Updates from Cyprus
Unemployment is rising, with stakeholders in the labour market saying there is a mismatch between vacancies and jobseeker skills, as employers cannot find qualified staff.
A recent CyStat survey showed the number of unemployed registered at the District Labour Offices in December reached 16,132, increasing 9% annually.
Source: The Financial Mirror
Most of the roads flooded in the Paralimni, Protaras and Ayia Napa areas following the overnight torrential rains, reopened by late Saturday.
The flooding caused damage to shops, apartments and some small hotels in the popular tourist areas, with the red mud flowing down the roads ending up in the sea.
The Fire Service said it responded to some 200 calls, while 60 people were rescued from cars stranded as the water levels rose dangerously along the Protaras Cavo Greco road, the Ayia Triada junction, Pernera and from Ayios Panteleimonas to the Kammitsis traffic lights.
Interior Minister Nicos Nouris visited the flooded areas and inspected the damage.
Source: The Financial Mirror
Police executed a search warrant at the home of a National Guard officer who had incited homophobia and hate speech in a video he posted on social media platform Tik Tok.
In comments to Phileleftheros daily, police spokesperson, Christos Andreou, confirmed that officers had searched the house of the NCO, confiscating a laptop and other documents.
Andreou said police acted immediately upon receiving the complaint, with the Electronic Crime Sub-Division already taking statements as part of the investigation.
According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Andreas Stylianou, the army officer is already facing possible disciplinary charges.
As Stylianou said, the National Guard will appoint an investigating officer to identify any disciplinary action necessary.
The incident gained attention earlier this week when concerned citizens and the LGBTQI movement Accept filed a complaint against the army officer who posted TikTok videos saying being gay goes against nature.
“You should shut your ass and your mouth and work with the tools you have to become a man in the way God naturally created you,” the NCO was quoted saying in the videos.
Accept LGBTI blasted the content, saying the man had also posted other material telling the world that if he had a gay son, he would shoot him.
It called on authorities to send out a zero-tolerance message.
“Such videos are unacceptable in a European country in 2023,” noted Accept.
Meanwhile, the incident was also condemned by Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights Maria Stylianou Lottides, who said the video created feelings of disgust.
The Ombudsman called on the minister of defence to take action immediately.
“He humiliates and degrades human dignity, which could drive other people to commit violent acts against the LGBTQI community,” said Lottides.
“The contentious video confirms that despite positive developments in cementing human rights for LGBTQI people through a legal framework, the reality shows there are still members of society which are extremely vulnerable to homophobic attitudes”.
Source: The Financial Mirror
The President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiadis, will visit the provinces of Famagusta and Paphos next week to inaugurate important development projects that contribute to improving the quality of life of the citizens, Andreas Iosif, Director of the Press Office of the President, says in a written statement.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The climate between the two sides in Cyprus and vis-a-vis the United Nations has worsened, says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his report on the mission of his good offices to Cyprus from 15 June 2022 to 12 December 2022. His report of the UN Secretary General for his Good Services in Cyprus, was released yesterday, January 13, as an official document of the Security Council, number S/2023/6.
Source: Cyprus News Agency