Aquarius migrants, and a dog, brought to Malta for transfer to other countries

Updated 2.20pm - A group of 58 migrants picked up from small boats by the migrant rescue ship Aquarius was transferred to an AFM patrol boat and brought to Malta on Sunday afternoon. Also brought to Malta was a small white dog which was rescued with a Libyan family.  Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted a picture of the dog in the morning and said at a PL activity that Malta rescued 'all lives'. The dog was disembarked in a carrier box and is being quarantined.  The rescued migrants included Libyans, Syrians Palestinians, Somalis and Pakistanis. They include seven families and three children under five.  Aquarius rescued the migrants in two groups off Libya and was refused entry by Italy, France and Malta.  However following contacts between French President Macron and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, arrangements were made for the migrants to be transferred to an AFM vessel off Malta. Once brought to Malta they are to be sent to Portugal, Spain, France and Germany. Aquarius lost its Panama registration soon after the start of its latest rescue missions, after having earlier lost its Gibraltar flag. It will now head to its home port until its registration problems are...