Pentagon says it has referred leak case to justice department for criminal investigation
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has reportedly dismissed Lt Gen Brett Sylvia, a high-ranking army strategist serving on the Pentagon’s joint staff, following allegations that he disclosed classified information to the public.
The Pentagon announced on Thursday that it had referred an alleged information leak case for criminal investigation, maintaining that the removal of the senior general was essential “to protect sensitive information”, the Washington Post reported.
Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed British stage and screen actor renowned for both Shakespeare and sci-fi, has died. He was 86.
The Star Trek: the Next Generation and X-Men star died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles after “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”, said Kelly Bush Novak, his longtime spokesperson, to the Hollywood Reporter.
The Department of Homeland Security asked an Icelandic hosting company to take down data obtained through hack
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asked an Icelandic hosting company on Thursday to take down or limit access to data related to thousands of agency personnel, saying the content put them at risk, according to the request posted online by hosting company FlokiNET.
The database “places more than 40,000 identifiable individuals at risk of harassment, stalking and physical harm”, the request said.
Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign allegedly collaborated with party operatives to confuse voters in midterms
The US justice department on Thursday is reported to have issued subpoenas in response to a report that the Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign collaborated with party operatives to get a challenger with the same name as the Republican senator Dan Sullivan on the midterm ballot.
ABC News and the Associated Press reported the subpoenas, citing sources familiar with the matter. The federal investigation comes a day after the New York Times found that the effort to recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan in the Senate race set to be decided on Tuesday was led by Peltola’s campaign, which had for months denied involvement.
US vice-president writes to top Iranian security official in sign Washington has not abandoned diplomacy
Hopes of averting a major new conflagration between Iran and the US soon after Tuesday’s midterm elections could rest on Iran’s response to a personal letter from the US vice-president, JD Vance, offering to restart diplomacy.
The letter, written after predominantly Qatari mediation, was sent to the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, Mohsen Rezaei on Sunday. It requires Tehran to agree to make commitments on its nuclear programme at the start of a process that would lead to the opening of the strait of Hormuz within seven days in return for US sanctions relief.
The supreme court on Thursday ruled against an application for a re-trial filed by convicted lifer Theodoros (Doros) Theofanous.
Theofanous, alias ‘the hairdresser’, filed a motion for a re-trial, arguing that material new evidence had come up following his conviction.
According to a statement by the attorney-general’s office, this was the first instance heard by the supreme court since the coming into force of a new law permitting the re-trying of cases when new evidence comes to light.
In October 2012 Theofanous was found guilty of the 2011 premeditated murder of his pregnant partner Yulia Oporok, and the manslaughter of Oporok’s three-year old daughter.
The supreme court had upheld the conviction in April 2015.
Theofanous later sought recourse with the supreme court, seeking a re-trial, claiming that new facts had emerged that questioned the initial conviction.
He cited the fact that one of the prosecution witnesses during the initial criminal trial had in June 2020 recanted a previous sworn statement. According to Theofanous, this person now stated that his testimony before the court had been false and that he was not at the scene of the crime.
Theofanous also cited statements by third parties claiming that another prosecution witness – Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, a convicted rapist and murderer – apparently ‘admitted’ that Theofanous was not the perpetrator of the crime.
All this, his lawyers argued, was sufficient to overturn the evidentiary basis of the conviction. Theofanous therefore asked for a re-trial of his case or, due to the length of time he has already served, an outright acquittal.
The supreme court rejected his motion.
In delivering its judgment, the court said Theofanous had presented no new material facts that would warrant a re-trial. Witnesses recanting or changing their testimony did not count as such.
What may have constituted new material evidence, said the court, would be facts that existed during the initial trial but did not emerge at the time, or material facts emerging after the trial.
Such examples would include evidence pointing to a different perpetrator, the emergence of a material eyewitness, or the discovery of genetic material pertaining to the case.
Theofanous presented no such material, the court said.
As such, he will serve out his sentence at the central prisons.
In September 2024, Theofanous escaped police custody while visiting his father’s home in Choletria, Paphos.
Following the fiasco, President Nikos Christodoulides fired the chief of police, the deputy chief of police and acting director of the central prisons.
Tankers, tracked by Greenpeace, are first phase of Trump-Putin deal – but there is uncertainty over whether they will unload
Seven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are now sailing towards the US, though it is uncertain if the vessels will be able to unload amid a political row about the legality of the shipments.
Tankers, tracked by Greenpeace, are first phase of Trump-Putin deal – but there is uncertainty over whether they will unload
Seven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are now sailing towards the US, though it is uncertain if the vessels will be able to unload amid a political row about the legality of the shipments.
A gulf separates employers’ organisations and trade unions on the issue of provident funds and how they should fit into pension reform as a whole, Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas said on Thursday.
He was speaking to media after the latest meeting of the labour advisory aboard, which discussed provident funds for the first time.
The minister confirmed that trade unions want provident funds to be prescribed by law so that all private companies offer one, whereas employers insist they should remain voluntary.
In Cyprus, provident funds are based on collective or private agreements between employers and workers. No legislation exists mandating that companies provide a provident fund.
Having heard the two sides’ views on the matter, Mousiouttas said, the government would try to find the ‘sweet spot’.
The next meeting of the labour advisory board is scheduled for Friday, November 9.
The government’s general position, said the minister, is that provident funds “are a necessary institution, which supplements workers’ pensions.
“What we’ll try to do is see how this institution can be expanded.”
Stakeholders also discussed some of the details, such as how provident funds would be cashed out on retirement – whether as a lump sum or in instalments. Another issue is whether it would be possible to borrow from a provident fund, under certain conditions, as is the case today.
However, the minister clarified that sorting out the provident funds question “is not something that will happen today or tomorrow or even next year”.
In order for a provident fund to ‘mature’ and to yield, it takes at least a decade, he added.
Nevertheless, the talks would continue, and once the government brokers an agreement between trade unions and employers, the relevant bill would begin being drafted.
“For sure we will follow European standards,” Mousiouttas said of the future bill.
A provident fund is essentially a private group pension plan that some employers provide for their employees in Cyprus.
Provident fund members invest monthly a fixed percentage of their salary into a common investment pool for their retirement in much the same way as they would with social insurance.
A provident fund is managed by a licensed pension provider. The pension providers are typically either insurance companies or asset management companies.
The operation of a provident fund involves contributions from both the employee and the employer, similar to social insurance contributions. The amounts contributed by each party can either be identical or differ.
The employer usually sets the contribution amount and provides these details in an employment contract.
Employees are generally restricted from accessing their pension funds, before reaching their retirement age or unless their employment is terminated. However, it is permissible for the employee to borrow a portion of their funds.
Meanwhile the main thrust of pension reform – which includes pillars zero and one – is still being worked on by the government.
The draft legislation needs to be vetted by the attorney-general’s office.
Once that is done, said Mousiouttas, he would present the bill to the cabinet. Once the cabinet gives the nod, the bill would be tabled to parliament.
Pillar zero, as it is called, concerns pensions for low-income earners.
Pillar one involves a reworking of the mechanics of the Social Insurance Fund, along with state pensions.
Provident funds and occupational pension schemes fall within pillar two.
The government aims to roll out pillars zero and one of pension reform at the beginning of 2027.
Nicosia municipality and restaurant operator PHC are expected to sign an agreement on Friday for the commercial development of the old GSP square, with a Caffe Nero billed as the largest in Cyprus among the planned outlets.
According to Politis, the deal, once final pending issues are settled, will give the redeveloped site a stable commercial base.
PHC won the concession for five premises after an open tender, the municipality announced in August.
Mayor Charalambos Prountzos told the Cyprus Mail then that the company would have “up to 12 months” to activate the agreement and that he hoped the project would make the former stadium “a destination in Nicosia”.
The concession will initially run for 10 years, with extensions possible up to a maximum of 25.
PHC is the largest restaurant and cafe operator in Cyprus, and its brands include Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King, Wagamama, Caffè Nero and PAUL.
Politis reports that the Caffe Nero would go beyond a standard coffee shop, with plans including sofas, areas for business meetings, space for small events or seminars and a large outdoor garden.
PHC also plans a wine bar on an elevated part of the square overlooking the public space, while one of the smaller ground floor units is earmarked for a perfume shop.
PAUL, Wagamama and Verde Caferesto are under consideration, and the choice depends mainly on what the building can accommodate and on licensing requirements.
Politis also reports that the municipality aims to reopen a citizen service centre next year, after the closure of the one on Makariou Avenue.
The Cyprus Mail reported in August that the redevelopment would include such a centre, and that it was due to open by next year.
Residents of the walled city have also asked for a pharmacy, as none operates there at present.
The GSP stadium closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2017 to make way for what was originally intended to be a green space in the capital.
Tourist board responds with toilet humour after US president’s ‘shithouse country’ jibe over failure to win Nobel peace prize
Some might find it decidedly incommodious to be dumped on by Donald Trump as a “shithouse country”. Not the Norwegian tourist board, which chose instead to lift the lid on some of the nation’s loveliest lavatories.
“Are these the world’s best shit houses?” asked Visit Norway on its website, days after the US president vented his fury once more over failing to win the Nobel peace prize by describing Norway as a “shithouse country” at a rally on Sunday.
Lawmakers on Thursday got pushback from the government on a proposal to de-criminalise the publishing or reproduction of political content on the eve and on the day of elections.
As it stands, the law prohibits political messaging on the eve of, and the day of, elections – on penalty of a prison sentence of up to one year, or a fine up to €5,000, or both.
The aim is to prevent the circulation of content that might influence the outcome of elections.
The matter came to the fore after a number of people – including candidates for MP – were questioned by police over social media posts they made just prior to the parliamentary elections held in May this year.
Akel and Alma have drafted two separate bills aiming to relax the prohibitions and downgrade infractions from a criminal offence – as they are now – to an administrative fine.
Akel proposes that infractions be punishable by a fine of €2,000.
But the attorney-general’s office said this amount was too low, and also posed the issue of the ability to collect on such fines.
Under Akel’s proposal, only paid advertisements and sponsored content would be banned during the so-called ‘silence period’.
Regular people, making comments on social media, would be exempt.
However, the exemption would not apply to individuals designated as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
In Cyprus, a PEP is an individual who holds or has held a prominent public function, along with their family members and close associates. This includes heads of state or government, senior politicians, high-ranking government, judicial, or military officials, senior executives of state-owned enterprises, and important political party officials.
Meanwhile the interior ministry raised other objections. Officials argued it would be extremely difficult to distinguish between spontaneous personal opinions posted online and organised political campaigning, especially when it comes to accounts operating under pseudonyms.
Moreover, criminalising content by PEPs but not by others might pose issues of discriminatory practices.
For this reason, the ministry counter-proposes that the infractions remain a criminal offence on the books, but in practice they would be converted into a fine of at least €5,000 – imposed by the Chief Returning Officer.
In case of repeat infractions, the monetary penalty would be increased.
The House interior affairs committee will continue discussing the issue at a later date.
Musician wrote a ‘love letter’ to Canada with a new album – and some pointed commentary about the US president
Lake Ontario, the vast body of water that straddles the US-Canada border, has gone by many names over the centuries: Lac Saint-Louis, Lacus Ontarius, Skaniadorio, Cataraqui Lake. But one thing it will never be called, says the Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, is Lake America.
In his new song Lake Ontario, Adams takes aim at the US president, Donald Trump, accusing him of “breaking the peace” between the people who live on the lake’s shores.
The ‘lake of shining waters’ is what the Iroquois called her
It’s a First Nations name – not an executive order.
Court documents reveal staff considered ways to ‘get academic community to disavow’ influential US author
Meta staff discussed deploying a “whisper strategy” to undermine the influential US academic whose work has inspired a global social media crackdown, according to court documents.
Employees at the parent group of Facebook and Instagram sought to discredit Jonathan Haidt, the social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, a book that helped tip the debate about online safety towards more stringent measures such as the under-16 ban in Australia.
You read that right! The very first Halloween parade for four-legged guests is on its way! Organised by Glow and Beyond Events, Papaflessa Street in Agioi Omologites in Nicosia will fill with doggos and beyond as pet owners bring their beloved buddies to this unique experience.
The event will take place from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday, November 1, bringing together the animal lovers’ community to celebrate the Halloween spirit of the season.
Pets and their guardians are encouraged to arrive dressed up in their best Halloween costume and get ready for an afternoon of spooky surprises, treats and wholesome gatherings.
“All pets and their humans are welcome,” say the organisers. “Get ready to show off your pet’s Halloween look in Cyprus’ first pet Halloween parade.”
With free entrance and homemade dog treats, this one-of-a-kind event will certainly be a charming afternoon out in the city.
Those curious to explore it and connect with fellow pet lovers are advised to register their pet via the online form.
Halloween Pet Parade
First Halloween parade in Cyprus for pets and their owners. Costumes, treats and spooky surprises. November 1. Papaflessa Street, Agioi Omologites, Nicosia. 4pm-6pm. Free admission. Registrations needed. @gl0wco
The House on Thursday gave the nod to the 2027 budget of the Solidarity Fund, set up to reimburse people whose savings were wiped out in the 2013 financial meltdown.
The budget provides for revenues of €50 million – a direct grant from the government – and anticipated expenditures of €28.7 million.
The fund’s cash reserves, as of January 1 this year, came to €189 million.
Out of the €28.7 million in projected expenditures, €10 million will concern payouts to people who applied for reimbursement as part of the 2025 scheme, but who for one reason or another did not receive the funds.
In addition, the government reiterated its intention to reactivate the online platform for reimbursement applications. This would be done by the end of autumn, giving the opportunity to people who did not apply while the 2025 reimbursement scheme was in effect.
The new applications on the platform will concern a new scheme to be promulgated for fiscal year 2027.
Officials had earlier briefed parliament that during the initial scheme – for fiscal year 2025 – some 9,700 individuals applied. Payments were made to 7,160 people.
The payouts amounted to €71.3 million.
By comparison, total losses incurred by depositors and bondholders during the 2013 bank bail-in come to an estimated €2 billion.
The Solidarity Fund was established in 2018.
The government calls it a ‘partial replenishment scheme’ – avoiding the term ‘compensation’.
Under the 2013 bailout deal between Cyprus and international lenders, uninsured depositors were forced to pay for the recapitalisation of the Bank of Cyprus, heavily exposed to debt-crippled Greece.
As for Laiki Bank, all uninsured deposits there were wiped out, and the lender was wound down and its operations folded into the Bank of Cyprus.
The Berlin-born performer had a gift for languages that took her to Hollywood, landing roles alongside Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman
Elke Sommer, the prolific German star of the Pink Panther film A Shot in the Dark, early 70s Agatha Christie adaptation And Then there Were None, and British sex comedy Carry on Behind, has died aged 85. Bild magazine reported that Sommer died in Los Angeles of heart failure.
German-born Sommer, whose best-known film roles were in the 1960s and 70s, was one of the wave of European performers who crossed over to Hollywood and English-language cinema with considerable success, following the postwar emergence of European new wave cinema. Sommer was one of the few German actors to make waves at the time, as Hollywood made much of her bombshell image.
The Berlin-born performer had a gift for languages that took her to Hollywood, landing roles alongside Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman
Elke Sommer, the prolific German star of the Pink Panther film A Shot in the Dark, early 70s Agatha Christie adaptation And Then there Were None, and British sex comedy Carry on Behind, has died aged 85. Bild magazine reported that Sommer died in Los Angeles of heart failure.
German-born Sommer, whose best-known film roles were in the 1960s and 70s, was one of the wave of European performers who crossed over to Hollywood and English-language cinema with considerable success, following the postwar emergence of European new wave cinema. Sommer was one of the few German actors to make waves at the time, as Hollywood made much of her bombshell image.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are due to play their EuroLeague home games at the Spyros Kyprianou arena in Limassol, starting with the Tel Aviv derby against Hapoel on November 12.
The move still awaits official confirmation from the club and from the EuroLeague itself, with plans for each game providing for 3,000 tickets for Maccabi supporters, 1,500 for the Cypriot public and 100 for fans of the visiting side; final arrangements for spectators have not been agreed.
Maccabi are still asking the EuroLeague for permission to return to their home ground in Israel. Should Euroleague not yield by January, the game against Panathinaikos on January 7 will also be played in Limassol.
The Cyprus Mail was informed that the EuroLeague was initially against the move to Cyprus due to its sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines.
According to local media, a Maccabi representative spoke by telephone with one of the deputy police chiefs regarding the team’s presence and the running of the games.
From Monday, a designated police liaison is due to coordinate with the club’s managers at police headquarters level, covering the number of people travelling and their movements.
A video conference with Maccabi officials is planned to settle the details of police cover, and the club is expected to send an official letter within days on fan and team movements.
Maccabi were due to host Real Madrid in Limassol on October 22, but the game was played at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, which the club has used as its home court since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.
Maccabi formally asked Cyprus to host the games in a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides on September 22. Between 12 and 15 home games were expected in Limassol, depending on how far the club progressed.
Police unions have warned that the games would need about 500 officers and called them a “huge additional responsibility” for a force already short of staff.
A police source put the policing cost of all the games at more than €1 million.
Justice Minister Costas Fitiris told MPs on Monday that Cyprus had accepted a request to invoice Maccabi for the policing, although no game had yet been played on the island.
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