Court decision on usurpation of properties sends a clear message, Spokesman says

The decision of the Nicosia Assize Court sends a strong message about the consequences of attempting to engage or are already involved in usurpation of properties, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a written statement.

“The usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories of the Republic is neither dealt with in a passive manner, nor with tolerance,” he notes, adding that in a well-governed and organized State that faces the painful reality of the Turkish occupation, there is a duty of highlighting the magnitude of the illegality, while the implementation of the law and the protection of the national interest are imperative.

“Today’s unanimous decision of the Nicosia Assize Court to impose a prison sentence of 5 years, following a relevant admission by an accused person, for committing offenses related to the usurpation, demonstrates the seriousness of the offense in question” he underlines.

The decision, he adds, sends a strong message about the consequences it may have on those who attempt to engage or are already involved in such transactions and in the relevant international chain of usurpation.

Researchers urged to drive agri-modernisation to cut import dependency

Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha yesterday said the country’s persistent reliance on imports for essential food items continues to weigh heavily on consumers and the economy. He underscored the need for evidence-based research to guide agricultural modernisation, develop value-added products, nurture young agri-entrepreneurs, and expand export-oriented farming.

Speaking at the National Awards Ceremony for Excellence in Agricultural Research for 2023 and 2025, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Lalkantha emphasised that researchers must ensure their findings are effectively conveyed to policymakers and stakeholders to enable implementation at the ground level.

He commended the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) for its role in strengthening agricultural research and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a development model focused on food security, import substitution, and environmentally sustainable practices.

The biennial event, organised by SLCARP, recognises and encourages researchers contributing to the advancement of Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector. According to the President’s Media Division, the awards are designed to promote professional growth among agricultural scientists while acknowledging their role in improving national food security and innovation.

This year’s awards recognised achievements in three categories: cultivation of forest plantations, export-oriented crops, and non-crop sectors such as floriculture, livestock, fisheries, and aquatic resources, spanning the 2023 and 2025 cycles.

Sri Lanka player Madara reprimanded for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Sri Lanka player Malki Madara has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup league match against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

Madara was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.’

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Madara’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 11th over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Madara, after dismissing Fargana Hoque, celebrated excessively in close proximity to the batter, which could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter.

Madara admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Shandrè Fritz of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field Umpires Candace la Borde and Sarah Dambanevana, Third Umpire Lauren Agenbag and Fourth Umpire Claire Polosak levelled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Officials outline challenges and opportunities for Cyprus at 16th Limassol Economic Forum

No European Security Architecture can be complete as long as Cyprus remains divided, said the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, in her address at the 16th Limassol Economic Forum, on Friday, stating that no country that violates international law or occupies part of an EU member state can be a credible partner in shaping European security. For her part, Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, referred to three “interconnected pillars” on which Cyprus is focusing, namely reform, investment, and institutional integrity, pointing out that “each pillar stands on its own merit but together they form a coherent national strategy that enables Cyprus to turn challenges into opportunities and to build an economy that is more robust, more innovative, and more globally connected than ever before.”

Saying that prosperity and security are two sides of the same coin, the House President said that strong integrated Single Market for Defence will boost Europe’s industrial base, joint procurement, and innovation, adding that the ReArm Europe Plan is a major step toward a true European Defence Union and ‘we must back it with political cooperation and long-term investment.’

At this point, Demetriou stressed that the position of Greece and Cyprus is clear: “No country that violates international law or occupies part of an EU Member State can be a credible partner in shaping Europe’s security.”

At the same time, she continued, Europe must secure its technological and energy sovereignty. “We should strive to establish a competitive ecosystem that drives innovation and strategic industries with a coordinated investment, while expressing his belief that Europe can close the innovation gap and compete or collaborate globally with the U.S. and China”, she added.

She also stressed that common projects of European interest, such as the Great Sea Interconnector between Cyprus and Greece, are critical and must be pursued, that “in a time of uncertainty, weakening strategic partnerships is not an option” and that Cyprus will continue to work closely with its European and regional allies to ensure such projects move forward and strengthen regional security.

At the same time, the House President stressed that “no European security architecture can be complete while Cyprus remains divided” and indicated that the EU must play a more active role in restarting reunification talks under UN and EU principles.

She added the Greek Cypriot side is waiting to see whether the election of a new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community will offer a new opportunity for the resumption of negotiations, for progress towards a just, viable, and mutually acceptable solution, within the agreed framework, securing peace and prosperity within the EU.

‘Europe must deter aggression, defend its territory, and lead with confidence. This is the essence of European strategic autonomy – and the task we must now turn into reality’, she concluded.

In her intervention, Piki said that a series of major reforms have moved from design to delivery, changing the way the state interacts with citizens and businesses, such as the modernisation of the justice system and advancing a comprehensive tax reform, the acceleration of digitisation and the implementation of a socially balanced housing policy.

In her speech, Piki also spoke about the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, conveying that Cyprus is preparing to take it on “with a sense of responsibility and confidence.”

This milestone, she continued, will allow us to shape the European agenda on issues central to our region: security, energy, migration, the digital transition, and sustainable growth.

Emphasizing that “the story of Cyprus today is one of transformation,” the Deputy Minister to the President said that ‘through reform, we are building a more effective and future-ready state. Through investment, we are expanding opportunity and innovation; through integrity, we are ensuring that everything we build rests on trust.”

These three pillars, she pointed out, define the way we govern and grow, “shaping a Cyprus that is more resilient, more competitive, and more relevant on the world stage’, stressing that “this is our vision.”

Resilience is not built by governments alone, but through partnerships with business, with academia, with international friends, and above all, with citizens, concluded Piki.

President: Historic EU summit on housing, Cyprus made its mark on Gaza, defence, green transition

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, described the European Council meeting held on Thursday in Brussels as ‘historic,’ noting that it was the first time that housing was discussed at this level. In statements after the summit, he said Cyprus had set out clear positions on the Middle East, European defence, competitiveness, and social policy.

The President referred extensively to his contacts during the working dinner with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, stressing that ‘for years, both we and Greece have insisted on the need to strengthen relations between Egypt and the EU.’ He said the first such summit was held on Wednesday night, and he was particularly pleased that ‘the Egyptian President referred specifically to the role of Cyprus and Greece.’

The main topic, he added, was the need for the EU to give substantial support to the U.S. President’s plan on Gaza. President Christodoulides said that, drawing on the Egyptian President’s positions, he presented the Cypriot proposal, which addresses three dimensions of the plan – humanitarian, reconstruction and security – with six concrete recommendations.

He said the proposal was drafted in coordination with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as Egypt, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.

Cyprus, he noted, ‘has already been tested in this field and has delivered results,’ adding that the initiative holds particular significance for the European Commission and its President, who also discussed it with President al-Sisi.

Asked whether the Cypriot proposal on Gaza could become an EU proposal, Christodoulides said its implementation requires European support, the use of EU mechanisms, and cooperation with regional partners with whom Nicosia remains in close contact.

Until the conditions are in place for the full rollout of the Cypriot proposal, efforts are currently focused on the maritime humanitarian corridor, he said, stressing that the urgent issue is the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Defence and security: Cyprus’ three main positions

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On defence and security, President Christodoulides welcomed the fact that the EU ‘has moved beyond discussion and into concrete action.’

He outlined three key Cypriot positions.

The first is that the funding instruments such as SAFE must not be accessible to countries that occupy or threaten the sovereignty of EU member states.

The second is that NATO-EU cooperation must not exclude EU member states that are not part of NATO.

The third is that the EU must adopt a 360-degree approach, not focusing exclusively on Ukraine.

Regarding the SAFE programme and whether Turkish companies are excluded, Christodoulides clarified that Turkey’s state defence industry has already been barred for some time. He explained that participation of third countries in EU defence programmes requires a security agreement with the EU, approved unanimously by all 27 member states.

He added that Cyprus reiterated its position clearly at the summit, which was fully understood by both the EU institutions and member states.

Ambitious green goals and competitiveness

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Christodoulides said that competitiveness was one of the longest discussions of the summit. It was decided that an extraordinary informal Council on Competitiveness will take place in Brussels on 12 February.

He said that many member states, including Cyprus, stressed the need for the EU’s green targets to become more realistic.

‘Within this framework, and at our initiative, the conclusions now include a reference to the need to review certain EU decisions on green targets, which, if implemented as they stand, would raise electricity costs,’ he said, adding that many countries supported Cyprus’ proposal.

The President noted that while the EU’s green transition goals are ambitious, in some cases they are difficult to achieve within the given timeframe. Excessive ambition, he warned, could affect the EU’s competitiveness, as policies such as energy pricing may drive up electricity costs for households and businesses alike.

Housing discussed for the first time at the European Council

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Christodoulides described the summit as ‘historic’ because housing was addressed for the first time at the European Council.

He explained that, under a recent EU decision, existing cohesion funds may be reallocated toward three sectors: housing, defence, and electrical interconnections.

‘We expect the Commission President to present a plan on affordable housing in December,’ he said, noting that housing will be a priority for the Cypriot Presidency.

He announced that an informal Council of Housing Ministers will be held in Cyprus to discuss the use of EU resources for housing.

He also said the European Investment Bank is moving ahead with specific lending tools for housing, adding that the issue was discussed during its Board meeting in Limassol.

Ukraine, sanctions, and Turkey’s violations

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On Ukraine, the President reaffirmed Cyprus’ support to its sovereignty and territorial integrity and highlighted the need for countries linked to the EU not to circumvent sanctions.

He said he presented specific examples of Turkish actions aimed at evading EU sanctions, which undermines their effectiveness. ‘I provided concrete cases of such violations by Turkey and expressed readiness to share this information with EU institutions or any member state that wishes,’ he added.

Christodoulides noted that more than half of EU member states expressed concerns over the legal clarity of the decision to finance Ukraine from frozen Russian assets, and that the Commission will continue preparatory work before the issue returns to the European Council.

He stressed that sanctions are a powerful tool but must be enforced by all states, particularly those that are NATO members or aspire to join the EU.

On Turkey, he said there are no practical mechanisms to address sanctions circumvention, but countries with close relations with Ankara-as well as EU institutions-will raise the issue directly with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He noted that during a recent meeting between Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump, the latter made public reference to Turkey’s violations of sanctions.

Asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the first part of the discussion, reacted to the issue, Christodoulides said Zelensky ‘is fully aware of who is violating European or American sanctions.’

Lahiru wins Gold, Nethmi takes Bronze

Lahiru Achintha won the Gold medal in the 1500 m Boys’ final, with a timing of 3 minutes 57.42 seconds.

Nethmi Gimhani Pulle won the first Bronze medal with a timing of 4 minutes 52.32 seconds in the Girls’ 1500 m final. Sri Lanka at the end of Day 2 are in third place behind China and Uzbekistan, with a medal tally of one Gold and one Bronze. (SJ)

Conference League: Historic victory for AEK Larnaca in London, draw for Omonoia

AEK Larnaca achieved a historic 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in London on Thursday evening in the second matchday of the Conference League, maintaining its unbeaten record in the competition.

The goal that secured the Cypriot team’s win was scored at the 51st minute by Bajic. Crystal Palace, one of the strongest teams in the Premier League, won the FA Cup last year and has a budget of close to half a billion euros.

In two games, AEK has achieved two victories and is at the top of the standings with five other teams.

Earlier on Thursday, Omonoia drew 1-1 in their away match against Slovakian side Drita.

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute with a header from Manai, but Masouras equalized at the end of the first half, also with a header, following a corner kick from Evandro.

This result earned the Nicosia team its first point, while Drita reached two.

Home Lands moves forward with construction of Bayfonte Marina, Negombo

Home Lands Group continues to make remarkable progress on Bayfonte Marina Resort Apartments and Villas in Negombo, the first tourist resort apartment complex in Sri Lanka.

Following the successful ground-breaking and foundation stone laying ceremony held recently, construction work on this landmark development is now well underway.

Bayfonte Marina will feature a total of 288 luxury apartments and 33 exclusive villas, offering stunning lagoon and city views and modern resort living inspired by global waterfront destinations.

Strategically located just minutes from Bandaranaike International Airport, the expressway, and Negombo city, Bayfonte Marina offers unmatched connectivity and convenience. With close proximity to supermarkets, hospitals, hotels, and essential urban facilities, Bayfonte Marina offers the perfect balance of leisure and practicality.

The project also includes an impressive range of world-class amenities, such as a choice of private pier, marina, jet ski, and a star-class restaurant, setting a new benchmark for luxury resort-style living in Sri Lanka.

Home Lands Group Chairman and Managing Director Nalin Herath said: ‘With Bayfonte Marina, we are redefining real estate investment in Sri Lanka. Negombo is booming as a tourist destination, creating high demand for fully serviced apartments. Bayfonte Marina bridges this gap, offering luxury apartments and villas with strong ROI potential.’

Bayfonte Marina Resort Apartments and Villas, a flagship project by Home Lands, embodies the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and strategic investment, further cementing the company’s legacy of transforming lifestyles through trust, innovation, and excellence.

Koumis optimistic about positive tourism performance in 2026 at Finance Committee

In 2025, tourism in the country is expected to once again achieve record performance, while for 2026 we are optimistic that the positive trend in tourism will continue, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said on Friday during the discussion in the Parliamentary Committee on Finance regarding the budget of the Deputy Ministry for the year 2026.

In his presentation to the committee members, Koumis said that the Deputy Ministry’s goal is to stabilize tourism at high levels and increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s economic development.

He added that the amended National Tourism Strategy is expected to be approved soon, while for 2026, actions are planned to promote the country abroad and for a modern licensing and operating framework in the tourism sector.

Regarding the contribution of tourism to the economy, he said that in 2025 it reached 14% of GDP, up from 13.3% in 2024. Similarly, tourist arrivals between January and September 2025 recorded an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period last year and 41% over a three-year period.

He noted in particular that the first nine months of 2025 were the best in the country’s tourism history, with Cyprus recording the largest increase in the EU in terms of stays in licensed accommodation.

He added that Cyprus also ranks first among all European Mediterranean countries in terms of tourism revenue growth for the first half of the year, with tourism revenues for that period rising by 21.3%.

Regarding the Deputy Ministry’s budget for 2026, Koumis said that it amounts to pound 74.6 million, of which pound 27.7 million (37.1%) has been budgeted for information campaigns and promotional activities, pound 14.9 million (20%) for expenses related to subsidy schemes mainly concerning the improvement of the tourism product, pound 19.5 million (25%) is for operational expenses, of which pound 6.1 million (8.2%) is for hosting the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, while the rest is budgeted for other expenses.

The Deputy Minister also referred to the green transition in the tourism sector, saying that appropriations have been allocated for studies on environmental impacts within the framework of the National Tourism Strategy, a modern model for the development and management of the tourism sector, and the recording of the current situation.

“In 2025, tourism in our country is expected to once again achieve record performance, and we are optimistic that the positive trend in tourism will continue in 2026. However, I consider it very important to point out that success in the tourism sector can never be taken for granted,” he continued.

Referring to the main actions of the Deputy Ministry, Koumis focused on the effort to maintain the competitiveness of Cypriot tourism, with an emphasis on quality and respect for the principles of sustainable development, highlighting the country’s comparative advantages and further strengthening promotional activities, through a mix of digital and conventional actions, upgrading tourism education and improving the visitor experience, always with respect for local communities.

“The ultimate goal, of course, is to lay a strong foundation for the future of tourism in our country,” he concluded.

In the discussion that followed, DISY MP Savia Orphanidou highlighted issues in relation to Cyprus’ air connectivity, particularly in view of the Cyprus EU Presidency, and asked whether the problem of access for foreign missions had been addressed.

Referring to air connectivity, Koumis said that according to data from the Aviation Council International last June, Cyprus ranked second at the European level in terms of improving air connectivity when comparing 2025 with 2019, while it ranked first in the comparison of 2025/2024, as a result of the addition of direct flights from airports in Europe and the Middle East.

Regarding the Cyprus Presidency, he said that there is indeed a gap in the direct connection between Larnaca Airport and Brussels, adding that a relevant tender process is underway by the Ministry of Transport.

On behalf of AKEL, MP Costas Costa asked whether steps are being taken to attract tourists from China, while his colleague, Giannakis Gavriel, spoke of the weakening of foreign promotion offices in recent years.

In response, Koumis said that the Deputy Ministry is investing in the Chinese market so that, in the long term, it can claim a direct air link, which is not feasible at this stage for commercial reasons.

The Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry, Costas Constantinou, said regarding staffing at offices abroad that there are no longer any office managers as local staff, but that daily coordination with central management takes place.

DIPA MP Marinos Moushouttas asked what the most emblematic actions of the Deputy Ministry were in view of the Cyprus Presidency.

In his response, the Deputy Minister said that efforts had been made to provide accommodation facilities for visitors in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency, adding that this is an opportunity to re-approach the Belgian and Dutch markets.