The global pandemic treaty is coming
Countries are not ready to cede all authority to the WHO, but in a few weeks, most Western nations will sign the pandemic treaty at the World Health Assembly.
Europe
Weak demand, new model ramp up hit Europe, ’s top automakers
European car giants Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis all posted lower sales and first-quarter revenue due to higher costs, weaker demand for new cars, and the upcoming launch of new models.
Archbishop appeals to , ‘motherland’, warns of Turkey’s conditions
Fact: Archbishop Georgios stated that accepting Turkey’s conditions to resume talks for the Cyprus problem would be a mistake.
A stormy 20 years or just a cloud?
Cyprus joined the European Union 20 years ago and has benefitted from EU accession. However, reforms were slow and promises were not kept regarding resolving the island’s division. The ‘Cyprus problem’ gave in to fatigue, with European partners gradually losing interest. The country faced issues with customs controls at checkpoints and ‘golden passports’ becoming a major embarrassment. Cyprus politicians are now trying to rebuild a reputation as a trustworthy partner in the EU.
EU unveils , €1 bln aid to Lebanon, but migration “must stop”
The European Union unveiled a €1 billion economic aid package for Lebanon in exchange for the country slowing migration flows, especially amid a sharp rise in Syrian refugees headed to Cyprus and Italy.
Moneyval praises Cyprus progress on AML, crypto regulation
Cyprus has improved its measures for tackling money laundering and combating financing of terrorism, according to the latest Moneyval report. The Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) sees this as a ‘vote of confidence’ in financial regulation, especially for cryptos. The report found Cyprus to have improved its compliance with the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendations, particularly in relation to Crypto-Asset Services Providers. Moneyval also noted progress towards improving compliance with non-profit organizations. Cyprus has made progress in addressing technical compliance shortcomings and is expected to report back to Moneyval in May 2025 on further progress. The country has achieved compliance or large compliance on 37 out of the 40 FATF Recommendations. CySEC has implemented significant measures to assess and reduce risks in the field of crypto-assets and improve compliance among providers. The publication of the report follows legislative changes to align AML/CFT laws with Moneyval and FATF standards.
CySEC welcomes report on money laundering progress
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) welcomed the findings of a Moneyval report regarding progress made in addressing money laundering and terrorism financing. Moneyval is the Council of Europe’s committee of experts on evaluating anti-money laundering measures and the financing of terrorism. The report recognized Cyprus’s improved compliance with the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) regulations on new technologies and noted progress in enhancing compliance with non-profit organizations. Since November 2022, Cyprus has bolstered its regime for virtual asset service providers, with only a few minor deficiencies remaining, according to the report.
World food prices up in April for second month, says UN agency
The United Nations food agency’s world price index rose for a second consecutive month in April due to higher meat prices, small increases in vegetable oils and cereals, despite declines in sugar and dairy products.
When appearances can be deceiving
The Republic of Cyprus received positive feedback for its efforts to combat money laundering, aligning with recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Moneyval Committee. However, experts point out that the country still struggles to effectively address money laundering, with a lack of convictions for white-collar crimes. A recent incident involving a Ukrainian woman bringing in millions of euros highlights the system’s weaknesses. Despite progress, Cyprus faces significant challenges in tackling money laundering.
RIF launches research support programmes worth , €14.5 million
The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) announced the launch of two new programmes, Excellence and Post-Doc, with a total budget of €14.5 million. The Excellence programme has a budget of €12 million and covers life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities. The maximum funding per project is €200,000 for life sciences and physical sciences and engineering, and €120,000 for social sciences and humanities. The Post-Doc programme has a budget of €2.5 million and funds projects in the same scientific areas. The aim of the programmes is to foster scientific excellence and support post-doctoral researchers in carrying out specialized projects. Interested parties can submit proposals via the IRIS portal by July 5, 2024.