Category: Cyprus News Agency

Orange warning for extremely high temperature in force on Wednesday as temperatures soar

An orange warning for extremely high temperature will be in force on Wednesday from 1200 until 1700 local time.

According to the Department of Meteorology, the maximum temperature is expected to reach around 43 degrees Celsius in inland areas and around 32 degrees Celsius in the higher mountainous regions.

Cabinet approves pound 1.65 million support scheme for pig farmers affected by foot-and-mouth disease

Council of Ministers approved on Wednesday a pound 1.65 million financial support scheme for pig farmers affected by the impact of foot-and-mouth disease.

In statements after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou said supporting farmers has been a government priority since the outbreak of the disease.

She said the scheme provides compensation for the destruction of piglets, based on the number of breeding sows in each pig farming unit. Financial assistance will amount to up to pound 50 per destroyed piglet, while the maximum amount payable to each pig farmer will be capped at pound 250,000.

Panayiotou noted that the scheme was designed in cooperation with the Cyprus Pig Farmers Association, describing it as a measure that provides tangible support to the sector.

She added that the measure had already been included in the Cabinet’s broader package of support measures approved on March 16, 2026, to address the consequences of foot-and-mouth disease, noting that Wednesday’s decision approved the detailed implementation framework of the scheme.

PRESS RELEASE – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS

C4E Announces the Winners of the G4 FRIENDS Student Research Competition

The Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) is pleased to announce the winners of the G4 FRIENDS Student Research Competition, organised in collaboration with G4 FRIENDS.

The competition brought together students, researchers, alumni, and members of the wider university community to conduct research on leading Funds of Funds, VC Secondaries, and Biotech Venture Capital funds.

Participants produced comprehensive analyses covering fund comparisons, investment metrics, portfolio assessments, and market insights, demonstrating a high standard of research and analytical excellence.

We extend our sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition:

1st Place: Elena Georgiou

2nd Place: Costantinos Odysseos

3rd Place: George Kakoulli

We would also like to express our appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions. The commitment, diligence, and quality of research demonstrated throughout the competition played a significant role in its success.

We thank everyone who participated and contributed to this initiative.

Committee of Occupied Municipalities holds memorial ceremony for those who fell in 1974

The Committee of Occupied Municipalities paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who fell during the 1974 Turkish invasion, as well as to those who passed away carrying the pain of displacement, during a solemn memorial ceremony held on Wednesday morning at the Makedonitissa Tomb, a military cemetery and war memorial in Nicosia, that honors victims of the Turkish invasion.

A religious service was officiated by Bishop of Karpasia, Christophoros, followed by the laying of wreaths on behalf of the occupied municipalities and representatives of Greek cities, in honour of those who fell defending their homeland.

In his address, Chairman of the Committee of Occupied Municipalities and Mayor of Famagusta, Dr Simos Ioannou, said that 52 years after the tragic events of July 1974, “the wound remains open, the pain is etched into our souls, and our duty towards the heroes is non-negotiable.” Referring to those who lost their lives, Ioannou said that within the sacred grounds of the Makedonitissa Tomb lie buried duty, honour and the refusal to surrender.

“These soldiers, young in age, many of them unarmed and unprepared, did not consider the enemy’s numerical superiority. They resisted with whatever means they had and in every way they could,” he said, adding that their sacrifice was not in vain, as “our national conscience and sense of responsibility were built upon their blood.” Ioannou also made particular reference to the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Cypriots from their ancestral homes.

He said the occupied municipalities remain “bound in chains, open wounds on the body of the Republic of Cyprus,” stressing that the Committee’s role is primarily moral and symbolic, ensuring that silence does not turn into oblivion. “The Committee institutionally represents the voices of our displaced people, conveying their demand for justice, and works tirelessly to preserve our cultural identity, historical continuity and the hope of return. As long as there are displaced persons, return remains a living claim and not merely a dream,” he said.

Concluding his address, Ioannou stressed that the memory of those who fell should inspire the daily struggle for the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, for a free and democratic country without foreign troops or guarantees.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. 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.

Cyprus in the grips of heatwave, Meteorological Officer tells CNA, red alert for wildfires in effect

Cyprus is experiencing its hottest days of the summer so far with the first orange warning for extreme heat issued this year in effect from 1200 until 1700 local time on Wednesday and due to be repeated on Thursday, while the risk of forest fires remains at “red alert” level, according to the Department of Forests.

Meteorological Officer Andreas Chrysanthou told CNA that temperatures are expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius inland on both Wednesday and Thursday. “Wednesday and Thursday are the hottest days of the summer so far,” he said.

Temperatures along the coast are expected to range between 33 and 36 degrees Celsius, while high humidity levels will increase discomfort, Chrysanthou said.

Temperatures are expected to ease on Friday, followed by a more noticeable drop over the weekend, when they will be 4-5 degrees Celsius lower than current levels, he said. “We will get at least temporary relief from these conditions from Friday onwards.”

The orange warning is in effect from 1200 until 1700 local time, when the public is advised to take precautions against the extreme heat, he said, adding that temperatures are expected to peak between 1400 and 1500 local time.

Temperatures are expected to remain at around weekend levels on Monday before rising again from next Tuesday, Chrysanthou added.

Cyprus launches National Quality Certification System for agricultural products

Cyprus has unveiled a new National Quality Certification System for locally produced agricultural and livestock products, introducing a unified certification framework designed to highlight the quality, authenticity and added value of Cypriot produce. Consumers will be able to scan a QR code on certified products to access information on their origin, certification and quality characteristics.

The initiative was presented on Tuesday at a workshop organised by the Department of Agriculture in Nicosia. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment the scheme constitutes an initiative of Agriculture Minister, Maria Panayiotou, and forms part of the government’s strategy to strengthen the country’s primary sector.

Addressing the event, Panayiotou said the new system responds to growing consumer demand for greater transparency regarding the origin and quality of food products, while creating new opportunities for producers.

She noted that Cyprus cannot compete with larger countries in production volumes but can differentiate itself through quality, authenticity, innovation and reliability. “The new National Quality Certification System is designed to serve exactly this purpose,” she said.

Under the scheme, every certified product will carry a national quality label featuring a QR code and a rating system of up to three stars. By scanning the code, consumers will be able to trace a product’s origin, production journey and certified quality standards. The star rating will reflect additional criteria, including food safety, environmental performance and overall product quality.

The Minister described the quality label as a “national identity” for Cypriot products, offering producers recognition for investing in higher standards while giving consumers confidence that products have been independently certified through transparent procedures that exceed minimum legal requirements.

To encourage participation, the Ministry plans to provide annual financial support to producers and processing units to help cover certification costs, as well as additional assistance for administrative expenses and compliance requirements. Participation in the certification system will also be taken into account when evaluating applications for Ministry investment programmes, giving certified producers an advantage in funding for modernisation and development projects.

Department of Agriculture Director, Makis Antoniades, said that the new framework establishes a transparent and credible national certification mechanism that is expected to boost consumer confidence, improve the competitiveness of Cyprus’ agricultural sector and increase the added value of locally produced food.

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

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 22/07/2026 UNTIL 0600 23/07/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1005hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with increased low cloud coverage overnight and during the morning, with risk of local mist and/or fog patches mainly over the southern and the eastern coasts.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually Southwest to Northwest Smooth to Slight

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

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

South Coast

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

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Southwest to West 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

East Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to South Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Commission records trends in transport and tourism in Cyprus

Data on transport and tourism in Cyprus are included in the Commission’s report titled Transport and tourism in the European Union – Current trends and issues, which was published on Wednesday and presents recent developments in the two sectors at EU level and by Member State.

For Cyprus, the report records that in 2023, 83.5% of inland passenger transport was carried out by passenger cars, compared with 82.0% in the EU, while 16.5% concerned buses and coaches, compared with 8.2% in the EU.

The report also records that greenhouse gas emissions from transport, including international maritime and aviation bunkers, accounted in 2023 for 37.9% of Cyprus’ total emissions, or 3.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. In the EU, the corresponding share was 31%, or 1,039.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

In the road sector, the report states that Cyprus ranked 8th among the 27 EU countries based on the lowest number of road fatalities per million inhabitants in 2023, with 36 deaths per million inhabitants. It also ranked 14th in terms of the lowest number of deaths per kilometre, with 46 deaths per 10 billion passenger-kilometres.

At the same time, the average peak-hour delay per driver in Cyprus stood at 40.2 hours in 2023, above the EU average of 28.6 hours.

For charging infrastructure, the report records that Cyprus’ power output target under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation was 608 kilowatts, while the total power output in Cyprus amounted to 15,472 kilowatts.

In air transport, Larnaca airport appears as the busiest in Cyprus in 2024, with 8.876 million passengers. The total for Cyprus amounted to 12.514 million passengers, representing 0.8% of the EU total. In air freight, Larnaca recorded 30.6 thousand tonnes, almost the entire 30.7 thousand tonnes recorded for Cyprus.

In maritime transport, the port of Limassol is recorded as the largest in terms of passengers in 2024, with 9 thousand passengers, corresponding to the entirety of Cyprus’ port passenger traffic. In terms of freight, Vasiliko is recorded as the most important port, with 4.212 million tonnes, or 47% of Cyprus’ total, which amounted to 8.945 million tonnes.

UNSG’s envoy meets on Wednesday in Brussels with EU representative for Cyprus

UNSG’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin will be meeting on Wednesday in Brussels the Executive Vice-President of the Commission for Cohesion Policies and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, who recently took on the additional role of EU Special Representative for the Cyprus problem. The meeting is set for 14:00 local time.

Holguin will be also travelling to Ankara on Friday for a meeting with the Turkish FM, Hakan Fidan, ahead of the UNSG Antonio Guterres’ visit to the island on July 27-29 and his contacts with the two leaders.

Yesterday, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, had a telephone conversation with Holguin. She posted on social media that the EU remains firmly committed to supporting the United Nations-led efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. She also said she had ‘a good call’ with Holguín ahead of her visit to Brussels.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous UN-backed peace talks to reunite the island under a federal roof, have not yet yielded results.