Category: Cyprus News Agency

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra concert entitled ‘Cyprien Katsaris meets the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra’ took place on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, marking the closing of the cultural programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

A press release by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra says that the featured soloist was the legendary virtuoso pianist Cyprien Katsaris, performing under the baton of the Orchestra’s new Artistic Director, the internationally acclaimed conductor Myron Michailidis.

In the presence of government officials, ambassadors from various countries and distinguished guests, opening remarks were delivered by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, who noted that the concert ‘is inextricably linked to the deeper message of the Cyprus Presidency: the vision of a Europe that draws strength from its cultural diversity, invests in coexistence and mutual respect, and promotes openness, creative cooperation and meaningful dialogue among its peoples.’

The new Artistic Director of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Myron Michailidis, welcomed the audience, expressing his great joy at assuming his new duties, and invited the public to embrace what he described as ‘this jewel of Cyprus’ in reference to the Orchestra.

“An artist of immense international stature and prestige on the world music scene, Cyprien Katsaris truly mesmerised the audience with his incomparable pianistic artistry in Franz Liszt’s ‘Fantasia on Themes from L. v. Beethoven’s incidental music to The Ruins of Athens’ and ‘Hungarian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra’, offering a unique experience for the audience of the CySO. He also delighted the audience with a special encore: the Elegy by Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian, which he dedicated to the memory of all those who lose their lives each day to the tragedies of war” it adds.

Prior to the appearance of the renowned pianist, the Orchestra performed Dawn on the Parthenon by the Cypriot composer, conductor and musicologist Solon Michaelides.

“The Orchestra performed with vibrant energy and expressive power a splendid mosaic of celebrated European dances and works, reflecting the richness of Europe’s cultural heritage. From the triumphant grandeur of Charpentier and the Mediterranean warmth and passion of Massenet and Bizet, to the captivating dance rhythms of Brahms and Dvorák, the Viennese brilliance of Johann Strauss and the distinctly Greek musical identity of Skalkottas, the programme highlighted the creative diversity that characterises Europe”.

The concert concluded with Robert Stolz’s United Nations March, “a work of special symbolism that underscored the values of peaceful coexistence, cooperation and mutual respect among nations”.

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation “expresses its great satisfaction at the success of this memorable evening-an entirely fitting and successful finale to the cultural programme of the Cyprus Presidency-and extends its sincere thanks to the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026 for their excellent collaboration”.

Finally, it says that it “warmly congratulates the Cyprus Presidency for the outstanding work accomplished throughout its term”.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 02/07/2026 UNTIL 1200 03/07/2026

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, but later increased low cloud coverage will be present at times, mainly over the western coasts. Tonight and during dawn, locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist and/or fog patches is likely, mainly over the southern and eastern coastal areas.

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

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

House prices in Cyprus increased by 3.4% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same quarter of 2025, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday. On a quarterly basis, compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, house prices in Cyprus rose by 1.6%.

According to Eurostat, the annual growth in house prices in Cyprus slowed in the first quarter of 2026, following a 6.0% increase recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. Previously, prices had risen by 4.2% in the third quarter of 2025 and by 2.9% in the second quarter of the same year, compared with the corresponding quarters of the previous year.

On a quarterly basis, house prices in Cyprus had declined by 1.8% in the second quarter of 2025, increased by 3.7% in the third quarter, and remained unchanged in the fourth quarter.

In the euro area, house prices, as measured by the House Price Index (HPI), increased by 4.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while in the European Union the annual increase stood at 5.1%. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the corresponding increases were 5.1% in the euro area and 5.4% in the EU.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 01/07/2026 UNTIL 1800 02/07/2026

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, but tonight increased low cloud will be present over western areas and later tonight and during dawn locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist is possible over southeastern areas also.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 01/07/2026 UNTIL 1200 02/07/2026

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, but tonight increased low cloud will be present over western areas and later tonight and during dawn locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist is possible over southeastern areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

The University of Cyprus hosted an International Conference on renowned Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, from 19 to 21 June.

A press release issued here on Wednesday says that the conference was organised by the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the University of Cyprus, with the support of the Centre for Hellenic Studies at Cambridge, the Centre for Hellenic Studies at King’s College London, Baylor University, the Modern Greek Studies Program at Rutgers University, and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University.

The event brought together scholars, researchers, and doctoral students from Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, and other countries, confirming the enduring international interest in the work and thought of Nikos Kazantzakis, one of the most important writers of modern Greek literature and a figure of global intellectual stature.

Participants came from major academic institutions, including Brown University, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, Rutgers University, King’s College London, Villanova University, the University of Warsaw, the University of Crete, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, highlighting the high academic standard of the event.

The keynote speaker was Lewis Owens, a distinguished scholar of Kazantzakis’ work, who, in his opening lecture named ‘I Don’t Know What to Believe: Kazantzakis, Psychic Research, and Spiritual Grandfathers’, approached Kazantzakis’ intellectual and spiritual journey through a broad interdisciplinary and interartistic lens, bringing to light lesser-known aspects of his thought and opening up productive avenues of discussion regarding the writer’s engagement with questions of faith, spirituality, psychic research, and metaphysical enquiry.

Other participants included Dean Papademetriou, Costas Myrsiades, Michail Paschalis, Alexia Wang, Afroditi Athanasopoulou, Christina Argyropoulou, Paola Pruett-Vergara, Przemyslaw Kordos, Angela Lopez-Egea Vives, Anna Coopey, Kyriaki Petrakou, Marinos Pourgouris, Bart Soethaert, Thomas Karangiozopoulos, Nikos Mathioudakis, Vangelis Calotychos, Afroditi Tseremi, Konstantinos Kalaitzakis, Paraskevi Vasileiadi, and Dionysios Psilopoulos.

During the event, original research papers were presented covering a wide range of topics, including theology and mysticism, politics and ideology, classical reception, travel writing, literary intertextuality, adaptations of Kazantzakis’ work, and its cultural reception.

Particular emphasis was placed on his relationship with Christianity, philosophy, the Homeric tradition, modernism, and the global intellectual networks of the twentieth century. The papers addressed both emblematic works by the writer, such as Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation, The Saviours of God: Spiritual Exercises, and The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel, as well as less studied aspects of his literary and intellectual production.

The conference brought established Kazantzakis scholars and younger researchers into creative dialogue, making a substantial contribution to the renewal and enrichment of Kazantzakis’ studies.

The press release notes that the successful completion of the conference confirmed the enduring significance of Nikos Kazantzakis’ work and highlighted the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies important role in promoting research, international collaboration, and academic dialogue on modern Greek literature and Greek culture.

The completion of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, priorities on the European agenda, preparations for the Greek Presidency in 2027, and the Cyprus issue were at the centre of a meeting held in Nicosia between Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna and Greece’s newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Tasos Chatzivasileiou.

Welcoming Chatzivasileiou to the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency, Raouna congratulated him on assuming his new duties and thanked Greece for its support throughout the Cyprus Presidency.

She noted that the Cyprus Presidency leaves a tangible legacy across all policy areas, under its central message of a European Union that is more strategically autonomous and open to the world.

Raouna also pointed out that, with the conclusion of the Cyprus Presidency, a new Trio Presidency cycle of the Council of the EU begins, with Greece assuming the Presidency in the second half of 2027. She assured him that the Republic of Cyprus will be available to provide every possible support during its preparations, just as Greece had done throughout the Cyprus Presidency.

At the same time, she said the two sides would discuss issues high on the European agenda, both in light of the Presidency that has just concluded and within the framework of the continuous coordination and dialogue between Cyprus and Greece.

For his part, Chatzivasileiou conveyed the congratulations of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis on what he described as an “extremely successful” Cyprus Presidency, which, he said, had been planned and organised under the guidance of President Nikos Christodoulides.

He said that, from Greece’s perspective, the Cyprus Presidency proved above all to be resilient, as despite developments in the region and the outbreak of a new war in Europe’s neighbourhood, it maintained its course and successfully completed its work.

He also described the Presidency as effective, highlighting the large number of trilogue negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, as well as the numerous documents and legislative texts concluded during its six-month term.

The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister further said that the Cyprus Presidency had been substantive, noting progress on key European issues, including financial support for Ukraine, the new package of sanctions against Russia, the advancement of discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework, and the launch of discussions on Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union concerning mutual defence assistance.

Referring to relations between Athens and Nicosia, he expressed his expectation that close cooperation would continue in preparation for the Greek Presidency, stressing that the two countries would remain closely coordinated on all major European dossiers.

Cyprus issue remains a priority

—————

The Greek Deputy Minister also reiterated that the Cyprus issue remains a top priority of his country’s foreign policy, stressing the need to continue efforts to resume negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and its Secretary-General.

He reiterated that the objective remains to end the Turkish occupation and achieve a just settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, stressing that, for Greece, “any discussion of a two-state solution is unacceptable.”

Concluding, he reaffirmed that Greece will continue to stand firmly by the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot people.

Seventeen femicides were committed in Cyprus between 2020 and 2025, while two attempted femicide cases were committed in 2026, according to data provided by the Police to CNA on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Aristos Tsiartas, Head of the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women at the Ministry of Justice, told CNA that 300 women and 347 children were accommodated in shelters for victims of violence in Cyprus in 2025.

Police data show that five femicides were committed in 2020, five in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023, one in 2024 and three in 2025. According to the Police, of the 17 femicide committed in Cyprus in the previous five years, six were committed in Nicosia, one in Larnaca, six in Limassol and four in Paphos.

Tsiartas told CNA that the National Coordinating Body plans and promotes measures, actions and policies, aiming at the prevention and effective response to gender-based violence at national level.

In this context, he continued, it has carried out specialised training for approximately 200 professionals from the sectors of health, education, social policy and justice, while in the immediate future it is planning the training of about 100 members of the Police.

Moreover, he said that the National Coordinating Body implements campaigns to inform and raise public awareness regarding gender-based violence, the rights of victims and the available support services.

In addition, Tsiartas said that the National Coordinating Body promotes the operation of the European support telephone number 116016 for victims of gender-based violence, financially supports the actions of Non-Governmental Organisations and supports the operation of the 24-hour helpline of the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family.

The state, he continued, provides financial support and legal assistance to victims of gender-based and domestic violence, noting that on the basis of amended legislation which came into force in 2024 victims of gender-based and domestic violence are now recognised as a distinct category of beneficiaries of free legal aid.

“This specific amendment to the law on legal aid removes significant financial and procedural obstacles faced by victims of violence and strengthens their access to justice and the protection of their rights,” he concluded.

As of July 1, 2026, the payment of rent relating to immovable property in Cyprus must be made exclusively via bank transfer, or payment by debit or credit card, or any other recognised electronic means of payment, the Cyprus Tax Department said in a press release on Wednesday.

The above obligation applies to all natural and legal persons, regardless of the amount of the rent and the type of use of the immovable property, it added.

It stressed that any beneficiary of rent relating to immovable property in Cyprus should not accept the collection of such rent in any other manner, other than those specified above.

Department of Meteorology

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

Date 01/07/2026

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)

38

22

25

Larnaka Airport

35

22

49

Limassol

32

20

57

Pafos Airport

29

21

75

Frenaros

34

24

61

Prodromos

30

19

44

Polis Pafos

34

22

52