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Akel demands cheaper electricity

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Akel demands cheaper electricity

The opposition party Akel in Cyprus, led by Stefanos Stefanou, has urged the government to reduce electricity costs for households and businesses and has demanded an investigation into the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Vasiliko. Stefanou emphasized the need for Cyprus to transition to natural gas for electricity generation to avoid the high costs associated with burning heavy fuel oil, highlighting that Cyprus paid about €350 million in greenhouse gas emissions allowances last year. Akel has proposed several measures to alleviate high electricity prices, including reducing VAT on electricity from 19% to 9%, taxing windfall profits of banks and energy companies, promoting competitive tenders for renewables, and extending electricity subsidies.

American man jailed for life over rape and murder of tourist near German castle

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American man jailed for life over rape and murder of tourist near German castle

An American man was sentenced to life in prison by a German court for the rape and murder of a 21-year-old tourist and the attempted murder of her 22-year-old friend, both from the U.S., near Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. The attack occurred in June when the man, a 31-year-old tourist from Michigan identified as Troy B., lured the women away from a public path with the promise of a better view. He then attacked them, resulting in the death of the younger woman and severe injuries to the older one. The court found the crime to be of “particular gravity,” meaning the perpetrator will not be eligible for automatic parole after 15 years. The conviction can be appealed, and the defendant has the option to apply to serve his sentence in the U.S. Neuschwanstein Castle is a major tourist destination, attracting about 1.4 million visitors a year.

US Senator Menendez to be arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

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US Senator Menendez to be arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is scheduled for arraignment on Monday on a new indictment for obstruction of justice related to his upcoming corruption trial. The indictment accuses him of using his former lawyers to falsely inform federal prosecutors that payments made for his wife were loans, not bribes. Menendez, who has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting bribes and acting as an agent for Egypt, has labeled the new charges as false. He temporarily stepped down from his role as chair of the Senate’s foreign relations committee after being charged last year. Menendez, his wife Nadine, and businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who have all pleaded not guilty, will go on trial on May 6.

Private investigator arrested for , ‘stalking’

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Private investigator arrested for , ‘stalking’

A private investigator was charged with stalking the person he was investigating after being hired for 90,000TL (€2,575) by a woman to find her ex-boyfriend’s new address. The investigator, who had previously worked illegally as a detective in Turkey, violated the man’s privacy and caused a disturbance by following and photographing him. The court in northern Nicosia, led by Judge Zehra Yalkut Bilgec, ordered the investigator to be held in prison for up to one month pending trial, citing his lack of ties to Cyprus and the likelihood of him committing the same crime if released.

Author reveals bogus miracle cures at monastery

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Author reveals bogus miracle cures at monastery

The Ayios Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes has been implicated in a scandal involving a miracles’ racket and other deceptive practices, attracting attention from both the public and authorities. Revelations about the monastery’s activities, including allegations of sexual misconduct and financial exploitation by two monks, have prompted an investigation and an ecclesiastical court hearing. Residents and visitors have reported being extorted for money and property under the guise of religious donations. The situation has been exacerbated by social media influencers promoting the monastery’s supposed miracles, leading to large, profitable events. Efforts to address these issues with the police and church authorities have met with limited success.

Two arrested for stealing quantity of valuables

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Two arrested for stealing quantity of valuables

A 38-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested in Paphos after police found a large quantity of valuables, jewellery, electrical, and electronic devices in their home. The arrests followed a police raid based on a tip-off, during which coin and stamp collections, gold, jewellery, 62 keys to apartment and hotel room doors, cameras, mobile phones, computers, and electronic devices were discovered and confiscated. The suspects failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the possession of these items and were arrested for illegal possession of property. They appeared before the Paphos district court, which is set to announce a two-day remand.

Succession of a statutory tenant

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Succession of a statutory tenant

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.

Trafficking numbers far worse than reports suggest

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Trafficking numbers far worse than reports suggest

Cyprus is reporting a decrease in human sex trafficking, but stakeholders claim police investigations are inadequate. Androula Christophidou Henriques, founder of Cyprus Stop Trafficking NGO, criticizes the current trafficking department’s lack of initiative. Between 2019 and 2022, Cyprus had 98 trafficking victims, with 33 cases related to sexual exploitation. The closure of cabarets in 2010 and COVID-19 restrictions have reduced sex trafficking activities, according to Henriques. Rita Superman, a Disy MP and former head of the police anti-trafficking department, believes the actual number of trafficking cases is higher than reported. The interior ministry plans to intensify inspections to prevent trafficking. Concerns about underreporting and institutional racism in handling trafficking cases have been raised by Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, who notes low prosecution numbers and inadequate victim interviews. Police cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is minimal, affecting victim support. The US Department of State’s 2023 report places Cyprus in Tier 1 for compliance with trafficking standards but notes failures in victim referral and identification. The report also highlights the vulnerability of certain groups to trafficking and the government’s shortcomings in convicting traffickers and compensating victims. Efforts to combat human sexual trafficking in Cyprus intensified after the 2010 European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of Oxana Rantseva, leading to criminalization of human trafficking in Cyprus and Russia, and changes to Cypriot visa rules.

Monks were , ‘violently kidnapped’ by 30 men

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Monks were , ‘violently kidnapped’ by 30 men

Two monks, Archimandrite Nektarios and Archimandrite Porfirios, embroiled in allegations involving sex and nearly €1 million in cash, have claimed they are victims of corruption between the police and church. Their lawyers, Adrianna Klaedes and Nikolaos Koulouris, allege the monks were kidnapped from the Osiou Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes by a group of about 30 people, 10 of whom were hooded, and were forced to sign false confessions. The operation was allegedly overseen by Tamasos Bishop Isias. The monks were reportedly kept in separate areas, grilled for hours under guard, and forbidden from contacting anyone. They were forced to sign their voluntary defrocking against their will. The lawyers claim these actions were carried out by police officers in civilian clothes under orders from Bishop Isias. The letter detailing these allegations was sent to President Nikos Christodoulides, the anti-corruption authority, the police chief, and the House human rights committee. The police have denied these allegations, stating the monks were told they would be called in later to give a statement. The Holy Synod has reported the monks to the police, and the financial crimes unit is investigating. The monks were allegedly found with €800,000 in cash and property in Greece and Limassol, and were caught on CCTV footage having sex with each other. This footage was shown during a Holy Synod session, which referred the monks to ecclesiastical court. The monks’ legal team claims the footage was obtained and edited by another monk without their consent, violating GDPR regulations. President Christodoulides has stated that justice will be served without the need for intervention from any party.

7 out of 10 single mums face survival issues in Cyprus, survey shows

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7 out of 10 single mums face survival issues in Cyprus, survey shows

A survey conducted more than three years ago by the Ypatia Equality Foundation for the Justice Ministry in Cyprus, titled ‘The Financial Repercussions of Divorce’, revealed significant financial difficulties faced by single mothers in Cyprus. Key findings from the survey include:

– Approximately 70% of single parents, predominantly women, are struggling to manage additional bills, raise children, generate income, and service debt inherited from their former spouses.
– Over 50% of single parents live at or below the poverty line, facing social exclusion.
– One in three single parents lost their employment following divorce.
– Despite the survey’s findings being submitted to the United Nations, it has not been utilized by authorities to improve the situation.
– Only 60% of divorced women are employed full-time, with more than 30% of single parents being unemployed.
– Family and friends provide more support to divorced women than social protection services.
– One in two divorcees live under the poverty line, with an annual income of around 10,000 euros.
– Nearly 60% of divorced women encounter daily practical issues at work, negatively affecting their careers, with many forced to leave their jobs due to the inability to balance work and childcare.
– More than half of male divorcees face housing issues, losing the family home, while nearly 70% of single mothers struggle with house mortgage payments.
– Eight out of ten single mothers limit their social lives to essential activities related to their children.
– 50% of divorcees, both male and female, believe that courts should consider the reasons for debt accumulation during the division of debt between former spouses, highlighting the issue of single mothers inheriting significant loans.