Category: General

Far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei emerged as the unexpected winner of Sunday’s primary elections in Argentina, taking more than 30% of the vote.

Over 35 million people were eligible to vote in the primary elections in which the candidates for the Oct. 22 general elections were established.

With some 97% of ballots counted, the conservative opposition bloc and the ruling Peronist coalition were behind in second and third place with 28% and 27% of the votes, respectively.

This result has caused enormous surprise in Argentina where the vast majority of pre-election surveys gave the eccentric Milei around 20% of the vote, 10 points behind the other two coalitions that have been governing for the last several years.

Milei remains the favorite candidate for the general elections ahead of the winners of the two main political forces, former President Mauricio Macri’s minister of security, Patricia Bullrich, and of the ruling party, the current minister of economy, Sergio Massa.

Milei, Bullrich and Massa will now compete head-to-head-to-head in the October polls.

“We are the true opposition that really wants change,” Milei said in a fiery speech after the results. ‘A different Argentina is impossible with the same old things that have always failed.’

MIlei has declared himself an admirer of ex-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and former US President Donald Trump and has pledged to shutter the central bank and dollarize the economy. He has spoken about enabling citizens to arm themselves and ending free health care.

Although voting in the primaries is mandatory in the South American country and it is not restricted to party members only, turnout on Sunday was around 70%, the lowest for a primary election in 10 years.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Flight safety has improved significantly since the 2005 Helios plane accident, said the Head of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Unit, Andreas Paspalides, who notes, however, that there are still some “gaps and weaknesses” in the Department that need to be addressed.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Helios air crash, which claimed the lives of 121 people, including 22 children and 6 crew members, Paspalides clarified that airlines in Cyprus “are safe” and calls on the travelling public “to feel at ease” and “to travel without fear.”

CNA also contacted the member of the Cyprus Aircraft Accident Incident Investigation Board (AAIIB), Ioannis Droussiotis, who, analysing the general safety situation of aviation in Cyprus, said that the level of safety in recent years is considered “high”.

According to officials, Cyprus records on average five to six serious incidents per year involving civil aircraft. According to the latest report of the Civil Aviation Department, which concerns the aviation safety situation in Cyprus in 2022 and which was obtained by CNA, a total of 693 mandatory and voluntary reports were submitted to the Civil Aviation Department, which were processed and consolidated into 623 incidents.

As per the report, “incidents more than doubled from 255 reported the previous year”, while noting that “the trend over the last four years appears to be slightly increasing both in absolute numbers of reports and reporting rates.’

It is noted that in 2022 there was one non-fatal accident involving a military unmanned aerial vehicle (Drone) that crashed into the sea near Paphos for unknown reasons. Of the five serious incidents reported in 2022, four involved violations of separation minima infringement (SMI), with one incident triggering the Airborne Collision Avoidance Notification System.

The fifth serious incident, according to the same report, involved the declaration of a fuel-related emergency by an unregistered in Cyprus ultralight aircraft (gyrocopter) flying from Rhodes to Paphos, which landed safely. No serious injuries were reported.

In addition, the report records an “upward trend” regarding incidents involving Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management, as well as aircraft collisions with birds.

Asked by CNA to report how flight safety data have changed since the tragic Helios accident, Andreas Paspalides said that the situation has clearly improved, stressing that since then all European regulations concerning supervision are followed faithfully and to the letter, and added that “there are currently 32 licensed organisations that are under the supervision of the Aviation Safety Regulation Unit and any licensing is always in accordance with European regulations”.

Asked about the gaps or weaknesses observed in the Department, Paspalides focused on the insufficient staffing of the Department, explaining that the department needs specialized people with expertise, and added that an effort is currently being made to fill the gap by purchasing services from abroad.

Referring to the serious incidents involving civilian aircraft, he said that “when an incident occurs it must be immediately identified”, and noted that “whatever happens, there is immediate action on the part of the companies and the civil aviation sector.”

Responding to a question, Paspalides said that since the Helios air crash, the flight safety sector is now in Cypriot hands. He explained that previously the sector was under the management of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and noted that the safety sector was officially created after the accident and at the moment all operations and oversight is in Cypriot hands.

Asked whether mistakes were made in the Helios accident on the part of the Civil Aviation Department due to understaffing, Paspalides said that “it was not the Civil Aviation Department’s fault that the plane crashed. The Civil Aviation Department is in charge. Based on European regulations, it is the responsibility of each airline to keep the planes in good condition and to operate the airline in an acceptable condition.”

Paspalides assured that today “there is continuous and adequate supervision” on the part of his department, adding that what needs to be done on behalf of the companies is adequately done.

Speaking to CNA, Cyprus AAIIB member Ioannis Drousiotis said that the Board constantly monitors airlines and receives information from people working for them, adding that they take the necessary action if anything illegal or violating regulations comes to their attention. He also said that investigations and recommendations are made to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Asked what has changed since the Helios accident, Droussiotis said there has been more proper surveillance of airlines since then and called on stakeholders to understand that reporting, assessing and processing simple incidents and recommending corrective measures is essential for preventing a simple incident from turning into a serious incident or accident.

Moreover, according to the 2022 Civil Aviation Safety Review, the number of flight safety reports reviewed by the AAIIB in the year 2022 amounts to 621, of which 12 were investigated as they were considered as serious incidents.

In total, the Commission has received 621 reports during 2022 compared to 255 reports received in 2020.

The flight safety reports include bird strikes, harassment of aircraft using LASER machines and Drones, among others.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Eighteen years have passed since the crash on August 14, 2005 of an aircraft of Helios Airways, in the mountainous area of Grammatiko in Attica, Greece, resulting to the death of 121 people, including 22 children and the six-member crew. The majority of victims, 103, were Cypriots and 12 were from Greece.

A memorial service for the 121 victims of the tragedy was to be held on Monday morning in Grammatiko, in the chapel of the Dormition of Virgin Mary, erected in memory of the victims.

Niki Michaelidou, on behalf of the relatives of the victims, told CNA that after the memorial, the relatives would go to the top of the mountain, where the plane crashed on August 14, 2005 for a memorial prayer.

The flight

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The aircraft, a Boeing 737-300, departed in the morning of August 14, 2005 from Larnaca airport to Prague via Athens. At 10.15 am the aircraft entered the National Airspace of Athens, but without making any contact with the Control Tower.

At 11:05, two F-16 fighters took off from Nea Aghialos Air Base, which made visual contact with the plane at 11:18 and found that the co-pilot of the aircraft was unconscious, the captain was not in his position while the plane’s oxygen masks system had been activated.

As evidenced by the investigations, the aircraft was flying on automatic pilot with all passengers unconscious except one flight attendant, Andreas Prodromou, who was trying to take control of the airplane. At 12.05 the aircraft crashed in the mountainous region of Grammatiko, killing the 115 passengers and six-member crew.

Court ruling

——–

On February 18, 2013, the Nicosia Criminal Court acquitted of all charges all the defendants in the case, following the stay of the criminal prosecution the Attorney General’s Office had filed against all the accused, natural persons, and Helios airlines.

The accused were Helios’ Executive Chairman, Andreas Drakos, the company’s Managing Director, Demetris Pantazis, Director of Flight Operations, Giorgos Kikkides, as well chief pilot of the company, Janko Stoimenof.

The Court of Appeal of Athens had upheld the conviction imposed by the first instance court, the three-member Misdemeanor Court of Athens, with its decision of February 7, 2013. The sentence, 122 years in prison for each defendant, was changed to a ten-year sentence and subsequently to a fine. After paying approximately pound 73,000, they were released.

Based on the principle that no one is tried by two countries for the same crime, it was expected that they would be removed from the Cypriot indictment. The Attorney General ruled that the prosecution should be stayed for all the accused citing insurmountable difficulties in pursuing the case.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed in the north-central Nigerian state of Niger on Monday.

In a statement, Edward Gabkwet, the spokesperson for the air force, said the MI-171 helicopter crashed near Chukuba village in the Shiroro local government area.

‘Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash,” the statement added.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on board.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday condemned the Nigerien military administration’s plan to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

On Sunday, a spokesman for Niger’s military said Bazoum would be charged with ‘high treason and undermining the internal and external security’ of the country.

In a statement, ECOWAS said it had learned ‘with stupefaction’ attempts to bring charges against Bazoum.

‘ECOWAS condemns this move, it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means,’ the statement said.

‘Bazoum remains the democratically elected and recognized president of Niger,’ it added.

The bloc reiterated its condemnation of Bazoum’s ‘illegal detention’ and made a fresh demand for his release and reinstatement.

Last week, ECOWAS leaders, at an emergency summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja, ordered to activate its standby force in order to “restore constitutional order” in Niger.

However, on Sunday, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars who visited Niger said the Nigerien military administration was open to a diplomatic approach to resolve their standoff with the regional bloc.

Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard declared himself the head of a transitional government after Bazoum was ousted by a military intervention on July 26.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A fire that broke out near Alassa region in Limassol district early on Monday afternoon burned half a donum of dry vegetation and wild shrub and is manageable, the Fire Service said.

According to a Fire Service press release three firefighting vehicles and one portable firefighting unit from Limassol Fire Service Stations were deployed to extinguish the fire, while another four trucks and five portable units from the Forestry Department were assisting the efforts as well as a portable unit from Alassa Community Council.

Moreover the two rented helicopters of the Republic and three firefighting aircraft belonging to the Forestry Department were deployed.

The situation as regards the fire is manageable and there is no danger of spreading to residential areas, the Fire Service noted.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Switzerland-based multinational investment bank and financial services company UBS agreed Monday to pay $1.435 billion for fraud in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

The penalty, which includes several of UBS’ affiliates based in the US, is based on RMBS issued in 2006 and 2007 that led to the 2008 financial crisis, and settles a civil action filed in November 2018 “alleging misconduct,” the US Justice Department said.

“In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, people all across the country experienced financial ruin and emotional devastation, and many are still recovering nearly 15 years later,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.?

The settlement brings the total amount of civil penalties paid by banks, originators, and rating agencies for such securities to over $36 billion, according to the Justice Department.?

The 2008 financial crisis stemmed from the US housing bubble that was built on sub-prime mortgages and later created derivatives, such as toxic collateralized debt obligations, which overvalued junk assets. The crisis then spread worldwide and became a global catastrophe.

Source: Anadolu Agency

US-based multinational financial technology company PayPal announced Monday that its board of directors named a new president and CEO.

Alex Chriss, who currently serves on American business and financial software company Intuit’s executive leadership team, will start his new role and also join the board on Sept. 27, PayPal said in a statement.

“PayPal is an extraordinary company that plays a critical role in the lives of consumers and merchants all over the world,” said Chriss. “Throughout my career, I have championed small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of every economy in the world.’

Chriss, who joined Intuit 19 years ago, has served in increasing levels of leadership, as he implemented multiple strategic initiatives that transformed businesses inside the firm into sustainable growth, according to the statement.

During the five years leading Intuit’s Small Business segment, he grew its customers and revenues at a compound annual growth rate of 20% and 23%, respectively, it added.?

“I am proud to take the baton from Dan and thrilled to have the opportunity to work with PayPal’s talented and committed team to build on PayPal’s remarkable history and draw on its unique capabilities to deliver outstanding products and services to businesses and consumers,” Chriss said.

Dan Schulman has been serving as PayPal’s CEO since 2014. While he announced in February to leave his role by the end of 2023, he will remain on the board until May 2024, according to the statement.

PayPal’s stock price climbed to $63.05 per share at 10:15 a.m. EDT on the Nasdaq for a gain of 2.45% after closing Friday at $61.54 a share.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ivory Coast’s Embassy in Trkiye marked the country’s 63rd independence anniversary Monday with a reception in the capital Ankara.

“Over the years, Cote d’Ivoire and Trkiye have established a relationship which has been developed and diversified according to their common interests,” Ambassador Khadidjata Toure said.

Dynamic relationship and cooperation between the two countries are reflected in other areas as well, Toure said, adding that the bilateral trade volume was over $800 million in 2021.

“It is worth noting that Cote d’Ivoire is an increasingly popular destination for the Turkish business community, which has succeeded in integrating itself into the Ivorian economic world,” she added.

Turkish Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki, who attended the reception, said that the cooperation between Trkiye and Ivory Coast is gradually developing.

“We have very close cooperation in Africa. We want to further increase this cooperation. I would like to express that we attach importance to this. Ivory Coast is one of the important countries that we see as a partner in the African continent, and where we develop our cooperation,” Ozhaseki added.

Ivory Coast’s Independence Day is celebrated annually on Aug. 7, commemorating the day in 1960 when the country declared its independence from France.

Diplomatic relations between Trkiye and Ivory Coast were established in 1964. Turkish Embassy in Abidjan became operational on Nov. 15, 2009, whereas the first Ivory Coast Embassy was opened in Ankara in February 2013.

Since 1992, Trkiye is providing ‘Trkiye Scholarships’ to Ivorian students.

Source: Anadolu Agency

South Korea vowed on Monday to investigate the shortcomings during an annual world scout event that ended last week.

‘This World Scout Jamboree has brought forth numerous implications for us,’ Prime Minister Han Duk-soo said during a Cabinet meeting, the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency reported.

His statement came after tens of thousands attending the event had to be moved from the Saemangeum Reclaimed Area, where it was being held, to other parts of the country due to a heat wave, storm, and other challenges blamed on poor preparations, according to Yonhap.

Underlining the ‘unprecedented challenge” faced by Seoul in hosting the event, Han said: ‘The government will have time to thoroughly analyze and reflect on the tasks that this event left us.’

Around 43,000 participants from 158 countries participated in events that began Aug. 1 and concluded Friday.

The event was being held in the western Saemangeum Reclaimed Area from where participants were transported to Seoul and other regions due to a typhoon and earlier heat wave.

Several diplomatic missions based in Seoul had raised concern with the South Korean government over issues faced by the participants.

Even as dozens of scouts fell ill due to heat wave, the event was later transported out of the Saemangeum Reclaimed Area due to typhoon Khanun. The South Korean government held a concert last Friday to conclude the mega event.

Source: Anadolu Agency