The police arrested a third man in connection with the attempted murder in Kornos. The suspect is 24 years old, and this arrest adds to the previous two made earlier. The case involves the attempted murder of a 30-year-old who was shot during a meeting to buy a car. The 30-year-old sustained serious injuries during the attack.
DeepSeek is a new artificial intelligence tool launched by the Chinese startup founded by Liang Wenfeng. It poses a significant challenge to Open AI's Chat GPT, offering similar features at a lower cost. The launch of this tool has resulted in losses in U.S. stock markets, particularly in the tech sector. Financial analysts are concerned about China's pace of development in artificial intelligence.
A Russian convict, who caused a fatal traffic accident in Limassol in 2019, applied for early release but was denied by both the Parole Board and the Administrative Court. Initially sentenced to 9 years in prison, his sentence was reduced to 7 years. Despite claiming his innocence, his refusal to acknowledge the charge of manslaughter impacts his application for release. The Administrative Court ruled that his continued incarceration is necessary.
The ETYK Pension Fund has acquired the beachfront land in Limni, Paphos, amid significant changes to development plans. The land was previously transferred to the Bank of Cyprus by the CTC Group, but the plans for the Limni Bay Resort have been put on hold. The new investors are set to develop the acquired plots separately, with different business models. Details regarding the ETYK Pension Fund's plans have not yet been disclosed.
The case of Simon Mistrel Aykout, accused of misappropriating properties owned byGreek Cypriots, continues with a new postponement. His lawyer informed the court that he was diagnosed with cancer by a British doctor. It is noted that in December, the prison doctor stated he was completely healthy. The criminal court decided to set a new hearing for February 6th to review the medical certificates.
PureHealth has announced the acquisition of a 60% stake in Hellenic Healthcare Group from CVC Capital Partners, aiming to expand healthcare services in Greece and Cyprus. The deal values HHG at $2.3 billion and is expected to strengthen healthcare services in Cyprus. PureHealth aims to diversify Abu Dhabi's economy by investing in international markets. This acquisition highlights the growing importance of the healthcare sector to the Cypriot economy.
The Europol and Eurojust operation successfully dismantled a criminal network involved in money laundering in Cyprus. They seized 24 million euros in cryptocurrencies, hundreds of thousands of euros in cash, and confiscated luxury cars and apartments. Over 20 suspects were arrested, and the operation was codenamed 'YUZUK'. The leaders of the organization are believed to be two Ukrainian brothers who obtained Cypriot citizenship.
January 2025 ranks as the second driest January since 1901 in terms of rainfall. According to the Meteorological Department, only 17% of the typical rainfall for the month has been recorded. Although there were some beneficial rains in parts of the island, the overall deficit remains significant. Unfortunately, no further rain is expected until January 30th.
The hearing of a case linked to Al Jazeera is underway, with the first prosecution witness facing obstacles to testify in Cyprus. The witness, Tony Kay, cited threats and health reasons, suggesting he could testify via videoconference. The charges relate to corruption and involve the naturalization of individuals from Russia and Jordan. The process will continue in the next hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
An incident occurred in the center of Nicosia when a 40-year-old man was attacked with a sharp object. Authorities quickly mobilized, and the victim was taken to the hospital with a wound under his armpit. Currently, police are investigating to locate the perpetrator. The victim was in communication during his transfer.
Next week, the Minister of Education will present the preliminary proposal for the evaluation of teachers. An invitation has been sent to all educational stakeholders for a meeting to discuss the key aspects of the proposal. The Ministry awaits their opinions on the document and will provide details about the financial aspects. The aim is to create a balanced proposal that considers educational criteria and the sensitivities of the participants.
A case involving a doctor accused of soliciting money from patients' relatives is now under investigation by the Attorney General. The Minister of Health condemned this behavior, stating that doctors are well-paid. The case has been referred to the Disciplinary Council, and the doctor has been suspended. Allegations suggest the doctor requested money without receipts during a surgical procedure in Athens.
The Israeli Embassy announced that flights from Israeli airlines to Cyprus will temporarily operate from Larnaca instead of Paphos due to security issues. Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and IsrAir have been informed of this change, and passengers have already been notified. The situation will be closely monitored in cooperation with local authorities. This decision was made for security reasons that cannot be disclosed.
Access to the internet among households in Cyprus stands at 94.92% in 2024, representing a 26% increase from 2014. Cypriots utilize this connection for email communication and visiting government websites. In Europe, the Netherlands and Luxembourg report the highest access rates. The lowest rates are found in Greece and Croatia.
Israeli airlines have been instructed to cancel all flights to Paphos Airport due to security concerns. The government spokesperson confirmed the cancellations but did not provide further details. Flights are now being redirected to Larnaca Airport. The ban is in effect until further notice.
Starting today, Cypriots aged 18 and over can apply for the National Electronic Identity (eID). The first 100,000 electronic identities are funded by the state, with 30,000 provided for free and 70,000 at a cost of €15. The implementation of the electronic identity is significant for the country's digital economy and has already been approved by the European Commission for use in cross-border transactions within the EU.
Colombia has accepted Donald Trump's terms for the repatriation of illegal immigrants following threats of sanctions and tariffs from the U.S. The Colombian Foreign Minister announced that sanctions would be suspended, as Colombia agrees to accept all deported individuals. If Bogotá violates the agreement, tariffs and sanctions will be reinstated. This situation highlights the tensions between the two countries arising from immigration issues.
The leadership of DISY attended the memorial for Georgios Grivas Digenis, signaling the party's efforts to consolidate and address leaks towards ELAM. DISY's president, Annita Dimitriou, participated despite previous reservations. This move has sparked criticism as it is viewed as aligning with extreme nationalist positions. AKEL accuses DISY of its choices and calls for a clear stance from the government.
Cypriot businesses began adopting artificial intelligence in 2024, with usage reaching 7.9%. Although there was an increase from 4.67% in 2023, the percentage remains lower than the European average. Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium have the highest usage rates in the EU. Small businesses dominate, making up 83% of the sample of 157,000 businesses across the EU.
2025 is shaping up to be a challenging year for labor issues, with unions expressing dissatisfaction regarding policies from the Ministry of Labor. There have already been disagreements over collective agreements and the conditions for foreign workers, further straining relationships with the Ministry. Unions are convening a meeting to discuss important employee-related matters. The uneven distribution of economic benefits is creating challenges for households’ purchasing power.
The government is taking measures to address seasonality in halloumi production without aiming to increase the production of goat's milk. The Monitoring Committee decided to extend the existing decree until the end of February. There is disagreement among goat farmers regarding the quota of goat's milk, which remains at 15% for February.
Schools are required to document all incidents of school violence based on new legislation. The process involves using an electronic tool developed by the Ministry of Education. The aim is to systematically record and analyze incidents for the development of violence prevention policies. School directors are urged to start the recording process immediately.
The Forest Department submitted its proposals for changes to the projects in Akamas, but these do not ensure compliance with legal terms. The execution of the projects was halted due to serious violations of environmental conditions reported by environmental organizations. On January 8, 2025, the Minister announced the completion of the assessment, but the meeting of the Eco-Evaluation Committee was canceled. This situation highlights the need for careful planning and implementation of projects in protected areas.