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Europe's 2025 wildfire season, the worst on record, saw over 1 million hectares burned across Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean. Research from World Weather Attribution shows climate change made extreme heat and dry conditions 30-40 times more likely, intensifying fires by up to 30%, causing fatalities, mass evacuations, and damage to protected habitats.
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On October 8, 2025, Turkish President Erdogan confirmed that US President Trump indicated the Halkbank sanctions issue is resolved, following their September 25 White House meeting. The leaders discussed lifting CAATSA sanctions and Turkey's return to the F-35 program, suspended since 2019 over Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missiles. Erdogan emphasized strengthening US-Turkey ties amid regional tensions.
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Several flights experienced emergency landings over recent days. A Boeing 737 diverted to Birmingham after engine failure, while a Qantas flight declared mayday over smoke concerns in Auckland. Both incidents involved safe disembarkation, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in aviation.
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Tufan Erhurman, leader of the centre-left Republican Turkish Party, won a decisive victory in Northern Cyprus, defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar. Erhurman advocates restarting negotiations for a federal reunification, contrasting Tatar’s support for a two-state solution backed by Turkey. The election signals a potential shift in Cyprus peace efforts amid ongoing regional tensions.
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Cypriot authorities have prosecuted several individuals, including Israeli businessman Shimon Aykout, for illegal property development in the breakaway north. Aykout pleaded guilty to 40 charges related to building and selling Greek Cypriot properties, highlighting ongoing tensions over property rights stemming from the 1974 division of Cyprus. The case underscores the contentious nature of property ownership and enforcement in the region, with recent sentences serving as a warning to illegal developers.
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As of November 11, 2025, the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) has fully assumed primary control over humanitarian aid into Gaza, sidelining Israel's previous dominant role. The CMCC, involving over 40 countries, aims to improve aid flow amid ongoing restrictions and security concerns. Meanwhile, Cornell University agreed to a $60 million settlement with the US government to restore federal funding amid investigations into alleged civil rights violations, affirming academic freedom but maintaining diversity programs.
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Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides will meet at the UN peacekeeping envoy's residence to discuss reunification efforts. Erhurman, elected in October, aims to revive stalled negotiations, while Turkey's Erdogan advocates a two-state solution, complicating prospects for reunification.
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Lebanese and Cypriot leaders signed a maritime agreement, finalizing a deal first proposed in 2007, to delineate their offshore zones. The deal aims to boost energy cooperation, attract investment, and improve regional stability, though Lebanon has yet to find commercially viable offshore gas. The agreement also leaves Syria as the last neighbor without a border deal.