government

Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

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Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

– The hermitage of Saint Habakkuk was illegally erected and converted into the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk by the Holy Synod on March 21, 2022.
– Efforts have been made for two years to legalize the monastery’s facilities through registration and road construction.
– Government departments have refused the retroactive legalization due to the monastery being built in a Natura 2000 Network area without environmental studies.
– Legal actions were initiated against the Monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorized constructions.
– The first inspection occurred in September 2022, and by March 2023, illegal buildings and lack of final approvals for various constructions were identified.
– On March 17, 2023, the Monastery was notified of the decision to take legal action, leading to a court case with 18 charges filed in July 2023, with a trial scheduled for March 26, 2024.
– Pressure was exerted to register a road leading to the monastery to grant legal access and obtain a license.
– The road falls within agricultural zone G3, protection zone Z1, the Special Protection Zone of the Natura 2000 Network named Madari – Papoutsa, and the Community Importance Area named Fountoukodasi Pitsilias, and is a known migratory bird corridor.
– The Department of Environment emphasized the negative impacts of road widening on the Natura 2000 Network areas.
– A meeting on March 21, 2023, discussed the road’s registration and construction, requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment study for approval.
– The Game and Fauna Service opposed the registration of roads through Nature Protection areas to prevent encouraging residential development in these areas.
– The Department of Environment had no objection to issuing a license for the legalization of the illegally erected cells and auxiliary spaces at the hermitage as of a month after the March 21, 2023 request for opinions.

Cyprus signs multi-million deal with Microsoft to boost public sector efficiency

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Cyprus signs multi-million deal with Microsoft to boost public sector efficiency

Cyprus has signed an €8 million deal with Microsoft to provide 10,000 public sector workers with Microsoft 365 licenses and to upgrade the country’s digital infrastructure. This five-year Enterprise Agreement includes email, secure collaboration tools, cloud computing services, project management, reporting software, and support services from Microsoft specialists for smooth implementation and user training. Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, sees this as the start of broader cooperation with Microsoft, aiming to create a modern, digital state. Yanna Andronopoulou, Managing Director for Microsoft Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, views the agreement as a significant step towards Cyprus’s digital future. The agreement aims to improve public sector efficiency and service quality for Cypriot citizens, marking a milestone in Cyprus’s digital modernisation efforts.

Absence of trust in justice

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Absence of trust in justice

A poll by Phileleftheros, conducted by Pulse Market Research, found that the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General do not satisfy citizens with their work, with only 29% of citizens responding positively about the Attorney General and 24% about the Deputy Attorney General. In contrast, 71% of citizens are satisfied with the work of the Auditor General. The poll also indicated that the negative stance towards the Attorney General is consistent across all party lines, with 51% of DISY voters, 66% of AKEL voters, and 61% of DIKO voters expressing a negative opinion. The President of the Republic has expressed intentions for institutional changes in the Audit Office, which has been met with immediate reaction from Odysseas Michaelides, the Auditor General. Additionally, the European Social Survey conducted by the University of Cyprus showed that the levels of trust in Justice are low, with an average of 4.39 out of 10.

Britain says new gas plants needed to keep the lights on

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Britain says new gas plants needed to keep the lights on

Britain is proposing to build new gas plants to improve energy security and risks facing blackouts without them. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated that new gas plants will be needed beyond 2030. Energy Minister Claire Coutinho is expected to outline a new strategy for gas, emphasizing the need for gas to back up renewables to avoid blackouts. Critics argue that this approach could hinder the country’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and increase reliance on expensive fossil fuels. Currently, about a third of Britain’s electricity comes from gas plants. DESNZ also proposed a zonal market for electricity pricing, where consumers would pay different rates based on their location relative to power generators. This method is already used in some European countries like Italy, Sweden, and Norway. These announcements are part of a consultation into the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) launched in 2022.

Our View: What are schools if not human centred?

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Our View: What are schools if not human centred?

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou prioritized the transition to a modern, human-centred, and inclusive school system that cultivates abilities, skills, and knowledge for the next school year.

Amalthea Gaza aid operation to be intensified, Spokesman says

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Amalthea Gaza aid operation to be intensified, Spokesman says

The “Amalthea” humanitarian aid operation for Gaza, announced by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, will be continued and intensified to deliver more aid to the civilian population. Cyprus has developed an additional tool to supplement existing aid channels, requiring collaboration with regional and international partners for maritime resources, safe transport, and distribution of aid to Gaza. The first aid ship from Larnaca marks the activation of the Amalthea Plan, establishing a systematic maritime corridor for humanitarian aid. The initiative has been welcomed by the President of the European Commission and involves joint efforts with countries like the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, utilizing its geographical proximity and relations, champions this maritime corridor based on international humanitarian law. Greece is among the countries supporting this initiative, having signed the Joint Declaration issued on 8 March. The initiative has been presented in international forums and to the European Council, aiming to enhance Cyprus’s role in the region and provide life-saving aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. Letymbiotis also denied claims about Israel’s interest in purchasing a port in Cyprus, calling the report unfounded and false.

Meeting on LNG expected by end of this week

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Meeting on LNG expected by end of this week

This week is crucial for the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Vasiliko, with Energy Minister George Papanastasiou meeting officials from CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd (CMC). The government may exit the deal due to disputes, as the consortium halted work and sought €200 million in arbitration. A top executive from the consortium is set to discuss project resumption in Cyprus. The government insists on not paying additional claims outside the Arbitral Tribunal in London and demands a project resumption date. The project, including an FSRU, jetty, mooring facilities, a pipeline, and a PV storage system, has received a €101 million EU grant and additional financing from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Australia, ’s Great Barrier Reef suffers major coral bleaching

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Australia, ’s Great Barrier Reef suffers major coral bleaching

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing a major coral bleaching event, confirmed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). This event is consistent with patterns of heat stress accumulated over the summer. The bleaching is extensive in shallow water areas, but in-water surveys are needed to confirm the severity and depth range of the bleaching. The bleaching is attributed to elevated sea surface temperatures driven by climate change and amplified by El Nino. This marks the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, indicating significant pressure from climate change on the reef. Coral bleaching causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, turning them white, which can affect their growth and reproduction. The Great Barrier Reef contributes about A billion to the economy and supports 64,000 jobs.

After EU court ruling, Isotita calls for civil service changes

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After EU court ruling, Isotita calls for civil service changes

A recent judgment by the EU’s Court of Justice (CJEU) could allow thousands of civil servants on fixed-term employment to become permanent workers, according to the Isotita union. The union has urged the government to make these employees permanent, following the CJEU’s judgment on February 22, which ruled that the indefinite extension of fixed-term employment contracts without a vacancy notice is an abuse that member states must prevent. The CJEU stated that simple compensation for unfair dismissal or awarding posts through competitions are not sufficient measures to prevent such abuses. The judgment implies that converting temporary contracts into permanent ones could be a necessary measure to address the issue. Isotita has reminded the government of the president’s pre-election promises regarding employment conditions and has called for immediate action to comply with EU law by making all affected workers permanent.

Call for labour compensation fund

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Call for labour compensation fund

The House labour committee discussed the need for establishing a labour compensation fund. A request was sent to the labour minister to explore the creation of a workers’ compensation insurance fund and to contribute to creating a legislative framework for it. A bill passed in 1989 provided for the creation of such a fund, which would compensate workers in case of work accidents, similar to the fund for motor vehicle insurers that compensates uninsured drivers. The need arises because employees without employer’s liability insurance or those whose insurers went bankrupt are not compensated in case of work accidents, leading to significant social problems.