Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus steps up maritime presence in Japan, China and South Korea

Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis paid a working visit to Japan, China and the Republic of Korea from October 13 to 29, 2026 aimed at strengthening its presence in three of Asia’s major maritime markets.

According to a Deputy Ministry of Shipping announcement, the visit included bilateral meetings with government officials, participation in international maritime conferences and contacts with shipowners, shipping companies and shipyards, aimed at promoting Cyprus as an international shipping centre, highlighting the potential of the Cyprus Register of Ships and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.

In Japan, the Deputy Ministry organised a special event in Tokyo for the first time, attended by more than 120 representatives of the Japanese shipping and business community. Hadjimanolis also participated in the 5th annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum, which highlighted strategic opportunities for cooperation between the international shipping community, particularly Cyprus, and the Japanese market.

During her visit, she held a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kenta Aoshima, and met with representatives of the country’s shipping industry and shipyards.

In China, Hadjimanolis attended the North Bund Forum in Shanghai, following a personal invitation from the country’s Minister of Transport, Liu Wei. Her participation in the Forum’s opening speeches highlighted Cyprus’ contribution to international maritime dialogue, at a time when preparations are also under way for the official visit of the President of the Republic to China, the announcement said.

On the sidelines of the event, she met with the Chinese Minister of Transport to discuss ways of further strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries.

She also took part in a ministerial panel at the 10th annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum – Pudong – Shanghai, as well as the official opening of Pudong International Shipping Week. Her programme included meetings with representatives of the Chinese shipping and business community, shipowners, shipping companies and shipyards.

The visit to China concluded with Hadjimanolis attending the naming ceremony of the M/V KYPROS ISLAND at the Tsuneishi shipyard in Zhoushan. The new vessel, owned by Cyprus-based Safe Bulkers, will fly the Cyprus flag.

According to the announcement, it is the first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier to join the Cyprus Register of Ships, marking an important development in its renewal and technological advancement. Safe Bulkers CEO Polys Hadjioannou and company executives accompanied the Deputy Minister at the ceremony.

In the Republic of Korea, Hadjimanolis visited Busan at the invitation of the country’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Hwang Jongwoo, to attend the World Maritime Day proceedings.

She took part in a high-level ministerial discussion alongside counterparts from other countries and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. She also participated in the 20th edition of the 2026 Korea Maritime Week, where she delivered an address at the opening ceremony.

On the sidelines of the event, she held a bilateral meeting with South Korea’s Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Nam Jaeheon. The two sides reaffirmed Korea’s willingness to further strengthen maritime cooperation, while a request was made to examine the updating of the existing bilateral Maritime Agreement to cover contemporary and practical issues facing the sector.

Hadjimanolis also held bilateral meetings with Norway’s Minister of Fisheries, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, and India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

The meeting with the Indian Minister focused on preparations for the Deputy Minister’s forthcoming official visit to India and the organisation of the Cyprus-India Maritime Business Forum, scheduled to take place in Mumbai on November 23, 2026.

Andreas Gavriel wins silver in 50m freestyle at European Deaf Swimming Championships

Cypriot swimmer Andreas Gavriel won the silver medal in the 50m freestyle at the 2026 European Deaf Swimming Championships, being held in Freiburg, Germany.

According to a post by the Cyprus Swimming Federation on social media, Gavriel finished second in the final with a time of 23.64 seconds. Sweden’s Rudolfs Stupans claimed gold in 23.53, while Fernando Muratov, competing as an Independent Athlete, took bronze in 24.20.

Gavriel also put in a strong performance in the 100m freestyle, finishing fourth, just one place outside the medal positions.

The Federation congratulated Gavriel on his achievement, as well as his coach, Giorgos Chouzouris.

We will not allow prolonged deadlock to breed resignation, Senekis says

The Government remains committed to achieving a just, sustainable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the agreed framework and relevant United Nations resolutions, Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis said on Sunday.

“We will not allow prolonged deadlock to breed resignation, nor will we allow time to become a silent ally of partition,” he said.

Addressing a memorial service for the fallen and missing residents of Kythrea, Senekis said President Nikos Christodoulides was continuing efforts to overcome the prolonged deadlock and resume substantive negotiations from where they were interrupted in 2017.

He said the Greek Cypriot side remained ready to make use of every opportunity for progress, with the assistance of the United Nations and more active involvement by the European Union, in order to create the conditions for restarting the peace process.

Acknowledging that the path remained difficult, the Minister said the Turkish side’s continued demands for a partition-based solution ran counter to the agreed framework for resolving the Cyprus problem.

He reiterated that any solution should provide for the withdrawal of occupation troops and exclude outdated guarantees and intervention rights.

“However long the occupation may last, it does not become lawful, and injustice, however much it may be presented as normality, remains injustice,” Senekis said.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (A)

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1018hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Increased cloud will be present at times with isolated showers and/or thunderstorm.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning

Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to South 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Northeast to Southeast 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Time of issue: 0530

Date: 31/10/2026

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (B)

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1018hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Increased cloud will be present at times with isolated showers and/or thunderstorm.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Northeast to Southeast 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Afternoon

Southwest to West 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon

South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

West to Northwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, locally at first North to Northeast

Smooth to Slight, locally at first Slight

North Coast

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Time of issue: 1130

Date: 31/10/2026

Turkish candidacy for UN Secretary-General a political paradox, Spokesman tells CNA

Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis has described the candidacy of Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioglu for the position of United Nations Secretary-General as a ‘political paradox and a profound institutional contradiction’, noting that Turkey’s decision to put forward a candidate had been expected.

Asked by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) to comment on this development, Letymbiotis said the candidacy confirmed Turkey’s hypocrisy, which, he noted, the President of the Republic had highlighted from the podium of the UN General Assembly.

‘It is indeed a paradox that a country which, for 52 years, has continued to illegally occupy 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, a UN member state, and disregard Security Council resolutions, should seek to lead the very organisation founded to uphold international peace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,’ he said.

The Spokesman also referred to revisionism, aggression and violations of international law, the UN Charter and the Law of the Sea, as well as military involvement in regional conflicts and violations of the rule of law and human rights.

These elements, he said, ‘constitute a policy that directly runs counter to the principles and mission of the Organisation’.

‘You cannot seek to lead the United Nations while refusing to respect the principles on which it is founded. You cannot claim to represent international law while continuing to violate it,’ he stressed.

Referring to the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General, Letymbiotis said it was at an advanced stage and involved particular institutional and diplomatic considerations.

He added that, in assessing the candidates, the Security Council would take due account both of each candidate’s profile, qualifications and track record and of the position of the country putting forward their candidacy towards the UN Charter, international law and the decisions of the Security Council itself.

It is noted that Greece is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term and holds the Council’s presidency for October 2026.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 31/10/2026 UNTIL 0600 01/11/2026

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1018hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Increased cloud will be present at times with isolated showers and/or thunderstorm.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning

Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to South 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Northeast to Southeast 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 3 to 4, at times locally 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, locally Variable

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Charalambous and Polykarpou named Cyprus flagbearers for Dakar Youth Olympic Games

Vladimiros Charalambous and Evgenia Maria Polykarpou will carry the Cyprus flag at the opening ceremony of the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, Dakar 2026, which will take place in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, 2026.

According to a press release issued by the Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC), Charalambous, who competes in judo, finished in ninth place at the 2025 U18 World Championships. That same year, ranked third at the Cyprus national championships in the senior, cadet and junior categories.

Polykarpou, who competes in beach sprint rowing, ranked 18th in the world in the U19 category in 2025. In 2026, she finished first in both the solo and double events at international LNC International Beach Sprints competitions.

Cyprus will be represented by eight athletes across six sports. Andrew Marcus Lagoutis and Maria Kermanou will compete in swimming, Evgenia Maria Polykarpou in rowing, Aris Kayias in fencing, Marina Chatzikosta and Andreas Panteli in athletics, Ioanna Constantinou in taekwondo and Vladimiros Charalambous in judo.

This will be Cyprus’ fourth appearance at the Youth Olympic Games and the first time the country will compete in fencing, taekwondo and rowing at the event.

The COC wished all members of the Cypriot delegation every success, expressing confidence that they would represent Cyprus with sportsmanship, determination and pride.