Cyprus News Agency – Page 42 – Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 24/07/2026

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)

Larnaka Airport

Limassol (New Port)

Pafos Airport

Frenaros

Prodromos

Polis Pafos

In 2025 33 people drowned in Cyprus, government stresses prevention steps

Thirty-three people died in aquatic environments in Cyprus in 2025, while drowning claims about 300,000 lives worldwide each year, according to figures presented on Friday ahead of the National Day for the Prevention of Drownings and Marine Accidents, observed on July 25.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Safe Water Sports representative Eliza Karabetian said 28 of the deaths in Cyprus occurred at sea and five in inland waters. Men accounted for 73% of the victims, while 61% were non-Cypriot nationals. Fifteen of the victims were aged over 70.

According to the figures, 36% of the incidents occurred between 20:00 and 08:00. Of the 28 deaths recorded at sea, ten occurred in the government-controlled Famagusta district, nine in Limassol, six in Larnaca, two in Paphos and one in Nicosia.

Karabetian said drowning remains a major global public health problem, noting that around 75,000 of the approximately 300,000 people who drown worldwide each year are children under five. She added that Safe Water Sports aims to prevent deaths in aquatic environments through public awareness and education.

Government officials said drowning prevention is a priority under Cyprus’ National Action Plan for Safety in the Aquatic Environment, approved by the Cabinet in February 2024.

Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki said data from the Health Ministry’s Health Monitoring Unit showed that 533 people had drowned in Cyprus over the past 21 years. The average annual number of deaths over the past decade stood at 29, with about half of the victims aged 65 or over. Tourists and non-permanent residents accounted for 51% of the incidents.

Piki highlighted a safe-swimming programme for children up to the age of 12, comprising eight practical lessons in the water, incorporated into the school timetable and provided free of charge. The third phase of the pilot programme is under way and is due to be completed in November 2026, by which time around 1,200 children will have benefited. More than 2,000 third-year primary school pupils will have participated since the programme began in April 2024.

The government is also considering creating an interactive educational facility, known as an Ocean Lab, where children would learn how to behave safely in and around water.

Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said drowning prevention was an integral part of public health policy, warning that drowning can occur quickly and silently. He urged the public never to leave children unsupervised, to follow lifeguards’ instructions, to avoid swimming in dangerous conditions and to seek help immediately when someone is at risk.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou described swimming as a fundamental survival skill and said the successful pilot programme would gradually be extended to all districts and, ultimately, to all schools in Cyprus.

National Council meeting underway

The National Council is currently meeting at the Presidential Palace, under President Nikos Christodoulides, ahead of the visit to Cyprus by the United Nations Secretary-General from 27 to 29 July.

Attending the meeting are former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, Annita Demetriou, President of DISY, Stefanos Stefanou, Secretary-General of AKEL, Christos Christou, President of ELAM, Ni??las Papadopoulos, President of DIKO, Odysseas Michaelides, President of ALMA – Citizens for Cyprus, and Mike Spanos, representing Direct Democracy.

Also attending are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou, the Greek Cypriot side’s negotiator Menelaos Menelaou, Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office Doros Venezis, Deputy Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office Nektarios Soteriou, and Director of the President’s Press Office, Viktoras Papadopoulos.

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

Cyprus President pledges continued aid for fire stricken mountain communities

President Nikos Christodoulides reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting Cyprus’ mountain communities through deeds rather than promises, as the country marked one year since the devastating wildfire that struck the Limassol mountain region on July 23, 2025.

Speaking on Thursday evening during the inauguration of the renovated central square and upgraded streets in the village of Omodos, the President paid tribute to the two people who lost their lives in last year’s fire and expressed solidarity with residents who suffered the loss of homes, property and livelihoods.

“The Government has stood by those affected from the very first moment,” President Christodoulides said, adding that the immediate priority had been to support households, farmers, livestock breeders and businesses impacted by the disaster.

He said he has personally monitored the implementation of recovery measures and noted that, one year later, the Government is close to fulfilling the commitments it made. According to the President, repair works have been carried out on 998 homes affected by the wildfire. Of the 13 appeals submitted, mainly from residents of Agios Therapon, six have already been resolved, while four remain under review and are expected to be addressed shortly.

President Christodoulides described the Omodos redevelopment project as an example of what can be achieved through cooperation between central government, local authorities and communities, saying the goal is to revitalise mountain areas while preserving their traditional character.

He also announced that the Government will finance the remaining phase of the Omodos redevelopment project, worth approximately pound 500,000, following a request by the village council.

Looking ahead, the President said the Cabinet will soon consider projects to be funded through more than pound 1 billion in European Union financing and encouraged communities to prepare mature project proposals to secure funding for local development.

He added that more than pound 654,000 has already been allocated for projects in Omodos, with further announcements expected soon.

President Christodoulides described Omodos as one of Cyprus’s most authentic traditional villages, known for its rich cultural and religious heritage, wine-making tradition and hospitality, attracting around two million local and international visitors each year.

CNA/SK/EC/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Greece advocates for a fair solution to the Cyprus issue, says Tasoulas on 52nd democracy restoration anniversary

reece continues to steadfastly advocate for a fair, sustainable and workable solution to the Cyprus issue, said the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, in a statement marking the 52nd anniversary of the Restoration of Democracy in the country.

‘We now have a democracy that is experienced and mature in the face of the contemporary challenges of conflict, uncertainty and instability that characterise the international environment,’ he noted.

He also said that ‘democracy, however – the one we established 52 years ago – does not merely grant rights. It also entails responsibilities. A moderate political climate, consensus on our country’s long-standing and now historic international orientation, and unity in the face of the major challenges of domestic and foreign policy.’

At the same time, he recalled that ’52 years ago, on 24 July 1974, democracy was restored in Greece, but Cyprus had been plunged into the abyss of the junta’s coup and the Turkish invasion. That is why, even today, Greece continues to steadfastly advocate for a fair, sustainable and workable solution to the Cyprus issue.’

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.

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

_:Greece continues to steadfastly advocate for a fair, sustainable and workable solution to the Cyprus issue, said the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, in a statement marking the 52nd anniversary of the Restoration of Democracy in the country.

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

CBC invites public to take part in ECB survey on future euro banknotes

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) on Friday invited the public to participate in the European Central Bank’s online survey on the design of the next series of euro banknotes.

In a press release, the CBC said the ECB has shortlisted ten design proposals following an EU-wide competition that attracted more than 1,200 graphic designers. The proposals are based on two themes: ‘European culture’ and ‘Rivers and birds.’

The online survey is open to citizens across Europe until September 21, 2026. At the same time, an independent research company will conduct a parallel survey among a representative sample of residents across the euro area.

According to the CBC, the ECB’s Governing Council is expected to decide on the final design later this year, taking into account the results of both surveys, the assessment of the competition jury and a technical evaluation.

The redesign marks the first complete overhaul of euro banknotes since they were introduced in 2002. The new series will feature enhanced security and accessibility elements, while efforts will also be made to reduce the banknotes’ environmental footprint.

The CBC noted that existing euro banknotes will retain their value and will continue circulating alongside the new series once it is introduced.

The Central Bank encouraged citizens to take part in the survey and contribute to shaping the future appearance of Europe’s common currency.

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

Cyprus Institute joins global study linking ultrafine air particles to nearly 2 mn premature deaths a year

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) -smaller than 100 nanometres and invisible to the naked eye – contribute substantially to illness and mortality worldwide, according to the finding of an international study led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and The Cyprus Institute, with cardiologists from Mainz University Medical Center among the co-authors.

The researchers estimate that around 1.99 million deaths per year worldwide are attributable to exposure to ultrafine particles.

That accounts for about five percent of all deaths from non-communicable diseases. Roughly half of these are due to cardiovascular disease. The researchers therefore advocate for binding limit values. The study appears in the journal Cardiovascular Research.

Unlike fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is subject to legal limit values in the EU and the US, ultrafine particles remain unregulated. Although they contribute little to particulate mass, their small size gives them a very large surface area relative to their mass, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs, bypass respiratory defences, and reach the bloodstream and, via the olfactory pathway through the nose, the brain directly. This makes them fundamentally different from larger particulate matter.

According to the researchers’ analysis, ultrafine particles in polluted regions consist mainly of black and organic carbon – typical combustion products. Globally, around 75 percent of exposure originates from fossil fuels, rising to over 90 percent in high-income countries; in lower-income countries, domestic wood burning also plays a significant role.

The Mainz study also shows that an annual limit value of 5,000 particles per cubic centimetre could reduce global excess mortality from ultrafine particles by around 45 percent. The authors therefore call for a consistent reduction of combustion emissions in cities – particularly from traffic, industry and energy production – accelerated expansion of non-fossil energy sources, and the inclusion of ultrafine particles in routine air quality monitoring to better capture their long-term health impact.

Prof. Dr. Jos Lelieveld, Director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and the Cyprus Institute and lead author of the study said that “ultrafine particles are literally a blind spot in air quality policy: they are not covered by any regulation, even though they are ubiquitous in our cities”.

With our data, he noted, ‘we can for the first time show worldwide where exposure is highest and which sources are responsible – above all combustion in traffic, industry and energy production. This gives policymakers a concrete tool to take targeted action”.

CNA/EC/EPH/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Budgeted development expenditure implementation at 25% in Q2 2026

In the first half of 2026, the implementation of development expenditure from the 2026 state budget stood at 25%, compared with 25% in the corresponding period of 2025 and 22% of the annual average for the last decade, according to the Treasury of the Republic.

According to the Treasury’s figures, total development expenditure for the year 2026 amounts to 1.62 billion euros, and expenditure incurred by the end of the first half of the year stood at 412.39 million euros.

Specifically, according to the report ‘Implementation of the State Budget’ for the first half of 2026, published on Friday by the Treasury, revenue at the end of June 2026 stood at pound 4.44 billion, corresponding to 41 per cent of the state revenue budget (2025: pound 4.21 billion, 41 per cent), whilst actual expenditure stood at pound 4.63 billion, representing 40 per cent of the budget (2025: pound 4.41 billion, 40 per cent).

According to the Treasury, revenue has increased compared with the corresponding period last year, mainly due to a rise in revenue from indirect and direct taxes of pound 0.17 billion and pound 0.09 billion respectively.

‘The increase in expenditure compared with revenue is mainly due to a rise in expenditure on transfers and grants by pound 0.11 billion, operating expenditure by pound 0.08 billion and social benefits by pound 0.05 billion’, it is added.

Inflows from borrowings and repayments of loans issued in the first half of 2026 amounted to pound 1.25 billion (2025: pound 0.03 billion), whilst outflows from repayments and the issuance of loans amounted to pound 2.09 billion (2025: pound 0.11 billion).

With regard to the overall state budget for 2026, which is prepared on a cash basis, it shows a 5% increase in revenue for the year (2026: pound 10.78 billion, 2025: pound 10.31 billion) and an increase in expenditure of around 3% (2026: pound 11.44 billion, 2025: pound 11.13 billion).

According to the Treasury, the projected increase in revenue is mainly due to a rise in direct taxes of pound 0.13 billion and in grants of pound 0.33 billion, whilst the increase in expenditure is mainly due to a rise in operating expenditure of pound 0.36 billion.

As regards cash flows from borrowing, inflows and outflows of pound 1.9 billion and pound 2.28 billion, respectively, were budgeted, it is noted.

CNA/KST/KA/EPH/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 24/07/2026 UNTIL 0600 25/07/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1000hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased cloud coverage will be present at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight to Moderate

Afternoon West to Northwest 4 to 5, gradually locally 5 to 6 Slight to Moderate, gradually locally Moderate

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight to Moderate, locally Moderate

South Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4 to 5, gradually locally Southwest to West 5 to 6 Slight, gradually locally Slight to Moderate

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally Southwest to West 4 to 5 Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually South to Southwest 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4 to 5, at times 5 Slight, at times Slight to Moderate

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first Southwest 4 to 5 Slight, locally at first Slight to Moderate

North Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to Northeast Slight, gradually Slight to Moderate

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight to Moderate

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, locally Southwest to West 4 to 5 Slight to Moderate, locally Moderate

Justice Minister – Chinese Ambassador discuss legal and judicial cooperation

Legal and judicial cooperation between Cyprus and China, including cooperation on extradition and the agreement under negotiation on the transfer of sentenced persons, was discussed on Friday by Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytriris and the new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cyprus, Yang Yundong.

According to a Justice Ministry announcement, the Chinese Ambassador was accompanied by a delegation from the Embassy.

Fytriris congratulated Yang on assuming his duties and wished him every success in his mission in Cyprus.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed, with the two sides expressing their intention to continue their cooperation and dialogue to advance matters of common interest.

CNA/HT/EPH/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY