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Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, inaugurated on Sunday the Hadjiyiannio Health Center, in Akaki, in the western part of the Nicosia district, which, officials said will serve 15 communities.

In his speech, the President said the creation of this health centre was the idea of late Akaki community leader Giannakis Hadjiyiannis, while also referred to Andreas Hadjiyiannis, who offered pound 200,000 towards the construction of the pound 5.2 million project.

The Akaki Health Center, the President said, that covers an area of 3,355 square meters, is ‘a model’ as regards primary healthcare infrastructure. It has five General Practices and is part of a network of 37 Health Centers of the State Health Services Organization (OKYpY) and will serve the needs of the residents of Akaki and the neighbouring communities of the West Nicosia area, he added.

‘We are moving forward with new projects, within the next three years amounting to pound 138 million, he said, including pound 10 million for the hospital in Polis Chrysochous.

As regards the healthcare sector, he said they will also move forward with other projects. He referred to the Urgent Care Centers located next to the Accident and Emergency Centers, which helped to relieve the congestion of the A and E Centers.

Over pound 46.7 million have been spent in recent years on major projects, such as the hematology clinic at Troodos Hospital, the construction of a new dialysis unit at Paphos General Hospital, the Children’s Intensive Care Unit at Nicosia General Hospital, the dialysis unit at Famagusta General Hospital, work on the second floor and the Intensive Care Unit at Larnaca General Hospital, as well as the completion of a phase at Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital, said Chairman of State Health Services Organisation (OKYpY) Board of Directors, Marinos Kallis, in his own speech.

Over pound 70 million have been spent, he added, on the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment, such as CT and MRI scanners, angiographs, etc., which make public hospitals more competitive comparing with the private sector.

Kallis also referred to the implementation of programs amounting to pound 182 million, between 2025 and 2027, which, he said, was the Organization’s strategic goal for the upgrade of public hospitals.

Regarding the Akaki Health Center, Kallis thanked the Hadjiyiannis family for their financial contribution, noting that the center will serve 15 communities and its purpose is to offer area residents access to high-quality healthcare services.

There will be general practitioners, nursing staff, specialist doctors, such as a general surgeon, an orthopedic and a surgeon for minor surgeries, as well as a cardiologist. The center, he said, is equipped with a modern radiography machine and a bone density scanner.

Bahrain is a stable and reliable partner and supports Cyprus on many issues, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades said on Sunday, following a meeting at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Larnaca with Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Dr. Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

He added that the Bahraini Minister’s visit to the island presents an opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in the operation of ports and airports.

On his part, Dr. Al Khalifa stated that Cyprus has always been a reliable partner, noting that the goal of the meeting was to enhance the bilateral partnership between the Kingdon of Bahrein and the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of transportation, the fields of shipping and telecommunications.

Speaking after the meeting, Vafeades said that ‘it was an excellent opportunity to discuss how we can expand the scope of our cooperation. Bahrain is a stable and reliable partner that supports Cyprus on many issues, and through the visit of the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, we have the chance to explore new ways and new opportunities for collaboration, particularly regarding the operation and management of ports and airports.’

He added that ‘we see that friendly countries can find ways to cooperate, to improve the quality of life of their citizens by working together and exploring areas that can add value to each country. That, I believe, is the essence of meetings like this.’

When asked whether any agreements had been signed with the Bahraini Minister, Vafeades said none has been signed yet, but ‘we intend to explore ways to strengthen our cooperation.’

Referring to the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, the Minister said that ‘Cyprus can be proud of and showcase its position as a country committed to saving lives and providing assistance to those in need. This is something that other countries also value and wish to learn from, in order to adopt our best practices.’

On his part, Dr. Al Khalifa described the meeting with Vafeades as ‘very productive,’ noting that it aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation between Bahrain and Cyprus in transport, shipping, and telecommunications.

He added that part of the discussion was to be informed about the work and operations of JRCC. He praised the Center’s operations, noting that it is ‘a very strategic location within the Mediterranean,’ and commended Cyprus for its support of the Palestinian people through the establishment of the humanitarian corridor.

Dr. Al Khalifa also stated that ‘we have full faith in the continuous dedication of Cyprus through the JRCC and through various Ministries and agencies to enhance regional and international cooperation, but also through providing the necessary support to the people of Palestine”.

He continued by saying that “we are very much eager to enhance our bilateral relations between Bahrein and Cyprus in the field of search and rescue, the practice and accumulative expertise that we have seen here in JRCC are truly recommendable, and practice that we have a lot to engage with, and to further enhance the partnership between the institution and cooperation through our Ministries but also through the technical cooperation between the two teams from Bahrein and here in Cyprus”.

Following the meeting, the Bahraini Minister was briefed by the JRCC Commander and staff on the Center’s operations and on the training program for Bahraini officers at the training facility.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos visits Kuwait on Sunday, where he will hold a series of meetings and take part in the 29th Joint Council between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU).

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the day, Kombos will meet with the EU Special Representative for the Gulf region, Luigi di Maio, as well as with the Secretary-General of the GCC, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi. He will also meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, whose country currently holds the GCC Presidency.

Kombos will also participate in the 2nd High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, which will take place on Sunday evening in Kuwait, with the participation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the GCC Secretary-General, and the Foreign Ministers of EU and GCC member states.

On Monday, October 6, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will take part in the proceedings of the Joint GCC-EU Council.

Cyprus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, met in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, with the Chairman of the Defence Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the UAE Federal National Council, Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi.

In a post on X, Kombos stressed that they reaffirmed the strong friendship between Cyprus and the UAE, and “our shared commitment to tolerance, coexistence, and promoting peace and sustainable development”.

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

SHIPPING DEPUTY MINISTRY

Shipping Deputy Minister’s Office

Address by the Shipping Deputy Minister, Ms. Marina Hadjimanolis

Joint Event with Arab Academy, for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Cocktail Reception onboard AIDA IV

4 October 2025, 18:00 DP World, Limassol

(Honorable Minister of Bahrain),

Dear Professor,

Distinguished guests, dear colleagues,

Good evening and welcome!

It is a great pleasure to welcome you this evening onboard the AIDA IV, here at Limassol Port. This remarkable training vessel, operated by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, stands as a proud symbol of maritime excellence, innovation, and cooperation across our region.

Allow me to extend a particularly warm welcome to the Honourable Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Your presence with us here tonight is a true honour and underlines the importance of the strong and enduring ties between Cyprus and the Arab region.

I would also like to express my deep appreciation to Professor Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy, for his leadership and vision, as well as for bringing the AIDA IV to Cyprus.

This joint event marks another important step in our collaboration with the Arab Academy, following the Memorandum of Understanding we signed last October in Alexandria during my official visit to Egypt. The arrival of AIDA IV here in Cyprus is a tangible reflection of the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to advancing maritime education and cooperation.

We are confident that this partnership will open the way to many more concrete initiatives in maritime education, training, and sustainability.

Tonight’s reception is an opportunity not only to celebrate this partnership, but also to strengthen the ties between Cyprus, Egypt, and the wider Arab world. The presence of so many distinguished leaders from the shipping community highlights the importance of working together to build a sustainable and innovative future for global shipping.

On behalf of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus, I warmly thank the Arab Academy for their partnership and look forward to the fruitful cooperation that lies ahead.

Thank you, and I wish you all a most pleasant evening.

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 05/10/2025

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

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.

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.

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.