Experts from the US air force are assessing upgrades to Cyprus' Andreas Papandreou air base for future humanitarian operations in the Middle East. The upgrades will focus on improving air traffic safety, expanding the base, and enhancing its capacity for military and civilian aircraft. Cyprus has previously served as a transit point for evacuations and aid, and any use of the base by foreign forces will require government approval. The US and Cyprus have strengthened military cooperation in recent years.
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Hamas released the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, who were feared dead after their October 7, 2023, abduction. Israel mourned their loss, while Hamas claimed they were killed in airstrikes. The handover, part of a ceasefire, highlights ongoing hostage negotiations. With Hamas still holding about 60 captives, further exchanges hinge on ceasefire terms. Israel, backed by the US, remains committed to dismantling Hamas, while the war has devastated... Expand
Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on Syria's new authorities to ensure accountability for the mass killings of hundreds of civilians in recent days in the coastal heartland of the Alawite minority. In its statement, HRW called on the authorities to "fully cooperate with and ensure unhindered access to independent monitors".
Body language expert Susan Constantine analyzed Luigi Mangione's demeanor, noting a shift from charismatic charm to rigid fear. Mangione's raised chin and arrogant posture suggest pride, while his post-arrest frown contrasts with earlier smiles. Constantine suggests Mangione, the suspect in the Brian Thompson murder case, compartmentalizes, displaying different personalities in various situations.
Amidst the escalating trade war with the US, China has appointed Li Chenggang as its new top international trade negotiator. This decision comes as both nations impose steep tariffs on each other's goods.
US temporarily blocked a guilty plea by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, avoiding a plea deal that would spare him the death penalty. Legal challenges and mishandling have prolonged the case. Defence Secretary Austin opposed the deal, and legal battles continue over the plea agreement's validity.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa due to concerns about the country's policies, including land reforms. This decision follows similar criticism from President Trump, who called South Africa's land policies a human rights violation.
France on Monday said a plan for a one-month truce between Russia and Ukraine would test Moscow's commitment to ending the war it began with its 2022 invasion. In an initial phase it is "a way of verifying that Russia is willing to end this war," Barrot said, emphasising that no withdrawal of Russian troops on the ground was envisaged during the truce.
UK PM Keir Starmer invited President Donald Trump for a second state visit to Britain, an unprecedented gesture. Trump's acceptance followed discussions on the Ukraine conflict. Starmer urged Trump to involve Kyiv and European leaders in peace talks, while Trump's approach towards Russia and reevaluating US foreign policy stirs European concerns.