A passenger was fined €3,500 for being found with approximately 39 kg of duty-free tobacco in their luggage at Larnaca Airport. The untaxed products were illegally transported from the north to the government-controlled areas with the intention of exporting and selling them in the UK.
A Greek Cypriot man appeared in court in the north for his part in a case involving third country nationals allegedly traveling to and from the north using fake passports. The police understood upon receiving the passport that it was counterfeit. The passenger ran off and re-entered the north via a military base. The Greek Cypriot man claimed he was approached at a petrol station and offered money to take the passenger to the Republic. The police found the hire car used in the incident in Trikomo and arrested both brothers who were in the car.
Police cracked down on thefts and vandalism in Limassol and Famagusta districts. In Limassol, a 34-year-old man was arrested for handling stolen goods after being found with items stolen from two vehicles. In Famagusta, two teenagers and a 25-year-old man were arrested for possession of burglary tools and linked to a series of thefts from vehicles in Ayia Napa. Another 17-year-old is awaiting a court hearing for theft from a parked car in the same area.
Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
The investigation by the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) into Makarios Drousiotis’ book “Mafia State” intensified with a hearing focused on the chapter “A Spy in the Palm of My Hand.” Drousiotis presented evidence of being surveilled through electronic devices, raising questions about potential police involvement. The book details his experience of approaching the police with suspicions of being monitored through malware. The investigation also looks into the events surrounding Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev’s divorce in Cyprus, alleging involvement of a law firm with ties to the former president, questionable legislative amendments, favorable court rulings, and suspicious financial transactions. Former President Nicos Anastasiades has denied all allegations. Gabrielle Louise McIntyre is leading the IAAC inspection team, with witness testimonies ongoing. Sophie in ‘t Veld warned in 2023 that individuals in public life are at risk of surveillance, emphasizing the importance of accountability in democracy.
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the French Open. An alcohol ban was announced in the stands to control unruly fans.
A legal dispute has arisen regarding the future of workers at Larnaca Port and Marina after a development project collapsed. The contracting company, Kition Ocean Holdings, transferred the workers to the state instead of sending termination letters. Trade unions argue that proper termination letters are needed for the workers to be reassigned to the Development Company. The company claims they followed the TUPE law to protect the workers’ rights during the transfer. The workers met with the Mayor to express their concerns, and further discussions are scheduled.
Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Halil Karapaşaoğlu was sentenced to three days in prison for refusing to pay a fine related to his mobilisation call. This is his second trial in the occupied north for defying the call-up, with his initial declaration of conscientious objection in 2013 leading to military court trials until 2019. Despite receiving a fine in 2019, his refusal to pay resulted in a 20-day prison sentence, later reduced to three nights and four days by a higher court. Critics, such as Murat Kanatlı, have condemned the ruling, pointing out the officials’ hypocrisy in advocating for human rights in European forums but failing to implement relevant ECHR decisions domestically. Karapaşaoğlu’s lawyer, Öncel Pili, has pledged to continue fighting for conscientious objector rights despite the imprisonment.
Narendra Modi aims to set India on the path to abolishing poverty and becoming a fully developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of independence from British colonial rule.
Israeli tanks continued to raid Rafah for a second day, defying the World Court’s order to end attacks on the city. The United States did not believe a major ground operation was underway, despite Israel’s incursion into Rafah. Residents reported Israeli tanks entering various areas before retreating towards the border with Egypt. The Palestinian health ministry called for immediate healthcare assistance in Rafah and northern Gaza, where hospitals had stopped functioning. UNRWA reported that around a million Palestinians had fled after Israeli evacuation orders. The Red Crescent Society evacuated medical teams due to ongoing bombardments. The World Court criticized Israel for not ensuring the safety and well-being of the evacuees from Rafah. Israel proposed a ceasefire and hostage release to Qatar, but Hamas insisted talks were pointless unless Israel ended its offensive on Rafah. Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive.