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New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
US issues travel warning for Italy fearing ‘terrorism' — here's what American tourists should know
Italy has long been a summer hotspot for globetrotters everywhere — but an updated travel advisory has just been issued for the beloved European vacation destination. On May 23, the US State Department issued a Level 2 travel warning for Italy, urging travelers to 'exercise increased caution' due to terrorism. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel warning for Italy. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Advertisement 'There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy,' the advisory summary reads. Italy previously had the basic Level 1 advisory that most other European countries share, simply telling travelers to 'exercise normal precautions' when visiting. However, due to the increased threat of terrorist-related violence, the State Department has bumped Italy up to Level 2. Advertisement There are four levels for international travel advisories: Level 1 ('exercise normal precautions'), Level 2 ('exercise increased caution'), Level 3 ('reconsider travel') and Level 4 ('do not travel'). The advisory warns that terrorists 'may attack with little or no warning' and encourages Americans to be wary of common targets, including tourist spots, transportation centers, shopping malls and markets, local government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, religious sites, parks, sports and cultural events, schools, airports and public areas. For those who decide to travel to Italy, the State Department recommends staying alert in tourist spots, checking local media for any breaking news and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy. The State Department is urging travelers to 'exercise increased caution' due to terrorism. REUTERS/Igor Petyx Advertisement It's also been recommended to be prepared to alter plans while abroad and set up a contingency plan for any potential emergency situations. France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom also currently have Level 2 advisories from the State Department.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Mike Lynch's yacht toppled by extreme wind, interim report finds
FILE PHOTO: Floating crane ship HEBO LIFT 2, which will recover the \"Bayesian\" yacht of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, leaves the port of Termini Imerese, ahead of the salvage operation off Porticello, near Palermo, Italy, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx/File Photo LONDON - The superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others, was vulnerable to violent winds and was probably knocked over by gusts of more than 117 km per hour, an interim UK report said on Thursday. The 56-metre-long (184-foot) Bayesian was moored off Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was hit by a very strong downward wind, forcing it onto its side where it began taking on water, Britain's Marine Accident Investigations Branch said. Described by the boat builder's owner as basically unsinkable, Bayesian sank in about 18 minutes after the violent gusts hit, tipping it 90 degrees. The investigation established that when the yacht's retractable keel was raised, wind speeds in excess of 117 km per hour on the beam were sufficient to knock it over. The report said the yacht could also have been vulnerable to winds of lower speed. These vulnerabilities were not identified in the stability information book carried on board and were consequently unknown to either the owner or the crew. "The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over," said Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents. "Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degrees the situation was irrecoverable." The report said the 72m (78.74 yards) aluminium mast, the world's tallest, increased the vulnerability, accounting for half of the force that pushed the boat onto its side. The sinking of the Bayesian stunned the local community and those who sail in European waters. Lynch, a British tech trailblazer, had been celebrating his acquittal on 15 counts of fraud in June 2024. He was sailing with his family and friends who supported him during the U.S. trial, including his lawyer and a banker, Jonathan Bloomer. His daughter also died. 15 SECONDS The report said a sudden increase in the wind speed caused the yacht to heel over to 90 degrees in less than 15 seconds. Water came in over the starboard rails and within seconds entered the vessel down the stairwells, it said. Around 18 minutes later the yacht sunk in the 50 metre-deep sea. The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Perini Navi, an Italian luxury yacht maker. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, said in August the yacht was "one of the safest boats in the world" and basically unsinkable. The company did not comment on the UK report. An Italian investigation into the sinking is ongoing and the British investigators said circumstances could change after more evidence is released and the wreck was examined. The yacht remains on the seabed and a salvage operation is scheduled to resume on Thursday after a diver was killed last Friday during preliminary operations to lift it. "Last week's tragedy affected all involved," said Marcus Cave, head of naval architecture and a director of TMC Marine. "However, everyone is still committed to complete this project." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Mike Lynch's yacht doomed by extreme wind, interim report finds
FILE PHOTO: Floating crane ship HEBO LIFT 2, which will recover the \"Bayesian\" yacht of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, leaves the port of Termini Imerese, ahead of the salvage operation off Porticello, near Palermo, Italy, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx/File Photo LONDON - The superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others, was probably knocked over by winds of more than 117 kilometres an hour, an interim UK report said on Thursday. The 56-metre-long (184-foot) Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was likely hit by a very strong downward wind, killing Lynch, his daughter Hannah and five others, Britain's Marine Accident Investigations Branch said. The investigation established that, when the yacht's retractable keel was in the raised position, wind speeds in excess of 117km per hour on the beam were sufficient to knock Bayesian over. It said it was possible the yacht was similarly vulnerable to winds of lower speed. These vulnerabilities were not identified in the stability information book carried on board and were consequently unknown to either the owner or the crew of Bayesian. "The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over," said Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents. "Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degrees the situation was irrecoverable." The report said a sudden increase in the wind speed caused the yacht to keel over to 90 degrees in less than 15 seconds. Water came in over the starboard rails and within seconds entered the vessel down the stairwells, it said. Around 18 minutes later the yacht sunk in the 50 metre-deep sea. The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Perini Navi, an Italian luxury yacht maker. It featured the world's tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72 metres (236 feet). Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, said in August the yacht was "one of the safest boats in the world" and basically unsinkable. The company did not provide an immediate comment on the UK report. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Salvage of Lynch's sunken yacht paused after diver's death
FILE PHOTO: Floating crane ship HEBO LIFT 10, which will recover the \"Bayesian\" yacht of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, is docked at the port of Termini Imerese, ahead of the salvage operation off Porticello, near Palermo, Italy, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx/File Photo PALERMO, Italy - Work to recover the late British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's sunken superyacht off the coast of northern Sicily has been paused following the death of a diver involved in the operations, the company leading the effort said on Saturday. The 56-metre-long (184-foot) Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was likely hit by a downburst, a very strong downward wind, killing seven people, including Lynch and his daughter Hannah. "This pause in activity is necessary for the investigations to be completed and to allow all salvage and associated teams to mourn the tragic loss of a highly respected salvage diver during yesterday's underwater work," TMC Marine said in a statement. The accident happened on Friday while the diver was underwater in Porticello, police said, adding that the precise cause of death was still unknown. Italian news agencies reported that the diver was a 39-year-old Dutch national who worked for the Dutch specialist salvage company Hebo Maritiemservice. The AGI news agency said the man was hit by a piece of metal as divers were cutting the boom - the horizontal pole attached to the vertical mast of the ship - from the wreck of the Bayesian. The attempt to lift the yacht off the seabed, as requested by Italian prosecutors, had been scheduled to take place later this month and is supposed to help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea. It was unclear how long the temporary suspension announced on Saturday would last. "The salvage team is providing full cooperation to the authorities in their investigations (into the death of the diver)", Marcus Cave, Head of Naval Architecture and a Director of TMC Marine, said. "While there is considerable interest in this project, we would ask the media to be considerate of the entire project team and allow sufficient time for the investigations to run their course, and for those affected to reflect and mourn at this terribly sad time," he added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Straits Times
Diver dies in preliminary operations to recover Lynch's yacht
FILE PHOTO: Floating crane ship HEBO LIFT 10, which will recover the \"Bayesian\" yacht of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, is docked at the port of Termini Imerese, ahead of the salvage operation off Porticello, near Palermo, Italy, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx/File Photo PALERMO, Italy - A diver died on Friday during preliminary operations to recover British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's superyacht from the waters off the coast of northern Sicily, local police said. The 56-metre-long (184-foot) Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was likely hit by a downburst, a very strong downward wind, killing seven people, including Lynch and his daughter Hannah. The accident happened on Friday while the diver was underwater in Porticello, police said, adding that the precise cause of death was still unknown. The attempt to lift the yacht off the seabed is expected later this month and should help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea. Italian news agencies reported that the diver was a 39-year-old Dutch national who worked for the Dutch specialist salvage company Hebo Maritiemservice. The AGI news agency said the man was hit by a piece of metal as divers were cutting the boom - the horizontal pole attached to the vertical mast of the ship - from the wreck of the Bayesian. Hebo was not immediately available for comment. A spokesperson for TMC Marine, the UK-based marine consultancy leading the salvage effort, confirmed the death in a statement. "The circumstances of the accident are currently being investigated by the authorities and all parties are offering their full cooperation. We are giving every support to the salvage team on site at this heartbreaking time and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased," the spokesperson said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
