Category: Cyprus News Agency

Only when mutual trust is built between the people and artificial intelligence, will the artificial intelligence have a chance to work properly for humankind, was the main conclusion of a roundtable discussion that took place during the second day of the China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum, on Wednesday, in Nicosia, ?? cooperation and regulation of media development with AI empowerment.

Fu Xiaoguang, Professor at the Communication University of China, said that just as European media explore AI fact-checking and multilingual communication, Chinese media are also using technologies to address the challenges of content production efficiency and cross-cultural communication effectiveness.

He added that China’s practice has proved that the key to AI in empowering media is to make technological progression and value transmission resonate in unison.

In a video message, EBU News Digital Transformation Manager, Luis Jimenez, presented NEO, an AI chat conversational service that lets audience interact with news, ‘a living, breathing hub of journalism that grows richer with every new member’, and YEP News, ‘a multilingual website empowering young people to see Europe through many lenses, in many different languages’.

He specified that NEO relies on European-hosted language models with very strict safeguards to protect data as concerns around tech sovereignty grow.

Kuaishou Technology Vice President, Liu Zhen, said that the AI technology needs to be consistent, steady, and controllable, while the government institutions need to provide the framework of supervision.

We also need to educate the general public, the internet industry, no matter if it is used by the media, by the financial sector, or by the industry sector, and to ensure that everybody understands this in a better way, he continued, adding that ‘only when we have built the mutual trust between the people and the AI, will the AI have a chance to expand, to work properly for humankind’.

Elli Kodjamani, Chairwoman of the Cyprus Media Ethics Committee and Ant1 News Director, said that as the volume of AI-generated journalistic content grows rapidly every day, journalists and media ethics committees find themselves in deep concern.

She added that despite the growing impact of AI agents in the media field, human journalists remain unreplaceable, as they navigate uncertainty using their intuition and experience, discovering unexpected stories through serendipitous encounters.

‘Fact-checking, human oversight essential, and of course the ethical approach where humans are irreplaceable. So we need to cooperate in order to find the right way to keep AI by our side and a tool, but not replacing journalists in media’, she stressed.

Zhou Jiying, Vice Director of the Global Times Online Strategic Development Center, said that China’s AI industry output exceeded 116.5 billion euros in 2024, while by May 2025, 1,509 large AI models have been publicly released, the most in the world, with Chinese media also keeping forging ahead in the AI sector.

She also said that last July China proposed the Global AI Governance Action Plan, calling on all parties to take concrete and effective actions in advancing global AI development.

Finally, George Pleios, Communication and Media Studies Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said that we are living the era of multi-pluralism, which means to share the global space again, but in a different way, compared to the last 30 years.

Every time we enter a new era, we need a new contract, he noted, ‘a new information order, which should include a more equitable global regulation of information flow, based on the principles of cultural democracy, not only between the states, but also between different parts of every single state and also different groups of the population’.

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides presented on Wednesday evening his six-point plan for Gaza, based on the initiative of US President Donald Trump, to the leaders of the EU member states and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a working dinner held as part of the first-ever EU-Egypt Summit in Brussels.

According to information, President Christodoulides outlined the proposals of the Cypriot plan, highlighting the role Cyprus can play in implementing the US peace initiative for Gaza. He clarified that Cyprus does not seek a political mediation role but rather to provide functional support to ensure Gaza’s viability while respecting Israel’s security concerns.

The Cypriot proposal, he said, is structured around six operational pillars and builds on the experience gained from the ‘Amalthea’ initiative, (Cyprus initiative for a sea humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza) which operates through a bilateral security mechanism in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

During his remarks, the President praised Egypt’s crucial stabilising role in efforts to promote peace in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

Referring to the new Mediterranean Pact, President Christodoulides stressed that this new EU strategy for the Southern Neighbourhood establishes a framework of cooperation that goes beyond traditional development assistance, aiming to transform the Mediterranean into a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Pact was formally endorsed on 16 October 2025 by the College of Commissioners, setting in motion a new era of cooperation based on strategic integration rather than aid dependency.

He added that implementing the Pact and strengthening EU-Southern Neighbourhood relations, including with Egypt, will be a key priority of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Concluding, President Christodoulides noted that the EU should support Egypt’s macroeconomic stability in coordination with the International Monetary Fund, taking into account the Union’s strategic interests in the region.

Department of Meteorology

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

Date 22/10/2025

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Highest

Lowest

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Nicosia (Athalassa)

32 (31.7)

14 (14)

24

Larnaka Airport

29 (28.5)

18 (18.2)

63

Limassol (New Port)

28 (28.2)

16 (16)

60

Limassol Garden

30,6

17,4

Pafos Airport

28 (28.1)

18 (17.8)

68

Frenaros

31 (30.6)

17 (17.4)

43

Prodromos

22 (21.7)

13 (12.7)

48

Polis Pafos

27 (26.5)

17 (17.4)

63

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, referred to the role the country seeks in the proposed ‘international stabilisation force’ in Gaza, in an interview with Euronews, in Brussels, during which he referred to the Republic of Cyprus’ six-point plan for Gaza.

According to Euronews, in an interview with ‘The Europe Conversation’ programme, President Christodoulides elaborated on how Cyprus wants to repurpose its ‘Amalthea’ humanitarian maritime corridor to support Gaza’s future reconstruction.

‘Cyprus has presented a ‘very specific’ six-point plan on Gaza’s recovery to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of a gathering of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday’, it said, noting that President Christodoulides, discussed the details ‘for the first time’ in the interview.

Cyprus’ six-point plan is to focus on aid, security and reconstruction, it said, adding that it involves repurposing the ‘Amalthea’ corridor to both ‘extract rubble’ from the territory and deliver materials for its eventual reconstruction.

‘When (…) the conditions are there, reconstruction should start. And that is why point three of our proposal is the rubble removal and reconstruction enabling. This is the role that Cyprus can play: development of maritime routes for rubble extraction and inbound construction materials into Gaza in order to support Gaza’s rebuilding’ President Christodoulides said, according to Euronews.

He also said that Cyprus is willing to leverage its strategic position as a bridge between the EU and the Middle East to play a leading role in Gaza’s future.

Aside from reconstruction, Euronews added, ‘Cyprus’ plan is broadly structured along two other main lines: humanitarian aid and security’.

‘It aims to support the delivery of humanitarian aid, the screening of ‘dual-use goods’ (items that can be used both in civilian and military contexts), and the training of Palestinian security forces’, it also said.

‘Cyprus is also aiming for a role in Trump’s proposed ‘international stabilisation force’ (tasked with disarming Hamas and maintaining stability in Gaza, among others), which is expected to comprise Arab and international partners’, it said.

All six points, it added, are pegged to eight separate elements of US President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point plan, including those that refer to humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, reconstruction and future governance.

President Christodoulides, noted, however, that rebuilding Gaza can only start when the ‘right political conditions’ are there. He added that there is ‘no other alternative right now’ to the Trump-led ceasefire peace plan, Euronews said.

On the upcoming Cyprus EU Presidency, starting in January, it notes that President Christodoulides said that one of its major priorities is to ‘bring the EU closer to the Middle East and the greater Middle East’.

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides paid a visit on Wednesday evening to the newly renovated building of the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union in Brussels, just 70 days before Cyprus assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

He also described the Cyprus EU Presidency as a golden national opportunity “to once again prove that our footprint is not measured by the square kilometers of our homeland, but by the seriousness, professionalism, dedication, and reliability with which we serve the common European interest”.

«From January 1, 2026, for 181 days, our homeland, Cyprus-the last EU member state still under occupation-will take the helm of the Council of the EU and become the voice of all 27 member states,» the President underlined. He also expressed «the same pride» he had in 2012 when he served as the Spokesperson for the first Cypriot EU Presidency, assuring that this unique and invaluable experience remains with him to this day.

Referring to the impact of the Cypriot EU Presidency, President Christodoulides stressed that «we will negotiate, as honest mediators, over 300 legislative and other files, including the crucial Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). We will chair more than 180 working groups and around 40 Council configurations. Cyprus will also host 19 informal Ministerial Councils and 85 high-level meetings, culminating in the informal European Council in April. Overall, over 250 meetings will be hosted across free Cyprus.»

«The Presidency is undoubtedly a tremendous challenge, a large-scale organizational endeavor with very high demands. Above all, however, it is a golden national opportunity for our country to once again prove that our footprint is not measured by the square kilometers of our homeland, but by the seriousness, professionalism, dedication, and reliability with which we serve the common European interest,» he added.

Describing it as a «national mission that serves the credible presence and promotion of our homeland, the Republic of Cyprus, in the European landscape», President Christodoulides positioned Cyprus as an outward-looking member state at the core of the EU, with a now strong economy and a voice and role in Brussels affairs.

«The building of our Representation is not just a space; it is its people and their stories. It is part of our country’s journey, Cyprus’s journey in the EU. Here, 21 years ago, we had the experience of the accession to the EU-the greatest diplomatic achievement of our country since its founding in 1960. Here, we experienced our first Presidency of the Council of the European Union 14 years ago,» the President said.

«And here, we continue daily, with all of you as protagonists, to prove in practice our role as an effective, reliable, and proud member state of the European Union with a voice and a role.»

Addressing the staff of the Permanent Representation, he described them «the heart and soul of our Representation” and expressed his gratitude for their significant work, both for the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU and as the “most worthy representatives of our country in the EU”.

The President also expressed pride in the role and work of Cypriots in EU institutions: «You are the face of our country in the institutions of the European Union. Every day, through your work and ethos, you project the best image of our country in the institutions.»

The reception was attended among others by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, Labor Minister Yiannis Panayiotou, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Cypriot Member of the European Court of Auditors Lefteris Christoforou, and Director of the President’s Press Office, Viktoras Papadopoulos.

More than 13,000 runners from 85 countries are to participate this year in the 8th Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon, which will take place on November 16th, along the Finikoudes seafront avenue. Runners of all ages will take part in the popular sporting event.

Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Larnaka, Mayor Andreas Vyras said, that when this event was launched they had not imagined that ‘it would evolve to the point of hosting thousands of runners from dozens of different countries’. ‘The Marathon is not only a sporting event but also a cultural and tourism event that promotes Larnaka internationally’, he added.

Within just eight years, he said, ‘the Marathon has placed the city of Larnaka on the global map of major sports events and has become one of the largest – if not the largest – sports events in Cyprus.’

Makis Nicolaou, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, noted that ‘the Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon began in 2017 and has become a point of reference not only for Larnaka but for the whole of Cyprus’. He added that last year the event attracted more than 12,000 runners from 85 countries.

Constantinos Daltas, Executive Director of the Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon, said that ‘in its eighth year, the Larnaka Marathon continues to inspire and unite people of all ages and backgrounds’.

He noted that this year’s event ‘is expected to set a new attendance record, with more than 13,000 runners from 85 countries, and a national record participation in the Marathon race, ‘with over 1,000 marathon runners’ taking on the main race.

During the press conference, organisers also unveiled the official Larnaka Marathon medal, a creation by Cypriot artist Theodoros Kakoullis.

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panayiotou, has stressed the importance of the tripartite social cooperation at national and European level for addressing the challenges and exploiting prospects.

According to an official press release, Panayiotou participated in the Tripartite Social Summit, held in Brussels, on growth and employment. The Summit was co-chaired by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, and heads of the European Social Partner Organizations.

The Cypriot Minister coordinated the discussion among social partners on enhancing productivity, quality jobs and affordable housing.

In his intervention he underlined the importance of the tripartite social cooperation at national and European level for the collective management of challenges and the collective exploitation of emerging prospects, the press release said.

The Minister also referred to Cyprus’ readiness to assume the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union focusing on the promotion of the implementation of European policies for the upgrading of professional skills and for quality jobs, as well as the contribution to the planning for affordable housing.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 22/10/2025 UNTIL 1200 23/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1016hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with locally icreased cloud coverage.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Northwest to Northeast 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, soon East to Southeast

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Afternoon

Southwest to West 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Northwest to Northeast 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, soon Northeast to Southeast

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon

Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

West to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

West to Northwest 3, soon Northeast to Southeast

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, soon Northwest to Northeast

Smooth to Slight

Cypriot MEPs have told CNA that they consider that freedom of the press is non-negotiable for the EU.

In view of the journalistic award Daphne Caruana Galizia by the European Parliament as well as the announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2025 winner, CNA asked the six MEPS for their position on the protection of journalists and freedom of press in the EU and accession candidates, as well as what the European Parliament is doing or should be doing about it.

‘As a journalist and the European Parliament’s rapporteur for the directive against SLAPP, I know firsthand the pressures and threats journalists are faced with,’ DISY and EPP MEP Loucas Fourlas said.

Daphne Caruana Galizia, he noted, ‘paid the search of truth with her life.’

Fourlas said that the directive against SLAPP constitutes just the beginning. It includes specific preventive measures and ways of protection when journalists’ work is hindered,’ he added.

He stressed that ‘the directive must be fully implemented, and there must be strict accountability for crimes such as Galizia’s assassination, independent media should be funded, whistleblowers should be supported, there must be mechanisms of legal and psychological support.’

‘Media freedom is a non-negotiable criterion in order for a country to knock on the EU’s door for accession and it is a foundation of democracy,’ he pointed out.

On his part, DISY and EPP MEP, Michalis Hadjipantela, said that the Daphne Caruana and Sakharov awards ‘showcase the role of independent journalism as the foundation of democracy and transparency.’

The EU, he noted, ‘must protect journalists from threats and attacks and ensure conditions of free expression, through the European Media Freedom Act and the anti-SLAPPs directive.’

Hadjipantela assured that ‘the protection of journalists and freedom of press constitutes the foundation of our democracy and our EPP parliamentary group at the European Parliament places them as a key priority.’

This effort, he added, ‘will be continuous and must evolve to deal with new dangers against media brought about by time and technological evolution.’

Referring in particular on Cyprus, the Cypriot MEP spoke of the need to ‘consolidate the journalistic profession, ensuring both professional safety as well as independence in their work.’

On candidate countries for EU accession, he noted that ‘ensuring press freedom should be a non-negotiable condition, with a clear political and institutional support from the EU.’

AKEL (GUE/NGL) MEP Giorgos Georgiou said on his part that ‘we have repeatedly stressed that the assassination of Daphne Galizia exposed in the most violent way the degree of breakdown, if not decomposition, of the rule of law in the EU. But also, of the threat journalists in Europe are faced with.’

Freedom of press, Georgiou noted, ‘is non-negotiable and the EU, as a Union of values, must safeguard the protection of everyone who expose corruption and defend public interest.’

The Cypriot MEP added that ‘we have criticized the lack of action of institutions and we have called the European Parliament many times to vote on mandatory control mechanisms both for member states and candidate countries for accession.’

‘The accession course cannot go forward if full respect of freedom of press, judicial independence and protection of journalists from political or financial pressures are not upheld,’ Georgiou concluded.

DIKO and S and D MEP, Costas Mavrides ,said that ‘media freedom is enshrined in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter and the European Convention for Human Rights and this is not a theoretical matter but a key necessary component of democracy.’

The European Parliament, he noted, is a pioneer to ensuring media freedom and pluralism in the EU, given that it is necessary in quite a few member states.

Both his political group and personally, Mavrides said, “have significantly contributed through the European parliament in the adoption of the European Media Freedom Act, which put in place for the first time a single legislative framework at EU level, was put in effect in August and will be tested in practice, since it needs to be fully and correctly implemented by all member states.’

Referring to EU candidate countries, Mavrides said that ‘respecting freedom of press and the protection of journalists constitute a necessary condition and particularly Turkey is a poor example, since journalists are prosecuted by the government and are incarcerated merely for having a point of view.’

The European Parliament, he stressed, has ‘repeatedly strongly condemned such practices, but decisions on the accession process are taken by the Council and member states’ governments.’

On his part, ELAM (ECR) MEP, Geadis Geadi, said that ‘the protection of journalists and freedom of press in the EU, as well as candidate countries, is a non-negotiable condition, and something which should be taken for granted.’

Unfortunately, he added, ‘the truth is that most media do not operate in an ideal environment, with their members suffering unbearable pressures from outside, stuck and stifled within lines drawn by people above them.’

He also referred to the new regulation voted by the European Parliament in 2024 for the protection of journalists and freedom of press, adding that the EMFA is in full force already.

The great challenge, Geadi pointed out, is the transition from theory to practice in a way that the protection of journalists and safeguarding freedom of press in the EU as democratic fundamental pillars are not just written in regulations and legislation but are a self-evident reality across Europe.

‘The situation with the protection of journalists usually reflects the level of democracy in our societies,’ independent Cypriot MEP, Fidias Panayiotou, said.

The EU has undertaken good initiatives, such as the European Media Freedom Act for the protection of journalists, but on the other hand it has taken actions against journalism through hybrid sanctions against European citizens, some of whom for their journalistic activity, he added.

‘While generally journalists in Europe enjoy a good level of protection, the EU has adopted certain policies which are against them and which I do not support,’ he concluded.

Issues concerning the promotion of projects of common interest and the strengthening of the European defence industrial base were discussed on Wednesday during a bilateral working meeting in Nicosia between delegations from the Ministry of Defence and the European Defence Agency (EDA).

According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, as part of the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) process, a delegation from the European Defence Agency, headed by Stefano Cont, Director for Armament and Capability Development, held a bilateral working meeting with officials from the Ministry of Defence.

During the meeting, it said, the two sides exchanged views on the progress of existing programmes and examined new opportunities for enhanced cooperation with other EU member states in the field of defence capability development. The discussion also focused on the promotion of projects of common interest and on strengthening the European defence industrial base, the statement adds.

The Ministry noted that the meeting was held ‘in a positive atmosphere, reaffirming the Republic of Cyprus’ continued commitment to active participation in and support for European defence initiatives’.

It notes that the CARD process serves as a European mechanism for the annual review of member states’ defence programmes, aiming to identify common needs and promote collaboration in the development and procurement of defence capabilities.