Latest Mediterranean Sea News

FILE -In this Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 file photo the sun pierces the clouds over international waters north of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. A rubber dinghy packed with 91 migrants that set out from Libyan shores in hopes of reaching Europe has apparently gone missing in the Mediterranean, the U.N. refugee agency said Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. The inflatable boat carrying mostly African migrants departed from al-Qarbouli, 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the capital Tripoli on Feb. 8, said Osman Haroun, whose cousin was on board. He hasn’t heard from the 27-year-old Mohamed Idris, or his 10 other friends also on the boat, since. (AP Photo/Renata Brito, File)

UN agency says 35 migrants rescued off Libyan coast

Feb. 28, 2020 2:52 AM EST

CAIRO (AP) — A commercial ship has rescued 35 Europe-bound migrants off Libya's Mediterranean coast and returned them to the capital, Tripoli, the U.N. migration agency said. The International Organization for Migration tweeted that migrants, who were intersected on Thursday, were given medical assistance...

The drilling ship Tungsten Explorer is seen off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. The vessel is scheduled to start later this week the first oil and gas exploration drills off the Lebanese coast, the French oil giant Total and Lebanon's government announced Tuesday. The arrival of the drill ship comes at a time when Lebanon is going through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanon begins 'historic' offshore oil drilling amid crisis

Feb. 27, 2020 11:18 AM EST

Beirut (AP) — Lebanon's president Thursday inaugurated the Mediterranean country's first offshore exploratory drilling for oil and gas, calling it a “historic day” for the cash-strapped country. Michel Aoun spoke aboard the drill ship Tungsten Explorer, which will be conducting the drilling...

In this photo released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, center, heads the cabinet meeting, at the presidential palace, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. French oil giant Total and the Lebanese government said Tuesday the drill ship that will carry operations of the first exploration well off the Lebanese coast has arrived where it will start drilling later this week. The arrival of the drill ship comes at a time when Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades and harsh liquidity shortage. (Dalati Nohra via AP)

French Total to drill exploratory well off Lebanese coast

Feb. 25, 2020 12:09 PM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — A ship that will set up the first oil and gas exploration well off the Lebanese coast has arrived in Lebanon where it will start work later this week, French oil giant Total and Lebanon's government announced Tuesday. The arrival of the drill ship comes at a time when Lebanon is going...

Pope Francis kisses a a baby as he greets faithful in St. Nicholas Basilica, in Bari, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. The Pope is in Bari to preside the closing of the “Mediterranean sea a border of peace” conference. Twenty bishops from the countries overlooking the Mediterranean are attend to talk about peace and dialogue. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope cautions against 'unfair' Middle East peace plans

Feb. 23, 2020 7:59 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has cautioned against “unfair” solutions aimed at ending the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In a speech Sunday during a visit to the Italian southern port city of Bari to reflect on peace in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Francis lamented the...

Finland says to take in max 175 Mediterranean asylum-seekers

Feb. 22, 2020 8:21 AM EST

HELSINKI (AP) — The Finnish government says it has agreed to take in up to 175 asylum-seekers from camps in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta "to alleviate the humanitarian situation" experienced by refugees in the Mediterranean members of the European Union. The Finnish interior ministry said Saturday in a...

FILE -In this Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 file photo the sun pierces the clouds over international waters north of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. A rubber dinghy packed with 91 migrants that set out from Libyan shores in hopes of reaching Europe has apparently gone missing in the Mediterranean, the U.N. refugee agency said Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. The inflatable boat carrying mostly African migrants departed from al-Qarbouli, 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the capital Tripoli on Feb. 8, said Osman Haroun, whose cousin was on board. He hasn’t heard from the 27-year-old Mohamed Idris, or his 10 other friends also on the boat, since. (AP Photo/Renata Brito, File)

Boat carrying 91 migrants goes missing in Mediterranean

Feb. 20, 2020 9:34 PM EST

CAIRO (AP) — A rubber dinghy packed with 91 migrants that set out from Libyan shores in hopes of reaching Europe has apparently gone missing in the Mediterranean, the U.N. migration agency said Thursday. The inflatable boat carrying mostly African migrants departed from al-Qarbouli, 50 kilometers (30...

Erdogan criticizes EU move to enforce Libyan arms embargo

Feb. 19, 2020 4:37 PM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president criticized on Wednesday the European Union’s decision to launch a maritime effort focused on enforcing the U.N. arms embargo around Libya, accusing European nations that agreed to the operation of “interfering in the region.” Recep Tayyip...

A group of migrants rescued by Spanish maritime authorities stand on a rescue vessel as they arrive at Malaga port, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Spain on Monday rescued 119 migrants from the sea and was looking for 67 more believed to have gone missing on a boat while trying to reach European shores, the country's maritime authorities said on Monday. (AP Photo/Jesus Merida)

Spain finds 69 migrants missing for a day in smuggling boat

Feb. 11, 2020 8:46 AM EST

MADRID (AP) — Spain has located 69 African migrants who had gone missing while trying to reach Europe by boat, the country's Maritime Rescue service said Tuesday. A spokeswoman with the government agency said that a merchant ship found the boat some 36 nautical miles south of the Spanish port city of...

Spain rescues 119 migrants, launches search for 67 missing

Feb. 10, 2020 4:29 PM EST

MADRID (AP) — Spain on Monday rescued 119 migrants from the sea and was looking for 67 more believed to have gone missing on a boat while trying to reach European shores, the country's maritime authorities said on Monday. A spokesman with the Maritime Rescue agency said the search for the missing rubber...

People wearing face masks disembark from an aircraft repatriating British and other nationalities to the UK from the coronavirus hit city of Wuhan in China, following its arrival at RAF Brize Norton, England, Sunday Feb. 9, 2020. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

Spain, UK see new virus cases; French focus on ski resort

Feb. 9, 2020 4:32 PM EST

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — French medical authorities tested scores of children and their families Sunday for the new virus from China, zeroing in on a ski resort in the Alps that appeared linked to new infections in Britain and Spain. The U.K. announced its fourth case of the new virus and Spain announced...

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