Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has joined the board of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) and has donated most of the profits from his companies to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. THI has invested over million in Greece and serves approximately 100,000 beneficiaries per month through initiatives like Food from the Heart.
Fact: Spring Fest is a charity event organized annually by Bank of Cyprus in support of the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society.
The spread of bird flu to a growing number of species and regions has increased the risk of humans being infected by the virus, according to the head of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The U.S. reported cases in dairy cows and a person in Texas, with concerns about potential transmission between cows. The virus has led to culling of millions of poultry globally, mainly carried by migrating wild birds. The virus has spread to new regions, affecting a variety of animals, including foxes, cats, tigers, seals, dolphins, and bears. The concern is the higher viral load and potential contamination of humans. There have been outbreaks of bird flu causing serious infections in people with close contact with infected animals, but no sustained human-to-human transmission observed. Scientists warn of the risk of the virus mutating to be transmissible between mammals, including humans, potentially leading to a large-scale pandemic.
One in five Cypriots suffers from allergic rhinitis, with olive, grass, corn pollen, ragweed pollen, and the fungus Alternaria being common triggers. Respiratory allergies are often hereditary and linked to other allergic conditions, but can also develop in adults. The spring allergy season in Cyprus starts in March and can be influenced by winter weather conditions. House dust mites are another prevalent allergen in Cyprus. Allergic rhinitis can impact quality of life, travel plans, and social activities, and untreated allergies can worsen over time. Pitsios recommends a natural lifestyle and proper treatment for those with allergies. Early exposure to nature can help strengthen the immune system and prevent allergies.
In March 2024, inflation in Cyprus decelerated significantly, with a year-on-year increase of 1.2 per cent, the lowest rate in nearly three years. This was primarily due to a reduction in electricity and petroleum prices.
Five countries, Australia, Poland, Britain, the US, and Canada, lost citizens in an attack on an international organization delivering food to Gaza. Despite the organization’s logo being visible and an agreement with the Israeli army for no fighting in the area, the convoy was bombed. World Central Kitchen has suspended operations in Gaza, leaving people without aid. Netanyahu justified the attack as something that happens in wartime, erasing previous moral standards in conflict.
British supermarket total sales rose by 5.4 per cent year-over-year in the four weeks to March 23 as slowing inflation encouraged shoppers to increase their purchases.
The Church of Panagia Ayia Napa conducted an unlicensed raffle to raise funds for an illegally built monastery in a protected area. The Ministry of Finance considers this a serious offense and plans to demand an immediate halt to the raffle, as well as forward a report to the police for investigation. The raffle tickets also included a section for collecting donations, but the Church clarified that the funds were for general charitable purposes, not specifically for the controversial monastery project. Environmental groups have condemned the Church’s actions, questioning the legitimacy of the raffle and criticizing the promotion of an unlawful construction project.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Cyprus showed a yearly growth rate of 1.6 per cent in March, down from 2.1 per cent the previous month.
Turkey’s annual inflation rate climbed to 68.5 per cent in March, leading to significant losses for President Tayyip Erdogan’s party in local elections.