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Thursday, July 23, 2026

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• Food Connect app launched to tackle Cyprus’ food surplus

  A new digital platform, Food Connect, has been launched in Cyprus to reduce food waste by linking businesses with surplus food to charities and the public, Friends of the Earth Cyprus announced on Wednesday.

  Developed under the European Life project, Food Connect allows businesses to donate edible surplus food instead of discarding it.

  The free app, available on Android and iPhone, lets registered organisations and the public reserve and collect food directly from participating businesses.

  Hotels, restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and food producers can list food that is unsellable but safe to eat.

  Donors register their items online, while recipients get notifications via the app and can reserve donations at no cost.

  This initiative comes as Cyprus faces the highest food waste per capita in the EU, with around 286kg wasted per person annually, according to Eurostat.

  Friends of the Earth Cyprus aims to prevent edible food waste and help those in financial need access nutritious meals.

  The organisation highlighted the significant environmental, economic and social impact of food waste, as discarding food wastes resources like water, energy and land, while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

  The platform simplifies a traditionally informal process, fostering collaboration among businesses, charities, public authorities and communities.

  Friends of the Earth Cyprus emphasised that every donation can significantly reduce waste and ensure food reaches those in need.

  Food Connect operates in Cyprus, Malta and Portugal under the EU-funded Life programme, serving as a model for broader adoption across Europe, with the aim of strengthening food donation systems and promoting a more sustainable food chain.

  Businesses with surplus food are encouraged to register, while eligible organisations and individuals can download the app to join the network.

• Full list of areas included in rolling power-cut plan

  Authorities began imposing electricity cuts in different parts of Cyprus from 6.52pm on Wednesday, as demand exceeded available generation capacity.

  According to an announcement by the Electricity Authority the affected locations have been divided geographically into groups, allowing the cuts to be carried out on a rotating basis so that no single area remains without electricity for an extended period.

  The areas included in each group are listed below.

  Nicosia district

  Group 1: Strovolos, Stefanides shopping centre, Ikea and part of the Mall of Cyprus; Episkopio, part of Ergates, Politiko, Kampia and Kapedes; part of Arediou and Ayios Ioannis Malountas; Anayia and Deftera; Pano Amiantos; Platania and part of Kakopetria; Kardama, Kato Amiantos, Pelendri, Dymes, Potamitissa, Kato Mylos and Agros; and the Sia area.

  Group 2: The Ayios Dometios area around the Zannetou and Delfon traffic lights; and Engomi, including the McDonald’s area, Hilton Park, 28 October Street and the Makedonitissa Tomb.

  Group 3: Part of Avlona, Denia and part of Akaki; part of Astromeritis and Peristerona; Ayios Theodoros, military camps in the Atsa area and Evrychou primary school; Oikos, Orkontas, Gerakies, Kampos, Tsakistra, Mylikouri and Kykkos Monastery; Moutoullas, Kalopanayiotis, part of Pedoulas and Prodromos, Lemythou, Palaiomylos, Ayios Dimitrios, Treis Elies, Kaminaria and part of Kalianas.

  Group 4: Engomi, the residential area around the Eleon swimming pool; Strovolos, including the Clerical School area, old Strovolos centre and side streets off Niki Avenue; Kantara Street, Strovolos Avenue and the Elaionon Street area; Athinon Avenue and the Stavrou area; Strovolos Avenue from Pepsi to Ayia Paraskevi church in Lakatamia; and Strovolos Avenue and Kyriakou Matsi Street.

  Group 5: Lythrodontas and Mathiatis; the Alambra and Dali industrial areas; Potamia, Lymbia and part of Dali; part of Geri and Latsia-Geri Avenue; part of Peristerona and Astromeritis; Kakopetria, part of Kalianas, Sina Oros, Ayios Nikolaos Keo and Galata; the Geri special school area, Omonia stadium, the gymnasium and Epistrofis Avenue; the Geri sewage pumping station, the government building materials laboratory, the Penny Hill area and the Karaiskakio Foundation.

  Group 6: Aglantzia west of Famagusta Avenue, the Siistris area, south of Aglantzia Avenue, the conference centre and Ayios Nektarios; Nicosia, including the Cyfield apartment blocks on Limassol Avenue, Kalypsous and Chrysanthou Mylona streets and the Central Bank; the Olympic House, part of Strovolos refugee settlement III and the Falcon area; Strovolos, including the Arodafnousa area, Alphamega and the surrounding eastern area; south of Digeni Akrita Avenue, part of Nikodimou Mylona Street, part of the Lykavitos residential area and part of Kallipoleos Avenue; Etha Engomi, Grigori Afxentiou Street, Ayios Georgios church and Ayios Dometios town hall; the European University, the Engomi nightclub area and Charilaou Stavraki Street; Archangelou Avenue, part of Parissinos, the Dias complex, the State Fair, Makario stadium and the Kadmou Street area; the Parissinos residential area, part of the Archbishopric plots, Fbis and part of the Stelmek plots.

  Group 7: Part of Klirou, Kalo Chorio, Farmakas, Gourri, Kionia, Lazania, Machairas, Fikardou and part of Malounta; Arediou, part of Klirou, Palaichori, Apliki, Ayios Epifanios and part of Malounta; Ergates and Psimolofou; Kyperounta; the Grigoriou area and part of Anayia; Evrychou, Temvria, Korakou, part of Flasou, Linou, Katydata and Skouriotissa.

  Group 8: Nicosia, including the Gabriilides traffic-light area and parts of Kennedy, Niki and Arsinoes avenues; Makariou Avenue from Lykavitos police station to the Aluminium Tower area; Digeni Akrita Avenue up to Ayios Antonios, Androkleous and Voulgari streets; Pepsi, Jumbo and Pavilion; the area west of Archangel Michael Monastery in Archangelos; the traffic police lights on Anthoupoleos Street; Ayios Neophytos church in Anthoupolis; the area west of the road towards Palaichori up to the road to Ayioi Trimithias; Pallouriotissa, including part of John Kennedy Street near the Praxitelis mosaic factory; and the area west of Limassol Avenue from Aluminium Tower to the Kalispera traffic lights.

  Group 9: The Latsia industrial area and Latsia refugee settlements; Strovolos, including the Home Centre, IMC and Orphanides areas; central Latsia, Giannou Kranidioti, Archbishop Kyprianou and Spyrou Kyprianou avenues; Athalassa psychiatric hospital and Papakyriakou military camp; the area opposite the GSP stadium and central Latsia on both sides of Archbishop Kyprianou Avenue; Latsia, including the Seven-Up area and Archbishop Makarios III Avenue; and part of the Kokkinotrimithia industrial area and Mammari.

  Group 10: Nicosia east of Niki Avenue, including Skopa and Alasia streets, the western section of Kennedy Avenue, 25 March Street, Riga Feraiou Street and Amfitritis Street up to Arsinoes Avenue; part of Platy Aglantzias, Metro supermarket, Skali and central Aglantzia; and Platy refugee settlement, Bank of Cyprus, Metro, Cyta, Ayia Filothei and areas along Kyrenias Avenue.

  Group 11: Latsia, including Dimitri Stavrou Street and the Laiki Sporting road; the Fotiadis plots and Kallithea; Aglantzia, including the Arsiotis building; and the Aglantzia residential area and Larnacos Avenue.

  Group 12: Byzantiou Street from the Kykkos lyceums to the Israeli embassy; parts of Strovolos and Lakatamia, including the Kokkines and Aspres refugee settlements towards the Sampson Farm area; Strovolos Avenue and its side streets up to the SEK building; part of Tseriou Avenue from the EAC substation to Pefkou Street in Lakatamia; Makariou Avenue, the Debenhams and Marks & Spencer area and parts of Stasikratous and Arnaldas streets; and Makariou Avenue from City Plaza towards its junction with Evagorou Avenue.

  Group 13: Constantinoupoleos Street and the PEO-SEK plots; Lakatamia west of Strovolos Avenue; Strovolos Avenue, Ayios Mamas and Lakatamia; the Aspres refugee settlement and residential areas of Lakatamia; Strovolos, including Perikleous Street and the Stavrou area; Platy Aglantzias; Athalassa veterinary clinic between Larnacos and Athalassas avenues; Ayios Antonios and Stasinou Avenue; and Troodos, Prodromos, Pedoulas and Lemythou.

  Group 14: Pallouriotissa, including the Panayia Pallouriotissa church area; Lykavitou, Thessalias, Lykourgou and Parthenonos streets up to Doryforos; ATI, the Agricultural Institute and Athalassa military camp; and the area between Orounta and Meneou, Mitsero quarries, Chapo and Nemesis, as well as Mitsero and Agrokipia.

  Group 15: The area south of the road from the general hospital roundabout towards Athalassa; and Aglantzia, including the area of Larnacos Avenue towards BMH up to the Doryforos complex.

  Group 16: The Papafilippou factory and the road from Kokkinotrimithia towards Paliometocho; part of Mosfiloti, Pyrga and Florentiades quarries; and part of Mosfiloti, Kornos, Sia and the Skyra Lima and Medcon quarries at Stavrovouni.

  Group 17: The Kokkinotrimithia residential area and Makariou Avenue; the Kokkinotrimithia light industrial area; and Paliometocho.

  Group 18: Dasoupolis, including A. Avraamidi Street and the Kosta Theodorou area up to Aretaeio Hospital; Nicosia and Engomi, including the Prodromos church area, Vasili Michaelidi, Pygmalionos and Sina streets, part of Metochiou Street and the US and Russian embassies; Dasoupolis, including Louis head offices and the handicrafts workshop; and Nicosia-Dasoupolis, including Foti Pitta Street, Cyta headquarters and the area towards Armenias Street up to Acropolis primary school.

  Group 19: Lakatamia, including Kilikias, Kallitheas, Trikalon, Kypraleontos, Erymanthou and Agrafon streets; part of Pefkou Street and northwards to Spartakou Street; the military cemetery area, Makrygianni, Ayios Georgios, Amfitheatro and Riga Feraiou streets; the sports centre area towards Tseri and Tseri itself; Pefkou and Nikofontos streets; Pano Lakatamia towards Anthoupolis refugee settlement; Deftera, including the Poullos Mosaics area, Strakka and Green Valley up to Sarri supermarket; Athalassa-Geri, including Geriou, Athalassas, Grigori Digeni, Chatzipetrou, Fanariou and Pyrogiou streets; Dasoupolis, including Eleftheroupoleos, Ifigenias, Thermopylon and Tilepikoinonion streets, the Acropolis area and Cyta offices; the Shacolas retail store opposite the Mall of Cyprus and part of the Strovolos industrial area; the Shacolas Exhibition Centre; Aglantzia, including Larnacos Avenue, Katharis and Ethnikis Ellados streets; the College of Tourism and Larnacos Avenue; Pera Chorio Nisou, including Nisou primary school, Chalkanoros Avenue, the Chamatsou roundabout and Dali health centre; Pera Chorio Nisou, including Vasilikon and Tinou streets and the Nisou livestock area; Ergates, SPE, Episkopio, Psimolofou, Pera Orinis, Kampia, Analiontas and part of Kataliontas; Strovolos, including the Parissinos area west of the military camp and the Licensing Authority; the area between Archangelou, Elaionon and Makedonitissas avenues up to the Apollonio Hospital traffic lights and Lykavitou Avenue up to Carrefour supermarket; Ayios Prokopios Street and the Russian embassy area; Agros, Chandria, Agridia, Potamitissa, Dymes, Kato Mylos, Ayios Ioannis and Ayios Theodoros Agrou; Griva Digeni Avenue around Bridge House and the old water board offices; and Ayios Andreas, Ayios Dometios and part of Ayios Pavlos.

  Group 20: Ayioi Trimithias and light industrial premises in the Kometis area.

  Group 21: Ayioi Omologites, including S. Lambrou, Glafkou and Kyriakou Matsi streets; Pano Lakatamia towards Anthoupolis, including the police and Maronite school area; Alamanas, Ariadnis and Persefonis streets and the Polykarpou building; Ermylou Street; Anthoupolis, including part of the Cyprus Land Development Corporation plots; the Lakatamia gymnasium area; Pano Lakatamia towards Ayios Georgios Avenue and Kato Lakatamia, including the Cyta, amphitheatre and Koulouratou areas; Pano Lakatamia towards Pano Deftera, including the Trikkis area, Grammar School and the livestock zone; Nestou, Evinou, Acheiropoiitou and Ellisonos streets; and Pano and Kato Lakatamia, Makariou Avenue, SPE and Laiki.

  Group 22: Strovolos, including the Aspres refugee settlement area up to Lakatamia airport; the area east of the EAC substation, Athinon Street, Aristofanous Street and Stavrou Avenue near Stavrou gymnasium; the Strovolos police traffic lights and the area around the SEK building; and Pallouriotissa south of Kennedy Avenue, including the Water Development Department headquarters and Ayia Varvara refugee settlement.

  Limassol district

  Group 1: Trachoni, Trachoni refugee settlement and Lanitis waterpark; areas along and west of Vasileos Constantinou Street, including Lord Russell, Gropius, Theofilou, Petrou Tsirou, Feidiou, Mendelssohn and Neokli Anastasiadi streets; and Archbishop Makariou Avenue and the Fisco Lotus Plaza area.

  Group 2: Commercial and residential areas along Vasileos Pavlou Street; Makedonias Avenue near the Orphanides traffic lights, Orphanides supermarket and the Makarios III refugee settlement west of the supermarket; the area north of Vasileos Pavlou, Cyta offices, EAC warehouses, the Medochemie factory and Franklin Roosevelt Avenue near Karmi fruit market; Miltou Kavazoglou Street, the Sinevolos area, Makariou III Avenue from the Symillides traffic lights to the fire service and Apostolou Varnava Street from Makariou Avenue to Seychellon Street; the area between Miltonos and Parnassou streets; and Makariou III Avenue from Lanitio to the Ariel traffic lights and areas north of the Marios Tritoftides clinic.

  Group 3: Fasouri pumping stations and Akrotiri village; Kolossi, Trachoni pumping stations, Tscherkezoi and Trachoni; the area of Limassol’s fifth primary school; north of Paphos Avenue, east of Kepler Avenue and west of Georgiou Averof Street, including Shelley, Aristippou and Ioanninon streets; Paramali and southern Avdimou; northern Avdimou, Prastio Avdimou and Pachna; Ora, Melini, Ayioi Vavatsinias, Odou, Sykopetra, Moni, Klonari, Akapnou, Sanida, Louvaras, Monagroulli, Vikla, Vasa Kellakiou, Dierona, Arakapas, Eptagoneia, Kalo Chorio, Parekklisia, Pyrgos, Kellaki and Prastio Kellakiou; and Spitali, Paramytha, Alassa, Lofou, Apsiou, Gerasa, Limnatis, Palodia, Korfi, Apesia, Ayios Therapon and Ypsonas.

  Group 4: Ypsonas, including Ilias Kannaourou and Ayios Georgios streets; the Monovolikos primary school area and locations around Makedonias Avenue up to the motorway towards the port; east of the Ayios Athanasios industrial area towards Paniotis and Akadimias Avenue at its junction with Christaki Kranou Street; and crushing plants and small residential areas in Parekklisia.

  Group 5: Areas north of the Limassol-Nicosia intercity road, east of central Ayios Athanasios and west of Paniotis; Kolossi, Kolossi refugee settlement, the Kolossi livestock area and the Ypsonas area; pumping stations and fishing shelters southwest of Kolossi, the ancient Kourion theatre, the SBA Administration Building, northwestern Akrotiri, southern Episkopi and Episkopi boreholes; Pissouri and the Pissouri livestock areas; Parekklisia north of the motorway up to the Kythreotis quarry, Ayios Tychonas, Pyrgos and Prastio Kellakiou; and the Kouris dam pumping station, Pano and Kato Kivides, Vouni, Alassa, Kantou, Sotira, Ayios Therapon, Ypsonas, Ayios Amvrosios and Souni-Zanakia.

  Group 6: Areas between Makedonias Avenue and the old road, near the Dimadis shops and the Fiat showroom; and the area south of Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue and west of Ayios Athanasios Avenue and Dimitriou Kitrou Street.

  Group 7: The area south of the motorway and west of Ayios Athanasios Avenue up to the Mesa Geitonia Cyta offices and Apostolos Andreas church; the area north of the motorway, central Ayios Athanasios and Panthea up to Chloridos Street; areas east of Ayia Fyla and north of the Limassol-Nicosia motorway, the water treatment plant and Panthea; Green Area, Paniotis, Prosforo, Stroggylos, western and northern Germasogeia and the oncology centre; areas east of 1 October Street and around Spyrou Kyprianou, Markou Drakou, Rodionos Riga, Fokionos Negri, Thermopylon, Imvrou and Georgiou Averof streets; the area south of Spyrou Kyprianou and Georgiou Neofytou streets up to Voreiou Ipeirou and Aisopou streets, north and east of Ayios Nikolaos cemetery up to Megalou Alexandrou Street; and postcode areas 4104, 4105, 4106 and 4108 around Ayios Athanasios.

  Group 9: Areas west of Tsirio stadium and north of the Limassol-Paphos motorway, military camps and Pano Polemidia refugee settlements west of Giannou Kranidioti Avenue; Ayios Constantinos, Ayios Pavlos, Louvaras, Zoopigi, Kalo Chorio, Kapileio, Ayios Mamas and Trimiklini; Vasa Koilaniou, Malia, Koilani, Potamiou, Kissousa, Kato Platres, Omodos, Pera Pedi, Mandria Limassol, Foini, Arsos, Kouka, Mesana, Salamiou, Ayios Ioannis Paphos, Filousa Kelokedaron, Ayios Nikolaos Paphos, Arminou, Praitori and Kedares; and Fylagra, Mesa Potamos and small parts of Pelendri, Saittas, Trimiklini and Kouka.

  Group 10: Ayios Georgios Havouzas, Kato Polemidia and Metanaston Street; areas south of Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue and east of Archbishop Makariou Avenue up to Nikou Evagorou Street and around Ayios Nikolaos cemetery; the area south of Kolonakiou Street, west of Stratigou Timagia Street and east of Pirantello Street up to Dimitriou Nikolaou Street; the Kalogries school area, Kirzis shopping centre, Riga Feraiou Street, Makariou III Avenue near Costa Coffee, Nikis, Chalkoutsa and Ayios Nikolaos; and Paphos Street.

  Group 11: The area east of the Ayia Sofia-Spartiatis bridge and the junction of Makedonias Avenue with Nikou Pattichi Street; Makariou III Avenue from the Moditis kiosk traffic lights to the Symillides traffic lights; and the area between Nikou Pattichi and Ayia Sofia and north of Nikou Pattichi Street between Makedonias Avenue and Le Corbusier Street.

  Group 13: Residential areas north of the Germasogeia coastal road between Christaki Kranou and Panayioti Tsangari streets; Kalogiroi and a small part of western Mouttagiaka; and the area between Miltonos Street and Omonias Avenue.

  Group 14: Northwestern Kolossi and Erimi; Gladstonos Street around Pentadromos, Ayias Zonis Street, north of Thessalonikis Street and the Cafe Paris traffic-light area; east of Ayios Andreou Street, the Ayia Triada and municipal library area, the public gardens, Curium Palace Hotel, Ayios Nikolaos roundabout, Maximos Plaza and Enaerios; north of the municipal library, the second primary school area and western Gladstonos Street; and Pachna, Vouni, Koilani, Silikou, Potamiou, Pera Pedi and Ayios Therapon.

  Group 15: Ayias Fylaxeos Street north of the Limassol-Paphos motorway, eastern Ayia Fyla and Lefkothea.

  Group 16: The Moditis kiosk area, the Lemeco light industrial area, Pallados, Dimokratias and Alexandrias streets and the Land Registry, Social Insurance and Sala government buildings; areas north of Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue, including Steliou Kyriakidi and Ivykkou streets and parts of Christaki Ergatoudi and Vasileos Constantinou streets; the area between Ayios Ilarionos, Ierou Lochou, Melpomenis, Ayios Epifaniou, Spyrou Kyprianou, Grigori Afxentiou, Kosti Palama, Patriarchi Grigoriou V and Kritis streets, as well as Ayias Fylaxeos south of the motorway up to Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue; the area between Sofias Vempo, Kosti Palama, Ilias Venezi, Dimitri Makri, Aristoteli Valaoriti and Tagmatarchi Pouliou streets; Ekali, Vereggaria, Pano and Kato Polemidia, Polemidia self-housing and the Palodia-Saittas road, including Heritage and Pascal schools; the area around Debenhams, Bank of Cyprus, Laiki, Petousis Court and Hellenic Bank; areas between Platonos, Michael Georgalla, Ayias Zonis, Theklas Lysioti, Anaxagora and Zinonos streets; the area between the Serifou traffic lights and Dimokratias Street; the area around Akarnanias, Kolonakiou, Ayios Amvrosios and Edessis streets; the Vasa Skyra quarry, Moni, Asgata, Monagroulli and Vasa Kellakiou; and Doros, Koilani, Silikou, Lofou, Laneia, Monagri and Ayios Georgios Limassol.

  Group 17: Areas north of Makariou III Avenue, including the Nafi, Le Corbusier and Petrou Tsirou areas; areas north and south of Paphos Street, west of the Omonia substation and on both sides of Omonias Street up to Petrou Iliadi Street; areas north of the Germasogeia nightclub road; Kato Polemidia, including Anagnostopoulou, Faidonos Koukoulle and Adamantiou streets; and Kapileio, Limnatis, Ayios Mamas, Laneia, Silikou and Kouka.

  Group 18: West of Griva Digeni Street, including the fire service road area, Stratigou Timagia, Kefallinias, Georgiou Seferi, Chrysanthemou and Krinou streets, Oval Tower and part of Promachon Eleftherias Avenue.

  Group 19: Eastern and southern Ypsonas, part of Tscherkezoi and southern Kato Polemidia; residential areas north of the motorway in Kato Polemidia and Ypsonas; and the Kato and Pano Polemidia self-housing areas.

  Group 20: The southern section of the Ayios Athanasios industrial area and areas north of Sklavenitis supermarket; the Oerlikon and Domoplex industries; the third Ayios Sylas industrial area and part of the Ayios Sylas light industrial area; the northern, central and southeastern parts of the Ayios Athanasios industrial area; areas north of the motorway in Ayios Athanasios and Germasogeia up to the northern bypass; Rodionos Riga and Iapetou streets up to Codal Synto and Medochemie; the area north and south of Andrea Kariolou Street, including Jumbo, showrooms, Ayios Athanasios Street, Joy ice cream, IronFX, QLS and Kyproplast; the Ayios Sylas light industrial area, TEU Conservices, the Kogio factory and parts of Ypsonas; the area northeast of the Ayios Athanasios junction and Melis meat market; areas on both sides of Makedonias Avenue from the new port motorway to Ayias Fylaxeos Street; and north of the intercity road from the Mouttagiaka exit and Germasogeia river to the Amathounta substation.

  Group 22: Areas north and south of Griva Digeni Street, from the Riala traffic lights to the Ayios Nikolaos roundabout.

  Paphos district

  Group 1: The Anatoliko area and golf courses; Pelathousa, Lysos, Peristerona, Meladeia, Skoulli, Goudi and Pano Akourdalia.

  Group 2: Emba, Petridia, Tremithousa and Mesogi; the bypass between the Paphos entrance roundabout and the Pafiako traffic lights, including the Esso, Eko and DKS areas; the Agricultural Research Institute at Acheleia; and Sapa biological treatment stations.

  Group 3: Northern and central Kissonerga, Tala, Stefani, Ayios Neophytos and part of Kamares; and part of Tala and Kamares.

  Group 4: Geroskipou, including the Athinodorou Beton area, Sedigep, the old Koloni slaughterhouse, Koloni, Acheleia and part of Ayia Marinouda; Cosmoplast, Makariou Avenue and the central square up to Cosmoplast; and the road from the old KEN army camp to the new Geroskipou primary school in the Ayioi Pente area.

  Group 6: Mandria, Timi, Anarita and the Anarita KEN army camp.

  Group 7: The area north of Ayion Anargyron Avenue towards the Universal plots.

  Group 8: The eastern Mouttalos area, part of Ellados Avenue, Athinas, Thermopylon and Fellahoglou streets, Capital Hotel and Kings Gardens; the road from the new EAC offices to the hospital roundabout, Argaki Vasilikou, Ayios Neophytos gymnasium, up to the end of Andrea Vlami Street, part of Anavargos and Mesa Chorio; Chlorakas, Lemba, Kissonerga, Emba, Archbishop Makariou Avenue in Chlorakas and part of Eleftherias Street; and the McDonald’s area, Neon Mall, the Paphos-Geroskipou-Konia light industrial area and the municipal wholesale market.

  Group 9: Part of Kouklia, Nikokleia, Souskiou, Fasoula, Mamonia, Trachypedoula, Ayios Georgios Paphos, Prastio Paphos and Kidasi.

  Group 14: Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue up to Kykkos lyceum and Nikolaou Nikolaidi Avenue up to the new court traffic lights; the Vasiliko residential area, from Sklavenitis supermarket to Papantoniou bakery and Evangelismos polyclinic; part of the Mesogi industrial area, eastern Chlorakas up to Diplarkakia, Alexandrou Ypsilanti Street and Dasoudi park; the wider old market area, the central Bank of Cyprus branch, Palia Ilektriki and Kennedy Square; and the Chlorakas area bordering Paphos, from Myrra tavern to TimeOut, the Turkish Cypriot cemetery area, Neapoleos and Akamantidos streets.

  Group 15: The Pafiako stadium area and Era supermarket.

  Group 18: Areas on both sides of Alexandrou Papagou Avenue and Kinyras Street up to the new courts, including the Tepak and technical school area; the Peyia residential area; part of Peyia, Ayios Georgios Peyias, Sea Caves and Toxeftra; and part of the Aphrodite Hills residential area.

  Larnaca and Famagusta districts

  Group 1: Southwestern Kiti, the Kiti light industrial area and Tersefanou; the Salamina stadium area, part of Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue, the Siantonas-McDonald’s area and the Debenhams area; Xylotymbou and the stadium area in Dasaki Achnas; the Kokkines area in Ayia Napa; the Fanou area and playing fields in Ayia Napa; and Sia, Kornos and Delikipos.

  Group 2: The Sklavenitis area in Larnaca; Drosia in Larnaca; and northern Oroklini.

  Group 3: Mari, Governor’s Beach, Kalavasos, Tochni, Choirokoitia, Asgata, Kato Drys, Vavla and Lageia.

  Group 4: The Kokkinos Kremmos area in Paralimni.

  Group 7: Ayia Triada, Malama, Vrysoudia and Protaras Avenue from the Eko petrol station to Laxia tavern; and southern Ormideia and Xylofagou.

  Group 8: Aradippou and the Aradippou livestock and light industrial areas.

  Group 9: The area between Meneou and Dromolaxia, from Timios Prodromos church in Dromolaxia to the airport, and the Dromolaxia livestock area; the Peletico area in Aradippou and Kalo Chorio; and Pano and Kato Lefkara and Vavatsinia.

  Group 10: The area from the Dipa apartment block to the old GSZ stadium in Larnaca, the Nikolaides arcade area and part of Ermou Street; and Paralimni, including the Paralimni-Sotira road and Melizona housing estate.

  Group 11: The Fairways, Lidl, Radisson Blu, Katharis and Novel Tower areas in Larnaca.

  Group 12: Vrysoulles; the former Larnaca refinery area; and the Pyla-Oroklini area near the motorway flyover.

  Group 15: Agricultural areas of Sotira, Liopetri and eastern Xylofagou; Sotira and eastern Frenaros; Deryneia, from the Cyta area to the hospital traffic lights and Ayias Marinas Street; and the area from the airport towards the coastal areas of Meneou and Pervolia.

  Group 16: Part of Kofinou, Anglisides, Kivisili, Alaminos and Mazotos; Pyrga; Mosfiloti and the western part of Pyrga in the Skyra Lima area; part of Zygi, Maroni and the Pentaschoinos area; part of Maroni, Psematismenos, Kalavasos and Choirokoitia; Troulloi; Avdellero; and Anglisides, Menogeia, Mazotos, part of Anafotida, Kivisili and Softades.

  Group 17: Oroklini and Pyla.

  Group 18: Paralimni refugee settlement, the Ayia Varvara area, Paralimni playing fields and the Ayios Panteleimonas area.

  Group 22: The area north of Larnaca police headquarters and Archbishop Makarios III Avenue; the Mackenzie area; the Jumbo area and northern Livadia; the Vergina area and Zenon refugee settlement; rural and eastern areas of Sotira; northern Athienou; and Paralimni, including 1 April Avenue and Paralimni first primary school

• Cyprus transport emissions above EU average as drivers lose 40 hours a year in traffic

  Transport accounted for 37.9 per cent of Cyprus’ greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, while drivers lost an average of more than 40 hours in peak-time traffic, according to a European Commission report published on Wednesday.

  The report, titled Transport and tourism in the European Union – Current trends and issues, examines recent developments in the two sectors across the EU and provides individual data for each member state.

  In Cyprus, 83.5 per cent of domestic passenger transport in 2023 was carried out by private cars, compared with an EU average of 82 per cent.

  Buses and coaches accounted for the remaining 16.5 per cent, double the EU average of 8.2 per cent.

  Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from international aviation and maritime fuels, amounted to 3.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing 37.9 per cent of Cyprus’ total emissions.

  The corresponding share across the EU stood at 31 per cent, or 1.039 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

  The report also showed that Cyprus ranked eighth among the EU’s 27 member states for the lowest number of road deaths per million inhabitants in 2023, recording 36 fatalities per million people.

  It ranked 14th for the lowest number of deaths relative to distance travelled, with 46 fatalities for every 10 billion passenger kilometres.

  Traffic congestion nevertheless remained above the European average. The average Cypriot driver lost 40.2 hours in peak-time delays during 2023, compared with an EU average of 28.6 hours.

  Regarding charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, the report said Cyprus’ power-output target under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation was 608 kilowatts.

  The island’s total available charging output, however, stood substantially higher at 15,472 kilowatts.

  In aviation, Larnaca airport was Cyprus’ busiest in 2024, handling 8.876 million passengers.

  Passenger traffic at the island’s airports totalled 12.514 million, accounting for 0.8 per cent of the EU total.

  Larnaca also handled almost all of Cyprus’ air cargo, recording 30,600 tonnes out of a national total of 30,700 tonnes.

  In maritime transport, Limassol was listed as the country’s largest port for passengers in 2024, handling 9,000 passengers, equivalent to the island’s entire recorded port passenger traffic.

  Zygi was the most important port for cargo, handling 4.212 million tonnes, or 47 per cent of Cyprus’ total port freight of 8.945 million tonnes.

  According to the Commission, the report assesses the competitiveness of the EU transport system from several perspectives, including sustainability, resilience, connectivity, safety and the social dimension of mobility.

  Transport services across the EU include approximately 1.4 million private and public companies, employing about 10.4 million people and providing goods and services to citizens and businesses.

  The Commission said transport played a critical role in supporting citizens, businesses and trade, improving quality of life, strengthening economic resilience and addressing climate and environmental challenges.

  The report brings together indicators on energy consumption, the use of alternative fuels, infrastructure development and investment, while also including individual country profiles for each member state.

  On tourism, the report said 2025 was a record year for activity across the EU, with the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation exceeding three billion.

  Spain, France, Germany and Italy together accounted for more than 60 per cent of all overnight stays.

  The EU received 582 million tourist arrivals in 2025, representing 38 per cent of worldwide arrivals, while hotel stays accounted for 62.5 per cent of the total.

  The Commission said its forthcoming sustainable tourism strategy would seek to support a competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism model that contributes to Europe’s environmental goals, strengthens local communities and improves the sector’s resilience to future challenges.

• Christodoulides: EU role in Cyprus talks now ‘substantive and leading’

  President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that the European Union’s involvement in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem was now substantive rather than symbolic, as he reiterated that progress in EU-Turkey relations must be directly linked to developments on Cyprus.

  Speaking at an event organised by Kyrenia municipalities, communities, refugee associations and organisations at the Makedonitissa Tomb, Christodoulides said the government remained committed to a settlement that would end the occupation and reunite the island.

  Referring to Kyrenia, Lapithos, Karavas and other towns and villages in the north, Christodoulides said Kyrenia had paid and continued to pay an especially heavy price following the Turkish invasion and 52 years of occupation.

  “On this day 52 years ago, the Turkish army entered the town of Kyrenia, occupied it and forcibly expelled all its indigenous Greek residents,” he said.

  He praised displaced Kyrenians for rebuilding their lives, while maintaining their connection to their towns and villages through the work of refugee municipalities, communities and associations.

  Christodoulides said Turkey continued to violate international law and the fundamental rights of the lawful residents of Cyprus, while seeking to legitimise the consequences of the invasion.

  Addressing those who argue that the government should take existing realities into account, he said “the occupation itself was the reality that must be confronted”.

  He referred to the case of Titina Loizidou, whose successful application before the European Court of Human Rights established Turkey’s responsibility for denying her access to her property in Kyrenia.

  The ruling, he said, confirmed the principle that illegality cannot create legal rights, regardless of the passage of time or Turkey’s attempts to impose its position through military force.

  Christodoulides acknowledged that the Cyprus problem would not be resolved in courtrooms but through political negotiations. However, he said its legal dimension could not be erased and the rights of citizens of an EU member state could not be surrendered.

  The government’s policy, he added, sought a settlement that would end the existing state of affairs and establish a modern, functional and European state.

  “We are not asking for anything more than what every person and every people deserves and is entitled to,” he said.

  The president said the government was working towards a viable, functional and resilient settlement that would allow all lawful residents of Cyprus to live, work and create wherever they chose in conditions of peace, security and prosperity.

  He said securing a leading role for the EU in the Cyprus negotiations had been one of his central goals even before his election, despite criticism from those who initially described it as unrealistic.

  According to Christodoulides, it had now become clear that the Cyprus problem was also a European issue and that the EU therefore had both a right and an obligation to play a decisive role.

  He cited the conclusions of the European Council in April 2024 and a joint letter sent by the presidents of the European Commission and European Council to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in March 2025.

  He also referred to the recent appointment of European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as the EU’s special representative for Cyprus.

  Christodoulides said the appointment had upgraded the EU’s involvement at a time when Guterres was pursuing a new initiative and was due to visit Cyprus between July 27 and 29.

  “The European Union is present, not formally, but in a leading role,” he said.

  He added that the government’s strategy rested on two pillars. The first concerned ensuring that any settlement was compatible with EU principles, values and law, while the second involved linking any progress in EU-Turkey relations directly to substantive developments in the Cyprus problem.

  “This is a development which is the result of the strategy we are implementing,” he said.

  Christodoulides said “the message to the Turkish government, the Turkish Cypriot leader and all interested parties was that a settlement benefiting everyone remained possible, provided there was political will”.

  Any agreement, he said, must be “compatible with Cyprus’ status as an EU member state, a status the Republic would retain after a settlement, together with all the rights and obligations that membership entails”.

  He said the state also had a duty to strengthen itself internally, warning that a country weakened at home would have fewer prospects of securing a positive outcome in negotiations on major national issues.

  Christodoulides pledged to continue working under the mandate he had received from the electorate for a settlement that would free Cyprus from occupation and reunify the country.

  “Our borders are in Kyrenia is not a slogan,” he said. “It is our objective for a settlement that will ensure the genuine reunification of the country in its territory, institutions, economy and every aspect of daily life.”

  He said it was unacceptable for hundreds of millions of EU citizens to enjoy rights across the Union while Cypriot EU citizens were denied the same rights in their own country.

  Christodoulides also paid tribute to refugees, relatives of the fallen and missing, resistance fighters and those who fought in 1974, saying their endurance continued to give strength to the government’s efforts.

  He thanked Greece and the Greek people for their continued support, making particular reference to Greek officers and soldiers who fought in Cyprus, some of whom are buried at the Makedonitissa Tomb.

  Addressing Kyrenia refugees at the close of his speech, Christodoulides said it was unthinkable to envisage a reunited Cyprus in which they could not walk, live and act freely in Kyrenia.

• Holguin meets EU Cyprus envoy Fitto and von der Leyen in Brussels

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, met the European Union’s newly appointed envoy for Cyprus and European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels on Wednesday.

  According to a source familiar with the discussions, the meetings took place in a positive atmosphere at the European Commission headquarters, with both sides expressing enthusiasm about future cooperation.

  The source said Holguin and Fitto agreed to remain in direct contact, highlighting the importance of maintaining close coordination between the United Nations and the European Commission. The discussions also underlined the value of the Commission’s channel of communication with Turkey and reaffirmed support for the efforts of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

  The source added that further developments are expected after Guterres visits Cyprus at the end of July.

  No meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa had been scheduled, as he is currently away from Brussels. It was also noted that Holguin’s meetings were not intended to take place at the level of the heads of the EU institutions.

  Following the meeting, in a post on X von der Leyen said she was “delighted” to meet Holguin and welcomed her “active engagement, alongside Antonio Guterres, to resolve the Cyprus issue within the UN framework and in line with EU principles, values and legislation.”

  She added that the European Commission “will support this effort with all the assistance and tools at our disposal,” noting that the EU’s newly appointed Special Representative for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto, “is engaging with all key stakeholders.”

  Holguin is expected to meet on Thursday with Costa’s diplomatic adviser, Anna-Maria Boura. Her full programme of meetings with EU officials before departing for Ankara on Friday has not been made public.

  On Tuesday evening, Holguin also held talks with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Following the meeting, Kallas said the European Union remains firmly committed to supporting the UN-led process aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.

• All signatures secured for Aphrodite gas sales MoU with Egypt

  All signatures have been obtained for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering the sale of all recoverable natural gas from Cyprus’ Aphrodite field to the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), NewMed Energy Management Ltd announced on Wednesday.

  In a statement filed with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and addressed to the Israel Securities Authority, NewMed said the MoU was signed on July 22 by the Aphrodite field partners, the Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company and EGAS.

  The company said the agreement covers the sale of all quantities of natural gas that can be produced from the Aphrodite field, located in Block 12 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

  It added that the parties expect to complete, in the coming weeks, the signing of the Host Government Agreement (HGA) with the Egyptian government. The agreement concerns the development of offshore infrastructure to transport natural gas from the Aphrodite field to Egypt.

  According to NewMed, the parties to the memorandum are also negotiating a binding gas sales agreement for the delivery of natural gas from Aphrodite to EGAS.

  The company said the current ownership structure of the Aphrodite field remains unchanged, with Chevron Cyprus Limited holding 35 per cent, BG Cyprus Limited 35 per cent and NewMed Energy 30 per cent.

  A landmark agreement for Egypt to purchase all of Cyprus’ Aphrodite gas output has given new momentum to Cyprus’ hydrocarbons strategy. The deal will see Egypt buy the full production of the Aphrodite field once extraction begins, under a long-term arrangement expected to run for at least 15 years. 

  As Energy Minister Michael Damianos told the Cyprus Mail, the agreement represents more than a commercial step, “it’s a milestone,” he said, adding that “It means that we will be proceeding by January, with a final investment decision in 2027 which means first gas from Aphrodite around 2031.”

• Extradition proceedings against Dutch and Belgian nationals

  Extradition proceedings are currently being heard before the Cypriot courts regarding an alleged investment fraud of approximately €18 million euros. The proceedings are against Dutch and Belgian nationals.

  At Wednesday’s extradition hearing, the defence cross-examined Prokopis Chindikos, an employee of the justice ministry, raising significant issues concerning the identification of the requested person, the appropriate forum for any prosecution and the serious health concerns of the requested person in relation to the prison conditions in Belgium.

  The defence also informed the court that it intends to call an independent Belgian expert witness to provide evidence regarding prison conditions in Belgium and their potential impact on the requested person’s health.

  The extradition proceedings are ongoing, and the defence maintains that the requested person’s rights under both Cypriot and European law must be fully protected throughout the process.

  One of the suspects, a Dutch national, who was arrested in Cyprus on July 7, pursuant to a European arrest warrant, is represented in the proceedings by Marina Lavithia and Andreas Kyprizoglou.

• Institutions committee to examine Videogate fallout next Friday

  The House institutions committee will meet in an extraordinary session next Friday, following the publication of the independent criminal investigator’s findings into the Videogate affair.

  Committee chairman and Disy MP Demetris Demetriou convened the session following investigator Andreas Paschalides’ conclusion that no criminal offences had been identified.

  In his public statement, Paschalides described some of the video’s protagonists as engaging in “bluster” intended to create publicity rather than evidence of criminal conduct.

  Alma MP Irene Charalambides said parliament should receive the investigator’s full findings, arguing the House had the authority to request the document.

  Earlier, Akel called for the findings to be made public through the institutions committee, accusing the government of attempting to escape accountability.

  “The attempt to exonerate the Christodoulides government through the investigator’s findings constitutes a crude mockery of the citizens,” parliamentary spokesman Giorgos Loukaides said.

  He argued that publication of the complete report was “a necessary condition for the exercise of effective and substantive parliamentary control” and said the party had formally requested an extraordinary committee meeting.

  Disy also called for the case to be fully examined through institutional procedures, while urging the legal service to assess the investigator’s report and determine whether criminal offences arise and whether the findings could be published without affecting any further investigation.

  The party said legal and political accountability should be treated separately, pointing to the resignation of the director of the president’s office, the resignation of the First Lady from the presidency of the Social Support Agency and the government’s proposal to abolish the fund.

  “We do not choose findings, nor do we interpret them as we please, depending on whether they concern our own people or political opponents,” Disy said.

  Alma also demanded publication of the full report, arguing that Paschalides had failed to address key questions surrounding the case, including references to the Vasiliko power station project and an earlier Audit Office report concerning the development.

  The party questioned why the project did not feature in the published findings and called on the Attorney General, George Savvides, to explain what action had been taken on the Audit Office report submitted last year.

  Meanwhile, lawyer Antonis Demetriou, who represents intelligence company Black Cube, rejected Paschalides’ suggestion that the affair formed part of a hybrid attack against Cyprus.

  He said the company had maintained from the outset that it did not work for governments or political parties and insisted the video material provided to investigators was authentic, although edited excerpts had been published online.

• Orange weather warning issued with temperatures set to reach 44 degrees

  An orange weather warning was issued for extreme high temperatures on Thursday, with the mercury set to rise to a whopping 44 degrees Celsius.

  The warning will be in force between 12pm and 5pm, with temperatures also set to reach 33 degrees in mountainous areas.

  In addition, a yellow weather warning has been issued for high temperatures between 9pm and 6am, as overnight temperatures will not drop below 28 degrees Celsius inland and 26 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas.

  With an orange weather warning set to be implemented on Thursday, the labour inspection department will likely once again order that outside work be suspended during the hours in which the warning is in force.

  Ordinarily, the department orders that “all outdoor heavy- and medium-duty work”, as well as “work involving the transport or delivery of products using two-wheeled vehicles” be halted in impacted areas.

  Impacted areas are typically defined as locations more than 10 kilometres from the coast with an altitude below 300 metres above sea level, and in all areas with an altitude above 1,150m above sea level.

  What the department describes as “light work” outside is not ordinarily banned when orange weather warnings are in force, with “light work” said to include office work, work with light tools, cleaning, and “routine driving”.

  Other forms of work, typically described by the department as “moderate work”, is also ordinarily allowed to go ahead during the height of the day’s heat, and includes fencing, concreting, bricklaying, plastering, painting, flooring, tiling, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and asphalt paving.

  Workers in areas not impacted by the orange weather warning and professions not impacted by the order are usually encouraged to “adjust their work accordingly” and rest appropriately so as “to avoid or reduce heat stress”.

  The department typically recommends that workers “organise frequent short breaks in a shady, cool, or properly airconditioned area, or in an area where the use of fans is feasible”.

  In addition, it ordinarily says that workers should “have access to cool drinking water”, “wear appropriate headgear and light, breathable clothing such as cotton, and wear appropriate sunglasses”.

• Kontides climbs to fifth at Los Angeles Grand Slam

  Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides is now fifth in the ILCA 7 standings after two Golden Fleet races at the Los Angeles Grand Slam. He qualified sixth and finished fourth in both races. Britain’s Michael Beckett leads, followed by Ireland’s Finn Lynch, Britain’s Elliot Hanson, and Australia’s Matt Wearn.

  In the ILCA 6 class, Cypriot compatriot Marilena Makri sits 16th overall after placing sixth in the first Golden Fleet race, her best result of the regatta.

  The Grand Slam ends on Friday with the medal races.

• Ben Gvir aide cancels Cyprus visit over French entry restrictions

  Hanamel Dorfman, chief of staff to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus after being warned he could face difficulties entering European countries because of an administrative measure imposed by France.

  According to a report made by Israeli newspaper Maariv on Wednesday, Dorfman had been due to travel to Cyprus around two weeks ago to participate in a rehabilitation programme for Israeli police officers involved in operations following the October 7, 2023, attacks who had experienced “traumatic events”.

  The report said Israeli security authorities coordinating the visit were informed that France had imposed an administrative measure against Dorfman that could affect his entry into European states.

  Officials were reportedly advised there was a possibility he could be refused entry and returned to Israel, prompting the decision to cancel the visit.

  Dorfman responded by criticising the French decision, describing it as “an honour” that “an anti-Semitic country like France is trying to harm me because of my close relationship with Minister Ben Gvir”.

  “This proves that I am on the right path. France will continue to protest, and I will continue to implement Minister Ben Gvir’s policy and serve Israel’s national interests,” he said.

  The reported cancellation comes weeks after Israeli media said Dorfman was expected to resign as Ben Gvir’s chief of staff to stand as a candidate for the Otzma Yehudit party in the next Knesset elections.

  Israeli civil servants are not permitted to remain in office while contesting parliamentary elections.

  Dorfman has previously attracted public attention over his political activities and associations.

  Before joining Ben Gvir’s office, he was identified with the Hilltop Youth, an extremist settler movement active in the West Bank.

  He was also filmed attending his 2013 wedding, where guests were recorded stabbing and burning photographs of Ali Dawabsheh, the Palestinian toddler who was killed alongside his parents in a 2015 arson attack carried out by Israeli extremists.

  Ben Gvir, who represented suspects in that case as a lawyer before entering politics, attended the wedding, as did activist Bentzi Gopstein.

  Separately, Israeli media have reported that investigators recently arrived at the national security ministry with an arrest warrant for Dorfman as part of an investigation into allegations that he attempted to influence investigations into Jewish extremist violence.

  Reports said Dorfman declined to be arrested, telling investigators he would instead appear voluntarily for questioning.

• Avakoum trial hears donors’ claims over chandelier and icon that never materialised

  Two witnesses told the Nicosia permanent criminal court on Wednesday that they donated thousands of euros towards a church chandelier and an icon at the Avakoum monastery, but never saw either project completed.

  The court also heard evidence from a police officer, who presented a report on public Facebook posts linked to the monastery and first defendant Nektarios Georgiou, which allegedly sought donations for various projects.

  Monks Nektarios and Porfyrios of the Avakoum monastery face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, forgery and use of forged documents, theft by an agent, unlawful possession of property, money laundering, interference with judicial proceedings and filing a false tax return. Meanwhile the two monks have launched a bakery business in Lythrodontas while awaiting trial.

  During the hearing the first witness, identified as DH, said she had been visiting the monastery for around three years. She initially donated €1,000 for a prayer service for her seriously ill brother, explaining that she neither requested nor received a receipt.

  After her brother’s death, she decided to make a memorial offering and asked what the monastery needed most. She said GX, whom she understood to be responsible for the monastery’s administration, told her that a chandelier costing around €8,000 was needed.

  The witness said it took her some time to raise the money before handing it over at the monastery in the presence of first defendant Nektarios Georgiou. She received a receipt dated August 13, 2023.

  Asked about her financial circumstances, the witness said she received a €300 pension in Cyprus and about €700 from abroad, where she had previously worked. She explained that she had been saving the money for old age and possible illness, but decided instead to use it for the offering.

  During cross-examination by defence lawyer Costas Efstathiou, she acknowledged that nobody had explained the chandelier’s specifications in detail or whether its installation was included in the quoted cost.

  She also confirmed she had never been told the chandelier had actually been ordered, only that it would be ordered, and that she had spoken to Nektarios only on the day she handed over the money.

  After the case became public in March 2024, she visited the Tamassos bishopric and asked a priest whether the chandelier existed. After being told it did not, she reported the matter to police, believing the money may have been used for another purpose.

  A second witness, identified as EH, testified that she and her husband visited the monastery, where GX asked whether they wished to sponsor an icon that would be placed in a new chapel.

  She said they chose an icon of Saint Marina costing €750 and were told their names would be permanently inscribed on it, meaning they would not need to make another offering in the future.

  The couple initially paid €100 in cash as a deposit but received no receipt because, they were told, no receipt book was available.

  During another visit in 2021, they paid a further €300, again without receiving a receipt, while the remaining €350 was paid on September 11, 2022.

  When she later asked to see the icon, she said GX appeared uncomfortable and told her it would no longer be placed in the new chapel but in another church instead. She subsequently received two receipts by post covering €650 of the payments, but not the original €100 deposit.

  The witness also described GX keeping a blue A4 notebook listing different icons and the amounts donors could contribute towards each one.

  After the allegations surrounding the monastery became public, she tried unsuccessfully to contact GX by telephone and Viber.

  “I gave €750 as an offering, but I believe that icon was never made,” she told the court.

  Under cross-examination, she said she had been told the icon would be completed once the new monastery had been built. However, during visits to Fterikoudi she had seen only a small chapel and not the new monastery she had been led to expect.

  She also confirmed that she emailed the Tamassos bishopric using an address provided for complaints before later being contacted by police to give a statement.

  The witness acknowledged that her original police statement did not mention requesting a receipt for the initial €100 payment.

  The court then heard from police officer EK, who presented a report concerning Facebook accounts belonging to the Abbot Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudi and an account under the name “Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou”.

  She told the court that on March 20, 2024, she received instructions from the financial crime investigation department to examine the accounts. She confirmed the accounts remained active and that she reviewed publicly available posts.

  According to her evidence, a number of posts sought donations for monastery projects and included bank account details, QuickPay payment information, telephone numbers and the name of GX.

  During cross-examination, the officer acknowledged that the report did not include every post she had found, only those she considered relevant to the case.

  The prosecution informed the court it had no further witnesses for Wednesday’s hearing. The trial will continue on September 7, 9, 14 and 16 at 9.30am.

• Cypriot athletes ready for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

  Cyprus will compete at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a 36-member team aiming to enhance its strong record at the major multi-sport event.

  Over 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations will participate from 23 July to 2 August. Cyprus will be represented in six sports by a team eager to win medals and showcase its talent.

  The team consists of 23 men and 13 women competing in athletics, artistic gymnastics, judo, swimming, weightlifting, and para-weightlifting.

  The delegation grew from 33 to 36 athletes after the Cyprus Olympic Committee secured three additional spots based on past performances.

  High jumper Elena Kulichenko will carry the Cypriot flag at Thursday’s opening ceremony, while para-weightlifter Maria Markou will carry the baton.

  Their selection highlights their achievements and the historic inclusion of para-athletes in the unified delegation.

  Cyprus has participated in the Commonwealth Games since 1978, missing only the 1986 edition due to a boycott.

  It has become one of the strongest smaller nations, winning 64 medals in total – 25 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze – ranking 16th in the all-time medal table.

  The first gold medal for Cyprus was earned by triple jumper Marios Hadjiandreou at the 1990 Auckland Games, and Fani Theophanous became the first female champion in 1994.

  In Birmingham 2022, Cyprus secured 11 medals, including two golds.

  This year’s delegation is led by Cyprus Olympic Committee treasurer Yiannos Fotiou, with support from Dora Kyriakou and Giorgos Panayidis.

  The mission includes 65 members, comprising athletes, coaches, medical staff, officials, and support personnel.

  Cyprus will field six swimmers, six gymnasts, eight judokas, 13 track and field athletes, two weightlifters, and one para-weightlifter.

• Appeal court rules years-long delay on child’s citizenship application was unlawful

  The administrative court of appeal has ruled that the authorities acted unlawfully by failing for years to decide on a citizenship application for the child of a Cypriot citizen, stressing that the administration has a duty to examine and respond to requests within a reasonable time, even where the final decision involves the exercise of discretion.

  In a unanimous judgment dated July 17 and made public on Wednesday, the court upheld the mother’s appeal, overturned an earlier ruling by the administrative court and declared unlawful the authorities’ failure to decide on her application.

  The case concerned an application submitted in 2016 by a Cypriot mother seeking to register her child as a Cypriot citizen under the Civil Registry Law. The court noted that, even by the time the appeal was heard, no decision had been issued on the request.

  The administrative court had dismissed the original recourse, finding that the application had not been submitted directly to the competent authority, the council of ministers, but to the Civil Registry and Migration Department. It also ruled that citizenship applications fall within the discretionary powers of the council of ministers and therefore there had been no failure to perform a legally required act.

  The court of appeal took a different view, clarifying that the case was not about whether the citizenship application should be approved, but whether the administration had fulfilled its obligation to examine the request and issue a decision.

  It found that the mother was not seeking approval of the application through the courts but simply an answer to a request concerning an executive administrative act.

  The judges said that under Article 29 of the Constitution and the General Principles of Administrative Law, public authorities are required to examine applications and decide on them within a reasonable period.

  The court placed particular emphasis on the length of the delay, noting that the mother had received no response to her application from 2016 until at least 2022, when the first-instance judgment was delivered.

  It concluded that such an extended period amounted to “an obvious failure” by the administration to fulfil its legal obligation to examine the application.

  The court also upheld the mother’s argument that, even if the application had initially been submitted to the wrong administrative body, the authorities were legally obliged to forward it to the competent authority and inform the applicant accordingly.

  Allowing the appeal, the administrative court of appeal set aside the first-instance judgment, declared the administration’s failure to respond within a reasonable time unlawful and ruled that the omitted administrative action should have been carried out. It also awarded the appellant €3,000 in legal costs.

• Cabinet approves new funds for public research organisations

  The cabinet on Wednesday approved the implementation of a new funding mechanism for publicly funded research organisations, which will be implemented in 2027.

  In remarks after the meeting, Deputy Research Minister Nicodemos Damianou said the new mechanism would be implemented to ensure that existing research infrastructure could be maintained and strengthened to evolve into structures with a long-term value.

  According to Damianou, one of the key features of the mechanism is the funding of research centres based on 18 specific performance indicators which will span over six thematic areas, including research environment, international dimension and socioeconomic impact.

  The funding will be renewed every three years, while the agencies’ performance will be assessed annually.

  Damianou said the new mechanism would include several fiscal responsibility provisions, such as an assessment of the actual financing needs of the centres, the inclusion of other institutional state funding and a funding ceiling.

  He stressed that the approval of the new mechanism laid the foundation for “a new model of institutional support for research and innovation”, aimed at enhancing competitiveness and scientific excellence whilst ensuring the effective and transparent utilisation of public funds to the benefit of society.

• Eight-day detention for two suspects in Nicosia stabbing case

  A 38-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were remanded in custody for eight days on Wednesday in connection with the stabbing of a 30-year-old man in Nicosia.

  The detention orders were issued by the Nicosia district court to facilitate police investigations into the attack, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday.

  The victim was found in an area of Nicosia at around 4am with an abdominal wound following an assault.

  He was taken to Nicosia general hospital, where he remains under treatment. Doctors have said his condition is no longer life-threatening.

  The 38-year-old is being investigated in connection with the attack, while the 34-year-old woman faces allegations of aiding and abetting a felony.

  Both were arrested under court warrants and appeared before the Nicosia district court on Wednesday.

• Man arrested for offering ‘sensitive information’ to Israeli embassy in Nicosia

  A man has been arrested in Lebanon after having reportedly offered “sensitive security information” to the Israeli embassy in Nicosia, according to reports on Wednesday.

  Lebanese news website Lebanon Debate reported that the man, named as “Michel B”, appeared in military court after having allegedly sent a message to the embassy, claiming to hold sensitive information.

  The website said the man is an “American of Lebanese origin” who “worked in military intelligence” in the United States’ army, before retiring to Lebanon in 2001, living in both Zahle, a town in the centre of the country, east of Beirut, and Qoubaiyat, in the country’s far north, near the Syrian border.

  According to the reports, the Lebanese authorities were informed about his contact with the embassy in Nicosia in April.

  He was subsequently arrested, and his mobile phone was analysed, with the Lebanese police reportedly finding that he had sent a text message to a number belonging to the Israeli embassy in Nicosia on October 30 last year.

  In that message, he reportedly identified himself as an American citizen and said that he had previously sent the embassy “sensitive security information” via email.

  However, he has, according to the reports, offered a different reason behind why he sent the message.

  The website reported that he told the court that his aim was not to provide the Israeli embassy with security information, but to “entice” them into helping him contact the US embassy in Nicosia.

  He had intended to contact the US embassy after “receiving no response from them to his request for assistance in returning to the United States with his wife”.

  According to the reports, he had wished to leave Lebanon after receiving death threats and accusations that he was an “American Zionist”.

  In his efforts to leave the country, he had reportedly previously attempted to contact the US embassy in Beirut, but to no avail.

  He reportedly told the court that he had received “12 threatening calls from Lebanese numbers” after the death of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in 2024, prompting him to begin looking for ways to return to the US.

  During questioning in court, he said that the reason he had attempted to contact the Israeli embassy was to “exert pressure so as to reach the Americans” after “direct contacts” with the US embassies in both Beirut and Nicosia “had failed”.

  He also reportedly denied any “sympathy for or connection with” the State of Israel, and told the court, “I hate the Zionist Jews on religious grounds for killing Jesus Christ, and on national grounds for destroying the south and Lebanon”.

  “I call them the cancer of the east,” he reportedly told the court.

  After being arrested, he remained in custody for 35 days, before being released on a bail of £L70 million (€685). He will next appear in court in September.

• Disy appoints Rita Superman as shadow refugee minister

  Disy president Annita Demetriou announced on Wednesday the appointment of their former MP for Kyrenia, Rita Superman, as head of the party’s refugee policy portfolio.

  Demetriou said Superman’s unparalleled experience, knowledge and involvement in refugee issues made her suitable for the role, remarking upon her previous participation in the House refugee committee during the last parliamentary term.

  She thanked Superman for her contribution to the party’s recent electoral result, though Superman herself lost her seat to acting president of Paeek football club, Demos Georgiades.

  Demetriou referred to the 52 years since the Turkish invasion in 1974, saying displaced people and those who lost property were entitled to state support through policies addressing their needs.

  She said “substantive proposals and interventions” were needed to strengthen refugee policy and address problems faced by refugees until a solution to the Cyprus issue is reached.

  Superman thanked Demetriou for the confidence placed in her and said she would work to promote issues affecting the refugee community.

  “The injustices are many,” she said, adding that displaced people continue to seek greater support from the state.

  The appointment follows Disy’s efforts to assign party officials to specific policy portfolios, in effect forming a shadow cabinet, with the party having also submitted a proposal for the creation of a fund addressing loss of use of properties in areas outside the government’s control in the occupied north.

• Cyprus will not hand Palestinian suspect to Israel, says Indonesian minister

  The government has assured Indonesia that Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad will not be handed over to Israel, Indonesia’s immigration minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday.

  According to news outlet Voice of Indonesia, Yusril made the statement after the Cypriot ambassador to Indonesia, Nikos Panayiotou, was summoned following public concern over Miqdad’s transfer from Indonesia to Cyprus last Friday.

  “I am asking the Cypriot government to commit to not doing so. He has given a pledge that they do not intend to hand the person in question over to Israel,” Yusril said at the presidential palace complex in Jakarta.

  Miqdad was transferred to Cyprus following an Interpol red notice issued through the Republic, with communications between Cypriot and Indonesian police reportedly ongoing since May 21.

  Yusril said countries acting on Interpol requests were bound by Interpol rules and that an individual transferred under such procedures could not be sent to a third country.

  He also rejected reports describing Miqdad as a Palestinian scientist and humanitarian activist in Gaza, insisting he was “but an ordinary man” aged 41.

  According to Yusril, Miqdad had lived in Indonesia for three years, while Indonesian authorities had not identified any humanitarian activities he had carried out in Gaza during that period.

  He said Indonesia proceeded with the transfer because it does not have an extradition treaty with Cyprus and the case was being handled under the Interpol process.

  Yusril did not disclose details of the alleged offences, saying prosecution matters fell under the authority of Cypriot authorities.

  However, he said the case concerned suspected transnational organised crime.

  “This is an individual case of suspected crimes committed in another country. It has no relation whatsoever to supporting or not supporting Palestinian independence,” he said.

  The transfer has drawn attention after the Geneva Council for Rights and Liberties, a non-governmental organisation, urged Cyprus not to extradite Miqdad without a full judicial review.

  The organisation said Miqdad was arrested in Indonesia on an Interpol notice issued through Cyprus before being transferred the following day. It said documents it had reviewed did not provide details of the allegations, supporting evidence or a clear description of the suspected offences.

  The group said an Interpol red notice “does not exempt states from their obligations under international human rights law” and expressed concern that the transfer could precede an extradition request from Israel.

  The transfer comes as police continue investigating an ongoing terrorism case in Larnaca involving allegations of planned attacks against Israeli interests in Cyprus.

  Four suspects have been arrested in the case, with investigations remaining ongoing.

• Limassol municipality shifts audit findings to previous administrations

  Limassol municipality said on Wednesday that it was examining all issues raised in the Audit Office’s report, while stressing that most findings relate to the period before the current municipal authority took office.

  In a statement issued following the publication of the report, the municipality said it respected the work of the office and viewed its recommendations as “a tool for improving its operation and for further strengthening transparency, accountability and good administration”.

  The municipality however stressed the majority of findings concern the period between 2017 and 2024, adding that “all issues will be examined thoroughly so that the necessary corrective measures can be taken and compliance with the recommendations of the Audit Office can be ensured”.

  Regarding the placement of workers in permanent and pensionable positions, the municipality said these posts had been approved by the competent ministry.

  It added that there had been full compliance regarding the renaming of positions and the granting of personal scales.

  On service contracts, the municipality said the practice identified by the Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou had been discontinued, while regarding personal benefits for staff it stated that these were “guaranteed through the collective agreements which the municipality must implement”.

  The municipality also referred to overtime work, saying it recognised the need for action and that measures outlined in its previous correspondence with the Audit Office were being initiated.

  It added that clarifications had already been provided for most observations and that its responses were included in the report.

  “We remain at the disposal of the Audit Office and will utilise its suggestions to improve the operation of the municipality,” the statement concluded.

Github

• New Copilot usage metrics impact dashboard

  We’ve released a new Copilot metrics impact dashboard for enterprise administrators and organization owners. This dashboard helps you tell a deeper Copilot impact story by sharing not just who is active, but how they’re using Copilot. The dashboard builds on the AI adoption phase cohorts in the Copilot usage metrics API, turning the per-phase data into a visual view of adoption depth, impact, and the next steps that move developers into deeper-adoption cohorts.

  What’s new

  The dashboard groups your engaged users by AI adoption phase and surfaces the metrics that matter for each cohort:

  • Adoption cohorts: Per-cohort cards for Phase 1 (Code-first), Phase 2 (Agent-first), and Phase 3 (Multi-agent or Copilot app), plus a Passive (licensed but not engaged) segment. Each card shows average pull requests merged per user per month, median pull request merge velocity, users in the phase, share of overall users per phase, and average lines of code per day per user.
  • Adoption multiplier: A comparative bottom-line-up-front throughput and speed comparison between your passive cohort and the average of your engaged Copilot users.
  • Trends: Charts that show cohort growth and pull request throughput over six months.
  • Recommended next steps: Guidance an admin can act on to move more users into deeper-adoption cohorts.

  Why this matters

  • Tell the maturity story: Move beyond simple active-user counts and see which Copilot capabilities your developers are actually adopting.
  • Target enablement: Spot licensed-but-not-engaged users and get clear, actionable next steps to deepen adoption.

  Important notes

  • The dashboard is available to enterprise administrators and organization owners who have access to Copilot usage metrics.
  • Cohort assignments use the same ai_adoption_phase classification as the Copilot usage metrics API, based on Copilot product usage over a rolling 28-day window.

  Join the discussion within GitHub Community.

  The post New Copilot usage metrics impact dashboard appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Upcoming GHES change impacting uploading support bundles

  We want to give you advance notice of an upcoming security change that may affect GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES) support bundle uploads.

  Beginning August 18, 2026, GitHub will start rejecting command-line support bundle uploads from older GHES appliances that have not been updated with the required security patches.

  To avoid any disruption when submitting support bundles with ghe-support-bundle, ghe-cluster-support-bundle, or ghe-support-upload commands, please update your GHES instance to the latest patch release available for your current version line. At minimum, the required patch versions are:

  • 3.21.3
  • 3.20.5
  • 3.19.9
  • 3.18.12
  • 3.17.18

  If your instance is running a GHES version that is no longer supported, we strongly recommend upgrading to a supported version as soon as possible.

  If you’re unable to update to the required patch version before August 18, 2026, and need to upload a support bundle, please contact GitHub Support so we can help you with next steps.

  The post Upcoming GHES change impacting uploading support bundles appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Twigg - Open Source Version Control written in go

  Hi everyone!

  We've been working for a while on a new version control and software forge written in go, and recently decided to open source it!

  I've learned a lot since i started and the code saddly still has some legacy implementations that used a bad style (like returning intefaces); so don't judge me too much on that bc I now know they're bad and am deprecating them :)

  You can self host, but we also offer a hosted instance with free/paid plans

  Come check it out and let me know what you think!

  https://github.com/twigg-vc/monorepo

  submitted by /u/Fair-Presentation322
  [link] [comments]
• Why is CGO so bad?

  I often see people criticizing CGO (and for good reasons), mainly because it bypasses many of the safety guarantees and tooling that Go provides.

  There are also issues involving the interaction between Go's scheduler and C code, as well as complications with callbacks. From what I understand, there can even be scheduling-related problems when interfacing Rust and Go through the C ABI.

  However, I couldn't find any in-depth explanation from the Go team itself about why CGO is considered so problematic. More specifically, I'd like to understand why it's seen as so dangerous and what the actual sources of overhead are that make CGO calls around 30% slower (if I remember that number correctly).

  This is mostly a personal curiosity. I'd like to better understand how CGO works internally, why it's considered risky, and where its performance costs come from. I'm even curious why, in some cases, it can be slower than calling WebAssembly.

  submitted by /u/TearsInTokio
  [link] [comments]
• Looking for c++, GO lang developers and quantum traders.

  Hello everyone,

  ​i am looking for quantum traders, go lang developers, c++ devs for my quantum trading group. with aim to become and firm in the future we are looking for determined people to join us. Me and another guy will invest all we need is potential and dedicated people to join us and help us with it. Anyone intrested please dm me.

  ​Thank you.

  submitted by /u/Curious-Daikon9885
  [link] [comments]
• [ANN] form v1.9.0 - new multipart package, limits hardening, typed errors, math/big and image/color support, field name mapping, encoder and decoder reset

  form v1.9 — worth the upgrade from v1.5.x / v1.7.x

  If your project pins an older github.com/ajg/form — v1.5.1 and the v1.7.x line are the versions most often seen in the wild, usually pulled in indirectly — v1.9 is a low-risk bump that folds in several years of hardening, new capabilities, and correctness fixes. The public API and the urlencoded wire format are unchanged, and every addition is opt-in or strictly additive, so upgrading is meant to be a drop-in go get -u (Go 1.17+). Nothing you rely on today changes shape; you just get more, and safer.

  What you gain moving up from v1.5.x or v1.7.x:

  • Resource-exhaustion hardening. Bounded slice growth and nesting depth by default, a fix for stack overflow on self-referential input, and an explicit MaxSize / MaxDepth / MaxBytes triad to bound untrusted input.
  • Typed errors. form.Error now carries a Kind (syntax, parse, unknown-key, index, limit, unsupported, cycle, IO), inspectable via errors.As / Unwrap — no more string-matching to tell error classes apart.
  • A form/multipart subpackage. Decode multipart/form-data (including file fields) straight into structs, following form's normal rules.
  • **image/color hex decoding.** The fixed-channel color types decode from #rrggbb and friends — exactly what <input type=color> submits — with byte-faithful, opt-in hex encoding.
  • Field-name mapping (KeysWith). Map struct field names to snake_case (or anything) at every level, without touching tags.
  • **Reset for reuse.** Decoder.Reset / Encoder.Reset swap the stream while keeping config, so instances pool cleanly.
  • math/big support, tested and documented.

  v1.9 also fixes two bugs latent since at least v1.7: repeated-key implicit indexing silently corrupting slices, and MaxBytes(math.MaxInt64) reading empty instead of unbounded. A determinism fix makes conflicting scalar/composite key paths (a=1&a.b=2) resolve the same way every time, and the library is now fuzz-tested and input-contract hardened.

  Full notes: https://github.com/ajg/form/releases/tag/v1.9.0

  submitted by /u/analphabetic
  [link] [comments]
• [Announcement] Shirei v0.6 adds iOS/Android support for cross-platform GUI development

  submitted by /u/hasen-judi [link] [comments]

• is chi still relevant after the improvements of the official mux?

  .

  submitted by /u/HosMercury
  [link] [comments]
• static embeddings in pure go

  Static embeddings are very simple embeddings where each words or phrase maps to a fixed vector. The benefit of this approach is they are extremely resource efficient, fast, and don't require GPUs. Embedding quality is lower than transformer models but often still acceptable. I've created a go library that supports the potion family of models from model2vec. By building the tokenizer from scratch just to target static embedding models it is significantly faster than the original python and rust libraries at non-batch encoding and can encode 20k-40k vectors per second dependent on the model. Would love to hear any feedback! Disclosure: I heavily used Fable in generating the tokenizers, to mitigate this the test suite validates embeddings are within tolerance of the reference implementation. submitted by /u/trengr [link] [comments]