The Cyprus News Digest

'Cyprus in the Grave New World' was the title of a presentation in the buffer zone this week: we discuss the ramifications of the new global reality, and how manufactured insecurity affects our thinking and actions.

Rolling power cuts in an August heatwave show just how fragile Cyprus' energy security is; we talk to the chairman of the house energy committee about what needs to be done - and he won't be drawn on whether the liberalisation of the market will take place in October, as promised.

Despite government assurances in the Spring that Cyprus was better prepared than ever before for the wildfire season, we clearly weren't: two people dead, hundreds of homes and hectares of protected forests destroyed. We discuss what should have been done - and what needs to be done the soonest to avoid another catastrophe.

The destruction of the Pentakomo coastline continues unabated pending another court hearing at the end of August; a symbolic demonstration took place at the Palestinian embassy in Nicosia this week; music fans head to Katydata this weekend for the Windcraft Festival

There's no end in sight for the Vassiliko project: past mistakes have left many tricky issues to resolve and we can expect to continue paying exorbitant electricity prices for several years; there's anger at a proposed new bill before Parliament that will muzzle citizens' opposition and their right to demonstrate.

Cypriot scientists make a breakthrough in identifying genetic markers that could lead to breast and ovarian cancers; despite the Middle East ceasefire we may still see an impact on oil prices, and in Cyprus that usually means an increase in our electricity bills.

We hear the inside story of the Madleen as she sailed to break the blockade of Gaza and was hijacked by Israeli forces; citizens in Nicosia protest against the Municipal Council's plans to reopen Makarios Avenue to traffic; the Zero Trace festival takes place this weekend in Limassol.

As attempts to solve the Cyprus problem falter again, the property issue is taking on new dimensions that could impact both sides; we hear from a doctor who was on the Madleen, sailing to break Israel's blockade of Gaza when it was boarded by Israeli forces in a clear act of piracy.

The International Monetary Fund warns Cyprus over its inflated public sector wage bill; Becky's Button aims to keep women across the globe safe from attack

A huge demonstration in Nicosia condemns the Cyprus government's complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza; an Israeli doctor from Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, who has relocated to Cyprus, says Israel is silencing opposition from within.