Category: Cyprus News Agency

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (D)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0000 24/12/2025 UNTIL 2400 24/12/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

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

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be partly cloudy and locally at times mainly cloudy with isolated showers, while tonight there is risk of isolated thunderstorm.

Visibility: Good, but moderate in showers

Sea surface temperature: 21°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night Northeast to Southeast 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually East to Southeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon East to Southeast 3 to 4, locally Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Tonight Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4 Slight, gradually locally Smooth to Slight

Morning North to Northeast 3 to 4, gradually locally Northeast to East 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Northeast to East 3 to 4, at times 4 Smooth to Slight

Tonight North to Northeast 3 to 4, locally Northeast to East Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Night Northeast to East 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight

Morning Northeast to East 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Afternoon Northeast to East 3 to 4, at times 4 Smooth to Slight, at times Slight

Tonight Northeast to East 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Night East to Southeast 3 to 4, near the coast 3 Slight, near the coast Smooth to Slight

Morning East to Southeast 3 to 4, locally near the coast Variable 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4, locally West to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Tonight Southeast to Southwest 3, locally East to Southeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Meat production increased in October 2025 compared with the same month in 2024, with positive year-on-year changes recorded in most major categories, according to monthly data by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

On an annual basis, pork production rose by 7.2% in the number of animals and 5.5% in total weight. A positive trend was also observed in goat meat, with a marginal 0.7% increase in the number of animals, although total weight declined slightly (-2.1%).

A strong increase was recorded in sheep production, which grew by 16.9% in animal numbers and 6.1% in weight compared with October 2024. An even sharper rise was seen in lambs, with increases of 18.7% in numbers and 9.1% in weight.

Poultry, the largest segment of domestic meat production, posted an annual increase of 3.2% both in numbers and total weight, with broiler chickens following the same upward trend.

In cattle, production increased by 0.7% in animal numbers and 2.5% in weight year-on-year. Particularly strong growth was recorded in calves up to eight months old, with increases of 32.4% in numbers and 40.0% in weight, offsetting declines observed in certain categories of adult cattle.

Compared with September 2025, overall meat production showed a slight monthly decline, mainly attributed to seasonal factors, without altering the positive picture relative to October last year.

Hatching Eggs: Decline in Egg Production, Increase in Meat Production in November

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Hatching eggs from poultry placed in incubation in November 2025 presented a mixed picture compared with the same month in 2024, according to monthly data.

In egg production, the number of hatching eggs stood at 65,340, recording a 12.3% year-on-year decrease, indicating a contraction in activity compared with November last year.

By contrast, hatching eggs for meat production increased, with 1,451,250 eggs placed in incubation, marking an 8.7% rise compared with November 2024.

Compared with October 2025, the total number of hatching eggs declined, following the particularly strong performance recorded in the previous month.

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Moushouttas announced Tuesday the Government’s decision to increase the monthly minimum wage for full-time employment, after completing six months of continuous employment, from 1,000 to 1,088 euro.

Speaking after the conclusion of the meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace, he said that the Government, after assessing the overall macroeconomic and social data, decided to issue the amending decree on the Minimum Wage Limit of 2025, in accordance with the proposal of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance, which provides that the monthly minimum wage for full-time employment, after completing six months of continuous employment, increases from 1,000 to 1,088 euro.

The proposal for the adjustment of the National Minimum Wage took into account the level of inflation for 2024 (1.8%) as well as the forecast for 2025 (0.2%), which cumulatively amounts to 2%, the economy’s growth rate for the same two years, which is expected to be 3.9% and 3.4% respectively, significantly higher than the Eurozone average, the drop of unemployment to 4.9% in 2024, with a forecast of 4.3% for 2025, which is considered a full employment level.

He added that the decree also includes a provision that the monthly minimum wage before completing six months of continuous employment increases from 900 to 979 euro, while at the same time taking into account the projected slowdown in the growth rate for 2025 so that the increase does not negatively affect employment and development prospects, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Low-wage workers are at the center of targeted government policies, he went on to say, adding that protecting those citizens from the risk of poverty and social exclusion is a priority.

“The increase in the minimum wage is expected to benefit around 50,000 workers” the Minister said.

He also noted that the Government supports entrepreneurship and strengthens the country’s development prospects, with consistency in fiscal discipline and socio-economic responsibility.

The new adjustment, he said, comes into force with the publication of the decree, which will take place before January 1, 2026, with effect from January 1, 2026 until December 31, 2027.

Asked whether the new minimum wage also includes the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), he said that based on the Government’s calculations, COLA is also included at a rate of approximately 2%.

The Geological Survey Department (GSD) announced on Tuesday that an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was recorded by its seismological network on Tuesday, December 23, at 03:45 local time.

According to the GSD, the earthquake’s epicentre was located in the wider area of Agia Marina Kelokedaron, about 20 kilometres northeast of the city of Paphos, with a focal depth of 20 kilometres. The tremor was felt in the districts of Paphos and Limassol.

The department noted that this earthquake is associated with the two strong earthquakes of magnitude 5.2 and 5.3 that occurred on November 12, 2025, as well as with the seismic sequence that has been ongoing since then, during which more than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the same area. While the sequence is evolving normally, the GSD stressed that the occurrence of additional felt earthquakes cannot be ruled out.

In a separate incident, the GSD reported that on Monday, December 22, at 19:06, a seismic tremor measuring 3.0 that was recorded with an epicentre in the Analiontas area, approximately 18 kilometres southwest of Nicosia. This earthquake had a focal depth of 45 kilometres and was felt by residents in the districts of Nicosia and Larnaca.

Information on seismic activity in Cyprus is published on the websites of the Seismological Centre at www.gsd-seismology.org.cy and www2.gsd-seismology.org.cy.

The Government will continue with reforms in the next year, with the aim of modernizing the state, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday, during his opening remarks during the Council of Ministers meeting.

According to the Presidency, the President expressed satisfaction with the approval of the tax reform on Monday, as well as the reform concerning the evaluation of teachers. “I am delighted with the result, which also shows the general intention of our Government to change the state of 1960, to modernize the institutions.”

He recalled that the Government had previously initiated reforms in the Audit Service, the Law Office, the right to vote from the age of 17, automatic registration in the electoral rolls, the digital reform in 2025, where they added another 75 digital services horizontally across all Ministries, building permits, urban planning permits, university clinics and many other reforms that they promoted and will continue in the same spirit in 2026.

“Our emblematic reform concerns the pension system, another reform that no one dared to touch. Our Government has already begun the preparatory work. In 2026 we will also have the reform concerning the Central Bank, the reform concerning special education, the legislation for people with disabilities. So, we continue in 2026 with reforms being very high on our agenda,” he said.

Furthermore, the President referred to the assumption by Cyprus of the Presidency of the Council of the EU in January 2026, urging the members of the Cabinet to work to make Cyprus even more proud, and prove in practice “that we have a say and a role in the developments in Brussels”.

“And through our policies to push the European agenda to achieve further integration, which is an absolute prerequisite for European autonomy, which is the main goal of our Presidency”.

Therefore, he concluded, in the next six months we will work collectively, to upgrade the image of the Republic at international level.

The ??use plenary approved on Monday a resolution that condemns the massacre of the Assyrians. The draft was submitted by independent Socialist MP Kostis Efstathiou.

In his introductory statement, Efstathiou spoke about a genocide that affected ”some of our brothers, not far from Cyprus”.

He said that the Assyrian genocide completed in the most bloody and inhumane way the genocides of the Christian minorities of the Armenians and the Pontic Greeks.

The Cypriot parliamentarian said that the Assyrians were a great civilization who developed philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and urban planning thousands of years ago. He added that the issue has particular importance for Cyprus as 300 ascetics of the order Alamanos in Syro-Palestine, persecuted by Arab raids, found refuge in Cyprus and are known as the Alamanoi.

He made a detailed historical review of the persecutions and massacres of the Assyrians by the Ottomans and the genocide in 1933, with the same tactics as the genocide of the Armenians and Pontians, namely mass massacres, death marches without food and water, raids, rapes and sale in the slave markets of the East.

“The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, a victim of ethnic cleansing, today recognizes and condemns the genocide of the Assyrians, while simultaneously declaring the seventh of August as a day of remembrance of the genocide. On 07/08/1933, mass massacres took place in the established state of Iraq, thus closing the bloody picture of persecutions, oppressions and massacres with peoples as victims,” the MP said.

The initiative was praised by all parties that voted in favor.

As long as our homeland is under occupation, the substantive strengthening of its deterrence power of our armed forces is our obligation, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has said.

The President, accompanied by Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas and Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodorou, visited Tuesday the Larnaka Recruit Training Centre, on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, wishing officers, soldiers and their families Merry Christmas, expressing his pride in the National Guard.

President Christodoulides underlined that “as long as our homeland is under occupation, the substantive strengthening of the deterrent force is our obligation. An obligation that we fulfill daily”.

Cyprus, he added, being a member of the EU will assume on the first of January the Presidency of the Council of the EU and noted that the issues of defence and security are among its priorities.

One of the reasons, he said, that efforts are being made to continuously upgrade the deterrent power of the National Guard, is the geographical region.

“We are in a region of particular geostrategic importance, which has many challenges and our country is obliged, always as part of the solutions and never part of the problems, as we have proven in practice, to strengthen the National Guard.”

The President referred to his meeting in Israel yesterday with the Prime Minister of Israel and the Prime Minister of Greece saying that defence and security issues were very high in the discussions.

They decided, he added, to move forward with more joint exercises between the three countries but also at a bilateral level.

“We discussed armaments issues, strengthening deterrence through and from the armaments market is our main priority. And within this framework, our effort to utilize the almost 1.2 billion euros that has been given to us through the European Union’s financial instrument, SAFE, is also taking place”.

He noted that they also agreed on the creation of synergies between companies, Israeli companies for the defence industry, “but also the very promising Cypriot defence industry, so that through synergies we can achieve joint productions”.

The President said that the investment in the National Guard begins through the investment in the human resources of the National Guard, in the working conditions, the benefits, etc, saying that the government has been making efforts from the very beginning to strengthen all the above issues.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the event, the President of the Republic met with the only woman who is doing a military service in the National Guard, expressing great pride in the fact that she enlisted. The President of the Republic spoke with her, asking her about her experience in the National Guard and what she would advise other women. The young woman responded that she would advise other women to enlist as well.

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.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 23/12/2025 UNTIL 1200 24/12/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1015hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be at times mainly cloudy and local showers, with risk of isolated thunderstorms, are expected.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 21°C

Warnings: NIL

Approximately 40 actions have been completed or are in progress within the framework of the National Strategy (NS) for Gender Equality 2024 – 2026, which includes approximately 60 actions, Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, said in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

At the same time, she pointed out ‘that for the first time we are promoting equality issues in all Ministries and Deputy Ministries’, adding that there is close cooperation between her Office and other partners, such as the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation and the Union of Municipalities.

Expressing her satisfaction with the progress of the Strategy’s implementation, Josie Christodoulou noted that, based on a ministerial decision, equality officers have been appointed in all Ministries and Deputy Ministries, with whom there is daily coordination and cooperation.

She also explained that within the framework of the Strategy, which is characterized by a “holistic and horizontal approach”, an effort is made to break down stereotypes through education, the launch of information campaigns and cooperation with career guidance counselors, so that children are advised on their professional orientation based on skills and not on stereotypes.

At the same time, Christodoulou said that many information campaigns are being implemented with women working in sectors where fewer women work (technology, diplomacy, shipping), pointing out that ”we are breaking down stereotypes, promoting women role models, we are coming to reconcile family and professional life with policies.”

Replying to a question from CNA about the measures the Government should implement to achieve wage equality and professional advancement of women, Josie Christodoulou noted that paid maternity leave has recently been increased and parental leave has been extended, adding that her Office is discussing with the Ministry of Labour the increase in paternity leave.

At the same time, she said that by the end of 2026, a directive regarding transparency among employees regarding their salaries should be incorporated into national law, pointing out that this directive will contribute to reducing the pay gap between women and men.

Invited to speak about the actions of her Office to address femicides, the Commissioner for Gender Equality said that, due to the Istanbul Convention, a law is being implemented regarding violence against women and domestic violence. Within this framework, as she explained, the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence has been created, which is under the coordination and monitoring of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, adding that ”under the guidance of the Ministry of Justice, many steps are being taken towards the prevention of the phenomenon.” In addition, she pointed out that the Women’s House has been created, an interdepartmental space for women who have suffered any form of violence together with their children, where there are front-line workers (police, psychologist and social worker), who can provide guidance to victims of violence.

The Commissioner for Gender Equality also stressed the importance of the launch of the ‘Hope’ application by the Police, which concerns women victims of violence who are at risk. According to data by the Police, so far 176 women have gained access to the application, with 13 of them seeking help through it, she said. ‘The most important thing is prevention, so that no other woman loses her life,’ she pointed out.

Replying to a question from CNA about the sexist behaviours observed in the public sphere and the actions of her Office to limit this phenomenon, the Commissioner noted that Cyprus is among the first countries that, since 2021, have adopted a law concerning the prevention and fight against sexism, including online sexism, adding that since 2024, by ministerial decision, the responsibility for monitoring this law has been transferred to her Office.

At the same time, she clarified that her Office does not receive any complaints, explaining that ”we are not supervisory mechanism” and that “our role is purely the implementation and coordination of Government policies and actions.”

An archaeological excavation led by the University of Cyprus at ancient Palaipaphos has uncovered significant new evidence of large-scale fortifications dating to the Cypro-Classical period, shedding further light on the political and economic power of the city-kingdom of Paphos in the 5th and 4th centuries BC.

According to a press release by the Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the 2025 excavation season at Kouklia, in the localities of Hadjiabdulla and Laona, was completed at the end of October. The work was carried out by the University of Cyprus Archaeological Mission under the direction of Professor Emerita of Archaeology Maria Iacovou.

The most important discovery of the season was a series of large towers situated between the Laona tumulus and the Hadjiabdulla plateau. The towers form part of a massive fortification wall that is believed to have encircled the acropolis of the ancient city-kingdom of Paphos. Built with dressed stone blocks and preserved to heights of up to two metres, the wall and its towers represent a substantial defensive and administrative undertaking for the period.

Fieldwork was conducted in two phases, in spring and autumn 2025. Alongside the project’s permanent collaborators, the excavation involved undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students from the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Cyprus, as well as graduates of the department, who participated in excavation, analysis and documentation.

One of the most notable features uncovered is a new tower at Laona, almost square in plan, measuring approximately nine by 8.8 metres. Its walls survive to heights of up to 1.5 metres, while the inner face is preserved to two metres. A wide stone staircase with brick treads, likely leading to the roof of the tower, was identified on the western side, along with stone railings and architectural projections that are thought to have controlled access to the interior of the fortification.

In parallel with the excavation work, the Department of Antiquities completed the installation of a unified protective fence in October 2025 around the expropriated plots that contain the urban fabric of the ancient city. Within this fenced area lie several major monuments already identified by the Palaipaphos Urban Landscape Project, including the palatial complex at Hadjiabdulla, a workshop complex to its west, the Laona tumulus and a so-called pseudo-monument within it, the five-metre-wide great wall of Laona with its staircases, and a complex of towers at the northeastern corner of the palace.

Archaeologists highlight the exceptional state of preservation of the site. Monuments excavated between 2009 and 2025 are found under as little as half a metre of overburden in agricultural land, with no significant later construction after 300 BC. This absence of later building activity is considered rare and has allowed the fortifications, palace and associated structures to survive largely intact.

Researchers believe the Laona tumulus may have been completed in the 3rd century BC, after the administrative centre of Paphos was transferred to Nea Paphos. Even so, beneath the eight-metre-high mound, parts of the fortification wall, including a northern staircase and its landing, are preserved to heights exceeding four metres.