in-cyprus

EXPLAINER-Why did ISIS-K attack a Moscow theater?

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EXPLAINER-Why did ISIS-K attack a Moscow theater?

The U.S. has intelligence confirming Islamic State’s responsibility for a deadly shooting attack at a concert near Moscow. Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) emerged in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014, known for extreme brutality and being one of the most active Islamic State affiliates. Its membership has declined since 2018 due to losses inflicted by the Taliban and U.S. forces. The U.S. stated that intelligence capabilities against groups like ISIS-K in Afghanistan have decreased after the 2021 troop withdrawal. ISIS-K has conducted various attacks, including twin bombings in Iran and a suicide bombing at the Russian embassy in Kabul. The group opposes Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticizing him in propaganda and viewing Russia as oppressive towards Muslims.

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.

Wizz Air’s President: We want to continue building on our position as number one at Larnaca airport

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Wizz Air’s President: We want to continue building on our position as number one at Larnaca airport

– Wizz Air established a base at Larnaca Airport in 2020.
– Since its establishment, Wizz Air has doubled its capacity at Larnaca Airport.
– Wizz Air is now the leading airline in Larnaca and the second overall in Cyprus.
– In 2023, Wizz Air experienced a significant increase in passenger numbers in Cyprus compared to 2022.
– The increase in passengers was attributed to new destinations, Cyprus’s tourism strategy, and Wizz Air’s low fares.
– Wizz Air navigated challenges such as the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas by quickly reallocating capacity and was the first airline to return to pre-COVID levels by volume.
– Wizz Air operates at 160% of its pre-COVID capacity.
– The airline is focused on sustainability and is investing in new technology for the future, including the potential development of hydrogen aircraft.
– Cyprus aims to attract tourists from a wider range of countries and has been successful during the 2023 tourist season.
– Operational challenges in summer 2022 led Wizz Air to invest in schedule resilience.
– Wizz Air plans to continue growing, with potential new routes and increased frequencies to existing destinations.
– The airline carried 60 million passengers in 2023 and operates a fleet of around 180 aircraft, with plans to grow by 30 to 40 aircraft per year.

47-year-old detained, charged with homicide over child’s death

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47-year-old detained, charged with homicide over child’s death

A 47-year-old man from Syria has been detained on suspicion of homicide and human trafficking. The man is accused of killing a three-year-old girl who died at Makarios Hospital and of being involved in the trafficking of migrants found on a boat off Cape Greco. The sister of the deceased girl and another child are in critical condition at Makarios Hospital, while three more children are in serious condition at Famagusta Hospital and another child is being treated at Larnaca Hospital. Four adults with leg fractures are also receiving medical care. The man had previously applied for political asylum in Cyprus but later traveled to Lebanon. The boat carrying the migrants started its journey on January 18 without proper navigation tools and with insufficient fuel. The engine failed midway through the journey, leaving the boat adrift. The migrants had water but no food and were instructed to throw the water into the sea when they saw a commercial vessel approaching, which they believed was a Cypriot police vessel. The boat was reported missing on January 20, and search operations have been conducted but the boat has not been found.

Court of Appeals upholds right of Attorney General to stop criminal prosecutions

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Court of Appeals upholds right of Attorney General to stop criminal prosecutions

The Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Republic. The lawsuit claimed that the Attorney General’s decision to suspend two private criminal prosecutions without justification was invalid. The Court of Appeals stated that the Attorney General has unchecked authority to interrupt criminal procedures in the public interest, and this authority is not subject to judicial review. The court rejected all claims made by the plaintiff and awarded costs in favor of the Republic.