Current Events

Natural gas MNC Exxon Mobil has confirmed a sizeable quantity of natural gas reserve near the Cypriot coast.

The media in Cyprus has reported that the specific site of the reserves is somewhere between eight and nine trillion cubic feet. They said that they to the information at a meeting between the Cypriot President and the Supermajor. More precisely, the reserves, called ‘Pegasus’ is alongside the ‘Glafkos’ reserves.

Konstantinos Letympiotis, a spokesperson for the Cypriot government called the discovery a highly positive indication of the future Cyprus and for ExxonMobil as well.

According to a report by the Greek City Times, Exxon has been working with QatarEnergy to try and find more natural gas reserves. The first of such discoveries was made in 2019, which made the prospect of finding more promising.

In early-2025, a large-scale drilling expedition in an offshore block turned out to be a dud – while gas was found, the quantity for far too short for any kind of development to happen.

At the time, it has raised concerns if there actually was any potential for finding true resources in and around the southern coast of Cyprus (if not the nation itself).

However, not much later a second reserve was found in the same Block 10, putting doubts to rest and leading to two major sources for commercial work.

Cyprus has been taking advantage of the situation to propel its status as a hub for natural gas export, with Block 10 being a major stepping stone in the process. Potential development plans may include creating a subsea tieback to the Egyptian liquefaction plants in Damietta or Idku, which might help create a more updated export route for Europe as well as Asia.

That said, the matters pertaining development in the deep waters and recent developments are quite complex – which means that it will take time before concrete plans come into the picture.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Exxon-Confirms-Significant-Reserves-at-Cyprus-Gas-Discovery.html

Cyprus’ visually impaired swimmer Carolina Pelendritou has won the silver medal for swimming 50m freestyle S11 in the finals of the World Para Swimming Championships, hosted by Singapore.

Pelendritou finished the race at 30.30, which earned her the second position.

This has been her best performance in 2025, with the 30.63 achieved in Berlin in June coming in a close second and.

Her time for the qualifying round earlier that morning in Singapore was a solid 30.84.

The gold medal went to Russian swimmer Daria Lukyanenko, who clocked 30.22, while the bronze went to Dutch national Lizette Bruinsma, who clocked 30.34.

This win makes Pelendritou the third-time champion of the 50m freestyle category at the Paralympics. She had previously won a gold and a bronze at the World Championships held in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/09/21/pelendritou-takes-second-at-world-para-swimming-championships

The trial of the Greek Cyprus national who has been detained in Turkish Cyprus since the 19th of July has been postponed on account of the man being taken to hospital after complaining of debilitating back pain.

Apparently, the back pain occurred due to him being denied required medication. The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) has reported that the man suffers of health issues and was denied life-saving drugs for all of his 2+ months in state custody.

This led to his condition deteriorating to the extent that he needed hospital-level medical intervention.

The man was hospitalized on the eve of his trial at the Trikomo court. This has been postponed to a later date.

The man is one of the five nations of Greek Cyprus who were arrested and detained in Trikomo for illegally seeing their ancestral lands. All of them are above the age of 60, and are facing charges related to invading a military zone.

According to authorities in Trikomo, the men were trying to gather information regarding construction work being done on their properties by the current administration – based on the maps and documents that were found in their cars.

Greek Cyprus sees the arrests as a hostile act in retaliation for them taking action against Turkish Cypriots for trying to occupy properties owned by Greek Cypriots within the Turkish Cyprus region.

So far, any legal proceeding that takes place in Turkish Cyprus is not recognized by anyone bar Turkey.

Greek Cypriot held in occupied north hospitalised as trial postponed

The Indian stealth naval vessel INS Trikand has landed in Cyprus, specifically at the port of Limassol as part of its Mediterranean deployment.

A part of the Talwar section of guided missile frigates, the INS Trikand is loaded with a majestic arsenal pf sensors, equipment and weapons, which enable it to carry out missions via air, surface and under the water.

The ship has been named after the Sanskrit word for trident (i.e. Trikand) meaning strength and power, and was originally built in Russia prior to being given to the Indian Navy back in 2013.

Upon reaching Limassol, Captain Sachin Kulkarni, the Commanding Officer of the vessel met with relevant officials. This included the Indian High Commissioner in Cyprus and the Cyprus Navy’s Commander. The meetings were done as a gesture of warm relations between the two countries.

Other joint activities were also carried out – talks were held between officers of both navies to foster ideas and knowledge-sharing. A session of yoga was conducted to demonstrate Indian culture and its dedication to maintaining and spreading the concept of healthy living. A cultural exchange program was also held on board, where the was briefly opened for specific guests to show them a glimpse of the strength of the Indian navy, and how they dealt with life in the open waters.

India’s INS Trikand docks at Limassol to strengthen naval partnership with Cyprus

Cyprus has sent formal request to the United States, with the former asking the latter for military equipment. The island nation’s President Nikos Christodoulides has said so himself in a late-night interview on TV, while touting it as a “natural” step in Cyprus further cementing its tied with the United States.

Christodoulides added that the Cypriot government sent in the request about getting certain types of defense equipment from the US via specific diplomatic pathways. There is a basis for the request – an American program which gives partner nations the permission to ask for surplus gear.

Christodoulides mentioned that they are waiting for the US to give its response, while they remain optimistic about the outcome.

In the event that the US approves the request, defense representatives from Cyprus shall travel to America to check the gear prior to actually signing any deals.

President Christodoulides has touted this step with Cyprus’ larger goal of improving its military partnership with the United States. Right now, the island nation is a part of 3 US programs, – this includes SAFE, helps the support of defense industries of partner countries.

He also managed to add that Turkey will not be able to join SAFE as it does not have a formal defense agreement with the EU, and that getting the same would require all twenty-seven nations to unanimously say yes.

https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-eyes-u-s-military-gear-to-bolster-defense

Cyprus has received the Barak MX air defense system from Israel, right after India obtained it – sparking anticipations of retaliation from Turkey.

Several media outlets in the island nation reported the Barak MX having arrived at the port of Limassol. A number of videos have been shared on social media, which show a number of fast-moving military vehicles leaving the port to an undisclosed location. According to the media outlets, this is the process of the system being transported to different parts in Cyprus.

The port of Limassol was heavily secured for the occasion, and it is expected that the vehicles were moving to strategic locations within Greek Cyprus.

No official statement on the matter has been given yet.

Türkiye Today once famously reported that the Barak MX is a lot more lethal than the famed Russian S-300. Greek Cyprus had originally requested one of those in 1997, but did not get it courtesy military and political pressure from Turkey.

Barak MX is equipped with AESA technology and a 3D MMR radar, which greatly enhances defense and provides Israel with more intelligence on the Eastern Mediterranean region.

https://www.india.com/news/world/turkeys-biggest-enemy-acquires-israels-most-powerful-weapon-more-dangerous-than-russian-s-300-the-country-is-greek-cyprus-cypriot-weapon-is-barak-mx-air-defense-systems-8072474/

In a bid to prove his ability to play for the World Cup in 2026, Guillermo Ochoa, the famous Mexican goalkeeper has signed on to play for Cyprus-based club AEL Limassol.

Ochoa, aged 40, had previously played for AVS in Portuguese topflight in the previous season, which helped the club avoid any relegation issues.

The AEL issued a press statement on the development, mentioning how Ochoa’s extensive experience, leadership skills and personality would serve to strengthen their existing squad.

Having made his debut all the way in 2005, Ochoa has made one-hundred-and-fifty-two appearances on behalf of Mexico so far. He was also first choice at three previous World Cups in succession.

The forty-eight team strong World cup event shall be hosted by Mexico along with Canada and the United States.

The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) has awarded the Cyprus Electricity Authority (CEA) the license to set up a brand-new commercial power storage system.

İsmet Korukoğlu, the Turkish Cypriot ambassador in Ankara, Turkey has said that he is very optimistic on the breakaway island nation to get headway in its quest for recognition as a nation internationally.

In a press conference, he mentioned that Turkish Cyprus has many milestones to fulfill in this regard, such as signing the SOFA [Status of Forces Agreement], discussing the current state of activities and operations, and getting relevant consent.

He mentioned how Turkish Cyprus’ ‘observer’ status in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is highly instrumental, and that participating in international meetings involving high-ranking ministers and in the diplomatic circles in Baku will serve to work in their favor.

Korukoğlu further emphasized that any further talks on the reunification matter can only happen once the Turkish population of the island have been recognized as sovereigns.

He even criticized Greek Cyprus to stonewall their processes, as well as try to get Turkish Cypriots to stay isolated – two approaches that have furthered fractured the relations between the two.

The island nation of Cyprus is a divided one since 1974. In 2004, the United Nations proposed a peace plan, which was rejected by Green Cyprus. The UN also tried to mediate some talks, but ultimately failed and efforts are on pause as of 2017.

Only Turkey recognizes Turkish Cyprus so far.

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-cypriot-envoy-optimistic-on-northern-sides-status-213247

The CERA made the decision to award the license based on the article 26 of the Electricity Market Regulation Laws (2021-23). The license’s terms shall follow Article 30’s criteria and shall be available on their website, in addition to being sent to the CEA.

Two major airports of Cyprus have crossed important milestones in August 2025 in terms of passenger volume.

August itself was the busiest month for Cyprus airports, with an 1,800,000+ footfall of passengers. This was over than 12 percent more than the footfall in August 2024. Over 58,000 people passed through the airports daily during this time, with 20th August seeing the largest volume at 64,000+ passengers, and the weekend of 23rd and 24th August seeing over 127,000 within that period.

This came after Cypriot Airports already saw dealt with over 4.9 million visitors from June to August 2025 – over 11% more than a year earlier.

The Larnaka Airport (LCA) crossed a milestone of handling 1.1 million passengers for the third consecutive month in August 2025, which has so far never been done.

On the other hand, Pafos Airport (PFO) handled over 500,000 passengers in the month of August – its busiest month so far. For a regional airport, successfully dealing with such a volume was a major feat and solid indication of the airport rising in popularity as well as contributing to travel and tourism on the island.

All of these developments at large demonstrate that Airports in Cyprus are continuing to act as an important benchmarks of travel and tourism.

Meanwhile, Hermes Airports are looking forward to a strong winter. The company, which operates both LCA & PFO remains dedicated in its effort to enhance the connectivity within the island nation of Cyprus, as well as that of the island with other countries at large. It largely fulfills this via incentive programs and strategic partnerships with airlines and tourism authorities.

https://www.routesonline.com/airports/8258/hermes-airports/news/299665098/cyprus-airports-achieve-first-time-ever-milestones-in-august-2025/

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has exited the Bank of Cyprus by selling its entire 5% stake.

The shares – 22,401,744 in number had been offered via accelerated bookbuild on the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX).

The Bank of Cyprus received its first investment from the EBRD in 2014 for stabilizing and restructuring itself while navigating the EU’s downturn and the financial crisis worldwide.

Since then, the Bank of Cyprus has become profitable once again. Its ratio of non-performing loan exposure has gone down from 60% to 2.5%. In 2023-2024, it averaged 20% return on equity.

EBRD selling its stake shall serve to help the Bank of Cyprus increase its liquidity on the ATHEX.

Kristina Zagar, the Director of European Union Banks & Structured Finance of EBRD has saif that they are very proud to have aided the Bank of Cyprus for over a decade as it navigated ups and downs. Since their strategic investment, the Bank of Cyprus has managed to tighten its credit process and reestablished itself as a reliable lending partner. Now it has also re-listed on ATHEX – even after being delisted from London – which demonstrates the bank’s transformation arc.

The EBRD originally made an investment of €600 million in the island nation for the period of 2014-2020, mainly to help the financial sectors recover themselves.

EBRD exits Bank of Cyprus

Turkey has been busy in recent months, trying to strengthen the amount of military presence it commands in its occupied section of Cyprus.

They have increased the number of Turkish troops in the breakaway nation, and plan to further double the number.

According to TRT Haber, Turkey’s move comes after Greek Cyprus is being seen making stride to improve its stability and importance – both in the East Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The local command in Turkish Cyprus is under the charge of a lieutenant general appointed by the Supreme Military Council – this shows the intention of installing a rather permanent form of military presence.

According to various sources in Turkey and Turkish Cyprus, there are probably over 100,000 soldiers already – strategically spread across air, sea, land, electronic and of course support forces.

Allegedly, the authorities there are framing the developments as a precautionary response in light of military activities orchestrated by Germany, the UK & US, as well as Israel in Greek Cyprus and adjoining areas.

The south-eastern European countries of Greece and Cyprus are seeking assistance from the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism to fight extreme cases of wildfires.

The European Union has responded by mobilizing 2 Canadair aircrafts from their ‘rescEU’ fleet.

This request for assistance comes after a huge wildfire that started in Cyprus’ Limassol, and brunt over 120 square kilometers of land in a matter of days. The situation was made worse by the combination of 44°C+ hot heatwaves and fast winds.

The villages of Malia, Lofou and Souni, have all been largely affected – the air quality of these places have deteriorated greatly all over the area.

The team fighting the fire included over two-hundred-and-fifty firefighters and eighteen airplanes – from Israel, Jordan, Spain and of course Cyprus.

A large portion of the blame for the wildfires goes to the scorching heatwave and wind gusts being experienced by people all over Europe.

Dr. Petros Karayiannis, Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Virology at the University of Cyprus has said that the island nation is under no threat from the mosquito-borne disease.

However, he has confirmed that there may be a slight transmission risk.

The Chikungunya virus was identified in 1952 in Tanzania in 1952, and has been found to has cause outbreaks of various sizes, primarily in sub-tropical and tropical areas.

Several case clusters have been spotted in countries such as France and China – although Cyprus is not facing any such issue at the moment.

Dr. Karayiannis mentioned that Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – the mosquito variants which are responsible for transmission, have been found on the island nation. However, he added that for the transmission to actually happen, the mosquitoes need to bite an infected traveler, which would lead to the spread of the virus.

Much like Dengue, Chikungunya spreads via the bites of mosquitoes. There are also overlap with symptoms – most common of them pain in the joints and muscles, headaches, rash and of course fever. Most people recover without major complications – but the elderly, children and those with co-morbidities might be at risk of death.

The disease has neither a vaccine not an antiviral course of treatment. The only action is the treatment of symptoms till they ease up – and of course prevention in the first place. Those living and especially traveling to areas with case clusters have been advised to wear protective clothing, use an insect repellent, and sleep inside a mosquito net. They can also use electric fans, which have been known to deter the activity of mosquitoes.

Due to its symptoms resembling other mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and Zika, a PCR test is the only way to confirm the presence of the virus.

The German Medical Institute of Cyprus has established an AI-powered medical testing center as part of its digital transformation initiative titled Agora 3.0. Their intention is to advance medical science and launch strategic partnerships with the Indian healthcare and innovation sectors.

Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the German Medical Institute conducted a thorough review to ascertain the progress achieved on the facility – whose ultimate goal is to create the first ever 100 percent digital-based hospital in Cyprus.

German Medical Institute Medical Director Professor Constantinos Zamboglou has stated that an AI-powered supercomputer has already been installed, and the basic infrastructure to enable the AI medical testing, diagnosis and development have been laid down. He further added that the aim of Agora 3.0 is to function as a premier hub for AI-powered Testing and Validation. The hub here will offer a solid base for developing and testing AI-powered medical tools and machines.

The intention for the hub is to act as a contact point for all global AI companies that are looking to enter the European Union market through Cyprus. Officials of the institute have said that they are working on offering regulatory assistance such as pathways for CE certification, among others.

Right now, the first spinoff company, GMIC has been launched, which is all set to create collabs with counterparts in the US (specifically Stanford), Germany, Serbia and Bulgaria.

Zamboglou will be visiting India in mid-September within a delegation of Cypriot nationals at the upcoming ICC Global Business Summit. The plan is for the GMIC to sign an MoU with Tata Memorial Cancer Centre and the ARIA Matrix, an India-based AI startup.

These partnerships are coming after recent visits between India’s Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Christodoulides.

The second day of incessant blackouts in Cyprus led to many patients being stuck mid-way in diagnostic machines, causing distress to doctors and patients alike and bringing up topics of potential public health risks.

The blackouts originated after Cyprus’ Transmission System Operator specifically ordered controlled load-shedding meant to last for approximately 30 minutes going area-by-area.

Ironically, this was not due to power shortage, since Cyprus does have the structural capacity. It was due to availability – since several normal generators were not online due to the sun setting and production dropping, the power grid could not match demand with supply.

However, with the heat wave in the picture, the fairly short blackout seemed very long. Families having small kids, elders or even equipment-reliant patients felt the crunch of the power outages. Tourists too bore the brunt of having no power for 30 mins at a time.

The most burnt are hospitals – Pancyprian Association of Diagnostic Centers’ Director George Kouttoukis said that many patients were stranded midway in diagnostic machines. Not only was this emotionally distressing, it could have caused great bodily harm – especially for patients using pacemakers or those given medicines prior to their procedures.

Unsurprisingly, the elderly and/or those with co-morbidities were the most at risk, followed by those with mental health conditions such as claustrophobia. Being trapped in an elevator or an MRI machine could cause them great panic, if not any more.

Kouttoukis claimed that he was given full assurance that organizations offering medical services would not be affected – but found out the hard way that diagnostic centers did not make the cut. He claimed that any and all his calls to the minister, or the director-general went unanswered.

Cyprus is facing huge droughts, courtesy heat waves, dry weather, dusty winds, sudden storms and even flash floods and hail spells.

All of these adverse weather situations have negatively impacted cultivation and farming – leaving the government to resort to monetarily compensate out-of-work-farmers in rural regions.

To that end, the Ministry of Agriculture ministry conducted a damage assessment. This one was exclusively for wheat, but they are repeating the same for vineyards, and later – others.

Cyprus is also seeking assistance from the European Union.

Panikos Hambas, General Secretary of the EKA has called the events tragic – explaining how these unexpected yet devastating droughts have caused damage that will take years – if not more – to repair.

Makis Antoniades, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture said that the relevant organizations are closely monitoring the drought’s effects and its ripple effect on crops and farming at large.

Government compensation is only the first of many stages of response – more will come once the full assessment has been completed and the compensation amounts have been calculated.

Antoniades added that despite the supply shortage, consumers are currently in no danger of shortage of finished goods, since the deficit is being made up by imports. This also includes animal feed and similar products.

The government of Cyprus has already informed the European Union farming and fishing commissioners (Costas Kadis) about the droughts, and is asking for advice on how to handle the next steps. This issue is on the main agenda list of the Agriculture ministers.

Cyprus was given over 3 million in 2024 to combat crop shortages due to climate-induced damages.

One of the main reasons for affected farming is still the water shortage. To combat the issue, the Ministry of Agriculture is all set to introduce smart irrigation systems to enable farmers to get some assistance.

Beirut-based Union of Arab Banks and the Association of Cyprus Banks have signed an MoU to fortify their history of cooperation and encourage further activity that will help both organizations to progress and advance.

According to an announcement by the Association of Cyprus Banks, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August in Nicosia by the organization’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Aristidis Vourakis, as well as the Union of Arab Banks’ Secretary General Dr. Wissam Fattouh.

The announcement says that this signing is a highly essential step to ensure that the two organizations understand, cooperate and shape banking to benefit them and everyone they serve – especially in light of the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.

It always says that the MoU serves to present a highly positive precedent of collaboration and cooperation between two institutions that are from varied geopolitical, economic, and geographical situations.

One of the main outcomes of this MoU is to establish the Arab Cypriot Banking and Economic Dialogue. This is meant to function as a strong platform to help fortify cooperation and encourage better flow of knowledge and information between the organizations.

According to the Cyprus Federation of Student Unions (Pofen), single rooms are now priced at approximately €350 per month – which is the highest the nation has ever seen.

Right now, the University of Tepak in Paphos and Limassol offer 150 and 250 rooms respectively, the University of Cyprus in Nicosia offer 208 rooms, while the archbishopric in Limassol offer 250.

Dorm rooms are typically meant to accommodate first-year students and their needs.

According to Constantinos Karseras, the chairman of Pofen, the demand has far exceeded the supply in Limassol, which has spurred universities to build new dorms in both Nicosia and Limassol to bridge the gap.

The level of progress is better at Tepak, which has announced 300 student rooms to be ready by late-2026.

What concerns Karseras the most, however, is that the dorm plans are based on data from 2020, while Tepak has introduced several new programs and subsequently accepted many more students.

Currently, a “subsidized” single Tepak dorm also costs €350 a month. What sets them apart is that they have offered a €2,500 subsidy to cover 10 months – subject to the student’s socioeconomic status.

The bishopric in Limassol has offered a free meal per day, while both Tepak and the University of Cyprus have offered yearly scholarships to certain students.

The website of Tepak says that among the 250 available rooms, studio flats cost €300 a month, single-bedroom flats cost €350, twin-bedroom ones cost €500, while three-bedroom ones cost €600.

Tepak in Paphos has arranged over a hundred-and-fifty studio apartments for €350 per month, and another fifty available at the standard €550 per month price.

A Facebook page is currently trying to create a chart of all apartments available so students can match up with suitable roommates. In over two years of operation, it has helped over five hundred students – many senior students have managed to secure all-year accommodations for as less as €400 – in the face of dorm rooms being given to first-year students on a priority basis.

Renowned Nobel Laureate from Turkey Aziz Sancar is now officially a citizen of Turkish Cyprus.

Sancar, who is well known in the breakaway island nation for his work in their academic circles – and for his love for the area – has been visiting the place for years on-and-off, where he has served many positions – from serving on the Near East University’s Synthetic Biology Research and Technology Center’ science board to lecturing in academic institutions. He is also known for actively advocating Turkish Cyprus to be recognized internationally.

Sancar has been awarded the honor of becoming a Turkish Cyprus citizen on the basis of his current and future contributions to the fields of culture, technology and of course science – along with advocacy for the yet-to-be-recognized nation.

Sancar notably supported Turkish President Erdoğan’s call for globally acknowledging the nation of Turkish Cyprus at the UN General Assembly. He did show by wearing a shirt which said “TRNC Should Be Recognized” which was posted by him on social media as well as extensively photographed.

He enjoys a deep friendship with Ersin Tatar, the President of Turkish Cyprus, and academician-turned-health-advisor Nedime Serakıncı.

Sancar was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2015, along with his Swedish and American colleagues.

News of India reportedly supplying its BrahMos missiles to Cyprus has been doing the rounds – and it has put Turkey in a state of unease.

While neither India nor Cyprus have said anything on the matter, the spread of the news via other channels has led to debates within the larger Mediterranean area.

BrahMos is a high-end missile designed by a Russia-India scientist tag team- they are hypersonic and highly-precise missiles that can hit targets on sea and land.

Having such a missile in their arsenal would greatly empower the island nation’s capacity to deter current and potential threats.

India has been exporting the BrahMos missile for some time now – the Philippines is one of their dedicated customers.

Turkey, however, is alarmed by the alleged development, citing it as a move that will change the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean region by giving Cyprus a major and immediate advantage from a strategic standpoint.

Cyprus and India strengthening their relations also have the potential to sour their relations with other neighboring countries – such as Turkey itself.