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Wednesday, August 19, 2026

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• Decisions expected next week over Kalo Chorio firing range blaze

  Decisions over possible disciplinary action in connection with last month’s fire sparked by the destruction of munitions at the Kalo Chorio firing range are expected next week, defence ministry sources told the Cyprus Mail on Tuesday.

  Meanwhile, the findings of two separate investigations into the fire on July 27, an internal National Guard inquiry conducted by Brigadier Savvas Stefanou and a separate criminal investigation by Cyprus police are nearing completion.

  The police investigation has been completed and the case file has already been forwarded to the Legal Service, which will examine whether there is evidence of criminal liability.

  The National Guard inquiry, meanwhile, is examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, whether the required safety measures and procedures were followed and where responsibility may lie.

  After receiving the National Guard’s disciplinary investigation report into the incident Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said that those found responsible for the wildfire “will be held accountable in accordance with the law”.

  According to sources, if the findings point to conduct falling within the scope of criminal law, the matter would proceed through the criminal justice system.

  “What will be examined is whether the measures were followed,” the sources said.

  The distinction between the two investigations is significant, they added. While the National Guard inquiry is intended to establish possible disciplinary responsibility within the military, any suspected criminal offence would be dealt with through the police investigation and, ultimately, the courts.

  Once the findings of the military inquiry are formally considered, decisions on any disciplinary measures will be taken by National Guard chief Lieutenant General Emmanouel Theodorou. Decisions are expected next week.

  Questions have meanwhile been raised in media reports over the internal investigation and whether an officer holding the rank of brigadier can effectively investigate the actions or decisions of officers senior to him, including the National Guard chief.

  Defence ministry sources rejected suggestions that the rank of the investigating officer prevents the inquiry from examining the involvement of senior officers.

  They explained that everything relevant arising during an investigation must be recorded. If evidence concerning a more senior officer emerges, this too is included as part of the findings and is subject to examination.

  The issue has returned to the spotlight as the authorities await the Legal Service’s assessment of the police investigation and questions continue over responsibility for the fire.

  Communities affected by the wildfire have renewed calls for the facility to be relocated. The defence ministry also pledged to cover all damage caused by the wildfire.

  The fire broke out on July 27 during the destruction of munitions at the Kalo Chorio firing range. It spread rapidly in the dry conditions, burning around 120 hectares and prompting the evacuation of nearby Ayia Anna and Psevdas.

  The exercise involved US military personnel alongside members of the National Guard’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.

  During the joint training activity, warheads from RPG anti-tank rounds were destroyed through controlled explosions.

  The defence ministry has previously said that the activity was carried out by the 70th Engineer Battalion. Questions subsequently centred on why explosive ordnance disposal was taking place during the summer fire-risk period, particularly given restrictions on heavy explosions at firing ranges between May and September.

  Should the Legal Service determine that there is sufficient evidence of a criminal offence, any prosecution would proceed through the courts, with any criminal penalty ultimately determined by a judge.

  The National Guard, meanwhile, is expected to decide separately whether disciplinary breaches occurred and what action should follow.

• Cyprus and Italy conduct joint military exercise off Limassol coast

  The National Guard on Monday conducted the joint military exercise with the Italian Navy off the southern coast of Limassol.

  During the exercise, designated PASSEX, the navy practiced procedures for the identification and of suspicious vessels, as well as a joint boarding exercise.

• Smart traffic lights to be installed in Nicosia and Limassol

  The transport ministry announced on Tuesday it has launched a tender for the procurement of ‘smart’ traffic lights to be installed at locations across Nicosia and Limassol, for a project worth an estimated €41.9 million.

  The project is fully financed by Cyprus.

  The system in question will use above-ground detectors at 15 traffic light junctions in Nicosia and Limassol.

  According to the ministry, work is scheduled to begin in early October, with a projected delivery timetable of three months.

  “The project aims to optimise the functioning of traffic lights via vehicle detection in real time and via dynamic adaptation of signaling times, helping ease traffic jams and reduce total travel time at the controlled junctions and the corresponding roads,” the ministry said.

  The tender is called ‘Supply, Installation and Operation of Vehicle-Actuated Signal (VA) Systems at Signal-Controlled Junctions in Nicosia and Limassol’. The deadline for submission of tenders is September 18.

  An actuated signal is a traffic light that uses sensors, cameras, or push buttons to detect vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians. Instead of running on a fixed timer, it changes or extends green lights based on real-time traffic demand, reducing wait times on empty roads.

  Regarding the above-ground detectors, these will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty of at least 24 months.

  The system aims to implement ‘adaptive mode’ control of traffic lights.

• Violators of proposed AI laws could face fines of €35 million

  A legal framework governing the implementation and supervision of EU regulations concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is currently under public consultation, with the proposal as it stands stipulating hefty fines as high as €35 million in some cases.

  Two bills have been drafted for compliance with EU Regulation 2024/1689 which lays down harmonised rules on AI.

  Taking the lead is the Office of the Commissioner for Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (Ocecpr).

  The public consultation on the bills will remain open until September 16, on the e-consultation platform. There, organisations and individuals alike can provide feedback.

  The Ocecpr is designated as the regulator for all matters AI. It is also designated as the notifying authority and as the single point of contact for implementation of the EU Regulation in Cyprus.

  The proposed legislation also envisions the creation of an AI Regulatory Sandbox – a controlled environment where startups and researchers can test innovative AI applications in real-world conditions.

  For high-risk AI systems, Ocecpr will liaise with other authorities responsible for their respective sectors. High-risk AI systems are defined as applications that pose significant threats to people’s health, safety, fundamental rights or economic wellbeing.

  For example, the market supervisor will be the Personal Data Protection Commissioner.

  The Central Bank of Cyprus is designated as the supervising authority for high-risk AI systems used by financial institutions.

  In its capacity as the Notifying Authority, Ocecpr will be responsible for evaluation, notification and compliance. It will be able to assign evaluations and monitoring to the Organisation for the Promotion of Quality.

  Interested organisations will file an application along with a description of their proposed activities and AI systems to be deployed. The Organisation for the Promotion of Quality will provide accreditation.

  In exercising its functions, Ocecpr may request technical, financial or any other information from any individual or company. The information will be deemed confidential.

  Authorised officials would be able to gain entry into business premises – private homes are exempt – and carry out inspections and gather information about potential violations. They would also have the authority to summon witnesses and interested parties for verbal or written statements.

  Obstructing an official during the exercise of their duties will be a criminal offence. If found guilty, a person is liable to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to €10,000, or both.

  Administrative sanctions include a written warning, a recommendation to cease the violation, and withdrawal and recall of an AI system from the market.

  For minor offences, authorities may impose a fine of up to €30,000, and then €60,000 for repeat offences.

  For serious offences, regarding proscribed AI practices, fines on companies can go as high as €35 million or up to seven per cent of global turnover for the previous financial year, whichever number is greater.

  Violations by providers, authorised dealers, importers and distributors of AI systems can carry fines of up to €15 million or up to three per cent of global turnover.

  Under the proposed legislation, any person or legal entity may file a complaint about a suspected violation. In addition, anyone who considers that they have suffered damage from a decision by the authorities may take recourse at the administrative court.

  Cyprus recently unveiled its National AI Strategy 2032, setting out an ambitious long-term roadmap intended to transform public administration, strengthen economic competitiveness and position the country as a trusted regional hub for artificial intelligence.

  The document places Cyprus’ ambitions against a rapidly expanding global market, citing international forecasts that expect AI to grow from a market worth $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033, while highlighting expectations that AI and automation will reshape businesses across almost every sector during the coming decade.

  Earlier this week, economists at the European Central Bank said in an analysis that heady valuations in AI stocks are primed for a sharp market correction, warning that Europe may face a financial crisis if the AI bubble bursts.

• 82-year-old dies after traffic accident

  An 82-year-old woman died of injuries sustained in a traffic accident earlier this month in Limassol on Tuesday.

  She had been hospitalised after being injured in a traffic accident on Xirokambou street in Limassol on August 4 in which a 79-year-old driver crashed into a metal railing and an adjacent property.

  The 82-year-old had been travelling in the car as a passenger, along with an 84-year-old passenger.

  All three were taken to a private hospital in Limassol where the 82-year-old was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition while the other two were kept in the orthopaedic and surgical departments for further treatment.

• Patients warned against relying on AI for medical diagnoses

  Patients should exercise caution when using artificial intelligence to diagnose symptoms or make decisions about treatment, the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (Osak) warned on Tuesday, as doctors also begin examining how AI should be incorporated into medical practice.

  Osak president Miltos Miltiadous told the Cyprus News Agency that while AI can be useful, patients should not rely on it when deciding whether to take medication or how to manage a medical condition.

  Asked whether Osak had received complaints relating to patients’ use of AI, Miltiadous said no such cases had been reported.

  However, he acknowledged that patients frequently turn to AI or the internet more generally when seeking information about symptoms or health concerns.

  The most reliable source of guidance remains a patient’s personal doctor, Miltiadous said, particularly when assessing symptoms and determining what steps should be taken.

  Under Gesy, he added, patients also have the option of seeking a second medical opinion if they are not satisfied with the advice they initially receive.

  Technology itself should not be viewed with fear, he added. Instead, attention should focus on how it can be used properly and without causing harm.

  The issue is also increasingly occupying the medical community, with the Pancyprian Medical Association recently addressing the use of AI by doctors as part of medical practice.

  Its president Petros Agathangelou confirmed that discussions have begun within the profession, although he stressed that they remain at an early stage.

  The debate centres on how AI can be incorporated into medical practice as an assisting tool, rather than as a replacement for doctors’ clinical judgement, as well as on the need to ensure healthcare professionals are properly trained to use the technology.

  “Technology is useful, but education is needed for its proper use,” Agathangelou told CNA.

  The aim, he added, should not be for doctors to turn to artificial intelligence simply to obtain quick answers, but rather to use it as a tool that can help provide a more complete picture of the case they are handling.

• Egyptian man drowns after diving into water for phone

  A 27-year-old Egyptian man who died during a boat trip off Lady’s Mile beach on August 15 drowned after reportedly diving into the sea to retrieve his mobile phone, while a second man was rescued during the same incident, Bases authorities said on Tuesday.

  The Sovereign Base Areas confirmed the death, saying a post-mortem examination carried out on Monday established drowning as the cause.

  “We are saddened to confirm the tragic death of an Egyptian national at Lady’s Mile Beach on August 15,” the SBA said.

  “Our thoughts are with the family at this extremely difficult time. SBA police are investigating the circumstances of the death.”

  According to Philenews, the 27-year-old was aboard a catamaran with around 15 other people who were taking part in an organised event while the vessel was cruising in the Lady’s Mile area.

  An eyewitness told the news outlet that at some point the man’s mobile phone fell into the sea and he dived into the water in an attempt to retrieve it.

  Shortly afterwards, he was reportedly spotted floating unconscious on the surface.

  People aboard the catamaran pulled him from the water and attempted to provide first aid, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

  A second person, reported to be a Jordanian national, also found himself in difficulty during the incident. He was given immediate first aid and regained consciousness, according to the same report.

  SBA police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 27-year-old’s death.

  “No further information” could be released at this stage, the SBA said.

  This is the latest amongst a number of seaside incidents over the weekend, which saw a mother lose her life to drowning off the CTO beach in Larnaca in front of her three children and husband. Her two daughters remain in hospital.

  In a separate incident on Saturday afternoon two people were injured when the inflatable ‘sofa’ they were riding was hit by a jet ski driven by a 17-year-old in Protaras. A man and his seven year old daughter were injured and hospitalised as a result of the accident.

  Lifeguard federation chairman Polys Pallikaros said that closing lifeguard towers at 6pm during the summer months was “criminal”. The mother drowned at around 6.20pm, shortly after the end of the lifeguard shift.

• UK updates Cyprus travel advice over surrogacy procedures in north

  The UK’s foreign office has updated travel advice for British nationals visiting Cyprus, following a BBC report that at least 30 children have been conceived through IVF using the wrong sperm or egg donors at clinics in the north.

  The BBC reported that most of the affected children are British nationals, and that in each case, the parents suspect they did not get the donors they selected.

  The foreign office said that “the British high commission in Cyprus cannot get involved in surrogacy arrangements.”

  “The laws on surrogacy differ between the areas under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus and the north of Cyprus,” it pointed out.

  “Surrogacy is strictly limited to cases where a woman is medically unable to carry a pregnancy. In all cases, court approval is required before any treatment begins. No form of financial compensation for the surrogate is allowed. Prospective parents and clinics may face criminal charges if they proceed without the appropriate approvals in place,” it added.

  According to the travel advice, “pursuing surrogacy in the north carries risks as clinics are not regulated and there is no legal framework governing arrangements.”

  “Legal transfer of parenthood can be complex as the birth mother is given automatic parental responsibility. Obtaining birth certificates can also be complicated and may take a long time.”

  It added that “the British High Commission’s ability to provide any assistance in the north of Cyprus is limited.”

  Before entering into any surrogacy arrangements, British nationals are advised to “read FCDO and Home Office guidance on surrogacy overseas, fully research hospitals and clinics to ensure they are safe and reputable, and seek specialist legal advice both in the UK and in Cyprus”.

  “Children born through surrogacy are not automatically entitled to British nationality. To bring your child born through surrogacy from Cyprus to the UK, you must apply for a full British passport for the child before you travel. The application process can take a significant amount of time, and even longer if supporting documentation has been issued in the north of Cyprus, due to the UK’s non-recognition of the authorities there. The maximum period you may be allowed to stay in Cyprus without a visa is 90 days,” the foreign office explained.

  It added that “fertility treatment in the north of Cyprus carries risks as clinics are not regulated in the same way as in the UK.”

  “Make sure you conduct thorough research beforehand. Further information on fertility treatment abroad is available on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website.”

  Furthermore, the foreign office said “the authorities in the north of Cyprus do not act on British court orders.”

  “They will not share information with the British High Commission on children subject to UK court orders. This means the British High Commission cannot ensure that these children are properly safeguarded.”

  Concluding its travel advice, the foreign office reminded British nationals to “avoid taking photographs near sensitive areas, such as military buildings. If you do, the authorities could arrest you.”

• Relations with France ‘at highest level ever’, palace says

  Relations between Cyprus and France are at their “highest level ever”, the presidential palace said on Tuesday.

  “A historic relationship has now been upgraded to a strategic partnership, with specific policies and tangible results. The multifaceted and multilevel cooperation between the two countries is constantly evolving, with particular emphasis on defence and security, energy, connectivity, education and culture,” it said.

  It added that “at the same time, Cyprus and France share a common approach to Europe’s role in the world and the need to strengthen its strategic autonomy”.

  “The longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries has been proven in practice, to the benefit of Cyprus and France, the European Union, and the wider region,” it said.

  The strategic partnership between Cyprus and France was signed by Presidents Nikos Christodoulides and Emmanuel Macron in December last year, with Macron at the time describing it as an “important step” and thanking Christodoulides for “the trust you place in our country”.

  He added that the agreement “underscores the strength of our bilateral relations and our commitment to being even more present alongside you in the eastern Mediterranean”.

  Christodoulides, meanwhile, said the signing of the agreement “marks a highly significant chapter” in relations between Cyprus and France.

  With the agreement, he said, “we declare our determination to elevate our bilateral cooperation to a new level”, through “a structured and results-oriented mechanism”.

  “It is, in essence, a clear political statement and a tangible expression of the strategic nature of our partnership, setting out a shared vision and concrete priorities for the years ahead,” he added.

  Following this, Macron visited Cyprus alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis days after the island was hit by an Iranian-made drone in March, before also deploying the aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle, among other naval vessels, to the island’s vicinity.

  He said during that visit that “when Cyprus was attacked, all of Europe was attacked”, and that “the presence of all three of us side by side today indicates the strength of these partnerships, their robustness, and that your compatriots can really believe in them”.

  A month later, he visited the island again and declared that “France loves Cyprus, and our role is to be by your side in practice during difficult tensions”

  France’s military presence on the island was bolstered in June when it signed a status of forces agreement allowing it to station troops on the island, with Christodoulides having said of that agreement that it would “strengthen humanitarian military cooperation and joint action at a regional level”.

  Those French forces, he said, will be present on the island “for humanitarian purposes”.

• Greek Cypriot refugees increasingly turn to IPC for compensation

  A further 40 Greek Cypriot property owners applied to the north’s Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in the past month, bringing the total number of applications filed to 8,755, figures released on Tuesday showed.

  The latest figures come as the House prepares to resume work on proposals to compensate owners who have been deprived of their properties since 1974.

  At the same time, the IPC had completed the examination of 3,592 applications this year as of last Friday, up from 3,288 a month earlier.

  The commission was established in 2005 following rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and was later recognised by the court as a domestic remedy for property claims.

  Total compensation awarded to Greek Cypriot owners through the IPC has reached £662.9 million, or about €775.9 million.

  The rise in applications comes as the Republic itself considers financial support for refugees.

  Disy submitted a bill in July last year to establish a national fund for the loss of use.

  The proposal remains before the House refugee committee, with Disy expected to expedite examination when parliament resumes in September.

  The proposed fund would be financed through several sources, including a 0.4 per cent levy on property transactions, state grants, donations and income from assets.

  It would be overseen by a committee chaired by the finance ministry’s permanent secretary.

  The government is separately preparing a financial support scheme through the Agency for Equal Distribution of Burdens.

  The scheme would also draw on the 0.4 per cent property levy, which raises about €20 million annually.

  The finance ministry has told MPs that owners who have applied to the IPC would not qualify for assistance under the proposed scheme.

  The level of available funding remains unclear as to whether payments would provide meaningful compensation for the loss of use.

• Heavy rains hit Cyprus for second day in a row

  Heavy rains swept the mountains and other areas of Cyprus on Tuesday afternoon after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning, in place until 6pm, for thunderstorms.

  Police said heavy rainfall in Spilia, Kannavia and Kakopetria was affecting local roads, with reduced visibility reported for drivers.

  Social medias in Lythrodontas and Athienou also reported heavy rains.

  Police urged motorists to drive carefully at a low speed, keep a safe distance from other vehicles and use their headlights.

  Rainfall during the strongest storms could exceed 35 millimetres per hour in some areas.

  Temperatures are expected to reach around 34C in Nicosia, 30C in Limassol and Paphos and 32C in Larnaca.

  Temperatures in Troodos are expected to reach about 25C.

  The weather is expected to become mainly clear by tonight, though further rain and thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow afternoon.

  The rain follows a similar picture on Monday afternoon when areas of Nicosia were quickly flooded and rivers temporarily started to flow.

• Interconnector navtex to be issued ‘as soon as possible’

  A navtex will be issued “as soon as possible” to inform ships between Cyprus and Crete that seabed surveys are going ahead before the laying of cables for the Great Sea Interconnector, reports said on Tuesday.

  Newspaper Phileleftheros wrote that President Nikos Christodoulides, French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have discussed the matter in recent days and agreed that a navtex should be issued at the earliest possible juncture.

  This, it reported, will be once the interconnector’s majority shareholder, French asset management firm Meridiam, and French cable manufacturer Nexans come to an agreement regarding “the crucial decisions for the operational part of their next actions”.

  It stated that these “crucial decisions” entail deciding which companies will undertake the seabed surveys and then laying out a timetable for those surveys to be conducted.

  Greece’s independent transmission system operator Admie, which owned the interconnector project until Meridiam purchased a majority stake in it earlier this month, was quoted as having said that around 60 per cent of the seabed surveys have been completed.

  The remaining 40 per cent of the impacted seabed, it said, is located in disputed waters which are claimed by both Greece and Turkey.

  These conflicting claims have impeded attempts to carry out seabed surveys between Cyprus and Greece before, with Turkish naval vessels being deployed in 2024 after the Italian research vessel the Ievoli Reulme strayed into what Turkey believes to be its own waters.

  Naval vessels escorted the research ship away from Turkey, but not before Greece, too, dispatched a number of its own naval vessels to the area.

  In response, the European Commission said that it “continues to expect Turkey to unequivocally commit to and promote good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes”.

  The dispute about the ownership of the waters stems from the question of whether islands generate their own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or not.

  Greece and Cyprus, citing the United Nations convention on the law of the sea (Unclos), state that they do, while Turkey, which is not a signatory to Unclos, states they do not.

  As such, according to Turkey’s position, beyond the 12 nautical miles of territorial waters to which Turkey believes both islands are entitled, the sea between Cyprus and Crete is Turkish.

  By contrast, the position held by Greece and by the Republic of Cyprus is that, given that islands generate a full EEZ, the EEZs of Greece and Cyprus border one another south of Kastellorizo, Greece’s easternmost inhabited island.

• Turkey making regional ‘comeback’

  Turkey is making a regional “comeback” and has gained an enhanced role through the recently signed Mecca Agreement, international affairs expert Constantinos Filis said on Tuesday, warning that Ankara is increasingly confident of its position in the region and towards Greece and Cyprus.

  Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, professor at the American College of Greece and director of the Institute of Global Affairs, Filis said Turkey was also deeply troubled by cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel and would like to disrupt it.

  Asked about the mutual defence agreement recently signed in Mecca by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Filis described it as the first attempt by states in the Middle East to join forces within the new regional security environment taking shape.

  Turkey’s participation, he said, gives Ankara an increased regional role and, in turn, “even greater confidence regarding its position in the region and towards Greece and Cyprus”.

  Filis also pointed to Turkey’s efforts to rebuild its relationship with Egypt, noting that only a few years ago Ankara had found itself largely marginalised in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime agreement as its main regional foothold.

  “Today, Turkey has restored its relationship with Egypt to a significant degree,” he said.

  At the same time, Syria, which under Bashar al-Assad had been hostile towards Ankara, has moved closer to Turkey, while Ankara is also seeking closer relations with Lebanon.

  Filis noted that Lebanon signed an agreement with Cyprus on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones several months ago, although the domestic situation in Lebanon remains unstable.

  “Therefore, Turkey is making a comeback in the region,” he said.

  According to Filis, the principal obstacles to Turkey pursuing its revisionist regional agenda are Greece and Cyprus, followed to a lesser extent by Israel.

  “Turkey sees cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel which deeply troubles it and which it would like, in some way, to break apart. It has not managed to do so,” he said.

  Meanwhile speaking to the Cyprus Mail about the Mecca joint defence agreement, area studies analyst and research fellow at the Institute of International Relations (IDIS) in Athens Ilya Roubanis said its significance for Cyprus lies less in the prospect of a new military alliance and more in what it reveals about an increasingly polarised region.

  Asked how these regional developments could affect efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, Filis described Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations as “communicating vessels”, with developments in one inevitably affecting the other.

  “If relations between Greece and Turkey are calm, which they cannot [consistently] be because of Turkish revisionism, but during periods when they are calm, this can have a positive effect on the Cyprus problem,” he said.

  “When Greece-Turkey relations are going through a bad period, this negatively affects the Cyprus problem.”

  The relationship also works in the opposite direction, he added. A genuine prospect for a Cyprus settlement could have a positive effect on Greek-Turkish relations, while the absence of such a prospect either has no impact or worsens relations between Athens and Ankara.

• Hotel unions condemn ‘slave market’ of temporary agency workers

  Hotel unions warned on Tuesday of further action over the alleged use of third country workers through labour agencies, saying the practice is undermining labour protections across the industry.

  Both Sek and Peo have called on the labour ministry to intervene after raising concerns over workers, across all sectors of the hotel industry, being supplied to hotels through temporary employment companies and other intermediaries.

  The issue is due to be raised with the labour minister following a meeting with the labour department earlier this month and a letter sent to the labour relations department.

  SEK secretary-general Michalis Frangou said some hotels were obtaining workers from agencies that had recruited third country nationals for other sectors, creating what he described as “two-speed employees”.

  He said hotels have been turning to agencies when they urgently needed staff, paying the intermediary rather than employing workers directly under the sector’s established terms.

  He described the situation as a “slave market”.

  PEO hotel workers’ secretary-general Neophytos Timinis said the practice was not confined to isolated cases and was has been reported in hotels previously, particularly Ayia Napa and Paphos.

  “These employees are paid by the hour, without any application of the collective agreement and without benefits,” Timinis said.

  He called for more inspections and said the unions would consider further measures in September if authorities failed to address the issue.

  The unions have asked the ministry to carry out targeted inspections of both companies supplying workers and the hotels using their services, as well as to impose sanctions where violations are found.

  Frangou acknowledged that hotels face staff shortages but said this did not justify bypassing established employment procedures.

  The unions have further raised concerns over similar practices in construction and catering.

  Police have warned that vulnerable foreign workers could face exploitation and trafficking risks in the industry.

  Foreign nationals account for almost 40 per cent of Cyprus’s hospitality workforce.

  The labour ministry says around 8,000 inspections are carried out each year and that anonymous complaints can be made concerning exploitation, illegal employment and breaches of employment conditions.

• Rizoelia fire put out before spreading

  A fire in Aradippou, Larnaca, on Tuesday morning burned a small area of wild vegetation along the highway near Rizoelia roundabout.

  The fire started at 11.27am and was put out by 11.50 following the “immediate intervention of forest firefighting forces”, the forestry department said.

  Two forestry department fire engines with six firefighters responded, along with one fire brigade fire engine with four firefighters.

  Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

• Remand after drugs found hidden in house

  A 33-year-old who was arrested on Monday in connection with the possession of drugs was taken before Nicosia district court on Tuesday, which ordered he remain in custody for eight days pending police investigations.

  The man was arrested when the police searched his residence and found a total of 2kg of cannabis, as well as 266g of cocaine, hidden around the house.

  Police investigations are ongoing.

• Monk remanded in custody over alleged attempted murder

  A 51-year-old monk accused of attempted murder at the Ayios Neophytos monastery in the Paphos district village of Tala will remain in custody until October 7 after the Paphos district court ruled on Tuesday that there was a risk he could flee before his case is heard.

  The man is accused of attacking a 53-year-old monastery employee with a paper cutter during a dispute over a cell key on August 7.

  The court cited the seriousness of the charges for the remand intended to rule out a risk of absconding.

  His lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, had opposed continued detention, arguing that the likelihood of a conviction was “almost non-existent”.

  Alexandrou further argued that the monk had no reason or motive to attempt to leave the country.

  The case stems from an alleged confrontation at the monastery on August 7 over the use of a cell.

  According to evidence presented before the court, the monk had been occupying two rooms for several years, one of which had previously been used by his late father.

  The monastery said the monk had refused for around four years to surrender the cell despite repeated requests.

  It said the abbot had shown “patience and understanding” before asking him yet again to hand over the space on the morning of the alleged attack.

  The investigating officer relayed to the court that the abbot asked the monk to hand over the key after inspecting the cell.

  The monk allegedly refused and a struggle ensued when the abbot attempted to take it from his hand.

  The 53-year-old employee, who had been asked to attend as a technician in case the lock needed to be changed, intervened to separate the two men.

  The police allege that the monk then attacked him, stabbing his neck and right hand.

  A 27-year-old novice monk subsequently restrained the accused from behind. Police allege that the 51-year-old then used a paper cutter to injure the novice’s right hand.

  The police have taken five statements so far and are expected to obtain further statements from monks and other people working at the monastery.

  The monastery said it is cooperating fully with the police and would not comment further while the investigation continues.

  The accused has reportedly admitted during questioning that he reacted as he wanted to empty the cell himself, although his lawyer said the defence did not accept the allegations made against him.

• Drug seizures reach over 400kg as police make new arrests

  The police have seized 323 kilograms of cannabis and hash as well as 81kg of cocaine since the beginning of the year.

  Compared to last year, the amount of cocaine seized has more than doubled, while the cannabis haul is substantially lower.

  Figures published for January to August of last year showed the police had seized some 613kg of cannabis and 39.5kg of cocaine.

  The police have previously said the increase in drug seizures has been accompanied by intensified operations.

  Most recently in Nicosia, officers searched the home of a 33-year-old man and found over 2kg of cannabis as well as over 250g of cocaine hidden in the property.

  In Limassol, meanwhile, the police stopped a 21-year-old man whose car had no registration plate and found four packages containing 46 grams of cannabis and about 3.5g of cocaine.

  Officers also seized €1,850 in cash, precision scales and disposable gloves within the vehicle.

  A further case in Larnaca concerns the seizure of 342g of cannabis and hash as well as 5g of cocaine.

  A 20-year-old man was arrested yesterday in connection with the case, while another man, aged 22, had already been detained.

  Five further arrests involving suspected drug possession were made in Ayia Napa and Paphos.

• Cyprus has fewest young teachers in EU

  Only three per cent of teachers in Cyprus are under 30 years of age, a figure which constitutes the joint-lowest proportion in the European Union, alongside Portugal, according to a European Commission report. 

  The figure is well below the EU average of 8 per cent, with Malta recording the highest share of teachers under 30, at 17 per cent, followed by Belgium and Luxembourg at around 15 per cent and Ireland at 13 per cent.

  Cyprus is also the only EU member state identified in the report as having a surplus of teachers. 

  The profession remains attractive to those already working in it, for some 73 per cent of Cypriot teachers said they were satisfied with their salary in 2024, compared with 37.3 per cent across the EU.  

  Overall, 93 per cent said of teachers in Cyprus they were satisfied with their job, compared with 90 per cent across the bloc. 

  In secondary education, the average age of teachers was 46 years old in 2024, compared with 45 across member states of the organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD).  

  However, only four per cent of secondary school teachers are under 30, while 33 per cent were aged 50 or over. 

  The figures come as Cyprus prepares for the final stage of its teacher evaluation reform.

  Until August next year, vacancies will be divided between the old appointment list and the newer system introduced in 2015.  

  From next September, first appointment vacancies will be filled exclusively through the new list. 

  The European Commission has urged greater efforts to attract and retain younger teachers through better working conditions and support for those entering the profession. 

• Hunters urged to put safety first as summer season opens Sunday

  Hunters have been urged to exercise particular caution and strictly observe hunting regulations ahead of the opening of the summer hunting season on Sunday.

  The Cyprus hunting and wildlife conservation federation said on Tuesday that safety must be the “absolute priority” during hunting outings, particularly as high temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires persist across the island.

  Before firing, it said, hunters must be certain of their target and aware of what is behind and around it. They were also reminded to maintain the required safe distances and respect fellow hunters, landowners, private property and others using the countryside.

  The federation also stressed that hunting of turtle doves and quail will not be permitted during the first two outings of the summer season, on Sunday and then on August 30.

  Hunting of both species will begin on September 2, while hunting of wood pigeons will be permitted from this Sunday. 

  “For this reason, hunters are urged to exercise particular caution in correctly identifying game before every shot,” the federation said.

  Hunters were also reminded that recording their catch through the Artemis Cy mobile application is mandatory for all game and during all hunting seasons.

  For turtle doves, quail and wood pigeons in particular, each bird hunted must be recorded separately and immediately.

  According to the federation, the data collected provides an important tool to aid the sustainable management of game species and to document hunting activity, making accurate and timely reporting essential.

  With high temperatures expected to continue, hunters were advised to carry sufficient quantities of water, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and not overestimate their physical abilities.

  Particular attention, it said, should also be paid to hunting dogs, which should be given adequate rest, protection from the heat and sufficient water.

  The federation also warned of the heightened wildfire risk during the summer period, calling for “maximum caution” and reminding hunters that lighting fires outside designated areas is prohibited.

  Hunters renewing their hunting licences were encouraged to select the hunting association of their choice during the renewal process.

  The federation said selecting an association carries no additional cost and helps strengthen organised hunting groups and their work at local level in support of hunting, wildlife and the Cypriot countryside.

Github

• Enterprise managed settings in GitHub Copilot for JetBrains

  GitHub Copilot for JetBrains now supports enterprise managed settings for plugin governance, MCP server access, OpenTelemetry, and permission modes. Administrators can now apply consistent controls for everyone on your enterprise’s Copilot plan.

  Enterprise-managed plugin governance

  Administrators can manage Copilot plugins and their marketplaces in JetBrains IDEs. The supported settings provide three controls:

  • Enabled plugins: Use enabledPlugins to require a plugin to be enabled or disabled.
  • Additional marketplaces: Use extraKnownMarketplaces to make approved plugin sources available.
  • Restricted marketplaces: Use strictKnownMarketplaces to limit installation to approved sources.

  MCP server allowlist

  Administrators can use allowedMcpServers and deniedMcpServers to centrally control which MCP servers developers can connect to from GitHub Copilot for JetBrains. This brings centrally managed MCP governance into JetBrains IDEs and prevents connections to servers outside the enterprise allowlist.

  Managed OpenTelemetry

  Administrators can centrally configure OpenTelemetry for Copilot in JetBrains IDEs, including the collector endpoint, protocol, service name, resource attributes, and content-capture policy. Managed values take precedence over developer settings, so telemetry is consistently routed to the approved collector.

  Developers can review the applied configuration under Settings > Tools > GitHub Copilot > Chat > OpenTelemetry.

  Organization-controlled permission modes

  Administrators can set permissions.disableBypassPermissionsMode to disable to prevent the Copilot agent in JetBrains from using Bypass Approvals or Autopilot.

  Try it out

  Try the latest version of the GitHub Copilot plugin for JetBrains and share your feedback. For more details on enterprise managed settings, see enterprise managed settings reference.

  Share your feedback

  Your feedback drives improvements. We’d love to hear about your experience in the following channels:

  • In-product feedback: Use the feedback options within your JetBrains IDE.
  • Feedback repository: Share your experience in the Copilot IntelliJ feedback repository.
  • GitHub Community: Join the discussion in GitHub Community.

  The post Enterprise managed settings in GitHub Copilot for JetBrains appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

• Credential revocation and deauthorization by token type

  Building on our self-service credential revocation experiences for incident response, you can now take token-type and user-specific actions to deauthorize and revoke user credentials during a security incident. This gives you finer-grained control when responding to a compromise.

  Previously, credential kill-switch actions applied to all of a user’s credentials at once. Now, enterprise owners, organization admins, and members with the Manage enterprise credentials permission can revoke all tokens of a specific credential type (e.g., Personal access tokens, SSH keys, OAuth app tokens, or GitHub App user access tokens) so you can contain the blast radius of a compromise without revoking credentials that remain trusted.

  What’s new

  • Token-type-specific bulk deauthorization: Revoke all SSO authorizations for a specific credential type across your enterprise or for a specific user from the UI or the enterprise REST APIs, rather than all types at once.
  • Token-type specific bulk revocation: Delete or revoke all user-level credentials of a specific type. For example, delete all personal access tokens for an individual EMU user without touching their SSH keys.
  • Organization-level parity, in the UI and API: All bulk credential-revocation actions previously available at the enterprise level are now also available at the organization level through both the web UI and the organization REST APIs, enabling incident response for organizations.
  • Auditing and visibility: All deauthorization and revocation actions are captured in the audit log, with notifications to affected users via email.

  To learn more, see our documentation around revoking your credentials and how to respond to security incidents in your enterprise.

  The post Credential revocation and deauthorization by token type appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Reddit

r/golang

• Remote Taskfiles are now generally available!

  REMOTE TASKFILES ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE!! After 3 years being an experimental feature, this is now enabled by default. You can now run and import Taskfile from a remote location, like a remote Git repository. submitted by /u/andrey-nering [link] [comments]

• Is there an expression form to "upcast" a value of concrete type to an interface type?

  I am noodling on my own hobby programming language similar to Go in some respects. One aspect my language shares with Go is that there is no subtyping but types are assignable to interface types.

  Now I'm trying to work out the syntax for that assignability. In Go, I know you can assign a concrete type to an interface type using a variable declaration:

  type Concrete struct { n int64 } type Abstract interface{} func main() { var x Abstract = Concrete{1} // <-- } 

  This works, but requires you to write a statement and be in a position where you can do so. Is there a corresponding expression form that accomplishes the same thing? As far as I can tell, the answer is no. Type assertions are only used for "casting" the other way, from an interface to a concrete type.

  (In Go, arguments will be converted to the expected parameter in calls as well. That won't work well in my language since my language has overloading and that would heavily complicate overload resolution.)

  submitted by /u/munificent
  [link] [comments]
• a more robust proposal process · golang go · Discussion #80580

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

• Spinifex: Open Source, air-gapped, local AWS deployments (looking for feedback)

  Been working on a project called Spinifex, which recreates core AWS services such as EC2, EKS, and S3, but completely locally (and even air-gapped if needed).
  It's open-source, written in Go, and we'd love some early stage feedback on our weekly updates, open to notes and critiques

  GitHub: https://github.com/mulgadc/spinifex

  submitted by /u/LegitimateWolf6611
  [link] [comments]