Donald Trump Jr. Accused of Illegal Hunting in Italy

Luca Casarini, founder of the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, revealed that he has been targeted by military-grade spyware developed by Israel's Paragon Solutions. WhatsApp informed him he was among 90 individuals worldwide who may have had their phones hacked, as detailed in a statement from the messaging service. Casarini is a prominent figure criticizing Italy’s alleged complicity in human rights abuses against migrants in Libya. According to reports, the individuals attacked include journalists and activists who have publicly opposed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government. The Italian government has denied any involvement in the spyware activities and has instructed its cybersecurity agency to investigate the claims, describing them as “particularly serious.” Paragon Solutions, which sells its spyware to government clients, asserts it operates only in democracies. The firm and Italy's government have not confirmed or denied any official relations, raising questions about accountability in digital surveillance practices. Casarini stated that the surveillance attempts represent a broader war against solidarity and activism focused on aiding migrants.

Researchers have successfully utilized artificial intelligence to digitally unroll and read an ancient scroll, known as PHerc. 172, which was severely damaged during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. This scroll is one of several discovered in a luxury villa in Herculaneum, Italy, believed to have belonged to Julius Caesar's father-in-law. Dr. Brent Seales, co-founder of the Vesuvius Challenge, praised the achievement, noting, “This scroll contains more recoverable text than we have ever seen in a scanned Herculaneum scroll.” For the first time, the scroll reveals multiple columns of text, including the Ancient Greek word διατροπή, meaning "disgust," repeated twice. The scrolls were initially unreadable due to extreme charring, but, thanks to advancements in 3D X-ray capabilities from Diamond, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, scholars at the University of Oxford can now explore these ancient writings. Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s librarian, emphasized the collaborative nature of this project, highlighting the intersection of classical scholarship with modern technology.

Husam El Gomati, a Sweden-based Libyan activist critical of Italy's dealings with Libya’s coastguard, was alerted by WhatsApp that his mobile phone may have been compromised by military-grade spyware developed by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli firm. The breach, which also potentially affected 89 other activists and journalists, was disclosed by WhatsApp in late December 2024, raising concerns over the use of advanced cyberweapons by European governments, according to a report by The Guardian. El Gomati, known for his investigations into illegal migration networks and militia connections in Libya, expressed fears for the safety of his confidential sources. He described Paragon’s spyware, known as Graphite, as a significant threat, enabling perpetrators to access users' private messages and information. He emphasized the implications for activists working against corruption, stating, "These matters can mean the difference between life and death." While Paragon Solutions declined to comment, a source indicated the company has around 35 government clients. El Gomati's case follows an alert received by investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, further indicating widespread concerns regarding spyware use.