Italy saves over 1,700 migrants in Mediterranean in past three daysJuly 15, 2014 - 21:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Italy's search and rescue mission saved more than 1,700 migrants in the Mediterranean in the past three days and found one person dead on a half-submerged raft, the navy said on Tuesday, July 15, according to Reuters. This year's calmer summer weather has seen record numbers of people attempt to cross the sea from North Africa to Italy, often on packed boats and leaking rafts. Many are fleeing poverty, war and military conscription. Italy's "Mare Nostrum" or "Our Sea" mission rescued more than 1,500 people in the Strait of Sicily between Saturday and Monday and more than 200 more from three rafts on Monday night, the navy said. The rescue mission found one body on a sinking raft from it rescued another 12 people about 40 miles from the Libyan coast, the navy said. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates that around 500 migrants have died in the Mediterranean so far this year, compared to 700 during the whole of last year. At the frontier between Europe and Africa, Italy has long attracted seaborne migrants, but civil war in Syria and forced military service in Eritrea have triggered a recent surge. Around 66,000 people have arrived via sea since January, the UNHCR estimates, surpassing the previous record of around 62,000 for all of 2011, year of the "Arab Spring" uprisings. Crumbling order in Libya has also made it almost impossible to control the number of boats leaving the country, often laden with people who have paid traffickers more than $1,000 each. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has asked the United Nations to intervene to contain the crisis in Libya and has called on the European Union to invest in the region's border control agency. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |