All firework licences have been revoked and no new firework licences will be issued until further notice. The decision was made due to the recent hot and dry weather conditions. A large fire broke out in the Ha Potami area, near the village of Kouklia in the Paphos district, caused by the launching of fireworks. The fire burned between four and five hectares of grassland and wild vegetation.
An 82-year-old man who was jailed for shooting a cable thief had his appeal for a suspended sentence rejected. The man’s lawyer is now awaiting the attorney-general’s position on the matter of a presidential pardon. The shooting took place in a Limassol village where the man shouted at the thief before firing a shot that hit him in the back.
High dust concentrations are currently present in the atmosphere on April 26, 2024, based on data from the Air Quality Monitoring Network. The public, especially vulnerable groups, are advised to avoid outdoor activities until the dust levels decrease. Employers must assess risks to outdoor employees and provide appropriate protective measures. Hourly dust concentration values in various areas have been measured, with Nicosia having 98.7 μg/m3 and the daily limit value set at 50 μg/m3 for PM10 particles. For more information and updates, visit the website or mobile application.
There was chaos during the nomination submission for Local Government candidates due to multiple provinces submitting at the same time. Ministry of the Interior did not consider journalists, resulting in confusion for media representatives.
Political populism often exploits religion to target vulnerable and misled individuals who believe easily. Extremists, such as the criminal elements of Golden Dawn, engage in violent acts like the recent physical attack within Parliament by independent MP Konstantinos Floros. This incident, along with the exclusion of Spartiates from the European elections, could lead to significant changes in the far-right electoral landscape. Meanwhile, measures such as traffic light cameras in Cyprus have led to a reduction in traffic accidents, but Greece seems reluctant to follow suit.
A flare thrown into a quarry started a forest fire due to a mistake made during the destruction of smoke bombs and flares. The Mines Service admitted the error, unlike the Electricity Authority in a previous incident. The forest fire season has been extended to 8 months due to high-risk periods expanding. Plans to purchase 10 firefighting aircraft will be implemented gradually over five years. Despite efforts to combat organized crime, concerns are raised about leaks to journalists and limited information.
A request for the suspension of the Auditor General is expected to be filed with the Supreme Constitutional Court by the legal team of the Attorney General. The request is based on the complaint that the Auditor General exceeded his powers, which is not considered inappropriate behavior. The decision to suspend an independent state official must be initiated by the President of the Republic, according to the Trifonos case. The Attorney General does not have the authority to make such requests.
The appellate judicial body rejected the request for a suspended sentence for 82-year-old grandfather Chrysanthos, upholding an immediate prison sentence of two and a half years. The decision now rests with the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General to decide on clemency procedures. The President previously granted a pardon for humanitarian reasons, urging the release of the elderly man. Two judges supported the prison sentence, while the Court of Appeal President believed a suspended sentence was justified due to the circumstances. Chrysanthos was convicted for shooting a would-be thief on his property and has faced health issues requiring hospitalization. The appeal argued that the court should have granted a suspended sentence in his case.
The hearing to cancel foreclosure orders for the Monastery of Sant Habakkuk’s €807,000 has been postponed until May 30. The postponement was granted to serve the request to three more parties: the Hellenic Bank, the Bank of Cyprus, and the Land Registry. Bishop Isaiah of Tamasos is personally involved, represented by lawyer Elias Stefanou. The court required objections to be filed within eight days before the new hearing date. Notably, the acting abbot of the monastery, Nektarios, other monks, and two citizen applicants claiming ownership of the money were present in court.
The trial of 11 people responsible for the deaths of 24 Cypriot children and 11 teachers and coaches in a hotel collapse in Turkey is set to resume on Friday. If found guilty, each defendant could face a maximum of 22 and a half years in prison.