strike

Israel checking if top Hamas militant killed in air strike

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Israel checking if top Hamas militant killed in air strike

The Israeli military is investigating if Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas militant, was killed in an air strike in Gaza, as reported by Haaretz. The strike targeted a site in Nusseirat, central Gaza, based on intelligence indicating Issa’s presence there. Issa is considered the second-in-command of Hamas’ armed wing and is on Israel’s most-wanted list alongside Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar for their roles in planning an attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to the Gaza war. His death could affect ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations.

US, UK, French military shoot down dozens of Houthi drones after attack on bulk carrier, destroyers

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US, UK, French military shoot down dozens of Houthi drones after attack on bulk carrier, destroyers

U.S., French, and British forces downed dozens of drones in the Red Sea area after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis targeted the bulk carrier Propel Fortune and U.S. destroyers. The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. They targeted the cargo vessel and U.S. war destroyers with 37 drones. The U.S. military and coalition forces downed at least 28 drones over the Red Sea, with no damage to U.S., Coalition Navy vessels, or commercial ships reported. A French warship and fighter jets shot down four combat drones, protecting the cargo ship True Confidence and other vessels. Britain’s HMS Richmond repelled a Houthi drone attack, shooting down two drones with no injuries or damage reported. Three seafarers were killed in a missile strike by the Houthis on the Greek-operated True Confidence. The Propel Fortune was targeted, likely due to outdated U.S. ownership data, but all crew were safe, and the vessel proceeded to its next port.

Israel strikes landmark residential tower in southern Rafah as truce talks stall [PHOTOS]

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Israel strikes landmark residential tower in southern Rafah as truce talks stall [PHOTOS]

Israel conducted a strike on one of the largest residential towers in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The 12-floor building, which housed around 300 residents and was situated approximately 500 meters from the Egyptian border, sustained damage. Although no casualties were reported, the strike rendered dozens of families homeless. Residents received a 30-minute warning before the building was hit, leading to a chaotic evacuation. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident. This action is part of a broader conflict that has seen nearly 31,000 Palestinians killed and over 72,500 wounded in five months, with thousands trapped under rubble. The ongoing offensive has significantly impacted Gaza, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in the territory, which has been under a blockade for 17 years. The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages taken, according to Israeli reports. Negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages have faced challenges. The cost of rebuilding Gaza is estimated to exceed billion. In recent operations, the Israeli military reported conducting arrests, locating weapons, and killing over 30 fighters in various locations in Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reported at least 82 people killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip in the last day.

‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ wins worst picture at Razzies

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‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ wins worst picture at Razzies

“Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” won five Razzie awards at the 44th Razzies in categories including picture, director, screenplay, screen couple, and remake/rip-off/sequel. Fran Drescher received the Razzie Redeemer Award for her leadership as SAG-AFTRA president. Jon Voight won the actor Razzie for his role in “Mercy.” Megan Fox received the actress Razzie for “Johnny & Clyde” and the supporting actress Razzie for “Expend4bles.” Sylvester Stallone won the supporting actor Razzie for his role in “Expend4bles.” Over 1,100 Razzie members from the United States and around 24 other countries vote on the awards.

Putin ally says Russia did not target Zelenskiy, ’s motorcade in Odesa

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Putin ally says Russia did not target Zelenskiy, ’s motorcade in Odesa

A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, stated that Russia did not target the delegation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a missile attack on the port of Odesa. Medvedev emphasized that if Moscow had intended to hit the delegation, they would have succeeded, indicating there was no planned strike on the motorcade. This statement came after a Ukrainian presidential adviser suggested the possibility that the Russian missile strike on Odessa might have been aimed at the delegations of Zelenskiy and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who were inspecting grain facilities in Odesa at the time of the attack.

Putin ally says Russia did not target Zelenskiy, ’s motorcade in Odesa

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Putin ally says Russia did not target Zelenskiy, ’s motorcade in Odesa

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, stated that Russia did not target the delegation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a missile attack on the port of Odesa. He mentioned that if Moscow had intended to hit the target, it would have done so, implying there was no planned strike on the motorcade. A Ukrainian presidential adviser suggested that a Russian missile strike on Odesa might have been aimed at the delegations of Zelenskiy and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who were inspecting grain facilities in Odesa at the time of the attack.

Gaza truce talks expected as offensive and aid crisis rage on

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Gaza truce talks expected as offensive and aid crisis rage on

Mediators are expected to reconvene in Cairo to find a ceasefire formula acceptable to Israel and Hamas for Gaza. Foreign governments have conducted airdrops to aid civilians in Gaza. Israeli and Hamas delegations are expected in Cairo, but Israel wants a list of alive hostages before sending a delegation. A framework for a six-week pause in fighting, agreed upon by Israel, now depends on Hamas releasing hostages. The U.S. has called for more aid into Gaza, which Israel denies restricting. The U.S. military airdropped 38,000 meals over Gaza. Israel disputes the death toll from a food convoy catastrophe, attributing most deaths to being trampled or run over. Since October 7, when Hamas attacked, killing 1,200 and abducting 253, over 30,000 have been killed in Gaza, and tens of thousands injured. Fighting continued around Khan Younis and Rafah, with significant casualties reported. Hamas insists a temporary truce must lead to ending the war, with assurances given for negotiating a permanent ceasefire in later phases.

Last-gasp Nunez goal puts Liverpool four points clear of City

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Last-gasp Nunez goal puts Liverpool four points clear of City

– Darwin Nunez scored a 99th-minute goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
– Liverpool is four points clear of second-placed Manchester City with 63 points from 27 matches.
– Nottingham Forest is 17th, four points above the relegation zone.
– Timo Werner scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-1 comeback victory against Crystal Palace.
– Tottenham is fifth-placed with 50 points from 26 games.
– Chelsea drew 2-2 with Brentford after Axel Disasi scored an 83rd-minute equaliser.
– Chelsea is 11th in the table, and Brentford is six points above the relegation zone.
– Newcastle United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 with goals from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Tino Livramento.
– West Ham United defeated Everton 3-1 with stoppage-time goals from Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez.
– Everton is in 16th place with 25 points, five above the relegation zone. West Ham is seventh with 42 points from 27 matches.
– Fulham won 3-0 against Brighton, with goals from Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz, and Adama Traore.
– Fulham is 12th in the standings with 35 points, and Brighton dropped to ninth.

They’re changing directions, they should change behaviours as well

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They’re changing directions, they should change behaviours as well

The initial finding of the Minister of Energy was a lack of cooperation among public entities managing energy matters. The Minister prioritized restoring cooperation with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) and efforts were made to improve relationships. However, there were failures in cooperation between the EAC and the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA). The recent change in the board of directors of EAC is expected to improve cooperation. Concerns were raised about the potential influence of the dinner between the Minister, the president of CERA, and the new president of EAC. Unions of EAC targeted the president of CERA, accusing him of causing uproar over potential electricity price increases. The President of the Republic also played a role in the situation by sending a message to the new EAC board to avoid price increases. The unions’ statement did not contribute to rectifying the situation. The column hopes that the Minister’s policy directions for the role of EAC in the green transition and energy security will be adopted by other public players.

Look up: get a different view from Cyprus, ’ rooftops

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Look up: get a different view from Cyprus, ’ rooftops

Fact: Marina Kyriakou, an architect and urban planner, is working with the Cypriot NGO Urban Gorillas and the European Creative Rooftop Network to map Nicosia’s terraces. She discusses the psychological benefits of spending time on rooftops and their potential for addressing issues like social isolation, the heat island effect, and lack of green spaces. Progress in repurposing rooftops in southern European countries, including Cyprus, is slower compared to northern European nations. Nevertheless, new rooftop bars, eateries, and cultural venues are emerging in Nicosia. The European Creative Rooftop Network, which Marina is involved with, aims to accelerate the creative use of urban roofscapes in its nine partner cities.