The Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival is featuring seven unique performances at the Rialto Theatre, including “The End – part 2” by choreographer Arno Schuitemaker. The performance explores themes of togetherness, connection, and solidarity, blurring the line between seeing and being seen. It features three performers who expose different sides of themselves while breaking physical boundaries.
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra will be performing three concerts as part of its community outreach program. The concerts will be held at the American Medical Centre, Nicosia Central Prisons, and Tala Amphitheatre in Paphos.
Europe’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence will enter into force next month after EU countries endorsed a political deal reached in December, setting a potential global benchmark for the technology. The AI Act is more comprehensive than the United States’ approach and China’s approach, aiming to maintain social stability and state control. The legislation imposes strict transparency obligations on high-risk AI systems and restricts governments’ use of real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces. The new legislation will have a global reach, impacting companies outside the EU who use EU customer data in their AI platforms. Fines for violations range from 7.5 million euros to 35 million euros depending on the type of violations.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of stealing from cars in two separate instances. In Limassol, a 64-year-old man reported his van stolen, which was later found with the items inside stolen. Two suspects, aged 31 and 28, were arrested. In Larnaca, €840 was stolen from an unlocked car, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old minor.
Four people have been arrested for stealing parked vehicles and taking property in Limassol and Larnaca. In Limassol, a 64-year-old man reported his van stolen with tools inside, which was later found with the tools missing. Two men, aged 31 and 28, were arrested in connection with the theft. In Larnaca, a 64-year-old man reported money stolen from his unlocked vehicle, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old.
Fact: Hundreds of police fanned out across northern France on a massive manhunt for a fugitive gangster known as “The Fly” after he was sprung from a prison van by gunmen in an attack that killed two prison guards.
Two French prison guards were shot dead and three others injured when armed men ambushed a prison van to free an inmate in Incarville, France. The inmate and attackers escaped, triggering a major manhunt led by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. The Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti stated that efforts will be made to find and punish the criminals responsible for the attack. The fugitive inmate has been named as Mohamed A., suspected of ordering a murder in Marseille and having ties to the city’s powerful “Blacks” gang.
Fact: Electronic Arts (EA) forecast full-year bookings below Wall Street estimates due to a broader spending slowdown in the gaming industry.
French right-wing lawmaker Jean-Paul Garraud expects nationalist and eurosceptic parties to gain influence in the upcoming EU assembly election. Polls predict radical right parties will increase their seats across the EU, including France, Germany, and Italy. Garraud anticipates far-right parties could have positions in committees or even hold key roles in the European Parliament, allowing them to influence policies related to green initiatives, free trade, and immigration. The rise of radical right parties is fueled by a growing gap between mainstream parties and distrustful voters, as well as concerns over issues such as the cost of living, illegal migration, and changing geopolitical dynamics. Critics warn that the influence of the hard right could weaken Europe and potentially lead to closer ties with China and Russia.
Fact: Business wants to see this year’s Budget focus on tax relief, reducing red tape, and support for upskilling.