Amnesty International has blasted Malta and Italy for “criminalising” migrant rescue NGOs which, it says, is the result of increased hostility by authorities towards non-governmental rescue ships patrolling the Mediterranean for calls for distress. “The increasingly hostile treatment by Italian and Maltese authorities of non-governmental organisations dedicated to saving lives at sea is depleting the central Mediterranean of vital rescue assets. Instead of being applauded, NGOs, which in 2017 and until May 2018 had carried out about 40% of rescues, now face slander, intimidation and court cases,” the organisation said, in a 28-page report titled ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.’ “Longstanding, unresolved tensions in coordinating rescues at sea between Italy and Malta, which had been set aside in recent years as Italy was accepting nearly all disembarkations, have re-emerged, adding to the unpredictability of the rescue system.” … [Read more...] about Stop misusing criminal law against rescue NGOs, Amnesty International tells Malta, Italy
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US denies any role in attempt at assassination
US denies any role in attempt at assassination Independent.ie US President Donald Trump's national security adviser has said the US played no part in the apparent attempt on the life of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. https://www.independent.ie/world-news/latin-america/us-denies-any-role-in-attempt-at-assassination-37187431.html https://www.independent.ie/incoming/article37187488.ece/5871d/AUTOCROP/h342/AFP_18513E%202%20INT_ED5_S01%20Read-Only.jpg Email US President Donald Trump's national security adviser has said the US played no part in the apparent attempt on the life of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelan officials say drones armed with explosives detonated while Mr Maduro was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers which was being broadcast live on television. Mr Trump's adviser John Bolton stated "unequivocally" "there was no US government involvement in this at all". As to what happened in Caracas, Mr Bolton said: "It could be a lot of things, … [Read more...] about US denies any role in attempt at assassination
US not involved in Maduro assassination attempt: Bolton
Senior White House official John Bolton on Sunday denied that the US was involved in the detonation of several drones on Saturday in what is being described as a failed assassination attempt on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Sputnik reported. Bolton, the US National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump, asserted that there was no American involvement in the explosions, following accusations by Maduro of complicity and responsibility by actors in neighboring Colombia and the US state of Florida, according to CNBC.com. The senior Trump appointee raised the possibility that Maduro's own government was responsible for the explosions as a move to consolidate power and crack down on the political opposition, noting the five-year collapse of Venezuela's economy and subsequent unrest. "It could be a lot of things, from a pretext set up by the Maduro regime itself to something else," Bolton claimed, calling on Maduro to show proof of his accusations. "If the government of … [Read more...] about US not involved in Maduro assassination attempt: Bolton
Venezuela President Maduro says drone attack was ‘attempt to kill him’
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro dodged an apparent assassination attempt when drones armed with explosives detonated while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television, officials said. Caught by surprise mid-speech, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, looked up at the sky and winced Saturday after hearing the sound of an explosion pierce the air. "This was an attempt to kill me," he said later in an impassioned retelling of the events. "Today they attempted to assassinate me." Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the incident took place shortly after 5:30 p.m. as Maduro was celebrating the National Guard's 81st anniversary. The visibly shaken head of state said he saw a "flying device" that exploded before his eyes. He thought it might be a pyrotechnics display in honor of the event. Within seconds, Maduro said he heard a second explosion and pandemonium ensued. Bodyguards escorted Maduro out of the event and television footage showed … [Read more...] about Venezuela President Maduro says drone attack was ‘attempt to kill him’
No US government involvement in Maduro assassination attempt, Bolton says
A senior White House official on Sunday denied the United States was behind a drone blast on Saturday during a military event where Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was speaking. "I can say unequivocally there is no U.S. government involvement in this at all," said John Bolton, national security adviser to the White House, told "Fox News Sunday" in an interview. Bolton suggested that the Maduro government could be behind the explosion, citing widespread corruption and oppression in Venezuela. "It could be a lot of things from a pretext set up by the Maduro regime itself to something else," Bolton said, adding that there were no Americans injured in the blast. "If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, we will take a serious look at it," he added. Maduro often blames the United States, which has imposed sanctions against officials in his government, of "conspiracy" and blamed U.S. … [Read more...] about No US government involvement in Maduro assassination attempt, Bolton says