Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Poland has formally requested a full exemption from the European Commission’s plan to redistribute asylum seekers among EU member states. The announcement came from Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński on November 12, who highlighted Poland’s ongoing border challenges and the high costs of guarding the EU frontier. The EU’s scheme requires countries to either host a set number of asylum seekers, pay a financial contribution, or provide other forms of support such as personnel. Poland, alongside Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Estonia, argued that it faces exceptional migration pressure and thus qualifies for exemption. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reiterated that her government is fully committed to continuing the transfer of sea migrants to Albania, even in the face of judicial opposition and growing criticism from activists and human rights organizations. She made the remarks during a high-level summit in Rome with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, highlighting Italy’s determination to pursue the controversial policy. The program involves transferring migrants who arrive by sea in Italy to camps in Albania, where their asylum claims are processed. The scheme has sparked legal challenges in Italy, with courts questioning the legality of sending migrants to…

A migrant who had his asylum application denied just a day earlier is accused of taking part in the gang rape of a woman on Brighton beach, according to court reports. The alleged attack involved two Egyptian men and one Iranian Kurdish man, who are all said to be failed asylum seekers. The three suspects — Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, and Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, from Egypt, and Abdulla Ahmadi, 25, from Iran — appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, where their trial was scheduled for March 16 next year. Prosecutor John Livingstone described it as a “high-profile, very serious case.”…

Members of Lithuania’s National Security and Defense Committee (NSGK) have raised growing concerns about the security risks posed by migrant workers, calling for tighter regulations and improved screening processes. With the 2025 migrant worker quota already filled, nearly 25,000 foreign workers have entered the country this year, mainly from Central Asian nations, to work in transport, logistics, and construction. According to Evelina Gudzinskaitė, head of the Lithuanian Migration Service, the current system of background checks is no longer adequate due to increasing security challenges. She explained that while most migrants genuinely seek employment, some reportedly form groups involved in activities…

At least 42 migrants are feared dead after a rubber boat carrying 49 people capsized off the Libyan coast, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). Only seven people survived the disaster after spending six days drifting at sea before being rescued by Libyan authorities. The IOM reported that 29 of the missing were from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon, and two from Nigeria. Among the survivors, four were Sudanese, two Nigerian, and one Cameroonian. The agency described the tragedy as another reminder of the dangers faced by those attempting to reach Europe through unsafe routes.…

The Indonesian government has praised the nation’s migrant workers as “heroes of foreign exchange,” highlighting their vital role in supporting the country’s economy. Speaking at the National Heroes Day commemoration in Jakarta, P2MI Minister Mukhtarudin described migrant workers as “foreign exchange fighters” who contribute significantly to national growth while striving for a better life abroad. Mukhtarudin emphasized that these workers deserve recognition not only for their perseverance in supporting themselves and their families but also for the foreign exchange earnings they generate for Indonesia. “The contribution of migrant workers as a driver of foreign exchange will remain a key pillar…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted that the UK’s controversial two-child benefit cap could be scrapped in the upcoming budget, signaling a major step in his plans to reduce child poverty. Speaking to ITV, Starmer said he is “determined to drive child poverty down” with measures including free school meals, breakfast clubs, and free childcare. The two-child benefit cap currently limits child benefit payments to the first two children in a household. Scrapping the policy would allow families with more than two children to claim benefits for all their children, at an estimated cost of around £3 billion. The move…

The Italian city of L’Aquila in Abruzzo has recently become a destination for migrants, sparking political and social debate. Many of the arrivals, mostly young people, have been guided to the town not by official channels but through social media platforms such as TikTok. Posts, videos, and voice notes shared online have created informal “maps” that direct migrants to specific locations. Migrants often arrive early in the morning outside government buildings, waiting silently with few belongings while hoping to request international protection. Many spend hours on benches, bus stop seats, and other makeshift shelters before the prefecture opens. At first,…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intensified efforts to curb irregular migration, stopping 294 Nigerians without valid travel documents from leaving the country and turning back 332 undocumented migrants at the Seme border. In addition, 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were rescued during recent operations. Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, revealed these results at a stakeholders’ seminar in Abuja on the theme “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response.” She described the growing trend of Nigerians seeking to leave the country irregularly — popularly known as “Japa” — as concerning, highlighting…

A new migrant reception center in Vinchiaturo, Italy, is drawing political attention due to its proximity to two schools. Located in the town’s industrial area in the Molise region, the facility has 100 places for adult men. Residents and politicians have expressed concerns about safety and the impact on local life. Angelo Primiani, a regional councillor for the 5-Star Movement, said he was “genuinely perplexed” about placing a migrant center so near a nursery school and a high school. He added that the presence of the center has caused worry among students, parents, and residents who regularly visit the area.…