Day: December 27, 2022

The exhibition “In the Sea of The Setting Sun – Contemporary Photographic Practices and the Archive” continues until February 25, 2023 at the State Gallery of Contemporary Art – SPEL and the temporary exhibition George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus at the A. G. Leventis Gallery will be open until February 26, 2023.

The exhibition “In the Sea of The Setting Sun – Contemporary Photographic Practices and the Archive” has invited 17 Cypriot artists based in Cyprus or abroad, whose work moves in the field of contemporary photographic practices, with an emphasis on research and use of the photographic archive.

It is noted that the inauguration took place in November in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Yiannis Toumazis.

Curator: Dr Elena Stylianou (Curator / IAPT President, Associate Professor in Art and Art Theory, European University Cyprus).

Participating artists: Alexia Achilleos, Marianna Christofides, Andreas G. Coutas, Haris Epaminonda, Mustafa Hulusi, Stelios Kallinikou, Nicolas Lambouris, Orestis Lazouras, Anastasia Mina, Christodoulos Panagiotou, Haris Pellapaisiotis, Nicos Philippou, Efi Savvides, Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert, Constantinos Taliotis, Maria Toumazou, Rahme Veziroglou.

The exhibition is being co-organised by the Cultural Services of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and IAPT (International Association of Photography and Theory, Cyprus), and opens in connection to IAPT’s 6th International Conference of Photography and Theory (ICPT2022, 17-19 November 2022, Nicosia).

According to a press release posted on the website of the A. G. Leventis Gallery on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of the great Cypriot artist George Polyviou Georghiou (1901-1972), the A. G. Leventis Gallery – with the collaboration of the artist’s family – presents the temporary exhibition George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus.

It is noted that through the exhibition, the public is given the unique opportunity to get acquainted with important works by the artist from private and public collections. In particular, the exhibition is enriched by works belonging to the artist’s family that were recently returned from Famagusta with the contribution of the Bi-communal Culture Committee.

It is added that the exhibition is curated by Loukia Loizou Hadjigavriel, Director of the A. G. Leventis Gallery, Eleni S. Nikita, Curator of the Cyprus Collection of the A. G. Leventis Gallery and Katerina Stephanides, Curator of the A. G. Leventis Gallery.

At the same time, it is noted that a smaller temporary exhibition ‘Timeless Cyprus – Life is short, and art long’ will also be presented dedicated to the places where the artist once lived and painted, and to the memories of his friends and family. This parallel, complementary exhibition, curated by Katerina Stephanides, Theodora Demetriou and Despina Christofidou, aims to offer a similar experience to visitors – a glimpse through multiple lenses, layers of memories – as well as a chance to live their own journey of meeting the artist George Pol. Georghiou and experiencing his Cyprus.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Limassol police helped late on Sunday evening a family of four who got lost while on a nature trail on mount Troodos find their way.

The family which included, two children, seven and eleven years of age, police said, had visited the nature trail for a hike and when it got dark lost their way.

After receiving their call for help police launched a rescue operation.

A little after 1900 hours local time the family was located in a remote area about 3km from where they had started their hike and were safely escorted back to their car.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus posted a tweet condemning the Taliban’s decision to ban women from universities in Afghanistan.

“This is a regrettable step backwards for #Afghanistan & a blatant disregard for fundamental rights & freedoms”, Cyprus MFA said, adding that “we stand with all Afghans in their demand to exercise their human rights in line with Int. Law.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Republic of Cyprus, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expresses profound sorrow for the tragic loss of life following the extreme weather conditions in the United States of America.

“Heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the rescue teams and with the Government and People of the United States,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet.

Profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of life following extreme weather conditions in the #US | Heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims | Our thoughts and prayers are with the rescue teams and with the Government and People of the United States pic.twitter.com/1rAQmmM5ap

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Under the patronage of H.R.H Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will be organizing the ‘Hajj Expo 2023’ conference and exhibition, on 9-12 January 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221227005098/en/

His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region (Photo: AETOSWire)

The four-day event is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to build an innovative ecosystem of services and solutions to better serve pilgrims at the Two Holy Mosques, while enhancing their religious and cultural experiences. It aims to create an integrated and sustainable ecosystem that improves pilgrims’ experiences, anticipate their future trends, and establish opportunities for further collaborations, agreements, and local and international initiatives.

H.E. Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, said: “The conference will allow entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers from more than 200 global organizations to share successful experiences, and brainstorm sustainable quality solutions designed to cater to pilgrims’ aspirations and needs. This reflects the unrelenting support dedicated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and HH the Crown Prince to the Hajj and Umrah sector, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.”

With delegations from over 56 countries, ‘Expo Hajj’ is expected to witness the signing of 400 agreements and partnerships. It will feature 10 keynote sessions, 13 panel discussions and ‘Hajj Talks’, as well as 36 workshops and related events and activities, notably the Islamic exposition and the ‘Hajj Hackathon’.

‘Hajj Expo 2023’ will be sponsored by several entities and companies, including Kidana Development Company, Elm, Al Wukalla Company, Catering Contractors Association, Muslim World League, Rua AlMadinah Holding, Motawifs Pilgrims for Southeast Asian Countries Co., Alrajhi Umrah, Dallah Albaraka Holding, Sadu Business Solutions, The Company for Cooperative Insurance (Tawuniya), and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Co., Flynas, Saudi Al-Qaid Transportation Co., Alif Alif FM, High Point Technology Company, and Casablanca Company for Hotel & Touristic Services Co. LTD.

The 2021 edition of the conference saw record numbers with +45,000 attendees and 115 commercial agreements. The second edition will feature a wide range of scientific sessions, workshops, and training programs, with several ministers of Islamic affairs, endowments and Hajj ambassadors and consuls, and Hajj and Umrah operators from around the world.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

During the period January – November 2022, total sales of petroleum products increased by 12.0% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year while in November 2022 there was a decrease of 0.6% compared to November 2021.

According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, in November 2022, the total sales of petroleum products amounted to 114,945 tonnes, recording a decrease of 0.6% compared to November 2021. A decrease was observed in the provisions of marine gasoil (28.0%) and in the sales of kerosene (8.3%), asphalt (2.9%) and liquefied petroleum gases (1.8%).

On the contrary, a rise was recorded in the provisions of aviation kerosene (2.7%), as well as in the sales of heavy and light fuel oil (23.0 and 13.5% respectively), heating gasoil (4.2%) and motor gasoline (1.1%).

No change was recorded in the sales of road diesel.

As far as the sales from filling stations are specifically concerned, these have registered a fall of 0.9% to 53,836 tonnes.

Total sales of petroleum products in November 2022 compared to October 2022 recorded a drop of 0.1%. Indicatively, a decrease was recorded in the provisions of aviation kerosene (46.2%) and motor gasoline (4.2%) while the sales of road diesel marginally increased (0.5%).

Total stocks of petroleum products at the end of November 2022 increased by 19.5% compared to the end of the previous month.

During the period January – November 2022, the total sales of petroleum products increased by 12.0% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus and India will sign bilateral memoranda and agreements on military cooperation, energy and migration in the framework of a working visit which the Foreign Minister of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, will pay to Cyprus on December 29-31, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Demetris Demetriou, told CNA that this is a very significant visit both in terms of symbolism and substance. “India is a very important country member of the Commonwealth with which we are linked with parallel historic routes and strong ties,” he added.

Demetriou noted that the visit “creates prospects to reinforce bilateral relations with India in a mutually beneficial strategic framework.”

He also said that during the visit the two sides will discuss bilateral relations and the prospects to further deepen them in fields as education, economy, security, defence, etc.

Demetriou went on saying that “we will brief the Indian side about the efforts of the Turkish side to upgrade the puppet regime and to create a new fait accompli against the Republic of Cyprus.”

“Current regional issues of mutual interest, EU-India relations and ways through which India could play a role in existing multilateral cooperation schemes will also be discussed,” the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson added.

Moreover he said that in the framework of the visit Cyprus and India will sign bilateral memoranda and agreements in the fields of military cooperation, energy and migration.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

An illegal breakaway state declared independence unilaterally, on November 15, 1983, in the areas under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

State hospitals have witnessed an increased flow of patients with viral infections, Charalambos Charilaou, spokesman for the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) told CNA, adding that occupancy in all pediatric clinics is particularly high due to viral infections.

“We continue to have an increasing flow of patients with viral infections in our hospitals”, he said, adding that as far as RSV is concerned, there is an increased flow of children’s admissions due to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. At the same time, many people are being affected by the common cold and other viral infections who end up in state hospitals for treatment.

All pediatric departments, he added, have increased occupancy in the last one and a half months due to the RSV outbreak.

He expressed the hope that soon the numbers will stabilize and there will be a decrease in the number of children’s admissions.

As regards COVID 19, Charilaou said that “the number of patients has been stable, we are at 74. There is a slight increase in terms of hospitalizations in the Intensive Care Unit, we are at seven right now,” he remarked.

Source: Cyprus News Agency