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🇨🇾 CYPRUS NEWS 🇬🇧
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🎰 Casinos in Cyprus brought €34 million to the state treasury — almost all from City of Dreams
Last year, the gambling business paid the state €34 million in taxes — €5.6 million more than the previous year. These figures come from a report by the Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission (APEK). This is the first full set of data since the opening of the large casino resort in Limassol.
Revenues skyrocketed. The gross profit of all five casinos grew from €130 million in 2023 to €227 million in 2025. The lion's share — 86% — came from City of Dreams Mediterranean in the Zakaki area. The massive €600 million complex with a 500-room hotel opened in July 2023 and became the largest in Europe. The other four smaller casinos are in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and Ayia Napa.
What does the state receive? In addition to taxes, another €7 million annually for the license. Authorities expect revenues to continue growing: nearly €35 million in 2026, €39 million in 2027, and €40 million in 2028.
The entire gambling sector accounts for more than 3.7% of the island's GDP. Against this backdrop, the regulator has stepped up controls on money laundering and player protection. Additionally, the legalization of online casinos is being discussed in the country — currently they operate in a gray area, unlike land-based casinos, which operate legally.
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Last year, the gambling business paid the state €34 million in taxes — €5.6 million more than the previous year. These figures come from a report by the Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission (APEK). This is the first full set of data since the opening of the large casino resort in Limassol.
Revenues skyrocketed. The gross profit of all five casinos grew from €130 million in 2023 to €227 million in 2025. The lion's share — 86% — came from City of Dreams Mediterranean in the Zakaki area. The massive €600 million complex with a 500-room hotel opened in July 2023 and became the largest in Europe. The other four smaller casinos are in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and Ayia Napa.
What does the state receive? In addition to taxes, another €7 million annually for the license. Authorities expect revenues to continue growing: nearly €35 million in 2026, €39 million in 2027, and €40 million in 2028.
The entire gambling sector accounts for more than 3.7% of the island's GDP. Against this backdrop, the regulator has stepped up controls on money laundering and player protection. Additionally, the legalization of online casinos is being discussed in the country — currently they operate in a gray area, unlike land-based casinos, which operate legally.
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🍃 There are people who care
In Cyprus, there are people who don't walk past rubbish, mess, and indifference.
Someone cleans the beach.
Someone collects bags after a picnic.
Someone simply doesn't leave a pigsty behind.
And it's precisely from such small things that a decent life on the island begins.
🇨🇾 Cyprus is beautiful.
Let's not turn it into a dump.
🍃 Take care of nature. Take care of our island.
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In Cyprus, there are people who don't walk past rubbish, mess, and indifference.
Someone cleans the beach.
Someone collects bags after a picnic.
Someone simply doesn't leave a pigsty behind.
And it's precisely from such small things that a decent life on the island begins.
🇨🇾 Cyprus is beautiful.
Let's not turn it into a dump.
🍃 Take care of nature. Take care of our island.
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🛡️ Christodoulides: Cyprus will join NATO when political realities allow
Speaking at the DEFEA 2026 defense exhibition in Athens, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said his country will submit a request to join the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as the conditions are ripe. He sees Turkey's position as the main obstacle — Ankara has the right to block new members. The president has been reiterating this point since late 2024.
Concurrently, Christodoulides announced that Nicosia is preparing to spend approximately €1.2 billion received from the EU's SAFE defense fund. The money will be directed toward strengthening defense capabilities and developing local military industries. Currently, around thirty companies operate in this sector on the island, many of which already participate in European programs.
The president also called for finally activating Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty — the mutual defense clause. Cyprus has been pushing for this since spring 2026, citing its proximity to the volatile Middle East as the reason. Christodoulides discussed the matter with EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
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Speaking at the DEFEA 2026 defense exhibition in Athens, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said his country will submit a request to join the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as the conditions are ripe. He sees Turkey's position as the main obstacle — Ankara has the right to block new members. The president has been reiterating this point since late 2024.
Concurrently, Christodoulides announced that Nicosia is preparing to spend approximately €1.2 billion received from the EU's SAFE defense fund. The money will be directed toward strengthening defense capabilities and developing local military industries. Currently, around thirty companies operate in this sector on the island, many of which already participate in European programs.
The president also called for finally activating Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty — the mutual defense clause. Cyprus has been pushing for this since spring 2026, citing its proximity to the volatile Middle East as the reason. Christodoulides discussed the matter with EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
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🗳️ 745 people will compete for 56 seats in the Cypriot parliament
Today, May 6, at noon, the application period for those wishing to enter parliament ends. The number is impressive: 745 candidates for 56 seats. This is one of the highest records in recent years. The race involves 19 party lists and 8 independents. To run, a deposit of €500 per person is required.
Who will not be allowed? Under the Constitution, those who have served time for crimes against morality are disqualified from running. After applications close, competitors will have 24 hours to file complaints.
Ballots will be printed on May 9. Each district has its own color: Nicosia — white, Limassol — yellow, Famagusta — blue, Larnaca — pink, Paphos — green, Kyrenia — orange. In Nicosia, due to the large number of independent candidates, the ballot will be double-sided.
Campaign rules are strict: 48 hours before voting — no rallies. 7 days before — fresh polls cannot be published. Spending on the campaign is limited to a maximum of €30,000 (€25,000 officially + €5,000 from personal funds). Afterward, candidates must report to the Court of Audit.
The most popular tool is billboards. In the city, they cost €500–1,500 per month, and on highways — up to €2,000. Plus printing and installation (about €500). Such high interest in parliament is a record. The final list will be known today.
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Today, May 6, at noon, the application period for those wishing to enter parliament ends. The number is impressive: 745 candidates for 56 seats. This is one of the highest records in recent years. The race involves 19 party lists and 8 independents. To run, a deposit of €500 per person is required.
Who will not be allowed? Under the Constitution, those who have served time for crimes against morality are disqualified from running. After applications close, competitors will have 24 hours to file complaints.
Ballots will be printed on May 9. Each district has its own color: Nicosia — white, Limassol — yellow, Famagusta — blue, Larnaca — pink, Paphos — green, Kyrenia — orange. In Nicosia, due to the large number of independent candidates, the ballot will be double-sided.
Campaign rules are strict: 48 hours before voting — no rallies. 7 days before — fresh polls cannot be published. Spending on the campaign is limited to a maximum of €30,000 (€25,000 officially + €5,000 from personal funds). Afterward, candidates must report to the Court of Audit.
The most popular tool is billboards. In the city, they cost €500–1,500 per month, and on highways — up to €2,000. Plus printing and installation (about €500). Such high interest in parliament is a record. The final list will be known today.
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🐮💥Cypriot farmers are tired of waiting — and issue an ultimatum to the president
The foot-and-mouth disease situation in Nicosia and Larnaca is heating up. Previously, news reports showed distressed livestock farmers desperately begging for infected cows to be culled. Now things are more serious.
Four powerful agricultural organizations (PEK, RPD, Panagrotikos, and the New Agricultural Movement) have taken the bull by the horns 🐂. They have united and sent President Christodoulides a clear ultimatum: resolve the compensation issue!
Yesterday they gathered and stated: "We are obliged to respond differently." It sounds like a polite warning before the storm ⚡. Dialogue is still possible, but patience is running out.
Elections are coming soon — and farmers are well aware of this 🗳️. Putting pressure on the government is easier now than ever. The cabinet has no more excuses.
A response from the president is expected at the next meeting. Farmers are waiting with bated breath... and preparing their pitchforks 🚜😅
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The foot-and-mouth disease situation in Nicosia and Larnaca is heating up. Previously, news reports showed distressed livestock farmers desperately begging for infected cows to be culled. Now things are more serious.
Four powerful agricultural organizations (PEK, RPD, Panagrotikos, and the New Agricultural Movement) have taken the bull by the horns 🐂. They have united and sent President Christodoulides a clear ultimatum: resolve the compensation issue!
Yesterday they gathered and stated: "We are obliged to respond differently." It sounds like a polite warning before the storm ⚡. Dialogue is still possible, but patience is running out.
Elections are coming soon — and farmers are well aware of this 🗳️. Putting pressure on the government is easier now than ever. The cabinet has no more excuses.
A response from the president is expected at the next meeting. Farmers are waiting with bated breath... and preparing their pitchforks 🚜😅
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📱💸 Cypriot loses €48,000 due to fake SMS from "GeSY"
A 60-year-old resident of Paphos fell for a fake message, supposedly from the GeSY healthcare system. The SMS said that he needed to update his profile. The man clicked the link, entered his card details — and €48,000 instantly disappeared from his account. This is the largest case since the beginning of the year, but far from the only one.
Such fake SMS messages have been mass-sent since autumn 2025. In November, a 66-year-old Cypriot lost €30,000; in April, a woman from Nicosia had €10,000 stolen; and a month earlier, a Paphos resident gave €11,000 to scammers under the pretext of a crypto investment return.
The real GeSY never asks for passwords or card details via SMS. Don't fall for links, even if the sender looks familiar. If you receive such a message — delete it. If you have already entered your details — call your bank immediately and block your card.
You can report scammers to the police cybercrime unit by phone at 1460 or on the website police.gov.cy. Be careful 🙏
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A 60-year-old resident of Paphos fell for a fake message, supposedly from the GeSY healthcare system. The SMS said that he needed to update his profile. The man clicked the link, entered his card details — and €48,000 instantly disappeared from his account. This is the largest case since the beginning of the year, but far from the only one.
Such fake SMS messages have been mass-sent since autumn 2025. In November, a 66-year-old Cypriot lost €30,000; in April, a woman from Nicosia had €10,000 stolen; and a month earlier, a Paphos resident gave €11,000 to scammers under the pretext of a crypto investment return.
The real GeSY never asks for passwords or card details via SMS. Don't fall for links, even if the sender looks familiar. If you receive such a message — delete it. If you have already entered your details — call your bank immediately and block your card.
You can report scammers to the police cybercrime unit by phone at 1460 or on the website police.gov.cy. Be careful 🙏
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🚜 Cypriot livestock farmers will block the highway again on May 8 — this time on a larger scale
On Friday, May 8, Cypriot farmers will hold a new protest. The location is the Rizoelia junction in the Larnaca district. Organizers promise that this time it will be "very powerful and dynamic."
What is the reason? Farmers are outraged by the authorities' actions regarding the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. They disagree with the mass culling of livestock (including healthy animals), as well as with the quarantine and bans on transport and trade. All of this is hitting their pockets hard.
"Livestock farming was, is, and will be in Cyprus," said farmers' representative Neofytos Kasapis after a meeting in Choirokoitia. He emphasized that the sector is important for the economy and thanked ordinary citizens for their support.
They do not plan to completely block roads, but drivers are warned: the protest will be noticeably larger than previous ones.
As a reminder, the foot-and-mouth outbreak on the island began in February. The epicenter is the Larnaca district. Thousands of livestock have already been culled, farmers complain of huge losses and say that compensation is too low. This is not the first protest, and judging by the tone of the protesters, if the government does not meet them halfway, it will not be the last.
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On Friday, May 8, Cypriot farmers will hold a new protest. The location is the Rizoelia junction in the Larnaca district. Organizers promise that this time it will be "very powerful and dynamic."
What is the reason? Farmers are outraged by the authorities' actions regarding the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. They disagree with the mass culling of livestock (including healthy animals), as well as with the quarantine and bans on transport and trade. All of this is hitting their pockets hard.
"Livestock farming was, is, and will be in Cyprus," said farmers' representative Neofytos Kasapis after a meeting in Choirokoitia. He emphasized that the sector is important for the economy and thanked ordinary citizens for their support.
They do not plan to completely block roads, but drivers are warned: the protest will be noticeably larger than previous ones.
As a reminder, the foot-and-mouth outbreak on the island began in February. The epicenter is the Larnaca district. Thousands of livestock have already been culled, farmers complain of huge losses and say that compensation is too low. This is not the first protest, and judging by the tone of the protesters, if the government does not meet them halfway, it will not be the last.
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🚨 Bag of drugs found on staircase of Limassol courthouse
On the morning of Wednesday, May 6, court staff discovered a small bag containing what appeared to be marijuana right on the staircase leading to the criminal courtrooms. The weight of the find — just under one gram. Police and Limassol's anti-narcotics unit (YKAN) rushed to the scene.
Now the main question for investigators: how did this bag get past the X-ray scanner at the entrance?
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On the morning of Wednesday, May 6, court staff discovered a small bag containing what appeared to be marijuana right on the staircase leading to the criminal courtrooms. The weight of the find — just under one gram. Police and Limassol's anti-narcotics unit (YKAN) rushed to the scene.
Now the main question for investigators: how did this bag get past the X-ray scanner at the entrance?
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🏠 Cyprus makes housing the main topic of its EU presidency
Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou spoke at a conference in Paphos discussing European housing policy. He stated that the problem of affordable housing has become one of the most acute in the European Union. Young people, low-income individuals, and vulnerable groups are particularly affected.
According to the minister, housing and rental prices are rising, construction is becoming more expensive, and there is a shortage of available apartments. A common approach for all of Europe is needed. The Cypriot presidency has made housing a priority and wants countries to move from talk to concrete action.
The plan has four main directions:
1. make housing accessible to everyone, especially young people;
2. attract public and private funds for construction;
3. build new, renovate old, and use abandoned buildings;
4. collect reliable data and share experiences between countries.
Ioannou emphasized: without accurate property records and transparent data, effective housing policy is impossible. The Republic is ready to work with everyone to achieve real results.
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Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou spoke at a conference in Paphos discussing European housing policy. He stated that the problem of affordable housing has become one of the most acute in the European Union. Young people, low-income individuals, and vulnerable groups are particularly affected.
According to the minister, housing and rental prices are rising, construction is becoming more expensive, and there is a shortage of available apartments. A common approach for all of Europe is needed. The Cypriot presidency has made housing a priority and wants countries to move from talk to concrete action.
The plan has four main directions:
1. make housing accessible to everyone, especially young people;
2. attract public and private funds for construction;
3. build new, renovate old, and use abandoned buildings;
4. collect reliable data and share experiences between countries.
Ioannou emphasized: without accurate property records and transparent data, effective housing policy is impossible. The Republic is ready to work with everyone to achieve real results.
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📊 Eurostat: Cyprus has one of the lowest employment rates in international companies
According to fresh data from the European Union's statistical service, only 18% of workers in Cyprus are employed in multinational corporations. This is one of the most modest results in Europe. Nearby are Iceland (also 18%) and slightly below is Russia (14%). For comparison: in Luxembourg, such companies account for 54% of jobs, and in the Czech Republic and Sweden — 44% each.
At the same time, there are quite a few international corporations associated with Cyprus — 3,390 groups. By this measure, the island holds a middle position in the ranking. Germany (over 15,000 groups), the Netherlands, and Switzerland lead here.
But the number of companies does not equal the number of jobs. In Cyprus, multinational giants for some reason are not in a hurry to hire many people. Eurostat notes: despite the recovery in the number of groups after a long decline, their contribution to employment on the island still remains very modest by European standards.
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According to fresh data from the European Union's statistical service, only 18% of workers in Cyprus are employed in multinational corporations. This is one of the most modest results in Europe. Nearby are Iceland (also 18%) and slightly below is Russia (14%). For comparison: in Luxembourg, such companies account for 54% of jobs, and in the Czech Republic and Sweden — 44% each.
At the same time, there are quite a few international corporations associated with Cyprus — 3,390 groups. By this measure, the island holds a middle position in the ranking. Germany (over 15,000 groups), the Netherlands, and Switzerland lead here.
But the number of companies does not equal the number of jobs. In Cyprus, multinational giants for some reason are not in a hurry to hire many people. Eurostat notes: despite the recovery in the number of groups after a long decline, their contribution to employment on the island still remains very modest by European standards.
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