Evrim Hincal, the financial secretary of Turkish Cypriot opposition party the TDP, was refused entry to Turkey on Wednesday. He was sent back to Cyprus alongside his wife and his four-year-old daughter after being told he was on Turkey’s N-82 list.
Fact: The Russian city of Orenburg battled rising water levels after major rivers across Russia and Kazakhstan burst their banks in the worst flooding seen in the areas in nearly a century.
Fact: More than 10,400 homes across Russia have been flooded due to swiftly melting snow triggering the worst recorded flooding in Russia’s Ural Mountains.
The Church of Cyprus is facing a public image crisis due to allegations of corruption and illegal activities within its leadership.
Flood waters in Russia’s Ural mountains have caused at least 6,000 homes to flood, forcing thousands of people to evacuate with their pets and belongings. The Ural River burst through a dam in the city of Orsk, leading to the worst floods in decades in the region. President Putin ordered Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov to the affected areas, with flooding expected in other regions as well. The cost of flood damage in the Orenburg region is estimated at around 7 million. The situation is expected to worsen, with flood warnings issued in other Russian regions.
Fact: There will be as many as 20,000 candidates vying for the 3,500 public offices in the upcoming local and European elections.
A new challenger, Panagiotis Mentzis, backed by the Ecologists Movement, has entered the race for Mayor of Nicosia, injecting fresh energy into the campaign. Meanwhile, established candidates Nikos Tornaritis and Charalambos Prountzos are intensifying their efforts. Tornaritis, supported by centre-right parties, will present his candidacy on April 20. Prountzos, an independent candidate backed by AKEL and EDEK, has outlined his vision for Nicosia, focusing on sustainability and green initiatives. Prountzos’ plan includes ambitious targets for energy autonomy and sustainable urban mobility, as well as the creation of a digital platform called the “NicosiaApp.”
The future of the €1.2 billion investment in the port and marina of Larnaca is uncertain, causing concerns among stakeholders. Larnaca Mayor and Chamber of Commerce president express disapproval over the lack of transparency in the agreement between the government and Kition Ocean Holdings. Larnaca MPs are pressuring for more information and updates on the project, highlighting the need for transparency and the importance of keeping stakeholders informed.
Phedonas Phedonos formally announced his campaign for re-election as Paphos mayor.
Scala Theatre was forced to close due to structural issues, leading to scheduled performances being relocated to other venues. The Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, stated that the building was deemed unsafe and necessary renovations will be made to ensure safety. Events will be moved to Oroklini Municipal Theatre and Larnaca Municipal Theatre, with private universities also being considered as alternative venues. Organizations with reservations at Scala Theatre are advised to contact the Cultural Services of Larnaca Municipality for new arrangements.