Category: Auto Guid

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 12/02/2026 UNTIL 1200 13/02/2026

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1011hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be locally mainly cloudy and at times local showers or thunderstorms are expected. Dust in suspension is expected.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 18°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon

South to Southwest 4 to 5, locally 5

Moderate

Night

South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning

South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6

Moderate to Rough

South Coast

Afternoon

Southwest 5, locally 5 to 6

Moderate

Night

South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning

South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6

Moderate to Rough

East Coast

Afternoon

South to Southwest 5, locally 5 to 6

Slight to Moderate, locally Moderate

Night

South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning

South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6

Moderate to Rough

North Coast

Afternoon

South to Southwest 5, locally 5 to 6

Moderate

Night

South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning

South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6

Moderate to Rough

Time of issue: 1130

Date: 12/02/2026

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the firm and publicly stated position for the resumption of negotiations within the framework of the United Nations, from the point at which they were interrupted in 2017 in Crans Montana, during their private meeting, yesterday afternoon in Ankara, as Mitsotakis informed the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on the sidelines of the Informal Summit in Alden Bissen on Thursday. The position was in line with consistency and previous coordination, according to a government source that spoke to CNA.

The Turkish President’s response, according to the same source, was in the same context as his previous public and private statements, without escalation or differentiation of style, and without a change in his position.

Regarding the overall assessment of the meeting, according to the same source, it leads to the conclusion that the climate of low tension and of efforts for functional communication is maintained, with the main feature being the maintenance of calm conditions at the present stage.

Moreover, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Konstantinos Kombos, had a telephone conversation with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, according to a social media post by the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon, with the aim of mutual information exchange and close coordination, as noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

We are happy to invite you to attend our Conference “Safeguarding fundamental rights and democratic values in the EU digital sphere and beyond’ which will take place on Friday, 6th of March 2026 at 10:00 am (EET), at the ‘Amphitheater Filippos Tsimpoglou’ (LRC 012), Learning Resource Centre UCY Library ‘Stelios Ioannou’ of the University of Cyprus.

The conference will host acclaimed international speakers that will provide their insight on all latest topics EU Digital Acquis, Media Freedom, Pluralism, Copyright Law, Disinformation Risks, DSA, AI Act and debates at European level.

Please find attached the agenda of the conference.

Physical attendance registration: here

Online attendance registration: here

The Conference will count for 5.5 CPD for Lawyers.

For more information, please contact: DigiU@ucy.ac.cy.

We look forward to welcoming you to this important event.

The University of Cyprus’ Centre of Excellence biobank.cy announced on Thursday the identification and recording for the first time of medically useful genetic variations in the Cypriot population, which are proven to be linked to the onset of genetic diseases and can essentially be used as a means of raising awareness for disease prevention, while also contributing to timely, personalised, and effective therapeutic interventions.

As stated, the Centre’s scientific team used advanced computational methods to analyse genetic variations in 81 genes identified by the American College of Medical Genetics as directly linked to genetic diseases that the medical community can manage (actionable genes), such as cardiovascular diseases, hereditary cancers, metabolic and other diseases.

According to the press release, of the 1,446 individuals studied, approximately 1 in 20 carries at least one genetic variant of possible clinical significance, while in another 119 individuals, interesting genetic changes with uncertain action were identified, with many of these variants appearing to occur more frequently or exclusively in the Cypriot population, highlighting its unique genetic characteristics.

It is noted that the study, recently published in the scientific journal Genomics (Elsevier), is part of CYPROME – Cyprus Human Genome Project, a national initiative carried out by the biobank.cy Center of Excellence for the accurate genomic mapping of the Cypriot population, whose ultimate goal is to create the first Cypriot genomic reference model that will allow for an in-depth study of the genetic architecture of the population, a project of crucial importance for the design of national health policies, prevention programmes, and research initiatives tailored to the needs of the population.

Among the main findings of the study of 1,446 individuals, it is stated that 5.05% of participants carry at least one medically useful genetic variant, while an additional group of 119 individuals carry potentially exploitable genetic variants with possible clinical significance.

It is added that a total of 42 medically exploitable variants were identified, of which 4 are unique to the Cypriot population, while 19 occur mainly in Cyprus, with most related to cardiovascular diseases and hereditary cancers, with characteristic examples being the LDLR and PALB2 genes.

According to biobank.cy approximately 60% of carriers report the clinical phenotypes expected by the ACMG, with the existence of population-specific and enriched variants indicating possible founder genetic phenomena, confirming the uniqueness of the genetic structure of Cypriot DNA.

“The results show that genetic variants associated with serious but manageable conditions, such as hereditary cancer and cardiovascular disease, occur relatively frequently in Cypriots, as they do globally. Consequently, carriers of variants in clinically significant genes may be able to better manage their genetically inherited diseases,” it says.

Thus, it notes, “the early detection of such variants can significantly improve the outcome/progression of the disease through early prognosis, targeted prevention, systematic monitoring, and personalised therapeutic interventions.”

It is further added that, in combination with the expertise and biomedical research infrastructure of the biobank.cy Centre of Excellence, the findings lay the foundations for the integration of scientific data into clinical practice, reinforcing the transition from a uniform therapeutic approach to personalized medicine, but also to health policymaking as a whole.

This study, in which citizens from all over Cyprus participated voluntarily, was approved by the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee (EEBK/EP/2020/04), while all procedures are strictly compliant with the European General Data Protection Regulation, with funding from the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus, and the University of Cyprus, as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, the press release concludes.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 12/02/2026 UNTIL 1800 13/02/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1008hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be locally mainly cloudy and at times local showers and thunderstorms are expected. Dust in suspension is expected.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 18°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5 Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6 Moderate to Rough

Afternoon Southwest 4 to 5, locally 5 to 6 Moderate

South Coast

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5 Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6 Moderate to Rough

Afternoon Southwest 5, at times 6 Moderate to Rough

East Coast

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5 Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6 Moderate to Rough

Afternoon South to Southwest 5, locally 5 to 6 Moderate to Rough, locally Moderate

North Coast

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5 Slight to Moderate, at times locally Moderate

Morning South to Southwest 5 to 6, at times locally 6 Moderate to Rough

Afternoon Southwest 5, locally 5 to 6 Moderate to Rough

Time of issue: 1700

Date: 12/02/2026

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today`s stock exchange meeting as follows:

MEETING DATE: 12/02/2026

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE:

1.404.171,70

INDEX

VALUE

% DIFF.

VALUE (pound )

FTSE/CySE 20

177,140

-0,780

1.398.378,340

MAIN MARKET INDEX

241,550

0,190

1.368.615,050

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

2.951,130

-1,280

49.403,750

CSE GENERAL INDEX

300,160

0,180

1.400.760,340

HOTELS INDEX

2.133,930

-1,870

2.502,810

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

1.960,030

-0,330

34.082,320

Change in energy intensity of gross value added in Cyprus stood at -23.2% over the period 2014-2023, according to data published today by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

According to the data, in 2023 the EU economy’s net domestic energy use amounted to 56.1 million terajoules, marking a decrease of 4.1% compared with 2022. Businesses and governments consumed 72.3% of the energy for production activities, while the remaining 27.7% was consumed directly by households.

In terms of economic activities, manufacturing accounted for the largest share of net domestic energy use, with 14.3 million terajoules or 25.5% of the total. It was followed by electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply with 10.1 million terajoules (17.9%) and transport and storage with 6.9 million terajoules (12.3%).

Compared with 2022, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply recorded the sharpest decrease in energy use (-8.7%), followed by manufacturing (-5.5%). By contrast, transport and storage was the only economic activity to register an increase in energy use in 2023, rising by 8.1%.

Regarding the period 2014-2023, the picture across the EU in terms of energy efficiency in production activities was mixed. The largest declines in the energy intensity of gross value added were recorded in Estonia (-43.1%), Ireland (-42.8%) and the Netherlands (-37.2%). An increase was observed only in Malta (+22.9%) and Lithuania (+9.3%).

The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Harris Georgiades, highlighted the geopolitical importance of the Eastern Mediterranean and called for strengthened cooperation within the 3+1 scheme (Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States), during an intervention at an inter-parliamentary meeting of the four countries in Jerusalem Thursday.

The Eastern Mediterranean, he noted, is a region of critical strategic significance that ‘will either generate tensions, conflicts and threats to international security, or evolve into a zone of stability, investment and energy interconnection.’

Its future trajectory, he argued, will depend largely on effective coordination among the three liberal democracies of the region and on sustained US engagement, which together form the core of the 3+1 partnership.

The initiative, he underlined, is not directed against any state but seeks to advance shared interests and common security concerns.

Addressing developments in Turkey, the Cyprus Parliamentarian said the country has undergone a profound transformation over the past two decades, with its secular and Western-oriented outlook giving way to a blend of authoritarianism, Islamism and nationalism.

‘We cannot continue to pretend that Turkey is a stable and reliable partner,’ he stated, adding that this shift cannot be attributed solely to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as it reflects broader structural changes that have reshaped the political system and state institutions.

Georgiades also referred to the strong domestic backing for the partnership in Cyprus, noting that both the political establishment and society at large clearly support cooperation with Israel and Greece, as well as the broader 3+1 scheme.

Citing a recent poll, Georgiades went on to say that seven out of ten Cypriots support cooperation between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, while four out of ten consider Israel the country’s leading security partner, with the United States ranking second.

The meeting was attended by Knesset members Ohad Tal and Alon Schuster, co-chairs of the Knesset’s Eastern Mediterranean Group, which oversees relations with Cyprus and Greece and promotes the 3+1 framework; US Congressmen Brad Schneider and Randy Fine; Greece’s representative to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, MP Demetris Kairidis; Greg Roman, Chief Executive Officer of the Middle East Forum; and geopolitical experts from the four countries.

Cyprus is preparing to introduce gender-responsive budgeting across the public sector, supported by new legislation, policy reforms and specialised training for government officials, Commissioner for Gender Equality Josie Christodoulou said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a WICZ+ Foundation event in Nicosia titled ‘Gender Equality in Budgeting Development: Applying Gender-Responsive Approaches’, the Commissioner said the Council of Ministers has already approved and submitted to parliament ‘The Gender Mainstreaming Law of 2025’, which will embed gender equality considerations into policymaking and state budget preparation.

‘This topic captures the essence of what modern, democratic governance should be: systems that reflect everyone’s needs, and budgets that empower all members of society to participate, contribute, and thrive,’ she said.

According to the Commissioner, the proposed legislation will introduce the obligation to mainstream gender in the preparation of policies, actions, legislative initiatives and the state budget, and in the public procurement process. Tools supporting this effort include sex-disaggregated data collection and gender-impact assessments already being implemented through the National Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming.

She noted that gender mainstreaming is already reflected in the government’s tax reform proposals, including relief measures for both parents based on dependent children and equal tax relief for single-parent families. ‘These measures encourage women’s more active participation in the labour market and at the same time contribute to improving their living standards,’ she said, adding that the forthcoming pension reform will also aim at ‘closing the gender pension gap in our country.’

She also said that since 2023, Cyprus has been building the foundations for gender-responsive budgeting through participation in the European Commission’s Gender Flagship Project, led by Expertise France. Technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance and the Commissioner’s Office resulted in a Gender Action Plan that has been implemented since September 2025.

Christodoulou added that training programmes have involved officials from the Budget and Fiscal Control Directorate, the Statistical Service, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, focusing on gender-impact assessments and the use of sex-based statistics in policy making.

‘Gender-responsive budgeting is an important technical instrument, a transformative approach, which ensures that our financial decisions are being translated into concrete policies and reflect the lived realities of both women and men,’ the Commissioner said.

Study visits and international cooperation – including a visit to Helsinki to examine Finland’s long-standing gender-budgeting practices – have helped Cyprus develop practical tools and coordination mechanisms for implementation.

With the project nearing completion, targeted training sessions are taking place in Nicosia, while guidance on data collection and recommendations to the Ministry of Finance on integrating gender into budget preparation are being finalized.

The Commissioner said ‘the government is taking concrete steps to prepare for gender-responsive budgeting,’ including integrating gender-impact assessments into major policy proposals, improving data collection, and establishing monitoring frameworks.

‘All this work will allow us to fully apply gender-responsive budgeting across the public sector and ensure it becomes a normal part of our financial governance,’ she said. ‘This work will bring us to the stage where gender equality becomes an operational, measurable, and permanent part of our budgetary process.’

She pointed to the broader significance of the reforms, saying that policy dialogue is being translated into concrete action, institutions are being equipped with the necessary tools, and financial decision-making is being shaped to better recognise and support the needs of all members of society.

The “Eratosthenes” Centre of Excellence of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the Hellenic Association of Space Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on Wednesday at the premises of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) in Nicosia, in the presence of the Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, establishing a strategic framework for collaboration between the Cypriot and Greek space technology ecosystems.

According to a press release issued by the Centre, the Memorandum, which is valid until 31 December 2030, defines “a comprehensive framework of cooperation in the fields of Space Technology, Earth Observation, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, as well as Defence and Security applications.”

It provides for joint participation in research and development programmes at European, national, and international level, the development of innovative products and services, networking and international outreach activities, and the establishment of consortia for participation in ESA programmes and other organisations.

It also focuses on cooperation and exchange of know-how from the Greek ecosystem through the National Microsatellites Programme, the joint development of innovative products and services to equip new designs of remote sensing, communications and satellite navigation satellites, and the development of innovative tools combining remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence, with emphasis on natural disasters, shipping, maritime surveillance, environmental applications, Defence and Security, among others.

Furthermore, the press releaSe reads, the Memorandum provides for strengthening the interconnection and cooperation between “Eratosthenes” and Greek organisations in the space sector, with the aim of creating a dynamic and mutually supportive cooperation network.

It also establishes an annual networking day for the Greek and Cypriot industry, with the objective of fostering synergy between industry and the research community. In addition, it foresees the establishment of consortia for the submission of joint proposals to ESA, SAFE and other European or international organisations.

In her address, the Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, described the Centre as “a model of successful strategic investment in research, innovation and entrepreneurship”, noting that within a short period of time it has evolved into a leading hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, combining state-of-the-art infrastructure with scientific excellence.

As she noted, infrastructures such as the Satellite Data Acquisition Station (DAS) and the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory (CARO) provide critical data and services both for scientific research and for public policy formulation, while she underlined the Centre’s contribution to the creation of highly specialised jobs and the support of entrepreneurship.

The Memorandum was signed by Professor Diofantos Chatzimitsis, Chief Executive Officer of the “Eratosthenes” Centre of Excellence of CUT, and Dr Athanasios Potsis, President of the Hellenic Association of Space Industry.

Professor Chatzimitsis said that the signing of a strategic memorandum of cooperation with the Hellenic Association of Space Industry in the space sector represents a significant moment in the trajectory of the “Eratosthenes” Centre of Excellence. He added that the signing crowns a strategic collaboration that had begun prior to the evolution of the Remote Sensing and Geo-Environment Laboratory of the Department of Civil Engineering and Geoinformatics of CUT into the “Eratosthenes” Centre of Excellence.

He added that the signing opens new horizons for space cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructures such as the DAS Satellite Data Acquisition Station recently installed in Cyprus.

From his side, Dr. Athanasios Potsis stressed that the time has come for the Greek and Cypriot space ecosystems to dynamically claim their position within the European space technology environment, strengthening cooperation between scientific and industrial stakeholders and contributing to the development of the economy and technological base of both countries.

The key message, he said, is that the Greek space ecosystem and industry, in cooperation with the Cypriot space ecosystem, must further develop technological and scientific collaboration in order to compete on equal terms in the global space technology market, thereby contributing to the economic growth and technological advancement of both countries.

“The signing of the Memorandum marks a new chapter of cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the field of space technology, strengthening the competitiveness and international presence of both countries within the global space community”, the press release concludes.