Category: Cyprus News Agency

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.

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)

43

28

12

Larnaka Airport

21

27

42

Limassol (New Port)

35

25

56

Pafos Airport

20

25

70

Frenaros

37

26

53

Prodromos

32

22

34

Polis Pafos

34

25

68

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 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 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.

The Department of Forests has issued a red warning for risk of fires today, while the Meteorology Department warned that the maximum temperature in inland areas can reach 41 degrees.

In its yellow warning, the Meteorology Department says that the maximum temperature is expected to reach around 41 degrees Celsius over some inland areas. The warning is valid from 1300 until 1630 today.

The Department of Forests urges the public to be particularly careful during their outings, and completely avoid actions and activities that may cause a fire.

It adds that causing a fire, according to the law, constitutes an offense that carries severe penalties.

In the event that anyone notices smoke or fire, they should immediately call 1407 (Department of Forests) or 112 (Fire Service).

The ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) has joined Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe) as a Bronze Corporate Member, supporting a European community that promotes collaboration, diversity and equal participation across the aerospace and space sectors.

According to a statement issued by ERATOSTHENES Centre its membership was officially formalised during the Greek Space Tech Forum 2026, held at the Athens Conservatoire. On 8 July 2026, Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis, Managing Director of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, formalised the Centre’s membership alongside Dr Christina Giannopapa, President of Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe).

Also present were Dr Andreas Christofe, Administration Manager, and Professor Ioannis Gitas, Visiting Professor at the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence. Dr Christiana Papoutsa, Coordinator of the Environment and Climate Department at the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, will serve as the Centre’s contact point for its collaboration with Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe).

According to the Center, Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening the role of women and promoting diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities across the aerospace and space sectors throughout Europe.

By joining the WIA-Europe community, the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has equal opportunities to grow, collaborate and contribute to the advancement of the European space community, the statement concludes.

Cyprus’ gross government debt stood at 54.6% of GDP at the end of the first quarter of 2026, according to data published on Tuesday by Eurostat.

According to Eurostat, Cyprus’ government debt amounted to pound 20.089 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with pound 20.078 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 and pound 21.790 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

As a percentage of GDP, Cyprus’ government debt decreased by 0.5 percentage points compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, when it stood at 55.0%.

On an annual basis, compared with the first quarter of 2025, the decrease in Cyprus was 7.4 percentage points, as government debt at that time corresponded to 61.9% of GDP.

Cyprus recorded the second-largest annual reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio among Member States, after Greece, where the decrease was 9.4 percentage points.

Based on Eurostat data on the components of gross government debt, in Cyprus debt securities corresponded to 31.6% of GDP, loans to 22.5% and currency and deposits to 0.5%.

Intergovernmental lending, as an asset, stood at 0.8% of GDP in Cyprus.

Increase in the euro area and the EU

—————–

At the end of the first quarter of 2026, the gross government debt-to-GDP ratio in the euro area stood at 88.9%, up from 87.7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. In the EU, the ratio also increased, from 81.8% to 82.9%.

Compared with the first quarter of 2025, the government debt-to-GDP ratio increased in the euro area from 87.2% to 88.9% and in the EU from 81.4% to 82.9%.

According to Eurostat, at the end of the first quarter of 2026, government debt was made up of 84.3% debt securities in the euro area and 83.6% in the EU.

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos congratulated Ed Miliband on his appointment as Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.

‘I look forward to further strengthening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation across a range of areas, working together on regional stability, as well as on shared EU-UK priorities’, he said today in a post on X.

He also conveyed his best wishes to Yvette Cooper, for her new duties as Health Secretary of the United Kingdom.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 21/07/2026 UNTIL 1200 22/07/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1007hPa (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

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, later locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, later locally Slight

Night Northwest to North 3, gradually near the coast North to Northeast Smooth to Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally Variable 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, gradually locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, later locally Variable Smooth to Slight

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, at times Variable 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

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

Night South to Southwest 3, soon near the coast Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight