Day: October 3, 2022

Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Natasa Pilides presented on Monday an Action Plan for the promotion of traditional cheese, halloumi, abroad aiming to enhance the brand name of the Cypriot PDO product and increase exports.

 

During the presentation the website halloumi.cy was also officially launched, with the aim of being one of the tools to inform importers and consumers abroad about halloumi.

 

The “Action Plan 2022-2024” will use a variety of communication and promotion methods, such as information campaigns through the Ministry’s Trade Centers in 14 countries that cover a total of 42 markets, Pilides said.

 

In addition, advertisements will be placed in specialised publications and broadcasts, posts will be made on social media, the product will be linked with international culinary personalities, etc.

 

The aim, as Pilides added, is to make better use of the opportunities presented in the international trade for halloumi after its inclusion in the PDO list of the European Union.

 

Another goal is to increase the recognition of halloumi as an authentic Cypriot product in new promising target markets, such as the USA, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as enhancing its presence in existing markets.

 

In addition, the awareness of consumers abroad regarding the Cypriot origin of the product and the increase in halloumi exports for the benefit of employees, businesses and the Cypriot economy, will also be pursued.

 

The Action Plan also aims to highlight the history of halloumi, its tradition, the family character of Cypriot businesses that produce it, as well as its excellent taste and its culinary competitive advantages over other cheeses, including its unique quality not to melt at high temperatures, which allows it to also be consumed grilled or fried.

 

The website halloumi.cy, Pilides said, is currently available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, in order to address the new markets in which there are great prospects and it is one of the tools for promoting halloumi.

 

Visitors can learn about the history of halloumi, its PDO and trademark protection, its ingredients and nutritional value, how it is consumed and how it can be used as a raw material in cooking, etc. The website also informs those interested in importing halloumi in their country about their potential partners, as it also includes the Register of all producers who have received approval to produce halloumi under the PDO indication “Χαλλούμι (Halloumi) Hellim”.

 

Currently halloumi is exported to more than 50 countries, with the main export markets being the UK, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Austria, Denmark and Poland. These six markets account for 81% of total halloumi exports internationally. From 2016 to 2021 halloumi exports increased by more than 30%.

 

Bureau Veritas has been appointed to make official controls of verification of compliance with the product specification for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) of “ΧΑΛΛΟΥΜΙ (HALLOUMI)/HELLIM” which is registered by the European Commission.

 

Replying to concerns expressed by President of Cyprus cheese producers Giorgos Petrou that they will have unfair competition with producers from the occupied areas of Cyprus, who will produce at a lower cost by importing Turkish animal feed which is prohibited from being imported into the EU, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, assured that the controls by Bureau Veritas will be very strict both at the producers in the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriots producers at the occupied north of Cyprus. He also said that there are huge prospects and there’s plenty of room for everyone in halloumi production

 

He added that they were following very closely what was happening in the occupied territories and in consultation with the European Commission if there is any distortion they will intervene immediately to correct it.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus University of Technology presents its Equality Plan (2022-24)

 

The Cyprus University of Technology is organizing an event entitled “Inclusive Future for All – Presentation of the CUT Equality Plan (2022-24)’’ which will take place on Wednesday, October 12, at 5:00 p.m.

 

The design of the Equality Plan aims to commit our University to a dynamic and innovative culture based on equality, diversity and inclusion. The Cyprus University of Technology through the implementation of the Equality Plan (2022-2024) takes an active position in the fight against intersectional inequalities and stereotypes that are reproduced on the basis of interrelated aspects – gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, social – economic situation – with the aim of spreading knowledge, and promoting existing and establishing new policies to create an inclusive working and learning environment.

 

The Equality Commissioner Ms. Iosifina Antoniou will attend the event and will address a greeting.

 

The event is organized by the Gender-SMART project, in co-organization with the CUT’s Equality Committee, and the EUT+ project.

 

In the presentation, the members of the CUT community, staff and students, will be informed about the main pillars and actions included in the Plan, as well as about the roles and responsibilities of each implementing body.

 

The program of the event will be as follows:

 

• Greetings from the Rector of the University, Prof. Panayiotis Zaphiris

 

• Greetings from the Equality Commissioner, Ms. Iosifina Antoniou

 

• Presentation of the Equality Plan by the Gender-SMART & EUt+ project team (Ms. Panagiota Polykarpou & Dr. Eleni Pashia)

 

• Signing of Equality Plan by the Rector of the University (Prof. Panayiotis Zaphiris) & President of the Council (Christos Chomatas)

 

• Closing & Acknowledgments

 

A reception will follow.

 

The event will be held in English, and will take place in the Pefkios Georgiades Amphitheater, Andreas Themistokleous Building of the Cyprus University of Technology, accessible for wheelchairs.

 

Please register by the 7th of October at panayiota.polykarpou@cut.ac.cy. For more information call at 99426929/99380646

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Terrestrial Ecosystems Management Lab (TemLab) of the Open University of Cyprus, together with the Herpetological Society of Cyprus (HSC) have created a database with the spatial distribution of terrestrial reptiles and amphibians found in the Cyprus fauna.

 

An Open University of Cyprus press release said that currently, the Atlas has registered 5,500 points where 22 terrestrial reptiles and amphibians have appeared and the goal is to constantly update the database so that it can become an important tool for the protection of Cypriot biodiversity.

 

The Atlas data has been collected from a wide range of sources, including scientific and popularized textbooks and books, data from reptile registration programmes and existing databases created by citizens.

 

The public can contribute to the Atlas by sending information to TemLab via email or the atlas social media about locations where they have identified reptiles and amphibians. The link is https://www.herpatlas.cy/.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its sorrow for the tragic incident at a soccer stadium in Indonesia, in which more than 120 people reportedly lost their lives.

 

“Deeply saddened by the tragic incident at a soccer stadium in Indonesia in which more than 120 people were reportedly killed. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to the Government and people of Indonesia”, the MFA said in a twitter post.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

 

Minister of Justice and Public Order, Stefi Drakou, and the UK High Commissioner, Irfan Siddiq, confirmed the excellent cooperation between the Ministry and the High Commission in Cyprus, during a courtesy meeting held on Monday.

 

According to a Ministry statement, Drakou and Siddiq had the opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. After a fruitful exchange of views on a variety of issues, the Minister thanked Siddiq, while expressing her full confidence in the continuation and further strengthening of productive relations between the two sides, the announcement concludes.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

SecurityScorecard Teams with HCLTech to Deliver Customers Proactive, Holistic Security Management

 

SecurityScorecard is integrated with HCLTech’s Cyber Security Fusion Center for continuous self and vendor ecosystem monitoring

 

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– SecurityScorecard, the global leader in cybersecurity ratings, today announced a strategic partnership with HCLTech, a leading global technology company, to offer combined solutions that provide a holistic approach to security management, improving customers’ ability to see, resolve and communicate risk more effectively.

 

HCLTech offers its customers SecurityScorecard’s leading cybersecurity ratings as part of its Cybersecurity and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) offering, enabling customers to proactively gain visibility of their vendor ecosystem, and the security posture of each vendor and manage their cybersecurity threat landscape. SecurityScorecard’s services are now integrated with HCLTech’s Cyber Security Fusion Center (CSFC).

 

HCLTech’s managed security services, coupled with Security Scorecard’s platform and rating data, enable customers to proactively monitor, identify, investigate, respond, report, and evaluate cyber risks and recommend best practices to mitigate those threats. SecurityScorecard ensures customers achieve a responsive cybersecurity ecosystem security postures, including their third and fourth-party vendors, are constantly monitored and reviewed for 360-degree protection.

 

“Customers are struggling to keep up with managing, understanding and reducing risk not only within their organization, but with their expanding third-party environments,” said Amit Jain, Executive Vice President, Cybersecurity & GRC Services, HCLTech. “By integrating SecurityScorecard’s ratings to HCLTech’s Cyber Security Fusion Centers (CSFCs), we will provide our customers valuable new security perspectives about their vendor ecosystem and help proactively mitigate threats.”

 

SecurityScorecard collects and analyzes global threat signals that give organizations instant visibility into the security posture of vendors and business partners, and the capability to self-assess their security posture. The technology continuously monitors ten groups of risk factors to instantly deliver an easy-to-understand A-F rating.

 

“SecurityScorecard is helping power the next generation of managed security service providers with the technology and tools required to effectively manage the ever-expanding threat landscape,” said Aleksandr Yampolskiy, CEO and co-Founder, SecurityScorecard. “We’re excited to partner with HCLTech to provide our joint customers enhanced security management.”

 

About HCLTech

 

HCLTech is a global technology company, home to 211,000+ people across 52 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering and cloud, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending June 2022 totaled $11.8 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.

 

About SecurityScorecard

 

Funded by world-class investors including Evolution Equity Partners, Silver Lake Waterman, Sequoia Capital, GV, Riverwood Capital, and others, SecurityScorecard is the global leader in cybersecurity ratings with more than 12 million companies continuously rated. Founded in 2013 by security and risk experts Dr. Aleksandr Yampolskiy and Sam Kassoumeh, SecurityScorecard’s patented rating technology is used by over 30,000 organizations for enterprise risk management, third-party risk management, board reporting, due diligence, cyber insurance underwriting, and regulatory oversight. SecurityScorecard is the first cybersecurity ratings company to offer digital forensics and incident response services, providing a 360-degree approach to security prevention and response for its worldwide customer and partner base. SecurityScorecard continues to make the world a safer place by transforming the way companies understand, improve and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees and vendors. Every organization has the universal right to their trusted and transparent Instant SecurityScorecard rating. For more information, visit securityscorecard.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221003005128/en/

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and the consequences of the war in Ukraine were discussed on Monday, during a meeting between House President, Annita Demetriou, and the new Ambassador of Libya to Cyprus, Quwaydir Abrahim Quwaydir.

 

During the meeting, Demetriou briefed the Ambassador on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem. The two officials exchanged views on the implications produced by the continuous war in Ukraine, after the Russian invasion in the country.

 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

(Story refiled with correction in the first paragraph concerning the date of the Tweet. Also, the information contained in the report was incorrectly attributed to a European Commission announcement)

 

The next meeting of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank will be held on 5 October in Cyprus, ECB President Christine Lagarde announced in a Twitter post last week, adding that an informal meeting will follow on Thursday 6 October.

 

According to available information, the meeting will be held in Cyprus following interest shown by the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus, Constantinos Herodotou, to host it, while similar interest was shown by other Central Bank Governors.

 

It is also noted that this is an important meeting due to the situation in the European economy and it is indicative that further time will be devoted to discuss more extensive strategic issues.

 

The attendance of all the governors of the 19 eurozone countries in Cyprus at a time of so many challenges for the European economy is of particular importance for the country, it is stressed.

 

Finally, it is recalled that the ECB President visited Cyprus last March at the invitation of Herodotou. During her visit, she met with the President of the Republic and women’s organisations, while she also participated in a conference organised by the Central Bank of Cyprus with invited executives from the business community.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ current account deficit increased in the second quarter of 2022, while the international investment position (IIP) showed a slight deterioration, with the net external debt increasing by €1.61 billion.

 

According to provisional data by the Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Cyprus for external statistics (balance of payments, international investment position and external debt) for the second quarter of 2022 (2022 Q2), the current account balance of Cyprus recorded a deterioration, with the deficit increasing from €445.3 million in 2021 Q2, to €1,037.5 million, in 2022 Q2.

 

The resulting deficit when adjusting the data for the impact of Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), that is, classifying SPEs as non-residents, stood at €713.5 million in 2022 Q2, compared with a deficit of €474 million in 2021 Q2.

 

Furthermore, the international investment position (IIP) recorded a slight deterioration at the end of 2022 Q2, presenting a net liability position of €27,642 million, compared with a net liability position of €27,490.5 million in 2022 Q1.

 

With the corresponding data being adjusted for the impact of SPEs, IIP recorded a net liability position of €9,649.6 million at the end of 2022 Q2, compared with a net liability position of €9,884.9 million, at the end of the previous quarter.

 

Moreover, the gross external debt increased to €162.924,4 million in 2022 Q2 from €161,529.1 million in 2022 Q1. On the other hand, external assets in debt instruments decreased to €127,207.7 million, down from €127,424.1 million in 2022 Q1. Consequently, net external debt increased by €1,611.6 million to €35,716.7 million, over 2022 Q2.

 

Adjusted for the impact of SPEs, gross external debt reached €62,653.1 million at the end of 2022 Q2, compared to €65,206.2 million, at the end of 2022 Q1. The corresponding net external debt indicator reached to -€8,526.1 million, compared with -€5,932.1 million at the end of the previous quarter.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The UK Cypriot community have made their voice heard in calling upon the British government to support efforts for an end to the ongoing Turkish occupation and the reunification of their motherland.

 

In a picket organised by the Famagusta Association of Great Britain outside Downing Street last Friday, on the occasion of Cyprus’s independence anniversary, the community members reiterated the demand for the occupied town to return to its lawful inhabitants, under the control of the UN as stipulated in relevant Security Council resolutions.

 

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Liz Truss they denounced Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s actions in occupied Famagusta as a “disgrace” for international law.

 

They also pointed to what they see as Turkey’s aspiration to occupy the whole of Cyprus, and they criticised the UK for not exercising pressure on Ankara to put an end to the occupation.

 

The Famagusta Association’s President Dr Vasilis Mavrou said that the UK has to live up to her obligations towards Cyprus, as one of the guarantor powers (along with Greece and Turkey).

 

At the same time, the Executive Committee of the Board of British Cyprus also penned a letter to Liz Truss on the anniversary of the Cypriot state independence asking for her support against the 48-year long Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island.

 

“Turkey is aggressively threatening the territorial waters of Cyprus in the east Mediterranean and plans to open the fenced off city of Famagusta which must be under United Nations control, according to the United Nations resolutions.

 

As a co-signatory of the 1960 Treaties of Establishment and a Guarantor Power, we believe that our adopted motherland, the United Kingdom, will support a fair, workable and permanent solution that will envisage the withdrawal of the Turkish army of occupation and bring peace to a very strategic area. It is important for the UK to stand against violations of human rights and move away from trade, tourism and sale of armaments to a dictator. Cyprus is central to the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean,” read the letter, seen by the Cyprus News Agency.

 

The signatories urged PM Truss to use her influence “to initiate fresh negotiations, based on international law and United Nations resolutions” and champion a workable solution for a united, European Cyprus, with peace and prosperity for all its people.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency