, arguing instead that the discussion stemmed from concerns over the future of American military capabilities in Europe.
He noted that the United States currently maintains around 80,000 troops in Europe and is reviewing its force posture, while some military assets are already being withdrawn.
“The question then is, if they are removing those troops, how shall we replace them?” he said.
He suggested that European governments would need to decide whether a collection of national forces could provide the same capabilities as a permanent multinational force.
“Some experts are saying that if we go for a combination of 27 different national troops trying to build them as a rapid reaction force, it will not have such quality as Americans are able to provide with a standing force,” he said.
“It is not about a European army. I am looking here at if Americans are withdrawing some capabilities, how are we going to replace them?”
He said it would ultimately be up to member states to decide how those capabilities should be replaced.
Despite the challenges facing Europe, Kubilius insisted the continent possessed the resources needed to adapt.
“We are much richer than Russia,” he said.
Asked how European leaders could justify increased defence spending at a time when many citizens are struggling with the cost of living, he invoked the Roman maxim: if you want peace, prepare for war.
“If you are not preparing for war, if you are losing peace, that will cost you much more,” he said.
“That is very simple arithmetic.”
The two people standing for deputy mayor of Aglandjia on Sunday called on residents to cast their votes.
After voting themselves, both Andri Hadjiandreou and Prokopis Prokopiou called on others to do the same.
The byelection is taking place after former deputy mayor Andreas Constantinou won a seat in the House as MP.
Hadjiandreou exercised her right to vote at 10:30 at the 6th Primary School of Aglandjia, while Prokopiou followed suit at 11am at the Pallouriotissa gymnasium.
Hadjiandreou thanked those conducting the electoral process and expressed the wish that the people “will decide with the criteria which they have set as a priority”.
She said that, as soon as the election is over, “the next day is the most important of all, because the point here is for Aglandjia to win”.
She called on people to go and vote, saying “it may be hot, but the day is long. We can vote and go swim afterwards”.
Prokopiou said “today we are voting for the good of our Aglandjia” and called on residents to vote.
“The effort of all of us is for the whole world to come to the polls to vote,” he said, adding that the goal is for Aglandjia “to be the jewel of the wider municipality of Nicosia again”.
A total of 15,182 people had the right but by noon only 15 per cent of them had.
Polling remains open until 6pm and the result is expected to be announced at 8.30.
Nicosia is banking on the UN Secretary-General’s political will, the European Union’s increased interest and the “clear link” between EU-Turkey relations and the Cyprus problem as it supports UN efforts to restart talks, deputy minister to the President Irene Piki said on Sunday.
Speaking at the annual memorial service for those who fell in 1974 in Chlorakas, Piki said the state’s goal remained the end of the occupation, the liberation and reunification of Cyprus and Cyprus’ transformation into a modern EU and UN member state.
Conveying President Nikos Christodoulides’ assurance that a settlement of the Cyprus problem is the top priority for his government, Piki said historical vindication was not only a matter of remembrance, but also one of continuous effort.
She said the Greek Cypriot side supports the ongoing effort by the UN Secretary General to restart talks.
Despite the difficulties and challenges, she added, “we are banking on [UNSG Antinio] Guterres’ clear political will.”
Through a multi-level and dynamic foreign policy, stronger ties with strategic partners, Cyprus’ constructive role in the EU and the wider region and the strengthening of the economy, she said, Cyprus had helped revive international engagement and set in motion processes that Nicosia hopes will lead to a return to the negotiating table.
Piki also said Cyprus seeks to be part of the solution and never part of the problem, making use of its EU membership, its excellent diplomatic relations with neighbouring states and its cooperation with European and third countries.
At the same time, she added, Cyprus is strengthening its role as a pillar of stability, cooperation and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, while also contributing to humanitarian corridors for the delivery of aid to populations affected by wars and conflicts.
She said Cyprus is also steadily strengthening its defence capabilities and strategic preparedness, using the tools provided by its EU membership.
Talks broke down in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana.
After informal meetings in 2025, deliberations are now underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held before the end of Guterres’ term.
A 53-year-old man is intubated in a critical condition after he was found seriously injured in Ayia Napa on Sunday.
The man has a fractured skull and a cerebral hemorrhage, and was taken to Nicosia general hospital where he was operated on. Police later said his injuries were caused by a fall to the ground.
Shortly before 7am, police were informed by the Famagusta general hospital that a little earlier, an injured person had been transferred there.
The 53-year-old was found injured on Eleftheria Street, in Ayia Napa, where he was picked up and transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Due to the seriousness of his condition, the man was transferred to Nicosia general hospital where he is now being treated. His condition was described as critical.
For 41 years, the Larnaca Festival has been one of Cyprus’ most important cultural institutions, offering quality productions to locals and visitors. Returning every summer with a curated cultural calendar, it is almost time for the festival to reveal its 2026 edition, filling the city with music, dance and theatre.
Seven events shape the festival this year, spanning the entire month of July. Hosted at the Pattihio Municipal Amphitheatre and the Archaeological Site of Ancient Kition, the performances will offer unique evenings of culture and history to audiences under the theme Rhythm of Skala.
The 41st Larnaca Festival programme begins with a concert-tribute to Stavros Xarhakos on July 5. The Larnaca Music School Mikis Theodorakis will take the stage of the Pattihio Municipal Amphitheatre on July 5 at 8.30pm, alongside Kostas Makedonas, to honour the great Greek composer.
Then, the Larnaca Municipal Vocal Ensemble and the Larnaca Municipal Children’s Choir will take the floor on July 7 to present the performance In a Common Spectacle.
A performance from abroad arrives next as a troupe from the city of Aarhus in Denmark. An acrobatic and dance show titled The Flying Superkids of Denmark will land at Pattihio on July 9, taking audiences on a thrilling journey across the performing arts and storytelling. On July 16, the renowned Greek singer Yiannis Kotsiras will celebrate 30 years in the music industry by offering the people of Cyprus a special concert at 9pm.
The Cyprus Theatre Organisation joins the festival programme next with its production of Ion by Euripides. The performance will be presented at Pattihio on July 22 at 9pm. The next event relocates to the Archaeological Site of Ancient Kition for a performance on the evening of July 24 by the Mikis Theodorakis Popular Orchestra presenting the concert Endless Night, paying tribute to composer Theodorakis through the poetry of Odysseas Elytis and George Seferis.
Finally, a dual show will wrap up the 2026 festival as the Sofia National Opera Ballet lands in Larnaca for two unique performances. The ballet Zorba the Greek will be presented on July 29 and 30, concluding the festival with the elegance of ballet and the timeless Greek spirit that the iconic compositions of Mikis Theodorakis hold.
41st Larnaca Festival
Annual month-long festival with dance, theatre, music and song performances. July 5-30. Pattihio Municipal Amphitheatre and the Archaeological Site of Ancient Kition, Larnaca. www.larnaka.org.cy, www.ticketmaster.cy
From the start of July, the European Union is introducing a €3 duty on non-EU goods worth up to €150. This affects, among others, major retailers such as the fashion chain Shein and the budget retailer Temu.
The new duty is intended to ensure fairer competition between domestic suppliers and those from third countries. As things stand, however, it means one thing above all else: bureaucratic chaos and uncertainty over responsibilities.
Competition from third countries
“The reason for imposing this temporary duty is to correct the unfair competition between the EU and third countries’ traders caused by the exponential increase of e-trade and the distance selling of low value consignments,” the customs department told the Cyprus Mail.
Recent figures of the European Commission paint a clear picture: 4.6 billion e-commerce parcels valued under €150 were imported into the EU in 2024, equalling an average of 12 million parcels per day.
The majority of said shipments, 91 per cent, came from China, with a similar tendency reported for Cyprus.
“The biggest volumes are from China but also UK and America,” says the CEO of local delivery company ACS Christoforos Potamitis.
Until now, orders valued at €150 or below fell under a customs duty relief threshold. This effectively meant that goods with the respective value could enter the EU without incurring any custom duties.
According to the authorities contacted by the Cyprus Mail, this led to various problems including risks for consumers, significant environmental impacts, as well as unfair competition for Europe-based businesses.
With the permanent removal of the customs duty threshold set to take effect in two years’ time, Brussels has since moved to impose a fixed customs duty of €3 on all shipments from third countries as a stopgap measure until 2028
“After 2028 when the customs data hubwill be fully implemented and all imports will be obliged to be declared on the base of the tariff code of each item and the duties will be collected according to the common EU Customs tariff like the normal import of goods,” the customs department said.
How will the duty be applied?
The new duty is applicable on all orders below €150 of value placed with retailers from third countries. Rather than applied as a one-time duty, it will be applied to the individual products of the order.
“The €3 duty will be applied to each different item, according to their tariff headings, contained in a consignment,” an EU source told the Cyprus Mail.
In practice, this means that if a parcel contains a pair of jeans and two pairs of linen trousers, due to the different tariff sub-headings of the items, €6 in customs duty should be paid.
And that’s not all. Beyond the €3 duty, Brussels has also introduced an additional €2 handling fee per parcel, applicable from November.
But how will customs know how much the value of the consignments is?
“We are not informed about the value of the goods in a parcel, we only get informed about the reference number and the details of the receiver,” said ACS.
The customs department explained that low value consignments will be recognised by the submission of certain declarations by the courier companies’ or post office’s customs agents. The duty itself will then be collected by the custom administrations of the member states.
“In case of delivery to pick up locations the duty will be collected before the delivery from the point of entry to Cyprus to the pickup locations. The key fact is that the customer will pay the duty either at the time of order or before the pickup or delivery of the parcel,” the customs department said.
What does this mean in practice?
“Even the shippers like Shein and Temu are not sure exactly how they are going to handle this,” said Potamitis from ACS, who has been in contact with some of the big trading companies.
While he believes the cost will ultimately be absorbed by the shippers rather than receivers, he is careful to stress it remains an assumption.
“I doubt that the receivers are going to be affected, everything is going to be absorbed by the shippers,” he said – though how exactly platforms like Temu and Shein will respond is yet to be seen.
“I assume that the companies will first pull back a bit and try to cut on the packages,” he said.
Meanwhile, one thing is clear. Every order arriving in Cyprus after July 1 will be affected by the new regulation – regardless of when the order was placed.
“The crucial factor to decide the charge of the temporary €3 duty per category item is the date of the arrival in Cyprus,” the customs department confirmed.
There is, however, a potential workaround for the big platforms.
Should companies like Temu or Shein establish warehouses in the EU by importing goods in bulk and paying the new duty, the goods would be considered “European” and could enter the local market.
For Cyprus, this is particularly relevant as already some of the imports are cleared in Bulgaria or Greece.
“It has to be distinguished though that if the established warehouses will be operated in the form of a bonded warehouse (meaning that the duties and taxes for the storage goods are not paid until the exit from bonded) then the temporary €3 duty will be applicable as it will be considered as distance sale from the third country, even though the bonded warehouse is located in an EU country,” said the customs department.
From the beginning of 2026 until Sunday, a total of 4,021 people have been repatriated or deported from Cyprus, police said on Sunday.
In a social media post, the force said members of the aliens and migration service recently participated in a joint forced return operation with the Frontex agency, in the context of which third-country nationals residing illegally in Cyprus were repatriated and deported.
As reported, this is the 10th participation of the Cyprus police in joint Frontex return operation in 2026, which confirms “the continuous cooperation with the European institutions for the effective management of irregular migration”.
Earlier this month the deputy migration ministry said Cyprus recorded the highest number of relocations among the five frontline Mediterranean EU member states: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain.
It added that the mechanism forms part of wider EU efforts to support member states facing disproportionate migration pressures, with all related costs covered through the bloc’s asylum, migration and integration fund.
Until noon on Sunday, only 15.02 per cent of voters in Nicosia’s Aglandjia had voted for the area’s new deputy-mayor, the returning officer said.
This means a total of 2,281 people had turned out to vote, from the total 15,182 registered.
The result is expected to be announced at around 8.30pm on Sunday.
The post was left open after previous deputy mayor Andreas Constantinou was elected into the House of Representatives on the Disy ticket.
Two independent candidates are contesting the post: Prokopis Prokopiou and Andri Hadjiandreou.
A total of 26 election centres are operating across six schools.
Polls closed between 12 and 1pm and will close at 6pm.
Disy leader Annita Demetriou on Sunday said that the party will name its own candidate for the 2028 presidential elections, underlining that it would not support a potential bid by current President Nikos Christodoulides.
Speaking to Politis, she said following the previous election, the party is in opposition.
But she said she did not share the view that the recent parliamentary elections were “a prelude to the 2028 presidential elections”.
Demetriou was re-elected House president with the votes of Disy, Diko and Direct Democracy.
She refused to be drawn on whether she is considering standing herself. “We were given a clear mandate by voters for parliamentary work and not to be consumed in the presidency. It is not possible for the country to be permanently in a pre-election period. We have ahead of us important reforms, social challenges and serious issues that require solutions,” she said. “That’s where our attention is focused.”
“What I can say with certainty is that the Democratic Rally (Disy) will have its own candidate, chosen through its own democratic procedures, as provided for in the party’s statute.”
Since party regulations changed recently, the candidate is selected by the party’s base.
She said no discussions have taken place within the party over who a presidential candidate might be. “We have much more immediate priorities ahead of us.”
She also ruled out any discussions with Diko that would have ensured backing for his presidency of the House by Disy in return for Diko backing a Disy candidate for president of the Republic.
However, she did concede the two parties do agree on some issues, “which of course we want to continue. But understanding and consensus on issues of policy and bills is not a secret transaction. It is an element of democratic functioning and is absolutely necessary.”
Additional traffic lights will be operational as of Tuesday at two junctions in Aradippou, mayor Christodoulos Partou said on Sunday.
The work to install the lights on three parts of Ellados Avenue, where several fatal accidents have occurred in the past, has lasted for about four months.
At the end of May, he continued, all three sets of traffic lights were delivered to the municipality, however all the necessary technical tests and adjustments had to be made.
The intersection of Ellados Avenue with Ivykou and Sergiou & Vakchou Streets, was put into operation on Wednesday, while on this coming Tuesday, the remaining systems on intersections of Ellados Avenue with Georgiou Theotoka Street and Iakovou Patatsou Street will be put into operation.
The completion of the installation means that on Monday and Tuesday parts of Ellados Avenue will be closed to traffic.
The mayor called on drivers “to be especially careful, to drive at low speeds, to comply with the temporary road signs and to have patience above all so the work can be completed and the lights and cameras to finally work, without any problems”.
At the three points pedestrian crossings have also been installed with a total cost to the municipality of €280,000.
“The installation of these specific light-controlled intersections should have been done years ago, since too many drivers, except for trucks, use Ellados Avenue. On this particular avenue we have had several accidents in the past until recently, some of which were fatal,” Partou said.
Pavements will be built on both sides of the same avenue this and next year, while trees have also been planted, the mayor said.
A crash on Ellados Avenue in March saw a 52-year-old lose his life.
With the arrival of higher temperatures, one of Cyprus’ more unusual natural phenomena has returned, Larnaca Salt Lake has turned pink.
The increase in temperature sees an equivalent rise in salinity, creating an ideal breeding ground for algae and brine shrimp, giving the water a distinctive pink colour.
In spring the lake is pink for a different reason, hosting migrating flamingos, which get their colour from consuming the same organisims.
The Salt Lake is part of the Natura 2000 European network of protected natural environments.
The phenomenon lasts only for a few weeks.
A forgotten saucepan on the hob caused a fire in Strovolos in the ground floor of a two-storey home, police said on Sunday.
Extensive damages were caused to the kitchen, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said while heat and smoke damage affected the whole of the interior.
No-one was put in danger by the flames.
Two fire engines were dispatched to put out the flames.
In the 24 hours until Sunday morning, the fire service responded to 32 calls, 16 of which were fires and two prank calls.
During the last week, the service has responded to 235 calls, of which 93 were urban fires, 25 rural, three traffic accidents, 23 rescues, 67 other incidents of helping the public, and 24 prank calls.
A strong police presence around the island over Saturday night led to ten arrests as efforts continued to stamp out organized crime and other serious offences.
The arrests were for illegal possession of narcotics, illegal stay on the island, begging and other crimes.
During operations a total of 728 drivers and 305 passengers were checked. A total of 64 office premises were also checked and nine charges made.
Among drivers 227 charges were made with 13 cases to be investigated.
A total of 105 charges were made for speeding while 15 cars were confiscated.
Alcotests were carried out on 314 people resulting in 19 charges while two were found guilty of drug driving.
Police said the operations would continue to increase the feeling of pubic safety.
Another warm and sunny day is forecast on Sunday with temperatures inland set to reach 38C.
But with cloud developing in the Troodos mountains, there is a chance of rain there in the afternoon.
Around the island, the temperature is set to be around 2-3 degrees higher than the average for the time of year, rising to 38C in Nicosia, 32-35 on the coasts and 24 in Troodos.
On Monday the day will again start sunny and although clouds are set to gather in the mountains no rain is forecast. Temperatures are set to rise to 39C in Nicosia, 32-35 on the coasts and 24 in the mountains.
Rain is a possibility on Tuesday also in the mountains, with temperatures remaining higher than normal for the time of year.
Hey, just a beginner trying to learn go.
I had a question regarding what the difference is between the two. In the scenario when a slice is empty, why does var give us `nil` while make would give us `[]`, specifically what happens in memory or anything else that would be important.
Thanks!
I would appreciate if someone could give me the results for this https://github.com/atdiar/go_RT_audio_benchmark
Will let us see whether go is a prior not disqualified for firm Real time tasks with high end audio interfaces... at 48kHz, it seems fine.
Would have tested 44kHz but I don't have access to proper equipment at the moment.
Instructions in the readme.
PS. Run in a VM which has access to your audio interface if cautious, and/or have an llm review the code. It is good habit.
Thanks :)
How do I find and import a missing Go symbol? I'm using the Go extension, version 0.54.0. The "quick fix" {option+Enter on Mac) only offers "create function", "fix", "explain", and "browse gopls feature documentation". The agent (just Haiku 4.5 in my case) can do it with some convincing, but that's just much too slow and manual. Also, the same agent claims there should be something like "Go: Add Missing Imports" in the quick fix menu, but it's not there. What gives?
v1.26 basically continues a pattern we've been seeing: most of the work is going into the runtime, toolchain, scheduler, garbage collector, and standard lib rather than new features.
Do we prefer that it stays intentionally small? In other words.. over the next 5 years...
Should it invest in performance/tooling or introduce selected features? Has the restraint been a strength in your opinion, or holdint it back?
Curious what others think...
Hi guys, I built Flick (https://github.com/Flick-Corp/flick) because sharing a file always meant generating an ugly long link and pasting it somewhere.
I wanted something I could just say out loud - "the code is ocean-tiger-42" - so the share primitive is a short word-word-number code instead of a URL.
You upload a file (web drag-and-drop or flick myfile.pdf from the terminal) and get a code.
The other side enters it on the site or in their own terminal. Files self-destruct by time, by download count, or both.
There's a free hosted server (flick.d3l.tech, no account), or you can self-host with one Docker command - it bundles Postgres, the API, the web app, and a Caddy reverse proxy that handles automatic HTTPS and HTTP/3.
Stack: Go + Cobra for the CLI/server, Next.js + shadcn/ui for the web, Postgres for persistence.
MIT licensed.
Happy to answer questions about the design - especially the code-generation scheme and the self-destruct logic. Feedback welcome.
Request coalescing is a pretty neat technique in distsys where you gate a cache with a singleflight. It prevents cache stampedes where multiple concurrent requests for the same key miss the cache and hit the database simultaneously.
The issue is pretty much all the resources in Go I came across on this topic just show the x/sync/singleflight API and call it a day.
I've used it in the cache path of our Cassandra proxy at work, observed what works and what doesn't, and documented when and why to reach for request coalescing. This has been lying around in my drafts for a while.
It covers a bit of ground. You might find it interesting!