Updated Aug 12, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Ships refusing to rescue migrants stranded at sea, aid group claims

The rescue ship Aquarius, chartered by French aid group SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders. Photo: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images

Migrants fleeing civil wars and insecurity at home in unseaworthy boats are being refused assistance from ships passing them in the Mediterranean Sea, an European humanitarian group said Sunday, per the AP.

The details: SOS Mediterranee, which had rescued 141 migrants on Friday in waters off Libya, said Italy’s and Malta’s recent refusal to allow vessels from docking on their shores could be the reason why ship operators are unwilling to get involved amid fear that they would be stranded at sea with migrants on board. The group found itself in the middle of a diplomatic standoff in June when one of its rescue ships was allowed to dock by Spain's government after being refused by other nations.

Go deeper

Jacob Knutson
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump commutes Roger Stone's sentence

Roger Stone arriving at his sentencing hearing on Feb. 20. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

President Trump on Friday evening commuted the sentence of his longtime associate Roger Stone, according to two senior administration officials. Stone in February was sentenced to 40 months in prison for crimes including obstruction, witness tampering and making false statements to Congress.

Why it matters: The controversial move brings an abrupt end to the possibility of Stone spending time behind bars. He had been scheduled to report to prison on July 14.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Orion Rummler
Updated 6 hours ago - Health

Which states have set single-day coronavirus records this week

Data: COVID Tracking Project and state health department data compiled by Axios; Map: Danielle Alberti and Naema Ahmed/Axios

13 states this week surpassed records set just last week for their highest number of coronavirus infections in a single day, according to the COVID Tracking Project and state health department data. 16 states in total reported new highs.

The big picture: The United States' alarming rise in coronavirus cases isn't just due to increased testing — particularly where the number of cases has grown fastest over the last month, Axios' Andrew Witherspoon and Caitlin Owens report.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 6 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 6:30 p.m. ET: 12,389,660 — Total deaths: 557,279 — Total recoveries — 6,830,596 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 6:30 p.m. ET: 3,169,611 — Total deaths: 133,885 — Total recoveries: 983,185 — Total tested: 38,856,341 — Map.
  3. Public health: The reality of the coronavirus bites.
  4. Trade: Trump says he's no longer considering phase-two trade deal with China because the pandemic damaged the two countries' relationship.
  5. 🎧 Podcast: Rural America has its own coronavirus problem.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow