Parisinou not kicked out of Disy despite Elam MEP nomination
Niovi Parisinou has not been expelled from Disy despite nominating Elam’s Geadis Geadi for the European Parliament elections.
Europe
Why Spain’s Prime Minister Sanchez is taking a break from public duties
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has decided to suspend his public duties until next week to consider whether he wants to continue leading the government after a court launched a preliminary investigation against his wife, Begona Gomez. The court is investigating allegations of influence peddling and business corruption against Gomez, who is accused of using her influence to secure sponsors for a university master’s degree course. Sanchez has defended his wife, claiming she has done nothing illegal and is being attacked to weaken him politically and personally. The outcome of this investigation could lead to Sanchez remaining as prime minister, resigning, or facing a confidence vote. In Spain, corruption cases involving politicians and their associates are not uncommon, with high-profile scandals resulting in convictions.
€300 mln Bank of Cyprus green bonds oversubscribed
Bank of Cyprus issued its first green bond, raising €300 million to fund renewable energy projects, climate-friendly buildings, and transport. The bond was more than four times oversubscribed, with the orderbook reaching €1.3 billion.
France, ’s air traffic control strikes ground flights across Europe
Fact: Delays and flight cancellations were set to impact swathes of Europe on Thursday due to a strike by French air traffic control workers.
Bank of Cyprus issues , €300 million green bond — 120 institutional investors express interest
The Bank of Cyprus successfully launched and priced €300 million in green senior preferred notes under its EMTN Programme. The notes were priced at par with a fixed coupon of 5% per annum, payable annually until the Optional Redemption Date of May 2, 2028. The notes are expected to comply with the Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) criteria, improving the bank’s MREL ratio to 28.36% of risk-weighted assets and 12.73% of Leverage Ratio Exposure.
On This Day: U.S. and Soviet armies met in German city of Torgau as WWII drew to a close
April 25 has seen a variety of significant events throughout history. In 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli during World War One, resulting in thousands of casualties. In 1945, the U.S. and Soviet armies met in Torgau as World War Two ended in Europe. Other events on this date include Princess Diana meeting Pope John Paul II in 1985, the death of Ginger Rogers in 1995, and the arrest of former Philippine president Joseph Estrada in 2001. Additionally, in 2005, a train derailment in Japan resulted in the deaths of 107 people, marking the country’s worst rail accident in over 40 years. In 2007, Mexico City legalized abortion, and a funeral was held for former Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow. Finally, in 2015, a powerful earthquake struck Nepal, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.
63 vie for 6 MEP seats
A total of 63 candidates are challenging the six seats allocated to Cyprus in the next European Parliament elections, which will be held on June 9.
EU Parliament adopts first EU-wide rules to combat domestic abuse
The European Parliament has adopted the first EU-wide rules to combat domestic abuse and violence against women. The legislation prohibits female genital mutilation and forced marriage, as well as sets guidelines for online offences. Member states must improve reporting procedures and increase awareness of non-consensual sex as a criminal offense. One in three women in the EU has experienced violence, and 600,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation. The new rules will come into force 20 days after publication and member states have three years to implement them.
Racist violence surges in Greece, report finds
Attacks against migrants, refugees, and LGBT people in Greece surged to their highest level in nearly a decade last year, with 158 attacks recorded in 2023.
First Cypriot born on EU accession day 2004 joins anniversary celebrations
Cyprus was honored at a ceremony celebrating 20 years since acceding to the European Union. Kyriacos Yiallourides, the first Cypriot born on May 1, 2004, asked about Cypriots’ expectations during the road to accession. George Iacovou mentioned that Cypriots hoped for security and stability and that the younger generations were excited about opportunities to study, work, and live abroad. The EU is characterized by breaking down borders and former enemies becoming friends. Yiallourides hopes more countries continue to join the EU to promote peace in Europe. EU Parliament president Roberta Metsola discussed the benefits of being part of the EU and embracing differences while ensuring equality of opportunity.