Cyprus

The sale of Superhome Center DIY in Cyprus to a Greek investor is moving forward, with the final deal expected to be concluded in the coming weeks.

Mourners lined the streets outside Athens' central cathedral Thursday for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Costas Simitis, a law professor and reformist who steered Greece into the European Union's single currency. Simitis, who died last weekend at the age of 88, was praised for his pivotal role in modernizing Greece and advancing its European integration.

The percentage of US visa denials for Bulgarians has steadily decreased in recent years, with 2024 marking a significant improvement at just 6.02%. This figure, the lowest since 2006, is still above the threshold needed for Bulgaria to join the US Visa Waiver Program, which requires the denial rate to remain under 3%.

The leaders of Greece, Egypt and Cyprus agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership and coordinate on pressing issues during a trilateral summit on Wednesday in Cairo addressing fast-changing dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has expressed his hope for a two-state solution to the five-decades old problem in Cyprus, repeating Ankara's calls on Greek Cyprus and Greece to act in line with the realities on the island.

Cyprus' Parliament saw strong reactions on Wednesday following Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou's announcement regarding the "Pay As You Throw" (PAYT) waste management system. A series of studies showed that households may face a fixed fee of 170-250 euros annually for mixed waste disposal, which is higher than current costs.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Ankara's support for a two-state solution in Cyprus during a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in the occupied part of Nicosia on Wednesday.

Regional developments, energy, and migration were the central topics of discussion in the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during the 10th Trilateral Greece-Egypt-Cyprus Summit held in Cairo on Wednesday.

"I want a Greece that is open and present. A Greece that inspires pride and strength. To be abroad and say you come from Greece and be respected. That is what I want to achieve, and I am passionate about it."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to visit Cyprus on Thursday, according to sources from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).