Day: March 22, 2024

ANKARA: The EU foreign policy chief on Friday hailed the resumption of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from more countries. Following the unproven Israeli accusation that some UNRWA staffers were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks, many countries suspended payments to the aid agency in late January, pending an investigation. Earlier in the day, Finland decided to resume funding for the UNRWA. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a post on X: 'More and more countries are resuming funding to (UNRWA). The agency plays an irreplaceable role as lifeline for the strained civilians in Gaza and provides indispensable support to the Palestinians of the whole region.' Earlier this month, the European Commission announced that it would release pound 50 million ($54.7 million) in UNRWA funding. Shortly after the commission announced its decision, Sweden and Canada also resumed aid, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly more than 7 0 years ago to assist Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from their land.? Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed. More than 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 74,300 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities. Source: Anadolu Agency

The Index of sale of Motor Vehicles spiked by 30% in 2023, pushed upwards mainly by price hikes in used cars. According to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat) the index in the economic activity of sale of motor vehicles in the last quarter of 2023 amounted to 193.3 units, marking an annual increase of 42%, whereas the annual increase throughout 2023 amounted to 30%. Furthermore, the activities of maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and sale of motor vehicles parts and accessories also rose by 12.3% and 11.8% respectively. Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles also rose by an annual 24.5% in 2023, whereas the index in the last quarter of 2023 amounted to 178.2 units, Cystat added. The index of turnover in retail trade in 2023 has registered a more benign growth amounting to 0.9%, Cystat added. The index in the last quarter of 2023 amounted to 173.9 units. Non specialised wholesale trade rose by an annual 13.1% in 2023, Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplie s by 12.1%, whereas Wholesale of household goods rose by 11.2% year on year. Other specialised wholesale declined by 12.1% and wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals dropped by an annual 11.2% year on year, Cystat added. Source: Cyprus News Agency

MERSIN: The rise in the nomad jellyfish population due to global warming could hurt the fishing industry along the Mediterranean coast, plus other industries depending on clear waters, Turkish scientists are warning. Nomad jellyfish, typically seen in summer, showed an unusual increase this February and March in Mersin, a key tourism and fishing hub in Trkiye's Eastern Mediterranean. The detection of numerous live and dead jellyfish on the coasts prompted experts to take action. The Institute of Marine Sciences at Trkiye's Middle East Technical University's (METU), based in the capital Ankara, and Mersin University's Fisheries Faculty have stepped up their research on the Red Sea-dwelling species Rhopilema Nomadica, also known as the nomad jellyfish. Both underwater and surface studies have looked into the reasons for jellyfish population growth and its effects on other species. Global warming fueling population 'explosion' Ahmet Kideys of the Institute of Marine Sciences told Anadolu that the nomad jel lyfish is an invasive species. 'We call their presence in the seas an 'explosion.' The reason for their explosion so early is undoubtedly global warming,' Kideys said. The density of nomad jellyfish hurts the marine ecosystem at large, he added. 'Nomad jellyfish are not a species native to the Mediterranean. They come from the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea. We first detected them in 1995. After that year, they started to increase and be seen earlier every day. 'These are species that love warmth. Before we used to see them in the summer months, but now we started to see them in March. Their numbers are incredibly high. This is not good for the ecosystem. We are studying them,' he said. He added that in one study, they detected approximately 400 jellyfish along an 800-meter (1/2 mile) coastline and that their diameter reached up to 90 centimeters (35.4 inches.) Kideys also said the population has spread along the Mediterranean coasts. 'As we go towards Iskenderun (in Hatay, the Turkish province farth est south), we see even more. As we go west, it decreases a bit. Nevertheless, our colleagues from Antalya are also doing research. They are very busy at the moment. There are more jellyfish than fish in the sea.' Fewer fish to catch in Mediterranean Kideys underlined that this large number of jellyfish is likely to hurt fishing. 'Jellyfish feed on food that fish would otherwise consume, such as plankton, very small organisms. My prediction is that unfortunately, there will be far fewer fish to catch in the Mediterranean next year,' he explained. 'Fishermen cast nets and trawls to fish. This (jellyfish) species will be predominant in the majority of the nets. We believe that it is a very harmful and invasive species that will negatively affect fishing. It will compete with other species in the ecosystem and cause their numbers to decrease. 'It also directly harms people. The tourism season hasn't opened yet, but people will start swimming in the sea in a few months. Since they are the same color as the s ea, you often don't see them. Especially the smaller ones can sting upon contact. They have the potential to create allergies and other health problems,' he warned. Kideys also said it would be beneficial for local governments to work in areas where jellyfish are abundant and stressed the need to warn the public about the species. 'Fishing nets filled with jellyfish' Nomad jellyfish form a large population along the coasts of the island of Rhodes along with Israel, Lebanon, and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, said Deniz Ayas of the Middle East Technical University Fisheries Faculty. The proliferation of the species directly affects fishing, he said. 'Especially in the eastern part of Mersin, serious problems related to fishing have started to happen. Nets used in longline fishing are completely covered with this species, and fishermen even have difficulty pulling their nets out of the sea. There are very serious numbers in the section up to 300 fathoms (548.6 meters) deep. When fishermen lift t he nets, the boats are filled with nomad jellyfish.' Ayas also said the rise in seawater temperature is pushing up the species' population. 'The size of the population of this species in the sea is growing every day,' he said. 'The main reasons include more food in the environment and the withdrawal of pelagic (open sea) fish because a very large food mass remains for them. The plankton that fish can't eat is consumed by these species, and very large schools are formed. We're constantly doing field studies related to fishing. We recently did trawling in Karatas, Adana. There was also a dense population there. There are very large schools in the entire coastal band up to 300 fathoms (548.6 meters) deep.' Effects on tourism Going into the sea in areas where jellyfish are present is unwise, Ayas said. 'This species has the potential to affect tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean. We've been monitoring this species for about 12 years. Generally, the density on the beaches falls at the beginning of April, bu t there is a possibility of them being present until June or July. We hope not to see this species starting around April.' Too many jellyfish could mean the seas are no longer friendly for tourists or anyone wanting to take a dip. Source: Anadolu Agency

The amount of stored water in reservoirs currently stands at 138 million cubic meters (MCM), which corresponds to a 47% storage rate, compared to 69% in the same period last year, Senior Executive Engineer at the Water Development Department Yianna Economidou told CNA. This year, she said, we are experiencing a dry spell with low water inflows. "Things are definitely not good and that is why we are assessing the water balance on a continuous basis with the aim of optimally allocating available water resources from government water projects for all uses," she said. She also noted that, "every year, to make sure that water is allocated properly and wisely, we prepare and implement the annual water allocation scenario with the basic principle of fully meeting water supply needs without any cutbacks." Therefore, she added, water supply for this and next summer is not at risk. "We will have to limit the quantities allocated for agricultural purposes due to reduced supplies and we are also promoting a number of measures to inform farmers, especially to promote improved irrigation practices with emphasis on improved irrigation systems and precision irrigation while promoting maximum utilisation of reclaimed water, which also contributes to increased agricultural production due to the nutrients contained in it," she noted. Our message to the public, continued Economidou, is that we should all work together. "The Water Department's concern may be the sustainable development and management of water resources, but the proper use and conservation of water is an issue that concerns each of us individually," she said. "And for this reason, cultivating water consciousness is a continuous concern of the Water Development Department to give important messages on proper use and conservation of water. We urge the public to use this scarce resource in Cyprus sparingly," she added. According to Economidou, main dams currently contain 137 MCM of water, namely 47% of their total capacity, which stands at 291 MCM. According to me asurements, the quantity stored in the largest dams such as Kouris is 46,962 MCM or 40.8% of total capacity, in Kalavasos 5,175 (30. 3%), in Lefkara 8,726 (63%), in Dipotamos 6,617 (42.7%), in Germasoyeia 6,703 (49.7%), in Asprokremmos 29,105 (55.6%), in Evretou 13,113 (54.6%), followed by other smaller dams. Asked about the possibility of water supply cuts during the summer, Economidou said that "our goal is to fully meet the water supply needs and we can achieve this goal by operating the five desalination plants that we have at our disposal and which are fully operational so that we can meet our drinking water needs." Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: At least 32,070 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since last October, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said on Friday. A ministry statement said that 74,298 Palestinians have also been injured in the onslaught that continued on its 168th day. Over the past 24 hours, it said, the Israeli army committed nine 'massacres' across the Gaza Strip, killing 82 people and injuring 110 others. 'Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads and rescuers are unable to reach them,' the statement added. 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 ICJ. 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

The House of Representatives' Committee on Defence travels to Athens on Sunday on the occasion of the celebrations for the Greek Independence Day on March 25th. According to a press release by the House of Representatives, the Cypriot MPs will hold meetings with President of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tassoulas, Vice President and Members of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament and Deputy Minister of National Defence Ioannis Kefalogiannis. The members of the House Committee will also attend the March 25th 1821 military parade with the participation of units of the armed and security forces. The Committee delegation includes Chairman Marinos Sizopoulos and members Giorgos Karoullas, Valentinos Fakontis, Pavlos Mylonas and Alecos Tryfonides. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Trkiye will continue its efforts to become fully independent in the defense industry, the country's president said on Friday. "We will not stop or turn back from our path until we achieve the goal of a fully independent Trkiye in the defense industry," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a rally in the northern province of Cankiri. Erdogan also said the KAAN, Trkiye's homegrown fighter aircraft, will be delivered in 2028 to the Turkish Air Force, adding that KAAN will protect Trkiye's skies from then on. "Despite all kinds of embargoes, our fifth-generation fighter aircraft KAAN successfully completed its first flight," he said, adding that the KAAN instilled confidence in "our allies and fear in our enemies." "From Asia to Europe and America, those who know what it means to have this technology are following KAAN very closely," Erdogan stated. He added that Trkiye had begun preparations to build "an even larger aircraft carrier following the TCG Anadolu," which entered service in Trkiye's navy in April last year. Underlining that Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have been in use in almost 50 different countries, Erdogan said UAVs are crucial to Trkiye's fight against terrorism. He said there would be no safe haven for terrorist groups, underlining that Turkish security forces are able to detect terrorists beyond the country's borders, roughly 300-350 kilometers (about 185-220 miles) away, and "neutralize" them "when they least expect it." "We exact a heavy price, in equal measure, from these packs of killers who take aim at our state and attack the children of our homeland," he added. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has revealed a supermassive black hole, classified as a quasar, which has confounded scientists' expectations. On its official website, NASA reported H1821+643, the closest quasar to Earth, located 3.4 billion light-years away within a cluster of galaxies, but seemingly less active than its counterparts. Led by Helen Russell and her team, astrophysicists scrutinizing the quasar's surroundings uncovered a surprising truth: It exerts minimal impact on its host galaxy. Quasars, voracious supermassive black holes, typically exhibit fierce activity, consuming matter voraciously, emitting intense radiation as well as powerful jets, according to the US space agency. Yet, H1821+643, despite its proximity and apparent vitality, has baffled astronomers with its lackluster performance. While traditional supermassive black holes regulate star formation by moderating the cooling of intergalactic gases, quasars like H1821+643 appear to defy this expectation. However, Chandra 's discerning gaze is helping scientists study the cosmic landscape surrounding the quasar. 'The researchers carefully removed the X-ray glare to reveal what the black hole's influence is, which is reflected in the new composite image showing X-rays from hot gas in the cluster surrounding the quasar,' NASA noted. The gas density near H1821+643's host galaxy failed to show the expected turbulence, instead displaying calm conditions and cool temperatures, despite the quasar's immense presence. 'The density of gas near the black hole in the center of the galaxy is much higher, and the gas temperatures much lower, than in regions farther away,' NASA said. The discovery of H1821+643 has challenged conventional wisdom, prompting a reevaluation of cosmic forces within quasars and host galaxies. The scientific community is exploring the implications of H1821+643's less-than-'stellar' performance, offering clues to the mysteries of the universe with further exploration and revelation. Source: Anadolu Agency

A decrease is recorded in the total fixed telephony connections for 2023, by 27,464, compared to 2022 according to the data by the Office of the Commissioner for the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (OCECPR) for the Electronic Communications market with data concerning up to December 2023. At the same time, according to the same data, the ratio of the total number of mobile users to the population of the Republic of Cyprus in 2023 shows an increase of 4.4% compared to 2022 and amounts to 156.1%. According to the data the OCECPR announced in a press release , in 2023, an increase was recorded in total fixed telephony connections compared to 2022 by 27,464, while Fiber Optic connections continue to rise due to the transition of subscribers to fiber optic networks which is now the main means of landline connection with a rate of 65%. It is noted that the number of fixed broadband subscribers in 2023 showed a small increase compared to 2022 (7,676, or a percentage of 2.2%), while in 2023 a signi ficant increase (+15.8%) was observed in the rates of subscriptions with a speed rate =100Mbps compared to 2022, mainly due to the expansion of fiber networks of providers and free upgrades to higher speed products due to competition. In addition, the small percentage of subscribers with speeds above 1Gbps is shown to double in relation to 2022 (2.8%). It is noted that the average data volume per fixed line during the fourth quarter of 2023 was 0.99 TB, continuing its upward trend, while the total data volume for 2023 shows a 26.5% increase compared to 2022. As regards fixed telephony and fixed broadband access, it is noted that the main means of fixed telephony connection is Fiber Optic connections with a percentage of 65%, while Cable connections are in second place with 21.3%. At the same time, it is noted that 2023 was the year in which fixed broadband access subscriptions showed a small increase (7,676, or a percentage of 2.2%), compared to 2022, as a result of the high penetration in households (94%). Furthermore, it is added that the percentage of xDSL connections decreased by 15.0% in 2023 compared to 2022 with the percentage of Fiber connections increasing by 16.3% respectively reaching 51.4%. At the same time, with regard to mobile telephony, the press release notes that, according to the data of the second half of 2023, the total number of mobile users showed an increase of 17,647 users compared to the first semester of the same year. The number of contract subscriptions shows a 1.8% increase compared to the second half of 2022, while contracts with unlimited data, voice and SMS make up 53.77% of contract subscriptions. Source: Cyprus News Agency