Category: Cyprus News Agency

The 65th Limassol Wine Festival kicked-off on Saturday evening at the Limassol Public Garden, and its doors will remain open to visitors until October 4.

The festival was launched by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Evie Tsolaki, in the presence of the House President, ambassadors, MPs, local authorities, and a large crowd of guests.

In her address, Minister Tsolaki noted that the festival continues 65 years after the late Cleanthis Christoforou proposed the wine celebration to take place in Limassol and added that wineries ETKO, LOEL, KEO, and SODAP embraced this celebration ever since. “Today we are here with over 100 smaller wineries, thanks to the support we received as an EU member state,” she said.

The goal, she emphasized, is to support producers, strengthen the primary sector, communities, and the countryside, adding that the government is contributing in this direction. She mentioned that a scheme for vineyard replanting has been announced, following last year’s devastating fires, with the prospect of having vineyards act as a fire protection zone.

On his part, the Mayor of Limassol, Giannis Armeftis, stated that the Wine Festival is one of the most historic and popular institutions in Cyprus, which “remains alive and full of positive energy, serving for decades as a reference point for authentic Cypriot hospitality” and the city’s vibrancy.

He also mentioned that the festival’s program includes 14 major concerts, theatrical performances, folklore group performances, and activities for children, among other activities. Armeftis said that the Wine Festival is a celebration for both residents and visitors, “a celebration that for decades has brought together people of all ages and keeps an important tradition of Limassol and all Cyprus alive.”

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1012hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased cloud coverage will be present at times. From late afternoon, local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, spreading from the west. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY SUDDEN CHANGES IN WIND DIRECTION AND INCREASES IN WIND SPEED.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning

Southwest to West 3, gradually 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Slight

Night

West to Northwest 3 to 4, later 4

Slight

South Coast

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually Southwest to West 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 4, at times locally 5

Slight

Night

Southwest to West 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

East Coast

Morning

West to Northwest 3, gradually South to Southwest

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southwest to West 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

North Coast

Morning

South to Southwest 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Slight

Night

Southwest to West 4, later offshore 4 to 5

Slight, later offshore Slight to Moderate

Time of issue: 0530

Date: 27/09/2026

The “Golden Aphrodite” award ceremony of the 21st Cyprus International Film Festival and the 6th edition of Women in Film and TV took place on Saturday evening at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Center in Nicosia.

The Cyprus International Film Festival, labeled with EFFE quality stamp for significant artistic festivals with social participation and international outreach, welcomed creators and cinematic voices from around the world this year as well.

The organizers emphasize in a statement that the awards, along with the world premiere of the film La Croix (Crossroads), a co-production of Cyprus and France, “reflect the aim of the Cyprus International Film Festival to be a substantial meeting place for Cypriots, Greeks, and international filmmakers, encouraging international collaborations, highlighting new voices, and creating bridges between Cyprus and the international film map.”

As stated, the top award of the event, “Golden Aphrodite” for Best Feature Film, was awarded to the film Kim Cheol by Chengfeng Jin (China, 2025). The film also won the awards for Best Artistic Direction and Best Editing.

Also, Kerry Ann Enright was honored with the Directing and Screenplay awards for the film Tiger, while Carlos Woo received the award for Best Debut Director for Whimper.

The Best Male and Female Performance awards were given to Andrija Kuzmanovic for Yugo Florida and Jorie Blake Rosen for Tiger, respectively.

Meanwhile, the festival showcased significant creations in short films, documentaries, animation, experimental works, and new creators, with distinctions among others for the films Nihilism, These Women, Angel and Meow, Lost Spaces, After The Lightning, A Day Through My Eyes, and Jane and Zhen.

Greek and Cypriot creators had a special place in the 21st edition of the festival, confirming the dynamic presence of Greek-speaking and Cypriot cinema within an international environment of creation and cinematic exchange.

A highlight of this year’s event was the world premiere of the Franco-Cypriot production La Croix (Crossroads) by Hu Xueyang, an international co-production between France and Cyprus. The film was presented to the public for the first time as part of the 21st CYIFF and was honored with the CYIFF 2026 Special Festival Award.

The participation of Hu Xueyang at the Festival holds particular importance, as the distinguished Chinese director had previously participated in the jury of the CYIFF, thus connecting two different temporal moments in the history of the Festival and highlighting its enduring relationship with significant creators of international cinema.

The CYIFF 2026 Best Greek Short Film Award was awarded to Theodora Madarou for the film I Have a Story but I Am Not My Story. Augustina Papadopoulou was honored with the Best Music Dance Short Film Award for Nihilism, while Belinda Cherrington and Kalli Koulloufidou received the CYIFF 2026 VR Award for Lost Spaces.

The Special Award for Inclusion and Human Dignity was awarded to Cypriot creator Charalambos Kontopanas for the film A Day Through My Eyes, for its sensitive and powerful approach to the lives, experiences, and desires of people with disabilities, highlighting human dignity, resilience, and the right to full participation in society.

The presence of Dina Rosenmeier was also significant, as she was honored with the CYIFF 2026 Aphrodite Cinematic Award for the film After The Lightning, a Spanish-Cypriot production. This particular distinction is awarded to a female director with exceptional prospects for development in the film industry.

The Festival also honored Cypriot cinematic creation with an Honorary Mention to Cypriot Filmmakers for the film Abstraction of Simplicity by Kyriakos Kakoullis, Vasilis Georgiou, and Mamas Sourouppis, for exploring the architectural identity of Cyprus and its relationship with history and collective memory.

Meanwhile, Xeni Styl Motiti received an Honorary Mention for her performance in the film Hope, while the film Life Without You by Marios Kleanthous was honored with an Honorary Mention for its poetic approach to love, absence, and human connection.

The Tributes “1974” and “Nostimon Imar” had a special place in the festival, commemorating the events of 1974 in Cyprus and connecting cinema with the notions of return, memory, and cultural identity. The film It’s Raining by Lucianna (Lu) Kyriacou (United Kingdom, 2026) received an Honorary Mention in the Tribute “1974”, while the film Echo of Time by Marios Kleanthous (Cyprus, 2025) was honored within the same Tribute. The award for the “Nostimon Imar” Tribute was given to the film Queens of Cyprus by Panikos Michail Panayiotou (United Kingdom, 2024, 60’35’).

These distinctions enhance the unique character of the CYIFF as an international cinematic institution that, alongside its international reach, maintains a substantial dialogue with history, memory, Cyprus, and Greek culture, the announcement concludes.

“The challenges Cyprus faces require a response of continuous, active, and effective diplomatic activity, highlighting the country’s advantages and explaining the national issue, creating space for action to promote its interests” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes in a statement, following the completion of the contacts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN), within the framework of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The Ministry notes that Kombos held a significant number of bilateral meetings and had contacts with his counterparts from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, Asia, and Central Asia, and officials in multilateral organizations and stresses that “the guiding goal of the aforementioned diplomatic action remains the expansion of the diplomatic footprint of the Republic of Cyprus, a goal that is served through the deepening of existing bilateral relations, the creation of conditions for establishing regular dialogue, the development of mutually beneficial cooperation prospects, and the continuous upgrading of the presence and international status of the Republic of Cyprus.”

Apart from contacts with his counterparts, Kombos also met with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General, Rafael Grossi, as well as with the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan, who is also a candidate for the same position. Furthermore, Kombos met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, and the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva.

The Minister also signed a total of nine Agreements and Memoranda of Cooperation, as a result of prior preparation and groundwork, which aim at strengthening the institutional framework of the country’s bilateral relations, as the Ministry notes, emphasizing that this constitutes a tangible expression of the diplomatic focus of the Republic of Cyprus.

Two Trilateral Ministerial Meetings between Cyprus-Greece-Egypt and Cyprus-Greece-Jordan, that took place during this period are also considered of particular political and substantial significance, according to the Ministry. Kombos also participated in the Ministerial Discussion on the Middle East, the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, and a high-level Ministerial meeting of the International Coalition for the implementation of the two-state solution in the Palestinian issue.

He also participated in a high-level parallel event organized by the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of India on Artificial Intelligence, within the framework of international peace and security, with an emphasis on maritime security aspects, a central issue for Cyprus. Additionally, Cyprus hosted the high-level meeting of the Small States of Europe, which was a joint initiative with the Principality of Andorra.

The Minister also accompanied the President of Cyprus in bilateral meetings, and attended the lunch hosted by the President for the Permanent Representatives of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. Finally, Kombos accompanied the President in contacts with expatriate organizations in the United States of America.

Prominent members of the diaspora were honored in New York on Friday evening, during a gathering of the Cypriot diaspora organized by Cypriot organizations at the ‘Terrace on the Park’ community events venue.

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides attended the event, accompanied by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Washington Evangelos Savva and Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations Ambassador Maria Michael.

During the event, awards were presented to prominent members of the diaspora. Despina Axiotakis and Stavros Kamilaris received Community Service Awards, while John Josephakis, Global Vice President at NVIDIA, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

President of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO) Kyriakos Papastylianou referred to the strong bond between the Cypriot diaspora and Cyprus, efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem, as well as the further expansion of relations between Cyprus and the United States.

Welcoming President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, Papastylianou stressed that geographical distance does not weaken the ties of Cypriots abroad with Cyprus.

Referring to Cyprus-US relations in the fields of defense, security, the economy, investment and technology, he highlighted the role that the Cypriot community can play.

For his part, President of PSEKA Philip Christopher referred to the decisive contribution of the organized diaspora. He recalled that the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations was founded in 1951 and said that since then the Cypriot community has been working for ‘freedom and justice’ in Cyprus.

Christopher said that ‘for the first time we can say that the Republic of Cyprus is a strong strategic partner of America,’ placing particular emphasis on cooperation among Greek Cypriot and Greek American organizations.

Also attending the event were Greece’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, and Greece’s Consul General in New York, Ambassador Ifigenia Kanara.

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 27/09/2026

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)

31

19

39

Larnaka Airport

30

20

58

Limassol (New Port)

29

18

56

Pafos Airport

29

21

57

Frenaros

29

20

54

Prodromos

22

10

63

Polis Pafos

30

19

56

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow warning for isolated severe thunderstorms for Sunday evening.

The warning is in effect from 9pm on Sunday until 6am on Monday.

According to the announcement, isolated severe thunderstorms are initially expected to affect the western and northern areas, while other areas may also be affected later.

Rainfall intensity is expected to range between 35 and 50 millimetres per hour, while hail is also possible during thunderstorms.

Local rains, isolated thunderstorms, and a slight drop in temperature are expected in the days ahead, according to the forecast from the Department of Meteorology, due to low pressure that is anticipated to affect the area.

On Sunday afternoon, locally increased cloudiness may bring isolated rains in the mountainous areas or even inland. Winds will blow from the southwest to the west, moderate to strong, 4 to 5 Beaufort, and the sea will be slightly disturbed.

In the evening, local rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected, initially in the west and north, while gradually other areas will also be affected. Hail is possible during thunderstorms. Winds will mainly blow from the southwest to the northwest, weak to moderate, 3 to 4 Beaufort, and temporarily locally, moderate to strong, 4 to 5 Beaufort. The sea will be slightly disturbed. The temperature will drop to around 18 degrees inland, around 20 along the coasts, and around 11 degrees in the higher mountainous areas.

According to the forecast, on Monday, local rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected. Hail is possible during thunderstorms. Winds will blow from the southwest to the northwest, moderate to strong, 4 to 5 Beaufort, and the sea will be slightly disturbed to disturbed. The temperature will rise to around 28 degrees inland, in the southeastern and eastern coasts, 26 in the other coasts, and around 17 degrees in the higher mountainous areas.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, local rains and isolated thunderstorms are also expected. The temperature will gradually decrease slightly to fluctuate just below the average climatic values.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage begins conservation works at Panagia of Melandrina in the Turkish-occupied Kalograia in Kyrenia district and at the mosque in Kato Arodes in Paphos district.

According to recent social media posts by the Greek Cypriot Co-Chair of the Technical Committee, Sotos Ktoris, the church of Panagia of Melandrina in Kalograia dates back to the 15th century.

Emergency rescue works were carried out in 2014 to prevent the monument from collapsing. As he notes, 12 years later, the temporary interventions have now reached their limits. ‘For this reason, a comprehensive architectural study was prepared and we are now proceeding with substantial conservation works, aimed at restoring its structural integrity and ensuring the church’s long-term protection,’ he wrote.

In another post, he also said that conservation works are beginning at the mosque in Kato Arodes in Paphos district.

Both projects are funded by the European Union and implemented under the guidance of UNDP.

Meanwhile, Ktoris said that conservation works on the church of Agios Georgios in Vokolida, in the Karpasia peninsula, as well as on the community’s cemetery, have been completed.

This project was also made possible through the financial support of the European Union and the community, and the technical supervision of UNDP.

‘Every project that is completed serves the memory and cultural heritage of the place and highlights the value of cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,’ the Committee Co-Chair said.

Negotiations between Cyprus and Israel for an agreement on the common natural gas reservoir located between the Cypriot field “Aphrodite” and the Israeli “Ishai” are continuing within the first half of October, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos told the Cyprus News Agency.

“There will be meetings within the first half of October aimed at finalizing the agreement before the end of October,” he mentioned.

The discussions, which are taking place at a technical level, involve the technocrats of both countries and their legal advisors, along with the managing companies of the two reservoirs.

The difference between the two countries lies in the fact that the natural gas reservoir of the offshore block “Aphrodite” geologically intersects with “Ishai” in the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone. The operator of “Aphrodite,” located in Block 12 of the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone, is the American company Chevron.