EUROPE – Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) democracies on Tuesday expressed their support for Ukraine and condemned what they described as Russia’s “irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric”. They also warned that North Korean support for Russia marked a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security, and called on China, a long-standing ally of North Korea, to act against it. “Russia’s use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on 21 November is further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behaviour,” they said in a draft statement at the conclusion of their meeting. “Our support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence will remain unwavering,” they added. Russia has been making a major push along the frontlines in Ukraine’s east, where Russian forces have made some of their biggest territorial gains since 2022. (Jpost)

Photo: Ukrainian and Russian flags are seen on a table before the talks between officials of the two countries in the Brest region, Belarus. (Reuters)

7 people still missing

EGYPT – Four bodies were recovered on Tuesday from a tourist boat which capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, and rescue teams were still searching for seven missing people, the Red Sea Governorate said in a statement. Provincial governor Amr Hanafi said rescue teams had found five people alive, two Belgian tourists, one Swiss, one Finn and an Egyptian, bringing the total number of survivors to 33.

The boat, the Sea Story, capsized on Monday near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip. It was struck by high waves and sank in five to seven minutes. Twenty-eight people were rescued with minor injuries. They are staying in a hotel in Marsa Alam, where authorities are working with embassies to provide assistance and documentation. Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March with no technical issues reported. Owned by an Egyptian national, the vessel was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions. The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic. The Sea Story was the second boat to sink in the area this year. A vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves in June, though no casualties were reported. The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a major hub for Egypt’s tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the country’s economy. (CNN)

Photo: Rescuers and ambulance cars wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Egypt. (AP)