Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey will begin drilling for resources around Cyprus, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday, a move that could create tensions with neighboring Cyprus and Greece over ownership of natural resources.

Attempts to tap gas and oil in the eastern Mediterranean have caused friction between Athens and Ankara.

A decade after discovering natural gas fields off its Mediterranean coast, Israel is starting to feel the geopolitical boost.

Its newfound riches have fostered economic bonds with its neighbors, tightening relations with Arab allies, and built new bridges in a historically hostile region - even without significant progress being made toward peace with the Palestinians.

Ferry operators have been showing interest in registering their vessels under the Cyprus flag, Cyprus's Deputy Minister of Shipping Natasa Pilides said.

She said this is partially due to the consequences of Brexit.

Turkey on Monday issued a Navtex reserving a maritime area south of Cyprus for live-fire exercises, Kathimerini's Cyprus edition has reported.

The exercise is due to take place on Tuesday across a large section of block 5 and a smaller part of block 6 of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar warned again on Monday that Ankara will not allow any initiatives be taken in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean by Greece and Cyprus without the participation of Turkey.

Speaking during a troops review in southern Turkey, Akar said Turkey will continue to uphold its interests stemming from international law.

The children of Syrians who have taken refuge in Turkey say they feel Turkish and do not want to go back to Syria, a country they have no memory of.

Russia will double the quota on tomato imports from Turkey, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister said on Jan. 19. 

Cyprus's foreign minister says he is optimistic that the US will soon start lifting a decades-old arms embargo because Washington acknowledges the island nation's contribution to bolstering stability and security in the east Mediterranean.

Members of New York's Cypriot and Jewish communities organized a cultural celebration with their traditional food, wines, dancing and music at the Pancyprian Center/Dionysos Restaurant on January 15.

The Cyprus Post have been seeking ways to utilise unmanned drones to deliver parcels of up to four kilos to the recipient, Andreas Gregoriou, Director of the Department of Postal Services, has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

To that end, the Department is in contact with the University of Cyprus KIOS Research Centre, according to Gregoriou.