Cyprus has ramped up the hunt on Wednesday for the Israeli yacht that set sail from Ashdod two days ago and vanished on its way to the island. Contact was severed two days ago near Paphos.

The Greek Coast Guard announced that as the weather improves, Greek Navy planes and helicopters will join the afternoon search for the missing Israeli yacht, sweeping the waters between Cyprus and Crete. At the same time, Cypriot officials indicated that wind patterns suggest the yacht may have drifted south toward Egypt's coastline, prompting searches in that direction as well. The official noted that Wednesday's search will stretch toward Israel, suggesting the skipper may have turned back due to worsening conditions.

The missing passengers include three friends from Kafr Shibli Umm al-Ghanem in northern Israel (an Arab village in the Galilee), while the fourth person, according to the yacht company, lives in the Krayot (the cluster of towns north of Haifa).

The yacht vanished roughly 90 nautical miles (167 kilometers) off Paphos on the island's southern coast. Cyprus has triggered the Nearchos protocol, redirecting passing vessels to the yacht's projected path to aid the search. The operation involves Cypriot ships and helicopters from British military installations on the island.

Cyprus port authorities described the yacht's skipper, a 41-year-old Israeli, as highly experienced with multiple prior visits to the island. A port official told local journalists he was baffled that Israeli authorities cleared the vessel to sail in such brutal weather. "During Storm Byron, we halted nearly all departures of small craft from the island," the official said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that "Israeli, Greek, and Cypriot forces are coordinating search operations. The ministry's Division for Israelis Abroad and embassies in Cyprus and Greece remain in constant contact with the families, working nonstop on the situation."

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According to a BBC investigation, the Greek coastguard has been accused of causing the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean over three years, with witnesses claiming that nine individuals were deliberately thrown overboard. The investigation found that more than 40 people are alleged to have died as a result of being forced out of Greek territorial waters or taken back out to sea after reaching Greek islands.

The Greek coastguard strongly refuted all accusations of illegal activities.

Footage shows 12 people being loaded onto a Greek coastguard boat and then abandoned on a dinghy by a former senior Greek coastguard officer. After initially refusing to speculate, Dimitris Baltakos, the former head of special operations with the Greek coastguard, was caught on a hot mic saying, "It's obviously illegal" and "an international crime."

The Greek government has long faced accusations of forced returns – illegally pushing migrants back towards Turkey, from where they crossed. However, the BBC's investigation is the first to calculate the number of incidents in which fatalities are alleged to have occurred due to the Greek coastguard's actions.

Bravo

Greek Coastguard ( take note UK Border Force/RNLI ) PUSHING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS BACK INTO TURKISH WATERS!!!

Greeks can do it...

The UK Border Force/RNLI would rather go into French waters and help them come here!!! pic.twitter.com/6zcXZP1c07

— 'Seeing is believing' (@dave24144975) October 8, 2023

 One of the most chilling accounts came from a Cameroonian man who said he was hunted down by Greek authorities after landing on the island of Samos in September 2021. The man claimed that after being transferred to a Greek coastguard boat, his two companions – another Cameroonian and a man from Ivory Coast – were thrown overboard.

"They threw him in the water. The Ivorian man said, 'Save me, I don't want to die…' and then eventually only his hand was above water, and his body was below," the Cameroonian man said. "Slowly his hand slipped under, and the water engulfed him." The Cameroonian man said he was also beaten and pushed into the water without a life jacket, but managed to swim to shore. The bodies of the other two, identified as Sidy Keita and Didier Martial Kouamou Nana, were recovered on the Turkish coastline.

Another man from Somalia told the BBC that in March 2021, after being caught by the Greek army on the island of Chios and handed over to the Greek coastguard, he was tied up and dropped into the water. "They threw me zip-tied in the middle of the sea. They wanted me to die," he said.

In the incident with the highest loss of life, in September 2022, a boat carrying 85 migrants ran into trouble near the Greek island of Rhodes. A Syrian man named Mohamed explained that after calling the Greek coastguard for help, they were loaded onto a boat, returned to Turkish waters, and put on life rafts, one without its valve properly closed. "We immediately began to sink, they saw that… They heard us all screaming, and yet they still left us," Mohamed said. "The first child who died was my cousin's son… After that, it was one by one. Another child, another child, and then my cousin himself disappeared. By the morning seven or eight children had died."

Human rights groups allege that thousands of asylum seekers have been illegally forced back from Greece to Turkey, denying them the right to seek asylum enshrined in international and EU law. The BBC's interviewees claimed they were apprehended before they could register their claims, often by non-uniformed and masked individuals.

Austrian activist Fayad Mulla told the BBC that in February 2023, on the Greek island of Lesbos, he was stopped by an undercover police officer while attempting to approach the location of an alleged forced return. Mulla said the police tried to delete footage from his dashcam and charge him with resisting a police officer but ultimately took no further action.

Two months later, Mulla managed to film a forced return, published by The New York Times, showing a group including women and babies being marched onto a small boat, transferred to a Greek coastguard vessel, and then left on a raft to drift. The Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy informed the BBC that the footage is currently under investigation by the country's independent National Transparency Authority.

Greek coastguard 'threw migrants overboard to their deaths, dumped others in the sea on punctured boats and caused the deaths of dozens of people in the Mediterranean'. https://t.co/JKLedH8ONg

— Paula London (@misspaulalondon) June 17, 2024

The Greek coastguard stated that its staff worked "tirelessly with the utmost professionalism, a strong sense of responsibility and respect for human life and fundamental rights," adding that they were "in full compliance with the country's international obligations." The coastguard also highlighted that from 2015 to 2024, it had rescued 250,834 refugees and migrants in 6,161 incidents at sea, with its "impeccable execution of this noble mission" being "positively recognized by the international community."

The Greek coastguard has previously faced criticism for its role in the largest migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean in a decade, when more than 600 people are feared to have died after the Adriana sank in Greece's designated rescue area last June.

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A large-scale study that tracked over 25,000 women for more than two decades has uncovered compelling evidence linking the Mediterranean diet to increased longevity, according to researchers. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggest that women who closely adhered to this dietary pattern experienced a significant reduction in the risk of mortality, including from leading causes such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

"For women interested in longevity, our study shows that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one-quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death," stated Dr. Samia Mora, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, in an email.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes a plant-based approach to eating, with a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, and a liberal use of extra-virgin olive oil. Red meat is consumed sparingly, while oily fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged. Eggs, dairy, and poultry are allowed in moderation, contrasting with the typical Western diet.

"In this study, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was a proxy for diet quality. Those who adhered most closely were eating more legumes, more vegetables, more fruits, less meat, and less processed meats," explained Dr. David Katz, a specialist in preventive and lifestyle medicine and founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, who was not involved in the research.

While the study was observational and could not establish a direct causal link, Katz expressed confidence in the findings, stating, "We may be comfortable inferring that a high-quality diet did, indeed, cause a lower risk of death."

The study, led by Shafqat Ahmad, an associate professor of molecular epidemiology at Uppsala University in Sweden, revealed a graded association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and reduced mortality risk. "Each increase in adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 6% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 5% reduced risk of dying from either heart disease or cancer," Ahmad said in an email.

The researchers emphasized the importance of studying the diet's specific effects on women, as previous data has often overlooked gender-specific nuances. By closely following the Mediterranean dietary pattern, the study found that women could reduce their risk of early death by 23%, their risk of dying from cancer by 17%, and their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 20%.

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NATO member Turkey changed its rhetoric to call Russia's assault on Ukraine a "war" on Sunday and pledged to implement parts of an international pact that would potentially limit the transit of Russian warships from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

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Kyiv had appealed to Ankara to block any more Russian ships from entering the Black Sea, from which Moscow launched an incursion on Ukraine's southern coast. At least six Russian warships and a submarine transited Turkey's straits this month.

"It is not a couple of air strikes now, the situation in Ukraine is officially a war... We will implement the Montreux Convention," Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, said in an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk.

Balancing its Western commitments and close ties to Moscow, Ankara has in recent days called the Russian attack unacceptable but until Sunday had not described the situation in Ukraine as a war.

The rhetorical shift allows Turkey to enact the articles of the 1936 Montreux Convention that permits it to limit naval transit of its Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits during wartime, or if threatened.

Yet Cavusoglu reiterated that Turkey cannot block all Russian warships accessing the Black Sea due to a clause in the pact exempting those returning to their registered base.

"There should not be any abuse of this exemption. Ships that declare returning to their bases and passing through the straits should not be involved in the war," Cavusoglu said.

Turkey has good ties with Russia and Ukraine. Even as NATO members have hit Moscow with sanctions, any step too far by Ankara could harm its heavy Russian energy imports, trade and tourism sector at a time of domestic economic turmoil.

Cavusoglu also said he spoke to both Ukrainian and Russian counterparts and was pleased to hear that two countries will hold negotiations.

Ibrahim Kalin, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said earlier on Sunday: "On the fourth day of the Ukraine war, we repeat President Erdogan's call for an immediate halt of Russian attacks and the start of ceasefire negotiations."

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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett welcomed on Tuesday Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Jerusalem for the 8th trilateral summit of the nations.

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The leaders touched on interests and concerns regarding defense, the economy, and prosperity in the Middle East.

Bennett kicked off the joint remarks, referring to the three nations as "some of the world's oldest cultures, with deep histories and rich heritage."

"This serves as a strong foundation for our shared values of peace, prosperity, and pursuit of freedom."

"Today we come together with one vision – to embrace the future and the opportunity that it holds for our people, our countries, and our region," he added.

Bennett continued to highlight the common threats in the region, including climate change, COVID, and security "in the face of terror."

"We are strengthening our relationships with our friends on all levels. Together, we are stronger. Our meeting today is a testimony of that," he added.

Anastasiades said the three had discussed cooperation against COVID, climate change, and how to be better prepared to face emergency situations.

The premier also noted his support of the recent Abraham Accords.

"We welcome the recent agreement between Israel, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, which manifests the potential of the region as a pioneer in cross-border cooperation," Anastasiades said.

Mitsotakis concluded the summit by noting that relations between Israel and Greece "have never been better."

He voiced appreciation towards Israel for guiding the region on how to best address COVID, while thanking both states for their provided support during Greece's wildfires last summer.

Both the Cypriot and Greece leaders mentioned their disapproval of Turkey's conduct in the Mediterranean region.

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Israel took part Wednesday in annual drills off the southern coast of Cyprus to increase the security and safety of oil rigs and vessels amid the island's continuing tensions with Turkey over competing claims to hydrocarbon reserves.

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The internationally recognized government of Greek Cyprus is involved in an ongoing dispute with Turkey and the breakaway Turkish Cypriots over economic rights to offshore gas deposits in the Mediterranean.

Wednesday's "Nemesis" exercise around the port city of Larnaca included search and rescue, medical evacuation, anti-pollution operations, and a counter-terrorism simulation involving the liberation of an oil rig and support ship by Cypriot forces. The United States, France, Italy, Britain, and Egypt participated as well.

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The US mediator for indirect talks on border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel said on Thursday that the negotiations he was hoping to revive should be concluded in a short period if they were to succeed.

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Amos Hochstein, speaking to Al Hadath TV during a visit to Beirut, said holding the indirect talks last year between the two sides in the presence of the United States and the United Nations was an important milestone but that it remained to be seen whether the right time to resume the talks was now.

"Perhaps there should be some shuttle diplomacy first, in order to assess the positions of the parties to identify where there is room for negotiation and then ultimately, to go back to Naqoura and complete the negotiations," he said.

Long-time foes Lebanon and Israel started negotiations through a US mediator in Oct. 2020 at the UN peacekeeper's base in Lebanon's Naqoura.

The maritime border dispute has held up exploration in the potentially gas-rich area but talks have since stalled.

In Thursday's interview, Hochstein said he hoped the negotiation would not take too much time.

"I think that in these kinds of efforts what we've learned is that if you take a lot of time, it doesn't happen," he said.

"So we need to be focused, and we need to move quickly."

Israel already pumps gas from huge offshore fields.

Lebanon, which has yet to find commercial gas reserves in its own waters, is desperate for cash from foreign donors amidst a deepening economic meltdown.

Hochstein said resolving the border issue would help alleviate Lebanon's power shortage by allowing it to develop its offshore gas resources.

Asked about a deal to export Egyptian gas through a pipeline going through Jordan and Syria to Lebanon, Hochstein said the United States had been working to make that happen and US sanctions against Syria would not have to be waived to make the deal go through as they likely don't apply in this case.

"We have determined that it is not – this kind of a transaction could be, likely is not, under – covered by the sanctions. And therefore we've informed the government here, and we've informed the government in Egypt that it can move ahead," Hochstein said.

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Israel is ready to renew efforts to solve the dispute with Lebanon over the delineation of territorial waters in the Mediterranean, but will not accept Beirut dictating the terms of the negotiations, Energy Minister Karine Elharrar said this week. 

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The talks − mediated by the United States − were launched a year ago in an attempt to resolve the dispute, which has held up exploration in the potentially gas-rich area. The talks stalled in May.

US special envoy Amos Hochstein is due in both countries this month to try to give fresh impetus to the talks just as Lebanon has sought clarifications from the international community after Israel granted US oilfield services group Halliburton an offshore drilling contract.

"We need to look for a solution that leads to a breakthrough and not try to think in the old ways of drawing lines," Elharrar told Reuters in an interview in Paris, adding that she would speak to Hochstein soon. 

At the end of talks in May, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said there should be no preconditions. He rejected the US mediator's suggestions asking for negotiations to be based on Israeli and Lebanese border lines already submitted and registered with the United Nations. 

"We started [negotiations] by one line and then they [Lebanon] pushed the line. Again and again," Elharrar said. "This is not the way to have a negotiation. They cannot dictate the lines."

Earlier talks stalled after each side presented contrasting maps outlining proposed borders that increased the size of the disputed area.

Mohamed Ebeid, a Lebanese expert on the border talks and former director at the Information Ministry, said the new US mediator is due in the second half of October in Beirut.

"Unfortunately we have returned to internal bickering instead of going to the negotiations united," he told Reuters when asked about Lebanon changing its mind about the lines.

Since the talks stalled, Lebanon's former caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab, and ministers of defense and public works, Maurice Salem and Ali Hamieh, approved a draft decree which would expand Lebanon's claim, adding around 1,400 square km (540 square miles) to its exclusive economic zone.

"We share a gas field and have to find a solution on how to use it so that each side will receive their fair share," Elharrar said. "We are willing to give it another shot."

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Lebanon's outgoing minister of public works said Monday that he has signed a decree that would increase the area claimed by the Mediterranean country in a maritime border dispute with Israel.

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Public Works Minister Michel Najjar told reporters he signed an amendment of the decree that would formally extend Lebanon's claims by 1,430 square kilometers (550 square miles). The unilateral move by Lebanon is likely to anger Israel and the US who are not expected to recognize Beirut's extension of the disputed area.

Lebanon and Israel began indirect talks with US mediation in October to reach a deal over the disputed area that is believed to be rich with oil and natural gas deposits. The meetings that stopped a few weeks later were being held at a UN post along the border of the two nations that remain technically in a state of war.

The negotiations were the first non-security talks to be held between the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations following decades of conflict. Resolving the border issue could pave the way for lucrative oil and gas deals on both sides.

In late October, the Lebanese delegation to the talks – a mix of army generals and professionals – offered a new map that pushes for an additional 1,430 square kilometers (550 square miles).

This area is to be included in Lebanese territory on top of the already disputed 860 square kilometer-(330 square mile-) area of the Mediterranean Sea that each side claims is within their own exclusive economic zones.

Najjar said, however, that the decree still required the signatures of the defense minister, prime minister and president to go into effect.

The announcement came as US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale was expected in Lebanon later this week to meet Lebanese officials.

Lebanon is going through its worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history and had plans to start drilling in search for oil and gas in the disputed area this year.

Israel has already developed offshore natural gas rigs, producing enough for domestic consumption and export abroad. Lebanon hopes that its own oil and gas discoveries will help alleviate its long-running economic troubles.

It was not immediately clear how the US and Israel would respond to the Lebanese decision.

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A close associated of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Admiral Cihat Yayci, said in an interview Wednesday to the Turkish Jewish newspaper Şalom that "it is in the interests of both Turkey and Israel to re-normalize relations."

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Yayci called on Israel to take up the proposal of a shared maritime border, first reported by Israel Hayom on March 5. A more detailed version of the plan was published in the Turkeyscope monthly journal published by the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

Yayci gave the interview after Turkey suffered another diplomatic blow when Egypt and Greece agreed this week to disagree about proposed areas for gas and oil drilling in the Mediterranean Sea.

This occurred five days after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey could reach an agreement with Egypt on a maritime border.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that the dispute over one of Egypt's three drilling areas was "technical" and had been resolved. According to reports, teams from Egypt met and re-drew maritime borders for the problematic area, a deal that directly affects Turkey, since the Turks claim ownership of the area delineated by Greece and Egypt.

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