Cyprus is increasingly being chosen by Israelis as a destination for live music, with tourism firms reporting on Friday that the lack of international artists performing in Israel is driving demand for festivals and club nights on the island.
Speaking to Israeli news outlet Mako, Prof Alon Gelbman, head of the master’s programme in tourism at Kinneret Academic, said the security situation and the absence of many international artists from Israeli stages were pushing young people towards “alternative destinations”.
He said Cyprus had a clear advantage for Israeli tourists due to its “proximity and short flight time”.
Vice president of marketing and sales at Israeli travel agency The Flying Carpet, Oren Cohen-Maguri, said Limassol had become “a sought-after entertainment destination among young people”, with its nightlife and clubs frequently playing host to international and Israeli DJs.
Cohen-Maguri said the scarcity of international performances in Israel meant concerts in Cyprus this summer could draw strong interest, “if they do take place”.
Official figures show the shift, for Cystat confirmed 135,628 Israelis arrivals last month, up from 105,597 a year earlier, a rise of more than 28 per cent.
Israel accounted for 23.3 per cent of all arrivals, making it the second largest market behind the United Kingdom on 30.5 per cent.
Limassol has become a particular draw, with Israeli travel and entertainment listings featuring the City of Dreams Mediterranean resort, beach clubs and music festivals.
Other venues featuring on Israeli nightlife listings include The Warehouse, Shaka, Columbia Sun, SODAP Beach and Guaba.
The trend has extended beyond Limassol, with Israeli rock band Kadachat having performed at Paradise Place in Pomos on October 17, according to Tel Aviv Times, which described Israeli flags inside the venue and a Hebrew welcome sign.
The growing demand comes as international performances in Israel have become increasingly scarce, with The Israel Festival having taken place this summer without an international act, while the Music Showcase Festival expected half as many overseas gests as last year.
Security restrictions have also affected domestic concerts, with stadium performances by Omer Adam and Eyal Golan postponed following Home Front Command restrictions on large gatherings in June.
Al Jazeera reported this week that Israeli visits reached nearly 600,000 last year, more than double the 2022 figure, while Israeli investment was estimated at €5.1 billion.
The Israeli embassy estimates that between 15,000 and 20,000 Israelis consider Cyprus home, compared with around 1,000 recorded in the 2021 census.
The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) has ratified the continued suspension of trading in the shares of the Reputation Exchange Plc, keeping the company off the Emerging Companies Market until December 21, 2026, unless it resolves its outstanding obligations earlier.
The decision was confirmed at a recent meeting of the CSE Council under Article 184 of the Cyprus Stock Exchange Law, following the initial announcement on October 15, 2026.
The suspension will remain in place for a further two months, unless the company addresses the issues that led to the trading halt.
These include its failure to maintain the services of a Nominated Adviser, as well as the non-submission and non-publication of its annual financial report for the year ended December 31, 2025 and its half-yearly financial report for the six months ended June 30, 2026.
The exchange said trading could resume before the deadline if the company fulfils these outstanding ongoing obligations.
Two men were found dead aboard a migrant boat that reached Spain’s Canary Islands early on Friday after departing from Gambia, and a baby was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition, Spanish rescue services said.
The vessel, carrying 113 people, was located about 37 nautical miles south of the tiny island of El Hierro after emergency services received distress calls late on Thursday. Rescuers brought 110 survivors ashore, including eight women and eight minors.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the world’s deadliest migration crossings. Thousands of migrants attempt the journey each year in overcrowded boats, seeking to reach Spanish territory despite rough seas, strong currents and long distances.
Arrivals typically pick up in the autumn months, when sea conditions along the route are generally calmer and more favourable for crossings.
Migrant arrivals have declined so far this year compared with 2025, but crossings increased sharply this month, putting additional pressure on reception and emergency services on some of the Canary Islands, particularly the smaller and less populated ones.
Migrant arrivals in the archipelago fell 18% year-on-year to 11,527 people to date, according to the office of the Spanish government’s representative in the Canary Islands.
Discovering Kyparissos this month was really down to social media brainwashing. Obviously, my algorithm favours restaurants, but Kyparissos kept coming up, and I didn’t know the name at all.
After a little research, I realised it was a restaurant I had driven past so many times on my way into Kathikas, but for whatever reason I had never turned into the car park. Upon arrival, the algorithm hype melted into genuine delight. This restaurant revealed a level of cooking that made me grateful I had followed the digital breadcrumbs all the way to its door.
The restaurant is huge, with green taverna chairs matching the tablecloths. The interior on the night we visited was spotlessly clean, and it was definitely too cold and wet to sit in one of the outdoor areas dotted around the restaurant. At the back, as you park your car, you’re greeted by row upon row of vines leading to the restaurant and spectacular views. The menu is extensive, offering all of the Cypriot favourites. A particularly nice touch was the first page, with photos of the four generations involved in the restaurant since it started in 1960, and an explanation of how it all began with their grandfather announcing he would open a taverna after a family barbecue. Wow – how it has grown over the intervening years.
As part of the menu, there was a daily special of spinach pie, so we bypassed the selection of hot and cold small dishes and started with that to share. Complimentary toasted bread splashed with olive oil and herbs was served with gorgeous olives and a very tasty tahini on the side. The spinach pie’s arrival at the table was a lesson in excellent food presentation, and it applied to everything on the menu.
I have never seen a pie look so enticing. They split it into four parts on a chopping board and scattered cherry tomato halves and cheese crumbs over it. Beneath the whisper-thin sheets of filo pastry was a wonderful filling of spinach, soft herbs, and cheese, creating a decadent, savoury, velvety centre. The four of us quickly demolished it.
Choosing our main courses wasn’t easy and took much deliberation.
The first main was Spicy Lamb Meatballs, served over a Greek pitta with the freshest finely cut salad, tzatziki, and fries in a little basket. The meatballs were a winner and captured Kyparissos’ ethos: high-quality, fresh ingredients expertly cooked in the kitchen. The meatballs had real aromatic depth, were bold and indulgent, and were seared to a smoky crust. With the other ingredients on the plate, it offered perfection in textures and flavours.
Two of us decided to try the Souvlaki in both pork and chicken versions, as others had praised it online. The best Souvlaki is all about the purity of fire and the patience to produce it. You want your meat to be kissed by the charcoal, not smothered by it. The Souvlaki at Kyparissos was juicy, tender and a generous portion. Both dishes came with salad, traditional pitta, and homemade fries with tzatziki on the side. Both were the finest examples of this traditional dish.
Our final main course was the Marinated Chicken, which was three pieces of chicken breast. It was crispy where it needed to be and succulent inside. Chicken is always highly attractive when the flavours sink deep into the meat and is richly seasoned. The Kyparissos version had a slow infusion of lemon, garlic, and fragrant herbs, resulting in tender, aromatic chicken with a whisper of smokiness. Everybody at the table was delighted with their choice and individual dish.
Rather embarrassingly, before we could order our pre-selected homemade desserts to share, a plate with four pieces of delectable orange cake was placed in front of us on the house. As we ordered two more desserts to write about, you could see the waiter’s face betraying his thoughts of greedy people! Still, we were glad to share an Anari Surprise and the Kyparissos Chocolate Cake – a word of warning that desserts here are definitely designed to be shared. The Anari dessert was very different to versions we have enjoyed in the past: like little mince pies with a filling of Anari cheese lifted by the strong flavour of Cinnamon. The chocolate cake was light and fluffy, with a velvety, decadent chocolate topping, served with ice cream and cream.
Combined with excellent service throughout the meal and a bottle of the house red from the family vineyard, the whole experience at Kyparissos was superb. A family-run taverna like this deserves every bit of praise. It is the kind of place where the cooking is heartfelt, the flavours are excellent, and every plate feels like it’s been carried from someone’s home kitchen.
I look forward to returning, either to try their full meze, which you just know would be pretty special, or their set menu Sunday lunch, which includes a variety of dishes for €25. Kyparissos is certainly a little piece of gastronomic heaven in the hills.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Cypriot
PRICES Cold Starters from €4.00, Hot Starters from €9.50, Salads from €10.00, Main Dishes from €15.50, Sunday Set Menu €25.00.
WHERE Leoforos Aki Kleanthous. Kathikas, Paphos. Main road up from Peyia.
WHEN Open every day except Wednesday. 1 – 11 pm. Reservations recommended.
Eurobank reported adjusted net profits of €1.21 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.3 per cent year-on-year, with its operations outside Greece contributing almost half of the group’s earnings, despite a decline in profits from Cyprus.
The Greek banking group’s reported net profit rose by 12.4 per cent to €1.16bn, while earnings per share reached €0.31 and its return on tangible book value stood at 16.9 per cent.
Its non-Greek operations generated adjusted net profits of €555 million, accounting for 45.9 per cent of the group’s total, with Cyprus contributing €356 million and Bulgaria €182 million.
However, adjusted net profit in Cyprus fell by 3.9 per cent year-on-year, while the Bulgarian operation recorded an increase of 9.2 per cent.
Eurobank chief executive officer Fokion Karavias said the results had been achieved against an international backdrop of energy and inflationary pressures, alongside growing concerns over government deficits and debt.
“As Europe faces a severe energy and inflationary crisis with far-reaching political and social consequences, markets have brought concerns over fiscal deficits and rising public debt into focus,” he stated.
“Greece and Cyprus stand out in this environment, with strong primary balances of 3.3 per cent and 4.0 per cent of GDP, respectively, and rapidly declining debt levels,” Karavias added.
The bank’s loan portfolio expanded organically by €3.80bn, or 10.5 per cent, during the first nine months of the year, while customer deposits increased by €4.70bn, or 10.6 per cent, reaching €87.20bn at the end of September.
Managed funds also grew by 22.3 per cent year-on-year to €11.40bn, while private banking client assets and liabilities increased by 13.2 per cent to €15.90bn.
“Greece’s debt-to-GDP ratio is falling faster than any EU country, while Cyprus’s debt-to-GDP is down to 50 per cent. Bulgaria also benefits from a low public debt-to-GDP ratio of 33 per cent, while the euro adoption and the return of political stability further strengthen the country’s macroeconomic outlook,” Karavias said.
He said the group had continued to deliver organic growth, with its loan book expanding by 10.5 per cent annually and deposits increasing by 10.6 per cent year-on-year.
“As a result of the strong performance, the return on Tangible Book Value reached 17 per cent, with a pronounced contribution from our regional activities of nearly half of profit,” he added.
Karavias said the nine-month performance demonstrated the group’s ability to sustain organic growth and gave it confidence in meeting or exceeding its full-year targets.
“The 9M26 performance demonstrates our consistent ability to deliver organic growth and gives us confidence in meeting or exceeding our full-year targets,” he mentioned.
“The acquisition completion of Eurolife provides an additional growth engine, particularly in insurance and asset management,” he added.
The completion of the Eurolife FFH acquisition is expected to strengthen Eurobank’s insurance presence and diversification, while providing further opportunities in insurance and asset management.
The bank will distribute an interim dividend of €0.0599 per share on November 26, 2026, which Karavias said reflected its strong performance and prudent capital management.
Eurobank’s net interest income increased by 8.7 per cent to €2.07bn during the first nine months, while income from fees and commissions rose by 13 per cent to €630m.
The increase in fee income was mainly driven by higher revenues from lending, wealth management and insurance operations, and represented 76 basis points of total assets.
In the third quarter alone, net interest income rose by 5 per cent compared with the previous quarter, reaching €719m.
The bank attributed this to an increase in interest-earning assets and higher European Central Bank interest rates, with the average deposit facility rate standing at 2.29 per cent in the third quarter, compared with 2.04 per cent in the second quarter.
Core income grew by 9.7 per cent to €2.70bn, while total operating income increased by 10.8 per cent to €2.78bn.
Operating expenses rose by 6.9 per cent to €995m, but the cost-to-income ratio improved to 35.8 per cent from 37.1 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.
Core pre-provision income increased by 11.4 per cent to €1.70bn, while overall pre-provision income rose by 13.1 per cent to €1.78bn.
Loan loss provisions declined by 5.5 per cent year-on-year to €224m, equivalent to 53 basis points of average net loans, while core operating profit before tax increased by 14.4 per cent to €1.48bn.
At the end of September, the group’s non-performing exposure ratio stood at 2.4 per cent, while provisions covered 81.9 per cent of non-performing exposures.
Total capital adequacy and Common Equity Tier 1 ratios stood at 20.4 per cent and 15.5 per cent, respectively, while tangible book value per share reached €2.65, representing an annual increase of 7.7 per cent.
The group’s total assets amounted to €114.20bn at the end of September, including €66.90bn in Greece, €29.40bn in Cyprus and €14.80bn in Bulgaria.
Gross loans totalled €59.10bn, comprising €38.60bn in Greece, €9.30bn in Cyprus and €10.10bn in Bulgaria.
Across the group, business loans amounted to €37.10bn, mortgages to €13.10bn and consumer loans to €5.30bn.
Deposits were distributed across Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria at €48.50bn, €24.30bn and €11.70bn, respectively.
The loans-to-deposits ratio stood at 66.4 per cent, while the liquidity coverage ratio reached 174.4 per cent.
Despite the strong results, credit rating agency Morningstar DBRS has highlighted a potential deterioration in asset quality in the final quarter of the year.
The agency warned that loans affected by legislation concerning the conversion of Swiss franc-denominated loans could be reclassified as unlikely to pay during the fourth quarter.
Such a development could add around 40 basis points to Eurobank’s non-performing loan ratio and reduce its coverage ratio by 10 percentage points.
The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) has extended the suspension of trading in the shares of Rianeson Investments Plc and G.A.P. Vassilopoulos Public Ltd for a further two months, until December 28, 2026, because both companies have outstanding financial reporting obligations.
The exchange announced on Friday that the suspensions would remain in force under Article 185 of the Securities and Cyprus Stock Exchange Law, as the reasons behind the original decisions had not been resolved.
Rianeson Investments has failed to submit and publish four outstanding financial reports, covering both annual and half-yearly periods.
These include its annual financial report for the year ended December 31, 2024, its half-yearly report for the six months to June 30, 2025, its annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025, and its half-yearly report for the six months to June 30, 2026.
G.A.P. Vassilopoulos, meanwhile, remains suspended because it has not submitted and published its half-yearly financial report for the period ended June 30, 2026.
The CSE said the suspensions could be lifted before the extended deadline if either company fulfils its outstanding obligations during the suspension period.
The Court of Appeal on Friday unanimously ordered a man who killed his neighbour’s cat by repeatedly striking it on the head with a broomstick to serve a two-month prison sentence.
The court overturned an earlier decision by the Nicosia district court to suspend the sentence for three years, ruling that there had been insufficient justification for doing so.
However, it rejected the attorney-general’s argument that the two-month sentence was excessively lenient and should be increased.
In its decision, the Court of Appeal stressed the need for strict punishment of animal cruelty offences, both to deter potential offenders and to protect animals from abuse.
The man had been convicted by the Nicosia district court following his admission that he killed his neighbour’s cat in August 2021.
He repeatedly struck the animal on the head with a broomstick before placing it in a basket, where it briefly writhed before dying.
The appeal court noted that it was unclear whether the trial court had adequately considered the brutality of the repeated blows, which caused a fatal head injury, or the fact that the injured animal had subsequently been placed in a basket.
In determining the original sentence, the district court had taken into account the defendant’s admission, clean criminal record and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
The Court of Appeal acknowledged that the two-month prison sentence could be considered lenient but found that it was not so inadequate as to warrant intervention.
However, it ruled that the mitigating factors considered when determining the length of a sentence did not automatically justify suspending it.
The appeal court found that the district court had failed to provide sufficient reasons for suspending the sentence.
It also rejected the defence’s argument that the time elapsed since the offence should be treated as a mitigating factor.
The court noted that delays in the original proceedings had resulted from difficulties serving the indictment, postponements involving the defence and the welfare office’s failure to prepare a report on time because the defendant had not responded.
The Court of Appeal therefore rejected the attorney-general’s challenge to the length of the sentence but upheld the appeal against its suspension, ordering the man to begin serving his two-month prison term immediately.
What began in 2019 as an initiative to bring traditional games into the digital age has evolved into a Cyprus-based gaming company with ambitions extending well beyond the island.
Founded by businessmen Harris Orfanides and Marios Demetriades, Spectrum.Games International Ltd has built its identity around a simple idea: gaming is not merely entertainment, but a means of connecting people across generations, cultures and geographical boundaries.
Today, led by CEO and principal shareholder Marios Demetriades, the company is expanding its presence while developing gaming concepts that combine technology, competition and cultural identity.
“For us, gaming has always been about more than entertainment. It is about bringing people together, preserving traditions and creating connections that go beyond generations and geographical boundaries,” Demetriades said.
From traditional favourites to digital communities
Established in late 2019 and launching online operations at the end of 2020, Spectrum Games recognised an opportunity to modernise familiar games without losing their social appeal.
Rather than focusing exclusively on new concepts, the company transformed traditional favourites into accessible multiplayer experiences.
Its portfolio includes Mpirimpa, Backgammon Premium and Tichu, each with established communities and distinct cultural traditions.
Its flagship game, Mpirimpa, has attracted almost 5,000 daily active users, predominantly from Cyprus and Greece, demonstrating the enduring popularity of traditional games when combined with modern digital platforms.
More than entertainment
What distinguishes Spectrum Games is its emphasis on social interaction.
While the global gaming industry continues evolving through sophisticated graphics and immersive technologies, the company has concentrated on making familiar games accessible, enjoyable and socially engaging.
Its platforms allow friends and family to play together regardless of location, while offering opportunities to meet new people and develop friendships.
Whether playing from home, during a break or while travelling, users can enjoy shared experiences that transcend physical distance.
The objective is not simply gameplay, but preserving the social traditions associated with games that have brought people together for generations.
Innovation with a Cypriot identity
Beyond its traditional portfolio, Spectrum Games is developing original concepts, including Stack Champs, a skill-based game combining accessible gameplay with competitive challenges, leaderboards and tournaments.
Another development is Stack Cyprus, a specially adapted version celebrating the island’s cultural identity and natural beauty.
Through gameplay, players will encounter locations and landmarks across Cyprus, introducing international audiences to the island while offering local players something culturally familiar.
“We want to demonstrate that a company based in Cyprus can develop innovative gaming experiences with international appeal, while celebrating the culture and traditions that make our island unique,” Demetriades said.
The initiative reflects the potential for Cyprus-based developers to create internationally appealing products inspired by their local environment, combining digital entertainment with cultural promotion.
Looking beyond Cyprus
Having established a growing player base in Cyprus and Greece, Spectrum Games is targeting additional markets where its existing games have cultural recognition.
Italy has been identified as the first potential expansion market for Mpirimpa, while the company continues promoting Tichu and Backgammon Premium in its established markets.
International growth, however, requires more than making games available in new territories.
Multilingual functionality, cross-platform accessibility, online tournaments and continuous product improvements are central to its expansion strategy.
The company is also exploring artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to strengthen customer support, improve player engagement and enhance the gaming experience.
These developments aim to support an increasingly scalable operation serving diverse international communities.
The challenge of competing globally
Access to funding remains one of Spectrum Games’ most significant challenges.
Although digital platforms allow smaller companies to reach global audiences, competing against established international gaming businesses requires substantial investment in development, marketing, technology and customer acquisition.
“Our ambition is to compete internationally, but access to funding remains one of our greatest challenges. With the right support and targeted government initiatives, Cyprus-based gaming companies could have a much stronger presence in the global market,” Demetriades said.
The company believes specially designed government funding programmes, similar to initiatives operating abroad, could help smaller developers compete more effectively.
Such measures could strengthen not only individual businesses but also Cyprus’ wider digital gaming and creative technology sectors.
For the island’s startup ecosystem, the challenge is ensuring promising locally developed products can secure the financial backing needed to scale internationally.
Building a global gaming community
Looking ahead, Spectrum Games aims to become an internationally recognised gaming company, combining traditional favourites with modern technology.
Its strategy centres on strengthening existing communities, developing original products and entering carefully selected international markets.
At the heart of that vision is the belief that successful gaming experiences are defined not solely by technology or competition, but by the connections they create.
From traditional card games played between friends to digital experiences showcasing Cyprus internationally, Spectrum Games is demonstrating how innovation can give familiar experiences new life.
For Demetriades and his team, the next chapter is about translating that philosophy into sustainable international growth while remaining rooted in the social and cultural values that inspired the company.
The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) set the reference interest rate at 11.60 per cent on Friday, under provisions of the Criminal Code aimed at preventing excessive charges on loans.
The rate is determined under Article 314A of the Cyprus Criminal Code, Cap. 154, which makes it a criminal offence for lenders to demand or receive financial or other benefits exceeding the prescribed reference rate.
The provision applies when a loan is granted, its repayment period is extended, or an existing loan is renewed or discounted.
It covers benefits received, collected, charged, stipulated or obtained either for the lender’s own benefit or on behalf of a third party.
Anyone convicted of breaching the provision faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to €30,000, or both penalties.
The CBC determines the reference rate in accordance with its powers under the legislation, with the latest announcement setting it at 11.60 per cent.
Hay bales contaminated with the food and mouth virus (FMD) that were intended to be buried in Troulli will be moved to another safe location so as not to affect livestock units in the adjacent areas, Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis said on Friday.
Senekis said the decision was made following consultation with Aradippou mayor Christodoulos Partou.
According to the minister, the goal was to address the issue safely without creating problems for the reactivation of livestock units following the FMD crisis, assuring that the transfer of the bales would take place immediately.
The Trump administration does not plan to back Flavio Bolsonaro’s claim to be Brazil’s rightful leader, despite helping the defeated candidate reach the US after years of supporting him and his father, a US official and another person familiar with the matter said.
President Donald Trump has said Brazil’s election on Sunday looked “rigged” but has pointed out that he offered no endorsement in the hotly contested race. Trump has also said he gets along well with incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the 81-year-old former union leader who beat the odds to clinch reelection by 3.5 percentage points.
The US official and the person familiar with the matter, who both spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Trump has no current plans to support Bolsonaro’s political ambitions even as the administration allowed him into the country, though they said the president could change his mind.
The Trump administration’s posture suggests the president may be reluctant to cause a fresh crisis in relations with Brazil, which have gone through ups and downs in recent months.
LAST-SECOND DEPARTURE AFTER COURT RULING ON PASSPORT
A third US official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Bolsonaro’s political capital had fallen now that he is in self-exile. Many conservatives in Brazil who had expected him to lead the opposition in the coming years have criticized his flight.
The White House referred a request for comment to the State Department, which did not reply. The Brazilian government and a representative for Bolsonaro did not respond to requests for comment.
Flavio’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is imprisoned in Brazil for attempting a self-coup to stay in power after losing his reelection bid in 2022.
Some Brazilian officials, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Bolsonaro’s departure helps Lula by weakening the conservative opposition in Brazil’s Congress.
Bolsonaro’s flight was a last-second decision that came after a Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered him to turn in his passport, granting a request by federal police who are investigating him over two alleged money-laundering schemes, US officials and others familiar with the matter said.
The police request came in just minutes after the election was called for Lula, according to Brazilian media reports, a timeline that some conservatives have pointed to as evidence of political motivation.
Supporters of Lula’s government point out that, days before the election, Flavio’s brother, Eduardo, suggested publicly that Flavio should leave Brazil if he lost. Eduardo, a former congressman who himself lives in the US, was convicted in Brazil in June of courting interference from the Trump administration in his father’s trial.
Argentine authorities said that Flavio Bolsonaro, his wife and two daughters crossed a bridge into northern Argentina at 10:50 p.m. on Tuesday before boarding a chartered aircraft at 11:30 p.m. Bolsonaro and his family then flew to Miami via Ecuador.
It is unclear how Bolsonaro traveled from his home in Brasilia to the bridge crossing 750 miles (1,300 km) away or exited Brazil without the knowledge of Brazilian customs officials. But during that journey, Bolsonaro contacted multiple US officials regarding his departure, according to one of the US officials.
Jason Miller, a Trump adviser who is close to the Bolsonaro family, helped arrange the flight from Argentina, the person familiar with the matter said. During Bolsonaro’s journey, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recommended to Trump that Bolsonaro be admitted, a recommendation the president signed off on, according to the US official.
During Bolsonaro’s two-leg flight, State Department officials scrambled to determine the best legal route for admitting him and his family, discussing the matter with Department of Homeland Security personnel, the official said. Ultimately, US authorities granted them humanitarian parole at the border, a temporary status given to individuals when urgent humanitarian concerns or a significant public interest are at play, the official added.
In an open letter posted on X on Wednesday, Bolsonaro declared himself “the elected president.” He then deleted that version and updated it with another letter in which he said he was Brazil’s rightful “leader.”
BRAZILIAN POLITICS WORTHY OF A TELENOVELA
The Bolsonaro departure was the latest chapter in a tumultuous period in Brazilian politics and in US-Brazil relations.
Bolsonaro’s father was president from 2019 to 2023, then lost reelection to Lula and was jailed last year for his self-coup attempt. Lula himself spent 17 months in jail in 2018 and 2019 on corruption charges that were later annulled.
The US last year slapped sanctions on the judge overseeing the trial of the elder Bolsonaro and other Brazilian officials. Washington lifted the sanctions after Trump and Lula had a notably cordial interaction at the UN General Assembly.
During the campaign, Brazil objected to what it called attempts by some US officials to boost the Bolsonaro campaign, and the government has refused to seat the incoming US ambassador to Brazil, a close Rubio ally, in part due to those objections.
Reuters reported last week that two conservative State Department officials successfully pushed for the Brazil sanctions as well as terrorist designations of two Brazilian organized crime groups, measures aimed at tilting the election in Bolsonaro’s favor.
Still, even as Trump has attacked the way Brazil conducted the election, he has refrained from criticizing Lula.
“I like Lula, I get along with him very well,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I just think it had a very bad look, the election.”
Cyprus showcased 28 local food and drink businesses at the international SIAL Paris exhibition in France from October 17 to 21, 2026, using two national pavilions covering a combined area of approximately 356 square metres to promote domestic products and explore new export opportunities.
The event, held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, is considered one of the leading international trade fairs for the food and beverage industry and is organised every two years by Comexposium.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, this year’s exhibition brought together 8,000 exhibitors from 130 countries and approximately 295,000 professional visitors, offering opportunities to explore emerging industry trends, discover innovations and develop commercial partnerships.
A major focus of Cyprus’ presence was halloumi, with 13 companies taking part in the dairy products pavilion in Hall 7.
The cheese received dedicated promotion through special signage featuring the Halloumi® name and Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) mark, while an entire side of the Hall 7 entrance was devoted to the Cypriot product.
Visitors were also able to use an interactive touchscreen entitled “Discover halloumi”, which provided information about the cheese and Cyprus’ dairies, highlighting its connection with domestic production.
The second national pavilion, located in Hall 2, hosted the remaining 15 participating businesses, which presented a wide variety of products from the island’s food industry.
These included olive oil, olives, honey, bulgur wheat, fruit juices, nuts, dried fruit, herbal beverages and coffee, alongside frozen foods and vegan products.
An interactive display at the pavilion provided information about the participating companies and their products, while also featuring a quiz designed to give visitors a more engaging and direct introduction to Cyprus’ food production.
“The country’s participation this year highlighted the potential and diversity of the domestic food industry, promoting both products with a strong identity and recognition, such as halloumi, and a wide range of other Cypriot products,” the ministry said.
“It also confirmed the importance of an organised presence at leading international exhibitions as a means of strengthening international outreach, promoting Cypriot production and exploring new business opportunities in international markets,” it added.
The Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry said it would continue supporting the promotion of Cypriot products abroad, helping strengthen the international presence of domestic businesses and create opportunities for further export growth.
The two-zone winter reduced-rate tariff for electricity (formerly known as the “ night-time tariff”) will come into effect from Sunday, November 1, 2026, and will remain in force until March 31, 2027, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) announced on Friday. Τhe hours for each zone are as follows: – Midday zone: 12 noon […]
Dockworkers staged protests at the ports of Limassol and Larnaca on Friday as unions at more than 100 ports across four continents took part in an International Day of Action against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The port workers’ union (Segdamelin-Peo) organised the events to mark the second International Day of Action for Dockworkers, held under the slogan “Ports for Peace”.
The union said ports were “critical hubs” for the economy and trade, but that their infrastructure was being used to transport military equipment.
Workers should not “pay the price for wars and rivalries”, it said, adding that Cypriots knew “what war, occupation, partition and militarisation mean”.
It also called for decent wages, stable jobs, collective agreements and better health and safety protection.
Heavy spending on a war economy, it said, led to “austerity and cuts to healthcare, education, pensions and wages”.
The international action is backed by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which said more than 25 unions from 22 countries were taking part, along with seafarers and metalworkers.
Dockworkers in France, Italy, India, Greece and Turkey have called 24-hour strikes, while others are holding rallies in port cities; seventeen Palestinian trade unions and confederations have likewise endorsed the day.
The unions are demanding an end to “militarisation” and to what they describe as “Israel’s genocide against Palestinians”.
Markos Bekris, president of the Greek dockworkers’ union (Enedep), said unions representing tens of thousands of workers were taking a stand “from Piraeus to Genoa and from Marseille to Istanbul”.
Sara Elettra, who coordinates maritime and energy embargo campaigns for BDS, said more than 90 per cent of Israel’s imports arrived by sea, making dockworkers a choke point for its economy.
She said governments were legally obliged to impose a full military embargo on Israel after the International Court of Justice’s 2024 rulings.
“Where states fail to act, workers will,” she said.
Jamal Juma, of the Palestinian trade union coalition, said dockworkers who had blocked ships and arms shipments bound for Israel had shown “the collective power of organised labour”.
US President Donald Trump, speaking ahead of November 3 midterm congressional elections, said on Friday he believed the war with Iran will end soon, but did not say how that would happen.
“It’s going to get wrapped up soon,” Trump said in an interview with Kansas City radio station KCMO. “We need a guarantee there’ll never be a nuclear weapon.”
Trump has said the US would not strike Iran before the elections.
King Charles has since 2022 expressed sorrow for the suffering caused by slavery without crossing a line that Britain has long resisted: an apology.
That balancing act is likely to be tested at next week’s Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where Caribbean leaders who back a reparations campaign through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are expected to press their case.
Buckingham Palace has indicated Charles would not apologise on behalf of Britain, which has repeatedly ruled out financial reparations over its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Speaking in the Bahamas on Tuesday ahead of a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that begins on Sunday, Charles said it was “only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past,” and said leaders from affected countries would discuss the issue at the summit.
But Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, chair of the Bahamas’ National Reparations Committee, said that did not go far enough. “We do not need more carefully crafted words about healing,” she said in a statement. “We need action equal with the scale of the harm inflicted.”
MONARCHY’S CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS
From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery by European traders, with Britain transporting an estimated 3.2 million people across the Atlantic, making it one of the biggest slave-trading nations, according to the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database.
Alan Lester, a University of Sussex historian whose research spans the legacies of slavery and empire, said opponents of the reparations movement had “successfully weaponised” the idea that reparations simply meant writing a cheque, an idea that few Western governments will countenance.
Instead, Caribbean leaders often frame their demands in terms of debt relief, development finance, education, healthcare and climate resilience, measures they say would address inequalities rooted in slavery and colonialism.
Buckingham Palace said in 2023 that Charles had given his support to research that was examining the monarchy’s links to slavery after the Guardian newspaper reported on a document showing a historical connection.
In a more recent finding, independent researcher Desiree Baptiste told Reuters her forthcoming book, “George IV, Empire, and Objects of Prestige,” would cite House of Lords papers and other British government records showing that profits derived from enslaved labour helped fund furniture and decorative work commissioned by George IV at royal residences.
Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the findings.
“I think King Charles III is in a difficult position because you can express sorrow about something, but an apology goes much further,” royal commentator Afua Hagan said.
Cyprus tourism revenue fell by 3.4 per cent year-on-year in August to €562 million, as fewer tourists and shorter stays weighed on earnings despite an increase in average daily spending, according to figures released by the statistical service (Cystat) on Friday.
Revenue stood at €581.8m in August 2025, meaning the sector earned €19.8m less than a year earlier, as tourist arrivals declined from 602,026 to 581,880.
The latest figures also show that tourism revenue for the first eight months of 2026 reached €2.32 billion, down 6.2 per cent from €2.47bn during the corresponding period of 2025.
The August decline follows a stronger performance in July, when tourism revenue increased by 4.6 per cent to €536.5m, supported by higher visitor spending despite slightly lower arrivals.
In August, however, average expenditure per tourist remained almost unchanged at €965.81, compared with €966.41 a year earlier.
Although the average length of stay declined from 9.2 days to 8.9 days, tourists spent more each day, with average daily expenditure increasing from €105.04 to €108.52.
The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’ largest tourist market, accounting for 30.5 per cent of total arrivals, followed by Israel with 23.3 per cent and Poland with 6.3 per cent.
British arrivals fell from 193,091 in August 2025 to 177,603 this year, while the average length of stay shortened from 10.6 days to 10.2 days.
Spending by British visitors also declined, with average expenditure per person falling from €1,195.02 to €1,062.12, while daily spending decreased from €112.74 to €104.13.
Israel, meanwhile, recorded a substantial increase in arrivals, rising from 105,597 to 135,628, strengthening its position as Cyprus’ second-largest source of tourists.
Israeli visitors stayed for an average of five days, compared with 5.2 days a year earlier, but their expenditure increased considerably.
Average spending per person rose from €792.69 to €892.20, while daily expenditure climbed from €152.44 to €178.44, considerably higher than the average for the tourism market as a whole.
Poland remained the third-largest market, although arrivals declined from 41,844 to 36,622.
Polish tourists stayed slightly longer, with the average visit increasing from 7.7 days to 7.9 days, but spending per person fell from €740.38 to €729.93. Daily expenditure also declined from €96.15 to €92.40.
German arrivals decreased from 27,665 to 25,823, while the average stay shortened from 10.5 days to 10.2 days.
Despite this, German visitors spent more, with average expenditure per person increasing from €987.97 to €1,084.18 and daily spending rising from €94.09 to €106.29.
Sweden followed a similar pattern, with arrivals declining from 18,636 to 17,441, although the average stay increased from 8.4 days to 8.8 days.
Average spending among Swedish tourists rose from €876.21 to €1,024.42 per person, while daily expenditure increased from €104.31 to €116.41.
Danish arrivals also fell slightly, from 9,984 to 9,733, while visitors shortened their stays from 8.8 days to 7.7 days.
Their average expenditure per person declined from €836.78 to €780.74, although daily spending increased from €95.09 to €101.39.
Norwegian arrivals moved in the opposite direction, increasing marginally from 7,896 to 8,006. However, Cystat did not publish reliable expenditure or length-of-stay figures for this market.
Arrivals from Greece declined from 15,294 to 13,810, with the average stay falling from 10.5 days to 10.2 days.
Greek visitors also spent less, with average expenditure per person decreasing from €484.94 to €466.29, while daily spending slipped from €46.18 to €45.71.
Visitors from the USrecorded one of the most striking increases in spending, with average expenditure per person almost doubling from €849.70 to €1,691.60.
American arrivals increased from 8,597 to 9,665, while the average length of stay rose sharply from 12.2 days to 16.7 days.
Daily expenditure also increased substantially, from €69.65 to €101.29, with the longer stays contributing to the considerable increase in spending per visitor.
Austrian arrivals fell from 11,935 to 10,389, although visitors stayed considerably longer, with the average duration increasing from 7.4 days to 9.1 days.
Average expenditure among Austrian tourists rose from €899.80 to €1,116.79 per person, while daily spending increased slightly from €121.59 to €122.72.
Swiss arrivals also declined, from 7,277 to 6,739, but the average length of stay increased from 8.9 days to 9.2 days.
Swiss visitors remained among the highest-spending tourists, with average expenditure per person rising from €1,254.87 to €1,423.77, while daily spending increased from €141 to €154.76.
Arrivals from the Netherlands fell from 7,672 to 6,331, although Dutch visitors extended their average stay from 9.7 days to 10.9 days.
Despite spending more time in Cyprus, their average expenditure per person declined from €1,103.80 to €1,062.19, while daily spending fell from €113.79 to €97.45.
France recorded one of the sharpest declines among Cyprus’ main European tourism markets, with arrivals falling from 15,663 to 8,453.
French tourists nevertheless stayed longer, with the average visit increasing from 9.4 days to 11.2 days.
Their average expenditure per person rose from €979.40 to €1,034.62, although daily spending declined from €104.19 to €92.38.
Belgian arrivals, meanwhile, increased from 3,342 to 4,475, accompanied by a substantial rise in the average length of stay from 10.2 days to 13.3 days.
Average expenditure by Belgian tourists increased from €918.56 to €1,064.54 per person, although daily spending fell from €90.05 to €80.04.
Finnish arrivals declined from 4,018 to 3,431, with tourists spending an average of €1,105.20 per person and €120.13 per day, based on an average stay of 9.2 days.
Italian arrivals also fell sharply, dropping from 11,173 to 6,282, while the average stay shortened from 8.5 days to 8.1 days.
However, Italian tourists increased their average expenditure from €773.38 to €928.95 per person, with daily spending rising from €90.99 to €114.69.
Finally, arrivals from Lebanon declined from 5,745 to 5,085.
The cumulative figures show that the sector has yet to recover the revenue lost during the earlier months of 2026, with tourism earnings for January to August remaining €153.1m below the corresponding period last year.
A month after the explosion in historical center of Athens, in Plaka, where 6 people were killed, the Fire Service Arson Crime Division identified three suspects: cooper-thieves who had cut off a pipe of natural gas, thus triggering the explosion on September 25.. Authorities issued arrests warrants against three men, aged 34, 37 and 55, […]
Cyprus’ unemployment rate remained at 4 per cent in September 2026, unchanged from August and below the 4.2 per cent recorded a year earlier, while youth unemployment stayed at 11.3 per cent, according to figures published by Eurostat on Friday.
The number of unemployed people in Cyprus stood at approximately 21,000 in September, down from around 22,000 in September 2025, as the labour market continued to perform better than the European Union average.
The figures also showed that youth unemployment in Cyprus declined over the past year, with the number of unemployed people aged under 25 falling from approximately 4,000 in September 2025 to 3,000 in June 2026, where it remained through September.
Across the EU, however, unemployment increased over the year, with the overall rate reaching 6.2 per cent in September, compared with 6 per cent in the same month of 2025.
The euro area unemployment rate stood at 6.5 per cent, unchanged from August but higher than the 6.3 per cent recorded a year earlier.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, estimated that 13.773 million people were unemployed across the EU in September, including 11.555 million in the euro area.
Compared with August, the number of unemployed people increased by 105,000 across the EU and by 122,000 in the euro area.
On an annual basis, unemployment rose by 471,000 across the EU and by 420,000 in the euro area.
Cyprus unemployment remains below EU average
Cyprus’ unemployment rate declined from 4.2 per cent in September 2025 to 3.8 per cent in June 2026, before edging up to 3.9 per cent in July and reaching 4 per cent in August, where it remained in September.
The number of unemployed people followed a similar pattern, falling from approximately 22,000 in September 2025 to 21,000 in June and July 2026.
The figure increased to around 22,000 in August before returning to approximately 21,000 in September.
The latest figures place Cyprus’ unemployment rate 2.2 percentage points below the EU average and 2.5 percentage points below the euro area rate.
While the EU and euro area have experienced an increase in unemployment over the past year, Cyprus’ rate has declined, indicating comparatively favourable labour market conditions.
Youth unemployment remains lower in Cyprus
The unemployment rate among people aged under 25 in Cyprus stood at 11.3 per cent in September 2026, unchanged from July and August and below the 12.9 per cent recorded in September 2025.
The rate had fallen to 11.8 per cent by June 2026 before declining further to 11.3 per cent in July.
The number of unemployed young people also decreased over the year, from approximately 4,000 in September 2025 to 3,000 in June 2026, remaining at that level through September.
The figures compare favourably with the wider European picture, where youth unemployment continued to rise.
Across the EU, the youth unemployment rate reached 15.5 per cent in September, up from 15.4 per cent in August.
In the euro area, the rate increased to 15.4 per cent from 15.1 per cent in the previous month.
Eurostat estimated that 3.022 million people aged under 25 were unemployed across the EU in September, including 2.469 million in the euro area.
Compared with August, youth unemployment increased by 44,000 across the EU and by 69,000 in the euro area.
Compared with September 2025, the number of unemployed young people rose by 45,000 in the EU and by 80,000 in the euro area.
Unemployment among women and men
The unemployment rate for men in Cyprus stood at 3.7 per cent in September 2026, unchanged from July and August, after declining from 4 per cent in September 2025 to 3.6 per cent in June 2026.
Among women, the rate reached 4.3 per cent in September, down from 4.4 per cent a year earlier.
Female unemployment had fallen to 4.1 per cent in June 2026 before increasing to 4.2 per cent in July and 4.4 per cent in August, then edging down in September.
The figures show that the unemployment rate for women remained higher than that for men in Cyprus, although the difference narrowed slightly in September.
Across the EU, the unemployment rate for women stood at 6.4 per cent in September, while the rate for men was 6 per cent, with both unchanged from the previous month.
In the euro area, female unemployment remained at 6.7 per cent, while the male rate increased to 6.4 per cent from 6.3 per cent in August.
European unemployment rises over the year
The wider European figures showed a gradual increase in unemployment compared with September 2025, despite rates remaining stable between August and September 2026.
In the euro area, the unemployment rate rose from 6.3 per cent in September 2025 to 6.4 per cent in June 2026, before reaching 6.5 per cent in July and remaining at that level through September.
The number of unemployed people in the euro area increased from 11.135 million in September 2025 to 11.555 million in September 2026.
Across the EU, the unemployment rate increased from 6 per cent in September 2025 to 6.2 per cent in June 2026, remaining at 6.2 per cent through September.
The total number of unemployed people across the bloc rose from 13.302 million to 13.773 million over the same period.
The latest figures therefore highlight a contrast between Cyprus, where overall unemployment and youth joblessness remained below their levels a year earlier, and the wider EU, where both the number of unemployed people and the overall rate increased.
Parliamentary staff have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the behaviour of certain MPs, both inside parliament and through public statements and social media posts, warning that disparaging remarks are undermining their professional dignity and working relationships.
In a letter dated October 27 to House president Annita Demetriou, members of the Pasydy parliamentary employees’ branch called for a working environment based on mutual respect and institutional decorum.
The employees said they carried out their duties daily with professionalism, responsibility and discretion, providing administrative, scientific and organisational support to MPs, their parliamentary associates and the House’s various bodies.
They stressed that their primary responsibility was to ensure the smooth functioning of parliament and protect the credibility and dignity of the institution.
However, they warned that behaviour and public comments which belittle employees, undermine their work or collectively assign blame without considering their institutional role and demanding working conditions “harm both their professional and personal dignity”.
“At the same time, they create a climate of disappointment and insecurity and undermine the fundamental relationship of cooperation between MPs and parliamentary staff in the future,” the letter said.
The employees acknowledged MPs’ right to criticise, raise concerns and seek explanations about parliamentary operations, but stressed that criticism should distinguish between institutional or administrative disagreements and personal attacks on staff.
“The public expression of disagreements must not become a means of targeting, assigning sole responsibility or belittling parliamentary staff,” they said.
The union branch called for measures to prevent similar behaviour and remarks in the future.
“The smooth functioning of parliament and the effective support of parliamentary work require relationships of cooperation, trust and mutual respect between MPs and staff,” the letter concluded.
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