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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Italian activists face trial for migrant sea rescue in legal first
FILE PHOTO: Crew members and rescued migrants are seen on the deck of the Mare Jonio, operated by Italian charity Mediterranea Saving Humans, as a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) of the Italian Finance Police patrols nearby, in international waters of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea, August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) of the Italian Finance Police patrols near the Mare Jonio, operated by Italian charity Mediterranea Saving Humans, and the German NGO Sea-Eye migrant rescue ship 'Alan Kurdi' (unseen) in international waters of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea, August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo FILE PHOTO: The Mare Jonio, operated by Italian charity Mediterranea Saving Humans, with 34 rescued migrants on board, is seen in international waters of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea, August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo ROME - A Sicilian judge has ordered six members of an Italian charity ship to stand trial on accusations of aiding illegal immigration, the first time crew members of a rescue vessel have faced such prosecution, the group's lawyer said on Thursday. The case centres on a 2020 operation where the Mare Jonio charity ship, operated by the Mediterranea NGO, picked up 27 migrants who had been rescued by a giant tanker in the Mediterranean Sea. The activists then brought them to Italy. The defendants include a doctor, the Mare Jonio's commander, and Luca Casarini, co-founder of the charity and a prominent left-wing activist. They all deny wrongdoing. "This is the first indictment of its kind," lawyer Serena Romano told Reuters. "All prior proceedings against NGO crews were shut down at the investigative stage or during preliminary hearings." The charges come as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office in 2022, continues her long-running campaign to reduce immigration flows across the Mediterranean. The six defendants, five men and one woman, are accused of facilitating illegal immigration after they agreed to pick up the group of migrants, who had been stranded aboard the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne for more than a month. At the time, neither the Maltese, Italian nor Libyan authorities had let the tanker bring the migrants ashore, according to Maersk Tankers, the operator of Maersk Etienne. The group had been rescued from a sinking wooden dinghy near Malta as they sought to reach Europe. The Mare Jonio took them to Sicily. According to the Ansa news agency, prosecutors allege the rescue was financially motivated. They cite a 125,000 euro ($140,000) payment from Maersk to Idra Social Shipping, which owns the Mare Jonio. Mediterranea denies the accusation, calling the payment a "transparent donation" to support rescue efforts. Casarini, who was a friend of the late Pope Francis, said the trial, ordered by a court in Ragusa, would offer an opportunity to scrutinise official conduct during the incident. "We will call as witnesses the ministers and authorities who decided to leave 27 human beings adrift in the middle of the sea," he said. Meloni's government, in power since 2022, has enacted policies aimed at reducing sea arrivals and limiting NGO rescue operations, though the case predates her administration. Some members of the ruling coalition have accused the judiciary of looking to sink government efforts to prevent migrant crossings, included repeated rulings that have thwarted attempts to detain irregular migrants in Albania. Earlier this year, several Mediterranea members, including Casarini, were targeted with spyware. The government has denied involvement and called for an inquiry. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Italian activists face trial for migrant sea rescue in legal first
FILE PHOTO: The Mare Jonio, operated by Italian charity Mediterranea Saving Humans, with 34 rescued migrants on board, is seen in international waters of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea, August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo ROME (Reuters) -A Sicilian judge has ordered six members of an Italian charity ship to stand trial on accusations of aiding illegal immigration, the first time crew members of a rescue vessel have faced such prosecution, the group's lawyer said on Thursday. The case centres on a 2020 operation where the Mare Jonio charity ship, operated by the Mediterranea NGO, picked up 27 migrants who had been rescued by a giant tanker in the Mediterranean Sea. The activists then brought them to Italy. The defendants include a doctor, the Mare Jonio's commander, and Luca Casarini, co-founder of the charity and a prominent left-wing activist. They all deny wrongdoing. "This is the first indictment of its kind," lawyer Serena Romano told Reuters. "All prior proceedings against NGO crews were shut down at the investigative stage or during preliminary hearings." The charges come as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office in 2022, continues her long-running campaign to reduce immigration flows across the Mediterranean. The six defendants, five men and one woman, are accused of facilitating illegal immigration after they agreed to pick up the group of migrants, who had been stranded aboard the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne for more than a month. At the time, neither the Maltese, Italian nor Libyan authorities had let the tanker bring the migrants ashore, according to Maersk Tankers, the operator of Maersk Etienne. The group had been rescued from a sinking wooden dinghy near Malta as they sought to reach Europe. The Mare Jonio took them to Sicily. According to the Ansa news agency, prosecutors allege the rescue was financially motivated. They cite a 125,000 euro ($140,000) payment from Maersk to Idra Social Shipping, which owns the Mare Jonio. Mediterranea denies the accusation, calling the payment a "transparent donation" to support rescue efforts. Casarini, who was a friend of the late Pope Francis, said the trial, ordered by a court in Ragusa, would offer an opportunity to scrutinise official conduct during the incident. "We will call as witnesses the ministers and authorities who decided to leave 27 human beings adrift in the middle of the sea," he said. Meloni's government, in power since 2022, has enacted policies aimed at reducing sea arrivals and limiting NGO rescue operations, though the case predates her administration. Some members of the ruling coalition have accused the judiciary of looking to sink government efforts to prevent migrant crossings, included repeated rulings that have thwarted attempts to detain irregular migrants in Albania. Earlier this year, several Mediterranea members, including Casarini, were targeted with spyware. The government has denied involvement and called for an inquiry. ($1 = 0.8868 euros) (Editing by Crispian Balmer and Sophie Walker)
Deccan Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
May 19, 2025: Best photos from around the world
Poeple hold umbrellas as Pope Leo XIV arrives for his inaugural Mass at the Vatican, in Rome, Italy May 18, 2025. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi Cast member Robert Pattinson attends a press conference for the film "Die, My Love" in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 18, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Everton fans with flares outside the stadium before the last match for the men's team at Goodison Park. REUTERS/Scott Heppell People take part in "The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride", an annual event aimed to raise awareness on prostate cancer and men's mental health, in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 18, 2025. REUTERS/Spasiyana Sergieva
The Star
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
GPS on the moon: Spanish firm launches lunar navigation system
FILE PHOTO: The full moon is seen from Valletta September 9, 2014. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish technology company GMV has unveiled a GPS-like navigation system for the moon that aims to make lunar missions as intuitive as a drive across town with apps such as Google Maps or Waze. Called LUPIN, the project is part of a programme by the European Space Agency to test new positioning, navigation and timing techniques as interest in lunar surface exploration picks up again, whether for scientific research, potential mining opportunities or even future tourism. "With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars," Steven Kay, the project's director, told Reuters. The new technology was put to the test in the otherworldly landscapes of Fuerteventura - one of Spain's Canary Islands - where GMV conducted field trials with the prototype in a part of the Earth that bears some resemblance to the lunar surface. By using signals similar to GPS from moon-orbiting satellites, LUPIN would allow rovers and astronauts to pinpoint their location on the moon in real time. Currently, navigating the Earth's largest natural satellite is difficult, as spacecraft on its surface have to rely on complex calculations and data relayed from Earth - which is neither quick nor precise. "Communication depends on direct visibility with Earth or the use of relay satellites in lunar orbit, which create communicative shadow zones and latency times that hinder immediate decision-making," GMV said in a statement. The lack of real-time updates on changes in the moon's terrain caused by recent impacts or lunar dust movements also hinder ground trips on the satellite. The company wants to combine existing lunar cartography with information gleaned from moon-orbiting satellites targeting dark spots, such as the lunar south pole and the "far side", the area generally in shadow. "We want these rovers to map the surface of the moon in a fast and safe way so that astronauts can return in a few years, work there and set up permanent bases," said GMV's head of strategy, Mariella Graziano. (Reporting by Borja Suárez. Writing by David Latona. Editing by Inti Landauro and Mark Potter)
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malta to repair aid ship reportedly bombed by drones
FILE PHOTO: A tug vessel puts a fire on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessel Conscience outside Maltese territorial waters in this handout picture provided by Malta Government Department of Information, May 2, 2025. Government of Malta/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo FILE PHOTO: The damaged Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship \"Conscience\" is anchored at sea outside Maltese territorial waters, after the NGO said the vessel was bombed by drones while carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/File Photo VALLETTA, Malta - Malta's government said on Tuesday it would carry out repairs in international waters on a humanitarian aid ship which was reportedly bombed by two drones early on Friday. The "Conscience" is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO which says it wants to use the ship to break the siege of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The drone attack happened as the ship waited to board an international group of activists just outside Malta's waters, causing a loss of power and communications, Freedom Flotilla said on Friday. It said Israel, which has blockaded Gaza in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants, was to blame for the incident. Israel did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. The Malta government said a surveyor had inspected the vessel and found it needed minor repairs in order to sail to its next destination. "The ship's hull and engine room were found in good or satisfactory condition and free from water ingress. Most of the important equipment on the vessel such as the two main engines, the two generators, the bow thrust and the fire extinguishers were operational." The survey found only food and drink for crew members for about 30 days, the government said. "The captain indicated that a limited part of the food and drink supplies were for humanitarian purposes." Fuel storage of around 32 tonnes was also found. "The Government will be carrying out repairs which require immediate attention so that the vessel sails to its next destination," the government said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
