Cyprus News Gazette

ISTANBUL: Lebanese group Hezbollah said Tuesday that it had carried out a drone attack on a military command center in Acre in northern Israel.

The group said it targeted the army’s Golani Brigade headquarters with several drones, resulting in a direct hit.

Hezbollah said the drone attack was in response to an Israeli attack on the town of Aadloun in southern Lebanon and the death of two group members.

The Israeli army, for its part, said that it had downed three targets over the sea in the Acre and Nahariya area.

The attack caused rocket sirens to sound in the Acre and Karyot area.

Images published by Israeli media showed Israelis in a state of panic as air defense systems intercepted drones launched by Hezbollah.

The Israeli army said it launched a series of airstrikes against Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon in response to the drone attack.

No reports were yet available about casualties or damage.

The Israeli army said early Tuesday that it had killed two commanders in Hezbollah’s aerial uni
t in attacks in southern Lebanon.

Tensions have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel since last October when the Israeli army launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip that killed nearly 34,200 people following a Hamas attack, amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in the deadliest clashes since the two sides had fought a full-scale war in 2006.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus was the country with the lowest share of the population that had made online purchase for printed or digital books, magazines or newspapers in 2023, with only 1.4% and 0.6% respectively, compared with 13.4% and 7.2% in the EU, according to data published by Eurostat on the occasion of World Book Day.

Overall in the EU, the share of people purchasing printed books, magazines or newspapers online remained significantly larger than that for e-books, online magazines or online newspapers in 2023.

In 2023, at the EU level, 13.4% of the residents had purchased printed books online in the previous three months. This was a slight increase from 2022 (12.7%) but still below the 2021 share (14.5%).

On the other hand, the share of the population making online purchases of ebooks, online magazines or online newspapers was approximately half of printed books. Ebook purchases were made by 7.2% of the EU’s residents in 2023, indicating an increase from the 2022 share (6.6%) but remaining stable compared to 2021.

A
mong member states, the highest percentage of residents purchasing printed books online in the previous three months was reported in the Netherlands (23.5%), followed by Luxembourg (22.2%) and Ireland (21.1%).

The lowest shares were reported in Cyprus (1.4%), Latvia (2.9%) and Bulgaria (3.7%).

For ebooks, in the same year, the highest shares were recorded in Denmark (22.0%), the Netherlands (21.6%) and Ireland (16.9%).

The lowest were reported in Cyprus (0.6%), Bulgaria (2.0%) and Romania (2.2%).

Denmark and Finland were the only countries with more people purchasing ebooks than printed books in the three months prior to the data collection.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said Tuesday his military “dispelled the myth of the superiority’ of Western arms during Ukraine’s counteroffensive last year.

‘The Kyiv regime was unable to achieve its goals in the counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors,’ Shoygu said at the opening of the Defense Ministry Board.

Expressing that enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex have significantly increased their capacity, Shoygu said they also significantly increased the combat capabilities of the armed forces, which he claimed is evidenced by the situation in Ukraine.

Shoygu said Russia will continue to improve the composition and structure of the armed forces and increase the production of popular weapons and military equipment ‘in proportion to the threats posed by the US and its allies.’

He went on to say that they will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and storage bases in Ukraine for Western weapons, adding that Russian troops will be receiving the fi
rst samples of a new generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile system this year.

The defense minister also reiterated claims made in the past month that Russian forces took control of the settlements of Pervomaiske, Bohdanivka, and Novomikhailivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, adding that Russia’s zone of control is being expanded near the settlements of Berdychi and Heorhiivka.

Shoygu touched on the situation with regard to flooding, saying ministry personnel are working to stabilize the situation in multiple regions, including Orenburg and Tyumen.

Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated in Russia and neighboring Kazakhstan earlier this month after melting snow and heavy rain resulted in the overflow of several rivers, including the Ural and Ishim rivers.???????

Source: Anadolu Agency

(Note to Editors: Correction of the story in the second paragraph as the Minister’s statements were made at the House of Representatives)

Government works on establishing a legal framework for student internships, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panagiotou said on Tuesday.

In statements at the House of Representatives, Panayiotou emphasized that 2024 has been declared by the government as the National Year of Youth and that in this context, the Ministry is promoting the legislative regulation of student internships, regarding employment conditions, social insurance and remuneration.

“We are taking advantage of the suggestions included in the conclusions of the 5th Youth Parliament, we are cooperating with the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and are listening to our youth, so that together we can create a better and fairer internship environment for students who prepare to join the labour market,” the Minister of Labour noted.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: A Ukrainian minister was accused Tuesday by the national anti-corruption body of taking control of state land worth 291 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($7.4 million).

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on Telegram that the unnamed minister, whom it also described as the ‘former chairman of the agrarian committee’ in parliament.

It said a group led by the minister ensured the destruction of documents showing two state-owned enterprises in the northeastern Sumy region had the right to permanently use the land in question.

Ownership of the lands was then transferred to ‘pre-determined’ individuals ‘under the guise of realizing their right to free land,’ it said, indicating that 1,250 land plots of an area of 2,493 hectares (6,160 acres) were expropriated during the scheme which took place from 2017-2021.

‘They also attempted to seize 3,282 hectares of land worth about 190 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($4.8 million), but they were prevented by NABU detectives and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruptio
n Prosecutor’s Office) prosecutors, who conducted searches and seized the plots,’ it said, adding that four people, including the minister, were given official notices of suspicion.

Ukrainian media reported the minister in question to be Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Mykola Solskyi, who commented that the events in question date to the period when he was a lawyer, not a government official.

‘The seven-year-old circumstances concern a dispute between state-owned enterprises and natural persons … over land that was given to the latter in possession in accordance with the law,’ Solskyi said in a statement by the ministry on Telegram.

‘For my part, I guarantee maximum openness to establish the truth, but there is no need for this either: all data are open to law enforcement officers, and the evidence and arguments of the parties are under consideration by the courts,’ he said.

Since January 2023, several Ukrainian officials have been dismissed or resigned as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched a broad
anti-corruption campaign.

A crackdown on corruption is critical if Ukraine hopes to advance its application to join the 27-member EU, which began membership talks with Kyiv last month.

Critics say Ukraine has long suffered from widespread corruption, but Russia’s ‘special military operation’ is said to have overshadowed the government’s efforts to stamp out graft.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The immigration issue was discussed at the first joint meeting of the Presidents/Vice Presidents of the Parliaments of the EU member states of the South (Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Malta) with the participation of the European Parliament following an initiative by President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Annita Demetriou.

A press release by the House of Representatives says that the first joint meeting of the Presidents/Vice-Presidents of the Parliaments of the EU Southern member countries took place within the framework of the Conference of the Presidents of the Parliaments of the EU member countries in Palma de Mallorca, on April 23, 2024, at the initiative of Demetriou with the participation of the European Parliament.

During the meeting, it adds, a draft Joint Declaration was discussed, submitted by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus in relation to the external dimension of the European immigration policy, as part of a common approach for an effecti
ve management of asylum and of immigration.

The Joint Declaration states that in recent years, the Southern EU Member States have received and continue to receive disproportionate and unsustainable migration flows.

Furthermore, they note that a large number of irregular migrants and asylum seekers, mainly Syrians from Lebanon, were recorded in Cyprus from the beginning of 2024, and that, as a result of the escalating tension in the Middle East and the general geopolitical developments in the region, the unbearable migratory and/or refugee flows are expected to continue and worsen, undoubtedly putting Cyprus’ reception and hospitality infrastructure under further strain.

The Parliaments of the South call on their governments to take a decisive role in the effective management of these flows in close cooperation with the countries of origin and transit and in this case with Lebanon, taking all the necessary measures to prevent phenomena such as human trafficking and smuggling by organized networks.

They rea
ffirm their readiness to strengthen cooperation to promote common EU principles and values, including the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility.

They reiterate their unwavering commitment to fulfilling their obligations under international law and the EU acquis and they call on the Commission and the Council to “finally recognize the increased burden on frontline member states and the responsibilities in the sector of migration management”.

The Parliaments of the South call on the EU institutions to immediately undertake all appropriate actions to promote and fully implement the EU Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean route.

The Joint Declaration will be forwarded by the Spanish Presidency to the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments for signature.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish security forces ‘neutralized’ a total of 19 PKK/YPG terrorists in both northern Iraq and northern Syria, the country’s National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday

‘Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces neutralized 15 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq and 4 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria,’ said the ministry on X.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered, were killed or captured.

In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Trkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

PKK terrorists often hide in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Trkiye.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Oil prices increased on Tuesday amid investor profit-taking and expectations of a tight supply-demand balance in the markets in the coming months, after falling to the lowest levels in nearly a month with the eased tensions in the Middle East.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $87.15 per barrel at 10.14 a.m. local time (0714 GMT), a 0.15% increase from the closing price of $87 per barrel in the previous trading session.

The American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $82.03 per barrel at the same time, a 0.16% rise from the previous session that closed at $81.9 per barrel.

Traders see a tightening supply-demand balance in the coming months as the approaching driving season is expected to spur increased demand. The prospect of potentially tighter supplies puts upward pressure on prices.

Renewed US sanctions on Venezuela, which has an export capacity of around 600,000 barrels per day, also fueled supply concerns.

However, global economic concerns, a large build in the w
orld’s largest oil consumer, US crude oil stocks, and the Fed’s hawkish stance that has led to a strong dollar, continue to put downward pressure on oil prices.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The total number of voters eligible to vote in the upcoming elections stands at 706,534, the Chief Returning Officer Elikkos Elia said on Tuesday.

In a press release, Elia said the permanent electoral roll, which gives the right to vote in all elections, includes 568,608 Cypriot voters, of which 837 are Turkish Cypriots, holders of Republic of Cyprus identity cards with an address in the free areas.

It is added that the breakdown of voters by district indicates 220,736 voters in the Nicosia district, including 143 Turkish Cypriots; 33,879 in Famagusta, including 8 Turkish Cypriots; 99,342 in Larnaca, including 249 Turkish Cypriots; 159,680 in Limassol, including 238 Turkish Cypriots; and 54,971 in Pafos, including 199 Turkish Cypriots.

Correspondingly, the special electoral list of European citizens for the Local Government Authorities Elections includes 21,640 voters, with a breakdown of these voters by district showing 4,048 voters in Nicosia, 2,669 in Famagusta, 2,525 in Larnaca, 3,123 in Limassol and 9
,275 in Pafos.

It is added that the special electoral list of European citizens for the elections of Members of the European Parliament includes 13,017 voters, while the special electoral list for the elections of Members of the European Parliament includes 103,269 Turkish Cypriots, holders of identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus, who reside in areas where the government does not exercise effective control.

The Office of the Chief Returning Officer also reports that a total of 4,725 voters have registered and will vote in the European Parliament elections in one of the following cities abroad, where polling stations will be operating: Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Komotini, Volos, Heraklion, Ioannina, London (Cyprus Community Centre and High Commission Building), Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Brussels.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that the PKK/PYD/YPG terror group poses a threat to Iraq’s stability, adding that eliminating this threat also serves Iraq’s interest.

Speaking to reporters on the plane after his pivotal one-day visit to Iraq, Erdogan said he believes the Iraqi administration also acknowledges this reality and will now demonstrate the will to eliminate this obstacle.

‘It is essential for Iraq’s development vision and the security of international investments to demolish these terrorist pits and build predictable tomorrows for Iraq,” he said.

Anti-terrorism fight to continue with same determination

Erdogan emphasized that in both Iraq and Syria, ‘the terrorism quagmire’ will be resolved not just by Trkiye’s efforts but with the joint efforts of both countries’ administrations.

He said Trkiye continues its “relentless fight” against all terrorist organizations indiscriminately, particularly against the PKK/PYD/YPG nestled in Iraq and Syria.

‘It will continue w
ith the same determination. Whether domestically or just beyond our borders, within the framework of international law and respecting the territorial integrity of our neighbors, this struggle will continue.

“We would like our neighbors to take the necessary stance against threats coming from their territories towards us,’ he said.

Common interests to be considered on water issue

Erdogan said the two countries need to develop new programs suitable for the changing climatic conditions and ensuring sustainable water use.

‘It should not be forgotten that we also have water issues at least as much as they do. Trkiye is not water-rich and falls into the category of countries experiencing water stress.

“Therefore, if we cannot implement our plans soon, we may also face problems in water supply.

“Through evaluations made in this direction, it may be possible to find common ground. Water is not a tool of conflict, but an area of cooperation that will serve our common interests,’ Erdogan said.

Efforts to conceal
genocide by killing journalists

On the killing of 140 journalists who were covering the Gaza conflict, Erdogan said Israel wants to hide the facts that point to genocide.

“Individuals advocating for democracy, human rights, and freedoms must scrutinize this situation diligently.

“Whatever they do, we have placed all evidence of Israel’s crimes before the International Court of Justice, and we will continue to do so. We will continue to reveal the truth and speak out against Israel’s murders.

“Know that Netanyahu, the Hitler of our time, and his accomplices will not escape accountability. No matter how much they run, we will pursue them. One day, justice will be served. If not, then history will hold them accountable,” he added.

Gaza to open door to other occupations

He further said that considering Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack as a standalone incident without taking into picture Israeli atrocities in the region would be a mistake.

‘We need to be much more sensitive. Israel’s unprecedented massacres and its mo
ve to destroy Gaza require a change in approach.

“If Gaza falls into Israeli hands, it opens the door to other occupations. We cannot allow this,” Erdogan said.

He stressed the need for Muslim nations to take a joint stance against Israel.

“Gaza is where the Islamic world needs to focus, engage in reasoning for a solution, and formulate realistic and effective policies,’ he said.

The president also said that Trkiye will continue to discuss these issues with both Hamas and leaders of other nations.

Trkiye continues sending aid to Gaza

Emphasizing that Trkiye has sent about 45,000 tons of aid to Gaza so far, Erdogan said this aid is still ongoing and will continue.

“We are also treating the wounded in hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul,” he said.

Hamas leaders in Gaza

Erdogan said that what is important is not the whereabouts of Hamas leaders, but the situation in Gaza.

‘I have not heard anything that the Emir of Qatar, Mr. Sheikh Tamim, will take a step to ignore their position in Qatar. I don’t think
he will take such a step. His sincerity towards them, his attitude towards them has always been like a member of the family. I do not think that this attitude towards them will change,’ he said.

New era with Armenia

Asked about Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s description of the events of 1915 as the “great catastrophe” rather than genocide, Erdogan said: “Acting in accordance with the realities of the time is always better than acting based on fabricated historical narratives. Pashinyan seems to understand this now.”

Source: Anadolu Agency