Unemployed persons decrease by 6.4% in September 2025 YoY

The number of unemployed persons, registered at the District Labour Offices on the last day of September 2025, reached 7,624, down by 6.4% compared to September 2024, the Statistical Service said in a statement today.

Based on the seasonally adjusted data which reflect the trend of unemployment, the number of registered unemployed for September 2025 decreased to 9,711 persons, in comparison to 10,053 in the previous month.

It is added that in comparison with September 2024, a decrease of 518 persons or 6.4% was recorded, a decrease mainly attributed to the sectors of trade, construction, financial and insurance activities, manufacturing, as well as to the decrease recorded for newcomers in the labour market.

Raouna on working visit to Strasbourg ahead of Cyprus EU Presidency

Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna will travel to Strasbourg Tuesday for a two-day working visit in preparation for the assumption of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the first half of 2026.

The visit, which takes place on the occasion of the plenary session of the European Parliament between 6-9 October, is part of the Deputy Minister’s series of contacts with representatives of the EP.

The aim is to strengthen relations and cooperation with the European Parliament, which as a co-legislator plays a decisive role in a successful Presidency of the Council of the EU, a statement issued by the Cyprus EU Secretariat.

Raouna will have meetings with Committee Chairs, focusing on providing information on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency and exchanging views on important legislative files and initiatives that will concern the Union in the near future. This is taking place in view of the representation of the Council by the Deputy Minister at the Plenary Sessions of the European Parliament, as well as her presence before the Conference of Committee Chairs, during the Cyprus Presidency, the announcement by the Secretariat reads.

In addition, during the six-month period, both the Deputy Minister for European Affairs and the other competent Ministers will appear before the EP Committees, within the framework of the institutional role of the Presidency.

During her stay in Strasbourg, the Deputy Minister will also meet with Cypriot MEPs.

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

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 06/10/2025 UNTIL 1200 07/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1014hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with locally increased cloud coverage at times. Tomorrow the weather will be partly cloudy and at times mainly cloudy with risk of light isolated showers, mainly over the western and northern coastal areas.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

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

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 06/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 07/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

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

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with locally increased cloud coverage at times. Tomorrow the weather will be partly cloudy and at times mainly cloudy with risk of light isolated showers, mainly over the western and northern coastal areas.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

Pafos FC joins APOEL to the top of Cyprus League standings after away win

Pafos FC achieved a very important away victory yesterday, defeating AEK 4-2 in Larnaca for Matchday 6 of the Cyprus League By Stoiximan. With this win, Pafos climbed to the top of the standings, joining APOEL in first place with 15 points.

In another highly anticipated match of the day, Omonia and Aris played to a goalless draw, with both teams dropping points and falling two behind the leaders.

Ethnikos also secured a significant win in the third match of the day, defeating Ypsonas 1-0 and moving up to 5th place in the standings.

On Saturday, AEL and Apollon claimed victories over Anorthosis and Akritas respectively, improving their positions on the table. Meanwhile, Olympiakos and Paralimni drew 1-1-a result that left both sides disappointed, especially Olympiakos.

Finally, on Friday, APOEL defeated Omonia Aradippou 4-0, earning their fifth win in six matches.

Matchday 6 Results: Omonia Aradippou – APOEL 0-4, Olympiakos – ENP 1-1, Akritas Chlorakas – Apollon 0-2, AEL – Anorthosis 4-1, Ethnikos – Ypsonas 1-0, AEK – Paphos: 2-4, Omonia – Aris 0-0.

Standings: Paphos 15, APOEL 15, Omonia 13, Aris 13, Ethnikos 11, AEK 10, Apollon 9, Akritas 7, Ypsonas 7, AEL 7, Olympiakos 5, Omonia Aradippou 4, Anorthosis 2, ENP 1.

House President received EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas on Monday

House President, Annita Demetriou, received EU Commissioner or Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, on Monday.

During their meeting in her office at the House of Representatives, Demetriou stressed the importance of his portfolio, saying that both transport and tourism sectors are strategic pillars of the economy in Cyprus.

A Press release issued by the House of Representatives says that Demetriou reassured the Commissioner for the Parliament’s will to work closely with the European Commission to achieve tangible results for the benefit of the people and the economy, within the parliamentary aspect Cyprus Presidency 2026.

The Commissioner spoke of the initiatives he has undertaken within the framework of its responsibilities, as well as of the strategies that the European Commission intends to push forward.

The two exchanged views on current issues of mutual interest, including the European security and defence architecture, regional stability, and the European Green Deal.

Increase of ship registry strengthens Cyprus’ position, President says

One of the primary objectives of the Government, which was the qualitative and further strengthening of the Cyprus ship registry, has been achieved, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, stressed on Sunday, noting that in the last two years it recorded an increase of 20%.

‘This achievement is largely due to the strengthening of the cooperation we have achieved with the ship-owning community of Greece and the shipping companies based in Cyprus, as well as the firm support of Cypriot shipowners,’ the President stressed in his address during a formal dinner hosted at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of the Maritime Cyprus Conference that begins on Monday in Limassol.

Earlier on Sunday, President Christodoulides had separate meetings with Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation Arsenio Dominguez, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic Vasilis Kikilias as well as senior executives of international shipping companies.

In his address during the dinner, he said that a strong Cypriot ship registry strengthens Cyprus’ position on the shipping map, and also strengthens Cyprus promotion at an international level, with ships flying the Cypriot flag traveling to all corners of the earth.

“And this is even more important for us, a country that has been under Turkish occupation for 51 years,” the President underlined.

He also noted the political will to further strengthen and improve the framework of services Cyprus is providing to shipping companies, “so that we can respond fully and effectively to the demanding operating framework of the shipping industry.”

A main priority for the government, he continued, is the strengthening the maritime cluster in Cyprus, which is a strong industry with a multifaceted contribution.

He also said that the revenue generated by the ship management sector, during the 2nd half of 2024, amounted to 918 million, an amount corresponding to 5.28% of Cyprus’s GDP. This contribution, he pointed out, compared to the 2nd half of 2023, recorded an increase of 27%.

“This makes the ship management sector a strongly growing factor in the Cypriot economy. At the same time, the increase in companies integrated into the Cypriot tonnage tax system by 15% in the last two years demonstrates the advantages provided by our regulatory framework, as well as the prospects that exist,” he stressed.

The President noted that a shipping cluster is not only ship ownership companies and ship management companies, but also all companies that offer similar services in the sector, noting that those companies are consistently choosing Cyprus as the country to establish their activities.

“The strengthening, therefore, of the shipping cluster in Cyprus is our priority and with policies, such as the digitalization of the services provided but also the strengthening of others, such as for example the one-stop shipping centre, we are convinced that we will succeed in making Cyprus one of the most attractive destinations for these companies,” he noted.

Referring to the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the EU, he said that shipping will be one of the top priorities, adding that the European Commission is expected to submit its proposal for the new EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, which will be discussed in the context of the Cyprus Presidency.

The Cyprus EU Presidency, the President said, will also highlight other major challenges in the Shipping sector, including the shortage of merchant marine officers, the need for retraining and upgrading the skills of seafarers, as well as the strengthening of the framework that will allow for equal treatment of women in the maritime labor market.

Concluding, he said that a relevant declaration is expected to be adopted during the informal Council of Ministers responsible for maritime transport issues, which will be held in Cyprus next April.

Meanwhile, the President received on Sunday afternoon Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation Arsenio Dominguez. According to a press release by the Presidency, during the meeting, they discussed issues of cooperation between Cyprus and the IMO as well as the current situation in the shipping sector given the geopolitical developments both in the region and internationally.

The President also received senior executives of international shipping companies. He met with CEO of the Caravel Group, Dr. Harry Banga, who is also the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Hong Kong, and who noted the company’s interest in operating in Cyprus. The President thanked Dr. Banga for his continuous support to the Cypriot shipping. Furthermore, in a meeting with executives of Royal Caribbean, they reaffirmed the strong cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with the company, which is one of the largest shipping companies in the world, the press release says. They also discussed about the prospects for further strengthening the cooperation within the framework of the National Cruise Strategy approved by the Council of Ministers.

Furthermore, he received European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. The President noted that “it is the first time that we see, specifically in the shipping sector, the EU claiming the role it should play”. The Commissioner said that Cyprus can count on his support, and gave as an example the approval of a fund of 18 million euro for the port of Vassilikos, noting that this is only the beginning.

Finally, the President received Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic Vasilis Kikilias who referred to the large percentage that shipping constitutes in the GDP of Cyprus, expressing the belief that it will be strengthened even further in the coming years. President Christodoulides said that the Cypriot Government is proceeding with the strengthening of similar sectors of shipping, as well as with actions to develop the cruise industry.

Cyprus ?FA Envoy addresses UNGA80 3rd Committee

Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Andreas Kakouris, represented the Republic of Cyprus at the UNGA80 3rd Committee in NY and underlined, inter alia, the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Cypriots, as a result of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation.

He also reaffirmed Cyprus’ commitment to promoting multilateralism for a peaceful and prosperous world.

In his intervention Kakouris raised, once again, the issue of human rights and violations of fundamental freedoms of Greek Cypriots resulting from the invasion and continuing occupation of part of Cyprus by Turkey.

He recalled that a large proportion of Greek Cypriots remain displaced and deprived of their right to return and to peacefully enjoy their properties. He also denounced the illegal exploitation and use of Greek Cypriot properties by the occupying regime.

He made special reference to the transfer of settlers from Turkey to Cyprus as part of a systematic plan to alter the island’s demographic character. He further emphasized that the decrease in the number of enclaved Greek Cypriots in the occupied areas is the result of persistent harassment, intimidation, and discriminatory treatment on the basis of national origin, race, and religion by the occupying regime.

Kakouris also referred to the major humanitarian issue of missing persons, calling on Turkey to provide information from its military archives on their fate and to allow unrestricted access to military areas for excavations and exhumations.

He raised the issue of violence against women and girls, noting that discrimination and economic marginalization persist. He underlined, however, that the Government of Cyprus has taken concrete measures within the international institutional framework to promote gender equality.

On trafficking in persons, he described it as a heinous crime and a serious global problem affecting millions of people. Combating trafficking, protecting victims, prosecuting perpetrators, and enhancing coordination and cooperation to eradicate the phenomenon are among the top priorities of the Cypriot Government, he said.

Ambassador Kakouris reaffirmed Cyprus’ strong commitment to the rights of the child and youth. Cyprus, he noted, firmly supports the full, effective, and meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes at all levels-local, national, regional, and international-including within the United Nations.

Regarding the human rights of older persons, he highlighted that Cyprus has adopted its first National Strategy and Action Plan for Active Ageing.

He also referred to the looting and vandalism of the rich cultural heritage in the occupied part of Cyprus and stressed the importance of the Nicosia Convention-a protection mechanism for cultural heritage-which remains the only international treaty providing for the criminalization of offences related to the destruction, illicit trafficking, and illegal trade of cultural property.

In conclusion Kakouris reiterated that Cyprus stands ready to cooperate constructively with all UN member states to strengthen multilateralism and ensure a just, peaceful, and prosperous world for present and future generations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.