Two dead and 18 rescued from migrant boat near Lesbos – Europe live | Europe

Two people found dead near Lesbos

At least two people died as a migrant boat appears to have neared the Greek island of Lesbos amid high winds.

The Greek coastguard said it recovered the bodies of two people and rescued 18 individuals close to the island, Reuters reported.

About 36 individuals were thought to be on board the boat, and passengers said that some had jumped into the water.

The authorities are now searching for people onshore.

A deflated dinghy and lifejackets are seen after a migrant shipwreck on the shore near Thermi, on the island of Lesbos. Photograph: Reuters

Key events

Former Polish minister launches hunger strike

Mariusz Kamiński, a former Polish interior minister who was arrested yesterday, said in a statement today that he was a “political prisoner” and was starting a hunger strike.

Kamiński and his former deputy, Maciej Wąsik, both members of the conservative Law and Justice party, were convicted of abuse of power for actions taken in 2007.

Yesterday, their case took a dramatic turn as the two politicians took refuge in the palace of president Andrzej Duda before being arrested.

💬 Doradca Prezydenta RP @pobozy: Pan Minister Mariusz Kamiński sformułował oświadczenie do Ministra Sprawiedliwości, Prokuratora Generalnego Adama Bodnara, które brzmi: „Oświadczam, że skazanie mnie za walkę z korupcją oraz podjęcie bezprawnych działań dotyczących pozbawienia… pic.twitter.com/n9Y8nxcHfW

— Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (@pisorgpl) January 10, 2024

German rail strike begins

The German GDL train drivers’ union began striking early this morning, causing significant disruption to rail traffic across the country.

Deutsche Bahn said the strike action, which is expected to last until Friday, “will result in massive disruptions to Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services during this period.”

It added:

The emergency timetable only ensures very limited train services on DB’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services. Please refrain from unnecessary journeys during the GDL strike and postpone your journey to another time.

Deutsche Bahn ICE trains are parked on the tracks at the DB Fernverkehr plant in Hamburg.
Deutsche Bahn ICE trains are parked on the tracks at the DB Fernverkehr plant in Hamburg. Photograph: Christian Charisius/AP

France’s new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, has thanked Germany’s chancellor for his congratulations, underscoring the importance of Franco-German unity.

Merci pour vos mots cher Olaf.

Une France et une Allemagne toujours plus unies, c’est une Europe toujours plus forte et qui avance. 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇺

Bis Bald! https://t.co/xC221lsExT

— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) January 10, 2024

Two people found dead near Lesbos

At least two people died as a migrant boat appears to have neared the Greek island of Lesbos amid high winds.

The Greek coastguard said it recovered the bodies of two people and rescued 18 individuals close to the island, Reuters reported.

About 36 individuals were thought to be on board the boat, and passengers said that some had jumped into the water.

The authorities are now searching for people onshore.

Two dead and 18 rescued from migrant boat near Lesbos – Europe live | Europe
A deflated dinghy and lifejackets are seen after a migrant shipwreck on the shore near Thermi, on the island of Lesbos. Photograph: Reuters

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