The benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) attracted fresh buyers in Asian trading on Wednesday and reversed a part of the previous day’s retracement slide from the $81.65 area, or a nearly two-month top. The US crude oil currently trades around $81.00/barrel, up over 0.50% for the day amid persistent geopolitical tensions stemming from Israeli strikes … Read more
The Embassy of Ukraine in Cyprus refuted claims that President Zelenskyy owns a casino resort in the occupied north, calling it a lie spread by Russian propaganda. The embassy emphasized that there is no evidence to support the allegations and warned against trusting unreliable sources and manipulations.
Cyprus has investigated allegations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was involved in purchasing a casino resort in the occupied north but found no evidence to support the claims. The reports linking Zelenskyy to the offshore firm and the purchase of the Vuni Palace Hotel and Casino in Kyrenia were dismissed as fake news by the Russian “GnidaProject” research institute. The Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) also pointed out that the website used as a source for the allegations was fake, created just days before the claims were made.
The complex terrorism case involving 41-year-old Orkhan Asadov, accused of recruiting and organizing criminal activities against Israelis in Nicosia, reached a critical point. The trial within a trial process concluded with final arguments from both sides, and the judicial panel reserved its decision for July 5. The defense attorneys argued that the Police accessed the defendants’ mobile phones unlawfully, while the prosecuting authority defended the legality of the procedures. The case began after Asadov’s arrest in September 2021, and he denies charges related to terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering.
Two Ukrainian women were victims of a home invasion and armed robbery at their holiday accommodation in Paphos, Cyprus. The incident took place around two in the afternoon when two men broke into their apartment, threatened them with pistols, and stole almost two thousand euros in cash. Police have issued arrest warrants for the perpetrators based on descriptions provided by the victims, and the Paphos CID is investigating the case as armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
Two women in Paphos were robbed at gunpoint by two unknown men who entered their residence after the main door was left open. The women reported to the police that the assailants demanded money and took €1,830 from them. The suspects were described as being of strong build, 1.75m to 1.8m tall, and aged between 35 and 40 years old. Police in Paphos are continuing examinations to locate the suspects.
The helicopter that crashed in Iran, killing the president and foreign minister, was a Bell 212 model. Bell developed the aircraft in the late 1960s for the Canadian military, and it is used globally for various purposes. The Bell 212 can carry passengers, cargo, and mount weapons. Non-military organizations and countries like Japan, the United States, and Thailand operate the Bell 212. Iran’s current fleet includes Italian-built naval versions of the helicopter. The most recent fatal crash involving a Bell 212 was in 2023 off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Iran has managed to keep its aviation fleets flying through a combination of smuggled parts and reverse-engineering. The accident does not automatically fall under global rules for air accident probes, and it is unlikely that Iran will seek outside help for the investigation.
Ukraine launched a major attack on Crimea and Russian regions with missiles and drones, causing an oil refinery in southern Russia to halt operations. Russian air defenses shot down the missiles and drones. The Ukrainian-launched drones carried bigger charges than previous attacks, including steel balls. Russia has reported a rise in Ukrainian attacks on its territory, prompting President Putin to carve out a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine. The White House reiterated its policy of not encouraging Ukraine to use U.S. weapons against Russian territory. Russia captured a village in Kharkiv region and considers Crimea and other regions part of Russia, while Ukraine and its allies reject this stance. President Zelenskiy is determined to eject all Russian troops from Ukraine and expects Russia to escalate its offensive. Ukraine lacks sufficient air defenses to defend itself, and the West is concerned about the outcome of a potential defeat for Russia.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing world champion.
The United States will provide Ukraine with billion in foreign military financing, with .6 billion coming from a supplemental funding bill signed by President Joe Biden and 0 million from existing funds. This support comes at a critical time as Ukraine faces a renewed Russian onslaught.