International

UN: Israeli operations in Gaza violate international law

by
UN: Israeli operations in Gaza violate international law

The text discusses the violation of international law by Israel in bombing the Gaza Strip and killing thousands of Palestinians. The United Nations special rapporteur for human rights condemned Israel's actions, stating that they were completely illegal. The special rapporteur also highlighted the need for the separation of combatants from civilians and the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law. The text also mentions the closure and destruction of hospitals in Gaza, leading to a lack of healthcare facilities. The shocking fact mentioned is that 1,000 children have been amputated without anesthesia during the war.

EU launches 175 mln euro defence equity fund to boost security innovation

by
EU launches 175 mln euro defence equity fund to boost security innovation

The European Commission and the European Investment Fund have launched a 175 million euro fund to support defence and security innovation. The fund is expected to attract investments from private equity and venture capital funds, totaling around 500 million euros. It is part of the EU’s efforts to increase its role in defence policy and address security threats in Europe. The fund will focus on technologies with both civilian and defence applications over the next four years.

The Administrative Commissioner was elected to the Board of the International Institute of Mediators

by
The Administrative Commissioner was elected to the Board of the International Institute of Mediators

Maria Stylianou-Lottidi has been elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute – IOI Europe. She is the first Cypriot Commissioner to be elected to this position. The election is significant for Cyprus as it increases the country's influence in European affairs and highlights its commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The IOI is a global organization that promotes the protection of human rights and good governance.

Abbas to Blinken: Gaza critical for Palestinians

by
Abbas to Blinken: Gaza critical for Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a plea for an international peace conference to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, according to an official statement. He also emphasized that Palestinians should not be displaced from Gaza or the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Abbas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to address extremist violence in the West Bank and minimize harm to civilians in Gaza. The conversation also touched on administrative reforms beneficial to the Palestinian people. In a separate incident, video footage showed Israeli military vehicles passing over the body of a Palestinian man who had been shot during an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Tul Karem. The incident is under investigation, and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned it as reflective of a "culture of hatred and extremism."

Deal on standardisation with UK group

by
Deal on standardisation with UK group

The Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation (CYS) and the Great Britain-Cyprus Business Association (GBCY) have formed a strategic partnership to strengthen business connections and opportunities between companies in the UK and Cyprus. The partnership aims to provide GBCY members access to CYS services and solutions, enhance networking opportunities, and improve the quality, safety, and integrity of products, services, and processes. The collaboration aligns with GBCY’s commitment to promoting networking opportunities and CYS’s vision to elevate the level of quality in various sectors. The collaboration is expected to create collaborations among stakeholders and enhance overall performance, sustainable development, and resilience in the business environment.

Registration of roads in the occupied areas on Google platforms – The actions of the so-called minister of public works

by
Registration of roads in the occupied areas on Google platforms - The actions of the so-called minister of public works

The fact described in the text is that a protocol was signed between the "Minister of Public Works and Transport" and the director of Fact Innovation and Technologies Ltd to integrate the roads into the Google platforms. This step aims to make the pseudostate more visible on the international scene and increase its promotion, by scanning the main roads of the "country" with a special vehicle and camera, and publishing the data on Google platforms (StreetView). This will provide opportunities to promote the tourism and economic potential of the occupied territory to a wider audience and facilitate visitors and investors.

India, ’s digital currency transactions top 1 million per day in December

by
India, ’s digital currency transactions top 1 million per day in December

Indian banks disbursed employee benefits through digital rupee in December, helping the Reserve Bank of India meet its target of one million daily transactions by end-2023. The central bank digital currency (CBDC), called the e-rupee, was created as a digital alternative to physical cash. The RBI started its e-rupee pilot in December 2022 but transactions were low until last month when some large private and state-run lenders disbursed amounts related to employee benefit schemes directly to employees’ CBDC wallets. The user base for e-rupee has been steadily growing. Other countries, including China, France, and Ghana, are also in the pilot stages of their CBDC projects. Indian banks are offering incentives for e-rupee transactions.

Guided tours of the sky developed

by
Guided tours of the sky developed

The three-year research project Astrotourism in Cyprus has concluded that there is untapped potential for astronomical observations in Cyprus. Twelve sites were examined and four were selected, with one in the process of being certified as a Dark Sky site. The project included the development of astrotourism products such as Star Parks and Star Camping, as well as virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. The project was completed in December 2023 and the goal now is to commercialize these products. The consortium behind the project includes Top Kinisis Travel Public, CYENS Centre of Excellence, AKTI Project and Research Centre, University of Nicosia Research Foundation, Adelve Research-Innovation-Consulting & Trade, and 1010 Cosmos.

Slowdown in growth on geopolitical tensions

by
Slowdown in growth on geopolitical tensions

The growth prospects of the Cyprus economy are struggling due to ongoing regional geopolitical tensions, which is keeping the annual growth rate at a subdued pace. The year-over-year growth rate of the Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) has continued to slow down in November. The slowdown reflects the burdened geopolitical and unstable economic environment, which negatively affects the growth prospects of the Cypriot economy. The CCLEI recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.8% in November. The positive growth rate is attributed to the growth of various domestic sectors, including real estate, tourism, retail trade, and electricity production. The drop in the CCLEI is restrained by the international price of oil, which fell significantly in November. The components of the CCLEI are selected from a pool of domestic and international leading indicators.

Defendants plead not guilty in Al Jazeera golden passports case

by
Defendants plead not guilty in Al Jazeera golden passports case

Former President of the House of Representatives Dimitris Syllouris and former AKEL MP Christakis Giovani denied all five charges related to the Al Jazeera corruption case in a courtroom appearance. The case involves allegations from an investigative report by Al Jazeera and exceptional naturalisation processes for foreign investors and businessmen. The third defendant, Antonis Antoniou, was not present and received a new court date. The ‘golden passports programme’ was abolished after an undercover investigation revealed corruption and the government’s approval of issuing passports to criminals and fugitives. Foreign nationals could acquire a Cypriot passport by investing over 2 million euros.