Thursday’s press highlights a range of domestic developments, with several newspapers giving prominence to the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture report on the Central Prisons. Also featured are today’s meeting between President Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman with UN envoy Maria Holguín, staffing concerns in private hospitals and the ongoing debate over the taxation of Provident Funds.
Alithia, under the headline “Central Prisons Under Scrutiny”, reports on the Council of Europe’s findings regarding violence, informal disciplinary practices among inmates and concerns about living conditions. In another story, the paper notes that expectations remain modest ahead of the Christodoulides–Erhürman meeting. It also mentions that storm “Byron” is weakening, with more rain forecast for Monday.
Politis, with the headline “A Step Forward: Today’s Trilateral with Holguín”, describes the meeting as an important moment for assessing progress on Confidence-Building Measures and determining whether conditions are in place for a five-party process in early 2026. Elsewhere, the paper reports that former ministers will require approval from an independent three-member committee before taking up private-sector roles, and revisits the findings on the Central Prisons.
Phileleftheros leads with “Hospitals Facing Licence Issues”, referring to a notice reportedly given to a major Nicosia hospital due to a shortage of nursing staff. The paper also features a photo of the Pedieos River following recent rainfall, noting that river flows are strong while dam levels remain low. In another article, it states that debate in Parliament on the teacher evaluation bill has concluded and the legislation now moves to the plenary, with educators signalling possible measures.
Haravgi, under the headline “Concerns Over Provident Fund Viability”, presents the joint reaction of trade unions to the government’s intention to impose taxation on Provident Funds. The paper also refers to political manoeuvring around proposals for wealth taxation. In its education coverage, it notes that the teacher evaluation bill is proceeding to the plenary and reports on additional funding for 300 IKYK scholarship holders.
The English-language Cyprus Mail, with the headline “Council of Europe Report Highlights Prison Challenges”, cites observations regarding violence, staffing shortages and cell conditions at the Nicosia facility. Its front-page photo features a performance by the Agios Spyridon Special School choir at the House of Representatives. The paper also reports that Commandaria has been added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The consequences and severe problems left behind in the north by the recent weather conditions continue to dominate coverage in the Turkish Cypriot press. Several newspapers also refer to today’s meeting between the two leaders and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, highlighting a related social-media post yesterday by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman.
Avrupa (“Europe”), under the headline “The trnc is the master of black money”, writes that the pseudo-state produces nothing, exports nothing, has no currency of its own, and is also under “embargo”, adding that everyone now complains about black money without understanding that, without it, this “pirate state” would not be able to stand on its feet. Elsewhere it highlights Erhürman's recent statement in an interview that he does not accept the pseudo-state being portrayed as a hub of black money and as Turkey’s gambling den, criticising him for “failing to realise that this is exactly what the ‘trnc’ is”. In another report, the paper notes that water leakage occurred in the new “parliament” building, both in the basement and in the “plenary” hall.
Halkın Sesi (“Voice of the People”), with the headline “If no measures are taken, nothing will change”, features comments by the “president” of the “chamber of building contractors”, Abdullah Ekıncı, who said it is inaccurate to claim that the recent events were solely a natural disaster. He stressed that during the urbanisation process, streams and natural water reservoirs were not taken into account. The paper also reports that attention is now turning to today's meeting between the two leaders.
Kıbrıs (“Cyprus”), under the headline “Dikomo lived through destruction”, writes that in Dikomo the flooding affected not only roads but also homes, as water from Pentadaktylos, following heavy rainfall, flowed through the village, sweeping away houses and vehicles, while many roads became unusable. Elsewhere it reports that the two leaders meet today for the second time and highlights Tufan Erhürman's post saying he is attending the meeting “without prejudice”. In another story, the paper states that the health condition of the “prime minister”, Ünal Üstel, following hernia surgery, is very good.
Yeni Düzen, with the headline “The destruction came at a high price”, writes that inadequate infrastructure and planning, combined with intense rainfall, resulted in devastation. With the arrival of daylight, it adds, the extent of the damage became clear, with the worst impact in areas where entire neighbourhoods were flooded.