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Blinken pushes for more aid for Gaza in talks with Israel’s Netanyahu

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Blinken pushes for more aid for Gaza in talks with Israel’s Netanyahu

– U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss aid flow into Gaza amid tense relations due to the six-month-old war.
– Israel claimed to have killed or captured hundreds of Hamas fighters in a five-day operation at the Al Shifa hospital complex in Gaza, which Hamas and medical staff deny.
– Blinken has been engaging in diplomacy in the Middle East, including meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia and officials in Cairo, aiming for a ceasefire.
– U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “over the top” due to its toll on civilian lives.
– The war started with a Hamas raid into southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 253 hostages. Over 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments.
– Blinken emphasized the need for increased and sustained aid deliveries to Gaza, where the entire population faces severe food insecurity.
– Israeli Colonel Moshe Tetro denied food shortages in Gaza, claiming sufficient food enters daily.
– Discussions include Israel’s intention to launch a ground offensive on Rafah, with Washington objecting to the plan.
– An airstrike on a house in Al-Naser, east of Rafah, killed eight people, including a family with five children.
– Senior Israeli and U.S. officials are set to meet in Washington to discuss alternatives to a full-on assault on Hamas.
– Talks in Qatar focus on a proposal for a six-week halt to fighting, exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
– Israel aims to eradicate Hamas, while Hamas wants a permanent end to the war and Israeli troop withdrawal.
– Israeli troops claim to have killed or detained hundreds in the Al Shifa hospital, including senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad members, though Hamas denies fighters were in the compound.

Ministry outlines new citizenship criteria

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Ministry outlines new citizenship criteria

The Ministry of Interior has announced the acceptance and examination of naturalization applications under the Population Registry (Amendment) Law of 2023. The qualifications for naturalization include legal and continuous residence for 12 months before applying, legal residence for at least 7 years in the previous 10 years, good character, knowledge of the Greek language at level B1, understanding of the Republic’s modern political and social reality, suitable accommodation, stable financial resources, and an intention to reside in the Republic. Different qualifications apply to individuals residing for high-skilled employment and their families, under Ministerial Council Decision 92.018 dated 15/10/2021, including companies with foreign interests, Cypriot shipping, high-tech/innovation, pharmaceutical, biogenetics, and biotechnology companies, and those registered in the Foreign Companies Registry. These qualifications include legal residence for 12 months before applying, legal residence for 4 or 3 years depending on Greek language proficiency (A2 or B1), and similar requirements as the general qualifications regarding character, language, knowledge of the Republic, accommodation, financial resources, and residency intention.

King Charles doing ‘very well’, Camilla tells Belfast crowds

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King Charles doing ‘very well’, Camilla tells Belfast crowds

– King Charles is being treated for cancer and has been absent from public duties since January.
– Queen Camilla said King Charles is doing “very well.”
– Camilla and Prince William have been the public face of the royal family during Charles’s absence.
– Camilla, aged 76, interacted with the public in Belfast, including joking with a small boy and thanking a schoolgirl who gave her a card for Charles.
– Kate, the Princess of Wales, is recuperating from abdominal surgery for a non-cancerous condition and is expected to return to official duties after Easter on March 31.
– Britain’s data watchdog is investigating a report of attempted unauthorized access to Kate’s private health records at the London hospital where she was treated.
– Camilla, who has set up a reading charity, is scheduled to attend an event celebrating Northern Ireland’s literary history at Hillsborough Castle.

Uniting cultures through dance

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Uniting cultures through dance

Music, song, and dance are significant in uniting people across different cultures. In Cyprus and China, local initiatives are actively preserving traditional dance as part of modern life. Yanggyi, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher and passionate Tibetan dancer from Chengdu, China, formed a dance group in 2021 to promote Guozhuang, a traditional Tibetan dance. The group has become popular, amassing 420,000 social media followers. Guozhuang dance, characterized by its circle formation and symbolic movements, is a community and social cohesion symbol. In Cyprus, the Ayioi Omologites Cultural Centre, active since 1999, focuses on teaching and preserving traditional Cypriot dancing among all age groups. Research conducted in the 1980s by Alecos Iacovides documented specific characteristics of Cyprus traditional dancing. Both initiatives highlight the importance of respecting and preserving cultural traditions to foster a sense of belonging and community. Mirror of Culture is a joint initiative by the Cyprus Mail and the Chinese embassy, aiming to promote cultural understanding and preservation between Cypriot and Chinese cultures.

Hot or cold? How air to air heat pumps can help you withstand any weather

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Hot or cold? How air to air heat pumps can help you withstand any weather

An air to air heat pump is a heating and cooling system that transfers heat from the outside air into a home and can also cool indoor spaces by converting air into energy. It is considered a renewable energy system because it uses air instead of fossil fuels. These pumps are efficient, space-saving as they are installed outside, and can reduce electricity usage by up to 50% compared to traditional boilers and air conditioning units. They have a lifespan of 10-15 years, are easy to install, typically within a day, and require low maintenance. However, their efficiency can be significantly affected by outdoor temperatures, and they can be expensive with potential additional costs for extra parts. Proper insulation, adequate outdoor space, and professional installation are essential for optimal operation.

Reddit guides IPO may price at top of range or above

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Reddit guides IPO may price at top of range or above

Reddit and its bankers are considering pricing the company’s initial public offering (IPO) at the top of the indicated range or above. The San Francisco-based company aims for a valuation of .5 billion in the IPO, with share prices between and . If priced at the top end, the IPO would raise 8 million. Reddit confidentially filed for its IPO in December 2021 but delayed it due to market conditions. The IPO is highly anticipated, with shares expected to begin trading on a Thursday. The offering is between four and five times oversubscribed, indicating strong investor interest. Reddit has reserved 8% of the shares for eligible users, moderators, certain board members, and friends and family of employees and directors. The company declined to comment on the pricing plans, which were initially reported by Bloomberg News. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Bank of America Securities are the lead underwriters, with shares to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RDDT.”

Second British royal photograph involving Kate was digitally altered, Reuters says

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Second British royal photograph involving Kate was digitally altered, Reuters says

A second royal photograph issued by Kensington Palace, the office of Prince William and Kate, was found to be digitally altered in eight places according to Reuters, after an analysis by the news organization’s photo editors. The picture, released in April of the previous year to commemorate the 97th birthday of the late Queen Elizabeth, depicted the former monarch with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Balmoral Castle, taken by Kate. Getty Images informed its clients that the Balmoral picture had been “digitally enhanced at source” and is reviewing handout images for digital enhancements. The alterations were made through digital cloning, but the reasons for these changes were not immediately clear. Kensington Palace has not commented on the alterations. Following this, Reuters is updating its procedures for vetting images from Kensington Palace to ensure they meet editorial standards. Earlier, a photograph of Kate with her children was withdrawn by news organizations after failing to meet editorial standards, leading to Kate issuing an apology for any confusion caused by her editing of the photo.

A career in the world of money

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A career in the world of money

Cleopatra Kitti launched Queens of Money before Covid to empower women and improve financial literacy, drawing from her own experiences with money management. She comes from a background in the corporate and financial world, having worked abroad for two decades with various prestigious clients, including governments. Kitti has served on the board of Eurobank Cyprus and is a member of the Insead Independent Directors Network. She has been involved with the International Crisis Group as a philanthropist for peace. The seed money for Queens of Money came from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Kitti’s professional journey includes working for the Bank of Cyprus, founding her own PR and public affairs firm, and being engaged in various projects like the Mediterranean Growth Initiative (MGI) and a podcast called Koumanto Stin Tsepi Sou. She has faced personal challenges, including overcoming impostor syndrome and navigating life through two divorces while raising a son. Kitti emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing money effectively, especially for women, and advocates for Cyprus to be more proactive and involved in shaping EU policies.

Bill to see fairer handling of Turkish Cypriot property

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Bill to see fairer handling of Turkish Cypriot property

The cabinet has proposed a bill to amend the allocation and management of Turkish Cypriot properties, aiming to modernize the state’s handling of these matters. The new approach seeks to make procedures clearer, more equal, meritocratic, and protective of refugee interests by considering the socio-economic situation and family composition of applicants, using clear, objective, and measurable indicators. This will limit the discretion of the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties, a role currently held by the interior minister, due to past abuses and exploitation. The changes include counting any privately-owned property by applicants or their family in the Republic or occupied areas, considering real housing needs, setting a ceiling on agricultural land allocation to prevent over-accumulation, and considering applicant income from professional activity in commercial real estate allocation. The process of improving the management of Turkish Cypriot assets began in August 2023, with the audit of lease contracts for 3,211 properties, finding violations in 416 contracts. Measures to recover these properties have been promoted.

In Gaza, starving children fill hospital wards as famine looms

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In Gaza, starving children fill hospital wards as famine looms

Six-year-old Fadi al-Zant from Gaza is acutely malnourished, unable to walk, and suffers from cystic fibrosis. His health has deteriorated since the conflict began, as his medication is no longer available and his diet has been severely restricted. The Kamal Adwan hospital, where Fadi is being treated, has seen most of the 27 children who have died from malnutrition and dehydration recently. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warns that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, affecting over two-thirds of the people there. Despite Israel’s claims of not limiting aid, shortages of food, medicines, and clean water persist. Fadi’s condition worsened about two months ago, with his weight dropping from 30kg to 12kg. The U.N. children’s agency UNICEF reports nearly 1 in 3 children under two in northern Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition. Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of obstructing the provision of basic services and lifesaving aid, which Israel denies. Conditions in Gaza have been exacerbated by disease, with a significant increase in diarrhoea cases among children under 5, further hastening malnutrition.