Israel

On This Day: Architect Frank Lloyd Wright died in 1959

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On This Day: Architect Frank Lloyd Wright died in 1959

Germany invaded Denmark and Norway in World War Two. Frank Lloyd Wright, an influential American architect, died. Hendrik Verwoerd, South African prime minister, was wounded in an assassination attempt. Niger’s president, Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, was assassinated by dissident soldiers. Denmark’s Flemmin Rasmussen set a new world record for log lifting. AMR Corp. purchased bankrupt Trans World Airlines. Saddam Hussein’s rule over Iraq ended as U.S. forces took control of Baghdad. Israel cut off contact with Hamas-led Palestinian government. Anti-U.S. protests occurred in Iraq on the fourth anniversary of the invasion. The 50th anniversary of Houston’s Astrodome stadium was celebrated.

Farah Nabulsi: Cinema holds a powerful role in addressing oppressions

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Farah Nabulsi: Cinema holds a powerful role in addressing oppressions

Farah Nabulsi started her career as an institutional equity stockbroker but transitioned to filmmaking in her late 30s after visiting Palestine. She founded Native Liberty Productions to highlight injustices faced by Palestinians. Her work, including the short film “The Present,” has received international acclaim. Nabulsi’s latest film, “The Teacher,” will be screened at the Cyprus Film Days International Festival. She believes cinema plays a crucial role in addressing oppressive realities and hopes to contribute to a narrative that inspires change.

UK sends Royal Navy ship to boost aid for Gaza and set up a new maritime corridor

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UK sends Royal Navy ship to boost aid for Gaza and set up a new maritime corridor

A British Royal Navy ship will supply aid to Gaza as part of an international effort to set up a new humanitarian maritime corridor in early May. The initiative, involving the United States, Cyprus, and other partners, aims to deliver aid directly to Gaza through a temporary pier off the coast. The British government has pledged 9.7 million pounds for aid equipment and logistical expertise. Military teams have been working on developing the safest and most effective maritime route. Last week, the killing of seven aid workers, including three British nationals, in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza led to global outrage.

Nicaragua seeks to halt German arms exports to Israel at World Court

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Nicaragua seeks to halt German arms exports to Israel at World Court

Nicaragua has asked the International Court of Justice to order Germany to stop military arms exports to Israel and to resume funding for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, citing a serious risk of genocide in Gaza. Germany denies the allegations and states it has not violated international law. Germany is a major arms exporter to Israel, sending 326.5 million euros in military equipment in 2023. Since October 7, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Germany has resumed some funding to UNRWA in certain regions, but not in Gaza.

Drone footage shows a lively Gaza turned to wasteland since war began

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Drone footage shows a lively Gaza turned to wasteland since war began

Drone footage of Gaza over the six months of warfare between Israel and Hamas reveals the transformation of the once vibrant Palestinian enclave into a vast wasteland of rubble and twisted steel. Residents have been forced to seek shelter from Israeli bombardment aimed at eliminating Hamas. The conflict has resulted in the destruction of buildings, streets, and mosques, leaving Gaza in a state of devastation and despair.

Services sector records strong growth in 2023

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Services sector records strong growth in 2023

– The services sector in Cyprus performed well in 2023, with significant improvements in various key areas.
– Accommodation and catering services saw an increase of 18.9%, administrative and support services grew by 15.5%, professional, scientific, and technical activities by 2.7%, and information and communication by 2%.
– Tourism sector showed improvement in 2023, with tourist arrivals reaching 3,845,652, approaching pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
– The UK had the most tourist arrivals in Cyprus in 2023, followed by Israel, Poland, and Germany.
– The Shipping sector transported 98% of raw materials and essential goods in Cyprus in 2023, contributing about 7% of GDP.
– Oev undertook various initiatives in 2023, including research on digital skills, Innovation Awards, and promoting digital skills and AI adoption.
– Oev also organized a Business Mission to Greece, Information Day on dispute resolution methods, and supported the newly established Tourism Promotion Agency.

Israel’s Netanyahu: No Gaza truce without release of hostages

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Israel’s Netanyahu: No Gaza truce without release of hostages

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will not agree to a ceasefire until the hostages held in Gaza are released. Netanyahu made these comments at a cabinet meeting, as new truce talks in Egypt are set to start. Israel refuses to give in to demands from Hamas, who initiated the war with an attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas had instructions to use sexual violence as a weapon, Israeli lawyer tells Phileleftheros

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Hamas had instructions to use sexual violence as a weapon, Israeli lawyer tells Phileleftheros

An Israeli former Hamas hostage from the October 7 attack spoke out about the sexual violence and torture she endured. A UN report confirmed Israel’s allegations of ongoing sexual violence by Hamas. The victims of the attack are in the process of healing and dealing with their trauma. The Israeli government developed programmes to help survivors of the attack. Feminist organizations worldwide did not provide sufficient support to Israeli women who were victims of sexual violence. Israeli women did not receive necessary international support due to antisemitism and ignorance. It is crucial for women to stand united and demand justice for sexual violence in wartime. The Israeli army has been accused of sexual assaults against Palestinian women, but there is no evidence to justify the allegations. Hostages still in Hamas’s hands are subjected to sexual assaults, isolation, and poor living conditions.

Israeli military reduces troops in southern Gaza, spokesperson says

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Israeli military reduces troops in southern Gaza, spokesperson says

The Israeli military has withdrawn ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip, leaving just one brigade there. The move comes as Egypt prepares to host talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The offensive in Gaza has focused on the south, with more than 33,100 Palestinians killed. Israel is facing threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and potential retaliation from Iran. President Biden has demanded Israel improve humanitarian conditions and work towards a ceasefire, leveraging U.S. aid to influence Israeli military behavior. More than 130 hostages are still in captivity in Gaza.

Ryanair flights from Israel to Cyprus resume

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Ryanair flights from Israel to Cyprus resume

Regular flights between Cyprus and Tel Aviv will resume, with four flights per week to Paphos from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv starting from June 3. This was made possible after Ben Gurion’s airport began operating terminal 1 again. Losses in the first five months of 2024 amount to 100,000 visitors in Cyprus from the Israeli market.