INSIDER
G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administration
Read full article: G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administrationForeign ministers from the worldās leading industrialized nations are expressing cautious optimism about possible progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini lift Italy past Australia and back to the Davis Cup final
Read full article: Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini lift Italy past Australia and back to the Davis Cup finalTop-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won their singles matches to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final.
Jasmine Paolini and Italy beat Slovakia to win the Billie Jean King Cup
Read full article: Jasmine Paolini and Italy beat Slovakia to win the Billie Jean King CupTwo-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini has capped a breakthrough season by leading Italy to its first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2013.
Italian Premier Meloni's coalition suffers setbacks in 2 regional elections
Read full article: Italian Premier Meloni's coalition suffers setbacks in 2 regional electionsItaly's Premier Giorgia Meloni suffered election setbacks in two regions as the opposition Democratic party won a tight race in the central Umbria region and deepened its control of the traditional left-leaning stronghold of Emilia-Romagna.
Jannik Sinner's doping case is already decided in court of public opinion, Italy's tennis chief says
Read full article: Jannik Sinner's doping case is already decided in court of public opinion, Italy's tennis chief saysA final verdict in the doping case involving top-ranked Jannik Sinner likely wonāt come until early next year.
European fake art network involving Banksys, Warhols, Modiglianis uncovered in Italy
Read full article: European fake art network involving Banksys, Warhols, Modiglianis uncovered in ItalyItalian authorities say they have dismantled a network of European art forgers who made fake Warhols, Banksys and Picassos and then tried to sell them with the help of complicit auction houses.
Italy sends another 8 migrants to Albania under processing centers deal
Read full article: Italy sends another 8 migrants to Albania under processing centers dealAn Italian navy ship has arrived at the Albanian port of Shengjin with eight migrants who will be processed there after they were intercepted in international waters.
Japan, UK and Italy to speed up joint next-generation fighter jet project to replace F-2, Tempest
Read full article: Japan, UK and Italy to speed up joint next-generation fighter jet project to replace F-2, TempestThe defense ministers of Japan, the U.K. and Italy have agreed to accelerate the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet.
The first migrants sent to Albania for processing return to Italy
Read full article: The first migrants sent to Albania for processing return to ItalyAn Italian navy ship has taken back to Italy the first 12 migrants from newly opened asylum processing centers in Albania following a highly-debated court decision in Rome.
Italian autoworkers go on strike, as troubled Stellantis faces pressure over production plans
Read full article: Italian autoworkers go on strike, as troubled Stellantis faces pressure over production plansWorkers in Italyās troubled automotive sector are holding a national strike for the first time in 20 years, with a massive demonstration crossing the center of Rome.
Italian ship transfers 16 intercepted migrants to Albania in a first under their new migration plan
Read full article: Italian ship transfers 16 intercepted migrants to Albania in a first under their new migration planAn Italian navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin to bring the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters.
Italy sends the first ship with migrants to Albania as rights groups warn of a dangerous precedent
Read full article: Italy sends the first ship with migrants to Albania as rights groups warn of a dangerous precedentItaly is transferring the first group of migrants to Albania as part of a contentious plan to process thousands of asylum-seekers outside its borders.
Stellantis CEO under fire from Italian lawmakers as the group grapples with financial troubles
Read full article: Stellantis CEO under fire from Italian lawmakers as the group grapples with financial troublesItalian lawmakers on Friday questioned the head of troubled French-Italian automaker Stellantis over the groupās strategy, one day after it announced a management shakeup in an effort to revive sales.
Sinner to play Alcaraz in China Open final and Osaka out with back injury
Read full article: Sinner to play Alcaraz in China Open final and Osaka out with back injuryTop-ranked Jannik Sinner will play rival Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the China Open after recording a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over home favorite Bu Yunchaokete.
Italian police arrest 19 people in massive probe targeting mafia links to Milan soccer 'ultra' fans
Read full article: Italian police arrest 19 people in massive probe targeting mafia links to Milan soccer 'ultra' fansItalian police have arrested 19 people accused of criminal ties with the powerful āNdrangheta mafia group.
Italy's automotive workers plan to strike on Oct. 18 over a fall in output at Stellantis
Read full article: Italy's automotive workers plan to strike on Oct. 18 over a fall in output at StellantisItaly's main metalworkers union says workers in the automotive sector will go on strike on Oct. 18 in protest of declining output from Stellantis, the biggest carmaker in the country.
Italian designer Alberta Ferretti resigns as creative director of the brand she founded 43 years ago
Read full article: Italian designer Alberta Ferretti resigns as creative director of the brand she founded 43 years agoItalian designer Alberta Ferretti has announced that she is stepping down as creative director of the eponymous brand she founded more than 40 years ago.
Salvatore 'TotĆ²' Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at 1990 World Cup, dies at 59
Read full article: Salvatore 'TotĆ²' Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at 1990 World Cup, dies at 59Salvatore āTotĆ²ā Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup that his country hosted, has died.
2 Italian and 2 South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc's summit
Read full article: 2 Italian and 2 South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc's summitFrench rescuers say they have found the bodies of two Italian and two South Korean climbers close to the peak of Mont Blanc on the French side.
US Open: The spray that caused Jannik Sinner's failed drug tests has 'DOPING' warning
Read full article: US Open: The spray that caused Jannik Sinner's failed drug tests has 'DOPING' warningThe word āDOPINGā is printed in all caps inside a red circle with a slash through it on the box containing the over-the-counter spray sold in Italy that caused No. 1-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner to fail two drug tests in March.
Captain of superyacht that sank off Sicily declines to respond to prosecutor questions, lawyer says
Read full article: Captain of superyacht that sank off Sicily declines to respond to prosecutor questions, lawyer saysThe captain of a superyacht that sank during a storm off Sicily last week, killing seven people, has decided not to respond to prosecutorsā questions.
A seventh body is recovered from sunken superyacht off Sicily, believed to be Mike Lynch's daughter
Read full article: A seventh body is recovered from sunken superyacht off Sicily, believed to be Mike Lynch's daughterItalian rescuers have brought ashore the body of the final missing person who was on a superyacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily, believed to be the daughter of British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who also perished when the boat sunk earlier this week.
Body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered from yacht wreckage, officials say
Read full article: Body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered from yacht wreckage, officials sayThe Italian coast guard says the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable.
What is known about the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily and those aboard
Read full article: What is known about the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily and those aboardSpecialist cave divers working in 12-minute underwater shifts are searching for six missing passengers and crew, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, believed to be in the submerged wreck of a luxury yacht that was slammed by a powerful storm and swiftly sank off Sicily.
Deep seas and tight spaces impede search for 6 missing after yacht sinks off Sicily
Read full article: Deep seas and tight spaces impede search for 6 missing after yacht sinks off SicilyPolice divers have resumed searching for six people believed trapped in the hull of a superyacht that sank off Sicily.
Search continues for British tech magnate and 5 others after luxury superyacht sinks off Sicily
Read full article: Search continues for British tech magnate and 5 others after luxury superyacht sinks off SicilyBritish tech magnate Mike Lynch and several other people are missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily, Italyās civil protection and authorities said.
Who is Imane Khelif? Algerian boxer facing gender outcry had modest success before Olympics
Read full article: Who is Imane Khelif? Algerian boxer facing gender outcry had modest success before OlympicsAlgerian boxer Imane Khelif has landed in the middle of a divide about gender in sports after her Italian competitor, Angela Carini, pulled out seconds into their bout at the Paris Olympics.
Algeria boxer Imane Khelif wins first Olympic fight when opponent Angela Carini quits
Read full article: Algeria boxer Imane Khelif wins first Olympic fight when opponent Angela Carini quitsImane Khelif of Algeria won her opening Olympic boxing bout when opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit after just 46 seconds.
Extended drought parches Sicily, and farmers worry about being forced to sell off animals
Read full article: Extended drought parches Sicily, and farmers worry about being forced to sell off animalsCrippling drought from a nearly rainless year, along with record-high temperatures, is stressing farmers on the Italian island of Sicily.
Sicilians deal so well with drought that tourists donāt notice. A record dry year could alter that
Read full article: Sicilians deal so well with drought that tourists donāt notice. A record dry year could alter thatLike many Mediterranean islands, people in Sicily are used to long spells without rain, but human-caused climate change has made weather more erratic, and droughts can be longer and more frequent.
Italy and China sign a 3-year action plan as Italian leader Meloni tries to reset relations
Read full article: Italy and China sign a 3-year action plan as Italian leader Meloni tries to reset relationsItalyās Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says Italy and China have signed a three-year action plan to implement past agreements and experiment with new forms of cooperation.
Italy appeals court upholds conviction of 2 Americans in death of policeman but reduces sentences
Read full article: Italy appeals court upholds conviction of 2 Americans in death of policeman but reduces sentencesAn Italian appeals court has upheld the convictions of two American men in the killing of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation but reduced their sentences.
Italian coast guard recovers 14 more bodies of shipwreck victims off Calabria, dozens still missing
Read full article: Italian coast guard recovers 14 more bodies of shipwreck victims off Calabria, dozens still missingThe Italian coast guard has recovered 14 more bodies from last week's shipwreck in the Ionian Sea off the southern Italian coastline, bringing to 34 the number of known victims from the sinking.
Italy's coast guard searches for dozens of migrants missing after their ship capsized
Read full article: Italy's coast guard searches for dozens of migrants missing after their ship capsizedItaly's coast guard is searching by sea and from the air for dozens of people missing when a boat capsized and partially sank in the perilous central Mediterranean off the Calabrian coast.
64 people missing and many rescued from 2 shipwrecks off Italy. At least 11 have died
Read full article: 64 people missing and many rescued from 2 shipwrecks off Italy. At least 11 have diedU.N. agencies say 64 people are missing after a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea and several were rescued by the Italian coast guard.
Italy concedes goal after 23 seconds but recovers to beat Albania 2-1 at Euro 2024
Read full article: Italy concedes goal after 23 seconds but recovers to beat Albania 2-1 at Euro 2024Italy has recovered from conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history after just 23 seconds to open its title defense with a 2-1 win over Albania.
Biden, Meloni meet on sidelines of G7 summit but one notable matter wasn't on the table: abortion
Read full article: Biden, Meloni meet on sidelines of G7 summit but one notable matter wasn't on the table: abortionPresident Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have spoke privately on various matters but apparently not on abortion.
G7 leaders tackle migration, AI and economic security on second and final day of summit in Italy
Read full article: G7 leaders tackle migration, AI and economic security on second and final day of summit in ItalyLeaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations turned their attention to migration, artificial intelligence, economic security and the Indo-Pacific region on the second and final day of their summit.
Italy's G7 venue is a faux medieval luxury resort far from public view
Read full article: Italy's G7 venue is a faux medieval luxury resort far from public viewLeaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies are meeting in a faux medieval town constructed as a luxury resort on the heel of Italyās boot.
G7 summit opens with deal to use Russian assets for Ukraine as Italy flexes its right-wing muscles
Read full article: G7 summit opens with deal to use Russian assets for Ukraine as Italy flexes its right-wing musclesU.S. President Joe Biden says the agreement to tap into the windfall profits on frozen Russian assets held in Europe would put that money to work for Ukraine.
The Latest | Group of Seven summit turns to migration after promising tens of billions to Ukraine
Read full article: The Latest | Group of Seven summit turns to migration after promising tens of billions to UkraineA summit meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations has focused on migration on its second day, seeking ways to combat trafficking and increase investment in countries from where migrants start out on often life-threatening journeys.
Biden and Zelenskyy will sign a security deal, as G7 leaders agree to use Russian cash to help Kyiv
Read full article: Biden and Zelenskyy will sign a security deal, as G7 leaders agree to use Russian cash to help KyivNegotiators for the Group of Seven have reached an agreement on a plan to provide Ukraine with $50 billion backed by frozen Russian assets, two people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.
Italy's premier visits Albania as controversial plan to hold Italy-bound migrants nears its start
Read full article: Italy's premier visits Albania as controversial plan to hold Italy-bound migrants nears its startItalian Premier Giorgia Meloni has traveled to Albania to thank its government for its unique and controversial role in agreeing to host thousands of asylum-seekers while Italy processes their claims.
Amanda Knox reconvicted of slander in Italy for accusing innocent man in roommateās 2007 murder
Read full article: Amanda Knox reconvicted of slander in Italy for accusing innocent man in roommateās 2007 murderAn Italian court has reconvicted Amanda Knox of slander, quashing her hope of removing a legal stain against her that has persisted after her exoneration in the brutal 2007 murder of her British roommate.
What to know about the latest trial involving Amanda Knox
Read full article: What to know about the latest trial involving Amanda KnoxSeventeen years after she was accused of killing her British roommate, Amanda Knox returned to an Italian court to hear the outcome of a slander charge that has stuck long after she was exonerated of the murder.
Amanda Knox will defend herself in an Italian court against a 16-year-old slander charge
Read full article: Amanda Knox will defend herself in an Italian court against a 16-year-old slander chargeAmanda Knox will be back in an Italian courtroom this week to defend herself against a 16-year-old slander conviction that she hopes to beat once and for all.
US vows more returns of looted antiquities as Italy celebrates latest haul of 600 artifacts
Read full article: US vows more returns of looted antiquities as Italy celebrates latest haul of 600 artifactsItaly is celebrating the return of around 600 antiquities from the U.S. They were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums and collectors and recovered as a result of criminal investigations.
Pope apologizes after being quoted using vulgar term about gay men in talk about ban on gay priests
Read full article: Pope apologizes after being quoted using vulgar term about gay men in talk about ban on gay priestsPope Francis has apologized after he was quoted using a vulgar term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Churchās ban on gay priests.
Pogacar wins the Giro d'Italia by a big margin and will now aim for a 3rd Tour de France title
Read full article: Pogacar wins the Giro d'Italia by a big margin and will now aim for a 3rd Tour de France titleTadej Pogacar has won the Giro dāItalia with the raceās biggest margin of victory in nearly six decades.
Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and extend F1 lead
Read full article: Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and extend F1 leadMax Verstappen held off a challenge from McLarenās Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and extend his Formula 1 championship lead.
Vatican Museums staff challenge the pope with a legal bid for better terms and treatment
Read full article: Vatican Museums staff challenge the pope with a legal bid for better terms and treatmentForty-nine employees of the Vatican Museums have filed a class-action complaint with the Vatican administration demanding better seniority, leave and overtime benefits.
Prada focuses generational transition on artisans, expanding production and workforce in Italy
Read full article: Prada focuses generational transition on artisans, expanding production and workforce in ItalyThe Prada Group is expanding its production footprint in Italy, including dozens of new jobs at its knitwear factory in Umbria, leaning into āMade in Italyā as integral to the brandās ethos.
Spain's Prado Museum confirms rediscovery of lost Caravaggio. Painting will be unveiled May 27
Read full article: Spain's Prado Museum confirms rediscovery of lost Caravaggio. Painting will be unveiled May 27Spainās Prado Museum has confirmed that a painting that was due to be auctioned in Madrid in 2021 is in fact a work by Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio that was considered lost.
European court upholds Italy's right to seize prized Greek bronze from Getty Museum, rejects appeal
Read full article: European court upholds Italy's right to seize prized Greek bronze from Getty Museum, rejects appealA European court has upheld Italyās right to seize a prized Greek statue from the J.
āThereās Still Tomorrowā director Paola Cortellesi talks success, toxic relationships and hope
Read full article: āThereās Still Tomorrowā director Paola Cortellesi talks success, toxic relationships and hopeActor Paola Cortellesi has long been a staple on the Italian pop culture scene, mostly known for her work as a comedian.
Italy bans loans of works to the Minneapolis Institute of Art in a dispute over an ancient statue
Read full article: Italy bans loans of works to the Minneapolis Institute of Art in a dispute over an ancient statueItalyās Culture Ministry has banned loans of works to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, following a dispute with the U.S. museum over an ancient marble statue believed to have been looted from Italy almost a half-century ago.
Abortion returns to the spotlight in Italy, 46 years after it was legalized
Read full article: Abortion returns to the spotlight in Italy, 46 years after it was legalizedItalian Premier Giorgia Meloniās far-right-led government has scored a victory with the Senate approving a law allowing anti-abortion groups access to women considering ending their pregnancies.
Israel gave US last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
Read full article: Israel gave US last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers that it received ālast minuteā information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, Italyās foreign minister said.
Maurizio Cattelan, Zoe Saldana join iconoclastic Vatican Biennale exhibition inside womenās prison
Read full article: Maurizio Cattelan, Zoe Saldana join iconoclastic Vatican Biennale exhibition inside womenās prisonA pair of nude feet ā dirty, wounded and vulnerable ā are painted on the faƧade of the Venice womenās prison chapel.
G7 ministers eye targeted sanctions on Iran and a message of restraint for Israel at Italy meeting
Read full article: G7 ministers eye targeted sanctions on Iran and a message of restraint for Israel at Italy meetingGroup of Seven foreign ministers are meeting on the resort island of Capri amid calls for new sanctions against Iran.
Italy opens new slander trial against Amanda Knox. She was exonerated 9 years ago in friend's murder
Read full article: Italy opens new slander trial against Amanda Knox. She was exonerated 9 years ago in friend's murderAmanda Knox is back on trial for slander for wrongly accusing a Congolese man of murdering her roommate while the young women were exchange students in Italy.
Giorgio Armani bags were produced by exploited Chinese workers near Milan, Italian police say
Read full article: Giorgio Armani bags were produced by exploited Chinese workers near Milan, Italian police sayItalian police say that underpaid and exploited Chinese laborers working for an unauthorized subcontractor made handbags and accessories for the Giorgio Armani fashion house.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Read full article: A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expressionMichelangeloās David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504.
Why is Japan changing its ban on exporting lethal weapons, and why is it so controversial?
Read full article: Why is Japan changing its ban on exporting lethal weapons, and why is it so controversial?Japanās Cabinet OKād a plan to sell future next-generation fighter jets to other countries on Tuesday, its latest step away from the pacifist principles the country adopted at the end of World War II.
Japan approves plan to sell fighter jets to other nations in latest break from pacifist principles
Read full article: Japan approves plan to sell fighter jets to other nations in latest break from pacifist principlesJapanās Cabinet has approved a plan to sell future next-generation fighter jets that itās developing with Britain and Italy to other countries.
Milan exhibit sheds new light on Renaissance altarpiece, reuniting far-flung panels after centuries
Read full article: Milan exhibit sheds new light on Renaissance altarpiece, reuniting far-flung panels after centuriesAn unprecedented exhibition opening Wednesday at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan reunites for the first time in over 450 years eight surviving panels of the Augustinian Altarpiece by the early Italian Renaissance master Piero della Francesca, while possibly solving one of its enduring mysteries.
Pope acknowledges criticism and health issues but says in his new memoir he has no plans to retire
Read full article: Pope acknowledges criticism and health issues but says in his new memoir he has no plans to retirePope Francis says he has no plans to resign and isnāt suffering from any health problems that would require doing so.
Italians cut back on olive oil as prices surge, survey says. Producers are pushing back on that
Read full article: Italians cut back on olive oil as prices surge, survey says. Producers are pushing back on thatA new survey says one-third of Italians have reduced their consumption of extra virgin olive oil due to skyrocketing prices.
The EU's border agency has a duty to inform Libya's coast guard about migrant boats, official says
Read full article: The EU's border agency has a duty to inform Libya's coast guard about migrant boats, official saysThe head of the European Unionās border and coast agency says it has a duty to inform Libyan authorities about migrant boats in trouble in the countryās waters.
An Italian family of three is back in Rome following two years of captivity in Mali
Read full article: An Italian family of three is back in Rome following two years of captivity in MaliItalian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was on hand Tuesday for the arrival in Rome of an Italian family of three just hours after their release from two years of captivity in the African nation of Mali.
Survivors and families of 94 migrants who died in a shipwreck off Italy call for justice a year on
Read full article: Survivors and families of 94 migrants who died in a shipwreck off Italy call for justice a year onSurvivors and family members of victims of a shipwreck a year ago that killed 94 migrants, including 35 minors, just off Italyās southern coast, have returned for three days of commemorations and called for justice to be done.
Albanian Parliament approves controversial deal to hold migrants for Italy
Read full article: Albanian Parliament approves controversial deal to hold migrants for ItalyAlbaniaās Parliament has approved a deal for the country to hold thousands of asylum seekers for Italy despite protests from opposition lawmakers and human rights groups.
Climate activists target Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' in Florence's Uffizi Gallery
Read full article: Climate activists target Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' in Florence's Uffizi GalleryTwo climate activists have targeted Botticelliās masterpiece āThe Birth of Venusā hanging at Florenceās Uffizi Gallery, attaching images of recent flood damage in the Tuscany region on the protective glass.
Antifascists gather in Hungary to oppose annual far-right event as Italian activist remains jailed
Read full article: Antifascists gather in Hungary to oppose annual far-right event as Italian activist remains jailedHundreds of antifascist activists have gathered in Hungaryās capital to oppose an annual commemoration held by far-right groups.
Bassino leads Italian teammate Brignone after 1st run of World Cup GS. Shiffrin sits out race
Read full article: Bassino leads Italian teammate Brignone after 1st run of World Cup GS. Shiffrin sits out raceMarta Bassino has edged out Federica Brignone for an Italian 1-2 finish in the tight opening run of a womenās World Cup giant slalom.
Pope Francis congratulates Italy after tennis player Jannik Sinner wins the Australian Open
Read full article: Pope Francis congratulates Italy after tennis player Jannik Sinner wins the Australian OpenPope Francis has congratulated Italy after tennis player Jannik Sinner became the countryās first man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half century.
Could portion of Italyās 2026 Winter Games be held in US?
Read full article: Could portion of Italyās 2026 Winter Games be held in US?While the focus is rightfully on the countdown to Paris, some interesting news regarding the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, has surfaced in the past couple of months.
The European Commission launches an in-depth look at competitive costs of the Lufthansa deal for ITA
Read full article: The European Commission launches an in-depth look at competitive costs of the Lufthansa deal for ITAThe European Commission has announced an in-depth investigation of German airline Lufthansaās planned takeover of Italian carrier ITA Airways citing competitive concerns.
Italy's regulations on charities keep migrant rescue ships from the Mediterranean
Read full article: Italy's regulations on charities keep migrant rescue ships from the MediterraneanThe year has gotten off to a slow start for a charity-run rescue ship that typically plies the Mediterranean Sea looking for migrants and refugees in distress.