A 30-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Larnaca district court for child sexual abuse. The offense occurred in August 2023 in Larnaca. The case was investigated by the police force’s vulnerable person task force.
![First aid ship to Gaza leaves Cyprus port in pilot project [PHOTOS+VIDEO]](https://ch.jfdi.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/first-aid-ship-to-gaza-leaves-cyprus-port-in-pilot-project-photosvideo.jpg)
A ship carrying nearly 200 tons of food aid for Gaza departed from a port in Cyprus early on Tuesday, marking a pilot project to establish a new maritime route for delivering aid to the region’s population facing famine. The vessel, Open Arms, operated by the Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms, was towing a barge filled with flour, rice, and protein. The journey to Gaza, which is over 200 miles (322 km) from Cyprus, typically takes about 15 hours, but the heavy tow could extend the travel time to up to two days. This mission is primarily funded by the United Arab Emirates and organized by the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), aiming to create a “maritime highway” for continuous food aid to Gaza. WCK has an additional 500 tons of aid in Cyprus ready for dispatch. The initiative seeks to directly deliver aid to Gaza, which has been isolated since a naval blockade was imposed by Israel in 2007 following Hamas’s control of the enclave. WCK is also working on constructing a landing jetty in Gaza using materials from destroyed buildings to facilitate aid delivery. This effort is separate from a U.S. plan announced last week to build a temporary pier in Gaza. The aid cargoes will undergo security inspections in Cyprus, involving Israeli personnel, to expedite delivery without the need for further screenings at the destination.
– A ship carrying almost 200 tonnes of food for Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday, aiming to open a new sea route to deliver aid to Palestinians.
– The charity ship Open Arms was seen sailing out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing flour, rice, and protein.
– The journey to Gaza takes about 15 hours, but with a heavy tow barge, it could take up to 2 days.
– Cyprus is just over 200 miles (320 km) north-west of Gaza.
– The U.S. military’s vessel, the General Frank S. Besson, was also en route to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza by sea.
– The U.S. military parachuted more than 27,600 meals and 25,900 bottles of water into northern Gaza.
– The U.N. estimates a quarter of Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation.
– Jordanian state media reported seven humanitarian air drops on Monday, with Jordan, the U.S., Egypt, France, Belgium, and Morocco participating.
– The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.
– Palestinian media reported that seven Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli gunfire in Gaza City early on Tuesday.
– United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appealed for a truce and the removal of obstacles to life-saving aid.
– Hamas killed 1,200 people in an Oct. 7 attack on Israel and took 253 hostages.
– Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians.
– Israel was checking if it had killed Hamas’s deputy military leader, Marwan Issa, in an airstrike in Gaza.
– Marwan Issa is known as the ‘Shadow Man’ and is second-in-command of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.
– Negotiations on a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas remain deadlocked in Cairo.
– An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City killed 16 people and wounded several others.
– The Israeli military said its forces killed about 15 militants in central Gaza.
– Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched several drones at an outpost in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
– Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea toward merchant vessel Pinocchio, with no injuries or damage reported.
A boat carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza departed from the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, on March 12, 2024.
President Nikos Christodoulides announced that the cabinet will discuss a plan to subsidize travel, accommodation, and food expenses for those accompanying people sent abroad for medical treatment. Additionally, a proposal to create a “patient advocate” will be discussed. Christodoulides emphasized the goal of eliminating the need to send patients abroad as a measure of success for the government and Cyprus, highlighting the importance of providing quality health services domestically. Health Minister Michalis Damianos reported that 1,523 patients were sent abroad from Cyprus last year for various specialized treatments, underlining the state’s responsibility to support these patients and the necessity of international collaborations for immediate patient transfer when needed.
bbf:, a developer specializing in residential and commercial properties in Cyprus and Greece, has released its 2024 portfolio featuring high-end living spaces and Class-A offices. The portfolio includes a range of developments in Cyprus, such as apartments, villa complexes, business centers, and live-and-work communities, all designed to offer magnificent views and foster community. Notable projects include :synergy, a gated complex in Oroklini, Larnaca with 89 family villas, and :marco polo, a luxurious beachfront apartment project in Limassol. Another key development, :flow, is a mixed-use project in Limassol combining high-end living and Class-A work environments. The portfolio also highlights the company’s focus on Class-A commercial developments, with :benchmark in Limassol being a prime example of contemporary architecture and business infrastructure. bbf: has over 15 years of expertise and has developed over 145 projects in Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, and Canada, including Sky Tower, Marco Polo, Eden Roc, and the restoration of Cyprus’ historic Berengaria Hotel.
– Tom Jones will perform in Larnaca Marina, Cyprus, on July 18 as part of his “Ages & Stages” Tour 2024.
– The concert will feature hits from his career.
– Tom Jones has sold over 100 million records, has 36 Top 40 hits, and has won multiple Grammys and the Music Industry Trust Award.
– The “Ages & Stages” tour will cover various aspects of Jones’ musical career.
– Ticket prices for the concert range from 85€ to 240€, with VIP options available.
– Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.cy.
Maria Antoniou, a 48-year-old London Cypriot, has gained attention in Britain for creating a controversial snack called Bar of Crisps. Featured in The Sun and on Dragon’s Den, her product initially faced criticism but has since become popular for its unique combination of chocolate and crisps. Despite not receiving investment from the Dragons, the exposure led to thousands of emails from potential investors, stockists, and orders. Maria’s entrepreneurial spirit was influenced by her working-class, immigrant parents who built successful businesses in Britain. Her venture into the confectionery business was propelled by her desire to create something of her own, inspired by her Cypriot heritage. The economic crisis of 2013 and a subsequent job loss led her to eventually start her company, Chocolate Moments, introducing products that blend Cypriot flavors with chocolate. The pandemic inspired the creation of Bar of Crisps, combining chocolate with crisps. Maria is now focusing on expanding her business and sourcing stockists in Cyprus.
A statutory tenancy is tied to the premises and grants the tenant the right to remain in possession without eviction as long as they comply with the Rent Control Law. This right can be passed to a surviving spouse or child if they lived or worked at the premises at the time of the tenant’s death. However, the obligations of the deceased tenant, such as unpaid rent, do not transfer to the surviving spouse or child but remain a personal obligation of the tenant’s estate. In a case reviewed by the Nicosia Rent Control Court, it was determined that actionable rights that survive a tenant’s death do not extend to maintaining a statutory tenancy, leading to the dismissal of a case for possession recovery after the statutory tenant’s death.
Cyprus is celebrating carnival season with various events across the island, including the big Limassol parade. Celebrations began with Tsiknopempti in Limassol, and the Lanitis Carob Mill is hosting parties and live performances until Saturday. The Nostalgia x Time Surfers Carnival Party, featuring 70s to 00s music, will take place at Kiklos Live in Limassol. Nicosia and Larnaca are also participating in the festivities with their own events. The Monte Caputo in Limassol will host the Kitsch Party – Carnival 2024, and ETKO in Limassol will have a two-day multicultural party next weekend.