Israeli businessman Yaakov (Jack) Aykout Afik, the Largest Property Developer in Cyprus, appeals to US Jewish groups to boycott meeting President Nikos Christodoulides during his current visit to the U.S.
Mr. Aykout is accused in novel, never before prosecuted, criminal charges alleging he illegally traded in land once belonging to Greek Cypriot refugees who fled Cyprus during the Turkish invasion 50 years ago.
In addition, Afik and his father, Mr. Shimon Aykout, are seeking millions in compensation for the wrongful and ongoing incarceration of Mr. Aykout, a 75-year-old cancer patient, held without trial for nine months in general population prison on criminal charges alleging he illegally traded in land once belonging to Greek Cypriot refugees who fled the Turkish side of Cyprus 50 years ago, when Turkey invaded the Island.
In his claims against Cyprus, Afik is relying on the expert legal opinion of Cambridge Professor Eyal Benvenisti, submitted to the European Court for Human Rights. Link: .

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Adam Silver takes major step toward new NBA European League
The post Adam Silver takes major step toward new NBA European League appeared first on ClutchPoints. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has taken a significant step toward establishing a European league under the NBA's umbrella. According to The Stein Line's Marc Stein, Silver and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum met Wednesday in London with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of a broader effort to engage potential stakeholders for a future NBA Europe league. The London visit is one of several key meetings during Silver and Tatum's international tour. Stein also reported that the NBA executives met with United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Warren Stephens, private equity firms KKR and CVC, investment group Redbird Capital Partners, Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, and representatives from Turkish football club Galatasaray. The series of meetings underscores the NBA's increasing focus on building out its presence in Europe. It comes on the same day the league announced an expanded international initiative: six regular season NBA games will be played in Europe over the next three years. The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies are scheduled to play in Berlin on Jan. 15, 2026, and in London on Jan. 18, 2026. During the 2026–27 season, games will be held in Manchester and Paris, followed by matchups in Berlin and Paris during the 2027–28 campaign. Adam Silver cites FIBA ties as NBA European league plans gain traction The league's growing international footprint aligns with earlier comments made by Silver. Prior to the Paris Game between the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs in January, Silver confirmed ongoing efforts to assess opportunities across Europe. 'From the NBA's standpoint, we continue to explore opportunities that may exist to continue to develop the basketball infrastructure here,' Silver said at the time. 'In the past, I've talked about our exploration of a potential league here. I'd say, to the extent that we are looking at that opportunity, it'd be one piece of a larger approach to basketball throughout Europe.' Silver emphasized that any such development would involve collaboration with FIBA, the international basketball federation, though he noted no formal agreements were yet in place. 'Anything we do would include a partnership with FIBA, although there aren't agreements in place right now. We are still in the exploratory stage,' he added. In March, The Athletic reported that Silver intended to present early plans for a European league to team owners during the NBA's Board of Governors meeting. According to the report, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis was present for those discussions. While the concept remains in its formative stages, the NBA's actions this week signal serious momentum toward establishing a new professional basketball league in Europe. If launched, the league could debut as early as 2026, representing a major milestone in the NBA's ongoing effort to expand its global reach. Related: Marcus Morris Sr. breaks silence on fraud charges with NSFW rant Related: Gilbert Arenas arrested alongside Israeli crime figure over illegal gambling business allegations


Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Full List of NATO Navies Supplying World's Largest Muslim Nation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Indonesia's defense ministry on Saturday signed an agreement with Turkish officials for the purchase of two frigates. While the deal adds to Jakarta's growing list of procurement contracts with NATO allies, analysts warn that relying on such a diverse mix of foreign manufacturers poses logistical challenges and could strain Indonesia's limited defense budget. Newsweek reached out to the Indonesian defense ministry and Turkish foreign ministry via email for comment. Why It Matters Despite fielding Southeast Asia's largest navy, Indonesia has only a handful of combatant ships—mainly comprising small attack craft suited for operation near the coast and a small fleet of aging submarines. While Indonesia has maintained a policy of neutrality even amid territorial disputes with China, Malaysia and Australia, officials have been working to transition the navy from a green-water force focused on nearshore defense to a blue-water navy able to project power farther from its shores. France French warship builder Naval Group has been contracted to construct two diesel-electric Scorpène-class submarines in Indonesia, which will bring the country's submarine count to six. Indonesian's navy operates two oceanographic research vessels built by France's OCEA Shipbuilding. The Turkish frigate TCG Istanbul sails in the Bosphorus in the centennial ceremony of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 2023. The Turkish frigate TCG Istanbul sails in the Bosphorus in the centennial ceremony of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 2023. Wikimedia Commons United Kingdom Two frigates based on the UK's Arrowhead 140 design are being built for Indonesia by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL under a deal with London-based defense contractor Babcock. British diving and submarine rescue equipment manufacturer Submarine Manufacturing and Products is contracted to provide the Indonesian Navy with its new submarine rescue system. Italy Earlier this month, Indonesia took delivery of the first of two multipurpose offshore patrol vessels it ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The Netherlands Indonesia operates six Dutch-designed, Sigma-class missile-guided corvettes: four Diponegoro-class and two larger, more advanced Martadinata-class ships. Turkey The agreement signed Saturday by Turkish and Indonesian officials will see Turkey's TAIS shipyards build a pair of Istif-class frigates for the Southeast Asian nation. What People Are Saying Collin Koh, senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Dutch corvettes, French + Republic of Korea [South Korea] submarines, British + Turkish frigates, Italian offshore patrol vessels. Mostly involving small quantities of purchase. "A logistical nightmare that doesn't maximize efficient use of limited funds for long-term sustainability of a fleet." SSB, a Turkish government agency tasked with managing defense industry projects, wrote: "This marks Turkey's first export of MİLGEM-class vessels to Indonesia and represents a significant milestone in strategic naval cooperation, bringing pride to our nation. "We hope this collaboration, embodying the shared maritime defense vision of two allied nations, will be beneficial for all parties involved."


Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Joe Rogan Calls Out 'Crazy' Trump Administration Move
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joe Rogan on Tuesday went after the Trump administration over its crackdown on foreign-born students, calling the maneuver "f***ing crazy" on his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience while speaking with comedian Mike Vecchione. Why It Matters The Trump administration has utilized a multipronged strategy for immigration control, including significant targeting of international students over their criticism of the Israeli government's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Rogan has sharply criticized President Donald Trump's administration over its immigration tactics in recent weeks, describing raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "insane." The podcaster also pushed Trump to back off from deporting migrants with no criminal records during a dinner with the president and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) head Dana White last month, The Washington Post reported. Joe Rogan is pictured at the weigh-in before a UFC on Fox 5 event in Seattle on December 7, 2012. Joe Rogan is pictured at the weigh-in before a UFC on Fox 5 event in Seattle on December 7, 2012. Gregory Payan/AP What To Know "They're kicking students out that are, like, writing articles they don't like," Rogan told Vecchione on Tuesday. "Yeah, that's nuts," Vecchione replied. "F***ing crazy," Rogan said. The podcaster was likely referring to Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University who was detained in March after writing an opinion piece criticizing Israel's actions in the war. Ozturk was released from ICE custody in May after a federal judge said the government had provided "no evidence" to justify her detention. Ozturk was among several international students who made headlines after being detained. Others include Columbia University students Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi as well as Georgetown University scholar Badar Khan Suri, all of whom have since been released from ICE custody. "Isn't a university supposed to be a place where someone's allowed to express themselves and have opinions?" Rogan asked Vecchione on Tuesday. "Nonviolently," Vecchione said, to which Rogan replied: "Yeah. They're writing something down and they're not calling for violence either; and they're getting challenged. That's supposed to be how it happens. You get challenged. Smarter people have better arguments or your argument stands." "Deporting people because you don't like who they're criticizing, like, that gets kind of shifty," Rogan added. Earlier in Tuesday's show, Rogan criticized the administration's actions on immigration as an "overcorrection," saying, "You know, you've got a bunch of people that are totally innocent that are going to get caught up in that and have been." "They have been," Rogan said while Vecchione nodded in agreement. "A lot of people that have green cards. A lot of people that are supposed to be over here." What People Are Saying In response to Rogan's comments, a White House spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: "President Trump will always put the safety of Americans first, and it is a privilege, not a right, to study in the United States. The administration is ensuring that guests in our country are not acting counter to American foreign policy interests." Rogan said on a July 3 episode of his eponymous show: "There's two things that are insane. One is the targeting of migrant workers. Not cartel members, not gang members, not drug dealers. Just construction workers. Showing up [at] construction sites, raiding them. Gardeners. Like, really?" What Happens Next The Trump administration has pledged to continue deporting migrants as part of its aggressive push to deliver on the president's promise to tighten border security and root out violent criminals and those accused of gang activity. But the administration has drawn sharp blowback after it surfaced that many of those who were swept up in ICE raids and deported were in the U.S. legally or had pending asylum cases before immigration courts.