Updates from Cyprus
The Meteorology Department issued on Monday afternoon a yellow warning for isolated heavy thunderstorms.
It is valid from 2000 November 7 until midnight November 8 local time.
According to the warning, isolated heavy thunderstorms are likely to affect the area at times. In that case precipitation rates are expected to range between 35 and 50 millimeters per hours, while hail is also likely.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The funeral service of the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II will take place on Saturday at midday, the Holy Synod announced on Monday.
Archbishop Chrysostomos passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81.
The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod at the Archbishopric.
It was also announced that the Council of Ministers will also convene on Monday at 1800 where statements will be made on how the state will honour the late Archbishop.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Cyprus issue, bilateral ties, Bahrain-EU relations and regional developments were on the agenda of a meeting President Nicos Anastasiades had Monday with Crown Prince of Bahrain and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa.
The meeting took place in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt where President and other head of states and government are visiting for COP27.
A written statement by Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos says that Cyprus President and Crown Prince of Bahrain discussed the prospects that exist for supplying the EU with natural gas from resources in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The President of the Republic extended an invitation to the Crown Prince to visit Cyprus and referred to the Government’s intent to open an Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, as soon as possible.
President Anastasiades also informed the Crown Prince about the current situation in the Cyprus issue and the ongoing Turkish provocations and briefed him on the initiatives and proposals he submitted for the resumption of the peace talks.
During the meeting EU-Bahrain relations and regional developments were discussed and President Anastasiades thanked Bahrain for its participation in Tuesday’s event on Climate Change, which will be held on the sidelines of the COP27 Summit and will be hosted by the Presidents Cyprus and Egypt.
Green transition and reduction of emissions were also issues that were discussed during the meeting and both sides underlined that the initiative by the President of Cyprus can contribute to strengthening the goals for dealing with the effects of climate change.
The President of the Republic took part in the opening events of the COP27 Summit. Later today he will attend the reception hosted by the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in honor of COP27 participants, heads of states or governments.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Numerous rounds of peace talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island failed to yield results. The latest negotiations took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantela said that there has been an increase in COVID19 cases in the past few days adding that an extraordinary meeting will take place on Wednesday with the Scientific Advisory Committee to assess the course of the pandemic in the next months.
Speaking before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance, where he presented the Ministry’s budget for 2023, Hadjipantela said that the goal is not to reinstate any measures against the pandemic. He noted however that the pandemic is not over yet and that we should remain vigilant.
The Ministry of Health and the public hospitals have proven that they can cope with the pandemic, he told the Committee and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to act immediately in case there is further increase in hospitalizations, by involving the private sector, so that there is no need for measures to be reinstated.
The Minister noted that beginning of 2022 the Ministry had to deal with the “Omicron” strain, noting that there was an increase in beds in Intensive Care Units as a result.
“Our goal was not to impose any measures, almost all measures were abolished except for the use of masks in pharmacies and hospitals”, he concluded.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
A genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 virus is carried out in Cyprus and 194 samples were identified as Omicron, while 3 sequences of BQ.1 were identified, the Ministry of Health said Monday, adding that at the moment the numbers of BQ.1 are low.
The Ministry’s statement says that between September 1, 2022 to October 15, 2022, 194 samples identified as Omicron (B.1.1.529), were successfully sequenced. Of these samples, 4 (2.1%) were identified as BA.2, 1 (0.5%) as BA.4 and 189 (97.4%) as BA.5.
Some subvariants, the statement says, have been identified and are still under monitoring, according to the World Health Organization. More specifically, 3 sequences of BQ.1 and its subvariants, 10 sequences of BF.7 and its subvariants, 1 sequence of BN1.3 which is an evolutionary subvariant of BA.2.75, 1 sequence of BA.4.6 and 3 sequences of BA were identified.
The Genomic Surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Cyprus in under the aegis of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases Unit. Random and/or targeted samples are screened weekly, the Ministry said.
It is pointed out that BQ.1, including its evolutionary subvariants, has been selected by the ECDC as a Variant of interest since October 20, 2022 and has already been detected, at significant numbers, in various states. ECDC modeling estimates show that it is expected that the rate of BQ.1 is likely to increase over the next period, across Europe.
Based on the data available so far, there is no evidence that BQ.1 is associated with greater severity of infection than the circulating BA.4/BA.5 variants.
Health Ministry also said that all approved vaccines currently available in Cyprus protect against serious illness and death, against all known variants. Also, all available antiviral drugs continue to be effective if they are administered in time, they reduce the severity of symptoms and the risk of hospitalization.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yiannis Karousos, said Monday that the goal of the Cyprus Antiquities Digitization Program (CADiP), is to digitise 96,000 movable antiquities in its database.
Speaking at the EUROMED 2022 Conference that takes place in Limassol, and referring to the Cyprus Antiquities Digitization Program (CADiP), Karousos said that, so far, 61,735 ancient movable finds, 3,581 surveys and 1,641 ancient monuments have been digitised.
He noted that at present, the Department of Antiquities continues the digitisation of movable antiquities and in May 2021, the large-scale digitisation program of the museums of Cyprus, had begun, which is financed by the financial organizations of the European Economic Area and Norway.
He said that the goal of this program, is to digitise 96,000 movable antiquities in the CADip database, which are kept in the Cyprus Museum, in Nicosia, as well as in other state archaeological museums.
The International Conference which is dedicated on Digital Cultural Heritage Documentation, Preservation and Protection, wraps up on the 11th of November and is organised under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Culture.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Holy Synod will hold an extraordinary meeting at midday on Monday to decide the day of the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II’s funeral.
The primate of the Greek orthodox church on the island passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81.
A service was held at the Apostolos Varnavas church where Chrysostomos II was transferred.
President of the House of Representatives and acting President of the Republic, Annita Demetriou, visited the Archbishopric Monday morning where she conveyed her condolences to the relatives of the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II.
Demetriou announced that the Cabinet will hold an extraordinary meeting to decide ways for the state to honour the late church leader.
She told reporters “the Church of Cyprus is mourning, Cyprus is mourning, the people are mourning. Archbishop Chrysostomos II was a very important ecclesiastical figure and our sorrow is great. We are here to officially express our condolences to his family, his friends and the Holy Synod”.
The Holy Synod will make announcements and then there will be a relevant statement on how the state will honour the late Archbishop, she said.
She also announced that the cabinet will hold an extraordinary meeting and an announcement will be made when everything is ready.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, said today is a difficult day for the Church and Cyprus.
He was speaking from the Archbishopric Palace, where he went after the death of Archbishop Chrysostomos II on Monday morning.
“As you all know, we lost our Archbishop a few hours ago. I have no words to say. I came here to offer my condolences to the family,” he added.
Asked if the President of the Republic is informed, Hadjipantela said that the President of the Republic was kept informed and noted that he had communicated with the President last night and this morning.
Answering a question, the Minister of Health said that there will be a session of the Holy Synod with the Custodian of the Throne and the corresponding decisions will be made.
In the Archbishopric Palace, the flags fly at half mast, while the bells ring mournfully. The police presence in front of and around the Archbishopric Palace has also increased.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Cyprus Minister of Finance Constantinos Petrides said on Monday that Cyprus will be able to tackle the new risks and challenges, stemming from the war in Ukraine and soaring inflationary pressures.
He was addressing the 8th International Funds Summit and Expo.
Andreas Yiasemides, President of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) also stated that we are moving from crisis to crisis but stressed that the Cypriot investment funds sector has proven resilient to the crisis.
The Summit which began today in Nicosia attracts more than 500 delegates from all over the world, discussing the latest trends and developments in the sector.
Addressing the Summit, Petrides said “we are going through a fast changing and uncertain future, where we must be acutely aware of the risks and challenges, as well as the opportunities,” adding “I believe that we will rise again to the challenges.”
The Finance Minister noted at the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the Cypriot economy has proven resilient and flexible, exceeding significantly the growth expectations.
Petrides pointed out that the Funds industry “is essential in the provision of alternative tools for the financing of long – term projects, businesses, and start-ups and the local economy of each member state.”
“As EU economies still rely largely on the banking sector to provide funding for businesses, he said, “market – based finance is a valuable alternative to bank financing, and can facilitate risk sharing across the financial system and support economic activity.”
He also recalled that the government as part of efforts to provide Cypriot innovative SMEs with access to finance has established Cyprus Equity Fund in collaboration with European Investment Fund (EIF) with the government contributing €30 million, while significant private capital participation is expected to increase the size of the fund further.
The fund’s investment strategy will focus on Cypriot start-ups and innovative companies, he said.
Opening the conference Andreas Yiasemides said the funds industry, like all sectors, is once again adapting its business model and modus operandi to the new market conditions.
“Last year we were discussing the speed and strength of the post-pandemic economic recovery, this year we are surrounded by uncertainty, inflation and instability. In other words, we are moving from crisis to crisis,” he said.
But he noted that “despite the difficulties, 2022 evolved into another exciting year for the Fund industry in Cyprus, which is now considered an established sector of the economy having proved its resilience during the COVID-19 period and more recently with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, energy crisis and inflationary pressures.”
“Cyprus is continuously gaining momentum as a centre of excellence for the international fund and asset management industry,” he added.
He highlighted Cyprus investment funds sector “remarkable growth” over the past years, noting that by the end of the first half of 2022, the total assets under management exceeded €11 billion.
Yiasemides also cited the European Funds and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) data according to which during 2021, the net assets of AIFs increased by 61.5%.
“Considering that only Ireland, Luxembourg, and Malta concentrate higher percentages, we believe it is a remarkable achievement for a jurisdiction that started developing the sector less than ten years ago,” he said.
In his remarks, George Theocharides, President of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission said that the Commission has modernised the investment funds legal framework during the last nine years “contributing to the consolidation of the collective investments sector which has quadrupled in size since 2016, with assets under management amounting to €10.6 billion.”
Evgenios Evgeniou, President of Invest Cyprus, spoke of a “tangible and multi-faceted contribution” to the economy which is reflected in investments, job creation and revenue for the state.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Foreign Ambassadors accredited to Cyprus have expressed their condolences for the passing of Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II.
US Ambassador Judith G. Garber wrote on her twitter account that “Archbishop Chrysostomos II lived an incredible life of service that profoundly impacted countless lives”.
“He was a courageous leader who spoke thoughtfully about religion and his beliefs. My condolences to the Greek Orthodox faithful of Cyprus as you mourn his passing” she added.
French Ambassador Salina Grenet-Catalano wrote that “It is with sadness that I learned about the passing of his Beatitude Chrysostomos II”.
“He will be remembered for his dedication to the spiritual care of his people, his courage and deep commitment to religious dialogue. My condolences to the Greek Orthodox faithful in Cyprus” she wrote.
Irfan Siddiq, British High Commissioner to Cyprus wrote “On the news of the death of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, I send my thoughts and condolences to the Holy Synod, the Church of Cyprus and all of its members at this sad time”.
Elke Merk, Ambassador of Netherlands in Cyprus said that she was saddened by the news of the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, adding that “he will be remembered for his courage and commitment to inter religious dialogue and the future of Cyprus. Deepest condolences to his family and the Orthodox Church of Cyprus”.
Sweden’s Ambassador Designate in Cyprus Martin Hagström wrote that “Today we mourn Archbishop Chrysostomos II. Together with other courageous Muslim and Christian leaders, he built new bridges of trust by supporting religious freedom for all and by creating the Religious Track. I express my sincerest condolences to the Church of Cyprus”.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Oxular Limited Appoints Industry Veteran James Jogerst as Chief Business Officer
OXFORD, England–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Oxular Limited, a clinical-stage retinal therapeutics company developing long-lasting targeted treatments for retinal disorders to improve patients’ vision, today announced the appointment of James “Jim” Jogerst as chief business officer, who will lead the company’s business development strategy, and oversee its current and planned strategic partnerships. Mr. Jogerst joins Oxular from Rubius Therapeutics, where he served as chief business officer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jim to the Oxular team. He brings a more than twenty-year track record of developing, structuring and closing high-value, strategic transactions,” said Thomas Cavanagh, chief executive officer of Oxular. “We are building a leading retinal therapeutics franchise, with a robust pipeline of best-in-class and first-in-class treatments for a range of retinal diseases and disruptive technologies that enhance the delivery of our treatments as well as those in development by industry leaders. As we advance both our pipeline and platform technologies, we look forward to tapping into Jim’s deep experience to help bring much-needed safe and durable treatments to patients to improve their vision and enhance their lives.”
Mr. Jogerst is a seasoned business development expert in the biopharmaceutical industry, with an established deal sheet that includes more than twenty strategic transactions specifically in the fields of retinal therapeutics and devices. Mr. Jogerst joins Oxular from Rubius Therapeutics, where he served as chief business officer with responsibility for leading business development strategy and execution, including strategic partnerships, collaborations and alliances that aligned with Rubius’ overall corporate strategy. Previously, Mr. Jogerst led licensing transactions in Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ Infectious Diseases and Vaccines business, where he led the acquisition of Synthetic Genomics’ self-replicating RNA platform and numerous research and development agreements. Mr. Jogerst spent more than ten years with Alcon, Inc., medical company specializing in eye care products, where he developed and executed the business development, licensing and mergers and acquisitions strategy for Alcon’s three global retinal franchises: surgical, pharmaceutical and vision care. Mr. Jogerst holds an MBA in finance and international business from Pepperdine University and a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of North Texas. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
“Oxular is a compelling retinal company with a pipeline and platform that holds significant market opportunities. Its Oxulumis® device has demonstrated the unique ability to provide routine, precise suprachoroidal drug delivery and is broadly applicable to a range of therapeutic modalities – from both internal and external development,” said Mr. Jogerst. “Further, the company’s lead OXU-001, has the potential to address retinal specialists’ need for a potent, long-lasting, side-effect sparing anti-inflammatory treatment. I am thrilled to join such a high-caliber team to help advance products that I believe have the potential to transform the treatment of retinal diseases.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency