Day: March 3, 2024

ISTANBUL: The number of people killed in Saturday's Russian drone strike on residential buildings in Ukraine's southwestern Odesa region has risen to 10, including three children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. "At this time, 10 people are known to have died, including three children ... My condolences to all relatives and friends," Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. The search and rescue operations at the scene of the attack are still ongoing, Zelenskyy said, adding that 215 rescuers are involved and that five people have been pulled from the rubble. "Every Russian loss at the front is our state's response to Russian terror. The world must react to every manifestation of Russian evil and retaliate against Russia's actions," he added. Two people were killed and eight others were injured following Russian drone strikes in the Odesa, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions on Saturday, Zelenskyy said following the assaults. Indicating that one of the drones hit a residential building in Odesa and destroyed 18 apartments, Zelenskyy urged his country's partners to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems.??????? Source: Anadolu Agency

One in three Cypriots is overweight, a press release issued on Sunday by the Cyprus Dietetic and Nutrition Association said on the occasion of the World Obesity Day (4th of March). According to the Association, based on the latest data, 29.6% of Cypriots between the ages of 20 and 80 are included in the category of individuals with normal weight, 36.1% in the category of those who are overweight and 27.8% in the category of people who are obese. The press release noted that 2.1% of men are underweight, 22.2% of men have a normal weight, 10.5% of women are underweight, 36.6% of women have normal weight, while 46.9% of men and 26% of women are overweight. A percentage of 28.8% of men and 26.9% of women are obese. Furthermore, it noted that an action plan is underway to address child and adult obesity with interventions aimed at wider changes at the institutional level and at the level of public policy, which will create a favourable environment that will facilitate the management of the problem. Source: Cy prus News Agency

ANKARA: The head of Turkish Red Crescent on Sunday said another batch of nearly 2,700 tons of aid supplies will be sent to the Gaza Strip, where Israeli attacks have led to severe shortage of food and other necessities. Another ship carrying aid to Gaza is being prepared by Red Crescent teams, Fatma Meric Yilmaz said on X. She said the loading of aid materials onto the ship is ongoing, and the vessel will soon depart from Trkiye's southern Mersin province for Egypt. "Afterwards, our aid supplies will be transported to Gaza from the Rafah border crossing in trucks," she said. More than 30,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 according to the enclave's Health Ministry. About 1,200 people were killed in the initial attacks by Palestinian group Hamas. More than half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, the UN has warned. Distribution of aid has been hampered by military operations, communications blackouts and shortages of fuel . Source: Anadolu Agency

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has said that the Republic of Cyprus immediately issued an anti-Navtex in response to Turkey's action to issue a Navtex for a maritime area that falls within the Republic of Cyprus' jurisdiction, adding that such actions do not help resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue. "We have responded by issuing an anti-Navtex as it concerns an area that falls within the Republic of Cyprus jurisdiction and we always react within this context", the President said replying to a journalist's question after the annual memorial service for EOKA hero, Gregoris Afxentiou. Asked if these actions help resume the Cyprus talks, he said "definitely not" and added that "this is a usual tactic by Turkey, I'm not underestimating it, and that's why we reacted immediately." Meanwhile, the President was also asked whether some people can pass through the crossing points from the Turkish occupied areas to the government controlled areas of the Republic regardless of whether they have com e to the island illegally. "No", he replied, saying that controls are being carried out and that the systems of both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice have now been unified. "It was a weakness that existed and a relevant decision was taken recently by the Council of Ministers," he concluded. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: China's political elite and lawmakers are set to assemble in the capital Beijing from Monday for the annual 'Two Sessions,' or lianghui meetings. Members of the legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, (CPPCC), will hold week-long meetings. This year's focus is expected to be sustaining economic growth, increasing employment, possible new appointments and reaction to the turbulent international arena, analysts say. More than 2,000 members of CPPCC will gather on Monday to hear the annual work report of the advisory body, while Premier Li Qiang will present his government work report in front of nearly 3,000 lawmakers of the NPC on Tuesday. Economic headwinds and 'comprehensively deepening reform' This year's Two Sessions is expected to be of 'much shorter duration … probably eight days in all, continuing the shortened version during COVID-19 pandemics,' Hong Kong-based China expert Andrew KP Leung told Anadolu. 'This year is another important one for comprehensively deepening reform. The primary task is to make plans for further comprehensive reforms … (which) also represents a new chapter of advancing Chinese modernization,' he added. Beijing-based China analyst Einar Tangen said the CPC's (Communist Party of China) mandate 'depends on leading by example and managing the economic and social development of the country.' 'This means more anti-corruption actions and reforms. 'Maintaining China's competitiveness is a priority, as exports are still a critical part of China's development,' Einar told Anadolu. 'The economic transition towards a consumption- vs. investment-led economy is difficult when faced with geopolitical headwinds, conflicts, and declining global demand,' he said. Einar argued that the government work report will 'identify the targeted growth rate (4.8% to 5%), areas and means of stimulus.' 'Desire is to instill domestic and international confidence in China's growth. Domestically to spur consumption. Internationally to encourage FDI (foreign direct investment),' he added. Chien-Yu Shih, a Taiwan-based analyst, agreed with Einar. 'The legitimacy of the CPC's rule lies in economic development. The most important thing is to increase people's income and employment,' said the Associate Research Fellow at Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Einar said, 'heads a 90-million-person party that values their role in achieving change through consensus, but a bureaucracy that too often focuses more on promotion, than meaningful works.' He said the government may give more targeted stimulus domestically 'as Beijing seeks to manage the economy during a difficult year.' He expects the government to increase bond allowances 'while efforts to improve housing and economic development in poorer areas will continue.' 'External demand is expected to fall further, as developed and developing nations struggle with debt, competitiveness, logistic s, and market demand,' he noted. Premier Li, Einar added, 'is looking to do what is necessary to create larger markets.' Focus on 'high-tech industrial transformation' Einar said the Chinese lawmakers and advisers will focus on high tech areas 'as China seeks to develop domestic replacements for US technology embargos.' 'China will also put funds towards new technologies that allow it to lead the world in their categories while lowering costs and thereby increasing competitiveness,' he explained, adding investments will be target-oriented. Chien-Yu had a similar view. He said the Two Sessions will 'first focus on ensuring economic growth and high-tech industrial transformation, coping with the endured competition between China and the United States, while coordinating export market and domestic demand development.' He said the general public is willing to "believe that now is the stage of economic structural transformation." 'China's future economy will move towards high-quality industries, from manufa cturing industrialization to information industries," the analyst said. "For the grassroots in China who are generally not wealthy, avoiding falling into unfair distribution is a most critical task for the CPC rule." Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society, said Premier Li is likely 'to echo Xi on Party-guided tech-heavy industrial policy' and his "new productive forces" to boost innovation and increase productivity. He said the government was likely to extend policy support for hi-end manufacturing, agri-tech, AI, biotech, drones, green tech and quantum. Qin Gang affair Xi removed two main faces of his government - defense and foreign ministers Li Shangfu and Qin Gang - in the first year of his precedent-breaking third term as China's president as well as the CPC supremo. Wang Yi, who was promoted as director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee after Xi's reelection, was then pulled back to lead the Foreign Ministry. The session would be a "high-profile even t to close book on Qin Gang affair,' Thomas said, referring to the ousted foreign minister's alleged extra-marital affair with a TV host in the US. Chien-Yu, meanwhile, said the whereabouts of the two 'should be explained at the Two Sessions.' Wang will hold the ministry's annual news conference to deliberate on the foreign policy issues. Thomas said he would 'likely to stress stability given economy and US election.' Belt and Road Einar said the Chinese lawmakers will also discuss continued upgrades to logistics to increase trade capacity, flexibility and capacity through Belt and Road projects. 'Increased emphasis on feasibility project loans, rather than country to country loans. Creating reliable trade currencies, in part through internationalizing the Yuan,' he said. Focus on Taiwan? According to Chien-Yu, the Taiwanese expert, intra-party-political disputes and Taiwan are 'secondary issues' at the annual plenary sessions. 'The United States and Japan play key roles in maintaining peace across t he Taiwan Strait. China cannot unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, somehow forcing the United States to directly intervene, he said. 'However, China will continue to weaken Taiwan's international status from the perspective of international law." But he believes 'China will continue to engage in gray zone warfare against Taiwan, destroying some of the tacit understanding between the two sides across the Strait in the past, such as invading the sea and airspace under their respective jurisdictions.' New appointments The analysts said Liu Jianchao, a former ambassador, is seen as a likely frontrunner for the post of foreign minister. He is the current head of the ruling Communist Party's International Liaison Department. According to Einar, lawmakers would discuss succession plans at the CPC. 'Solving the succession problem will be an issue, how to transfer power to the next generation without threatening the gains made during the current administration,' he said. Source: Anadolu Agency

Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, will participate in the EU Home Affairs Council, which will take place on Monday, March 4 in Brussels. The 27 Ministers will discuss the migration issue, with an emphasis on the external dimension of the migration issue and the implementation of the Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean. As a press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior said Ioannou will elaborate again on the serious problem facing Cyprus and the other states in the Eastern Mediterranean due to the disproportionate migration flows, reiterating the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus to re-evaluate the status of Syria, in accordance with the existing situation in the country. The Cypriot Minister will underline the need to examine the evaluation of the European Asylum Organization, and on the basis of this to take a decision collectively at the political level in the European Union. Finally, Ioannou will reiterate the need for greater support to the countries of origin and trans it, within the framework of the Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean. The aim is to strengthen the cooperation with these countries, in order to achieve more effective supervision and management of the borders along the Eastern Mediterranean route, with the involvement of Europol. The Minister of the Interior will return to Cyprus on Tuesday, March 5, the press release concluded. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: The Israeli attack on people waiting to receive humanitarian aid on Thursday morning, which killed 118 Palestinians and injured over 750 others, was orchestrated by Tel Aviv and involved local Palestinian entrepreneurs to show a genuine humanitarian aid delivery, media reports said on Sunday. Israeli officials, Palestinian businessmen, and Western diplomats have revealed that Tel Aviv has been engaged in planning at least four such aid convoys to northern Gaza over the last week, the New York Times reported. Speaking to the US daily, two Western diplomats said they were informed by Israeli officials about Israel's motives behind such actions. The Israeli government reportedly initiated these efforts to address the dire humanitarian situation in northern Gaza, where famine is threatening lives due to the suspension of most international aid operations, diplomats said on condition of anonymity. This suspension comes amid Israeli restrictions on aid trucks and escalating lawlessness in the region. I sraeli officials made contacts with multiple local entrepreneurs, requesting their assistance in coordinating private aid convoys to northern Gaza, with Israel offering security support, according to two Gazan businessmen. Jawdat Khoudary, one of the Palestinian businessmen who helped organize some of the Israeli aid trucks for the relief initiative, expressed the urgency of the situation, saying: "My family, friends, and neighbors are dying from hunger.' On Thursday morning, Israeli forces shelled a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid south of Gaza City at the "al-Nabulsi Roundabout" area, leaving at least 112 Palestinians dead and 760 others injured, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry. The Israeli military said an initial investigation found that some Palestinians approached a military checkpoint overseeing the entry of the aid trucks with soldiers firing warning shots and shooting at the legs of Palestinians who continued to move toward the troops. Israel has launched a deadly o ffensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed 30,410 people and injured 71,700 others with mass destruction and shortages of necessities. The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

Minister of Justice and Public Order Marios Hartziotis will attend the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers that will take place in Brussels on March 4 and 5. According to an official press release, the EU Ministers will have the opportunity to exchange views on various issues related to the justice sector. The Minister will return to Cyprus on Tuesday. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: At least 90 Palestinians were killed and 177 others injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continued its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said on Sunday. 'The Israeli occupation committed nine massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, leaving 90 martyrs and 177 injured during the past 24 hours,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,' the statement said. Flouting the International Court of Justice's provisional ruling, Israel continued its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where at least 30,410 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 71,700 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people. The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Hostilities have continued unabated, however, and aid deliveries remain woefully insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe. Source: Anadolu Agency