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Lake Maggiore boat accident: Questions remain over spy deaths

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A boat sank on Lake Maggiore on May 28, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals, including a former Mossad agent, two Italian intelligence officers, and a Russian woman.

The incident has sparked speculation due to the presence of technology companies in Lombardy and the transit nature of Switzerland for intelligence members. While some reports suggest it was a recreational outing, Italian news outlets indicate a secret work meeting between Italian and Israeli agents. The boat was caught in a sudden storm, causing it to capsize.

The captain and his wife, who were not involved in intelligence work, survived. The investigation will examine compliance with safety measures, maintenance, certification, and insurance of the vessel, as well as the overcrowding issue and sailing in adverse weather conditions.

The incident remains under investigation, and many details are still uncertain, leaving room for speculation.

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News Sports Trending

PGMOL Condemns Abuse Towards Europa League Final Referee Anthony Taylor

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The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has strongly denounced the abuse and criticism directed at referee Anthony Taylor following the Europa League final. The PGMOL expressed its deep concern and disappointment over the online harassment and personal attacks aimed at Taylor after the match between Villarreal and Manchester United.

In a statement, the PGMOL highlighted the importance of treating match officials with respect and dignity, emphasizing that abusive behavior towards referees is completely unacceptable. They called for an end to the online abuse and urged individuals to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue.

The PGMOL also stated that they are fully committed to supporting referees and ensuring their well-being both on and off the field. They stressed the need for collective efforts from all stakeholders in football to tackle the issue of referee abuse and create an environment of mutual respect.

Furthermore, the PGMOL called on social media platforms to take stricter measures against online abuse, including stronger identification protocols and more severe consequences for individuals responsible for such behavior.

The incident involving Anthony Taylor sparked a wider conversation about the treatment of referees and the impact of online abuse in the football community. The PGMOL’s condemnation serves as a reminder of the importance of fostering a culture of respect and civility towards match officials in the sport.

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News Trending

Poland’s mission to recover valuable artwork stolen by the Nazis

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During the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War Two, numerous valuable artworks were stolen. Among them was Madonna with Child, a 16th-century painting attributed to Alessandro Turchi. Recently, the painting was discovered in Japan and returned to Polish authorities in a ceremony held in Tokyo. This is part of Poland’s ongoing effort to retrieve looted artworks, with Madonna with Child being one of the 600 successfully recovered so far. However, there are still over 66,000 war losses yet to be found. Poland has launched a campaign to seek the return of hundreds of thousands of missing artworks and cultural items, as well as reparations from Germany for the damages caused by the occupying Nazis.

Art experts anticipate that more looted artworks will be uncovered as time passes, especially as heirs attempt to sell these pieces without awareness of their history. Madonna with Child was believed to have been transferred to Germany in 1940 during the Nazi occupation, as the Nazis frequently looted art from Jewish families before their execution. The painting appeared again in the 1990s when it was sold at an auction in New York. However, the sale was halted in January last year after Polish authorities identified the artwork, and it was subsequently agreed upon by the auction house and the owner to be returned to Poland. The official handover ceremony took place in Tokyo.

The return of masterpieces like Madonna with Child helps restore pride in Poland’s art heritage and highlights the significance of Polish collections. Polish art historian Natalia Cetera stated that reclaiming these artworks showcases the country’s focus on remembering its cultural heritage and rebuilding its strength in art. There has been a shift in recent years towards recognizing cultural heritage as a common good. As looted artworks are inherited by the next generation, the unaware heirs may unknowingly sell these pieces, leading to their discovery.

Efforts to locate stolen artworks from Poland involve recording them in international databases and the work of art historians who are researching looted artworks and identifying them. The advancement of technology and online platforms used by auction houses allow for increased visibility and more eyes searching for looted objects. Furthermore, there seems to be a generational shift in attitudes toward stolen masterpieces, with some individuals willingly returning the artworks rather than facing legal issues.

The return of Madonna with Child is a source of pride for Poland, but it remains uncertain whether the passion for retrieving stolen artwork will continue with future generations. The digitization of art collections may impact the interest in physical artworks, as access to digital versions becomes more prevalent. While the successful retrieval of physical artworks is currently important, the advancement of technology might reduce the necessity of physically reclaiming artworks in the future.

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Truck driver held after spilled potatoes cause chaos on Danish bridge

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A 57-year-old truck driver has been arrested after multiple incidents of spilled potatoes occurred on a bridge connecting two Danish islands. The driver is being held on suspicion of reckless endangerment to life. The first spill occurred on the westbound side of the Storebaelt Bridge, which links the island of Copenhagen to the rest of Denmark. Shortly after, a similar incident happened on the eastbound side. The police are considering two possibilities: it was either an accident or a deliberate act.

The spilled potatoes made the roads slippery, leading to traffic congestion and prompting authorities to urge drivers to reduce their speed. Another incident of potatoes on the road was reported near the town of Kolding, which is close to the Storebaelt Bridge.

Interestingly, the potato spills coincided with the passing of a new law in the Danish parliament that imposes taxes on diesel trucks carrying heavy loads. This measure has sparked protests from truck drivers who argue that the tax will make their livelihoods unsustainable. They have peacefully blocked highways and main roads across Denmark in recent weeks. The majority of the Danish parliament contends that the tax is necessary due to the environmental unsustainability of petrol and diesel trucks. Starting in 2025, drivers of such vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons will be taxed 1.3 Danish kroner per kilometer.

A spokesperson for the protesting truck drivers distanced themselves from the potato spills, stating on Facebook that they plan to protest in a manner that can be felt without risking harm to people’s lives and well-being.

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News Trending War

Three people were killed in a recent missile attack on Kyiv during the Ukraine war

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In a recent nighttime missile attack on Kyiv, three individuals, including an 11-year-old girl, lost their lives, according to regional police. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in frequent missile and drone strikes targeting the Ukrainian capital.

The latest attack occurred in the Desnyanskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, leaving 11 others injured. The victims also included a 33-year-old woman and the girl’s 34-year-old mother. Initial reports suggested two children had died, but the information was later updated.

This marks the fourth attack this week, following a series of 17 strikes on Kyiv throughout May, mostly during nighttime. Photos shared by military authorities revealed rescue teams tending to the wounded and damaged buildings. In the occupied Luhansk region, Russian-backed officials claimed five deaths and 19 injuries from Ukrainian shelling at a poultry farm.

Additionally, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, stated that two individuals were injured in an attack on Shebekino, which he attributed to Ukrainian troops.

Russia has been employing kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in recent weeks to target Ukraine, with Kyiv being a primary focus. Analysts believe that Moscow aims to weaken Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of an anticipated counter-offensive planned by the Ukrainian government.

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News Trending War

EU accused of ‘staggering neglect’ due to failure in resettling Afghans  

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According to a renowned refugee charity, many people who require permanent protection are still trapped in “prison-like” camps on Greek islands.

It has come to light that only 271 Afghans, or 0.1% of the 270,000 people classified as needing permanent protection, were placed in the EU in 2022.

The International Rescue Committee, a prominent charity, charged that EU officials had shown “staggering neglect” to Afghan migrants, many of whom were still stranded in “prison-like” conditions on Greek islands.

The International Rescue Committee argues in a damning assessment that EU member states have “consistently” broken their lawful resettlement pledges, leaving many Afghans who do cross EU borders “vulnerable” once more.

It alleges that just half of the refugees Italy agreed to accept have really arrived, despite a plan to resettle up to 1,000 Afghans per month being formed in Germany in 2021.

“This report highlights staggering neglect of Afghans by the member states of the European Union, which puts them at risk at every step of their journeys in search of protection,” International Rescue Committee director David Miliband said. While the well-intended intentions of some states to relocate Afghans to safer countries have encountered several setbacks and challenges, other nations have failed to make any commitments at all or to ensure proper protection and inclusion for the tiny part of Afghan refugees who manage to reach Europe.

According to him, the EU member states’ warm welcoming of the more than 8 million refugees from Ukraine has shown their ability to deliver.

There is just no justification for treating Afghans and other refugees forcibly displaced from their homes in a different manner, Miliband continued.

The IRC report focuses on the absence of safe refugee passageways but does not seem to take into account broader efforts made in nations like Germany to assist Afghans.

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Natural Disaster News Trending

British paddleboarder killed by lightning strike 

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When the storm approached, the partner of a British tourist who died after being struck by lightning while paddleboarding off the coast of Rhodes begged him to head back to shore.

When it became apparent that the 26-year-old from Liverpool was having difficulty in the waters near Agathi beach, Scott Seddon’s girlfriend yelled “come out” repeatedly. The unnamed woman was on land and used her phone to record Seddon, a talented athlete, as the tragedy occurred.

Wander Machado, a Brazilian player who jumped into the river to rescue the British woman, stated, “I just heard [her] pleading for help. “I performed first aid. I eventually noticed that he was going blue. He informed Greece’s Mega TV that he was attempting to breathe. “I thought he would come to. The girl was saying his name, she was saying ‘I love you’, ‘I love you’ and, then suddenly, his eyes closed.”

Officials from the Rhodes coastguard have started an investigation and are gathering information from beachgoers who saw the tragedy. They claim that the crash video that Seddon’s upset companion recorded will be very important to the investigation. An autopsy will be performed, according to forensic doctors at the general hospital on the island, to ascertain the cause of death.

On Tuesday, concerns were raised as to why no public warning had been made despite the storm’s presence in the area having been predicted several hours earlier. The island of Rhodes has been experiencing harsh weather for several days, with downpours so intense that major damage, including leaky roofs, was reported in the departure halls of the airport.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: mothers on the way to rescue their children from Russia 

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Sasha Kraynyuk, 15, quickly recognised the child wearing a Russian military uniform after carefully studying the photo that Ukrainian investigators gave him.

The Z-mark of Russia’s war, coloured in the red, white, and blue of the Russian flag, is inscribed on the right sleeve of the teenager seated at a school desk.

However, the boy’s name is Artem, and he is Ukrainian.

13 kids, including Sasha and Artem, were abducted from their own school in Kupyansk, northeastern Ukraine, last September by armed Russian soldiers wearing balaclavas. “Quickly!” yelled as they were herded onto a bus, after which they vanished for weeks without being seen.

The children, all of whom have specific needs for schooling, were only ultimately permitted to contact home from a location considerably farther within Russian-occupied territory.

Their relatives had to travel arduous distances of thousands of kilometres into the nation that had declared war on them to retrieve them. So far, only eight of the kids have been brought back from Perevalsk, and Artem was one of the last to be picked up by his mother this spring.

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News Trending War

Combat with Serbs in Kosovo results in at least 30 NATO soldiers being hurt.

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The number of soldiers injured in violent fights with ethnic Serbs by the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, KFOR, has increased to 30.

In one of the municipalities in northern Kosovo where ethnic Albanian mayors took office last week, the Serbs had attempted to seize control of the offices.

According to the statement released on Tuesday, 19 Hungarian and 11 Italian soldiers “sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices.”

Three Hungarian soldiers were “wounded by the use of firearms,” the statement continued, although their wounds were not life-threatening.

Some of the clashes happened in Zvecan, a municipality 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Pristina, the capital.

According to KFOR commander Major-General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, “Both parties need to fully accept responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives.”

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Accidents News Trending

Boat capsizing on Lake Maggiore kills agents in Italy

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The boating accident on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy on Sunday left four people dead, including two Italian intelligence officers and a retired Israeli security services member, according to local authorities.

Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tiziana Barnobi, 53, were identified as Italians. Shimoni Erez, a 50-year-old Israeli, was named. The boat’s captain’s wife, Anya Bozhkova, a 50-year-old Russian, also passed away.

Strong winds caused the boat, which was carrying more than 20 visitors, to sink.

When a storm formed over the lake and eventually intensified into a “small hurricane,” the boat was reportedly carrying approximately 25 people who were celebrating a birthday.

Between the cities of Sesto Calende and Arona on Sunday night, the 16-meter (52-foot) long boat capsized and sank. All of the people on board fell into the water, but several of them swam ashore or were saved by other vessels. At the southern end of the lake, rescue divers, a helicopter, and numerous ambulances, as well as an air ambulance, sprung into action to assist with the search.

Firefighters posted a video of chairs and other debris floating in rough waters. Five patients were transported to a hospital.

Italy and Switzerland share Lake Maggiore, which lies on the southern slope of the Alps, and it is a well-liked tourist attraction. The area has recently had bad weather, with thunderstorm warnings being issued by Italy’s meteorological office.

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