An Italian charity ship rescued around 100 migrants in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, bringing the total number of migrants saved to over 200 this week.
The Mare Jonio vessel, run by Italian NGO Mediterranea, said on its Twitter page that those rescued included 22 women and 28 children, most of them under the age of 10.
The charity said it was awaiting instructions from the Italian Maritime Coordination Center for it to try to dock.
Italy has taken a hard line on immigration and has in the past turned away charity rescue ships.
The Mare Jonio was investigated by Italy’s interior ministry in May for allegedly aiding illegal immigration but the case was later dropped.
In the latest standoff, anti-immigration Interior Minister Matteo Salvini refused to let a German rescue ship, carrying some 100 migrants, to enter Italian waters on Tuesday.
The Eleonore, run by German charity Mission Lifeline, said it found the migrants on a collapsing dinghy in the Mediterranean on Monday.
But it ran into the Libyan coastguard, which the charity said threatened the crew and wanted to take the migrants back to the war-stricken country.
In June, Malta investigated a Dutch-flagged rescue ship, the Lifeline, run by the same German charity, after it docked more than 230 migrants.
The captain was accused by Italy and Malta of breaking the law by refusing to comply with Libyan authorities and was handed a hefty fine for incorrect registration of the ship.
Over 34,000 migrants and refugees have made the dangerous journey into Europe by sea this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported in July.
But Italy and Malta have both repeatedly refused to allow charity vessels to dock until other European nations agree to take them in.
From: MeNeedIt
Chinese authorities have warned Australia not to interfere in the case of a Chinese-Australian writer who has been formally arrested in China on suspicion of spying. Yang Hengjun, who was born in China but is an Australian citizen, has been held in Beijing since January. Australia has become increasingly critical of China’s treatment of him in recent months.
Yang Hengjun has been under investigation for allegedly harming China’s national security, but Australian officials have been told he is now suspected of espionage. The former Chinese diplomat has been detained in Beijing without access to family or lawyers since January.
In a strongly worded statement, the Australian government says the writer is being held in “harsh conditions” and it has “serious concerns for his welfare.” Foreign minister Marise Payne said that if the Sydney-based academic was “being held for his political beliefs, he should be released.”
Alex Joske, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says other western powers should intervene on his behalf .
“Countries like the UK, Canada, the U.S. and the E.U. all have a stake in this. They all have a duty to try to protect the rights of the people who are being oppressed by totalitarian states and trying to make sure that the rule of law is being upheld,” said Joske.
It’s thought Yang migrated to Australia in the early 2000s. The writer has been a vocal critic of Chinese authorities, and was arrested earlier this year on a rare trip back home.
Yang’s wife Yang Ruijian has been granted permanent residency by Australia, but China has prevented her leaving the country.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman insisted the writer was being processed in accordance with the law. He said Beijing was strongly dissatisfied with Australia’s comments on his detention and called on it not to interfere in the case.
Media reports have suggested that if convicted Yang could face a long prison term or perhaps the death penalty.
From: MeNeedIt
A new koala-tracking app and a marsupial hospital are the latest moves to protect one of Australia’s most famous native animals. The furry, tree-dwelling marsupials are in decline in eastern Australia, and authorities hope a multi-million dollar rescue plan will help to save them.
The app will help authorities map and track koala populations in New South Wales state, where the furry marsupials are in decline. Members of the public as well as researchers are encouraged to report koala sightings using the technology.
The koala faces various threats, including loss of habitat, disease, road traffic accidents and attacks by dogs. There are also susceptible to the impact of drought and climate change.
A koala hospital and new wildlife reserves are the focus of one of Australia’s boldest plans to protect the vulnerable marsupial. Almost 25,000 hectares of state forest will be set aside for koalas in New South Wales state, which will also set up a new clinic north of Sydney to provide specialist care for sick and injured animals.
Koalas are officially listed as vulnerable to extinction in New South Wales.
In New South Wales and Queensland the famous, and distinctive, animals are listed as vulnerable under national environment laws. In some areas it is estimated that numbers have fallen by a quarter in the last 20 years.
How it works
New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean hopes the app will provide an accurate picture of where the koalas are.
“We are calling on the community to download the ‘I Spy Koala’ app on their phones,” said Kean. “That is about getting the community to go out in the wild, in our national parks, identify where koalas are, record it in their app so that we are better placed to protect them into the future. This is all about ensuring that the koalas can continue to thrive so that future generations can enjoy them. This is all part of the New South Wales government’s koala strategy, a AUD$44 (US$29.6m) investment in koalas. (It is) the biggest single investment of any government ever to ensure that koalas are protected and grow into the future.”
Health threats
A new koala hospital is being built in Port Stephens, 180 kilometers north of Sydney, and will be part of a wildlife sanctuary that will open next year.
There will also be more research into chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that has infected many koalas.
Fences to channel marsupials and other animals away from busy roads and into specially-made wildlife tunnels will also be built.
In parts of southern Australia officials say there are too many koalas, and that ‘overabundant’ populations are damaging valuable types of trees. In some areas there are programs that seek to reduce marsupial numbers. But further north, conservationists warn that the decline of the koala is an environmental emergency.
From: MeNeedIt
President Donald Trump’s path to re-election next year seems to be getting more complicated. Trump continues to boast about a strong economy despite warnings from a number of economists that the U.S. may be headed for a recession in 2020. And the president must now fend off a primary challenge from within his own party from conservative radio talk show host and former congressman, Joe Walsh. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more on the president’s re-election prospects from Washington.
From: MeNeedIt
Almost two dozen Polish former ambassadors are telling U.S. President Donald Trump that Poland’s democracy is at risk, and urging him to use an upcoming visit to pressure the country’s populist government to respect human rights and stop flouting the constitution.
“Mr. President, you are coming to a country where the rule of law is no longer respected,” the Conference of Ambassadors of the Republic of Poland wrote in an open letter posted on its website late Monday.
Trump is to arrive Saturday in Warsaw to attend ceremonies Sunday marking the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, which began with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. More than 40 other world leaders will also attend.
The 23 former ambassadors, some of whom have had multiple postings abroad and also held government positions at home, are also urging Trump to stop sowing divisions within the European Union and NATO, reminding him that Poland — a country in a difficult geographic position — depends on those alliances for its security and long-term survival.
“An isolated Poland, surrounded by enemies, conflicted with its neighbors and, as was the case before World War II, reliant solely on geographically distant alliances, is on course to another catastrophe,” they say.
Several critics hit back at the ex-diplomats, depicting them as frustrated former elites who cannot accept their loss of privilege and are disloyal to the nation.
One commentator, sociologist and diplomat Ryszard Zoltaniecki, told the right-wing news portal wPolityce that “they cannot accept the fact that other, new people have the right to create Polish foreign policy” and that they “slander Poland in the international arena.”
It will be Trump’s second visit to Poland, where a nationalist right-wing government that shares his anti-migrant views welcomed him enthusiastically in 2017. Then, Trump gave a speech praising Poland as a defender of Western civilization, without mentioning democracy or concerns voiced often by the European Union that the young democracy was veering off course.
At the time, the government was moving to restrict judicial independence, a process that picked up speed after Trump’s visit. His forthcoming visit follows recent revelations that the justice ministry encouraged an online hate campaign against judges who have been critical of the government.
It also comes as the ruling party, Law and Justice, and the country’s powerful Catholic church have been depicting gays and lesbians as threats to Polish society and to families.
That appears to be a campaign ploy ahead of parliamentary elections on Oct. 13 to appeal to the conservative heartland in a country where many people cling to their traditional Catholic values and feel that they are under attack from EU membership and liberal Western mores.
“The division of powers is being dismantled and the independent judiciary is being destroyed. Human rights are curtailed, and the growing repression of political opponents and various minorities, be they ethnic, religious or sexual, is not only tolerated by the government, but even inspired by it,” the ex-ambassadors wrote. “Your powerful voice calling for tolerance and mutual respect, as well as compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and other laws, may have historical significance.”
The ruling party has repeatedly denied accusations of violating democracy, noting that it came to power in free elections and that it still enjoys the approval of many Poles. It is by far the most popular party in the country, approval that is partly explained by generous welfare policies for families and farmers.
The Conference of Ambassadors is made up of 41 ex-ambassadors who are concerned the current government is eroding democracy and hurting the country’s position on the global stage. It was formed in 2017, two years after Law and Justice took power, and some of its members were fired by the party.
From: MeNeedIt
Consumer confidence dipped slightly in August after a big rebound in July.
The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index edged down to 135.1 in August, slightly below a July reading of 135.8, which had been the highest since November. Economists had been looking for a bigger drop in August.
The reading on consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved and now stands at its highest level in nearly 19 years.
Conference Board economists say that while other parts of the economy have shown some weakness, consumers have remained confident and willing to spend. The hope is that consumer spending can cushion the adverse effects to the U.S. economy from trade wars and a global slowdown.
But Lynn Franco, senior economic director at the Conference Board, said, “If the recent escalation in trade and tariff tensions persists, it could potentially dampen consumers’ optimism regarding the short-term economic outlook.”
The overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, slowed to growth at an annual rate of 2.1% in the April-June quarter, compared to 3.1% GDP growth in the first quarter.
However, the drop would have been much more severe except consumer spending surged to a growth rate of 4.3% in the second quarter. Economists are looking for consumer to keep spending at slightly slower rates in the second half of this year.
For August, consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions increased from 170.9 in July to 177.2 in August, the highest reading since November 2000.
From: MeNeedIt
More than 800 Namibian refugees in Botswana have vowed to stay put despite a court ruling saying they must return to their country, 20 years after fleeing following a secessionist uprising.
Felix Kalula and hundreds of other Namibian refugees fled to Botswana in 1999, after violent clashes with Namibian government forces broke out over the disputed Caprivi strip, which wanted to secede from the rest of the country.
The Namibian and Botswana governments say it is safe for the refugees to return home, and the migrants have until Aug. 31 to leave. But Kalula says the issues that made them flee have not been resolved.
“Some of our colleagues are still in prison since 1999, and many of them died in prison,” he said, adding that refugees have been asking for dialogue with the Namibian government, but the opportunity has not been afforded.
Kalula was a member of the secessionist party, the United Democratic Party, which remains banned in Namibia as the Caprivi residents were willing to use force to gain independence.
He says they are not prepared to return, and the Botswana government will have to forcibly remove them.
“We have informed the government of Botswana that we are not going to surrender through voluntary repatriation back to Caprivi, or Namibia as they call it, but we would rather be deported,” he said.
Another Namibian refugee, John Shamdo, agrees the situation back home remains unsafe.
“We live in fear that once we are repatriated back home, we shall be killed because of our political beliefs,” Shamdo said.
There should be a referendum to resolve the Caprivi strip dispute, he added, urging the international community to intervene.
Annette Toyano has been living at the Dukwi Refugee Camp in Botswana since 1998, and dreads going back home.
“Now we are saying, if it is to die, we are going to die. We are not going to opt for repatriation to go back home, because at home, it is not safe,” she said.
Rights group Amnesty International has urged the Botswana government not to repatriate the refugees, and instead is calling for dialogue.
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi recently told his Namibian counterpart, Hage Geingob, that Botswana revoked the refugees’ status, as the country deemed it fit for their return.
From: MeNeedIt
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton says there is no need for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “rush” into any course of action regarding Russia’s involvement with separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.
“I think, from the perspective of a new government in Ukraine, President Zelenskiy would be well-advised to look at how to unfold a strategy of dealing with the Russians very carefully,” Bolton told RFE/RL in a wide-ranging interview on August 27 in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
“I don’t think there is any reason to rush it into one course of action or another…. I think working this through over a period of time makes sense for the new government in Ukraine.”
“I don’t suppose that the Europeans are going to have a solution that is readily apparent,” he added in reference to the so-called Normandy format of negations aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict.
More than 13,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine after Russia-backed separatists took up arms against government forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April 2014.
After being elected in April this year, Zelenskiy called for a four-way meeting with fellow Normandy format participants Russia, Germany, and France to revive peace talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
Moscow has said there is interest in renewing peace discussions, but it did not specify a time frame.
On August 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Normandy format leaders will hold a summit next month.
“We think that the conditions exist for a useful summit,” Macron said at the end of a Group of Seven (G7) meeting in the southwestern French coastal resort of Biarritz.
Asked if Washington would want to join in Normandy format talks, Bolton did not answer directly, but said there is “significant American interest” in existing issues between Kyiv and Moscow.
“I think that is why we should consider, if President Zelenskiy wants us to be involved [in talks with Russia], whether we should do it.”
Black Sea buildup
Bolton also voiced U.S. concern about Russia’s military buildup in the Black Sea, including in Crimea, which has been unlawfully annexed by Moscow from Ukraine.
“The Black Sea has a number of NATO allies that also are part of it,” Bolton said, adding, “We expect to see access across the Black Sea maintained for all the littoral states and other traders who use the Black Sea.”
He said the United States was monitoring Russian activities in other parts of the world as well.
“The same is true of the Baltic; the same is true in the Arctic. And these are issues that we have had some difficult discussions with the Russians on, as in many other areas where they are trying to intrude beyond where they have a legitimate interest to be.”
Bolton’s visit is the first to Ukraine by a top U.S. official since Zelenskiy’s election in April. He is scheduled to meet with the Ukrainian leader on August 28, according to local media reports.
Upon his arrival, Bolton told reporters that “for me, this is an opportunity to talk about some priorities we have and really also, because of the new administration here, to hear their priorities.”
Bolton added that a meeting between President Donald Trump and Zelenskiy could happen when the U.S. leader travels to Poland early next month.
Minsk Trip
Meanwhile, the presidential administration in neighboring Belarus said on August 27 that Bolton will travel to Minsk for talks with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka later in the week, without giving an exact date.
Bolton’s trip to Minsk, which has not been confirmed by U.S. officials, would mark the highest-level U.S. government visit to Belarus in the past 20 years.
The government of another former Soviet republic, Moldova, said earlier that Bolton would visit its capital, Chisinau on August 29.
Bolton’s Eastern European tour will most likely irritate Moscow, which has been trying to restore its influence over former Soviet republics in recent years.
From: MeNeedIt
A collection of 27 outfits worn by Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland is going up for auction next month, some of which she wore on screen during her acting career more than 50 years ago.
The Sept. 17 online auction at Chicago-based Hindman also includes haute couture designs by Christian Dior that de Havilland, who turned 103 in July, wore at movie premieres and galas between 1954-1989.
De Havilland, a double Oscar winner who is best known for playing Melanie Wilkes in “Gone with the Wind,” sold the bulk of her Dior collection at a London auction in 1993.
The items up for sale next month are being sold by her family, Hindman auctions said on Monday.
They include a green Dior dress the actress wore in the 1964 movie “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte,” a belted day dress she was photographed in the day before her 1954 wedding to her second husband, Pierre Galante, and eight evening gowns.
Prices for the outfits, some of which include shoes, range from $300-$5,000.
De Havilland made her last screen appearance in the 1988 TV movie “The Woman He Loved” and now lives quietly in France.
From: MeNeedIt
The U.S. government plans to launch a program in roughly one month that narrowly focuses on protecting voter registration databases and systems ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
These systems, which are widely used to validate the eligibility of voters before they cast ballots, were compromised in 2016 by Russian hackers seeking to collect information.
Intelligence officials are concerned that foreign hackers in 2020 not only will target the databases but attempt to manipulate, disrupt or destroy the data, according to current and former U.S. officials.
“We assess these systems as high risk,” said a senior U.S. official, because they are one of the few pieces of election technology regularly connected to the internet.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, a division of the Homeland Security Department, fears the databases could be targeted by ransomware, a type of virus that has crippled city computer networks across the United States, including recently in Texas, Baltimore and Atlanta.
“Recent history has shown that state and county governments and those who support them are targets for ransomware attacks,” said Christopher Krebs, CISA’s director. “That is why we are working alongside election officials and their private sector partners to help protect their databases and respond to possible ransomware attacks.”
Demands for payment
A ransomware attack typically locks an infected computer system until payment, usually in the form of cryptocurrency, is sent to the hacker.
The effort to counter ransomware-style cyberattacks aimed at the election runs parallel to a larger intelligence community directive to determine the most likely vectors of digital attack in the November 2020 election, according to current and former U.S. officials.
“It is imperative that states and municipalities limit the availability of information about electoral systems or administrative processes and secure their websites and databases that could be exploited,” the FBI said in a statement, supporting the Homeland Security initiative.
CISA’s program will reach out to state election officials to prepare for such a ransomware scenario. It will provide educational material, remote computer penetration testing, and vulnerability scans as well as a list of recommendations on how to prevent and recover from ransomware.
These guidelines, however, will not offer advice on whether a state should ultimately pay or refuse to pay ransom to a hacker if one of its systems is already infected.
“Our thought is we don’t want the states to have to be in that situation,” said a Homeland Security official. “We’re focused on preventing it from happening.”
Over the last two years, cyber criminals and nation state hacking groups have used ransomware to extort victims and create chaos. In one incident in 2017, which has since been attributed to Russian hackers, a ransomware virus was used to mask a data deletion technique, rendering victim computers totally unusable.
That attack, dubbed “NotPetya,” went on to damage global corporations, including FedEx and Maersk, which had offices in Ukraine where the malware first spread.
Threat ‘far from over’
The threat is concerning because of its potential impact on voting results, experts say.
“A pre-election undetected attack could tamper with voter lists, creating huge confusion and delays, disenfranchisement, and at large enough scale could compromise the validity of the election,” said John Sebes, chief technology officer of the ESET Institute, an election technology policy think tank.
The databases are also “particularly susceptible to this kind of attack because local jurisdictions and states actively add, remove, and change the data year-round,” said Maurice Turner, a senior technologist with the Center for Democracy and Technology. “If the malicious actor doesn’t provide the key, the data is lost forever unless the victim has a recent backup.”
Nationwide, the local governments that store and update voter registration data are typically ill-equipped to defend themselves against elite hackers.
State election officials told Reuters they have improved their cyber defenses since 2016, including in some cases preparing backups for voter registration databases in case of an attack. But there is no common standard for how often local governments should create backups, said a senior Homeland Security official.
“We have to remember that this threat to our democracy will not go away, and concern about ransomware attacks on voter registration databases is one clear example,” said Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos. “We’re sure the threat is far from over.”
From: MeNeedIt