Category: General

?he migration issue is here to stay, Cyprus' Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, said on Wednesday at a conference organised by socialist party EDEK on migration, noting that this was a primarily social phenomenon, with humanitarian implications, with duration, and variable aspects. In his speech, Ioannou stressed that in the first four months of 2024, Cyprus continued to record a positive trend, with a thousand more returns compared to last year's corresponding period, noting, however, that the large number of arrivals by sea of Syrian nationals from Syria and, mainly Lebanon, continued to be 'the biggest problem'. He also noted that the very positive results in the field of returns, 'forced the competent European officials to use Cyprus as a point of reference'. Ioannou said that Cyprus has been in recent years, peaking in 2021 and 2022, under 'suffocating pressure' due to massive migration flows. As a result, and according to recent Eurostat data, he said, 'Cyprus remains even today the country wit h the largest percentage of asylum seekers, in relation to its population, in the entire European Union, which makes efforts for effective management of the migration issue, difficult'. He said that the Republic of Cyprus was focusing on two directions, on the one hand, through the diplomatic channel, pushing in the direction of the European Commission for the re-evaluation of areas of Syria and their declassification from war-torn to safe, and, on the other hand, working towards European support for Lebanon, applying similar practices as in the case of Turkey and in the context of an agreement between the EU and Lebanon, in the same way it was done before with Tunisia and Egypt. In this context, the President of the Republic will travel to Lebanon on May 2, together with the President of the European Commission, in order to discuss the issue of economic support to the country, he added. At the Commission level, the effort was focused on the preparation and presentation by then, of the support package for L ebanon, he said. The Minister also mentioned that the Government was preparing to host a ministerial meeting in Cyprus, which will examine the external dimension of migration with an emphasis on the next steps for Syria, with the participation of EU Ministers responsible for migration issues. The aim, he said, was to form a coalition of countries with common concerns, but also to coordinate their actions. Source: Cyprus News Agency

Candidacies for the June local administration elections will be submitted on Thursday. Hopefuls for the posts of presidents of district organisations, mayors, deputy mayors, members of municipal councils, as well as the members of school boards will submit their interest officially to be included in the ballots. Every citizen of the Republic of Cyprus or another member state of the European Union, who reaches the age of 18 up to and including the date of the elections, has the right to vote, provided that he/she is registered in the electoral roll. The total number of citizens who have the right to vote in the upcoming elections reaches 706,534. The local administration elections will take place at the same day as the European elections on June 9. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, delivered a bombshell testimony on Tuesday, revealing the inner workings of a scheme to suppress damaging stories during Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The criminal hush money trial involving the former US president saw its first witness take the stand in the US courtroom on Tuesday. Pecker disclosed to the New York court that the Enquirer engaged in a practice known as "catch and kill," wherein he paid individuals with potentially damaging stories about Trump and then buried those stories, preventing them from reaching the public eye. His testimony shed light on payments made to two individuals who had stories of Trump's alleged sexual misconduct. "When someone's running for public office like this, it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try to sell their stories," Pecker said during his testimony. Pecker also revealed the decision to suppress these stories stemmed from a 2015 me eting with Trump himself. He claimed to have assured Trump of favorable coverage in the Enquirer and pledged to shield him from damaging revelations. One such payment involved former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who allegedly had a relationship with Trump in 2006 and 2007 but the former US president denied having an affair with McDougal. Pecker asserted that he purchased McDougal's story after Trump declined to do so himself. Another payment was made to a Trump Tower doorman, Dino Sajudin, who falsely claimed Trump fathered a child with a maid. "I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it would have to the campaign and Mr. Trump," Pecker noted. David Pecker is due to testify again when the trial continues on Thursday. Legal battle intensifies Prosecutors claim Pecker helped Trump deceive voters by suppressing alleged affair stories in 2016. They have charged Trump with falsifying records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump denied the encounter, pleading not guilty to protect his reputation. This trial, one of four against Trump, could affect his candidacy if he is found guilty. Pecker's testimony came after a hearing addressing prosecutors' request to fine Trump $10,000 for breaching a gag order. Judge Juan Merchan expressed skepticism towards Trump's defense, stating that it lacked evidence. "I have to tell you right now, you're losing all credibility with the court," Merchan warned. Trump claimed the order violated his free speech rights. Prosecutor Christopher Conroy argued Trump knowingly violated the order, citing derogatory social media posts. The $10,000 fine sought by Conroy may seem small compared to Trump's bonds in other cases. Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche argued the social media posts were responses to political attacks and not connected to the anticipation of his former lawyer's testimony. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish security forces "neutralized" six PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The terrorists were "neutralized" in an air operation in the Hakurk region, it wrote on X. "Turkish Armed Forces continue to destroy terrorist lairs in northern Iraq," it said."Our fight against terrorism will continue effectively and decisively." Turkish authorities use "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or 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 over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it delivered life-saving aid to Palestinians in a 'high-risk' mission in the northern Gaza Strip amid a tight Israeli blockade. In a statement, UNRWA said the aid mission was jointly carried out with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the northern city of Jabalia. The aid mission was the first to have been announced by the UN refugee agency since it was denied entry by Israel to northern Gaza. 'UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian effort, bringing life-saving assistance to people across the Gaza Strip,' the UN agency said. On March 24, the Israeli authorities informed the UN it would no longer approve the passage of any UNRWA food convoys into northern Gaza. Israel has launched a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people. More than 34,200 Palestinians have since been killed and 77,200 others injured amid a tight siege imposed by Israel, which left t he entire population, especially residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation. More than six months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave's population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN. In March, the UN warned of 'imminent famine' in Gaza and appealed for swift action to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the territory. UNRWA was created by the UN General Assembly more than 70 years ago to assist Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from their land. The agency provides crucial support to millions of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and other areas where large numbers of registered Palestinians reside. 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. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reaffirmed Wednesday Spain's intention to recognize the Palestinian state, citing it as a step towards securing a two-state solution and ensuring lasting peace in the Middle East. "We want to recognize the Palestinian state to make the two-state solution irreversible, which is the same as making peace in the Middle East irreversible," said Albares during his address in the Spanish parliament, challenging opposition members on various aspects of the government's policies. The minister stressed the government's commitment to "humanitarian aid" in Gaza, defending the increase in "voluntary donations to UNRWA," aimed at aiding Palestinians in need. "That is what you rejected in this Chamber yesterday, supporting food and education for boys and girls," he also criticized opposition members for rejecting initiatives providing food and education for children, underscoring the vital importance of such assistance. Furthermore, Albares questioned parliament's d isagreement with the government's endeavors, ranging from fostering robust neighborly relations to supporting international "peace" initiatives. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with neighboring countries, particularly those "sharing a border" with Spain. Albares also advocated for continued "support to Ukraine" and stressed the significance of diplomatic efforts for global peace. Addressing concerns over citizen protection, he also cited recent successful interventions, including the repatriation of a sick Spanish national from Thailand and the release of unjustly detained individuals in Iran. Albares concluded by asserting Spain's stature as a significant global player, despite perceptions of its size and strength. He underscored that the government's actions align with values that define Spain's position in the world. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: At least 79 more Palestinians were killed and 86 others injured over the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them, the ministry said. Israel has killed 34,262 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 77,229 others since the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border incursion by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives. The war has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food and other essentials, while much of the enclave's infrastructure has either been damaged or destroyed. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in in January ordered Tel Aviv to prevent genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. According to Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, famine in northern Gaza can be averted only through 'meaningful and uninterrupted supply' of aid supplies. Source: Anadolu Agency

The European Union is known for the undoing of borders and as a place where former enemies become partners and friends, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Georgios Iacovou, said on Wednesday during a debate in the European Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, the biggest enlargement in the history of the European Union. Asked by Kyriakos Giallourides - one of the 10 young people born on May 1, 2004 who were in Strasbourg for the celebrations - about the expectations that Cypriots had in the run-up to Cyprus' accession to the European Union and whether he believes that these expectations have been met, Iacovou replied that "Cyprus has always recognised how exposed it was both economically and geopolitically". He added that Cypriots above all hoped for security and stability. "Today we feel we have both," he said. At the same time, he said that more practically, young Cypriots were excited about the opportunity to study, to work, to live anywhe re in the European Union and "today we are proud of the fact that the flow of European citizens is in both directions." He also noted that many Cypriots had hoped that accession would take place at the same time as the reunification of Cyprus. 'This did not happen and Cyprus joined as a country divided. But the European Union is known for the undoing of borders and where former enemies become partners and friends,' he said. Addressing Kyriakos he said 'I am an old man now and I hope in my heart that your generation will achieve what mine did not. Thank you for being here.' At her speech President von der Leyen said that 'when the clock struck midnight, on 1 May 2004, a whole continent burst into celebration, the flames of bonfires lit up the night in the Baltic states. A thousand fireworks coloured the sea around Malta and Cyprus, and the lakes of Slovenia, and the Ode to Joy resonated in the cities of Central and Eastern Europe, previously on the other side of the Iron Curtain'. She noted that European c itizens in the then new member states saw their countries transformed, saying that their economies boomed, agricultural production tripled and unemployment rates have been cut by half. She stressed also that 'the power of Europe, together with your ingenuity, has brought a true economic miracle to all your countries. In so many different ways, Europe has made you stronger. But you have made Europe so much stronger, too'. She explained that people and companies across Europe have enjoyed new opportunities to study and work, export and invest in a wider Union. 'You have empowered our response to the geopolitical challenges we face, from our Eastern Members' resolute support to Ukraine, to Cyprus' leadership in opening a maritime corridor for aid to Gaza', she said. Addressing the ceremony, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that in these past two decades, Europe has been met with unprecedented challenges. 'Together, we have managed to meet them head-on', she said. She emphasized that unity does not mean being homogenous. 'Europe does not seek to make everyone the same. We are proud of our differences. Proud of our unique traditions, our cultures, our languages and our diversity. We have proven that over the past 20 years', she mentioned. The present and former EU leaders were joined by the former European Commissioner for Enlargement Gnter Verheugen and representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. Statements were also made by the former President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi and the former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, who were in office in 2004, the year of the accession of the 10 countries. During the ceremony, the guests answered questions from a group of young people from the then-new member states and born on or around 1 May 2004 and present in Strasbourg. The ceremony ended with Beethoven's Ode to Joy, performed by the Voix de Stras' acapella choir. On May 1, 2004, Cyprus became a full EU Member State, along with the other nine acceding countries - The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. On January 1, 2008, Cyprus joined the eurozone. Cyprus assumed the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2012 and the next Cypriot Presidency is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned the Israeli war crimes committed against Palestinians following the discovery of mass graves in the courtyard of the Nasser Medical Complex in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. In a statement, the kingdom's Foreign Ministry expressed "condemnation of the continued and unchecked heinous war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, the latest of which is the mass graves discovered in the Nasser Medical Complex in the city of Khan Younis." It also said the international community's failure to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law "will only result in more violations and exacerbation of humanitarian tragedies and destruction." The statement reiterated Saudi Arabia's call for the international community to assume "its responsibility to stop the Israeli occupation's attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip." Over 300 bodies have been recovered so far from the mass grave at Nasser Medical Complex after the Israeli army withdrew from the city on April 7 following a four-month ground offensive, according to Gaza's civil defense agency. Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people. More than 34,180 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 77,000 others injured amid mass destruction and severe 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