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79 die as boat carrying immigrants capsizes off the coast of Greece
At least 79 people died and many more are feared missing after a fishing boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized and sank off the southern coast of Greece on Wednesday.
The Greek coastguard said in a statement the vessel sank in international waters, 47 nautical miles (87km) southwest of Pylos, off the Peloponnese coast. The spot is close to one of the deepest areas of the Mediterranean.
Rescuers saved 104 passengers – including Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis, Afghans and Palestinians – and recovered 79 bodies.
The search continued early on Thursday for more survivors, with aircraft dropping flares to help search teams.
“It’s one of the biggest [such] operations ever in the Mediterranean,” Greek coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state ERT TV.
“We won’t stop looking,” he said.
The sinking could be one of the worst ever recorded on the feared central Mediterranean migration route, which is the world’s deadliest.
Ioannis Zafiropoulos, deputy mayor of the southern port city of Kalamata, where survivors were taken, said his information indicated there were “more than 500 people” on board.
Six coastguard vessels, a navy frigate, a military transport and an air force helicopter, as well as several private vessels, were taking part in the search for those missing overnight.
CONCAFAF expels Nicaragua from 2023 Gold Cup
Nicaragua was Monday expelled from the 2023 Gold Cup as punishment for fielding an unqualified player in several international matches.
In addition, Nicaragua was relegated to League B in the next Nations League competition that starts in the fall, thus ultimately canceling chances of Nicaragua qualifying for next summer’s Copa America.
Trinidad and Tobago will move from the qualifying round into the third spot in Group A. Consequently, Antigua and Barbuda will proceed into the Gold Cup prelims to fill the spot vacated by the Soca Warriors. Trinidad and Tobago will also replace Nicaragua’s slot in League A of the next Nations League.
CONCACAF ruled that Nicaragua had fielded an ineligible player across eight matches. Though CONCACAF, FMF State of Mind, did not name the player, reported that the player in question was likely Richard Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was initially born in Uruguay but eventually naturalized and became a Nicaraguan citizen. However, it appears he did not meet the FIFA prerequisite for five years of residency in the country and is thus ineligible to play for Nicaragua.
Donald Trump appears in court, pleads not guilty
Former United States President Donald Trump Tuesday pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Trump is the first former US president to be charged in a federal court by the US Department of Justice.
He was released after the court session that lasted 45 minutes. As a condition of his release, he was banned from talking to his aide Walt Nauta, who was charged with six counts in the case.
However, the controversial ex-president was not required to surrender his passport and there will be no limit on his domestic or international travel.
Immediately after his release from court, he left the courthouse minutes before 4 p.m. ET. He flew to New Jersey, where he addressed supporters at his Bedminster resort on Tuesday night.
Trump, who flew on his private plane to Miami on Monday, arrived at the courthouse at around 1:50 p.m. ET and then was booked.
Journalists covering Trump’s arraignment were told beforehand by the court officials that there would be no mugshot. Cameras were also not allowed in the courtroom.
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