Trade union “Isotita” has called on the government to withdraw proposed legislation that disadvantages civil servants, including a bill banning promotions in the 18 months leading up to retirement. Isotita warns of retaliation if the bill is not recalled and a substantive dialogue initiated.
– Two high-profile suspects in the north’s fake diploma scandal appeared in court in Morphou.
– Serdal Gunduz threatened the university’s vice rector and forced him to sign degree certificates obtained through illegal means.
– Gunduz holds residence permits in Greece and Russia, making him a flight risk.
– Sefa Karahasan’s degree certificate was signed by someone other than the university’s rector.
– Karahasan was given a 100,000TL bail with two guarantors.
– Opposition party CHP deputy leader criticized the government for appointing Karahasan as TRT’s Cyprus correspondent.
– The fake diploma scandal involved multiple high-profile figures in the north’s education system.
– Turkey’s higher education council announced intentions to prepare a report on the state of the north’s education system.
– Former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust was arrested for fraudulently obtaining money and his wife was arrested for receiving a fake diploma.
Sefa Karahasan, the Turkish public broadcaster TRT’s Cyprus correspondent, was arrested in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal”.
– The attorney-general filed a case at the supreme court for the auditor-general’s sacking on the grounds of inappropriate behavior.
– The auditor-general, Odysseas, is confident in his innocence and believes the truth will prevail.
– The president’s stance in the affair is compared to that of Caiaphas from religious knowledge.
– The former president is filing a libel suit seeking damages over corruption allegations.
– The plan to prevent organized crime did not have the desired results.
– An opinion poll showed the most popular Disy candidate for the European Parliament elections was Loucas Fourlas.
The fact described in the text is that the NDP plans embraced by Trudeau will involve tax increases on high-income earners and corporations, rather than the middle class.
Turkey’s higher education council (Yok) is preparing a report on the state of the north’s education system in response to the “fake diploma scandal”.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu led a challenger from President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party in local elections, potentially boosting the Turkish opposition. In Ankara, incumbent opposition mayor Mansur Yavas declared victory over his AK Party challenger. Violence erupted in some cities in eastern Turkey related to the election of neighborhood officials. Imamoglu had 50% support compared to 41.26% for AK Party challenger Murat Kurum. The CHP is leading nationwide by almost 39% of the votes. Analysts suggest that a poor showing for AKP could loosen Erdogan’s control of Turkey. Imamoglu’s win could signal potential change in Turkey’s political landscape.
Former state officials in Cyprus, named by Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, including former presidents George Vassiliou and Nicos Anastasiades, and former House speakers Yiannakis Omirou, Marios Garoyian, and Demetris Syllouris, were investigated for allegedly misusing secretarial allowances. The finance ministry stated that these officials do not have to return the allowances as they are legally entitled to them, either to employ a civil servant or hire someone personally for the role. The allowance is set at €39,089 per year. The audit revealed discrepancies in how the funds were used, with some officials not employing a secretary as claimed or pocketing the difference. Specific findings include Vassiliou receiving a total of €709,352 from 2004 to December 2023, with allegations of employing a secretary through a company owned by his family. Anastasiades received €20,396 in 2023, with recommendations to return €11,314 due to overpayment. Omirou, Garoyian, and Syllouris were also found to have discrepancies in their allowance usage, with recommendations for refunds to the state.
The north’s ‘interior ministry’ requested the suspension of Meray Durust from her civil servant post due to her being on bail for allegedly forging documents. Durust had been working as the director of the north’s ‘labour ministry’ until her arrest with her husband, former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust, in February over accusations of obtaining a false degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. After her arrest, ‘labour minister’ Sadik Gardiyanoglu announced Durust was given a new public sector role in the Morphou District Governor’s office. Additionally, two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, also arrested in the same investigation, were found in possession of certificates from KSTU, with one having a degree certificate from a four-year undergraduate program. Both were remanded in custody for a day. Avcil, who appeared in court, claimed to have lost his phone on the way to the police station after being contacted to appear.