AGP Executive Report

Outdoor Cinema in Nicosia: To Erma is bringing back free old-town courtyard screenings every Monday in September, with films including Danny Boyle’s Millions (Sept 14) and Robert De Niro-led What Just Happened (Sept 28). LGBTQ+ Community: Accept LGBTI is calling for a police investigation after Queer Wave banners were vandalised in Kaimakli, arguing it targets queer visibility and freedom of expression. Public Safety: A bomb threat at Larnaca International Airport has been declared false after security checks and procedures were carried out. Arts & Culture: The 48th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has announced its line-up, with Berlioz, Yussef Dayes, Masters At Work and Annie Mac among the headliners. Music & Pop Culture: EA Sports FC 27’s soundtrack tracklist is out, featuring artists like Kendrick Lamar and Cypress Hill. Sports Tech/VAR Talk: Celtic’s disallowed goals vs St Mirren are under the microscope, with VAR chief Willie Collum defending the offside calls. Royal Style Spotting: Zara Tindall turned up at the Cornbury House Horse Trials, photographed with the Duchess of Edinburgh and other royals.

China-Cyprus Media Ties: Chinese Ambassador Yang Yundong visited DIAS Media Group and Sigma TV, pushing for deeper people-to-people cooperation through news coverage, staff exchanges and programme production. Tragic Death in Paralimni: A 22-year-old adult content creator, Riccardo Staudt (“Noah Segsy”), was identified after being pulled unconscious from a shallow pool on 24 August; police are still investigating. Nicosia Safety Fix: Faulty pedestrian “pelican” crossing buttons in Nicosia are set to be resolved immediately, with the mayor pointing residents to the Novoville reporting app. Arts & Culture Weekend: Xarkis Festival returns to Kalavasos (Sept 11–13) with a theme on colonial heritage and how village histories shape contemporary art. Food for Teens: Lidl Cyprus restarts its “Food Academy” for 2026-27, offering free hands-on cooking, nutrition and sustainability workshops for first-year high school students in Nicosia. EU Arts Rights: A new EU push highlights that artists need rights too, as the bloc moves toward fairer working conditions. Maritime Politics: Egypt, Greece and Cyprus again stress maritime agreements must follow international law (UNCLOS) after their El Alamein summit. Tech/Art Funding: Larnaka-based contemporary art platform G6X7 says it has completed a $20m private funding round. Local Event: Fork Food Market is back in Nicosia’s Municipal Gardens on Sept 18 with street food, drinks and DJ Solonas.

Cyprus Arts & Culture: Fork Food Market is back in Nicosia’s Municipal Gardens on Friday, September 18, with street food, drinks, desserts and DJ Solonas from 7pm to midnight. Contemporary Art & Tech: G6X7, a Larnaka-based contemporary art and visual technology platform, says it has closed a $20m private funding round with investors from Japan and the UAE to expand its multilayer, angle-shifting art approach. Music & Entertainment: EA Sports FC 27 has revealed its full soundtrack ahead of the September 25 launch, featuring Royal Blood, The Strokes, Blossoms and more. Local Events: A new round of ALPHAMEGA’s kids’ nutrition and cooking workshops has wrapped at the University of Nicosia, bringing together children aged 8–14 for hands-on cooking and healthy-eating lessons. Sports Spotlight: Cyprus’ three young artists were honoured at the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, with Georgia Evdokia Michael, Maria Petousi and Savvas Sophocleous named among the global Best Finalists.

Arts & Culture: Faneromeni26 Arts Festival closes with “Ledra’s Lament” at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation courtyard on Thursday, blending music, dance, design and drag while digging into traces of Eteocypriot. Film & TV: Paramount+ confirms Yellowjackets Season 4 (final season) lands Nov 20, promising answers to what happened after the rescue and how the survivors try to reintegrate. Music: Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis, 54, has died in Athens after a cardiac arrest at a private clinic; investigations are looking at licensing and whether the facility was authorised for the treatment he was receiving. Community & Family: ALPHAMEGA’s second children’s nutrition and cooking workshop wrapped up Sept 8 at the University of Nicosia, with kids aged 8–14 learning healthy cooking in sessions across the day. Sports (Cyprus link): Hull City have mutually terminated David Akintola’s contract so he can complete a permanent move to Cypriot side Omonia FC. Craft & Heritage: Turkish Cypriot counted-thread embroidery “Lapta Hesap İşi” has gained Geographical Indication protection in Türkiye, highlighted alongside CraftIstanbul’s Oct 1–4 fair in Istanbul. Local News: UN denies a report that UNFICYP commander Lt Gen Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam was removed, saying he remains in post.

Oscar Buzz for Cyprus: Limassol-born director Myrsini Aristidou’s Sundance hit Hold Onto Me (Krata Me) has been named Cyprus’ official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Oscars, after winning the Sundance Audience Award. Arts & Culture in Nicosia: Faneromeni26 Arts Festival closes with Ledra’s Lament on Thursday, Sept 10, a free, cross-communal performance blending music, dance, design and drag, with a focus on Ledra’s lost Eteocypriot language. Music News: Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis, 54, died in Athens after a cardiac arrest at a private clinic; he was days away from a major 33-year career concert. Crime & Court: North Nicosia arson case links to alleged €400,000 protection demand, while a separate cross-border murder-for-hire plot targeting twins led to eight arrests across Europe. Cyprus Politics: Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman says talks with President Nikos Christodoulides ended without agreement on new confidence-building measures, with both sides trading warnings about trust-eroding moves.

Oscars buzz: Limassol-born director Myrsini Aristidou’s debut feature Hold Onto Me (Κράτα Με) has been named Cyprus’ first-ever official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, after a Sundance premiere and Audience Award win. Arts & culture: Amathus Municipality’s Amathusia Festival returns for one night on Sept 18 at the Ancient Agora of Amathus, with a classical-music-heavy programme featuring local and international performers. What to do this month: A roundup of September festivals spotlights Nicosia’s United Street Festival (Sept 12-13) and Antama Fest (Sept 12-13), plus the Mediterranean Folklore Dance, Choir and Traditional Band Festival (Sept 10-14). Community events: Coral Cyprus (Shell Licensee) is backing the 5km Corporate Race at the first Cablenet Famagusta Run on Oct 11, while Epic Street Festival donated €5,400 to the Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation. Health & safety: Pharmacists warn shoppers to avoid unapproved medicines sold online or via unlicensed sellers. Sports calendar: Excitement builds for the 1st Cablenet Famagusta Run as the corporate 5km route kicks off at Fig Tree Bay.

Oscars & Film: Nicosia’s Myrsini Aristidou debut feature Hold Onto Me (Κράτα Με) has been picked as Cyprus’ first-ever Best International Feature Film submission for the Academy Awards. Music & Live: “Concert by the Walls” lands at Field Club Nicosia on Sept 17 with Vakia Stavrou and pianist Manolis Neophytou, backed by the Portuguese embassy. Arts & Culture: SynerJoy Choir, founded in 2024, brought Cyprus to Vienna’s Musikverein and the UN HQ at the World Peace Choral Festival. Local Media Trust: A Union of Cyprus Journalists study says social media is now the main news source for most people, while trust in media remains low and fake news concerns are high. Politics & Security: President Christodoulides tells Turkish Cypriot readers there’s “no Plan B” and reunification is the only path, rejecting partition. Sports & Talent: A London showcase (Oct 27-30) aims to spot British-Cypriot and Cyprus-eligible players aged 16-21 for pathways into Cypriot football. Health & Safety: Pharmacists warn consumers to avoid unapproved medicines sold online through unauthorized channels. Entertainment TV: Yellowjackets returns Nov 20 for its final season, with each episode focusing on a single character. Crime Plot: Cyprus authorities are pursuing an alleged cross-border hit plot after a Signal “hitman-for-hire” ad was answered by undercover police.

Music & Nightlife: Limassol’s Maze Venue hosts a rare Cyprus first on Sept 12 as instrumental hip-hop and electronic heavyweights Blockhead (NYC), French producer ProleteR and Berlin project Arms and Sleepers team up for their first-ever live performance together on the island, plus a new collaborative single. Arts & Culture: Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square brings back the United Street Festival on Sept 12-13, with live music, street food and a creative marketplace spotlighting Cypriot artists and designers. Local Arts Loss: Writer, publisher and former owner of Nicosia’s Aegeon tavern Vasos Ftochopoulos dies aged 76, remembered as a “rolling stone of Hellenism” and a hub for artists and intellectuals. Regional Spotlight (Cyprus-Greece-Egypt): President Nikos Christodoulides heads to El Alamein for a trilateral summit with Greece’s PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with regional security and the Mecca defence agreement among key topics. Sports (Cyprus): Super League 2 kicks off with upsets, including Kallithea’s win over Niki Volos and Omonia’s dominant start in the top-flight coverage.

Maritime & Trade: Cyprus Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis led talks in Bahrain at Khalifa Bin Salman Port on stronger bilateral maritime ties, logistics frameworks and port-management know-how. Earthquake-Resilient Housing: Dhekelia’s new Service Family Accommodation project is underway, with 46 of 138 modern, earthquake-resistant homes already finished and many occupied. Culture in Nicosia: The United Street Festival returns to Eleftheria Square on Sept. 12-13 with live music, local artists, street food and urban culture. Art & Fashion Abroad: Cyprus antiquities tied to Aphrodite will travel to Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum for “The Making of a Goddess” from October. Music & Performance: Giorkin Project IV brings an all-female ensemble to Larnaca (Sept. 19) and Nicosia (Sept. 20) celebrating Cypriot women through new works. Sports & Community: The Allwyn Cyprus 3×3 Series wraps in Limassol, spotlighting inclusion and wheelchair basketball alongside the 2026 champions. Law & Rights: The ECtHR has asked questions in Odysseas Michaelides’ freedom-of-expression appeal after his dismissal. Crime: A woman was stabbed to death near Trikomo by her ex-husband, with prior restraining orders reported.

Arts & Culture: Giorkin Project IV brings an all-female ensemble to Larnaca (Sept 19) and Nicosia (Sept 20) with new works by women composers, spotlighting women’s voices in culture, science and politics. Remembering Mari: Popi Christoforou, mother of the Mari blast twins, has died after a cancer battle, remembered for years of campaigning for accountability. Business/Tech: Payward Europe’s Vassiliades says regulated digital finance could be a new pillar for Cyprus, with Kraken pointing to CySEC and EU passporting. Sports: The Cyprus Cricket 40-over Cup kicked off with Limassol Warriors’ comeback win, plus Larnaca Kings’ big upset. Travel Safety: Israel’s National Security Council lists Cyprus among the lowest-risk destinations for Israelis ahead of the High Holidays, while warning travellers to keep a low profile. Energy Politics: Cyprus’ government silence over major power plans is fuelling uncertainty, with the Great Sea Interconnector debate heating up. Regional Security: Greece, Greek Cyprus and Egypt are set for a trilateral summit in El Alamein on Sept 8, with regional defence developments on the agenda.

Walker Cup Drama: Great Britain & Ireland pulled off a historic comeback at Lahinch, winning the 51st Walker Cup 13½-12½ after a Sunday singles surge that included a last-putt decider from Josh Hill. High Holidays Security: Israel’s National Security Council issued fresh travel warnings for the Jewish High Holidays, urging Israelis abroad to keep a low profile and avoid real-time location sharing, with threats flagged around Iran’s orbit. Cyprus Travel Safety: Cyprus is listed as one of the lowest-risk destinations for Israelis, with the council saying existing advice won’t change. Troodos Culture Day: Thousands headed to Troodos for “Let’s Go Troodos 3” at the presidential residence, with workshops on traditional crafts, cooking and music. Cyprus Arts & Film: A Cypriot love story set in the island won an international writing prize, while a Sundance-winning Cypriot film is set to hit cinemas. September Concerts: Cyprus’ biggest September music calendar is taking shape, with major Greek pop/rock and international acts lined up. Ferry Fallout: The Cyprus ferry disaster update keeps the death toll rising, with searches continuing and legal scrutiny intensifying.

Ferry Tragedy in Northern Cyprus: The Kyrenia–Tasucu disaster is still unfolding as rescuers recover more bodies and families wait outside the port; the death toll has risen to 13 with 15 still missing, while investigators struggle to retrieve the voyage “black box” and the captain faces negligent homicide charges. Arts & Culture: Australian-Cypriot writer Erini Loucaides’ Cyprus-set short story Relentlessly Prismatic has won the 2026 Minds Shine Bright Places Writing Prize, blending a love story with terminal-cancer reflections. Energy Politics: Cyprus risks being sidelined from a key power link to Europe as government silence over the Great Sea Interconnector fuels opposition pressure for answers. Music & Nightlife: A Limassol concert pairing Led Zeppelin and The Doors with classical composers is set for September, with pianist Stavros Lantsias bringing a cross-genre trio show to Rialto Theatre and Nicosia’s University of Cyprus festival. Local Sports Development: A new RS21 Cyprus sailing initiative aims to build a competitive racing fleet, regular regattas and professional crew training through the Nautical Club of Limassol. Tech for Kids: Cyprus’ young robot builders head to European University Cyprus for the World Robot Olympiad’s “surprise rule,” where teams must adapt programming on the fly.

Arts & Music: Pianist Stavros Lantsias brings a rock-meets-classical programme to Limassol (Sept 25) and Nicosia (Sept 26) as part of UCy’s 29th Cultural Festival, with Michalis Kalkanis, Michalis Kapilidis and blues guitarist Babis Tyropoulos. Theatre & Culture: Nicosia International Festival returns from Sept 12 for 50 days with 22 productions, including Comédie-Française’s L’Évènement (Sept 15) and Mario Banushi’s Goodbye Lindita (Sept 12-13). Music Spotlight: Greek Cypriot London-based pop writer Dimitris Kapetanakis (DK) talks songwriting and his label No Blank Music. Sports & Community: A new RS21 Cyprus sailing initiative launches with the Nautical Club of Limassol to build a competitive racing fleet and training pathway. Local Entertainment Buzz: President Nikos Christodoulides goes viral playing beach rackets with his daughter. Major News: The Cyprus ferry disaster death toll rises to 13 as searches continue off Kyrenia.

Troodos tourism glow-up: A new wave of hotels and attractions is pulling visitors back to the Troodos Mountains, with guides leading hikes from Hantara Waterfalls to historic villages and UNESCO monasteries. Nicosia arts calendar: The Nicosia International Festival returns on Sept 12 with theatre, dance and music, including Comédie-Française’s first Cyprus stop for Annie Ernaux adaptation “L’Évènement” and other standout productions. Local culture spotlight: Four Nicosia performances you shouldn’t miss this month are on the radar, alongside a broader push for arts across the capital. Cyprus film on the big screen: Sundance award winner “Hold Onto Me” lands in K Cineplex cinemas on Sept 17 after an international festival run. Tech & AI push: The Cyprus Computer Society submits recommendations to strengthen the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2032, urging measurable, practical outcomes. Business momentum: 33East backs Piney, a Cyprus-founded property operations startup expanding from Europe into the US. Sports watch: Walker Cup 2026 details are out for Sept 5-6 at Lahinch, with TV and streaming info plus key match context. Ferry tragedy update: Search continues after the Cyprus ferry capsize, with death toll and missing figures still shifting as recovery operations go on.

Maritime Tragedy: Search teams recovered two more bodies from the FiloJet ferry wreck off northern Cyprus, bringing the death toll to 12, with 16 still missing as divers and naval drones continue 24/7 work at around 514 metres. Legal & Rights: The ECtHR has notified Cyprus about part of former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides’ freedom of expression appeal, after his dismissal in 2024. Film Spotlight: Sundance award-winning Cypriot drama “Hold Onto Me” lands in cinemas in Cyprus on September 17 after an international festival run. Arts & Culture: The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation presents “Cyprus Insula – History, Memory, Reality,” while EMST is among finalists for a 2026 Art Museum Award. Music & Events: payabl. returns as title sponsor for the Neofytos Chandriotis Basketball Tournament in Nicosia (11–13 September). Local Culture: Polis Chrysochous’ Polis Latsios Maritime and Cultural Museum welcomed 4,517 visitors in its first year.

Arts & Culture: The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation relaunches its publishing programme with Cyprus Insula – History, Memory, Reality, a new volume tied to its exhibition, packed with essays and hundreds of works. Local Arts: Syni Anastasiadi’s “Dreamy” exhibition opens at the National Archaeological Museum Café, inviting visitors into a soft, free-form world of images and questions. Music & Dance: Greek dancer Naima Gerasopoulou wins world tango champion status in Buenos Aires, capping a decade-long rise with partner Lucas Gauto. What to Do in Cyprus: Paphos lines up September culture hits, from the Pafos Aphrodite Festival opera to free outdoor cinema and “Cinema in Concert” at Attikon. Community & Heritage: Cyprusays’ Cypriot Greek learning app wins an international award, turning a home-dialect mission into a public-facing project. News That Hits Home: Northern Cyprus ferry disaster toll reaches 10 after another body is recovered; 18 remain missing. Sports (Cyprus): Pafos are reportedly eyeing Rangers defender Clinton Nsiala before the Cyprus transfer window closes Sept 9. Business/Jobs: Central Bank of Cyprus extends deadlines for two senior roles, including communications and the Centre for Cyprus Economic and Monetary History.