A Turkish national stabbed an Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem, and was then shot dead by officers at the scene. The attacker was identified as a 34-year-old Turkish citizen. The border policeman was moderately wounded during the incident. Israeli security forces have been on high alert since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that sparked the six-month-old war in Gaza.
The majority Greek Cypriot population voted down the UN plan in the referendums held on April 24, 2004, with a turnout of 89.18% for Greek Cypriots and 87% for Turkish Cypriots.
Iran launched a significant attack on Israel, which was largely expected as retaliation for previous events. The attack was carefully calculated to avoid a full-scale war and there is cautious optimism for a de-escalation of the crisis. Iran’s action was more symbolic than substantive, and Israel is expected to react in a targeted manner to avoid further conflict. Further escalation by Iran is considered unlikely at present. Both Iran and Israel are regional powers with complex security concerns.
Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians near Tubas in the occupied West Bank. One of them, Mohammad Omar Daraghmeh, was a member of Hamas and the head of Hamas infrastructure in the Tubas area. Daraghmeh was killed during an exchange of fire with security forces and weapons were found in his vehicle. Another man was killed in a raid in the Al-Fara refugee camp, but it is unclear if he was a member of Hamas. The incident is part of a series of confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza.
Fenerbahce are set to vote on whether they will withdraw from the Super Lig after their players were attacked by Trabzonspor fans during a match.
Hamas accused rivals in the Palestinian Authority of sending security officers into northern Gaza under the guise of securing aid trucks.
The north’s Famagusta police chief, Baris Sel, claimed his arrest in the “fake diploma scandal” was a conspiracy against him. He was accused of fraudulently obtaining a master’s degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) in Morphou but claimed he submitted a thesis to KSTU’s general secretary. A lieutenant colonel from the ‘TRNC security forces command’ was arrested for obtaining a forged doctorate from KSTU but released on bail. Another ‘TRNC security forces command’ employee, a captain, was arrested and remanded in custody. Two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, were also arrested in connection with the scandal, with one found in possession of a certificate of study and the other a degree certificate from KSTU. Avcil claimed to have lost his phone when summoned to the police station.
The Turkish Cypriot community is facing a scandal involving fake university diplomas and corruption, which has now affected the security forces’ command. Lieutenant Colonel Özgür Alp was remanded in custody for using a fake diploma for promotion within the Turkish military. The fake diploma was claimed to be from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. A high-ranking police officer, Serif Avcil, was also arrested over a fake diploma. This scandal is part of larger issues involving the KSTU university in Morphou, with allegations of embezzlement and fraud through fake student registrations and diplomas. The university is owned by Levent Uysal, a deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Celebi Ilik, involved in the scandal, used fake diplomas for civil service promotions and is facing charges related to forgery. Uysal attempted to obtain a €45 million loan from Swiss IntaCapital bank with fake documents in 2022 but avoided judicial proceedings by getting elected to parliament in May 2023. Turgay Avci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot higher education watchdog Yodak, is under investigation for possibly having a fake diploma. There are also allegations against Dunya Baris Universitesi for operating illegally and investigations into irregularities in a real estate purchase by Altinbas Holding. Ali Altınbaş and Sofu Altınbaş were detained in September 2020 for involvement in a fuel profiteering network and accused of establishing a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud, and forgery.
Russia is consolidating control over occupied Ukrainian territory through arbitrary detention, killings, and torture, creating a climate of fear. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported on rights breaches by Russia, including censorship, surveillance, political oppression, repression of free speech, and movement restrictions. Russia denies committing atrocities or deliberately attacking civilians, calling its actions a “special military operation.” Russia controls over 17% of Ukraine’s territory, affecting several million people. The HRMMU’s findings are based on interviews with over 2,300 individuals. Initial rights violations involved killings, torture, and arbitrary detention, targeting those linked to Ukrainian security forces or supportive of Ukraine. This was followed by restrictions on movement, assembly, and expression, and efforts to replace Ukrainian state institutions with Russian ones, violating international humanitarian law. Schools were forced to adopt the Russian language and curriculum, and the justice system jailed people in Russian prisons. Civil servants were compelled to comply with new systems. At the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, workers faced threats, intimidation, and arbitrary arrest if they resisted. Russia also pushed for residents to take Russian citizenship, linking access to services like healthcare and social security to holding a Russian passport. Residents were encouraged to spy on each other, and communication links between Ukrainians in occupied areas and those in territories controlled by Kyiv were cut, isolating families.
After Trabzonspor lost 3-2 to Fenerbahce, fans stormed the pitch, brawling with security and Fenerbahce players. Fred scored twice for Fenerbahce, and Enis Bardhi and Trezeguet scored for Trabzonspor. Michy Batshuayi scored the winning goal for Fenerbahce. A fan fought with Fenerbahce’s Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Batshuayi kicked at fans. An investigation into the brawl has been launched. This incident is part of a series of controversies in the Turkish league this season.