Iran sets five preconditions for renewed negotiations with U.S.: media
Iran will not enter a second round of talks with the United States unless five preconditions aimed at building trust are met, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Tuesday, citing an informed source.
The source described the conditions as "minimum trust-building guarantees" required before any new negotiations with Washington could begin.
According to the source, the conditions include ending hostilities on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon; lifting sanctions on Iran; releasing frozen Iranian assets; compensating Iran for war damage; and recognizing Iran's sovereignty rights over the Strait of Hormuz. The source said the demands were conveyed to the United States in response to a 14-point U.S. proposal.
U.S. Air Force trainer jet crashes, pilots eject safely
A U.S. Air Force training jet crashed Tuesday in Fayette County, western Alabama with both pilots ejecting safely, according to military officials.
Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi confirmed there had been a "mishap" involving a T-38 Talon II aircraft connected to the base at about 12 p.m. local time.
"Two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft," according to a press release from the base.
Former UN General Assembly president Espinosa runs for next UN secretary-general
Former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa has been recommended as a candidate for the next UN secretary-general, said the spokeswoman for the current president of the UN General Assembly.
Espinosa's candidacy was recommended by the government of Antigua and Barbuda, said La Neice Collins, spokeswoman for UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.
Espinosa of Ecuador served as the 73rd president of the UN General Assembly between 2018 and 2019. Before that, she served as Ecuador's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and in Geneva, respectively.
Britain to send warship, fighter jets in multinational Hormuz operation
Britain will deploy a warship, fighter jets and autonomous systems as part of a multinational security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said on Tuesday.
British Defence Secretary John Healey announced the plan following a virtual meeting of defence ministers involving representatives from more than 40 countries.
According to the MOD, Britain will provide 115 million pounds (156 million U.S. dollars) in new funding for autonomous mine-hunting equipment and advanced counter-drone systems.
South Africa traces 97 contacts linked to cruise ship hantavirus cases
The number of possible contacts with hantavirus-infected people has increased to 97 in South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed.
South African teams were working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to track exposed passengers, healthcare workers and airline contacts with infected persons, Motsoaledi told the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) News on Monday.
"So far, we have identified 97 contacts, 90 of whom have been reached already and advised, and they are being watched," he said. "We will watch them for the whole six weeks."■
