The Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society has been organizing the ‘Christodoula March’ for 49 years, named after a cancer patient named Christodoula. The march symbolizes social solidarity and moral encouragement in the ongoing battle against cancer and serves as the primary funding source for the society.
– The opposition proceedings in the case brought against auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides by attorney-general George Savvides were filed by Odysseas’ team of lawyers.
– The opposition is based on two points: the application of the AG to the constitutional council is groundless and the AG does not have the authority to seek the sacking of an independent state official.
– Odysseas’ camp is applying pressure on the president to publicly side with him.
– The head of the anti-corruption authority demanded criminal charges against the drug squad chief, possibly linked to the Odysseas-Savvides clash.
– Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged Syrians to head for Cyprus and Europe to pressure Brussels to give Lebanon more funds for Syrian refugees.
– Parents were upset over the difficulty of questions in modern Greek exams for secondary school students.
– State hospital nursing unions are threatening industrial action if more nurses are not hired.
– The president announced the decision to appoint two criminal investigators before the cabinet approved it.
Akel deputy Christos Christofides has written to the auditor-general asking him to examine the data of the Independent Social Support Agency, which is under the authority of the president’s wife, Philippa Karsera. The agency had been set up in 2013 to provide financial support to university students who were unable to complete their studies due to lack of funds.
The Andrey and Julia Dashin Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary on April 24, 2024, with a milestone event in Nicosia. The Foundation has made significant contributions to the Cyprus community over the past decade, focusing on areas such as education, healthcare, culture, and environmental protection. The Foundation’s co-founders, Julia and Andrey Dashin, emphasized the importance of collective efforts in creating positive change and fostering inclusive and supportive environments. Former first lady Andri Anastasiades also attended the event and thanked the Foundation for its support in achieving the goals of the Independent Social Support Agency. The Foundation’s head, Nataliya Ryaba, highlighted the legacy of compassion and impactful change that has been achieved through the Foundation’s work.
State officials will soon have the option to give up their pensions under a new bill proposal co-signed by two political parties. The proposal aims to address the public outcry over officials receiving multiple pensions. The bill allows officials to renounce their pension for the duration of their service and transfer the funds to a social support body. If an official refuses to renounce their pension, Parliament will be notified. This regulation is seen as a simple and constitutional solution to the issue of multiple pensions.
Fact: MPs called for more transparency over the social support fund managed by the First Lady during a House ethics committee meeting.
The AKEL party criticized the government for not implementing effective measures against inflation and for refusing to implement a social support package despite having increased state revenues. The party also accused Mr. Christodoulides of prioritizing big economic interests over the state’s finances by not taxing windfall profits of banks and energy companies as previously promised during the election campaign.
The Parliamentary Labour Committee is waiting for a bill from the Ministry of Social Welfare to regulate single-parent benefits by the end of May. The committee’s agenda will include the issue in early June. A bill submitted by AKEL MPs aims to remove the requirement that a single parent should be without a partner and not terminate the benefit if the single parent cohabits with another person. The proposed law by the government is expected to have similar content. The committee aims to refer either the bill or the proposed law, or both, to the Plenary before the end of June for final regulation. The existing legislative framework that terminates the benefit in cases of cohabitation is seen as violating human rights and needs to change.