Israel

Cyprus hoteliers concerned as Israel tourism market dips

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Cyprus hoteliers concerned as Israel tourism market dips

– Tourism in Paphos has not yet been significantly affected by the conflict in Israel, but there is concern about potential impacts in 2024.
– The tourism industry in Paphos has recovered following the pandemic.
– Israelis are canceling planned holidays and weddings in Cyprus due to the military operations that began at the end of 2023.
– Leisure centres catering to domestic clients in Paphos have not seen a decrease in business, but those focusing on international tourism are experiencing a decline.
– Businesses affected include those in Kato Paphos, Coral Bay, and Polis Chrysochous.
– Israel is the second most important tourist market for Cyprus.
– The ongoing conflict in Israel is causing lost reservations and uncertainty in the tourism sector in Paphos.

Larnaca hosting international meeting on “Amalthea” initiative

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Larnaca hosting international meeting on “Amalthea” initiative

Senior officials from 35 countries and international organizations are meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus, to discuss food security in the Gaza Strip. The two-day meeting aims to address the food crisis in Gaza amid the ongoing war in Palestine. Over 150 attendees are participating both in person and virtually, focusing on coordinating humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza by sea and securing financial support for the “Amalthea” project, a Cyprus-led initiative targeting Gaza’s food security challenges. The meeting’s primary goal is to establish a framework for the technical implementation of the “Amalthea” Plan, including the creation of a joint fund for financial support and addressing logistical elements for the project’s operation.

Private education: rushing to meet growing demand

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Private education: rushing to meet growing demand

English language schools in Cyprus are experiencing significant growth due to the influx of foreign companies and the arrival of families from regions experiencing conflict, such as Israel and Ukraine. This surge in demand has led to expansions and new school openings across the island, particularly in Limassol, which has seen a notable increase in students due to the Russian presence prior to the Ukrainian conflict. Both local and international families are seeking high-quality education with English as the medium of instruction, influenced by factors such as Cyprus’s EU membership, remote work opportunities, and regional conflicts. However, this growth is challenged by regulations on class sizes, bureaucratic delays, and difficulties in recruiting staff and obtaining work permits for prospective employees. Despite these challenges, the commitment to education remains strong among Cypriot families, who are willing to make financial sacrifices for their children’s education, viewing it as a crucial investment.

Blinken begins new Middle East trip as U.S. strains with Israel show

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Blinken begins new Middle East trip as U.S. strains with Israel show

– U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a Middle East mission, with no initial stop in Israel announced.
– Intense fighting occurred around Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, with Israel claiming to have killed 90 gunmen and Hamas stating those killed were civilians.
– Blinken was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Cairo to discuss efforts to secure a truce in the conflict.
– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a plea from President Joe Biden to call off plans for a ground assault of Rafah.
– Netanyahu aims to complete the elimination of Hamas battalions in Rafah through a ground assault.
– The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, with Hamas killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, and nearly 32,000 Palestinians confirmed killed since then.
– Ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with discussions on a truce involving the release of around 40 Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
– Israel launched an operation against Al Shifa hospital, claiming Hamas fighters regrouped there, and reported killing 90 gunmen and detaining 160 at the hospital.
– Hamas acknowledged a senior police commander was killed in the hospital but stated he was responsible for civilian security.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar unexpectedly quits

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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar unexpectedly quits

Leo Varadkar announced he would step down as Ireland’s prime minister, believing a new leader would increase the coalition government’s chances of reelection. He has asked his Fine Gael party to elect a new leader by April 6, after which parliament will vote on the new prime minister post-Easter. Varadkar, who became the first gay prime minister of Ireland in 2017 and resumed office 15 months ago, cited personal and political reasons for his resignation. His departure does not trigger a general election, which must occur by March 2025. The main opposition, Sinn Fein, currently leads in polls over Fine Gael and their main coalition partner, Fianna Fail. Potential successors include Simon Harris, Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe, and Helen McEntee. Varadkar’s government has seen economic recovery post-COVID-19 but faced challenges with housing and asylum seeker pressures. Ireland lifted its abortion ban and legalized same-sex marriage during his tenure. Varadkar has no immediate personal or political plans following his resignation.

Hamas says Israeli response to its truce proposal was negative

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Hamas says Israeli response to its truce proposal was negative

A senior Hamas official announced that Israel negatively responded to Hamas’s latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, as conveyed by mediators on Tuesday. Osama Hamdan attributed the failure to negotiate a hostage release for Palestinian prisoners and to stop the fighting in Gaza to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Despite resumed talks in Qatar, weeks of negotiations have not yet resulted in an agreement between Israel and Hamas to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

How a third-party candidate could put Trump in the White House

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How a third-party candidate could put Trump in the White House

– Democrats and Republicans dominate the U.S. two-party political system.
– Independent candidates and third-party challengers, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could impact this year’s presidential election.
– Strategists believe a third-party candidate could take more votes from President Joe Biden than from former President Donald Trump.
– Narrow margins in battleground states are crucial for winning the 270 electoral college votes needed for victory.
– In the 2020 election, Biden won Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and lost North Carolina, with all these states decided by less than 3% of the vote.
– Kennedy’s platform includes limiting U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts, cheaper housing, and reining in corporate power. He has 15% support among registered voters according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
– Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral votes, is a key focus, where Biden won with just 50% of the votes in 2020.
– If Biden loses Pennsylvania and Georgia, Trump could win the presidency.
– Both Biden and Trump have low approval ratings, but Trump’s loyal voter base makes him less vulnerable to third-party votes.
– There’s a possibility that no candidate reaches the 270 electoral vote threshold, leading to a contingent election scenario where the House of Representatives would elect the president.
– It is unlikely for a third-party candidate to win 270 electoral votes on their own, as seen in historical precedents like Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and George Wallace in 1968, and Ross Perot in 1992 who did not win any electoral college votes despite a significant popular vote percentage.

Massive bug sighted: keep your toes out of the water

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Massive bug sighted: keep your toes out of the water

Scientists have identified a giant water bug, known as the toe-biter, along the shores of Cyprus. This species, which inhabits lakes and slow-moving freshwater, had not been previously recorded on the island but is known in neighboring Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Turkey, and Israel. A team of scientists from various institutions in Cyprus, led by Michalis Hadjikosnstantis of the Cyprus Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Protection Society, Yiakoumis Giortzis from the agriculture ministry, and Kadir Boğaç Kunt from the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute, are studying the species. Their findings were published in the journal Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Grigore Antipa. The giant water bug is the largest true bug and water insect in Europe, with a diameter of up to 12 cm, and is known for delivering painful bites. Sightings of the bug on the eastern coast of Cyprus were reported in late spring and summer of 2020 and 2021, with a total of seven sightings recorded: five from social media and two after direct communication with the researchers. Two samples were taken and morphologically examined to verify the species. The sudden appearance of the species in Cyprus may be linked to migratory events from neighboring countries or environmental factors. Further investigation is required to determine if the species has become established on the island.

33 countries to meet in Cyprus for Gaza aid summit

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33 countries to meet in Cyprus for Gaza aid summit

A total of 33 countries, four organizations, and two NGOs have confirmed their participation in an international summit on March 21st to address the food crisis in Gaza. The countries include the United States, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Denmark, Czech Republic, Israel, Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Singapore, Netherlands, Slovenia, Japan, Canada, Malta, Qatar, Hungary, Belgium, Latvia, Luxembourg, Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and Cyprus as the host. The organizations are the European Union, the United Nations, USAID, and WHO. The NGOs are WCK and FOGBOW. Approximately 100 attendees are expected to be physically present at the summit.

Food aid from Cyprus reaches starving people in northern Gaza, says charity

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Food aid from Cyprus reaches starving people in northern Gaza, says charity

– A U.S.-based charity reported that nearly 200 tons of food aid reached northern Gaza, having been shipped from the Cypriot port of Larnaca.
– The charity involved is World Central Kitchen (WCK), in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates and Spanish charity Open Arms.
– The food was transported over a 200-mile sea route from Larnaca to Gaza and arrived off Gaza’s coast on Friday, with delivery completed on Tuesday by a convoy of eight trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP).
– The delivered aid is equivalent to half a million meals.
– A U.N.-backed report indicated that famine is “imminent” in northern Gaza, affecting some 300,000 people, with 1.1 million people across Gaza facing “catastrophic hunger.”
– A second shipment of 240 tons of food is prepared in Larnaca, awaiting departure based on weather conditions.
– WCK has expressed readiness to send weekly food shipments to Gaza with international support.
– Aid agencies have highlighted that the amount of food that can be delivered by sea is insufficient for the needs in Gaza and have called for more aid to be allowed in by road.
– Cyprus supports the WCK initiative and plans to coordinate further aid, hosting discussions with officials from various countries on March 21.