Day: May 27, 2023

A Turkish defense company has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with an African country to supply its border and internal security needs. Asisguard, which operates in the fields of armed drones, electro-optics, and vehicle modernization, signed a contract of some $36.5 million with the country, according to data obtained by Anadolu. The country’s name was not given. The project includes products for diagnosis/detection, command and control, and precautionary/intervention purposes. For the project, the Turkish company, based in the capital Ankara, will perform system installation and integration activities with armed drones, surveillance, and diagnosis/detection camera systems. Turkish companies Havelsan, STM, and Nurol Makina are also involved in the project, which is an example of overseas joint work and marketing activities for the Turkish defense industry. The firms’ combined synergy was reportedly one of the key factors in winning the contract. *Writing by Gozde Bayar

Source: Anadolu Agency

At least 11 people are dead and over a dozen wounded after an avalanche hit a herders camp in northern Pakistan, officials said Saturday. An avalanche near the Shounter Valley Pass at the Bakarwal Camp site in the Gilgit Baltistan region hit a herders camp at a low elevation, the provincial government said in a statement. ‘During the incident, 25 people of a Gujjar family with cattle who lived from Kashmir to Astore … got hit by the avalanche,’ it said. The statement said 11 people died and 13 were injured. Local authorities have launched search efforts, with eight dead bodies recovered so far, while the search for the remaining missing people continues. According to the statement, the 13 injured people were evacuated and moved to the District Headquarters Hospital Astore, where some are in critical condition. The Pakistani Army also provided helicopters for immediate relief and rescue, but authorities said that it could not get to the site due to bad weather conditions. Due to the remote location and difficult terrain, rescue teams are also still facing challenges moving heavy machinery to the affected areas, according to a local rescue official. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed local authorities to mobilize rescue and search teams to recover missing people. In a statement, Sharif also directed health authorities to provide the best treatment facilities to the injured.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Trkiye on Saturday condemned an attack by al-Shabaab terrorists on a base of African Union forces in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. Trkiye condemned the terrorist attack against Ugandan peacekeepers at the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Buulo Mareer, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of ATMIS personnel who lost their lives while serving for the peace and security of the Somali people,’ it said. Expressing condolences to the people of both Uganda and Somalia, Trkiye also wished a speedy recovery to the injured. ‘Trkiye will continue to stand by Somalia in the fight against terrorism,’ it added. On Friday, the ATMIS forward operating base in Buulo Mareer was attacked by al-Shabaab militants using car bombs and suicide bombers, the mission said in a statement on Friday. ‘ATMIS would like to assure the public and all other entities in the country that everything is being done to bring the situation under control,’ it added. The base, located 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, houses the Ugandan forces serving under ATMIS. Casualties from the attack are unknown. Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the terror groups al-Shabaab and Daesh/ISIS being the main threats. The group has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union mission in Somalia since 2007.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Bayern Munich won their 11th straight German Bundesliga title on Saturday after their rivals Borussia Dortmund failed to beat Mainz at home. Before the final fixture in the Bundesliga, Dortmund were two points clear atop the league table. They needed to get a win over Mainz at Signal Iduna Park but Dortmund wasted several chances to lose the title to Bayern Munich. Mainz defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen scored the opener via a header after a corner kick in the 15th minute in Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund’s Sebastien Haller then missed a penalty kick. In the 24th minute, Mainz doubled their lead. Mainz forward Karim Onisiwo was unmarked in the area to score his team’s second goal by a header. The visitors led the first half 2-0. Dortmund waited too long for a goal. Portuguese midfielder Raphael Guerreiro played a one-two with Giovanni Reyna before scoring in the box to give hope to Borussia Dortmund. Near the end of the match, defender Niklas Sule scored an equalizer but it was not enough for the championship because Bayern Munich won at Cologne 2-1 after Jamal Musiala’s winner at Rhein Energie Stadium. Bayern Munich and Dortmund had 71 points each in the 34-match Bundesliga season, but Bayern Munich won the German title on goal difference. Borussia Dortmund players burst into in tears after the final whistle. The fans at the stadium were upset but applauded Borussia Dortmund for their efforts during the 2022-23 season, which they completed as runners-up. Meanwhile Bayern players celebrated their victory at Cologne, and the players were handed the Bundesliga trophy. Since it was founded in 1900, Bayern Munich has won 33 Bundesliga titles.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Saudi Arabia’s Ryal Air Force display team ‘Saudi Hawks’ was hosted on Friday in Cyprus’ Air Base ‘Andreas Papandreou’ for refuelling and a brief rest for its crews, in the context of the cooperation and the upgraded relations between Cyprus and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday. In a post on twitter, Lieutenant-General Dimokritos Zervakis, Chief of Cyprus’ National Guard, noted that the presence of the Saudi Hawks in Cyprus ‘highlights the regional military cooperation relations between the armed forces of the two countries.’ According to the Defence Ministry, the Saudi display team, consisting of eight Hawk jets and two C-130 support planes, executed a courtesy display and aircraft salute over the air base. ‘The presence of the Saudi Arabia’s display team in Cyprus was in the context of the network of international cooperation developed by the National Guard and comes as a result of the enhanced cooperation and excellent relations between the armed forces of the two states,’ the Defence Ministry added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Famagusta is key in the efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution that will reunite Cyprus and the status quo is in no way the solution for Cypriots, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Friday evening, inaugurating the photographic exhibition of Tasos Dimitriadis, entitled “When the beautiful past meets the tragic present”. Addressing the event on behalf of President Christodoulides, Letymbiotis said that the photographs show what the country is experiencing for 49 years. Turkey’s strategy, he continued, for the gradual opening of the fenced off city of Turkish occupied Famagusta for economic and political exploitation, with the ultimate goal of creating new fait accompli on the ground, are against the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, in particular resolutions 550 and 789 and the Presidential Security Council statement of July 2021 calling on Turkey to reverse its unilateral actions contrary to these resolutions. “These illegal actions by Turkey undermine the prospects of a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, a key aspect of which is the property issue,” said Letymbiotis, noting that “Famagusta is key in efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution that will reunite Cyprus.” He underlined that the status quo is in no way the solution to the Cypriot problem, adding that “this is why the Christodoulides administration is making every effort to create the appropriate conditions that will lead to the resumption of UN negotiations and with the EU taking a more active role in the process.” He added, finally, that “the harsh reality of the occupation unites us and strengthens us so that we can vigorously continue the struggle for the reunification of our country”. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’. The Turkish Cypriot leadership announced in July 2021 a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha. A few months earlier, on October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. The UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action, while the UN Secretary General, in his latest report on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, reiterated his concern over developments in the fenced-off area, noting that the position of the UN on Varosha remains unchanged. The EU also expressed grave concern.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The modern, quality wines of Cyprus are already making exceptional progress in the international markets, said Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Petros Xenophontos, on Friday evening, addressing the award ceremony of the 14th Cyprus Wine Competition. “Therefore, I would like to stress that tonight not only the best wines that participated in the 14th Cyprus Wine Competition are awarded. Tonight, the wine of Cyprus, the wine of our land is awarded, as a culmination of hard work, sacrifices and cooperation of vintners, winemakers, experts and technocrats, which has led to the great wine progress the country has seen in recent years,” he said. He added that in this year’s Competition, which was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), 30 local wineries participated, submitting 163 different wine samples, registered in two categories based on the approved and recognised international standards. Xenophontos called on the winemakers to take actions to strengthen the already positive momentum in favour of Cypriot wines of Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication, as well as in favour of varietal wines. ‘Increasing the recognition of wines and securing the wine identity of Cyprus in the consumer’s mind are a useful tool in this effort,” he said. He also pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Government, support every initiative that contributes to the promotion of the quality wines of Cyprus and that for the years 2019-2023 more than pound 22 million have been allocated to the sector from European funds. He particularly stressed the importance of the intervention for the promotion of wines in third countries, which is scheduled to be announced in the second half of 2023 with funds which, as he said, must be used as a priority by the winemakers of Cyprus.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Directorate General for Growth in collaboration with all stakeholders is preparing Cyprus’ revised Recovery and Resilience Plan to include the RepowerEU chapter and to incorporate revisions in some of the plan’s milestones and targets to streamline disbursements, Anthoula Savvides, Director of Recovery and Relience at DG Growth has told CNA. In statements to CNA on Saturday, Savvides said that DG Growth is carrying out informal consultations with the European Commission, in a bid to wrap up the draft revised text in June. Following the green light by the Cabinet the plan will be submitted to the EU Commission for approval. The revised plan will incorporate additional investments amounting to pound 104, namely pound 52 million from the RepowerEU plan and an additional pound 52 million from the Brexit Reserve Fund. Cyprus ‘lost’ pound 90 million in grants from the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund due to higher GDP growth but gained an additional pound 104 million. Savvides said that the pound 104 million will be solely invested in energy projects. Moreover, the DG Growth official said that the revision of the Cypriot Plan provides the opportunity to DG Growth to change the timeframe of some targets and milestones in a bid to ensure full absorption of EU funds. ‘We are having objective difficulties which are driven by factors beyond the control of the coordinating authority, the (Finance) Ministry and the government in general,’ Savvides added. So far Cyprus has received the first disbursement amounting to pound 85 million in early-December last year and pound 156 million in pre-financing. The Cypriot plan provides for nine additional disbursements which should be carried out by the end of 2026. DG growth is working on the milestones of the second disbursement, with Savvides noting that the pending issues concern a procurement for mass installation of electricity smart meters, the provision of a fire-fighting air plane, vehicles and equipment to combat climate change and forest fires, while the milestone of the approval of the revised law to streamline strategic investments is pending in the parliament for discussion. ‘The second and third disbursements will be submitted following the approval of the revised plan as the various problematic issues will be revised or moved,’ Savvides said. Cyprus Recovery plan features investments worth pound 1.2 billion and 271 milestones.

Source: Cyprus News Agency