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ITALY WILL TODAY begin a large scale deployment of forces in the Mediterranean to manage the influx of asylum seekers as the latest boatload carrying 137 migrants arrived on its shores.
The 12-metre long boat was intercepted by coast guards and taken to the tiny island of Lampedusa, where 364 migrants drowned last month in the country’s worst ever refugee shipwreck disaster.
The new arrivals were all migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and are believed to have arrived from Libya, news channel SkyTG24 reported.
They have been taken to an overcrowded refugee centre on Lampedusa, where some of the 155 survivors from the tragedy are also being housed.
In a second accident at sea on Friday, at least 36 people perished and over 200 were plucked from the water when their boat capsized off Malta.
The UN refugee agency estimates some 32,000 migrants have arrived in Malta and Italy this year — many of them from Eritrea, Somalia and Syria.
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is expected to meet with his defence, foreign and interior ministers later on Monday to agree on stepping up its air and naval search and rescue operation.
It already has three navy ships patrolling its southern maritime border, as well as ships and planes from the coast guard and border patrol.
Italy and Malta have appealed for more assistance from other European states to deal with the sharp increase in refugee arrivals this year.
The number of asylum seekers landing on its shores has increased drastically since the Arab Spring revolts in North Africa in 2011.
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Poor sleeping on the streets but £50,000 spent on a wedding cake.
Markle’s dress cost more than fire-proof cladding would’ve for Grenfell, but the latter was somehow “too expensive”.
@eastsmer:
So in a country as large a Britain it’s not possible to do two things at the same time?
I know it pi**es off the Republicans among us but the fact is the vast majority of British people would want the fire proof cladding AND the dress to be bought.
@P.J. Nolan:
But two things did not happen at the same time.
@eastsmer:
That’s correct and the reason for that is what this enquiry is all about. My point is your statement is whataboutery of the finest order, one decision had nothing to do with the other.
@P.J. Nolan: “whataboutery” – tell that to the relatives
@P.J. Nolan: the man was making a valid point but of course whataboutery strikes again
@eastsmer: Ridiculous comparison and in reality the Royal family cost their country a lot less than they make for it. As for the wedding I’d imagine what the media paid to cover it more than paid for the event not to mention the influx of tourists for it.
@eastsmer: and your point is?
@eastsmer: the fire happened before the wedding there is no connection between these events, the Royal family have nothing to do with fire safety last time I looked, its the failure of a number of separate organisations. Your comment is just plain stupid.
@eastsmer: Correct. but don’t upset the flagwavers. they just love to be put in their place. it gives them purpose.
Awful just awful. Think of the fear the poor people went through.
I was in Manchester the day before the wedding. Not the slightest interest in it that i could see.
A completely valid and very pertinent comparison of the inequality in the lives of the super rich and the great mass of those who must struggle every day.
Not one perpetrator of the deaths in Grenfell tower has been arrested or charged. Not one.
@PV Nevin: Thank you PV Nevin – that is the comparison that I was trying to make.
I don’t wish to downgrade their ‘royal’ family if that is what floats their boats, however surely priorities can be shifted towards the less well off.
@eastsmer: i agree completely with your comparison. Was it not the arrogance of Kensington council, the regulators, the constructiton company and the materials company towards the poor that led to the massacre?
With regard to the monarchy, I believe the relentless propaganda of the media promotes a lie that there is not mass hatred for all the rich, including the royalty.
@PV Nevin: ___ Nothing’s changed as far as the super rich and the mere mortals are concerned. Basically, people still get what they’re given, usually by people who would never dream of living in those places.
@PV Nevin: Isn’t that why they’re having an inquiry ?
@PV Nevin: the investigation is not over yet so how can anyone be arrested or charged?
Our largest fire tragedy was a single storey nightclub.. The caravans in carrickmines were pretty far from high rise..
30 apt in 16, storey ballymun tower were destroyed with no injury..
It’s standards, vigilance and care that save lives..
And they want to build high rise in Dublin.
@Cranky: Yeah let’s not build any high rise anywhere else now because one went on fire.
@Cranky: whats that got to do with it?
Eco green energy saving insulation is actively encouraged, and you can get grants for installing it ..in reality it is flamable cladding ,
Next time you pass a building being coated in foam blocks look at the ground, pick up a piece of foam (litter will be all over the site) then do your own fire test.. you don’t need a Phd in physics..
Then wonder why we have fire regulations, and fire officers..
I hope they knock the place down and trun it into a monument to all those poor souls.
have your say