Category: Cyprus News Agency

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 22/01/2026 UNTIL 0600 23/01/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1017hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is afecting the area. The weather will be mainly cloudy at times with local showers. Low concentrations of dust in suspension.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 18°C

Warnings: WARNING NR:11 VALID FROM: 212100 VALID TO: 221200 STRONG AND AT TIMES NEAR GALE NORTHEASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS FORCE 6 BEAUFORT AND AT TIMES 7 BEAUFORT WILL BE AFFECTING THE COASTAL PARTS AT TIMES. THE STATE OF SEA OVER THE SOUTHERN AND LOCALLY OVER THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN PARTS WILL BE MODERATE AND OVER THE REST OF THE COASTAL PARTS MODERATE TO ROUGH AND LOCALLY ROUGH.

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning East to Southeast 6 to 7, locally near the coast 5 Moderate to Rough, locally near the coast Moderate

Afternoon East to Southeast 5 to 6, locally 6 to 7 Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Night East to Southeast 5 to 6, gradually Northeast 3 to 4 Moderate, gradually Slight to Moderate

South Coast

Morning Northeast to East 5 to 6, locally 6 to 7 Moderate, locally Moderate to Rough

Afternoon Northeast to East 6, gradually 4 to 5 Moderate to Rough, gradually Slight to Moderate

Night Northeast 5, at times North to Northeast 3 to 4 Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Morning Northeast to East 6, soon 6 to 7 Moderate to Rough, soon Rough

Afternoon Northeast to East 6 to 7, gradually 4 to 5 Rough

Night Northeast to East 5 to 6, at times 4 to 5 Moderate to Rough

North Coast

Morning Northeast to East 5 to 6, locally 6 to 7 Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Afternoon Northeast to East 6, locally 7 Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Night Northeast to Southeast 6 to 7, at times locally 4 Moderate to Rough

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

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Agriculture, as well as the Deputy Minister for Research, of the Republic of Cyprus will visit Abu Dhabi on Friday as part of efforts to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations between the Republic and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, said on Thursday, following a Cabinet meeting, that a delegation comprising the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister for Research and himself will travel to Abu Dhabi on Friday, in the context of further deepening and strengthening bilateral relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, following the recent visit of the President of the UAE to Nicosia. The aim, he said, is to hold a series of contacts with counterparts on issues ‘stemming from the strategic nature of the relationship as it has been shaped, and from the action plan that was discussed in Nicosia’.

He noted that discussions would cover issues relating both to the energy sector and to matters concerning water scarcity, adding that ‘efforts are continuing to further deepen this extremely important strategic relationship’, which he said, has already delivered ‘tangible results’.

The General Government fiscal results for the third quarter of 2025 show a surplus of pound 653.6 mn.

According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the preliminary General Government fiscal results, which are prepared by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (CYSTAT) indicate a surplus of pound 653.6 mn for the period of July-September 2025, as compared to a surplus of pound 871 mn that was recorded during the period of July-September 2024.

Revenue

——-

During the period of July-September 2025, total revenue increased by pound 104.2 mn (+2.6%) and amounted to pound 4,099 mn, compared to pound 3,994.8 mn in the corresponding period of 2024.

In detail, social contributions increased by pound 62.5 mn (+5.7%) and amounted to pound 1,151.2 mn, compared to pound 1,088.7 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

Revenue from taxes on income and wealth increased by pound 10.9 mn (+0.8%) and amounted to pound 1,299.3 mn, compared to pound 1,288.4 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Taxes on production and imports increased by pound 7.1 mn (+0.6%) and amounted to pound 1,264.3 mn, compared to pound 1,257.2 mn in the third quarter of 2024, of which net VAT revenue increased by pound 40.2 mn (+4.8%) and amounted to pound 886.4 mn, from pound 846.2 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Property income receivable increased by pound 3 mn (+13.5%) and amounted to pound 25.3 mn, compared to pound 22.3 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

Capital transfers increased by pound 6 mn and amounted to pound 10.8 mn, compared to pound 4.8 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024. Revenue from the sale of goods and services increased by pound 15.1 mn (+6.1%) and amounted to pound 260.9 mn, compared to pound 245.8 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

On the contrary, other current transfers decreased by pound 0.4 mn (-0.5%) to pound 87.2 mn, from pound 87.6 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Expenditure

——

During the period of July-September 2025, total expenditure increased by pound 321.5 mn (+10.3%) and amounted to pound 3,445.3 mn, from pound 3,123.8 mn in the corresponding period of 2024.

Specifically, social transfers increased by pound 97.8 mn (+7.9%) and amounted to pound 1,334.6 mn, compared to pound 1,236.8 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

Compensation of employees (including imputed social contributions and pensions of civil servants) increased by pound 50.5 mn (+5.6%) and amounted to pound 955.6 mn, compared to pound 905.1 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Intermediate consumption increased by pound 4.5 mn (+1.2%) and amounted to pound 382 mn, compared to pound 377.5 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

The capital account increased by pound 223.7 mn (+84.2%) and amounted to pound 489.3 mn (pound 321 mn capital formation and pound 168.3 mn capital transfers), compared to pound 265.6 mn (pound 226.5 mn capital formation and pound 39.1 mn capital transfers) in the corresponding quarter of 2024.

On the contrary, property income payable decreased by pound 26.1 mn (-25.7%) to pound 75.3 mn, from pound 101.4 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

Other current expenditure decreased by pound 16.1 mn (-8.6%) to pound 171.2 mn, from pound 187.3 mn in the corresponding quarter of 2024. Subsidies decreased by pound 12.6 mn (-25.3%) to pound 37.3 mn, from pound 49.9 mn in the third quarter of 2024.

Minister of Justice and Public Order, Costas Fytiris, had on Thursday a bilateral meeting with Minister Delegate to Minister of the Interior of France, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, on the sidelines of the informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers taking place in Nicosia.

Vedrenne expressed her satisfaction over the strengthening of bilateral relations between France and Cyprus in general. ‘We have a lot of expectations especially in your area,’ Vedrenne told Fytiris.

The informal meeting of the EU Ministers, the first one that takes place during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026, focuses on migration policy and Schengen security.

Escalation in relations is neither in the interest of the EU member states nor of the United States, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday evening, upon his arrival at the informal European Council o in Brussels

‘There are five points I would like to mention. First, I consider the decision of the President [of the European Council, António] Costa to convene today’s informal European Council absolutely correct,’ the President underlined, noting that ‘from the very first moment, as the Presidency, we convened an extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. I was in contact with the heads of the institutions, the Prime Minister of Denmark, other counterparts of mine, the Prime Ministers of Italy, Croatia and Greece, as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister for European Affairs.’

As regards the second point, the President referred to ‘full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Republic of Cyprus knows better than any other Member State what violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity means,’ he noted.

‘The third point is that today we will be briefed by the heads of the institutions and the Prime Minister of Denmark on the latest developments in the understanding that appears to have been achieved in Davos, and we will decide on the next steps,’ he added.

Referring to the fourth point, the President stressed that ‘our goal is not escalation; escalation is against everyone. Against the member states and against the United States; it works against transatlantic relations,’ he said, reiterating that ‘our goal is not escalation, without of course any compromise on territorial sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are fundamental principles of international law.’

Finally, in his fifth point, he emphasized the confirmation of the need for the objective of the Cypriot Presidency: ‘the need for more autonomy in all areas. Autonomy in defence and security, autonomy in energy matters, strengthening competitiveness,’ he stressed. ‘And this moment in time confirms the correctness of our approach, and I believe it will significantly help us work in a concrete way towards achieving the goal of the strategic autonomy and strategic independence of the European Union.’

Asked whether security guarantees for Ukraine would be discussed, the President said that ‘I am sure that Ukraine is going to be discussed also today, following the latest developments and one of the issues is going to be the issue that you asked about.’

Asked by CNA whether EU-US relations have suffered irreparable damage, the President answered: ‘No, I don’t believe that we should follow that path. As I mentioned before, we are here in order to de-escalate and not escalate the situation,” he underlined.

“It’s not for the benefit of the European Union, it’s not for the benefit of the United States, it’s not for the benefit of the transatlantic relationship. So, we are here in order to find a positive way forward without, of course, any compromise on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any member state,’ he concluded.

The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, will be returning to the island next week and will meet both Cyprus leaders on Tuesday, 27th January, UN in Cyprus Spokesperson Aleem Siddique told CNA.

According to Siddique, the meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides will take place at 10am and with the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman at 2pm. No other meetings are confirmed yet, he noted.

Furthermore, CNA learns that President Christodoulides expressed his desire for a joint meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and Holguin.

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.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format that was expected to take place before the end of 2025, is yet to be announced.

María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to the settlement process, in cooperation with Holguín.

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

MEETING DATE: 22/01/2026

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE:

491.677,79

INDEX

VALUE

% DIFF.

VALUE (pound )

FTSE/CySE 20

174,210

1,140

464.080,240

MAIN MARKET INDEX

233,650

1,300

441.445,590

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

3.017,690

-0,360

55.184,690

CSE GENERAL INDEX

291,530

1,380

478.398,860

HOTELS INDEX

2.057,140

0,000

0,000

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

1.962,380

1,160

36.953,270

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 22/01/2026 UNTIL 1200 23/01/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1016hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly cloudy at times with local showers and during the night, risk of isolated thunderstorms. In the morning the weather will become partly cloudy, with isolated showers over the western areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 18°C

Warnings: WARNING NR:12 VALID FROM: 221200 VALID TO: 222400 STRONG AND INITIALLY LOCALLY NEAR GALE NORTHEASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS, FORCE 6 BEAUFORT AND INITIALLY LOCALLY 7 BEAUFORT, WILL AFFECT THE COASTAL AREAS AT TIMES. THE STATE OF THE SEA WILL BE MODERATE TO ROUGH, WHILE OVER THE SOUTHERN AND LOCALLY OVER THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN COASTAL AREAS IT WILL BE MODERATE.

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon East to Southeast 5 to 6, locally 6 to 7 Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Night East to Southeast 5 to 6, gradually Northeast 3 to 4 Moderate, gradually Slight to Moderate

Morning East to Southeast 3 to 4, locally East 5 Slight to Moderate, locally Moderate

South Coast

Afternoon Northeast to East 6, gradually 4 to 5 Moderate to Rough, gradually Slight to Moderate

Night North to Northeast 3 to 4, later North to Northeast 5 to 6 Slight to Moderate

Morning Northeast 5 to 6, later 4 to 5 Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Afternoon Northeast to East 6 to 7, gradually 4 to 5 Rough

Night Northeast to East 4 to 5, later 5 to 6 Moderate to Rough, later Moderate

Morning Northeast 4 to 5, locally at first 5 to 6 Moderate, locally at first Moderate to Rough

North Coast

Afternoon Northeast to East 6, locally 7 Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Night Northeast to Southeast 5 to 6, offshore 7 Moderate, offshore Moderate to Rough

Morning Northeast to Southeast 4 to 5, near the coast 3 to 4 Moderate, near the coast Slight to Moderate

The Republic of Cyprus welcomes the approval by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee of a legislative initiative on the importance of the IMEC corridor (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) for the US, with specific reference to key points of this project, including Cyprus Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, said on Thursday.

Nicosia views this development as part of the broader shaping of relations with the US, both in the executive and legislative sectors, he pointed out.

In statements to journalists after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Kombos referred to the voting on Wednesday by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, which, is “a legislative initiative that refers to the importance of the IMEC corridor for the United States with specific reference to the stages of this project with partners that have special and particular importance to the United States such as India, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel.”

He added that it is a legislative framework which aims to direct, “to the extent that is internally institutionally possible within the United States system, the foreign policy, with the ultimate goal of reporting to the legislature, in relation to how US foreign policy has aligned with these parameters set by the legislator.”

Kombos noted that this is the first step in the legislative process which has been approved with 45 positive votes and only 2 against, and that the next step is to be put forward to the Plenary and then, if voted in favor, to the Senate to follow a similar process.

‘It is something that the Republic of Cyprus welcomes and integrates into the broader shaping of the relationship with the US both in the executive and legislative fields,’ he added.

Replying to a question, Kombos said that this legislation, if and when adopted, creates a roadmap that affects the exercise of US foreign policy, on the issue of IMEC, “with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean and the strategic importance, the relationship of the US with Cyprus as well as in the context of the trilateral cooperation, the relations that exist more broadly, the importance of Egypt, the development of our relations and all the others with India, and as a member state of the EU”.

Therefore, he said, it underlines the importance of the Republic of Cyprus in relation to this project, as a factor that must be taken into account by the US when formulating and approaching the issue that concerns IMEC more broadly and as regards the Eastern Mediterranean.

Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos said on Thursday that the 16.5 billion euro offer for the issuance of a 10-year 1 billion euro bond by the Republic of Cyprus is a historic event, noting that the 3.25% interest rate that was secured, is the lowest of all recent issuances.

‘The Republic of Cyprus requested bids for 1 billion euro and there was an offer for 16.5 billion. This is a historic event” he said.

The Minister noted that this is the first time that there is such a willingness for investment in a bond of the Republic of Cyprus.

“It was a very successful issue, with a very low interest rate, 3.25%, the lowest of all recent issuances of countries,’ he said, noting the recent issues of Greece, Portugal, and other countries.

This confirms, Keravnos went to say, “the recognition by foreign investors of the sound economic policy implemented by our government, which creates conditions of economic stability and conditions of security for investors.’

The government, he pointed out, is determined to continue this policy, which ensures the future growth course of the economy and also enables us “to transfer these positive results to our society’.

‘It is not additional debt, it is the replacement of one that expires’, he clarified, replying to questions.

He recalled that the government has already managed to reduce the public debt to approximately 55%, while the target was 60% at the end of this year.

“We achieved this in 2025. It is an important development, because it opens up possibilities for increasing spending on development projects and social policy’, the Minister concluded.