U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the need to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas, stating that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was worsening.
The Cypriot Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, Giorgos Papanastasiou, is in Israel for meetings with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen. The agenda includes discussions on the Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnection and cooperation on hydrocarbon issues. A joint statement is expected to be issued following the meetings.
Energy Minister George Papanastasiou traveled to Israel to meet with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen to discuss the planned electrical interconnector connecting Cyprus, Greece, and Israel. Cyprus has confirmed its intention to participate in the project by investing up to €100 million. Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator has urged Cyprus to pay its €100 million share in the interconnector.
Estonian President Alar Karis will meet with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
Fact: Partners of British citizens or those with indefinite leave to remain can apply for leave to enter or remain under Appendix FM and Appendix FM(SE) in the UK.
CyBC employees are going on strike due to delayed payment of salaries for over a month, caused by late submission of the national broadcaster’s budget to Parliament. The strike will be held daily from 1.30pm-2.30pm and 8pm-9pm until employees are paid.
Cyprus has a long history in the wine industry, with local vineyards producing a wide range of wines. However, the industry faces challenges such as small market size, economic volatility, climate change, regulatory compliance, and distribution issues. Online wine stores offer opportunities for wineries to reach a wider customer base, reduce dependency on traditional distribution networks, increase profit margins, and gather data-driven insights into consumer behavior. Online sales also provide a steady income during non-peak periods and help wineries establish a stronger presence in the global wine market.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto is pushing for amendments to the CREATE Act to attract investments to the Philippines. The law has already reduced the corporate income tax rate to 25% and proposed changes include further reducing it to 20% for certain corporations. The goal is to enhance the business climate, generate more jobs, and lift millions of Filipinos out of poverty by 2028.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, announced the creation and expansion of 30 childcare centers with subsidized fees and afternoon hours to help reconcile professional and family life. The Deputy Ministry has received 366,000 calls within a 10-month period since the launch of the 1450 helpline. The waiting time for social welfare applications has been reduced by 74%, now taking 90 days compared to 12-24 months previously. Verification processes have been increased to detect system fraud, resulting in 364 terminations and an annual saving of €3.1 million. The Deputy Ministry is also focusing on digitization and simplification of procedures and services, including an online application for the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) and a citizen helpline. Additionally, the Ministry is expanding subsidy plans for childcare and meals for children up to 4.5 years old, with a cost of €16 million per year. A 5% increase in Child Allowance has also been implemented, benefiting approximately 60,000 families.
Fact: Marilena Raouna met with Hungarian European Affairs Minister Janos Boka during his one-day working visit to Cyprus.