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Sakkari weathers Gauff storm to book Swiatek clash in Indian Wells final

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Sakkari weathers Gauff storm to book Swiatek clash in Indian Wells final

Maria Sakkari defeated Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 in the Indian Wells semi-final, setting up a final with Iga Swiatek. The match was interrupted by rain. Sakkari broke Gauff in the ninth game of the first set and won it. The second set saw a longer rain delay, with Gauff saving three match points to win in a tiebreak. Sakkari won the third set to secure her place in the final. The match lasted two hours and 41 minutes. Iga Swiatek beat Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 in the other semi-final, not dropping a set in the tournament and recording her 19th match win of the season.

Police pursue evidence in St Habakkuk scandal

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Police pursue evidence in St Habakkuk scandal

– Police investigators visited the Tamassos Bishopric to gather more evidence related to the scandal at the Saint Habakkuk Monastery.
– They reviewed video footage of hooded individuals’ “invasion” on March 5 to ascertain if off-duty police officers were present.
– Criminal investigators have been involved in the investigations, focusing on whether there was police involvement at the Monastery.
– The investigation is examining €807,000 in cash found at the Monastery and the origin of this money.
– The Cybercrime Unit and the Vulnerable Groups Management Sub-Directorate are also involved in the investigation.
– The investigation includes examining a video of a monk assaulting a woman with a belt.
– The Police have evidence of over €800,000 from the Monastery.
– The publication of videos related to the case could potentially harm future court proceedings.
– The security company employing the hooded individuals who entered the Monastery has a license.
– Neither the woman assaulted by the monk nor Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios are assisting in the investigation of the assault.
– The case may go to court after further investigation and testimonies.
– Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios have not yet testified against Bishop Isaiah regarding threats and violence but plan to do so after gathering all necessary material.

Our View: The monastery fiasco exposed Church failings

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Our View: The monastery fiasco exposed Church failings

The Osiou Avakoum monastery and two monks are on trial before a Synod Court for various allegations including sexual relations between the celibate monks, staging miracles to generate donations, accumulating a large amount of cash, forced confessions, and involvement of a bishop in trying to cover up the scandal. The scandal also involves links to Elam leader Christos Christou. Over four years, the abbot Nektarios and archimandrite Porfyrios built a church and monastery with funds collected from the faithful, exploiting the marketing of fake miracles. The Bishop of Tamasos, Isaias, under whose authority the monastery falls, is implicated for not taking action despite the apparent signs of misconduct. The Church hierarchy has been criticized for allowing these activities to occur. The case has gained public attention, leading to a trial and a police investigation for potential criminal offences related to taking money under false pretenses. Archbishop Georgios has urged the police to fully investigate the case.

Paphos colour park nearly complete

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Paphos colour park nearly complete

Paphos’ Park of Colours, nearing completion, was funded entirely by the Paphos municipality at a cost of approximately €3.6 million. The park will be managed by the municipality under a contract that includes a monthly usage fee of €1,505 plus VAT for seven years, with an option for renewal. The park features a cafeteria, three sports areas, a climbing wall, toilets, changing rooms, a playground, a skate park, a tennis court, a parking area, and communal spaces. The licensee is responsible for maintaining and potentially upgrading the park while having the right to commercially profit from certain facilities. The Park of Colours is the largest of its kind in Cyprus, covering about 32,000 square meters, and aims to enhance the city’s urban infrastructure and residents’ quality of life. It offers a variety of facilities and a small amphitheater for cultural events.

LNG terminal construction in Vasiliko to resume (updated)

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LNG terminal construction in Vasiliko to resume (updated)

The CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd (CMC) is scheduled to resume construction of an LNG terminal in Vasiliko over the upcoming weekend. This decision was made after a meeting between CPP representatives from China and Energy Minister George Papanastasiou. The meeting, described as ‘productive’, focused on the relationship between the two sides rather than the differences regarding the project’s execution. CMC plans to bring personnel from China for the project, and the Cypriot side has agreed to facilitate this by issuing visas. The General Manager of CPP expressed gratitude towards the minister for his positive approach towards completing the project. Construction is set to restart on the morning of 16 March 2024. The government had previously considered terminating the deal due to a dispute that led to the halting of construction in late January and a claim for €200 million from Cyprus by the consortium in a London court.

More remanded for people smuggling

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More remanded for people smuggling

Two young men, aged 20 and 24, have been remanded in custody by the Famagusta District Court as suspects for people smuggling, involving the arrival of six migrant boats carrying 458 people. This brings the total number of individuals remanded in connection to this case to eight. The boats, which carried migrants from Lebanon, included a total of 258 men, 44 women, 123 children, and 33 unaccompanied minors, with passengers paying ,000 each for the journey.

Legal battle unfolds in north over complex in Ayios Dhometios

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Legal battle unfolds in north over complex in Ayios Dhometios

A Turkish Cypriot named Canev Denner, who owns nine donums of land in Ayios Dhometios, is suing the authorities over plans to build a Turkish-funded Islamic ‘presidential’ complex on his property. Denner purchased the land in 1973 but was prohibited from using it after the Turkish invasion in 1974 when it was designated a military zone. The land was returned to him by the Turkish army on May 5, 2017, but was later expropriated by the ‘government’ for the construction of the complex, with the decision published on February 29, 2024. Denner has appealed to the ‘supreme administrative court’ to halt the construction. The trial is set to commence on March 20.

Something smells fishy in the case of the Ukrainian woman

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Something smells fishy in the case of the Ukrainian woman

A Ukrainian woman made 20 trips to Cyprus, bringing in nearly eight million euros, under suspicious circumstances. Despite her transactions being under scrutiny, she was not arrested until after a theft occurred. On each trip, she carried substantial sums of money, claiming it was for property purchases, but investigations revealed she and her husband do not own any property, bank accounts, or shares in any company in Cyprus. The case raises questions about the effectiveness of the country’s measures against money laundering.

Track coach found guilty of sexual assault of athletes

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Track coach found guilty of sexual assault of athletes

A track coach was found guilty by the Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia of sexual and indecent assault against former athletes who were minors at the time. The case involved four complaints from former athletes who trained in Larnaca. The coach denied all charges, and the case was concluded after a months-long hearing. The sentencing will be discussed on April 2, with the defendant’s lawyer pleading for mitigation. The case gained attention following a complaint by Cypriot skeet champion Andri Eleftheriou about a different abuse case, leading to public calls for better protection for athletes from sexual predators.

Arrest made in money laundering case

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Arrest made in money laundering case

A 43-year-old man was arrested in Cyprus for being suspected of receiving millions of euros from a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman since August 2023. The woman is accused of transferring a total of €8 million to Cyprus and was arrested for money laundering after reporting a robbery of €420,000 in cash. She has been remanded in custody and faces 60 charges related to money laundering. The case is under investigation by the anti-money laundering unit (Mokas).