Fourteen Migrants Dead After Collision with Greek Coastguard Boat
At least 14 migrants died after a speedboat carrying them collided with a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel off the coast of the island of Chios on Tuesday, according to Greek authorities. The collision occurred in the Chios Strait, near the village of Vrontades, during a pursuit by the coastguard.
The Greek Coast Guard stated that the speedboat was making dangerous maneuvers at the time of the incident. Twenty-four people were rescued, some with serious injuries, and others are reportedly still missing. A search and rescue operation was ongoing Tuesday night, according to BBC World. The coastguard has not yet clarified the exact circumstances surrounding the collision.
This incident occurred as other international events unfolded, including the United States military shooting down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. According to US Central Command spokesman Capt Tim Hawkins, an F-35C stealth fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln warship shot down the drone "in self-defence" after it "aggressively approached" the aircraft carrier. The ship was approximately 500 miles from the Iranian coast when the drone approached it with "unclear intent." No US equipment was damaged and no service members were harmed.
In other news, Spain announced plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday that the changes would protect children from the "digital Wild West." The ban, which still needs parliamentary approval, is part of a raft of changes that include making company executives responsible for "illegal or harmful content" on their platforms. Australia became the world's first country to bring in a ban last year, with others watching its success. France, Denmark, and Austria have also announced similar plans.
Meanwhile, in Colombia, the BBC joined Colombian commandos on a mission to find cocaine labs in the jungle. The Jungle Commandos, a police special operations unit armed by the Americans and originally trained by Britain's SAS, were heavily armed as they embarked on the familiar mission.
Separately, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya's former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly shot dead. The death of the 53-year-old was confirmed by the head of his political team on Tuesday, according to the Libyan News Agency. His lawyer told AFP that a "four-man commando" unit carried out an assassination at his home in the city of Zintan. However, his sister told Libyan TV that he had died near the country's border with Algeria.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment