عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

US Ship Docks in Cyprus, Could Assist Civilians If Mideast Tensions Flare

A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
TT

US Ship Docks in Cyprus, Could Assist Civilians If Mideast Tensions Flare

A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)

A US amphibious assault ship has docked in Cyprus as part of a pre-arranged visit, but could be used to support civilians if hostilities flare in the Middle East, the US ambassador to Cyprus said.

EU member Cyprus has offered to assist, if needed, in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals should tensions spill over in the Middle East amid a standoff between Israel, Iran and Iran-affiliated groups.

"The visit comes at a time when the United States continues all efforts along with key partners to de-escalate regional tensions and to be prepared to support civilians in crisis," US Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher said on X on Friday.

The USS Wasp arrived in the southern port of Limassol on Aug 8.

The eastern Mediterranean island says it is not involved in military operations or any conflict.

"Humanitarian assistance is what we do," said government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

UK to Use Police Stations as Prisons under Emergency Measure

Police officers are seen in London, Britain, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police officers are seen in London, Britain, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
TT
TT

UK to Use Police Stations as Prisons under Emergency Measure

Police officers are seen in London, Britain, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police officers are seen in London, Britain, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

Police cells will temporarily be used to hold prisoners in a stop-gap measure to cope with overcrowding in jails, the British government said on Tuesday.

The emergency action, dubbed "Operation Safeguard", allows inmates to be held in police cells when prisons are full, and was previously used from February 2023 to October last year, Reuters said.

The prison population in England and Wales has doubled in the last 30 years, according to official data, leading to overcrowding as new places have failed to keep pace with demand. Justice systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland are run separately.

In a statement to parliament, Shabana Mahmood said the prison system was operating at more than 99% occupancy.

January saw the highest average monthly prison population growth in almost two years, as part of a rising trend in the last three months that "has only just begun to slow", she added.

"Given the recent increase in demand, it is necessary, and prudent, for me to temporarily reactivate Operation Safeguard to better manage the flow of offenders into the prison estate," Mahmood said.

According to the World Prison Brief database, imprisonment rates in England and Wales are higher than in other major European countries, with 141 detainees per 100,000 population, against 120 in France, 117 in Spain, 105 in Italy and 68 in Germany.