Category: Cyprus News Agency

?he Shireen boat that was part of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla, departed from the Kato Paphos harbour at around 9:30 local time on Sunday morning, according to a Paphos Ports Authority official. Another vessel that was part of the flotilla remains docked at the Ayia Napa marina due to engine problems.

The delay in the departure of Shireen, which participated in the international flotilla bound for Gaza, was due to changing crew.

According to the Paphos Ports Authority official, some repairs were made to the boat by an engineer who was on board the vessel, while some crew members had expressed the desire to leave Cyprus by air, thus a crew change was necessary.

The vessel, after being supplied with fuel and water, set sail at 9:30 on Sunday morning from the Kato Paphos harbour, for Italy.

In the meantime, another flotilla vessel, the Summertime Jong, has been docked at the Ayia Napa marina since Friday afternoon, as it has engine problems.

CNA was informed by the Ayia Napa Marina Management that 11 people were on board the vessel upon its arrival there, four of whom have already departed, while the rest remain on board.

On Monday, engineers will be called in for repairs.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 05/10/2025 UNTIL 1200 06/10/2025

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1016hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with locally increased low cloud coverage at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

Limassol is hosting, from October 6 to 8, the International Conference ‘Maritime Cyprus 2025’, which has been established since 1989 and is organized every two years in the country.

As announced, the conference will be attended by prominent figures of the global shipping industry, including the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), European officials, Presidents of shipping organizations, shipowners, senior executives of shipping companies, and other representatives of the international maritime community.

On Sunday afternoon, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will hold a series of meetings with officials attending the conference.

Specifically, he will successively receive, at the Presidential Palace, Royal Caribbean officials Shon Tracy, Christos Karavos, and Gregory Purdy, the CEO of the Caravel Group, Dr. Harry Banga, the Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez.

Furthermore, on Sunday evening, the President of the Republic will deliver an address at the official dinner of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, held within the framework of the conference, in the gardens of the Presidential Palace. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, will attend a reception organized in connection with the conference in Limassol.

The conference is organized by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, in cooperation with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, and has evolved into one of the leading maritime events worldwide, consistently attracting key figures and organizations from the international shipping sector.

As announced, the ‘Maritime Cyprus 2025’ conference, under the central theme ‘Unlocking the Future. of Shipping,’ will focus on critical issues concerning the ever-changing maritime industry, the formulation and compliance with new international regulations, sustainability and environmental challenges, digital transformation, seafarer-related matters, and financing in the global shipping market.

The strengthening of the primary sector is of paramount importance, not only because we owe it to our rural world and countryside, but also in order to address the consequences of climate change, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday, noting that the issue of the Common Agricultural Policy and the funds to be allocated by the EU will be among the top priorities of the forthcoming Cyprus Presidency of the EU.

Speaking on Saturday evening at the 9th Rural Culture Festival of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization in the fire-stricken community of Lofou, President Christodoulides, said that so far the government has provided around 80 million euros for the properties destroyed in the July 23rd fire, assuring that ‘the State is here and will respond.’

‘The strength, resilience, and determination of the residents of the community are a tangible and exemplary demonstration that in the countryside one encounters the dynamism that characterizes the Cypriot farmer and rural woman, who fight to keep our land alive,’ he added.

He also pointed out that the practical and substantial support of the agricultural community is not a matter of choice or political priority, but ‘a minimum obligation of the state, which must ensure a secure future without dependencies on external factors.’

‘We see what is happening with the war in Ukraine and the dependencies it creates. We see what is happening internationally with the issue of protectionism and the taxes that some governments choose to adopt, resulting in some countries becoming dependent on or deprived of basic products because they failed to give the necessary importance to the primary sector,’ the President said.

At the same time, he noted that it is regrettable that the primary sector currently represents only 1.7% of the country’s GDP, whereas it once had a double-digit percentage. He stressed that ‘strengthening the primary sector is of primary importance, not only because we owe it to our farmers and countryside, but also to tackle the consequences of climate change.’

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 05/10/2025 UNTIL 0600 06/10/2025

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1016hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with locally increased cloud coverage at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

The low-pressure system approaching Cyprus will bring, from Tuesday evening through Wednesday and Thursday, a drop in temperature, intermittent local rain, and possibly isolated thunderstorms, meteorological officer Mattheos Papadakis has told CNA.

Clarifying that until Tuesday evening temperatures will remain at seasonal normal levels, around 30 degrees inland, 29 along the southern and eastern coasts, 27 degrees along the northern and western coasts, and about 21 in the higher mountainous areas, Papadakis said that if the forecast is confirmed, this low-pressure system will be the first to affect Cyprus this year.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, temperatures will gradually fall and be below the seasonal average, he noted, adding that temperatures are expected to range between 25 and 26 degrees, with the drop being particularly noticeable in Nicosia, especially if it rains.

Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, announced on Saturday that the government would allocate pound 100,000 for the spaying and neutering of dogs, triple the budget for spaying and neutering cats – from pound 100,000 to pound 300,000 – as well as a pound 150,000 grant for the creation of a Regional Dog Shelter in Paliometocho area, in Nicosia district, during an event, held in the capital, on the occasion of World Animal Day.

Panayiotou stressed that, on World Animal Day, the Ministry has made ‘three important decisions’. She referred to a pound 100,000 grant for the spaying and neutering of dogs, noting that ‘it is the first time that a separate amount has been given exclusively for this purpose’.

The second decision concerns the tripling of the budget for cat neutering, from pound 100,000 to pound 300,000, satisfying, she said, a request by both volunteers and organisations, ‘which has been heard’.

The Minister also announced that her Ministry has received a request for the creation of a Regional Temporary Dog Shelter in Paliometocho, submitted by the Municipalities of Strovolos, Nicosia and Lakatamia. ‘We will provide a pound 150,000-grant for the needs of the shelter’, she said, describing this as ‘a very important development’.

Responding to a question about animal abuse, the Minister underlined that the purpose of organising such events is to raise awareness and inform the public. Addressing such behaviours requires synergies and cooperation from everyone, she said, adding that ‘we must always highlight the aspect of individual responsibility.’

Referring to the government’s initiatives, the Minister emphasised that ‘we are implementing the actions included in the government programme and enriching them according to the needs that arise.’ She recalled that the government expanded the role of the Office of the Environmental Commissioner last year, including the aspect of animal welfare.

She added that ‘the effort continues,’ indicating other actions such as the increase in funds for neutering and spaying, and the amendments to the legislative framework currently in Parliament, among other things.

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, expressed on Sunday hope that US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza will be implemented, noting that the Republic of Cyprus is doing its utmost towards this direction.

In statements to the press upon his arrival at the inauguration ceremony of a Health Center in Akaki village, in Nicosia district, the President said that this plan ‘has the support of the international community, the support of the EU, and the support of the Arab world, and we hope that it will soon be accepted by all sides so that we can move forward with its implementation.’

He added that ‘we have repeatedly noted the need to end the current situation in Gaza. In this regard, the Republic of Cyprus, both as a country of the region and as an EU member state, is doing its utmost during this direction,’ he noted.

Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades discussed on Friday in Nicosia issues related to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU with Peter Javorcík, Director-General for Transport, Energy, Environment and Education (DG TREE) of the Council of the European Union.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry on Saturday, Vafeades and Javorcík discussed preparations for the Council of Transport Ministers, which will be held in June 2026 in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

‘In addition, Mr. Javorcík offered his full assistance to the Minister for his upcoming hearing before the European Parliament (Transport Committee) at the beginning of the Cyprus Presidency, as well as for the organisation of the Informal Council of Transport Ministers, which is scheduled to take place in Cyprus at the end of April 2026,’ the press release added.

Vafeades and Javorcík ‘agreed to meet again at the end of October and to continue close cooperation with the aim of a successful Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU,’ it concluded

Vessel “Siren”, which participated in the flotilla that attempted to breaktthe naval blockade of Gaza, sailing under the Italian flag, is expected to depart from Kato Paphos port on Saturday at around 1700 local time, according to General Manager of the Cyprus Ports Authority, Anthimos Christodoulides.

The vessel had docked in Paphos at around 1700 on Friday. Meanwhile, a second vessel, “Summertime Jong”, that participated in the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which had docked in Larnaca port on Thursday night, is now docked in Ayia Napa marina.

In statements on Saturday to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Christodoulides said that all documents and certificates of the vessel were checked and their validity was confirmed

He went on to say that on Saturday, after the vessel was provided fuel and water, it requested permission to set sail in the afternoon, around 1700, and that was approved by all relevant authorities.

Earlier an office of the Port Authority told CNA that eight people were on board the vessel, five citizens from European countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland, and three citizens from third countries. Some repairs were carried out at the vessel by a Canadian engineer who was among the passengers, while some of those on board expressed a desire to disembark and leave, he added.

As a result, the crew of the vessel was expected to change, since some individuals were to leave Cyprus by air, while others were expected to arrive and board the vessel.

Food, water, electricity, and fuel were supplied to the boat, the officer said. In addition, two crew members received first aid from an ambulance team but did not require hospitalization.

Second vessel docks in Ayia Napa marina

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A second vessel that participated in the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which had docked in Larnaca port on Thursday night, is now at Ayia Napa marina.

According to information provided to CNA by the management of the Ayia Napa Marina, the vessel left Larnaca port on the afternoon of Friday, October 3, and is now at the Ayia Napa marina, where it will remain for an unspecified period of time.

According to CNA sources, the vessel Summertime Jong docked in Ayia Napa marina due to the expected arrival of large commercial ships at Larnaca port.

The vessel had requested permission to dock at Larnaca port while in Cyprus’ territorial waters, as there were two people on board suffering from chronic health problems.

The two individuals received medical assistance from ambulance personnel who went to Larnaca port. However, their hospitalization was not deemed necessary.

In addition, food and water were provided to those on board.