🔊 Bill on Mobile Phones in Prisons: Strict Punishments for Inmates and Guards
The Ministry of Justice of Cyprus has initiated a bill aimed at banning the import and use of mobile phones in prisons, following the discovery of a link between mobile phones and crimes committed by inmates.

The bill criminalizes the possession and use of phones by both inmates and prison staff, with penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of 5,000 euros for civilians, and up to three years in prison or fines of 10,000 euros for staff.

Additional measures are also provided, including the revocation of good behavior privileges for offenders.
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🔊 The Nicosia municipality announced asphalt paving along the Green Line
The Nicosia municipality announced the start of road paving works along the Green Line, scheduled for the end of August and completion in early October.

Work will be carried out on Rigeni, Arsinou, Fokionos streets, and others.

The contract was signed by the mayor of Nicosia and contractors; the project is co-financed by the Territorial Regeneration Program. Exact work dates will be announced later.
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🔊 Vandals destroyed young trees in Larnaca
The Larnaca municipality expressed regret and outrage over vandalism that damaged young trees in the green zone near the Virgin Gymnasium.

Unknown individuals destroyed part of the recently planted vegetation, undermining efforts to green the city.

Authorities called on citizens to respect public spaces and participate in environmental protection.
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🔊 Orthodox shrine destroyed in the northern part of Kyrenia.
▪️Shocking reports have come from the Kyrenia area, controlled by the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). According to SigmaLive citing an eyewitness, the Church of Saint Phanourios was subjected to serious vandalism.

🤔 What happened:

😱 An eyewitness who visited the church found a scene of complete destruction and disrespect in the cave beneath the church.

🏛️ This cave has historical significance: according to legend, Saint Phanourios buried his horse there before leaving Cyprus.

🧩 Broken icons, graffiti-covered walls, and clear signs of illegal activities (including drug use and littering) were found on site.

😢 The condition of the shrine makes it impossible to preserve the memory of the saint and respect for this important religious and historical site for Cypriots.

💔 Reaction and context:

😡 The incident caused great pain among believers and outrage within the Greek Cypriot community. These actions are seen not just as vandalism but as a deep insult to a shrine that has been a symbol of faith and cultural identity for centuries.

⚖️ The author of the appeal emphasizes the contrast: in the part of the island controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, Muslim religious sites are protected by the state. Meanwhile, many Christian shrines in the north remain neglected and vulnerable to such acts of destruction, becoming places for antisocial behavior.

📸 Provided photos confirm the severity of the damage.

🌍 Significance and call:

🚨 This situation is seen as a disturbing signal beyond Cyprus. It touches on the problem of destruction of cultural and religious heritage amid a prolonged political conflict.

📢 The eyewitness calls on public organizations, media, and international institutions to pay attention to what happened and help restore justice and preserve heritage.
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🔊 Inspection in the Polemidia ghetto: agricultural lands turned into a dump
The mayor of Polemidia and the director of the Turkish-Cypriot Property Service conducted an inspection of agricultural lands that have been transformed into a ghetto for foreigners.

They witnessed a horrifying situation where the area was littered with garbage and abandoned cars.

The mayor noted that at least fifty foreigners live in this area, and the garbage is only a small part of the problem.

Measures to evict Greek Cypriots illegally renting land to Turkish Cypriots, as well as a plan to clean up the area, will be discussed at the upcoming meeting.
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👮‍♀️ Tourists Renting Cars Don’t Pay Fines. How to Deal with It?
The Cyprus traffic police are raising concerns: the number of unpaid fines involving rental cars is growing, and it’s becoming a serious issue.

What’s the Problem?
1. Unknown Drivers:
Traffic cameras capture violations and license plate numbers, but when the vehicle is a rental, it’s often impossible to identify who was actually driving due to lack of information.
2. Cars with “Z” Plates:
Most of the issues are linked to vehicles whose license plates start with the letter “Z” (indicating rental cars). Thousands of fines are issued to such vehicles, but only a small portion are paid.
3. Tourists Leave the Country:
Most offenders are tourists. They may receive a fine (if the notification even reaches them), but usually leave the country before the notice gets to them or the rental company.
4. Rental Data Is Often Ineffective:
Rental companies sometimes provide information about the offender and their hotel, but this rarely helps:
• The tourist may have left the hotel before the notice arrives.
• The reservation may be under a different name.
• It’s difficult to find someone at a hotel, and if they’ve left — it’s impossible.

Attempts to Solve the Problem
• Past Failures:
A few years ago, the authorities tried to reach agreements with rental agencies to provide more detailed renter data, but the results were short-lived. As more traffic cameras are installed, the problem has returned more severely.
• New Measures from the Police:
The police have turned to the Ministry of Interior with a proposal to change the law:
• Require rental companies to provide complete renter information — not just name and hotel, but also contact details and ID/passport information.
• Impose fines on rental companies that fail to comply.

How Do Other Countries Handle This?

Other countries have found effective ways to make renters pay:
1. Security Deposit:
Renters must leave a significant deposit on their credit card. If a fine arrives, the amount is deducted from the deposit. No deposit — no rental.
2. Mandatory Accurate Data:
Rental agencies require full, verifiable information (passport, driver’s license, address). This allows fines to be sent to the offender’s home country, even after they’ve left. In many countries, such fines can be paid online from abroad.

Additional Complexity: Cars with Northern Cyprus Plates

There are also issues with vehicles registered in Northern Cyprus. Authorities don’t have addresses to send fine notices for these cars, resulting in thousands of unpaid fines. The police are compiling lists of such license plates to check at border crossings along the island’s division line.

⸻

Conclusion:

The main reason fines go unpaid is the lack of effective mechanisms to quickly and accurately identify rental drivers and enforce fines before they leave the country. Cypriot authorities aim to shift part of the responsibility to rental companies by requiring them to collect and pass on accurate client data — or face fines themselves. Other countries have shown that systems involving security deposits and verified renter info are far more effective.
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🔊 Nicosia police conducted a raid and seized 18 electric scooters for violating the law
On August 7, Nicosia police conducted a raid in the city center, during which 18 electric scooters were seized for non-compliance with the "Personal Mobility Devices Act".

The vehicles were sent for examination to assess their technical condition and compliance with Cypriot standards.
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🔊 Appeal rejected: Cypriot convicted of violence against granddaughter with no right to mitigation
A 66-year-old resident of Cyprus was finally convicted of sexual violence against his 11-year-old granddaughter. He was found guilty of 17 episodes that occurred between December 2020 and July 2021. The court took into account the sincere testimony of the girl, despite her young age, noting that she described details that would be difficult to fabricate.

The defense tried to challenge the verdict, claiming there was no physical evidence of violence and that another relative might be responsible. However, the court rejected these arguments, citing the law that allows charges to be based solely on the child's testimony.

The appellate court confirmed the first-instance decision, finding no grounds for change. Thus, the convicted lost the opportunity to review the case, and the sentence came into force.
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🔊 Mass brawl in Limassol: 50 participants, seven arrested, batons found on detainees
On the evening of August 8, 2025, a large-scale fight involving about 50 people occurred in the Zakaki area of Limassol.

Police officers promptly arrived at the scene and detained seven participants for serious public order violations.

Two of the arrested were found with wooden batons.

All detainees, of Arab origin, will be prosecuted in Limassol, where a criminal case will be initiated against them.
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🔊 Bus drivers' strike in Larnaca continues for the 10th day
Bus drivers in Larnaca have been on strike for the tenth day.

Today they will hold a general meeting to discuss a new proposal following a meeting with the Minister of Labor. The drivers demand the restoration of the one-hour break and overtime pay.

The ministry's proposal includes important clarifications about work schedules and breaks. The workers want a 38-hour workweek as stated in the collective agreement.
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🔊 Shooting in Oroklini: car of a 25-year-old woman damaged
An incident involving gunfire occurred in Oroklini, resulting in damage to the car of a 25-year-old woman.

Today at around 4:00 AM, she reported to the police that she heard a loud noise, likely caused by gunshots.

Police officers who arrived at the scene found signs of shooting on her parked car.

During the inspection, five intact bullets and five shell casings were found. The investigation is being conducted by the Larnaca Crime Investigation Department.
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🌪️ Tornado on the Makarese beach in Lazio caused panic among vacationers
On the Makarese beach in Lazio, a sudden tornado lifted umbrellas and caused panic among vacationers.

Fortunately, there are no casualties, but the unstable weather in central Italy is causing serious concern.
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🔊 Race against time across borders: Israeli doctors saved two lives thanks to organs from Cyprus
In a unique example of international medical cooperation, Israeli transplant specialists, with active support from Cypriot authorities, successfully performed a rare simultaneous heart and lung transplant for two patients from Israel.

How the events unfolded:

1. Urgent signal: On Saturday, August 2, the head of Israel's National Transplant Center received an emergency message from colleagues in Cyprus about the availability of suitable donor heart and lungs.
2. Starting the "clock": Israel immediately activated a special emergency organ transport protocol. A critical factor was that the heart can remain viable outside the body for no more than 4 hours.
3. Operation in Cyprus: Organ extraction was completed at a hospital in Cyprus around 10:30 a.m.
4. Lightning-fast delivery: Cypriot police ensured ultra-fast transportation: the vital organs were flown by helicopter to Larnaca International Airport, then by special flight to Israel.
5. Final stretch: By 12:00 the same day, the donor heart and lungs were already in the operating room of an Israeli hospital, ready for transplantation.

Who was helped:

• The heart was transplanted to a 34-year-old woman suffering from acute heart failure.
• The lungs were given to a 68-year-old patient with severe lung disease.

Condition of the patients:
Both women are under observation in the thoracic intensive care unit (Beilinson Hospital, Israel) and are recovering after complex surgeries.

Significance of cooperation:
The Israeli side emphasizes the unprecedented level of coordination between the two countries. The success of this dramatic operation was made possible thanks to:
• Instant agreements and approvals at the highest government level.
• Clear and coordinated actions of all involved services both in Cyprus and Israel.
• A shared goal – to use the unique chance to save two human lives despite tight deadlines and geographical distances.

This case demonstrates how rapid and effective cooperation can save lives, overcoming borders and time constraints.
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🔊 The historic center of Nicosia will be transformed: construction of a €29 million high-rise quarter begins
The capital of Cyprus is preparing for a major renewal: right in the heart of the city, inside the famous Venetian walls, a project to build a modern high-rise complex has been given the green light.

Key facts about the "Athinaion Nicosia" project:

• Initiators: The project is being carried out by Tofarco Ltd on behalf of Tivoli Property Ltd.
• Name: The complex is named "Athinaion Nicosia" – a tribute to the popular 1980s cinema that was previously located on this site.
• Location: The corner of Andreas Dimitriou Street and Evagorou Avenue (near the Ministry of Finance and GSP Park). The plot has commercial zone status, allowing high-rise construction.
• Architecture: Two separate towers standing on a common podium floor:
– Western tower (80+ m, 19 floors): Office and retail spaces.
– Eastern tower (53 m, 12 floors): 41 residential apartments, commercial premises, a fitness club, and a 100-meter pool for residents.
• Infrastructure:
– Six shops on the first level.
– Underground parking for 188 cars (including 10 special spots) + 34 bicycle parking spaces.
– Modern "green" solutions: solar panels will cover up to 25% of the complex's energy consumption.
• Area: Total construction area – 10,260 sq. m.
• Timeline and jobs: Construction will take about 2 years after final permits are obtained, creating 330 jobs. The complex will be home to 50 residents.

Historical context of the site:
The land for construction has a rich history. Until 1991, the iconic "Athinaion" cinema, beloved by locals, operated here. After its closure, the building was transferred to the state, demolished in 2003, and the plot was returned to the owners only in 2015, having been used as a temporary parking lot until now.

Environmental assessment:
The project received a positive conclusion from the Cyprus environmental service. Specialists (from forestry, geological departments, and water resources management) found no:
• Significant negative impact on the environment.
• Presence of geological heritage sites or particularly vulnerable ecozones nearby.
• The nearest water body – the Pedios River bed – is 300 meters away.
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🚗 Crazy record on the road: a 23-year-old speedster was driving at 235 km/h!
A shocking incident occurred last night on the Nicosia-Larnaca highway. Around 1:30 AM, the traffic police stopped a car that was speeding at an incredible 235 km/h!

Numbers that make your blood run cold:
• Allowed limit: 100 km/h
• Speed of the offender: 235 km/h
• Excess: 135 km/h (more than double!)

The "record" holder:
• The driver was a 23-year-old woman.
• Breathalyzer: The first test showed 0.39‰ (with the limit being 0.22‰). However, a second, more accurate test recorded exactly 0.22‰. This borderline value did not allow her to be charged with drunk driving.

Consequences:
• The woman was arrested on the spot solely for the monstrous speeding.

• Now she faces court, where her future and the penalty will be decided.

This is a new anti-record for Cyprus!
• The previous highest recorded speed on Cyprus highways was set exactly one year ago and has now been beaten by a huge margin.
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