Category: Cyprus News Agency

The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has welcomed the findings and recommendations of a World Health Organization (WHO) Europe report titled ‘Strengthening Primary Health Care and Reducing Overprovision of Low-Value Specialist Care: Policy Options for Cyprus”, describing it as an important contribution to the continued development of the General Healthcare System (GeSY).

The HIO said in a press release that the report was prepared as part of a WHO technical assistance project coordinated by the Ministry of Health, in close cooperation with the Organisation, and was based, among other sources, on HIO data covering the period 2020-2024.

The Organisation noted that it had already launched reforms consistent with the report’s recommendations, including quality indicators, clinical guidelines, linking provider payments to quality criteria, and strengthening monitoring through data analysis and artificial intelligence.

The HIO said the report’s recommendations are in line with its strategic planning and reaffirm the importance of continuous evaluation, evidence-based policymaking and international best practices. It added that it is implementing further measures, with particular emphasis on strengthening the role of Personal Doctors, improving primary healthcare services and ensuring more efficient use of healthcare resources.

CNA/LS/EC/MK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

A total of 119 illegally residing immigrants were repatriated today to their countries of origin in the context of efforts being made to combat illegal immigration by the Police and the Deputy Ministry of Migration, the Police said in a press release.

According to the Police from 01/01/2026 until today, 5288 foreigners who were illegally residing in Cyprus have been repatriated through voluntary and mandatory return procedures.

Regarding illegal arrivals for the year 2026, 856 irregular migrants have arrived illegally, while for the corresponding period last year, the number was 1299 migrants, the press release added.

CNA/PH/GV/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 07/08/2026 UNTIL 0600 08/08/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1005hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but during the night and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage will be present with risk of local mist and possibly fog patches.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally West to Northwest 4 to 5 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, later near the coast Northwest to Northeast Slight

South Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3 to 4, later 4 to 5 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 4 to 5, locally 5 Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, later Northwest to Northeast 3 Slight, later Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Southeast to South 3, gradually South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually Variable Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually Southwest to Northwest Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night South to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight

CNA/PC/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Seventeen-year-old Cypriot Marina Hadjicosta won the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, USA. With this great success, Hadjicosta further established herself among the world’s leading young athletes, an announcement by the Cyprus Amateur Athletics Federation (KOEAS) says.

Hadjicosta, coached by Constantinos Stavrou, produced a best throw of 54.88 metres in her fourth attempt. The Cypriot athlete made an impressive start to the final, moving into third place with her opening throw and maintaining her position despite several changes in the medal positions.

Hadjicosta’s first three attempts measured 53.99m, 53.96m and 51.88m. In the fourth round, American Jaslynn Massey moved into second place with a 56.17m throw, temporarily dropping Hadjicosta to fourth. The Cypriot responded immediately with 54.88m to regain third place and secure her position on the podium. China’s Yixin Xu won the gold medal with 61.06m, while Massey took silver with 58.41m.

CNA/TKE/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Pafos FC suffered a 1-0 defeat against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday evening in the first leg of the third Europa League qualifying round.

The only goal of the match was scored for the home side by Tabakovic in the 88th minute.

Sa Pinto’s side finished the match with ten players, as Sema was sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Following yesterday’s result, the Cypriot cup holders will seek qualification in the second leg, which will take place at the ALFAMEGA Stadium in Limassol on Thursday 13 August.

CNA/KA/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 07/08/2026

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

40

23

27

Larnaka Airport

34

25

65

Limassol (New Port)

32

23

62

Pafos Airport

31

24

76

Frenaros

33

25

62

Prodromos

30

22

47

Polis Pafos

35

23

46

CNA/ME/GV/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Tackling traffic congestion will be among the top priorities of her tenure, Cyprus’ new Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Evanthia Tsolaki, told CNA, adding that all proposals currently on the table will be assessed before decisions are taken on their implementation. She said expanding the Park and Ride service is among the measures under consideration.

According to Tsolaki, “there are already a number of ideas under consideration” to address traffic congestion.

“We will put all the proposals on the table, examine which are feasible and come back with further announcements,” the Minister said.

She added that major infrastructure projects are already under way and referred to the recent meeting between her predecessor, Alexis Vafeades, and the Municipality of Limassol, during which a number of transport-related issues were discussed.

According to Tsolaki, the meeting resulted in a unified and comprehensive plan for projects and interventions aimed at addressing Limassol’s traffic congestion.

The plan includes the Northern Limassol Bypass, as well as the completion and upgrading of the main road network, she explained.

She added that the planning also provides for high-priority interventions and strategic infrastructure projects.

Asked whether the Ministry would consider adopting measures implemented in other European countries to tackle traffic congestion, Tsolaki replied: “Of course, we will look at everything.”

“I have a meeting today with the Department of Road Transport to discuss all these issues, as well as matters that have been highlighted in recent media reports, such as the ADR Agreement, and we will come back with further announcements,” she said.

Asked about her other priorities, Tsolaki said these include “improving the road network, not only for the purpose of easing traffic congestion but also to facilitate mobility more broadly.”

“We also need to look at all the other departments of the Ministry. There are issues concerning the airports and the ports. I, too, am waiting to be fully briefed so that I have an overview of pending issues and set my priorities,” she added.

Asked whether expanding the Park and Ride service was under consideration, Tsolaki replied that it “is one of the proposals that will be examined because it certainly helps.”

She went on to say that meetings should be held with public transport operators in order to identify ways of increasing the frequency of services.

“We will work for the common good. We will continue the work of the previous Minister, Mr Vafeades. Naturally, every decision we take will be preceded by the necessary consultation,” the Minister concluded.

CNA/LS/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Future planning in tourism sector, air connectivity and the main goal to turn Cyprus into a year-round destination were discussed at a meeting Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis had with the new leadership of hoteliers’ association, PASYXE.

Koumis noted, according to a press release by the Deputy Ministry, that the protection and sustainable management of tourist destinations is now the biggest challenge for everyone, following the crisis in the sector.

The Deputy Minister and the hoteliers discussed the course of Cyprus tourism and both expressed satisfaction over the actions taken.

On the agenda of the meeting were also issues related to new tourist markets for Cyprus and strengthening the existing ones, as well as promoting the country abroad.

Koumis noted that it is extremely important for the public and private sectors to invest together in the ‘Destination Stewardship’ effort, adding that this cooperation has led to successful results over the years.

PASYXE Head Yiannos Pantazis said that during the meeting they confirmed the common understanding that tourism sector thrives when there is good cooperation between the public and private sectors.

He added that they are already working so that in 2027, the sector will return to the 2025 results.

CNA/KCH/GV/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

The total number of vehicle registrations increased by 11.5% in the period January-July 2026, reaching 34,787, compared with 31,200 in the same period of 2025. At the same time, the Statistical Service’s ‘Motor Vehicle Registrations’ report shows a slight decrease of 3.8 per cent in new vehicle registrations and a 24.1 per cent increase in used vehicle registrations.

According to figures published on Friday by the Statistical Service, in July 2026 total motor vehicle registrations reached 5,420, marking a 3.3 per cent increase compared with 5,246 in July, with a slight rise of 2.2 per cent in registrations of saloon cars (4,244 in July 2026, up from 4,154 in July 2025). It is also noted that the number of bus registrations has increased by 72.7 per cent, with 19 buses registered in July 2026 compared with July 2025, whilst the number of moped registrations has fallen by 25.8 per cent.

Increase in registrations of hybrid saloons

——————————

According to the report’s data, there has been a decline in the share of petrol-powered saloon cars and an increase in that of hybrid models. Specifically, during the period January-July, registrations of passenger saloon cars totalled 26,841 (an increase of 11.1% compared with 24,158 in the corresponding period of 2025), of which 8,614 (32.1%) were new and 18,227 (67.9%) were second-hand cars.

There was an 11.8% decrease (from 3,581 to 3,159) in the number of hire cars, as well as a decline in the share of petrol-powered saloon cars, which fell to 35.5% in the period January-July 2026 (from 43.3% in the corresponding period of 2025). There was also a slight decrease in the share of diesel cars (from 8.5% in 2025 to 8.0% in 2026) and electric cars (from 4.8% to 4.6%). By contrast, the share of hybrid vehicles rose from 43.3 per cent to 51.9 per cent.

Bus registrations also rose, reaching 130 in the January-July 2026 period, up from 89 in the same period of 2025. Furthermore, registrations of goods conveyance vehicles rose to 4,074 in the period January-July 2026, compared with 3,608 in the corresponding period of 2025, marking an increase of 12.9 per cent. Specifically, light goods vehicles rose by 12.1 per cent to 3,324, road tractors (tow trucks) by 15.2 per cent to 152, heavy goods vehicles by 16.1% to 491, and hire vehicles by 16.6 per cent to 197.

At the same time, registrations of mopeds 50cc increased by 12.9 per cent to 3,167 in the period January-July 2026, compared with 2,806 in the same period of 2025.

CNA/MIR/AGK/202S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 07/08/2026 UNTIL 1800 08/08/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1003hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weathe? over the coastal areas will be mainly fine, but during the night and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage will be present at times. Risk of local mist and/or fog patches, mainly over the east.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night

West to Northwest 3 to 4, later near the coast Northwest to Northeast 3

Slight

Morning

West to Northwest 3, gradually 3 to 4

Slight

Afternoon

West to Northwest 4 to 5, locally 5 to 6

Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

South Coast

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually near the coast Northwest to Northeast 3

Slight, gradually near the coast Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, soon South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 4 to 5, locally 5 to 6

Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southeast to South 3, gradually South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Slight

North Coast

Night

South to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually near the coast Southeast to Southwest 3

Slight

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually 3 to 4

Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Slight

Time of issue: 1700

Date: 07/08/2026

CNA/ME/GV/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY