government

Pleas for civil service evaluations be put on hold

by
Pleas for civil service evaluations be put on hold

Trade unions representing civil servants in Cyprus have demanded the new evaluation system for promotions be paused due to chaos and misunderstandings it has caused. They suggest implementing it on a trial basis in 2023, without affecting 2024 promotions. The unions reported issues with the system, including untrained evaluators and potential for formal objections by civil servants. Pasydy union leader Stratis Matthaiou emphasized the need to refine the system rather than revert to the old one, citing poor preparation and instances of threats. The new system has negatively impacted interpersonal relations within the civil service, according to Andreas Louka of Pasydy. Legal challenges to promotion decisions are anticipated. Instances of extreme stress and threats towards evaluators were mentioned. Vasiliki Antoniadou of the Public Service Commission and Giorgos Panteli of the finance ministry defended the new system as a more meritocratic approach that assesses skills over seniority, aiming to improve service quality.

Israel checking reports that Hamas’ military No 2 killed in Gaza strike

by
Israel checking reports that Hamas’ military No 2 killed in Gaza strike

Israel was investigating whether Marwan Issa, Hamas’s second-highest military leader, died in an air strike on the Al-Nusseirat camp in central Gaza. The attack, which occurred on Saturday night, resulted in five fatalities. Issa is a key figure in Hamas’s military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades. His death could impact efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war, which has lasted more than five months, causing significant casualties and destruction. The conflict began after a Hamas attack on October 7, leading to over 31,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 73,000 injuries. Negotiations for a ceasefire are ongoing, with involvement from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Additionally, an Israeli air strike in Gaza City killed 16 people in the Abu Shammala family’s house. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with a significant humanitarian crisis unfolding. Aid efforts are being made, including the dispatch of vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

US Senator Menendez to be arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

by
US Senator Menendez to be arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is scheduled for arraignment on Monday on a new indictment for obstruction of justice related to his upcoming corruption trial. The indictment accuses him of using his former lawyers to falsely inform federal prosecutors that payments made for his wife were loans, not bribes. Menendez, who has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting bribes and acting as an agent for Egypt, has labeled the new charges as false. He temporarily stepped down from his role as chair of the Senate’s foreign relations committee after being charged last year. Menendez, his wife Nadine, and businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who have all pleaded not guilty, will go on trial on May 6.

Russia responsible for Navalny’s death, UN rights expert says

by
Russia responsible for Navalny’s death, UN rights expert says

The U.N. human rights expert on Russia, Mariana Katzarova, stated that the Russian government is responsible for Alexei Navalny’s death, which occurred either due to being killed in prison or from detention conditions equating to torture. Navalny died on February 16 in an Arctic prison, with Russia’s spy chief claiming he died a natural death. Katzarova expressed concern for other detainees in Russia, including opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, fearing they might face the same fate as Navalny. The Kremlin has denied accusations from Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, that President Vladimir Putin had Navalny killed. Yulia Navalnaya has called for a massive election day protest against Putin on March 17, citing public support for Navalny’s cause since his death.

Michaelidou outlines priorities for next school year

by
Michaelidou outlines priorities for next school year

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou outlined her priorities for the next school year, aiming to create an education system that forms skilled, responsible citizens with a democratic ethos, historical identity, and respect for diversity. The ministry’s priority is transitioning to a modern, human-centered, and inclusive school to improve learning outcomes. Policies are divided into six pillars: educational policies, human resources, administrative structures and infrastructure, higher and lifelong education, sports, and youth. A new assessment system abolishing midterm examinations in all subjects in secondary education was implemented. The government plans to enhance higher education through internationalization, modernization, and labor market connections, increase scholarships, and has announced a €10 million fund for purchasing modern equipment, including 10,000 computers and 1,000 video projectors. Measures to address pupil behavior and attainment issues are being adopted, with free and compulsory education from the age of four to be introduced. Eight international memoranda of understanding have been signed, a pilot German language program in middle and high schools, and an action plan for Cypriot sports development, focusing on school sports and infrastructure upgrading, have been announced.

Interior ministry calls on voters to register

by

The interior ministry of Cyprus has called on potential voters to register on the electoral roll before the April 2 deadline for the upcoming local government and European Parliament elections scheduled for June 9. Eligible voters include Cypriot and European Union citizens residing in Cyprus who are at least 18 years old by election day, specifically those born on or after June 9, 2006. Individuals who are 25 years old and above have the option to register online. Paper applications for voter registration are available at district administrations, Citizens’ Service Centres, and post offices, and can also be downloaded and submitted at these locations. Additionally, polling stations will be available overseas in Greece, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.

India asks tech firms to seek approval before releasing , ‘unreliable’ AI tools

by
India asks tech firms to seek approval before releasing , ‘unreliable’ AI tools

India has mandated that tech firms must obtain government approval before publicly releasing artificial intelligence (AI) tools that are considered “unreliable” or are still under trial. These tools must also be clearly labeled to indicate their potential for providing incorrect responses to user queries. This directive was issued by India’s IT ministry in an advisory, emphasizing that the deployment of such AI technologies, including generative AI, on the Indian internet requires explicit government permission. The move is part of India’s broader efforts to regulate AI and tighten regulations for social media companies, reflecting a global trend towards establishing rules for AI governance. The advisory was prompted by a recent incident involving Google’s Gemini AI tool, which generated a controversial response about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the incident, Google acknowledged the tool’s potential unreliability, especially regarding current events and political topics. Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized that platforms have a legal obligation to ensure safety and trust, and being “unreliable” does not exempt them from legal responsibilities. Additionally, the advisory highlighted the importance of AI tools not compromising the integrity of the electoral process, especially in light of the upcoming general elections in India.

Cyprus citizenship applications in limbo

by
Cyprus citizenship applications in limbo

Cyprus has updated its citizenship requirements, mandating language tests for naturalization. Due to unresolved details about these tests, no new citizenship applications are currently being processed. The law, amended in December, requires applicants to demonstrate knowledge of the Greek language at either the B1 or A2 level, depending on their application status. Additionally, some applicants must show understanding of Cyprus’s political and social reality through a history and culture test. An ad-hoc committee evaluates these tests. Highly skilled foreign workers can obtain citizenship after residing in Cyprus for four to five years, with the requirement of passing a Greek language test at the B1 or A2 level, respectively; no history/culture test is required for them. Implementation delays have caused frustration among potential applicants. The European Blue Card scheme, aimed at attracting highly skilled workers to the EU, has also been approved by the cabinet.

DISY leader Annita Demetriou by far the most popular politician, with Stephanou and Perdikis in positive outlook

by
DISY leader Annita Demetriou by far the most popular politician, with Stephanou and Perdikis in positive outlook

Democratic Rally President Annita Demetriou is the most popular politician in Cyprus, with 66% of respondents having a positive opinion of her, according to a Pulse Market Research poll for Phileleftheros. AKEL General Secretary Stephanos Stephanou and Greens President Yiorgos Perdikis are the only other leaders with a positive opinion. Perdikis has a 47% acceptance level and Stephanou has a 45% borderline positive opinion. Government coalition Democratic Party President Nicholas Papadopoulos has 42% positive opinions, ELAM President Christos Christou has 36% positive opinions with a 10 percent rise over the past five years, and Socialist EDEK leader Marinos Sizopoulos has 21% positive opinions. DIPA President Marios Karoyian has 26% positive opinions.

Government reshuffle received positively by citizens, survey shows

by
Government reshuffle received positively by citizens, survey shows

President Christodoulides’ cabinet reshuffle on January 8 received mixed reactions, with a public opinion survey indicating majority support for five out of six changes. The survey, conducted by Pulse Market Research for Phileleftheros, found that 26% of respondents thought the changes were needed, 48% saw them as necessary, 10% disagreed, and 16% did not respond. DISY supporters mostly favored the reshuffle, with DIKO and AKEL supporters also showing significant support for some changes. The replacement of Michalis Hatzigiannis, Anna Koukides-Procopiou, Popi Kanari, Petros Xenophontos, and Philippos Chatzizacharias was generally supported, except for the removal of Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas, which faced opposition from 44% of respondents. The survey had a sample size of 600, covered nationwide urban and rural areas, used random-stratified multistage sampling, and was conducted via telephone interviews from February 20 to 26, 2024.