Rescue ship Ocean Viking stuck at sea with 104 migrants
AP, Milan
The humanitarian rescue ship Ocean Viking remained stuck at sea Friday with 104 migrants on board, a week after rescuing them off Libya despite an EU plan designed to resolve such cases.
French charities SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders, which operate the ship, say they have requested permission to land in either Italy or Malta. But SOS Mediterranee said there has been no response so far.
US seeks data on Iran humanitarian sales
AFP, Washington
The United States on Friday asked foreign governments to submit detailed reports on humanitarian exports to Iran, a step observers said could have a chilling effect and cast a pall over European efforts to allow trade.
President Donald Trump’s administration, which has cast Tehran’s clerical regime as enemy number one, announced a new “humanitarian mechanism” which it said would help the Iranian people by facilitating “legitimate” trade.
Ex-Senate President Nene Pimentel
laid to rest
AP, Manila
Democracy icon and former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. was laid to rest at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, Saturday.
Pimentel was given a shower of flowers and a three-volleys-over-fire salute by the Philippine Army Security before his remains were buried around Saturday noon. His son Sen. Koko vowed to continue his advocacy, particularly in local autonomy, federalism, and cooperativism.
Nigerian journalist accused of terrorism freed on bail
AFP, Warri
A detained Nigerian investigative journalist accused of terrorism, economic sabotage and fraud charges, said Friday he had been freed on bail.
Jones Abiri, known for articles critical of oil companies, told AFP he had been allowed to go after making bail, adding that “no, there are no conditions surrounding my release.” Abiri, editor and publisher of the Weekly Source newspaper, had been arrested in late May.
