numbers

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.

Two arrested after 458 people arrive in Cyprus on migrant boats

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Two arrested after 458 people arrive in Cyprus on migrant boats

Authorities intercepted six boats carrying 458 people off Cape Greco, and the migrants were escorted to the Ayia Napa marina before being moved to the Pournara Reception Centre. The boats had varying numbers of men, women, children, and unaccompanied minors, with the largest carrying 283 people. The migrants reported setting off from Lebanon, each paying three thousand dollars to an unidentified facilitator. Two men, one from Lebanon and one from Syria, were arrested on suspicion of organizing the crossing and are facing charges related to human smuggling.

Jazz, blues and movie soundtracks in Paphos

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Jazz, blues and movie soundtracks in Paphos

Two live music performances will take place at Technopolis 20 in Paphos, featuring music from movies, tributes to Greek composers, and jazz pieces. The Sung Mellow band, consisting of Lefteris Moumtzis, Ermis Michail, and Andreas Panteli, will perform jazz ballads, blues, and folk music on March 14 at 8pm. Kyriaki Steliou will present a performance dedicated to movie soundtracks and a tribute to Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis on March 21 at 8pm.

Russia’s presidential election: the who, what and when?

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Russia’s presidential election: the who, what and when?

– Russia will hold a presidential election on March 15-17.
– President Vladimir Putin is expected to win, which would give him another six-year term.
– The election will include voting in parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces.
– A remote online voting system will be available for the first time.
– There are 112.3 million eligible voters within Russia, 1.9 million abroad, and 12,000 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
– Turnout is usually around 70-80 million, with a 67.5% turnout in 2018.
– Putin’s opponents include Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Vladislav Davankov of the New People party.
– Anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova were barred from running.
– Putin has served as president longer than any Russian leader since Josef Stalin.
– Amendments in 2008 extended presidential terms to six years, and 2020 amendments reset Putin’s term count, allowing him to potentially remain in power until 2036.
– Putin has high approval ratings in Russia, despite Western criticism.
– The Russian opposition is tightly controlled, with pro-Western liberals having no seats in parliament.
– Supporters of Alexei Navalny are either in jail or have fled abroad.
– Yulia Navalnaya has called for a massive election day protest against Putin.
– Russian nationalist ex-militia commander Igor Girkin called the election a “sham.”
– The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights was not invited to observe the election, citing deteriorated conditions in Russia.

Trafficking numbers far worse than reports suggest

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Trafficking numbers far worse than reports suggest

Cyprus is reporting a decrease in human sex trafficking, but stakeholders claim police investigations are inadequate. Androula Christophidou Henriques, founder of Cyprus Stop Trafficking NGO, criticizes the current trafficking department’s lack of initiative. Between 2019 and 2022, Cyprus had 98 trafficking victims, with 33 cases related to sexual exploitation. The closure of cabarets in 2010 and COVID-19 restrictions have reduced sex trafficking activities, according to Henriques. Rita Superman, a Disy MP and former head of the police anti-trafficking department, believes the actual number of trafficking cases is higher than reported. The interior ministry plans to intensify inspections to prevent trafficking. Concerns about underreporting and institutional racism in handling trafficking cases have been raised by Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, who notes low prosecution numbers and inadequate victim interviews. Police cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is minimal, affecting victim support. The US Department of State’s 2023 report places Cyprus in Tier 1 for compliance with trafficking standards but notes failures in victim referral and identification. The report also highlights the vulnerability of certain groups to trafficking and the government’s shortcomings in convicting traffickers and compensating victims. Efforts to combat human sexual trafficking in Cyprus intensified after the 2010 European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of Oxana Rantseva, leading to criminalization of human trafficking in Cyprus and Russia, and changes to Cypriot visa rules.

Police launch nationwide traffic campaign tomorrow, as carnival week begins

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Police launch nationwide traffic campaign tomorrow, as carnival week begins

The police are launching a weeklong campaign focused on preventing fatal and serious road accidents and raising seat belt awareness, including for back seats and children’s safety chairs. The campaign will start tomorrow and last until Sunday, March 17, coinciding with the Grand Parade in Limassol. This initiative is part of a European-wide effort in cooperation with the European Police Traffic Network ROADPOL. Data from 2020-2022 shows that nearly 60% of road accident victims were not wearing a seat belt, and globally, 75% of people ejected from their vehicles in collisions are killed. The police aim to improve safety on the road networks.

Green taxes: , ‘pay now, or later…but you have to pay’

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Green taxes: , ‘pay now, or later…but you have to pay’

The announcement of a new carbon or ‘green’ tax on motor fuel in Cyprus has been met with widespread disapproval from trade unions, industry leaders, and consumer advocacy groups, despite a general acknowledgment of its necessity. The tax will begin at 5 cents per litre in 2024, with additional levies on water consumption and hotel stays. It is expected to disproportionately affect low-income households, with an estimated average household spending increase of 0.37% in 2024, translating to a monetary welfare loss of €121 per household. The government has promised fiscal neutrality, planning to return the extra money spent by the public through offsets, including a €100 cash-back for low-income families in 2024. The green tax is part of a broader tax system overhaul aimed at encouraging a shift towards greener energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Sterling is on the move

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Sterling is on the move

The British Pound is experiencing its strongest performance against the US dollar and other major currencies in over seven months. This change is attributed to investors and traders adjusting to a new perspective on the UK’s economy, which has shown resilience despite challenges such as Brexit and geopolitical tensions. Initially, there was an expectation of four interest rate cuts by the Bank of England to address the cost of living crisis and prevent a deep recession. However, current expectations have shifted to potentially only two interest rate cuts this year, based on economic data indicating better-than-expected GDP growth and consumer spending. Additionally, comments from the Fed Chairman have led traders to believe that the Federal Reserve might implement more interest rate cuts than the Bank of England, further influencing the strength of the British Pound.

Nicosia municipality identifies hazardous buildings

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Nicosia municipality identifies hazardous buildings

The Municipality of Nicosia has declared a series of buildings as dangerous after inspections by trained engineers/technicians. These buildings are declared dangerous according to Cypriot legislation, specifically under the Road and Building Regulation Law, Article 15B. The concerned owners have been informed and are urged to contact the Municipality’s Technical Service to take necessary measures to remove the danger. Failure to do so may result in the Municipality taking action to eliminate the risk, imposing an administrative fine of up to €20,000, and/or initiating a criminal case.

Spanish police crack counterfeit 100-euro note operation

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Spanish police crack counterfeit 100-euro note operation

Spanish police arrested 14 individuals for producing and distributing counterfeit 100 euro bank notes valued at one million euros, which were undetectable by ATMs and other devices. The counterfeit notes, described as very high quality due to the use of special inks, watermarks, and other elements, were distributed by a gang of Pakistani origin based in Naples, Rome, and Barcelona across Italy, France, Greece, and Spain. Arrests included individuals carrying 70,000 euros in counterfeit notes at Barcelona airport and the city bus station. The operation, involving forces from Spain, Italy, and Greece, began in November after the discovery of a large number of counterfeit notes in Barcelona.