Worrying figures over student drug abuse
Over the past three years, 420 secondary school students were referred for drug treatment programs.
meetings
Legality of deputy ministries may be taken to court
– Lawyer Christos Clerides intends to bring the legality of deputy ministries in Cyprus to court.
– The President does not have the power to appoint deputy ministers according to the constitution.
– There are currently six deputy ministries in Cyprus, with plans for a seventh focusing on migration.
– Non-governmental organization Kisa’s executive director Doros Polykarpou questions the constitutionality of creating a new deputy ministry.
– Polykarpou argues that deputy ministries do not have voting power at cabinet meetings and may not improve government productivity.
Euro under pressure as ECB eyes rate cut
The Euro is trading close to a five-month low against the dollar, with market expectations for the ECB to begin reducing interest rates increasing.
Keve event educates businesses on cybersecurity issues
The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) and the Digital Security Authority (DSA) co-organized the second “Cyber Security Weekend” in Larnaca to raise awareness among businesses on cybersecurity issues. Executives from 10 companies attended the event, where they were informed about cybersecurity on a theoretical level and engaged in face-to-face meetings with specialized companies in the cybersecurity sector. The initiative was well-received, and there are plans to establish the Cyber Security Weekend as an annual event. Gartner research has identified cybersecurity as one of the most pressing issues for businesses in 2024, highlighting trends such as Generative AI, unsecure employee behavior, third-party risks, continuous threat exposure, boardroom communication gaps, and identity-first approaches to security.
Disparity in gaming commission board allowances raises concerns
Members of the board on the Gaming & Casino Supervision Commission receive special treatment, earning around €800 a month, while others on similar public bodies make €70.
Cyprus minister in Abu Dhabi for energy conference
Energy Minister George Papanastasiou is currently in Abu Dhabi to participate in the 14th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from April 16 to 18, 2024.
OpenAI, ’s Altman pitches ChatGPT Enterprise to large firms, including some Microsoft customers
Fact: OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has hosted roadshow-like events in San Francisco, New York, and London to pitch AI services for corporate use, including ChatGPT Enterprise, software to connect customer applications to AI services, and text-to-video models.
Kombos: Cyprus ready for talks, Turkish side imposing conditions
Fact: Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos stated that President Nikos Christodoulides is ready to start talks on the Cyprus problem immediately.
Koumis wants tourism cooperation with other countries
Fact: Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis emphasized the importance of international collaboration to overcome challenges facing the tourism sector during the 70th Session of the Europe Commission of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Tirana.
UoL calls primary teachers to take part in A.I. research
The University of Limassol (UoL) is conducting a research study on the use of A.I. in Primary Education, specifically focusing on the use of ChatGPT in teaching Greek Language at the primary level. The study aims to investigate the impact of A.I. tools on children’s engagement during lessons and their critical-thinking and text comprehension skills. Teachers interested in participating must teach Greek language at the fourth, fifth, or sixth-grade level and complete the participation form by April 12, 2024.