Police seize 4,000 litres of fuel smuggled from north
Police seized 4,000 litres of fuel that had been illegally transported from the north in the back of a van.
investigation
AKEL, Greens voice concerns over Akamas
AKEL and the Green Party have expressed concerns regarding the Cyprus government’s handling of the Akamas peninsula issue. The parties met to discuss a memorandum sent by the Green Party to the government. They criticized the government for not complying with European directives concerning habitats, leading to severe criticism from the European Parliament and legal proceedings initiated by the European Commission against Cyprus. AKEL and the Green Party have raised the issue in Parliament and are monitoring the situation in cooperation with environmental organizations. The Green Party submitted memoranda to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Agriculture, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response and calling for upgraded protection of the Akamas area to establish a real national park. They criticized the government’s handling of administrative investigations related to Akamas, with ongoing investigations into the projects deemed destructive to the habitat. The parties are concerned about the government’s actions and the potential legal consequences from the EU.
Allegation of sexual harassment made against Saint Habakkuk Monastery
A sexual harassment complaint has been filed related to an incident at the Saint Habakkuk Monastery, as reported by philenews. The complainant, previously associated with the Monastery, reported the incident to the Police and provided a written statement about a past encounter. This complaint is concurrent with an ongoing investigation by the Holy Synod into allegations involving the Tamassos and Orini Bishop and the two highest-ranking monks (archimandrites) of the Monastery, with accusations of misconduct and countersuits of threats and violence. The authorities are investigating the new complaint while ensuring the complainant’s safety. The monks have suggested the possibility of the complaint being fabricated.
Musk defends his ketamine use as beneficial for investors
Elon Musk stated in a video interview that his ketamine prescription has been beneficial for Tesla’s investors, as it helps him manage a condition similar to depression. He mentioned that from Wall Street’s perspective, execution is what matters and argued that Tesla’s valuation is as much as the rest of the car industry combined. A Wall Street Journal investigation had previously reported Musk’s use of drugs, raising concerns about potential violations of federal policies that could affect SpaceX’s government contracts. Musk responded to these concerns by stating he agreed to three years of random drug testing by NASA, with no trace quantities of drugs or alcohol found. He confirmed having a doctor’s prescription for ketamine, taking a small amount every other week.
Monks expected to testify soon in St Habakkuk Holy Synod investigation
The investigative committee of the Holy Synod is examining the issue of the Monastery of Sant Habakkuk in Fterikoudi, with two monks expected to testify soon. Victor Stelios, from the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, mentioned that the monks’ depositions might occur at the Monastery, depending on the committee’s decision. The process, following a decision by the Seven-Member Synodal Court, is now being handled by the investigative committee, which will later present its findings to the court for a final decision. The timeline for completing the investigation is aimed to be before Easter, but no specific timetable is set. The investigation’s progress may lead to additional witnesses being called. The police are also conducting an ongoing investigation into the case.
Archimandrite summoned for questioning over St Habakkuk assult
Father Porphyrios, the Archimandrite of the Abbey of Habakkuk, is expected to appear for questioning as a suspect in the assault of a woman in the monastery courtyard. The investigation by the Vulnerable Persons Management Division began after a video surfaced showing a monk assaulting a woman. Despite Eleni Rousou’s refusal to file a complaint and her statement that it was her mistake and the incident had ended, the police summoned her to testify, and her lawyers reported pressure from investigators to sign a complaint. The abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Nektarios, did not provide useful information for the investigation. Father Porphyrios is expected to be interrogated about the video without invoking his right to silence, and the outcome will influence the case’s direction. The police dossier on the assault will be sent to the Legal Service for examination and guidance.
Police arrest suspects in Paphos house burglary
Police arrested a 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman on Monday for a residential burglary and theft committed on October 15 of the previous year. The burglary took place in Paphos, where various items including gold and jewelry were stolen. Some of the stolen items were identified by their owner after the police published photos on March 15, 2024. The items were found in the suspects’ home on March 11, leading to their arrest for illegal possession of property and subsequent re-arrest. The investigation is ongoing by Paphos CID.
Car fire in three vehicles in Geroskipou
A fire occurred in the Geroskipou industrial area in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in two vehicles being completely destroyed and a third suffering extensive damage. The incident was reported to the police at around 1:45 am, and the fire service extinguished the fire. The two destroyed vehicles belonged to a 49-year-old permanent resident of Cyprus who owns a car repair shop at the site, whereas the third vehicle was associated with an adjacent garage. The area has been cordoned off for investigation into the cause of the fire.
Trabzonspor fans storm pitch, brawl after home loss to Fenerbahce
After Trabzonspor lost 3-2 to Fenerbahce, fans stormed the pitch, brawling with security and Fenerbahce players. Fred scored twice for Fenerbahce, and Enis Bardhi and Trezeguet scored for Trabzonspor. Michy Batshuayi scored the winning goal for Fenerbahce. A fan fought with Fenerbahce’s Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Batshuayi kicked at fans. An investigation into the brawl has been launched. This incident is part of a series of controversies in the Turkish league this season.
Turkey moves against Meta over Threads-Instagram data sharing
Turkey’s competition authority imposed an interim measure on Meta Platforms Inc to prevent data sharing between Instagram and Threads during an investigation into potential abuse of market dominance. The investigation, launched in December, examines Meta’s linking of Instagram and Threads for possible competition law violations. The interim measure aims to prevent irreparable market damage until a final decision is reached. Additionally, Meta was fined 4.8 million lira (8,000) daily in a separate case for insufficiently transparent user notifications about data sharing between Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The notifications were criticized for not adequately addressing anti-competition concerns.