Day: August 19, 2022

We are very close to answering the question of whether we are alone in the Universe, Dr. Dimitris Stamatellos, Reader in Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, UK, has told CNA, noting that this is the perfect time for Cyprus to become a full member of the European Space Agency and be at the forefront of space exploration.

In statements to CNA on the occasion of the first observations of the NASA James Webb Space Telescope Stamatellos said that in the last three decades the question of whether we are alone in the universe has stopped being purely philosophical and that since the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1995, more than 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered.

He said that Cyprus, being among the most educated countries in Europe, should become a full member of the European Space Agency since many of the efforts to discover life in the universe are being led by ESA.

Stamatellos talked about the JWSP and its significance, as well as future missions of space telescopes that will collect data looking specifically for water, oxygen, nitrogen and methane, chemicals associated with life.

The James Webb Space Telescope and its significance

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Referring to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), he said that about six months after its launch, it has delivered its first and long-awaited observations, adding that along with impressive images of galaxies billion of light years away and spectacular nebulae, there is the rather “dull” spectrum of WASP-96, a star that hosts an exoplanet, a planet outside our solar system.

The spectrum, he added, of a star effectively shows how strong the radiation from the star is at different colours and that gives us valuable information about the composition of the star. In the case of WASP-96 the stellar light that reaches the mirror of JWST has passed through the atmosphere of its planet.

“Some of the star’s colours have been absorbed by the gases in the planet’s atmosphere, revealing its composition. The important discovery from this observation is the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere, an ingredient that is necessary for the development of life.”

This specific planet, Stamatellos said, is a gas giant, like Jupiter, it is too close to its host star, and therefore too hot for life to develop.

He explained that for a planet to be able to support life it will at least require having liquid water on its surface, so it cannot be too close to its star, as due to the high temperature water will evaporate, like e.g. on Venus, or too far away from its star, as the planet will be too cold and the water will freeze, as it happens on Mars.

“This narrow region around a star where liquid water can exist, and life can be sustained on a planet is the habitable zone of the star. JWST will soon be looking at Earth-like planets orbiting within the habitable zone of red dwarfs, mini-stars 5 to 10 times smaller than the Sun.”

He said that as these stars are cooler than the Sun, their habitable zones are closer to them, and their planets are much easier to observe.

“We will therefore be able to determine the composition of the atmospheres of these planets, and, for the very first time in the history of humankind, to determine whether these planets outside our solar system can sustain life” he pointed out.

Space telescopes looking for exoplanets and extra-terrestrial life

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In the last three decades, Stamatellos told CNA, the question of whether we are alone in the universe has stopped being purely philosophical.

Stamatellos pointed out that since the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1995, more than 5,000 have been discovered.

The JWST observations mark the transition from the planet discovery era to the planet characterization era meaning that finally, we can find out what these planets are made of, he said.

But the JWST is not the only one. Stamatellos said that it is the first in a list of space telescopes looking for new worlds.

NASA’s TESS and European Space Agency’s (ESA) CHEOPS are already operational discovering new planets. The next one in line is Twinkle (2024), the world’s first independent space mission, in which UCLAN is a founding member. Twinkle is a space telescope that will be devoted to studying the chemical composition of exoplanets using stellar light passing through their atmosphere.

More missions are coming up later in the decade: ESA’s PLATO (2026), which will discover Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars, NASA’s Roman telescope (2026) will discover planets farther away from their host star, and finally ESA’s Ariel mission (2028) will be a dedicated mission that will study the composition of planets in the habitable zone of their stars.

We are very close to answering the question of whether we are alone in the Universe

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In his interview with CNA, Stamatellos said that all these will lead to a space mission, still under planning, to directly observe planets in the habitable zones of their stars, capturing their full spectrum, looking specifically for water, oxygen, nitrogen and methane, chemicals associated with life.

“We are indeed very close, maybe within 10 years, to answering the question of whether we are alone in the Universe” he underlined.

He told CNA that this is a significant achievement for humankind that shows that our possibilities are limitless if different nations come together and collaborate, which is extremely hopeful in the current uncertain geopolitical environment.

Cyprus must become full member of ESA and be at the forefront of space exploration

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Noting that many of these efforts to discover life in the universe are being led by the European Space Agency, in which Cyprus is a Cooperating State since 2016, he said that this framework of collaboration provides some basic opportunities for Cypriots to be involved with ESA’s various programmes, but it would be extremely beneficial if Cyprus were to join ESA as a full member.

Cyprus, he added, is among the most educated countries in Europe with more than 40% of the adult population holding a university degree and has a lot to offer in terms of human talent, innovation, vision, and enthusiasm. He added that it has even more to gain as knowledge transfer and technical innovation can support the development of a high-knowledge economy.

“This is the perfect time for Cyprus to make the necessary steps to become a full member of the European Space Agency and be at the forefront of space exploration and scientific discovery” he concluded.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

? draft roadmap regarding the management of COVID-19 in the coming months will be on the agenda of a new meeting of the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee and the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela to be held today, Friday.

As CNA has learnt, the roadmap is divided into pillars, concerning among others the strategy to increase the vaccination coverage of the population and the epidemiological surveillance system including testing and the management of cases in hospitals.

The protocols prepared by the Ministry of Education to be implemented at the beginning of the new school year will also be put before the experts. Among others the Ministry of Education suggests the use of protective masks in indoor areas by students over 12 years.

Speaking to CNA, the Communication Advisor to the Minister of Health Constantinos Athanasiou, said that the draft has already been sent to the involved parties, including the State Health Services Organization (SHSO), as well as to the members of the Advisory Committee, for evaluation and submission of proposals in order to approve a final strategy. According to Athanasiou, the final plan is expected to be approved before the end of the month.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Dog shelters in Cyprus are “filled to the brim”, volunteers say, as they are daily called to take in abandoned dogs, while adoptions from the UK – where the majority of dogs go to – have plunged due to Brexit, the pandemic and the economic crisis.

Volunteers told CNA that this year, there has been an “unprecedented” rise in dog abandonments, and are calling on authorities to enforce the legislation on animal welfare and dogs to curb births, illegal breeding and stop people from abandoning their animals.

Monica Mitsidou, volunteer at D.O.G RESCUE CYPRUS, told CNA that, they always see higher numbers of abandoned dogs during the holidays and hunting seasons but, “this year, it was unparalleled.”

“All shelters are filled to the brim and all volunteers have reached their limits,” she said, adding that, this year, the situation is “unprecedented.” She believes, she said, that, one reason is the fact that many people, adopted dogs, “when they shouldn’t have”, during the coronavirus pandemic restrictions and, now they are going on holidays, and instead of taking them to a dog hotel or finding a solution that is suitable also for the dog, they either leave them in the yard and ask someone to go feed them, or they just let them go. She said that there are solutions, such as dog hotels and pet sitters.

Mitsidou said that all the dog shelters are full, as adoptions from abroad have decreased a lot, especially from the UK, where most of the dogs are given up for adoption, because, the same thing happened in the UK as well. “During the pandemic millions of dogs were adopted, which are now being returned to shelters, so people can find a dog in the shelters there, why bring from Cyprus, which costs a lot,” Mitsidou said, explaining that dogs’ travel expenses are included in the adoption package that must be paid by the person who wants to adopt.

Evita Charalambous, volunteer at PAWS, said that there are many factors people abandon their dogs, including going on holidays, not being able to find a pet-friendly apartment to rent, but also not neutering their dogs and letting them breed non-stop.

She said that, now that adoptions from abroad have plunged, the “massive problem” faced in Cyprus as regards abandoned dogs has been revealed.

“These adoptions due to the economic situation, Brexit etc., have dropped. So now these strays, and especially dogs that are not wanted in Cyprus, stay in shelters. We were essentially sweeping the problem under the rug, sending (dogs) abroad was not the solution,” she said.

Charalambous said that, the national legislation on animal welfare, “is quite good but not enforced.”

“We all need to be kinder to our animals, but the law needs to be enforced in terms of births and abandonments,” she said, adding that hunters themselves must also set rules, and expel from their community those who do not treat their dogs properly.

Mitsidou told CNA that volunteers go above and beyond to help as many unwanted and abandoned dogs, as possible, at the expense of their families and their own resources, but the law needs to be enforced and society needs to be educated about the responsibilities of owning a dog, and how to treat them in general.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Honey imports to Cyprus from countries outside the European Union decreased between 2016 and 2021, while exports to country outside the EU increased during the same period, according to data published by Eurostat on the occasion of the UN’s World Honey Bee Day on 20 August.

The trend is reversed in the EU overall, since honey imports from outside the EU have increased while exports to non-EU countries decreased.

In 2021, EU Member States imported 173,400 tonnes of natural honey from non-EU countries worth 405.9 million euro. In contrast, during the same year, just 25,500 tonnes were exported by the EU Member States outside the EU, worth 146.6 million euro.

Compared with 2016, honey imports from outside the EU increased by 7% in weight, while EU exports to non-EU countries decreased by 10%.

According to the same data, Cyprus imported 64 tonnes of honey in 2021 from countries outside the EU (worth 126,781 euros) and exported 11 tonnes (worth 81,620 euro).

In 2021, honey imports to Cyprus from countries outside the EU were lower than in 2016 when the country had imported 109 tonnes of honey (worth 286,865 euro). During the same period exports to non-EU countries increased from 4 tonnes that had been exported in 2016 (worth 27,713 euro).

Germany was the largest EU importer of honey from non-EU countries in 2021, having imported 51,900 tonnes of honey (30% of total extra-EU imports of honey), followed by Poland (32,200 tonnes, 19%), Belgium (25,600 tonnes, 15%), Spain (14,500 tonnes, 8%) and Portugal (7,100 tonnes, 4%).

Imports of honey from non-EU countries in 2021 came mainly from Ukraine (53,800 tonnes, or 31% of total extra-EU honey imports), followed by China (48,000 tonnes, 28%), Mexico (15,500 tonnes, 9%), Argentina (14,400 tonnes, 8%), and Brazil (7,900 tonnes, 5%).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Our world continues to be shaken by violent conflicts and destructive natural disasters that often push local communities into humanitarian crises.

Ahead of the World Humanitarian Day 2022, we honour all those working on the frontlines, who constantly put their own lives at risk to save others and reduce human suffering. In 2022, attacks against aid workers have led to 40 humanitarians being killed, 136 kidnapped, and 68 wounded.

The rules of war are clear. Civilians, including medical personnel and aid workers must be always protected and never targeted. All parties to any conflict must respect and follow International Humanitarian Law which is not a choice, but an obligation.

This year there have been countless violations of International Humanitarian Law as warring parties neglect civilians getting caught in the crossfire. Some of the most gruesome attacks have taken place right at the EU’s border as Russia shows no mercy to the civilian population of Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion has not only led to skyrocketing humanitarian needs in Ukraine but had dramatic effects across the world. As millions of tonnes of grain are blocked in Ukraine, the war has worsened an already serious global food crisis, unparalleled to what we have seen before.

The people affected most by the soaring prices and food shortages are the ones whose access to food has already been hampered by conflicts, climate change and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Populations in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen and Afghanistan are at risk of famine, while many more countries are facing severe food insecurity.

The EU has significantly ramped up its funding to fight the global food crisis, and we are inviting the international donor community to follow suit. This is how we as donors can support the selfless dedication of humanitarian workers to deliver food, healthcare and shelter – but also hope – to the most vulnerable communities in the world.

Background

World Humanitarian Day commemorates the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, when 22 humanitarian workers lost their lives.

According to the United Nations, 235 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2021, which was the highest number recorded in decades. In 2022, this figure has significantly increased and is likely to exceed the initial forecast of 274 million, as climate change and conflicts have further exacerbated people’s vulnerability to humanitarian crises. The EU, as second biggest donor of the UN system, provides the biggest share of its funding to the World Food Programme (WFP), followed by UNDP, UNICEF and UNHCR.

The EU together with its Member States is among the leading donors of humanitarian aid in the world. The European Commission will provide humanitarian funding of almost €11.5 billion over the period 2021-2027.

The EU’s humanitarian actions are based on the four principles of humanitarian assistance: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Unemployment rate in Cyprus was 6.8% of the labour force in the 2nd quarter of 2022, recording a decrease of 1.6% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2021.

According to the results of the Cyprus Statistical Service’s Labour Force Survey, the labour force in the 2nd quarter of 2022 amounted to 482,385 persons or 65.1% of the population (males 71.2%, females 59.5%) in comparison to 466,525 persons (63.9%) in the corresponding quarter of 2021.

The number of employed persons was 449,482 and the employment rate 60.6% (males 66.9%, females 54.9%) in comparison to 427,300 persons (58.5%) in the corresponding quarter of 2021.

The number of unemployed persons amounted to 32,903 and the unemployment rate to 6.8% of the labour force (males 6.0%, females 7.8%) in comparison to 39,224 persons (8.4%) in the corresponding quarter of 2021.

Employment

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For the age group 20-64, the employment rate was 78%. The rate for males was 84.2% and for females 72.2%. In the corresponding quarter of 2021, the rate was 75.2% (males 81.9%, females 69%). For the age group 55-64 the employment rate was 65.9% in comparison to 62.2% in the corresponding quarter of 2021.

According to the distribution of employment by sector, the biggest percentage of employed persons was in Services (80.7%), followed by Manufacturing (16.8%) and Agriculture (2.5%). For the 2nd quarter of 2021, the corresponding percentages were: Services 78.5%, Manufacturing 18.6% and Agriculture 2.9%.

The share of part-time employment to total employment was 10.9% or 48,858 persons (males 9.0%, females 13.0%). The corresponding rate for the 2nd quarter of 2021 was 11.4% (males 10.1%, females 12.8%).

89.1% or 400,630 of the total employed persons were employees, of which 11.4% (45,679 persons) had a temporary job. In the corresponding quarter of 2021 employees accounted for 88.1% of total employment of which 13.1% had a temporary job.

Unemployment

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For young persons aged 15-24 years old, the unemployment rate was 17.6% of the labour force of the same age group (males 16.3%, females 18.9%) in comparison to 17% (males 14.8%, females 19.3%) in the corresponding quarter of last year.

As far as the duration of unemployment is concerned, 49.3% of the total unemployed persons searched for a job for a period of less than 6 months, 13.3% for a period of 6-11 months, whereas a percentage of 37.4% were long-term unemployed. The corresponding rates for the 2nd quarter of 2021 were 40.5%, 24.0% and 35.5%.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

More than 43 thousand people have visited museums and archaeological sites in Larnaca and its district with the Medieval Castle being the most favourite.

According to figures provided by the Antiquities Department, the Archaeological Museum of Larnaca, which reopened in March, was visited by more than 4.5 thousand people until June.

The Larnaca Medieval Castle was visited by nearly 20 thousand people from January to June while the Kitio archaeological site was visited by a mere 1.331 people.

The Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith at Lefkara has received 3,750 visitors since the beginning of the year while Chirokitia over 12 thousand.

According to figures of the Antiquities Department, the Archaeological Site of Tenta at Kalavasos was visited by nearly 900 people in the first six months of 2022 while the medieval chapel of Agia Ekatirini at Pirga only had 66 visitors.

The Department said in total, 43,037 people visited the archaeological sites of Larnaca and its district.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

All cases of monkeypox identified in Cyprus are in good condition, Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela has said.

In statements to the Press after a meeting held on Friday with the advisory scientific committee during which they discussed how to manage the coronavirus pandemic in the coming months, Hadjipantela also said that their contacts have been traced and they will be asked to be vaccinated.

He expressed hope that they will get vaccinated to protect themselves and their relatives. He furthermore said that so far, the number of people who have been vaccinated has not changed.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A Cypriot bulk carrier ship collided with a ship from Liberia in an anchorage area near the town of Ostend in Belgium, according to the news website Brussels Times, which bases its report on the Belga news agency.

According to the story there were no injuries from the crash, which happened around 14:45 local time on Thursday August 18th.

Cypriot vessel “Maritsa” struck Liberian vessel “Joy”, while “Joy was at anchor near Ostend, a Belgian coastal town on the North Sea.

According to maritime police, which is investigating the incident, “Maritsa” hit “Joy” while moving at low speed.

Both ships suffer damages and a lifeboat was damaged, but no crew member was hurt.

Source: Cyprus News Agency