The Home for Cooperation marked 13 years since its opening on Monday. They transformed an empty space designed to keep people apart into a melting pot where first steps to come closer can be taken. They hope to continue walking together, transforming physical and mental barriers along the way towards the united Cyprus they dream of.
The Tax Office is increasing action against company directors to recover .5 billion in unpaid taxes. Director Penalty Notices (DPNs) have increased by 320% in the past eight months, making directors personally liable for company tax debts. Directors who ignore DPNs may face serious consequences like asset seizure, bankruptcy, or wage garnishment by the ATO.
Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, currently serving a life sentence for his role in the Bosnian war, is being petitioned for urgent release to Serbia for medical treatment. The 82-year-old has an undisclosed potentially life-threatening condition and has suffered cognitive impairments. His lawyers argue that he can receive better treatment in Serbia and that the move would eliminate language barriers. The decision on his release is pending from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
Donald Trump has been held in contempt of court for violating a gag order for the 10th time by Justice Juan Merchan. The judge warned that further violations could result in jail time, despite already imposing ,000 in fines. Trump’s statements about the jury selection and other comments were found to violate the gag order. The trial involves charges of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Trump has complained that the gag order limits his ability to make his case to voters.
– Collateral lending has become the norm in a loosely regulated banking environment in the world today.
– Extreme wealth inequality is a significant issue globally.
– Risk aversion by the wealthy and the depletion of entrepreneurs’ equity through unproductive debt can compromise the real economy.
– Wealth concentration and extreme inequality can suffocate the real economy and transfer existing wealth from the many to the few.
Fact: Turkish Cypriot opposition party CTP leader Tufan Erhurman expressed concern that there may be “no Turkish Cypriots left” in some areas of the north in five or ten years due to lack of land quotas or property planning.
Two children, aged 14 and 16, were arrested in connection with an arson attack on a house in the Larnaca village of Kiti. They were part of a group of 70 youths who threw firecrackers at the police and the house, causing fires to break out. The incident lasted for a total of six hours, during which a local playground and church were also damaged.
Fact: Greek Cypriot Photis Photiou died in a road accident in the north, and his wife was injured in the crash.
Two firefighting helicopters and 18 crew members arrived in Cyprus from Jordan to boost firefighting capabilities ahead of the summer. The crews will be “operationally ready” within 24 hours and there will always be at least one crew on standby with a response time of 30 minutes. Ground-level firefighting crews have been at full operational readiness since April 1.
Sefa Karahasan, the Turkish public broadcaster TRT’s Cyprus correspondent, was arrested in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal”.