Konstantinos Letymbiotis

The leaders of nine southern European Union countries and Jordan are meeting in Cyprus on Friday to come up with ways to de-escalate the crisis in the Middle East that is threatening to engulf Lebanon and trigger a wider humanitarian crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to hold talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York next week, the latest push to kickstart stalled talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

A delegation from the United Arab Emirates' state-owned TAQA, led by CEO Afif Saif Al Yafei, reaffirmed its interest in participating in the GSI Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection project, during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in New York on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The leaders of Cyprus, France and Greece will meet in New York next week to discuss the Israel-Cyprus-Greece power grid connection and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus' government spokesman said Saturday.

Cyprus's president called for restraint over escalating tensions in the Middle East in separate telephone conversations with the Lebanese and Israeli prime ministers on Saturday, his spokesperson said in a statement.

Cyprus has named Costas Kadis, a scientist who held several cabinet posts in previous administrations, as its nominee for a post in the European Commission.

If the EU's parliament confirms the 57-year-old in the role, he will replace Cyprus's Stella Kyriakidou, who holds the health portfolio. Kadis had not been among those rumoured for the post.

Cyprus' government on Friday refuted reports widely circulated on social media that Cyprus is allowing countries involved in the Middle East conflict access to its military facilities.

The Cypriot cabinet approved a proposal on Wednesday by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos to extend measures aimed at compensating for the living costs of Cypriot households. Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced the decision following the cabinet meeting.

Humanitarian aid for Gaza is continuing to leave Cyprus by sea and will be held in floating storage off the coast of the enclave until a US-built military pier undergoes repairs, a Cypriot government official has said.