The meeting between the UN Secretary-General and President Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar aimed at restarting negotiations for the Cyprus issue. The Secretary-General showed no interest in Confidence-Building Measures but focused instead on the need for continuity in the negotiation process. Christodoulides expressed satisfaction with the Secretary-General's commitment and the possibility of resuming discussions from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017. Following the elections in the occupied areas, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy will visit Cyprus to prepare for the multilateral conference. This visit will include stops in the capitals of the three guarantor powers.
A tripartite meeting is currently taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Participants include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. The meeting is expected to last about 40 minutes. Christodoulides and Tatar arrived with their delegations shortly after 7:00 PM. The President is accompanied by Cyprus's permanent representative to the UN and the negotiator.
The four suspects arrested for a large drug haul are set to appear before the Limassol District Court tomorrow. The drugs were hidden in inflatable toys within a shipping container that arrived from abroad. The total amounts included 97 kilograms of cannabis and 5 kilograms of cocaine. The suspects, two Greeks and two Bulgarians, range in age from 22 to 61 years. The Anti-Narcotics Unit continues its investigations, and more arrests may occur.
President Trump announced the deployment of troops in Portland to protect against domestic terrorists. He authorized the use of force if necessary and emphasized the rise in crime as a reason for military action. This decision follows similar actions in other cities, targeting areas with Democratic leadership. The Democratic opposition warns of a potential dictatorship. Trump defends his decisions, stating he is protecting the states.
The Central Committee of AKEL decided to exempt two members from the term limit to participate in the 2026 elections. This decision aims to maintain the political core of the party in the parliament. AKEL seeks to strengthen its electoral power and defend the interests of workers and the middle class. Local assemblies and electoral conferences will be held to compile the candidate lists. The party encourages society to actively participate in the process.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (ΥΚΑΝ) arrested two Greeks and two Bulgarians for 102 kilograms of drugs found in a container at the Limassol port. The operation monitored the container for several days. Justice Minister Marios Charitsiotis expressed satisfaction with the success of ΥΚΑΝ and emphasized the continuation of operations against drug trafficking networks. This year, nearly 800 kilograms of cannabis have been seized, a record number. ΥΚΑΝ's efforts are yielding results through targeted operations.
The Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a significant operation against drug trafficking in Limassol and Paphos, leading to the arrest of four individuals. A total of 97 kilograms of cannabis and 5 kilograms of cocaine were seized, marking one of the largest confiscations in recent years. The operation followed months of monitoring a specific shipping container. Authorities continue to investigate the case thoroughly. This success demonstrates the agency's commitment to combating drug-related offenses.
Christoforos Theofanous, the youngest long-distance swimmer in Greece, will swim 28 kilometers in 10 hours to send a message of hope to parents and premature children. The choice of distance and time is linked to his own story, as he was born at 28 weeks. The event will take place at the Olympic Swimming Pool in Nicosia, aiming to raise public awareness. The President of the Baby Miracles Association, Elena Megalemos Triantafyllidis, emphasized the need for support for premature babies and their families. The goal is to provide inspiration and support to all premature children.
The Egyptian government submitted a note to the UN, rejecting Libya's claims over maritime zones that overlap with Greek areas south of Crete. This move expresses Egypt's opposition to the Turkey-Libya memorandum and supports Greece's position. Despite Turkey's efforts to restore relations with Egypt, the latter remains firm in its stance. The note emphasizes that Libya's claims violate Egypt's sovereignty. Egypt does not recognize Libya's unilateral declarations regarding its maritime borders.
The General Secretary of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, called on the leftist community for a counteroffensive in light of the upcoming parliamentary elections. He stated that AKEL will finalize its candidate list by mid-November, two months earlier than in 2021. He emphasized the party's consistent positions on the Cyprus issue and expressed concerns over Cyprus's energy sufficiency. Criticism was directed at the government for its policies. The upcoming elections are seen as particularly significant for shaping the political landscape in Cyprus.
Elon Musk reportedly scheduled a visit to Jeffrey Epstein's island in 2014, six years after Epstein's first conviction. Documents released by Congress indicate that Musk was set to be at the island on December 6. Speculations about Musk's connection to Epstein have sparked controversies, particularly online. Musk claimed that the government is delaying the release of records due to Trump's mention of them. His relationship with Epstein remains unclear, although Musk stated that he once visited Epstein's house in New York.
Donald Trump informed Ukrainian President Zelensky that he is considering lifting restrictions on strikes within Russian territory using American weapons. Zelensky requested additional Tomahawk missiles to enable deeper attacks into Russia. Trump did not commit to this but mentioned he would consider it. Zelensky also suggested the need for an extra weapon system to pressure Russia into peace talks. The situation is evolving as the two leaders discuss their strategies.
A 25-year-old woman is in critical condition and hospitalized in Nicosia after a serious traffic accident on the Paphos - Limassol highway. The incident occurred when she exited her car, which had been involved in a previous collision. A 25-year-old driver struck her while trying to avoid the immobilized vehicle. Her condition is serious as she suffered a head injury and fractures. The driver who hit her has been detained following positive results from a drug test.
Stefanos Stefánou from AKEL announced the start of the pre-election campaign, criticizing the government and DISY. The goal is to strengthen the perception of AKEL as the only clear voice of the opposition. The issue of electricity and the potential responsibilities of the Anastasiades government and the current one were highlighted. The Secretary General of AKEL expressed his intention to seek an investigation into corruption cases. The current government is facing increasing pressure and communication difficulties.
Antonio Guterres' meeting with Nicos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar in the US focuses on maintaining the process of informal meetings regarding Cyprus. Attention is primarily directed towards Ankara and the elections in the occupied territories, which are considered crucial for future developments. There is anticipation about the level of Ankara's intervention in the electoral process. Discussions continue with low-level political topics, and the next meeting is scheduled for after the elections. The future of the Cyprus issue remains uncertain until then.
The District Autonomous Organizations are facing significant delays in processing building and town planning permit applications, with 37,976 pending cases. Despite improvements in processing rates, the high volume of outstanding applications remains concerning. The Interior Minister noted that the Local Government reform has posed challenges, but efforts are underway to enhance the situation. There is an increase in the number of applications being reviewed, along with a decrease in older pending cases. However, the accumulation of new applications after 01.07.24 continues to be an issue.
There is a flood risk in the mountainous areas of Limassol due to the fires in July. State agencies are taking urgent measures, including flood protection works and identifying dangerous spots. The construction of sediment retention systems is scheduled to begin. Special attention is given to the management of the Kourris dam, which can protect the area from flood flows. Preventive procedures are activated in case of heavy rainfall warnings.
The Ministry of Education is implementing changes in the evaluation of teachers after discussions with educational organizations. Certain points will be modified, but the overall philosophy of the new plan will not change. School principals will continue to participate in the evaluation process, with some adjustments. The weight of the principal's evaluation will decrease from 30% to 20%. These changes aim to improve the evaluation process without increasing costs.
A citizen describes the difficult situation he faced with his elderly father in the hospital. After the father needed rehabilitation, the health system denied coverage for necessary services. The hospital director pressured him to transfer his father immediately to free up the bed, threatening with charges. The health ministry's program does not offer sufficient support, and available facilities are too expensive. The citizen reached out to the Cyprus Patient Association for assistance.
The hiring process of 20 diplomats is being heavily disputed through legal actions by candidates who were excluded from the list. Criticisms focus on the evaluation of written and oral exams. Candidates with high scores in the written exams were excluded while others with lower scores advanced to the top of the list. The case is expected to have judicial follow-ups as the appeals will be reviewed in October. Allegations include violations in the selection process and injustices.