Global Leaders' Meeting on Women concludes in Beijing

The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women concluded in Beijing on Monday afternoon, with Chinese State Councilor and All-China Women's Federation President Shen Yiqin and UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous attending and delivering speeches.

Shen said that the five practical measures announced by China to support global women's advancement have demonstrated the country's sense of responsibility as a major nation and received wide acclaim and positive responses from participants.

China stands ready to work with other countries to translate the proposals and the consensus reached at the meeting into concrete actions, helping more women realize their dreams and achieve success, she added.

Israel hands over remains of 45 Palestinians to Gaza as part of prisoner exchange deal

Israel on Tuesday handed over the remains of 45 Palestinians to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which later transferred them to local authorities in the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing prisoner exchange deal, medical sources said.

A Gaza-based health official told Xinhua that medical teams at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis received the remains through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

"Work is underway to identify the bodies through DNA testing before handing them over to their families," the official said.

Israel receives four more hostage bodies handed over by Hamas

Israel received the bodies of four hostages on Tuesday night after they were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza.

The bodies were transferred to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet personnel inside the Gaza Strip, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. They were later transferred across the border into Israel under escort by Israeli forces, the military and Shin Bet said in an updated joint statement.

The remains are being taken to the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification. Unlike a similar handover on Monday, Hamas did not disclose the identities of the bodies in advance, and Israeli authorities said their identities remain unclear.

Madagascar's military announces seizure of state power

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, announced on Tuesday that state power in Madagascar has been taken over by a military council comprising members of the army, gendarmerie and national police.

"We are here to take power," said Randrianirina, noting that the decision followed "the observation of non-compliance with the Constitution and the flouting of human rights."

Randrianirina said the constitution has been suspended and new national structures established "to meet the aspirations of the Malagasy people." He also announced the dissolution of key public institutions, including the Senate, the High Constitutional Court and the National Independent Electoral Commission.

Trump says U.S. strike on vessel near Venezuelan coast kills six

The U.S. military struck a vessel conducting narcotrafficking in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six men aboard, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

The latest operation raised the death toll to 27 in a series of U.S. military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels near Venezuela since September.

According to Trump, U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a known route and associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks.

French PM suspends pension reforms until presidential election

French Prime Minister (PM) Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday announced the suspension of controversial pension reforms until the presidential election.

Lecornu also said that the next budget would impose exceptional contributions from the wealthiest French citizens, confirming the government's decision not to invoke Article 49.3.

"There will be no increase in the retirement age between now and January 2028... In addition, the contribution period will also be suspended and will remain at 170 quarters until January 2028," he explained.