The financial aspect of the scandal surrounding the Osiou Avakoum monastery is the most complex one, according to the attorney-general. Monks under investigation were allegedly found with €800,000 in cash, property in Greece and Limassol, and were caught on CCTV footage having sex with each other.
Nikos Michaloliakos, former leader of Golden Dawn, will return to prison after the Court of Appeals nullified a previous ruling that had allowed his release. He was convicted of leading a criminal organization and will continue to serve his 13-year and 6-month sentence. The decision came after judges accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation, citing Michaloliakos’ continued glorification of illegal Nazi-type practices despite his conviction as a reason for his return to prison.
The Rafah border crossing cannot operate unless Israel returns control to the Palestinians, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Israel took over the crossing last month during its offensive against Hamas in Rafah, which serves as the only connection to the outside world for Gaza’s residents. Shoukry emphasized the importance of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty for regional security and stability. Egypt suggested European monitors at the border if Palestinian authorities resume control. Israel is attempting to destroy tunnels between Gaza and Egypt used by Hamas, but Egypt denies their existence. Shoukry urged Hamas and Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Joe Biden. Israel has accepted the framework deal for ending the Gaza war but believes it requires more work.
Options for Larnaca’s port and marina are being evaluated, with a commitment to inform the public about next steps soon. The Amalthea initiative at the port is currently not operating with cranes, but efforts are being made to increase output. Pay interruptions for employees are being handled by the labour ministry. Both a marina and a port will be the outcome of the project, with a re-evaluation of the types of cargo transported through Larnaca. The possibility of niche specialization for farmers and livestock operators is being considered. The project may involve breaking it down into smaller components and reducing its scale. The restart of the project may take time and changed circumstances must be taken into account. The state’s public works department may take on building roads and pumping stations to speed up the process.
Fact: Aristotle observed “There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal things.”
President Nikos Christodoulides reiterated that the government’s sole goal is the liberation and reunification of Cyprus based on UN resolutions.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated that the state’s main concern is the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He mentioned that the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for the Cyprus problem, Maria Angel Holguin, will have a one-to-one meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss efforts to resume talks. Letymbiotis emphasized the commitment to the resumption of talks based on a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality. The timeline for Holguin’s efforts is decided by the UN Secretary General, and Letymbiotis expressed that they will not allow a ‘gravestone’ to be placed on the Cyprus problem.
Former UN envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer met with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to discuss the need for new and creative ideas around the Cyprus problem. Discussions on a federation have not yielded a solution, and negotiations on this basis have been exhausted. Tatar emphasized the importance of confirming sovereign equality and equal international status before official negotiations can begin.
The north’s net minimum wage was reduced by 120TL (€3.43) per month following an appeal by business owners. The government does not know what it is doing. The north’s new gross minimum wage is higher than that of 13 European Union member states, including Greece.
![Larnaca Port workers protest job uncertainty after Kition collapse [PHOTOS+VIDEO]](https://ch.jfdi.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/larnaca-port-workers-protest-job-uncertainty-after-kition-collapse-photosvideo.jpg)
Disgruntled former employees of Kition Ocean Holdings protested outside Larnaca Port over job security concerns. The Larnaca Port Authority took over Kition’s central offices, changing signage to show operational control. The President of the House of Representatives is set to meet with affected workers to address their anxieties about their employment status.