Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Italian authorities have made significant strides in dismantling clandestine migration networks, with the recent arrest of three Tunisians in Trapani following charges filed by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Palermo (DDA). These arrests are part of an operation targeting individuals involved in aiding and abetting clandestine migration, particularly utilizing high-speed boats to ferry migrants from Tunisia to Italy. On March 16, a judge for the preliminary investigation (GIP) issued three precautionary orders against the accused Tunisians, as requested by the Palermo DDA. They face charges of criminal association aimed at facilitating clandestine migration, with cross-national involvement aggravating the situation. The…

The European Parliament’s joint report revising the European Union’s rules on victims’ rights has faced backlash from human rights organizations for its failure to provide adequate protection for undocumented migrant victims. The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and over 50 other organizations, including Amnesty International, La Strada International, and Victim Support Europe, have expressed concerns about the EU’s approach to shielding undocumented migrants from immigration enforcement when reporting crimes such as rape, theft, and labor exploitation. While the revised rules introduce several improvements, such as allowing third parties to report abuse to the police on behalf of…

Italian authorities have dismantled a vast immigration fraud network operating in the southern province of Foggia, resulting in 15 arrests and the seizure of assets worth an estimated 5 million euros. The intricate scheme, orchestrated by a well-organized criminal syndicate, involved exploiting Italy’s immigration policies and misuse of social security benefits. The investigation, spearheaded by the Financial Police, uncovered two intertwined fraudulent operations. The first involved four ‘ghost’ companies that allegedly hired 647 farm workers on paper, enabling the companies to claim millions of euros in unemployment benefits, family allowances, paid sick leave, and maternity benefits – approximately 2 million…

In a pivotal development aimed at alleviating the travel woes of countless individuals across Germany, Deutsche Bahn, the country’s national rail operator, and the GDL train drivers’ union have agreed to resume negotiations on their contract. This decision marks a significant step towards resolving the protracted series of strikes that have disrupted the nation’s rail network for several months. The announcement comes after weeks of deadlock between the two parties, during which travelers faced considerable inconvenience due to ongoing labor disputes. Despite the challenges, both Deutsche Bahn and the GDL union have expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of finding…

As Germany grapples with a growing shortage of healthcare workers, the country is looking towards the Philippines as a key source to recruit more nurses and other skilled medical professionals. This labour partnership was a major point of discussion when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit to Berlin this week. “The Philippines has a treasure of well-skilled workers,” Scholz said at a joint press conference. “This is also relevant for our health sector.” He emphasized plans to deepen and accelerate cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation to attract more Filipino nurses and…

The French film ‘Les Survivants’ (The Survivors), which premiered at the 2024 Francofilm Festival in Rome, offers a powerful and nuanced portrayal of the migrant experience through the intersecting lenses of mourning and grueling physicality. Directed by 33-year-old Guillaume Renusson, the movie follows an unlikely bond formed between a widowed alpine resident and an Afghan refugee braving the treacherous journey to reunite with her husband in France. In an interview with ANSA, Renusson, whose first feature film won the top prize at Rome’s Independent Film Festival, discussed the profound inspirations that shaped his cinematic storytelling. The director’s previous work assisting…

Many refugees granted asylum in Greece are leaving the country due to a lack of integration policies and support, making it extremely difficult for them to find housing, employment, and establish themselves. With limited prospects for rebuilding their lives in Greece, an increasing number are seeking asylum again – this time in Belgium and other European nations. The story of Edo, a refugee from Congo who obtained asylum in Greece in 2021, exemplifies the challenges faced by many. Despite having legal status, Edo spent years struggling to find work or housing in Greece. “You are given a status but it’s…

As Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party battles legal efforts to monitor its activities as a suspected extremist group, it has called on some of its immigrant members to testify that the party is not racist. This move comes after a 2021 ruling allowed domestic intelligence to investigate the AfD over concerns about right-wing extremism, inching it closer to a potential ban. In a Münster court hearing this week, three AfD members with international backgrounds aimed to defend the party against accusations of racism and xenophobia. Meysam Ehtemai, a former mayoral candidate who came to Germany from Iran as…

In the tumultuous waters of the Aegean Sea, a distressing incident unfolded as an inflatable boat, ferrying migrants, tragically capsized off the Turkish coast. This harrowing shipwreck, near Gokceada (Imbros), Turkey’s largest island in the northwestern province of Canakkale, resulted in the devastating loss of at least eight lives, including two infants. Prompting an immediate response, Turkish officials swiftly initiated a search and rescue operation following the tragic shipwreck, mobilizing helicopters and planes to scour the area for survivors. Amidst the chaos, two migrants were thankfully rescued by the Turkish coast guard, while another two managed to find safety on…

A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has strongly condemned the Italian government’s recent escalation in imposing administrative stops on humanitarian ships engaged in rescuing migrants at sea. In a joint statement issued on March 14, SOS Humanity, Sea Eye, Sea Watch, and United4Rescue decried the surge in administrative halts imposed on their German-flagged rescue vessels over the past week. According to the NGOs, three of their rescue ships – Humanity 1, Sea-Watch 5, and Sea-Eye 4 – have been barred from carrying out their lifesaving operations “based on false accusations” leveled by Italian authorities. Of particular concern is the unprecedented…