Knight Frank’s latest Global Branded Residence Survey shows how fundamentally the branded residences sector has changed over the past decade, as well as its rapid rate of growth. The sector
The post Branded residences shift towards coastal and resort destinations appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Portugal’s housing shortage is being driven largely by a sharp decline in private construction, according to Economy and Territorial Cohesion Minister Manuel Castro Almeida, who has called on local authorities
The post Is a new construction shortage fueling Portugal’s housing crisis? appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Neocleous Tower is redefining the work lifestyle paradigm, introducing a groundbreaking new workplace experience in central Limassol. The business tower brings upscale offices together with five-star facilities and services that support a healthier, more enjoyable way to work. That focus on employee wellbeing is built into the tower itself, with two floors at the top of the building dedicated to fitness and wellness and offering exclusive access for tenants.
For those already working at Limassol’s landmark commercial hub, fitting exercise into the day is remarkably easy. Its central location makes arriving on foot or by bike a practical option, with allocated bicycle facilities available on arrival. The Neocleous Tower App makes the experience even easier, bringing the Tower’s services and facilities together in one place.
Then, high above the city on the 18th and 19th floors, the state-of-the-art gym comes with some enviable perks. A morning workout to start the day with energy, followed by a shower and a coffee on the 5th floor before heading to the office. A midday session to break up a busy day at the desk. Or an after-hours yoga class with the Mediterranean as a backdrop. All of this is part of the daily routine at Neocleous Tower.
And as the highest gym in Limassol, the sweeping views are a highlight, stretching across th city to the sea beyond. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep the panorama insight throughout a workout, creating a setting that refreshes both the mind and body. Double-height ceilings and an open-plan layout further up accentuate the spaciousness, while large mirrors amplify the natural light and sense of scale. A striking internal staircase connecting the two levels and forming an architectural centrepiece in its own right.
The choice of equipment has been given the same attention as the space itself. The gym is fitted throughout by Technogym, one of the world’s leading specialists in high-end fitness equipment and digital technology. Designed for different training styles, abilities and fitness goals, the advanced equipment gives employees everything they need for an effective workout within the convenience of their workplace.
Gym users can optimise their time at the facility though the Technogym App and digital fitness ecosystem, which brings a personalised digital dimension to the training experience, connecting users directly with the equipment and allowing them to follow their training and monitor progress over time. AI-supported technology uses individual data, training history and performance to provide increasingly relevant workout recommendations and guidance, so the experience can evolve as fitness levels and goals change. Meanwhile, a body analysis assessment establishes an initial fitness profile, giving each user a useful reference point against which to monitor progress and see how their training is paying off over time.
This advanced technology and data-driven personalisation is complemented by the professional support of a team of fitness experts, on hand to manage the gym and assist those who use it. Expert trainers can help employees use the equipment and digital tools effectively, while providing personal guidance around individual goals and training needs. Together these combined elements help users develop a training approach that is appropriate for their fitness journey rather than following a one-size-fits-all programme.
Wellness is also moving outside the gym with the introduction of a year-round programme of community activities bringing tenants together beyond the working environment. Outdoor training sessions, running and marathon events, mountain hikes, group wellness sessions and seasonal challenges will create opportunities to get active while meeting people from across the Tower. The broader vision is to establish a 360° wellness experience around Neocleous Tower, with the overall objective of encouraging a healthier and more active, sustainable lifestyle for the Tower community.
Having this level of fitness and wellness provision within the workplace means training fits seamlessly into the rhythm of the workday. A session can happen before the first meeting, during a break or once work is finished without ever moving from the office building. For employees at Neocleous Tower, this convenience allows for greater freedom, but also higher rates of productivity and workplace satisfaction, all on a schedule that works for them.
Paphos increased its share of Cyprus’ off-plan housing market in the third quarter of 2026, while Limassol strengthened its position by transaction value, as recorded sales of apartments and houses under construction or at the planning stage rose sharply, according to a report by Landbank Analytics.
The analysis covered 1,956 recorded sale agreements worth €606.4 million between July and September, with Paphos increasing its share of transactions from 12.8 per cent in the second quarter to 17 per cent, while Limassol’s share of total transaction value climbed to 40.5 per cent.
“The more revealing story lies in how that activity was redistributed,” said Andreas Christophorides, founder and chief executive of Landbank Group.
“Limassol strengthened its share of total transaction value, Paphos gained ground by number of sales, while Nicosia continued to play an important role in new developments despite its lower relative share,” he added.
The figures show a market expanding in recorded activity but shifting between districts and price categories, with almost two-thirds of sales involving properties priced below €300,000.
“At the same time, nearly two in three sales were for properties priced below €300,000. The implication for developers is clear. Selecting the right location, product type and price point is critical to the absorption of a project,” Christophorides said.
“There is no single, uniform market, and it cannot be assessed through average prices or aggregate sales alone,” he added.
Paphos’ share of total transaction value also increased, from 21.2 per cent in the second quarter to 22 per cent in the third, while the district recorded 96 sales in Paphos city, up from 79 in the previous quarter.
Those transactions had a median value of €316,250 and an average of €407,912, with recorded prices ranging from €65,000 to €3.567 million.
Limassol, meanwhile, recorded 599 sale agreements worth €245.3 million, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all transactions, compared with 26.3 per cent in the second quarter.
Its share of total transaction value rose by 8.1 percentage points, from 32.4 per cent to 40.5 per cent, underlining the district’s growing weight in the market by value.
The increase came alongside a rise in recorded activity across several Limassol-area localities, particularly Germasogeia, where transactions rose by 69.8 per cent, and Limassol city, where sales increased by 47.3 per cent.
In Germasogeia, 73 agreements worth €44.8 million were recorded, compared with 43 in the previous quarter.
The locality’s median transaction value was €383,762 and its average was €613,991, with prices ranging from €95,000 to €5.092 million.
Agios Tychonas also featured prominently in the higher-value segment, recording 16 sales worth a combined €18.1 million.
Prices ranged from €125,000 to €5.8 million, with a median value of €647,123 and an average of €1.13 million.
“Robust analysis must bring together volume, median value, the range of prices and the characteristics of the properties sold,” Christophorides said.
“That is the basis for better development and investment decisions,” he added.
The report cautioned that high average values in premium localities can be influenced by a small number of expensive transactions and should be assessed alongside median prices and the full range of sales.
Across Cyprus, the number of recorded agreements rose from 1,317 in the second quarter to 1,956 in the third, an increase of 48.5 per cent.
Their combined value increased by 51.6 per cent, from €400.1 million to €606.4 million.
However, the periods covered were not identical. The second-quarter dataset ran until June 29, while the third-quarter figures extended to September 30, meaning the changes reflect recorded activity and should not automatically be interpreted as equivalent increases in underlying demand.
The average value per agreement rose by 2 per cent, from €303,808 to €310,019. For apartments, the average transaction value was €269,217 and the median €214,500.
For houses, meanwhile, the average was €478,138 and the median €380,000, the analysis showed.
Landbank Analytics stressed that these figures reflect the mix of properties sold and do not constitute a like-for-like property price index.
Properties priced below €300,000 accounted for 1,267 transactions in the third quarter, representing 64.8 per cent of all recorded sales.
Their share was down from 68.1 per cent in the second quarter, a decline of 3.3 percentage points, although lower and mid-priced properties continued to account for nearly two in every three transactions.
The largest individual price bracket was €200,000 to €299,999, with 545 sales, or 27.9 per cent of the total. This compared with 372 sales and a 28.2 per cent share in the previous quarter.
The €300,000 to €499,999 category recorded 521 sales, representing 26.6 per cent of the market, up from 304 transactions and a 23.1 per cent share in the second quarter.
Properties priced between €150,000 and €199,999 accounted for 418 sales, or 21.4 per cent, compared with 327 sales and 24.8 per cent previously.
At the lower end, properties costing less than €150,000 recorded 304 sales, representing 15.5 per cent of transactions, up from 198 sales and 15 per cent in the second quarter.
The €500,000 to €749,999 bracket increased from 66 to 94 sales, although its market share edged down from 5 per cent to 4.8 per cent.
Properties priced between €750,000 and €999,999 recorded 26 sales, compared with 17 previously, maintaining a 1.3 per cent share in both quarters.
The market segment priced at €1 million and above recorded 48 sales, up from 33, with its share remaining unchanged at 2.5 per cent.
The report said these changes reflect the distribution of transactions across price brackets and do not necessarily indicate movements in underlying property prices. The figures are relevant to developers’ decisions on the type of homes to build and how to price them.
Limassol city remained the busiest individual locality, with 190 sales, up from 129 in the second quarter, a 47.3 per cent increase.
The median transaction value was €292,500 and the average €357,042, with recorded prices ranging from €95,000 to €4.1 million.
Larnaca city recorded the strongest growth among the leading local markets, with sales rising by 74.6 per cent, from 71 to 124. Its median transaction value was €205,000 and its average €237,843.
Lakatamia ranked third with 111 transactions, up 20.7 per cent from 92, with a median value of €190,000 and an average of €198,706.
Aradippou was fourth with 109 sales, down 10.7 per cent from 122. Its median transaction value was €185,000 and its average €204,594.
Paphos city ranked fifth with 96 sales, up 21.5 per cent from 79, followed by Strovolos with 90, up 26.8 per cent from 71.
Livadia recorded 79 transactions, compared with 67 in the previous quarter, while Germasogeia ranked eighth with 73, up from 43.
Strovolos recorded a median transaction value of €185,000 and an average of €206,700, while Livadia’s median was €220,000 and its average €241,250.
The report said transaction totals alone do not fully describe local property markets, as median values and the types of homes sold are also important.
Nicosia’s share of recorded transactions fell from 34.5 per cent in the second quarter to 25 per cent in the third, although it still recorded 489 sales. Its share of total transaction value declined from 26.2 per cent to 16.2 per cent.
Larnaca’s share of transactions remained broadly stable, edging up from 23.8 per cent to 24 per cent, while its share of total value increased from 16.6 per cent to 17.7 per cent.
Famagusta’s share of transactions rose from 2.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent, while its share of total value remained unchanged at 3.6 per cent.
Paphos and Limassol were the two districts that recorded the clearest gains in market share, although the scale of their increases differed between transaction numbers and total value.
Landbank Analytics said comparisons between quarters should distinguish changes in market share from changes in absolute transaction volumes, while rankings among premium localities can shift substantially according to the mix of properties sold.
Strengthening transparency, meritocracy and good governance in the management and allocation of Turkish Cypriot properties remains a firm priority for the interior ministry, it said on Monday.
As part of these efforts, the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service has created an online form for submitting complaints and reports concerning the illegal use of Turkish Cypriot properties or other irregularities, available to the public.
The new digital service allows citizens to actively contribute to identifying possible violations through a direct and accessible reporting procedure.
According to the ministry, every complaint or report submitted with the complainant’s name will be examined with due seriousness and attention by the competent officials, with the aim of ensuring legality in the management of Turkish Cypriot properties.
The introduction of the new service forms part of the interior ministry’s broader efforts to modernise procedures and bring about substantial changes in the management of Turkish Cypriot properties by strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou reiterated the government’s determination to ensure transparency, meritocracy and equal treatment of refugees.
Legislative reform
“Through the legislative reform introduced, the implementation of the new eligibility and points-based assessment system, the intensification of inspections, the termination of contracts, the recovery of properties and the reform of pricing policy, we are consistently moving forward with changing the way Turkish Cypriot properties are managed,” Ioannou said.
The main objective remains the establishment of a fair and reliable management framework that ensures legality, equal treatment of refugees and the protection of the public interest.
The misuse of Turkish Cypriot property has hit the headlines repeatedly in recent years and has been discussed at the House.
The Turkish Cypriot property management service admitted to allocating over 150 million square metres of land to a member of staff, however saying that this was 30 years ago and in line with procedures in place at the time.
In December 2024, evidence was presented linking underworld figures to illegal leasing. Investigations focused on 20 properties, uncovering shell companies generating millions.
Turkish Cypriot properties were placed under state guardianship after the 1974 invasion, with the government allocating abandoned homes and land to Greek Cypriot refugees, although subsequent reforms allowed some properties, particularly in isolated villages, to be leased to non-refugees under specific conditions.
Construction material prices in Cyprus increased for another month in September, with electrical fixtures, plastics and aluminium products recording some of the largest annual rises, according to figures released on Monday by the statistical service (Cystat).
The price index of construction materials reached 123.41 units, with 2021 serving as the base year set at 100. This represented a 0.26 per cent monthly increase and a 3.74 per cent rise compared with September 2025.
The annual increase was higher than August’s 3.39 per cent, while the monthly rise also strengthened from 0.07 per cent in the previous month.
Across the first nine months of 2026, construction material prices were 2.24 per cent higher than during the corresponding period of 2025.
Metallic products recorded the largest annual increase among the five main categories, rising by 5.28 per cent, followed by products covering wood, insulation materials, chemicals and plastics, which increased by 5.06 per cent.
The metallic products index stood at 111.72 units, rising by 0.11 per cent from August. Prices were also 2.83 per cent higher during the January-to-September period compared with a year earlier.
Products made from aluminium and other metals reached 124.03 units. Although prices declined by 0.18 per cent during September, they were still 5.68 per cent higher year on year and 4.75 per cent higher during the first nine months.
Iron and steel products, meanwhile, increased by 0.26 per cent from August to 106.29 units. Prices were 5.07 per cent higher annually and 1.87 per cent above their average level during the January-to-September period of 2025.
Prices for wood products, insulation materials, chemicals and plastics reached 126.48 units, increasing by 0.54 per cent from August, 5.06 per cent year on year and 3.10 per cent during the first nine months.
Within that group, plastic products recorded the strongest annual increase, climbing by 6.43 per cent to 132.48 units. Prices were unchanged from August, while their increase during the January-to-September period reached 5.29 per cent.
Wood products stood at 128.41 units, rising by 0.48 per cent from August. They were also 5.49 per cent more expensive than in September 2025 and 3.17 per cent higher during the first nine months.
Insulation materials recorded a monthly increase of 1.73 per cent, reaching 120.73 units. Prices were 2.90 per cent higher annually and 1.46 per cent above their average level during the corresponding nine-month period of 2025.
Chemical product prices increased by 0.34 per cent during September to 116.64 units. They were also 3.37 per cent higher year on year and 2.05 per cent higher across the January-to-September period.
Electromechanical products rose by 4.08 per cent year on year, with their index reaching 120.05 units. Prices increased by 0.63 per cent from August and by 2.94 per cent during the first nine months.
Electrical fixtures recorded the steepest annual rise among all the listed subcategories, reaching 143.59 units after increasing by 1.18 per cent monthly, 8.38 per cent annually and 5.94 per cent during the January-to-September period.
In contrast, heating and cooling equipment remained unchanged from August at 94.08 units. Prices were 1.70 per cent lower than in September 2025 and 1.24 per cent below their average level during the first nine months.
Other electromechanical products increased by 0.40 per cent during September to 120.19 units. They were 3.41 per cent more expensive annually and 2.58 per cent higher during the January-to-September period.
Meanwhile, the minerals category reached 139.52 units, up 0.32 per cent from August, 2.81 per cent year on year and 2.14 per cent during the first nine months.
Cement prices climbed to 144.87 units, the highest index level among the listed subcategories, after increasing by 0.39 per cent monthly, 4.77 per cent annually and 2.42 per cent during the January-to-September period.
Mineral aggregate prices were unchanged from August at 138.78 units, although they increased by 0.67 per cent annually and 2.36 per cent during the first nine months.
Stone prices also increased during September, rising by 0.50 per cent to 132.55 units. They were 1.80 per cent higher year on year and 1.52 per cent above their average level during the corresponding nine-month period of 2025.
The smallest annual increase among the main categories was recorded in mineral products. Their index stood at 127.94 units, unchanged from August, although prices were 1.35 per cent higher year on year and 0.61 per cent higher during the first nine months.
Cement products stood at 128.44 units, recording a marginal monthly decline of 0.01 per cent. However, prices were 1.62 per cent higher annually and 1.07 per cent higher during the January-to-September period.
Ceramics, meanwhile, increased by 0.03 per cent from August to 126.23 units. Prices were 0.42 per cent higher than in September 2025, although their average during the first nine months was 0.95 per cent lower than a year earlier.
Hamptons says figure of 56% is highest in at least a decade, with mortgage rates rising since start of Iran war
A majority of first-time UK buyers now pay more towards their monthly mortgage bills than they used to pay in rent, the estate agent Hamptons has found.
Last month 56% of first-time buyers said their monthly mortgage bills exceeded their previous rent, the highest proportion in at least a decade, according to Hamptons. They paid £39 more on average.
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© Photograph: UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
© Photograph: UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
© Photograph: UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Property transfers in Cyprus reached €3.72 billion in the first nine months of 2026, while deposited sales contracts rose 14 per cent year-on-year to 14,969, according to figures released by the Real Estate Agents Registration Council.
The figures, drawn from the department of lands and surveys and analysed by the council, show that property market activity continued to grow between January and September, following a strong performance in 2025.
More specifically, the number of sales contracts deposited nationwide increased from 13,173 during the corresponding period last year to 14,969 in 2026.
At the same time, the number of completed property transfers rose by approximately 4.1 per cent, while their total value increased by 6.6 per cent to €3.72bn.
Commenting on the figures, council president Marinos Kyneyirou said that “despite the particular challenges facing the sector this year, the property market continued to support the growth of the Cypriot economy.”
He pointed out that the increases in both the number and value of transactions were particularly significant, considering that they followed an already strong year for the sector in 2025.
“Purchasing interest, both from locals and foreigners, remains high, and all signs point to 2026 ending positively for the property sector,” he said.
He added that the increase in deposited sales contracts was particularly encouraging, as it pointed towards continued market activity and the launch of new development projects in the coming months.
Nevertheless, Kineyirou reiterated the council’s warning to prospective buyers and tenants to exercise caution when choosing estate agents and to report illegal operators.
Turning to the performance of individual districts, Limassol maintained its position as Cyprus’ most valuable property market, with completed transfers worth €1.44bn during the first nine months of the year.
This represented 38.7 per cent of the total value of property transfers nationwide, despite the district recording 3,808 completed transactions.
Limassol also led the country in deposited sales contracts, reaching 4,860, an increase of 17 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
The figures reinforce the district’s importance as a destination for property investment, particularly for larger developments and higher-value projects.
While Limassol dominated in terms of transaction value, Nicosia recorded the highest number of completed property transfers, with 4,507 transactions during the nine-month period.
Their combined value reached €811.85 million, placing the capital second nationwide in terms of total transaction value.
Meanwhile, deposited sales contracts in Nicosia increased by 6 per cent to 3,163, pointing to continued demand in the district, although at a slower rate of growth than in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.
Paphos also maintained a strong position in the property market, recording 2,699 completed transfers worth a combined €755.5m.
Although the district registered fewer completed transactions than Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, their relatively high combined value reflects the importance of higher-value properties in the local market.
Furthermore, the number of deposited sales contracts in Paphos reached 2,999, representing an 18 per cent increase year-on-year, the strongest percentage growth among Cyprus’ five districts.
A similarly picture emerged in Larnaca, where the value of completed property transfers reached €525.1m across 2,876 transactions.
However, the district’s most notable performance concerned new sales activity, with deposited contracts climbing 15 per cent to 3,291.
This placed Larnaca second nationwide in deposited sales contracts, ahead of both Nicosia and Paphos, emphasising the growing level of buyer interest in the district.
Finally, Famagusta remained the smallest property market in the government-controlled areas, with 874 completed transfers worth €192.8m between January and September.
Despite its smaller market size, the district also recorded growth in deposited sales contracts, which increased by 5 per cent to 656 compared with the same period last year.
The Trump administration's attempts to fast-track construction of the president's long-promised border wall through Texas' remote Big Bend region have ground to a halt amid fierce opposition, protests, and legal challenges from landowners and conservation groups.
A federal judge on Wednesday released an opinion explaining her decision to issue a preliminary injunction blocking border wall construction through the Big Bend area. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone found that the plaintiffs, which included the Center for Biological Diversity and several longtime residents of the region, had shown a substantial threat of irreparable harm if the construction project is allowed to continue.
The Trump administration wants to spend $7.5 billion building additional security infrastructure along a 500-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border running through the Big Bend region, which includes Big Bend National Park. The federal government began sending threatening letters to property owners announcing its intent to acquire necessary pieces of their land this summer, and it waived several environmental regulations, allowing it to put bulldozers on the ground inside the national park by September.
However, numerous groups and local landowners say the border wall project will alter their way of life and permanently scar one of the most rugged and pristine landscapes in the country. The project attracted bipartisan criticism and protests.
Cardone also found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin exceeded his authority when he issued environmental waivers for the project.
The injunction is a temporary reprieve for property owners such as David Keller, an archaeologist and part-time river guide on the Rio Grande River. The original plans for the border wall expansion would have cut through Keller's 10-acre property near Redford, Texas, putting a 30-foot-tall wall on the levee that sits between the river and the rest of his land.
Keller says the Trump administration gravely underestimated how much anger its tactics and attitude would generate.
"It's a level of arrogance—they're just used to being able to bulldoze over people," David Keller says. "They were moving forward as if they weren't expecting any resistance, but boy, they're due for a wakeup call. And they're having it right now."
Keller is a plaintiff in a separate lawsuit against the DHS by Conserve Big Bend, a coalition of landowners, conservationists, river tour guides, researchers, and other affected parties.
Keller says he's loved wild, open country since he was a child, and as soon as he saw the region in the 1990s, he decided he would find a way to live and work there, which he's done for the past 25 years. "It's visually magnificent," Keller says. "It's incredible. It's like no other place I'd ever seen. It's one of the last unspoiled places remaining in the lower 48."
Keller says it's where he plans on being buried, too, although these days he's unsure whether to say "plans" or "planned." The proposed border construction is an existential threat to the life he's built, he says, and if the wall goes up, he'd likely move.
"I didn't come down here to live in a cage," Keller says.
The proposed border wall would not only block access to the river for farmers, ranchers, and outdoors enthusiasts along the river, as well as block the view into Mexico, it would wreck "the whole feeling of the place, the historical cross-border culture that we've developed," Keller says.
So far, the federal government has not tried to seize any private property in the Big Bend region through eminent domain, although it sent letters to property owners this summer requesting access to survey their land and warning them that it held the option to invoke eminent domain if they did not quickly sell.
Both Keller's and the Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuits argue that the department's justification for building and expediting additional border infrastructure in the Big Bend Region are factually and legally incorrect. The DHS determined that the sector of the border is an "area of high illegal entry."
However, despite making up roughly a quarter of the entire U.S.-Mexico border, the Big Bend sector only accounted for between 0.3 percent and 2.2 percent of total border-wide arrests over the past 30 years.
Cardone cited the low apprehension numbers in her finding that Mullin exceeded his authority to issue the waivers.
"The unrebutted evidence shows that the Big Bend Sector is, by far, the sector with the lowest rate of migrant apprehensions along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, both in terms of gross totals and apprehensions per mile of border," Cardone wrote. "Therefore, if the Big Bend Sector is an area of high illegal entry, so is every other sector, and the waiver authority would apply to the entire U.S.-Mexico border."
The post Landowners in Texas' Big Bend Region Fight Trump Administration's Attempts To Seize Land for Border Wall appeared first on Reason Magazine.
On Thursday, U.S. television network CNN announced an agreement with technology company Google to integrate generative artificial intelligence technologies into its news platforms.
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“With this partnership, we are opening new avenues for audiences to access CNN’s exceptional journalism while receiving compensation for the distribution and use of our exclusive intellectual property in connection with AI products,” stated Sam Felix, senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development.
The agreement will allow the use of experimental features designed to analyze and enhance audience engagement by exploring new ways to consume and distribute journalistic content.
“Google’s innovation in generative AI has transformed the way people discover information and content, and these tools will now help us explore new ways to be discovered and connect with audiences,” Felix added.
Of course, The Jakarta Globe asked me how I see AI tools influencing newsrooms — both in terms of opportunities and risks.
— Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) August 12, 2026
AI is both enormously helpful and unpredictably dangerous. On the one hand, it significantly accelerates many newsroom processes, from interview… https://t.co/4o871TU8E1 pic.twitter.com/BGDZ2krRro
The U.S. network explained that its partnership with Google is part of the company’s AI strategy, “which ensures the protection of its intellectual property.”
The agreement is also part of a broader pilot program by the technology company to incorporate its AI technology to drive traffic to media outlets.
“CNN’s deal comes months after it sued Perplexity AI for copyright infringement after both companies failed to reach a licensing deal, its first legal case against an AI company over the unauthorized use of its journalism. At the time, a CNN spokesperson said the network ‘actively embraces the opportunities AI creates,’” Variety recalled.
“It also reflects the impact Google’s AI summaries in its search engine have had on news organizations, many of which have highlighted how the responses have eaten into their web traffic. Penske Media Corporation, the parent company of Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone and more, sued Google last year over the decline, though a federal judge dismissed the case earlier this month,” it added.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – CNN – Variety
Look beyond the asking price Budget for taxes, legal and registration fees, financing and ongoing expenses. Consider exchange rates and mortgage requirements. Check whether the property forms part of a
The post Buying property in Portugal – A practical guide for UK buyers appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The European Parliament has begun examining legislation that would give cities and national governments greater legal certainty when restricting short-term rentals and the use or acquisition of residential property in areas where housing has become difficult to afford.
The proposed Affordable Housing Act, presented by the European Commission on 9 September, was on Parliament’s agenda in Strasbourg on Tuesday as housing costs move further into EU-level politics.
The legislation does not transfer general housing policy to Brussels. Decisions on construction, planning, rent policy and social housing would remain primarily with national, regional and local authorities.
Instead, the proposal would establish a common EU legal framework governing some restrictions that member states and cities may introduce when attempting to protect housing supply.
The draft regulation specifically covers measures restricting short-term accommodation in residential properties other than a host’s primary residence. It would also cover restrictions on the acquisition or use of land and housing that is not intended as somebody’s principal home.
Those provisions are designed partly to resolve a legal problem that has become increasingly important in cities with large tourism markets.
Local governments have introduced restrictions on holiday rentals and second-home use, but such measures can clash with EU single-market rules governing services, property and establishment. The Commission says the legislation would provide authorities with a clearer method for demonstrating when restrictions are justified and proportionate.
The law would therefore not impose a common European cap on Airbnb-type accommodation. Nor would it oblige cities to introduce restrictions.
Authorities choosing to intervene would instead have to demonstrate housing stress and ensure that their measures meet EU requirements on proportionality, transparency and review.
Brussels argues that the scale of Europe’s housing problem now affects more than social policy.
According to the Commission’s European affordable housing plan, house prices across the EU have risen by more than 60 per cent since 2013, while average rents have increased by about 20 per cent. Short-term rentals increased by 93 per cent between 2018 and 2024.
Only between six and seven per cent of EU housing stock is classified as social housing, while about 20 per cent of homes are recorded as unoccupied.
The Commission estimates that Europe needs to build more than two million homes a year to meet current demand — around 650,000 more annually than are presently being constructed. It estimates the additional investment requirement at approximately €153 billion each year.
Those figures underline a central difficulty in the housing debate: restrictions on tourist accommodation may return some properties to residential use, but they do not address the full shortage of new homes.
EU Today examined that wider supply issue when the Commission launched its European Affordable Housing Plan, which combines proposed regulation with investment, faster permitting, construction reform and changes to state-aid rules.
The debate is becoming more politically prominent as housing affordability affects a growing share of middle-income households as well as those on lower incomes.
Berlin offers one example. EU Today reported last month that advertised rents in the German capital had risen by roughly three-quarters in less than a decade, while the city calculates that it will need another 211,000 homes by 2040.
Pressure is particularly acute in large cities and tourism centres, where residential demand competes with short-term accommodation and investment properties.
The Commission argues that this has consequences for the wider economy because workers who cannot find affordable accommodation may be unable to move to areas where jobs are available.
That is why Brussels increasingly presents housing not only as a social concern but as part of the competitiveness and single-market agenda.
The proposal is still at an early stage. Parliament and the Council must negotiate the legislation under the ordinary legislative procedure, and substantial amendments remain possible.
Questions are likely to centre on how “housing stress” is defined, what evidence authorities must provide before restricting property use and how far EU law should permit local intervention in property markets.
The political dividing line is already apparent. One side of the debate stresses that cities need more freedom to protect permanent housing stock. The other warns that regulation of short-term rentals or second properties can affect tourism businesses, property owners and investment without necessarily creating sufficient new supply.
The Affordable Housing Act attempts to establish legal rules for that dispute rather than settle it centrally.
If adopted, its importance will therefore depend less on a single Brussels policy than on how individual European cities use the powers and legal protection it provides.
Giorgia Meloni has applied to register her voice with the European Union Intellectual Property Office as governments and public figures look for new ways to counter increasingly convincing AI-generated deepfakes.
The Italian prime minister submitted a short audio recording in which she says “Io sono Giorgia Meloni” — “I am Giorgia Meloni” — to the EUIPO on Monday.
The four-second recording forms part of an application for a sound trademark intended to strengthen legal protection against unauthorised use of her voice.
The application filed with the EU intellectual-property system is currently listed as under examination. It is linked to categories including downloadable multimedia material, cultural activities and the organisation of political events.
Registration would not give Meloni ownership over every recording or imitation of her voice, nor would it automatically prevent AI systems from reproducing it.
It could, however, provide another legal basis for challenging certain commercial or misleading uses where the protected sound mark is employed without authorisation.
The distinction between a trademark and copyright is important in this case. Meloni has applied to protect a sound identifier through EU trademark law rather than to establish general copyright ownership over the natural characteristics of her voice.
Her application comes as voice-cloning technology becomes increasingly accessible.
Modern generative-AI systems can create convincing synthetic speech from relatively small samples of recorded audio. The technology is used legitimately for dubbing, accessibility and media production, but it can also be used for fraud, impersonation and political disinformation.
Meloni herself has previously been targeted by manipulated images and other deepfake material. She has also taken legal action in Italy over sexually explicit deepfake images created using her likeness.
The problem has acquired additional importance for politicians because synthetic recordings can be produced and circulated rapidly during election campaigns.
A false recording no longer requires sophisticated audio-editing equipment or extensive access to the target. Public figures provide large quantities of clean audio through speeches, television appearances, podcasts and social-media video — precisely the material needed to train voice-cloning systems.
The EU has already begun imposing specific transparency requirements on synthetic content.
EU Today reported in August that new provisions under the EU AI Act require certain AI-generated or manipulated audio, images and video to be marked in machine-readable form and impose disclosure obligations for deepfake material.
Those rules address transparency rather than ownership.
Trademark law potentially offers a different route by allowing an individual or organisation to claim rights over a specific sound used as a commercial or identifying mark.
Sound trademarks are not new. Companies have long registered jingles, tones and other distinctive audio signatures. What is unusual in Meloni’s application is the attempt by a serving head of government to use the system partly as protection against AI impersonation.
The phrase chosen for the application is itself closely associated with Meloni’s political identity.
“Io sono Giorgia” became widely recognised following a 2019 speech in which she described herself as a woman, mother, Italian and Christian. The phrase subsequently became the basis of online remixes before being adopted as the title of her autobiography.
Other performers have also sought stronger protection for their voices as generative AI improves.
Italian singer Giusy Ferreri has filed a similar application, while actors and musicians internationally have pressed governments and technology companies to prevent unauthorised voice cloning.
Meloni’s filing is unlikely on its own to settle the broader legal question of whether an individual can effectively control AI reproductions of his or her voice.
It does, however, illustrate how existing intellectual-property law is being tested against technology that can reproduce personal characteristics that were previously difficult to copy convincingly.
The EUIPO must now determine whether Meloni’s application satisfies the requirements for registration. Until that process is completed, the filing remains an application rather than an approved EU trademark.
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