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Title: Pafos Stuns Villarreal in Champions League Victory

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor
written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

pafos FC achieved a stunning upset, defeating โ€ŒVillarreal 3-2 in a Champions League group stage match on Wednesday. The Cypriot side, competing in thier first-ever Champions Leagueโ€‹ campaign, secured a historic victoryโ€ at home, sendingโค shockwaves through Group F.

Pafos FC‘s win marksโ€Œ a significant milestone for Cypriot football, demonstrating the growing competitiveness of clubs from smaller nations in Europe’s premier competition. The result throws Group F wide open, with allโ€ four teams now within striking distance of qualification for the knockout stages. Villarreal, previously favored to advance,โ€Œ now face increased pressure to secure points in their โคremaining fixtures.

The match saw a dramatic back-and-forth,โข with Pafos FC taking an earlyโข lead โ€‹through Jairo (12′).Villarreal responded with goals from Alexanderโ€ Sรธrloth (21′) and Johan mojica (35′), appearing toโค seize control.Though, a resilient Pafos FC side, fueled by home support, leveled the score with a penalty converted by andreas Karo (42′). The winning goal arrived in โคthe 87th minute courtesy of Valentin Peลกiฤ‡, sparking jubilant celebrations amongst the home fans.

โ–ถ๏ธŽ Tore: 1:0 Jairo (12.), 1:1 alexanderโ€Œ Sรธrloth (21.), 1:2 Johan Mojica โค(35.), 2:2 Andreas Karo (42./Foulelfmeter), 3:2 Valentin peลกiฤ‡โ€ (87.).

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World

Climate Change Costs Europe Billions in Natural Disasters

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

Europe’s Economic losses From Climate Disasters Soar to โ‚ฌ43โ€Œ Billionโ€Œ Last Year

Brussels -โ€ Extreme weather eventsโ€ driven by climate change inflicted โ‚ฌ43 billion โ€in economic lossesโ€‹ across europeโข last year, according to โขa new study by insurance giant MunichRe. Of that total, โ‚ฌ14 billion was โ€Œcovered by insurance. The escalating financialโ€Œ tollโฃ underscores the growing vulnerability of Europeanโค economies โ€‹to the intensifying impacts of a warming โ€planet, demanding urgentโค adaptation measures and heightened preparedness.

The โขanalysis, presented โ€Monday inโ€ Brussels, details theโข broad economic consequences of floods,โค droughts, heat waves, and other climate-relatedโค disasters, extendingโข beyond โฃimmediate physical damage to encompass disruptions inโค worker productivity, supply โ€‹chains, and agricultural yields.While the โฃstudy focuses on directโข economic โ€Œimpacts,it notably excludes the โขextensiveโ€‹ damage caused by โ€Œwildfires thatโข consumed โ€‹over 1 million hectares acrossโ€‹ the continent this year,suggesting the true cost is likely even โ€Œhigher.

Usman, a representative from MunichRe, emphasized the increasing frequency and intensity of thes โ€Œevents.โข “Climate change has increasedโ€‹ the frequency and โขintensity of extreme weather events like floods, droughts, heat โคwaves, โคwildfires,โ€Œ and all of this is contributing to the โ€‹rising economic cost for the European regions,” he stated.

The study โ€‹assessed damageโ€ to both buildings and infrastructure,โค alongside less visible effects on โ€Œeconomic output. Floods, such โคas,โ€ can severely โ€Œdisrupt โ€logistical networks, while prolonged droughts threaten agricultural production. โ€Œ”These events are not justโ€‹ temporary shocks,” Usman cautioned. “They manifest thier impacts over time.”

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World

Extreme Heat: Shifts in Short-Term Rentals

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

Southern Europe Summer Travel Cools Amid Heat Concerns

Vacationers Opt for Shoulder Seasons as Temperatures Soar

The peak summer travel season in Southern Europe is experiencing a noticeable dip in demand for short-term rentals, with extreme heatwaves emerging as a probable catalyst for this shift.

Shifting Seasonal Preferences

Destinations across Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Malta, and Cyprus are witnessing a reduced concentration of annual travel bookings within the traditional summer months. This trend, observed in both coastal towns and city centers, suggests a growing tendency for travelers to adjust their plans to avoid oppressive heat.

“We definitely see a movement of the share of demand from some of the peak months into the shoulder season months,” noted Bram Gallagher, an economist at AirDNA. “It seems like heatwaves are going to be a recurring fixture in European travel.”

Data from AirDNA indicates a steady decline in short-term rental demand during peak summer months since 2018.

While the overall volume of short-term rentals continues to grow in these nations, the expansion is now more pronounced in the spring and autumn periods. For instance, Spain has seen a significant decrease in August bookings since 2018, with parallel growth in demand from February to May.

Italy is also experiencing a decline in August demand, coupled with modest increases in May, June, and February, pointing to spring as an emerging alternative to the sweltering summer months. Similar patterns are evident in Greece, Cyprus, and France, with February and May bookings on the rise.

2023 Marked Steepest Decline Amid Record Heat

The data, which tracks the proportion of annual bookings per month, reveals that 2023 recorded the sharpest fall in demand share for June through August. This period coincided with unprecedented global and European temperatures.

โ€œ2023 was probably the most severe heat weโ€™ve seen,โ€ Gallagher stated. โ€œThere are many factors, overcrowding, costs, but I think weather is certainly among the top reasons things are shifting.โ€

The summer of 2023 brought widespread wildfires, necessitating evacuations, and prolonged periods of extreme temperatures, frequently exceeding 40ยฐC, across much of Southern Europe. These events led to travel disruptions, including flight delays and cancellations.

According to the European Travel Commission, these disruptions contributed to a 10% drop in travel to affected destinations in 2023 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, a separate report from the commission found that 81% of Europeans report that climate change influences their travel decisions, an increase of seven percentage points from the prior year.

The trend is reversed in Northern Europe, where countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland are reporting increased short-term rental bookings during the peak summer months, a stark contrast to the situation further south.

Globally, extreme weather events linked to climate change are impacting travel. For example, the early summer heatwave in the Mediterranean in June 2023 led to significant wildfires and evacuations, impacting tourist activities in regions like Rhodes, Greece, as reported by news outlets at the time.

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World

Western diplomatic chiefs, EU Commissioner Lahbib condemn Israelโ€™s treatment of Gaza civilians โ€“ POLITICO

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

Global Outcry Over Gaza Aid Deaths as Israel Launches New Offensive

Dozens killed seeking aid; 25 nations condemn Israeli actions

International outrage has erupted after Israeli forces reportedly killed over 100 individuals seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza over the weekend. Coinciding with the announcement of a new Israeli military push into central Gaza, a coalition of 25 foreign ministers has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s aid delivery practices.

‘Unacceptable’ Aid Denial

The foreign ministers, representing nations across Europe, North America, and Oceania, stated that the Israeli government’s approach to aid distribution is detrimental, fostering instability and stripping Gazans of their human dignity. They declared the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population as unacceptable and demanded Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law.

Israel Cites Threats, Disputes Casualty Figures

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a social media post, maintained that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots in order to remove an immediate threat posed to them on Sunday. The ministry also stated that the number of casualties reported does not align with the information held by the IDF, attributing alleged disruptions to Hamas militants.

Key Nations Abstain from Joint Statement

Notably absent from the signatories were the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. The United States and Germany have consistently backed Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

However, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his deepest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation to his Israeli counterpart, urging urgentโ€ฆ implementation of the agreements with the EU to facilitate humanitarian aid.

Escalating Military Action in Central Gaza

The diplomatic fallout intensifies as Israel announced a new ground and air offensive in Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza city, on Monday. This military action follows a weekend marked by intense violence and reported deaths of aid seekers. The ongoing conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting that over 70% of Gaza’s population is now displaced due to the hostilities (UNRWA, 2025).

The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., Norway, Japan, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

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World

Irregular arrivals to Cyprus drop 86% as migrant returns triple, Deputy Minister says, KNEWS

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

Cyprus Halves Migrant Arrivals, Boosts Returns Significantly

Deputy Minister Cites Tighter Policies and EU Support for Dramatic Shift

Irregular migrant entries into Cyprus have seen a stark 86% decrease over the past three years, with a near threefold increase in returns, according to Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannidis. This significant reduction reflects a concerted effort to curb irregular migration and manage the asylum system more effectively.

Drastic Drop in Arrivals and Applications

Data from early 2022 to mid-2025 reveals a dramatic fall in irregular arrivals, dropping from 9,307 to just 1,260. New asylum applications also plummeted by 87%, from 12,048 to 1,520 during the same period. Ioannidis further reported a 26.5% reduction in pending asylum cases, now standing at 17,604.

Repatriations Surge Amidst Policy Reforms

Repatriations have surged, reaching 6,187 in the first half of 2025, a substantial rise from 2,358 in early 2022. Cyprus now leads EU nations in the repatriation of Syrian nationals, with over 2,000 departures recorded since June 2025. This success is attributed to enhanced cooperation with the EU.

Reception Center Numbers Plummet

The Pournara First Reception Center has experienced an 86% decrease in residents, with numbers falling from 2,980 in June 2022 to 251 last month. In response to concerns about contagious diseases, Ioannidis affirmed that robust isolation protocols and medical screenings are active, with further facility upgrades planned.

Abusive Applications Declining

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the majority of asylum applications are now deemed abusive. He pointed to a notable decline in applications originating from key African nations such as Nigeria and Somalia. In June, only 71 applications were filed from Nigeria, a sharp contrast to over 2,000 in the same month of 2022.

Streamlining Legal Migration Pathways

To facilitate legal migration, Cyprus has launched the EU Blue Card and reinstated the Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa. In 2025, 86,128 entry and residence permit applications were processed, with individuals from Russia and the United Kingdom forming the largest group of current legal residents. The nation’s legal migration strategies are evolving, with a new national integration strategy for legal residents nearing completion and expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers this autumn.

Legislative reforms are also underway to align national law with the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, scheduled to be implemented in June 2026. These measures collectively aim to create a more managed and sustainable migration framework for Cyprus.

According to Eurostat data, the overall asylum application rate in the EU has also shown a declining trend, though specific national figures vary. For instance, Germany saw a significant drop in asylum applications from certain regions in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.

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World

Now, European Tourism Holds Steady in Q2 2025: Malta Joins Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary In Leading the Growth

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

European Tourism Stays Strong Thanks to Emerging Destinations

Travel expenditure is up, even as off-season and long-haul travel gain traction.

Despite a slight dip in overnight stays, European tourism demonstrated resilience in the second quarter of 2025, as international arrivals increased by 3.3% compared to 2024. Growing travel expenditure signals a positive economic impact.

Mediterranean Destinations See Growth

Demand for off-season sun and beach holidays is a significant trend, with spring getaway searches up 36% year-on-year. Travelers are avoiding summer crowds and heat, opting for pleasant shoulder-season weather.

**Malta** saw a 19% increase in arrivals, while **Cyprus** posted a 16% rise, benefiting from a favorable climate, robust flight connections, and rich cultural heritage. Even larger Mediterranean destinations like Spain (+7%) and Portugal (+3%) experienced increased tourist arrivals during the off-season.

Interestingly, the Greek island of Santorini is struggling with overtourism, as new regulations aim to limit cruise ship passengers to 1,200 per day.

Central and Eastern Europe’s Appeal

Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing notable growth. Destinations such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Hungary reported impressive increases in international arrivals, with Latvia at 16%, Lithuania at 15%, and Hungary at 14%.

Better air connectivity, recovery from the pandemic, and the regional effects of the Russo-Ukrainian war are driving this growth. These countries offer unique experiences, rich culture, and historical sites at competitive prices.

Travelers Balance Price and Value

Rising prices are a challenge, with international flights to Southern Europe up 5% and package holidays up 7% in early 2025. Still, tourism expenditure across Europe is expected to rise by 13% compared to 2024, indicating travelers are willing to spend more for high-quality experiences.

Long-Haul Travel Bounces Back

Travel from long-haul markets like the United States and China showed strong resilience. Despite economic uncertainty, the U.S. market remains a major source of visitors, with the Nordics seeing strong growth in U.S. arrivals. Norway (+35%) and Denmark (+24%) reported significant increases in overnight stays.

Southern European destinations such as Croatia (+18%), Montenegro (+17%), and Greece (+16%) also experienced solid gains in U.S. arrivals.

Chinese tourism to Europe shows encouraging signs, with all reporting destinations recording an increase in arrivals compared to 2024. Croatia (+7%), Estonia (+15%), and Romania (+20%) have seen a notable boost, attributed to better flight connectivity.

As summer approaches, the tourism industry is set to grow, particularly in locations offering unique experiences, cultural attractions, and good value. Off-season travel patterns will continue to shape the industry.

The European Travel Commission emphasizes innovation and sustainability, investing in practices that benefit both travelers and local communities, ensuring a low environmental footprint.

Tourists enjoying a sunny day at the beach

Overall, European travel in Q2 2025 has been robust, especially in Malta, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, and Hungary, and is expected to maintain its position as a top global destination through the summer months, driven by strong demand, sustainability, and value-led travel solutions.

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