Turkey News Gazette

ISTANBUL: Three Israelis sustained minor injuries on Monday morning in an alleged car-ramming attack in West Jerusalem. "This morning, a report was received regarding a ramming terror attack in which three pedestrians were run over by a vehicle on Mordechai Tekhelet Street in Jerusalem," the Israeli police said in a statement. The police said they are investigating the incident. Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 34,000 people following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. At least 485 Palestinians have since been killed and over 4,800 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank, according to the Health Ministry. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in 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. *Writing by Mohammad Si o in Istanbul Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) recorder a year-over-year decline in March, marking a negative growth rate of 0.9%. This downturn follows a marginal increase of 0.2% in January and a decrease of 0.6% in February of the same year, according to the latest data released by the Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus. According to a CypERC press release, the fluctuation in CCLEI growth mirrors the volatility and uncertainty prevailing in the international economic and geopolitical landscape. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, coupled with military tensions in the Middle East, has heightened global uncertainty, significantly impacting Cyprus compared to the previous year. In March 2024, both the Economic Sentiment Indicators (ESI) for the euro area and Cyprus recorded negative year-over-year growth rates. However, Cyprus experienced a more pronounced deterioration compared to the euro area, indicative of heightened economic uncertainty within the island nation . Several factors contributed to the negative growth of CCLEI in March. Notably, a decline in property sales contracts and an increase in the international Brent Crude oil price played significant roles. The escalation in oil prices, for the first time since December 2022, exacerbated the negative growth trend. Although domestic components of CCLEI moderated the overall decline, recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pose further challenges. The flare-up in the region is anticipated to impact oil prices and inflation, consequently affecting the CCLEI growth rate in the short term. According to CypERC, the CCLEI growth and the development prospects of the Cypriot economy are highly dependent on the international economic and geopolitical environment, with the year-over-year CCLEI growth rate noting a decline in March 2024. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Russia on Monday said it will take necessary steps if US nuclear weapons appear in neighboring Poland. "The military, of course, if such plans are implemented, will analyze the situation and in any case will do everything necessary, all the necessary retaliatory steps, to guarantee our security," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press briefing in Moscow. Peskov's remarks came after Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with local media earlier in the day that his country would allow the deployment of nuclear weapons on Polish territory "if this is the decision of our allies." During the press briefing, Peskov said Moscow would also take legal action against legislation in the US that would allow the seizure of frozen Russian assets. "We are very skeptical about this, because this is nothing short of a breakdown of all the foundations of the economic system ... In no case should this be taken as legal actions - they are illegal. And accordingly, they will be the su bject of retaliatory actions and the subject of litigation," Peskov said. On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed a $60.8 billion aid bill to Ukraine, as well as an act allowing the administration of President Joe Biden to confiscate Russian assets present in US banks and transfer them to Ukraine. Expressing that this trial will be "very complex," he said it would cause severe damage to US economic interests should the bill be signed into law. "If such measures are implemented, of course, many investors will think 10 times before making any investments in the American economy or storing their holdings there," he added. Peskov went on to say that Russia expects more Western "sanctions exercises" to come. "We will look at what decisions will be made, in any case we will try to minimize the consequences of such decisions and do as our national interests dictate," the Kremlin spokesman added. Source: Anadolu Agency

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides expressed his satisfaction with the support his request to start the discussion on the re-designation of areas in Syria as safe has received by EU member states in the latest European Council. President Christodoulides was replying to journalists' questions on the sidelines of an event organised by the Cyprus Youth Organisation on Monday in Nicosia. Asked when he will proceed with the appointment of a Deputy Minister of Migration, he said "immediately". Replying to a question about the next steps in the migration issue regarding Syria, the President said that he officially requested during the recent European Council for a discussion to begin "so that some areas of Syria are designated as safe areas, on the basis that they are safe areas and we know that certain areas are (safe)." He also expressed his satisfaction for the fact that "a certain number of member states supported our position," noting also that there was no reaction or negative position express ed about his request. President Christodoulides also recalled that on 2 May he will travel with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Lebanon, which "was an initiative of the Republic of Cyprus". This, he said, is another development in the context of the holistic approach "to address this issue, and it is something that is of great concern to us." Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Airports in Istanbul saw 27.1 million passengers travelling in the first quarter of the year, within the January-March period. The rise in air traffic and passenger density in 2023 continued in the first quarter of this year after a significant decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) compiled by Anadolu. The increase in the number of passengers had a positive impact on the balance sheets of airline companies, and with the arrival of the tourism season, the increase is expected to continue in the coming months. Istanbul Airport, located in the European side of the city, hosted a total of 17.6 million passengers in the first three months of this year, 3.5 million of whom traveled on domestic routes and 14.1 million on international routes. The airport hosted 16.2 million passengers in the same period last year, which indicates an increase of 1.4 million passengers. Number of passengers flying through ?Sabiha Gokcen A irport hike 22% Sabiha Gokcen Airport, located in the Asian part of the bi-continental city, saw a total of 9.4 million passengers in the January-March period -- 4.2 million on domestic flights and 5.1 million on international flights. In the two airports of Istanbul, a total of 27.1 million passengers were hosted, up 13% from last year, which was 23.9 million. Number of flights continue to rise The number of flights from both airports in Istanbul rose as well as the number of passengers, as the January-March period saw Istanbul Airport host a total of 120,100 flights, 26,400 of which were domestic and 93,000 of which were international flights. The number of total flights on Istanbul Airport was at 113,800 in the same period last year, revealing an increase of 6,300 flights this year. Flights on Sabiha Gokcen Airport up 12% ? Sabiha Gokcen Airport recorded a total of 56,700 flights this year in the first three months, 31,100 of which were international, and 25,600 of which were domestic. The number o f flights were up 12% from last year's 50,600 flights. Istanbul airports clocked in 183,000 flights in total in the first three months of 2024. * Writing by Emir Yildirim Source: Anadolu Agency

President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, has stressed the need for solidarity, as well as raising awareness of the civil society in issues related to the equal participation of women in decision-making centers. Demetriou was speaking at the Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliaments of EU member states that took place within the framework of the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the European Union member countries in Palma de Mallorca. A press release by the House of Representatives says that in her intervention in a round table discussion on the issue of women's leadership, the President of the Parliament pointed out the need for solidarity, but also the need to raise the awareness of civil society on the issues of equal participation of women in decision-making centers, especially given the politically difficult times. This is the only way to protect democracies and democratic societies, she underlined. Other Presidents underlined in their interventions their commitment to sup port the efforts made to include gender issues at all levels. The meeting was concluded with the adoption of Conclusions, which stress the role of parliaments in women's empowerment issues and gender equality and the adoption of legislation regarding the equal participation of women in decision-making centers. The Conclusions also condemn all forms of hate speech and violence and highlight the importance of adopting quotas in terms of parliamentary representation, the press release concludes. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid discussed counter-terrorism and Israel's ongoing Gaza offensive during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday, according to Trkiye's Communications Directorate. "The meeting addressed bilateral relations between Trkiye and Iraq, Israel's attacks on Gaza, regional and global issues, and the fight against terror," the Communications Directorate said on X after the meeting that took place during Erdogan's first official visit to Iraq in 13 years. It also said Erdogan conveyed Ankara's expectations from Iraq "regarding the fight against the terrorist organization PKK" and that the country must be cleared of "all forms of terror." 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. PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, near the Turkish b orders, to plot attacks on Turkish soil. Muslim unity against 'Israeli oppression in Gaza' Erdogan also highlighted the need for Muslim countries to work together to bring Israel's ongoing attacks in Gaza to an end. "Pointing out that efforts to stop Israeli oppression in Gaza continue, President Erdogan expressed that Muslim countries should act in unity during this process," said the Communications Directorate. Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people. At least 34,151 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, besides causing mass destruction, displacement and severe shortages of necessities. Iraqi stability Erdogan underlined that stability in Iraq required the normalization of relations between Iraq's central administration and its northern Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). He stressed the need for its Turkmen community to "reach the status they deserve," according to the statement. "President Erdogan stated that the steps taken by Trkiye and Iraq in cooperation in the coming period will also contribute to regional development and welfare," the statement added. During his one-day official visit, Erdogan also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in Baghdad. Erdogan was accompanied by Trkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, his chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic, and other ministers. After Baghdad, he will also be visiting Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq. President of the Kurdish Regional Government Nechirvan Barzani expressed his happiness for hosting Erdogan in Erbil, saying: 'I look forward to receiving President Erdogan in Erbil and discussing pressing issues, including peace, stability and economic development.' Barzani said on X that Erdogan's 'historic visit' to Erbil and Baghdad comes at 'sensitive time.' 'It highlights the strong political, economic and security relations" between Iraq, its Kurdish Regional Government and Trkiye, he added. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: The Maldives' ruling People's National Congress (PNC) party won a supermajority in parliament, preliminary results after Sunday's crucial parliamentary elections showed, further strengthening pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu. The PNC won 68 seats in the People's Majlis, the South Asian archipelago nation's 93-member parliament, according to the results from the election commission cited by local English daily The Sun. Over 200,000 Maldivians voted in the parliamentary elections, in which 326 candidates vied for 93 seats. Ruling party candidates ran for 90 seats, while the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ran for 89 but suffered a major blow after winning just 10 of those. The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), which is allied with PNC, won two seats, while the Maldives National Party (MNP), another of the ruling party's allies, won one. The Jumhoory Party (JP) won a single seat and 11 independent candidates also won seats. The Maldives' strategic importance in the Indian Ocea n is on the rise for regional heavyweights India and China, which are vying for influence in the country. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Tajikistan and the UK on Monday discussed the expansion of interparliamentary relations between the two countries amid the first-ever visit by Britain's top diplomat to the Central Asian country since the establishment of bilateral ties. 'During the meeting, the parties discussed relations between the two countries in the political, economic, trade, cultural and humanitarian spheres. One of the important topics of the meeting was the expansion of interparliamentary relations,' said a Tajik presidential statement following talks between Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron in the capital Dushanbe. Stating that the meeting addressed issues regarding cooperation between Tajikistan and the UK, the statement said both parties expressed interest in developing cooperation toward green energy production and the transition to a green economy. The statement further said the meeting underlined the need to attract investment to Tajikistan from the UK, particularly in the mini ng, metallurgical, light, food, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. 'We consider the UK an important partner in Western Europe. Our country pays great attention to the development and strengthening of multifaceted relations with the Kingdom,' Rahmon was also quoted as saying. The statement went on to say that cooperation between Tajikistan and the UK in ensuring security and stability in the region was also discussed at the meeting. For his part, Cameron expressed satisfaction with the noticeable expansion of multifaceted relations between his country and Tajikistan, as well as their 'good prospects,' the statement added. Cameron later held talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin, after which the two diplomats signed an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries, paving the way for the opening of direct flights between Dushanbe and London, according to a Tajik Foreign Ministry statement. The British Foreign Office announced in a later statement that Cameron embarked on a vis it to Central Asian countries - namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - and Mongolia "as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world." "Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it's vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity," Cameron was quoted as saying. Source: Anadolu Agency