Europe

Cabinet to discuss subsidy for families of patients sent abroad

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Cabinet to discuss subsidy for families of patients sent abroad

President Nikos Christodoulides announced that the cabinet will discuss a plan to subsidize travel, accommodation, and food expenses for those accompanying people sent abroad for medical treatment. Additionally, a proposal to create a “patient advocate” will be discussed. Christodoulides emphasized the goal of eliminating the need to send patients abroad as a measure of success for the government and Cyprus, highlighting the importance of providing quality health services domestically. Health Minister Michalis Damianos reported that 1,523 patients were sent abroad from Cyprus last year for various specialized treatments, underlining the state’s responsibility to support these patients and the necessity of international collaborations for immediate patient transfer when needed.

American man jailed for life over rape and murder of tourist near German castle

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American man jailed for life over rape and murder of tourist near German castle

An American man was sentenced to life in prison by a German court for the rape and murder of a 21-year-old tourist and the attempted murder of her 22-year-old friend, both from the U.S., near Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. The attack occurred in June when the man, a 31-year-old tourist from Michigan identified as Troy B., lured the women away from a public path with the promise of a better view. He then attacked them, resulting in the death of the younger woman and severe injuries to the older one. The court found the crime to be of “particular gravity,” meaning the perpetrator will not be eligible for automatic parole after 15 years. The conviction can be appealed, and the defendant has the option to apply to serve his sentence in the U.S. Neuschwanstein Castle is a major tourist destination, attracting about 1.4 million visitors a year.

Barca face biggest game of the season against Napoli, says Xavi

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Barca face biggest game of the season against Napoli, says Xavi

Barcelona’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie at home to Napoli is considered their most important game of the season by manager Xavi Hernandez. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, giving Barcelona a chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020. Barcelona last won a Champions League knockout game in 2020 with a 3-1 home win over Napoli. Currently, Barcelona is third in LaLiga, eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, making Europe their priority. Napoli, the 2023 Scudetto champions, are seventh in Serie A, 31 points behind leaders Inter Milan. Napoli’s current coach, Francesco Calzona, took over in February and has remained undefeated in five games since. Barcelona has been dealing with injuries, with Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Ferran Torres among those unavailable. Torres has missed the last seven games due to a hamstring problem and is not expected to return for the Napoli game.

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.

Apply for postgraduate studies at University of Cyprus

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Apply for postgraduate studies at University of Cyprus

The University of Cyprus (UCY) is accepting applications for its postgraduate programmes (Master and PhD level) for the academic year 2024/2025. UCY offers over 100 graduate programmes in various subjects, with many taught in English. The application deadline is April 2, 2024. UCY is ranked in several global university rankings, including #701-800 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) for 2023-2024, #501-600 in the Times World University Rankings, #64 in the Emerging Economies University Rankings, #368 in the QS World University Rankings, and #53 in the QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia Rankings.

Cyprus citizenship applications in limbo

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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.

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.

A strategic EU role for the Cyprus problem

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A strategic EU role for the Cyprus problem

The text discusses the flaws in the traditional negotiations process regarding the Cyprus problem and suggests that a solution requires a slow, incremental process of “deliberative democracy” and strategic international coordination to incentivize leaders towards a negotiated settlement. The EU and the US play crucial roles in this process. The text highlights how the US improved its relationship with Greece, making it a strategic partner in southeastern Europe through military and energy developments, suggesting a similar approach could be applied to Cyprus. The text proposes enhancing Cyprus’s role in humanitarian assistance as a geopolitical incentive, mentioning the Republic of Cyprus’s involvement in evacuations and support in various crises. It discusses the EU’s engagement with Cyprus through the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot community and suggests that strategic political decisions on Cyprus could be better managed by placing them under the Secretariat-General of the European Commission. The text concludes with the author’s credentials and involvement in Cyprus negotiations.

Google rolls out changes for users, apps developers as EU tech rules loom

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Google rolls out changes for users, apps developers as EU tech rules loom

Alphabet’s Google announced changes to search results and introduced new tools for app developers to promote their products on third-party apps and rival app stores, aiming to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that targets to limit the power of Big Tech. The changes, which are part of Google’s efforts to meet the requirements of the DMA by March 7, include modifications to search results that will affect the traffic of large intermediaries, aggregators, hotels, airlines, merchants, and restaurants. Google will also seek user consent for data sharing across its products and services, allow app developers to use alternative billing systems besides Google Play’s, and launch a program for developers to direct European users outside the app for product promotion. Additionally, Google plans to introduce data portability software in Europe to facilitate the movement of user data to third-party apps or services.

Europe needs fast, focused tech industry policy, Dutch minister says

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Europe needs fast, focused tech industry policy, Dutch minister says

Europe needs to rapidly and assertively support crucial technology sectors due to US-China trade tensions, according to the Dutch economic affairs minister, Micky Adriaansens. The Netherlands is focusing its industrial tech policy on protecting and promoting key technologies, notably semiconductors, with Dutch company ASML being a significant player. The European Chips Act aims to counter US and Chinese chip subsidy programs but has only approved French government support for STMicroelectronics to build a factory in Crolles, France. Plans by Intel and TSMC to build plants in Germany are pending European Union approval. Adriaansens emphasized the need for Europe to act more swiftly in executing its tech strategies and highlighted the challenges the Netherlands faces as a small trading nation. The Dutch government has supported US efforts to limit ASML’s exports to China and has introduced security vetting for foreign tech investments, though Adriaansens cautioned against further isolating China technologically.