Issues

Proactiva Open Arms tweets that Italy and Malta are refusing to allow a migrant rescue ship in their territorial waters

Italy and Malta are refusing to allow a migrant rescue ship operated by the award-winning Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms to enter their territorial waters, the NGO tweeted on Thursday.…

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MV LifeLine : Media angles

This is how some media outlets reported the arrival of the MV LifeLine Maltese Media Times of Malta: The charity boat Lifeline docked at Malta on Wednesday evening, bringing to…

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Jupiter, as seen from Malta

Looking at the sky is a fascinating experience. For Michael Galea, this fascination has a particular perspective, which he's sharing with our readers. This is planet Jupiter, as seen from…

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25 bodies retrieved from the shores of western Libya

Libya Observer: The Libyan Red Crescent has recovered about 25 bodies of illegal immigrants from the shores of Maya town, the Tripoli Naval Base at Abu Sitta and Khoms city. The…

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QuoVadis Europa on Migration? Political Views from Malta

Malta’s Prime Minister said that Europe is yet again facing uncertain times not because of too much Europe but because of too little of it. This is not simply…

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Cargo ship Alexander Maersk with 110 rescued migrants on board waiting for instructions in front of Pozzallo

The cargo ship Alexander Maersk, which the Danish flag, and which is carrying more than 110 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, has been waiting for instructions infront of the port…

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European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger calls for helping out southern EU states

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - All European Union countries need to help southern neighbors, where most migrants are arriving, European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told reporters ahead of a mini-summit on migration in…

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Breaking News – Draft for Sunday’s Migration Summit conclusion shelved after Conte informs Merkel that it was unacceptable for him to attend for Migration summit with a ‘pre-packaged’ text

The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, through a Facebook post announced that he had a call from Chancellor Angela Merkel, where she expressed her concern about the possibility that he…

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New migrant issue in the Mediterranean Sea

ANSA: A new situation is developing in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to the roles of NGOs operating rescue missions in the region. A ship belonging to the German NGO Lifeline…

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Every number has a name. Every number is a person. – The full list of the 34,000 refugees and migrants who have died whilst trying to get into Europe due to the restrictive policies of “Fortress Europe”

Today is World Refugee a day. The Guardian, in collaboration with artist Banu Cennetoğlu, Chisenhale Gallery and Liverpool Biennial, is distributing the full UNITED ‘List of Deaths’ in its print…

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Wildlife crime: global seizures and arrests in transcontinental operation

Interpol: An international operation against the illegal trade in wildlife and timber has seen hundreds of seizures worldwide as well as suspects arrested. Codenamed Thunderstorm and targeting the people and networks…

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Asylum seeking applications in Europe down by 44% compared to 2016. Approximately 15% of asylum seekers come from Syria – EASO

The total number of asylum applications throughout all of the EU, plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, last year, was 728,470, or some 44 percent less when compared to 2016,…

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Children separated from parents at US border held in cages in Texas warehouse

The Guardian: Inside an old warehouse in south Texas, hundreds of children wait away from their parents in a series of cages created by metal fencing. One cage had 20…

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Mother and Child on board Aquarius

This photo was taken by journalist Sara Alonso Esparza this morning on the MV Aquarius.

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Sylvester Stallone subject of sex crimes investigation

Variety: The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office is reviewing a criminal case from the Santa Monica Police Department involving Sylvester Stallone to determine whether charges will be filed, a spokesman confirmed Wednesday. The spokesman declined…

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German Interior Minister forms ‘axis’ with Austria, Italy against Merkel

Reuters: Germany should ally itself with Austria and Italy on migration and security policies, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Wednesday, a shift that could prove uncomfortable for Chancellor Angela Merkel.…

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The “Diciotti” arrives in Catania with 932 people on board after being rescued off Libya

TGCOM: The Coast Guard ship Diciotti, arrived in the port of Catania, with 932 migrants on board. They were rescued during 7 rescue operations off Libya. Five of the refugees,…

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Macron accuses Italy of “cynicism and irresponsibility”

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accused Italy of "cynicism and irresponsibility" over its refusal to take in hundreds of migrants stranded on a rescue ship in the Mediterranean. Macron…

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Aquarius – Update from MSF Twitter Feed

UPDATE: MSF Twitter Channel: Spanish MRCC in contact with Aquarius to offer Valencia as a safe port of disembarkation. MSF welcomes this gesture of humanity but it would require four…

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334 persons rescued, 4 bodies recovered from Spain’s maritime rescue service

AP: Spain's maritime rescue service has saved 334 migrants and recovered four bodies from boats it intercepted trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue service says its…

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“If a heartless minister lets pregnant women, children, the elderly, human beings die at sea, the port of Naples is ready to welcome them, we are human.” – The mayor of Naples

TGCOM - "If a heartless minister lets pregnant women, children, the elderly, human beings die at sea, the port of Naples is ready to welcome them, We are human, with…

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Malta should stick to its position on immigration – Dr Tonio Borg

The Sunday Times of Malta Migrants should be taken to the closest port of call, even if they were saved in the search and rescue zone of a neighbouring country,…

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Italy closes its ports to migrants, insists Malta should take them despite being rescued closer to Lampedusa

The Malta Independent: The Italian government is insisting that Malta takes in 629 migrants that were rescued near Libya on Sunday morning, saying that its ports were closed. The migrants…

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A hug too much leads to the resignation of Walt Disney Co Animation head and Pixar co-founder

Walt Disney Co animation head and co-founder of Pixar John Lasseter, regarded as a modern day Walt Disney because of his creativity and commercial success, will leave at the end…

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Organic matter found on Mars

The Guardian reports that Nasa’s veteran Curiosity rover has found complex organic matter buried and preserved in ancient sediments that formed a vast lake bed on Mars more than 3bn…

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€15-20 million worth of cannabis resin seized in the Mediterranean Sea in what the Guardia di Finanza link to a dangerous Maltese criminal organisation

Italian police agents seized over 10 tonnes of cannabis resin worth up to €20 million in a dramatic high-seas operation, police said on Thursday. Italy's Guardia di Finanza (GDF) finance…

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UK: Children aged 4 – 5 are live streaming their content as those aged 14 – 16

Research by Internet Matters, which educates parents about their children's online behaviour, found that nearly as many children aged four to five are live-streaming their own content as those aged…

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EU court gives landmark ruling regards same same-sex marriages recognition

EU countries that have not legalised gay marriage must respect the residency rights of same-sex spouses who want to live together in their territory, the European court of Justice has…

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Breakthrough as human corneas were printed for first time

Human corneas have been 3D printed for the first time by scientists at Newcastle University. The researchers mixed stem cells from a healthy donor cornea with alginate, a gel derived…

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Liege killer had killed another person the day before

The gunman who killed two police officers and a bystander in Liege on Tuesday has killed a fourth person day before. Prosecutors say they were treating the attacks as "terrorist…

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ABC cancels popular sitcom “Roseanne” following racist tweet by main protagonist Roseanne Barr where she called former Obama advisor an ape.

ABC canceled its hit sitcom "Roseanne" on Tuesday after the show's biggest star, Roseanne Barr, went on a racist Twitter rant. ABC took the decision following what it called "abhorrent"…

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German churches intervened in almost 500 deportation of asylum seekers in Q1 2018

Deutsche Welle reports that German churches intervened in 498 deportations of asylum seekers who they believed required reconsideration, in the first quarter of 2018 in line with a 2015 law. According…

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Weinstein charged with rape

Harvey Weinstein has been charged in New York with rape and several counts of sexual abuse. Weinstein turned himself in to police in the city earlier in the day. Mr Weinstein…

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Stop objectifying women – Stacey Copeland reacts to return of female models to the Formula 1 Grid

BBC Sports report that boxer and anti-sexism campaigner Stacey Copeland, said that it is wrong to objectify women in sport. Her comment came after world champion Lewis Hamilton welcomed the return…

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Weinstein to surrender to NYPD on charges of rape

Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, is expected to turn himself in to the NYPD on Friday morning on charges that he raped one woman and forced another to perform…

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Morgan Freeman accused of sexual verbal harassment

Morgan Freeman has been accused of sexual and verbal harassment by eight different women. CNN reports that a young production assistant thought she had landed the job of her dreams…

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Pepe Reina, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica summoned by the FIGC for links with the Camorra

Outgoing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been summoned to a hearing at the Italian football federation over his association with people with links to the Camorra. Reina, along with Paolo…

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Investigations on rape accusations against film director Luc Besson

CNN reports that a rape investigation has been launched against one of France's best-known film directors, Luc Besson. CNN quotes the Paris prosecutor's office, saying that the alleged incident happened at…

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“Houston we have a problem” – Astronaut forgets SD card for his Go Pro at home. He only realises while in space.

You're 400 kilometres away from home, namely in the space. You turn on your Go Pro to take once in a life time photo. You press the button and the…

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European Agenda on Migration: Still fragile situation gives no cause for complacency

While joint EU efforts have continued to show results, the situation remains fragile due to ongoing migratory pressure, as evidenced by newly increased arrivals along the Eastern and the Western…

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New photo shows Mafia bosses amongst audience in Maurizio Costanzo show, a year before car bomb directed at TV presenter

It's been 25 years ago but new facts emerge on the attack against Italian TV presenter Maurizio Costanzo. The new revelations relate to a photo that there was also Matteo…

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Israel’s song motif – Fun and empowerment, the voice of #MeToo at Eurovision

The winning track, which contained refrains such as "I am not your toy, you stupid boy", summed up the concerns of many women who have adopted the growing global movement against…

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NASA will send a helicopter to Mars – a first

NASA said on Friday it will send a small helicopter to Mars as part of the U.S. space agency’s 2020 mission to place a next-generation rover on the Martian surface,…

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Italy breaks two jihadist cells

Italian police moved in on two jihadist rings accused of raising funding for terrorist attacks. 14 people were arrested in an operation that involved searches in 20 properties in Sardinia…

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Driving ban for women lifted in Saudi Arabia

The General Department of Traffic in Saudi Arabia has announced that women will be allowed to drive in the country as from June 24. “All the requirements for women in…

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New York Attorney General resigns after being accused of physically abuse four women

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who positioned himself as a combatant of sexual harassment and abuse in the #MeToo era and a major opponent of President Donald Trump, abruptly…

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Major drug haul in Campo De Gibraltar (Spain)

Spanish authorities have seized over five tonnes of cannabis resin and arrested 31 people in two separate major operations targeting drug traffickers in the Campo de Gibraltar (Spain). In one…

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476 migrants saved in the strait of Gibraltar

Spain’s maritime rescue service has said it saved 476 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa. The migrants were pulled from 15 small boats on Friday and…

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Brasil – ‘Explosive’ operation against laundering ring of politicians and buisinessman

Investigators in Brazil raided a ring of powerful politicians and businessmen in what unfolded into one of the biggest anti-graft operations ever. The network is suspected of having moved over…

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No Nobel Prize for Literature amidst sexual harassment allegations

For the first time since 1949, the secretive jury within the Swedish Academy which decides the Nobel Prize for Literature that hands out the world’s most prestigious literary prize will…

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Oscars – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expels Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership ranks. The decision…

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ESA releases the most detailed Space Atlas to date

The European Space Agency, thanks to GAIA, it spacecraft, whose mission is to produce a detailed three-dimensional map of the stars our galaxy, released the largest 3D star atlas ever…

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10 dead, over 17 operations as migrant journeys restart from North Africa

With the good weather and the calm sea, the departures of refugees from North Africa to Italy have resumed. Unfortunately, so did the tragedies and the need for rescue operations.…

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What’s next for Italy after links between politicians and mafia were confirmed in court?

On Friday, a Palermo court found guilty former heads of the ROS security police Mario Mori, Giuseppe De Donno and Antonio Subranni, former Forza Italia Senator and Berlusconi aide Marcello…

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Windrush – A dark page in the UK’s Commonwealth history, today.

As the UK is hosting Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) where leaders gathered in London and Windsor to "address the shared global challenges we face and agree actions on…

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Woman accused of faking illness to avoid UK deportation died five days later

The Guardian reveals that a South African woman who collapsed during an attempted removal from the UK was accused by immigration officials of faking illness to avoid being put on…

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MOAS to to scan for Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia

The Asian Correspondent reports that MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) has announced it will deploy its search and rescue vessel MY Phoenix to the Andaman Sea for a one-month observation…

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