Category: Cyprus News Agency

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will preside over on Monday a meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus issue, to brief its members on the latest developments following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ and EU Special Representative for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto’s, recent visits to the island.

The meeting of the National Council will scheduled to begin at 1030.

President Christodoulides said Saturday that preparatory work has already begun with the United Nations at a technocratic level to create the conditions for a successful expanded conference on the Cyprus issue.

He noted that the preparatory work will continue throughout August.

It is recalled that last week UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres held contacts in Cyprus. It was his first visit to the island. The same week, newly appointed EU Special Representative for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto, also held a series of meetings in Nicosia.

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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Cyprus acquires for the first time a nationwide inventory of the biomass and carbon stored by its trees.

Developed by researchers at The Cyprus Institute, the new study provides the first tree-level inventory of biomass and carbon stocks across the island, creating a new tool for monitoring forests and supporting climate adaptation.

A press release issued by the Institute said that the inventory was developed using a new artificial intelligence-based methodology, combined with field measurements collected by the Cyprus Department of Forests.

Unlike previous approaches, it enables the systematic and repeatable monitoring of changes in tree biomass and carbon stocks over time, providing valuable scientific evidence to support forest management, post-fire restoration and climate adaptation, it adds.

“For the first time, we can monitor Cyprus’s trees with a level of detail that was not previously possible,” said Anna Zenonos, Graduate Research Fellow at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C) of The Cyprus Institute and first author of the study.

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the regions most affected by climate change, increasing pressure from drought and wildfires makes reliable data more important than ever. This new capability helps us better understand how our trees and ecosystems are changing and provides a strong scientific basis for planning measures to protect and manage our natural resources,” she continued.

The press release said that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in their biomass, helping mitigate climate change and they also provide important ecosystem services, including cooling cities, improving air quality and supporting biodiversity.

The study found that nearly one-third of Cyprus’s tree cover lies outside forests. A representative example is Athalassa National Forest Park in Aglantzia, where the inventory identified a high density of large trees within an urban environment, highlighting the important contribution of urban green spaces and trees outside traditional forest areas.

The inventory also reveals that, during the past seven years, gains in forest carbon storage have been offset by recurrent wildfires and drought-related tree mortality.

The study estimates that since 2014, more than 360,000 trees have been affected by wildfires, resulting in losses exceeding 300,000 tonnes of biomass and 140,000 tonnes of stored carbon.

These estimates were made possible through the new inventory, which captures losses that could not be quantified with the same accuracy using previous approaches, particularly those associated with smaller and isolated wildfires.

Beyond its scientific findings, the new inventory provides Cyprus with a framework for the systematic monitoring of its forest and tree resources. It establishes a stronger scientific basis for assessing the impacts of wildfires and drought, evaluating restoration efforts, and supporting evidence-based forest management and climate adaptation, the Institute concludes.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 03/08/2026 UNTIL 0600 04/08/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1009hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

Temperatures are expected to dip slightly as of Wednesday through the weekend, however humidity levels will remain high keeping discomfort at high levels, Meteorological Officer Andreas Chrysanthou told CNA on Monday.

He said temperatures on Monday and Tuesday would hover around 39 degrees Celsius and could reach 40 degrees inland.

“A slight drop in temperatures is expected as of Wednesday and will last through the weekend,” he said, adding that from Wednesday onwards it might no longer be necessary to issue a high-temperature warning for inland areas.

Chrysanthou noted, however, that humidity levels would be higher than in previous days, both in the morning and in the afternoon, when the two daily peaks are recorded. He explained that the slight drop in temperatures, combined with higher humidity, was not expected to make a significant difference to how the weather would feel.

“Discomfort levels for the public will remain roughly the same,” he said, noting that “humidity makes conditions more oppressive.”

The public should therefore remain alert over the coming days, he added, as higher humidity would keep discomfort levels elevated despite the slight drop in temperatures.

Chrysanthou said the weather would remain mostly clear until Thursday or Friday. Some cloud is expected on Friday and Saturday, while there is a slight chance of unstable weather conditions in the region over the weekend, a possibility which, he said, would be assessed in the coming days.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, congratulated on Monday the Cypriot athletes who participated in the Commonwealth Games “Glasgow 2026”, assuring of the government’s support in Cypriot sports.

“With feelings of pride, I warmly congratulate our athletes who represented the Republic of Cyprus at the Commonwealth Games “Glasgow 2026″,” he said in a written statement.

Noting that Cyprus ranked 14th in the medal table (1 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze), in an event with over 3,000 athletes from 72 countries, the President said that “the participation, distinctions and overall effort of our athletes in the Games are the culmination of their hard work and sacrifices, but also confirmation of the high level of Cypriot sports”.

The state, he added, actively supports all athletes through the Cyprus Sports Organization.

He also congratulated the coaches, the Federations, as well as the Cyprus Olympic Committee, and thanked the families of the athletes who support them in every effort.

Finally, he wished all athletes even greater success in the future and assures of the government’s support in Cypriot sports.

The Republic of Cyprus has sent humanitarian aid worth approximately pound 200,000 to Lebanon through the CyprusAid programme, following a decision by the Council of Ministers.

According to a post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, the assistance was provided through close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

The shipment, consisting of 31 containers carrying pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, departed from the Port of Limassol on July 26, 2026, and has already arrived at the Port of Beirut.

The Foreign Ministry said that the total humanitarian assistance provided by Cyprus to Lebanon so far in 2026 amounts to pound 840,000.

In addition, through CyprusAid, scholarships will be offered to Lebanese citizens in September. These will include both short-term scholarships for seminars and training programmes organised by CyprusAid and longer-term scholarships for studies at higher education institutions in the Republic of Cyprus.

Large firefighting aircraft are needed to extinguish the fires in Greece, Chief Fire Officer of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Logginos, told CNA on Monday, adding that Cypriot authorities are in constant communication with Greece and at their disposal to provide any help required.

Asked about the possibility of providing assistance to Greece that battles with wildfires, Logginos referred to the enormous effort being made by the firefighting units in Greece, adding that the situation is difficult.

He explained that the wind makes the fire move constantly.

“It changes its course, it creates hot spots, it is a huge battle,” noted.

Cyprus, he added, has conveyed the message that it could send its own airplanes and waits for Greece’s response. However, as he noted, larger aircraft would be needed.

“It is a huge fire, larger aircraft are needed”, he stressed.

Logginos said that he is in contact with the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, noting that “we are in constant communication with Greece, we are at their disposal for whatever they want”.

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation in Cyprus is under control, with the outbreak now subsiding, Dimitris Epameinondas, a member of the epidemiological team and President of the Cyprus Veterinary Association, told CNA.

He said that, apart from two livestock farms that remain under investigation, all others have tested negative, while more than 90% of livestock farms across the island have completed the two-dose vaccination programme.

“We are in control during the second phase of surveillance, which began in mid-June. More than 30% of livestock farms across Cyprus have been inspected,” he said.

Apart from the two farms still under investigation, all the remaining ones have tested negative, he added.

“This indicates a very positive epidemiological picture. It shows that the outbreak is essentially subsiding and that we are managing the situation much more effectively. The situation is currently under control,” he said.

He also noted that the high temperatures are helping destroy the virus and limit its spread.

Asked about the possibility of further easing restrictions, he said that “epidemiological surveillance must increase significantly and we must reach a much higher level of epidemiological investigation before we can introduce additional relaxations.”

However, he clarified that “grazing at this stage is something that can spread the virus, even under high temperatures.”

He added that “more than 90% of livestock farms in Cyprus, covering essentially more than 90% of the country’s livestock population, have completed the two-dose vaccination programme.”

Referring to vaccinations in Paphos district, he said that the issues encountered had been resolved and that the process was progressing according to schedule.

Speaking about the livestock sector reconstruction plan being prepared by the team led by Stavros Malas, he said it “will enhance biosecurity in small areas where many livestock farms are concentrated.”

He also expressed the view that “good planning and good preparation have been carried out for the coming winter.”

At the same time, he stressed that “vaccinations and biosecurity measures will remain in place for quite some time, as they will protect us from the virus returning, because, as you know, in the Turkish-occupied areas, apart from the initial vaccination, virtually nothing else was done.”

He also urged livestock farmers who are able to do so to clean their farms during the summer so that they are better prepared for the winter and the risk of new infections is reduced.

“Livestock farmers who refuse vaccination must understand that such refusal could lead to a worsening of the situation,” Epameinondas said, appealing to all livestock farmers to cooperate.

“Vaccination is important not only for those receiving it but also for neighbouring farms. It is therefore better to think of the common good,” he concluded.

Thousands of animals, including cattle and sheep, were affected in several livestock units initially in Larnaca and then in Nicosia district, following a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, first reported on February 20. FMD spread to Limassol in May. This followed an FMD outbreak in the island’s Turkish-occupied areas last December. Authorities proceed with a nationwide vaccination campaign of animals to contain the virus, while EU rules require all animals in the infected areas to be culled, bringing about a series of repercussions in livestock farming and other agricultural economic activities. Halloumi, Cyprus’ top agricultural export product, has been spared. Experts reiterate that FMD is not dangerous to humans.

Cyprus secured a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games of Glasgow 2026 at the final day of the competition.

Judoka Giannis Antoniou won the men’s +100kg title by defeating Australia’s Kayhan Ozcicek-Takagi.

According to the Cyprus Olympic Committee, earlier on, Judokas Zanet Michaelidou and Georgios Kroussaniotakis added two more bronze medals to the Cypriot team.

Cyprus won 12 medals in total (one gold, five silver and six bronze).

The press release added that Cyprus “secured the 14th place in the medal table, which is excellent, becoming one of only 14 countries to reach a double-digit number in medals at the Games”.

Cyprus participated in the Games with a team of 36 athletes in six sports, completing one of its most successful appearances in the history of the event, it concluded.

The Turnover Value Index of Retail Trade for June 2026 increased by 8.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. During the same month, the Turnover Volume Index of Retail Trade increased by 5.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

Regarding the value index, the largest annual increase in June was recorded in non-store retail trade, at 19.4%, followed by automotive fuel sales, at 18.8%.

As regards the volume index, the largest annual increase was also recorded in non-store retail trade, at 20.5%, and in information and communication equipment, at 20.1%.

During the first six months of the year, the Turnover Value Index of Retail Trade increased by 7.3%, compared with the first half of 2025.

Similarly, the Turnover Volume Index of Retail Trade increased by 5.8% in the first half of 2026, compared with the same period last year.