In the early hours of 29 September 2026, the crew of the Sea-Watch rescue vessel Aurora rescued 28 people following a shipwreck in international waters. The crew also recovered the bodies of two people, including a child. Five survivors were found aboard an almost completely deflated rubber boat, while another 23 had managed to reach the Hasdrubal…
Background to the Phenomenon and Its Impact on Civil Search and Rescue Since early 2024, civil rescue vessels (as well as merchant ships) in the central Mediterranean have increasingly encountered boats carrying people on the move that display certain distinctive features and pose additional challenges for crews. These boats are generally in comparatively better condition…
The notorious former Libyan prison director Osama Najim, known as Almasri, was sentenced on 21 June 2026 by the Criminal Court in Tripoli, Libya, to seven years and four months in prison for “violating the rights of prisoners”. Italy’s right wing is celebrating the verdict, claiming that justice has run its course and that the…
Berlin, 12 February 2026 – According to public announcements made on 11 February 2026, the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is planning the third part of its so-called “security package.” The draft law reportedly seeks to reinstate a naval blockade on civilian sea-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean. At the core of the…
