Migration

Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The apocalyptic scenes from Greece, the deaths and the drama related to the wildfires dominate European headlines. In Malta the Egrant inquiry publication remains the main story, though…

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European Commission unveils its plan for migration

Following the call by EU leaders at the June European Council, the Commission on Tuesday expanded its position on the concept of controlled centres as well as short-term measures that…

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Italy doesn’t need EU’s charity on migrants – Salvini

ANSA: Italy doesn't need "charity" from the EU on migrants, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday. "If they want to give money to someone else let them do so, Italy doesn't…

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EU expected to publish migration proposals policy changes today

The Financial Times reports that Brussels will offer EU governments €6,000 for every migrant they take in from boats stranded in the Mediterranean, in plans designed to help ease pressure on…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, This is our morning briefing, bringing you the highlights of the main news as reported in Malta, Europe and the World. Two women were killed early yesterday…

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Sunday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The conclusion of the Egrant inquiry dominates the front pages of the Maltese newspapers. The developments in the US following a hostage situation in Los Angeles is currently…

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Open Arms boat docks in Spain

Euronews: A boat belonging to Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms has docked in Spain carrying a woman rescued from the wreckage of a dinghy off the coast of Libya. The survivor,…

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The Josefa Case – The journey

RTL: With wide-open, shocked eyes Josefa looks at her savior. The images released by the "Proactiva Open Arms" refugee rescuers went around the world - along with grave allegations to the Libyan…

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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, From Malta to Kazakistan via Italy, to the UK and Brussels, from Libya to Singapore and our obvious stop in the US our morning briefing presents you how…

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Italian Coastguard uneasy with Government’s stance on migration

The Local: The decision by Italy's new populist government to close the country's ports to migrants saved at sea is causing unease within the heart of the Italian coastguard, some…

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Libya rejects EU plan to establish migrant centres in the country

The Guardian: Libya has rejected a European Union plan to establish migrant centres in the country, adding that its decision would not be swayed by any financial inducements. The formal rejection by…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning The dust haven't settled yet on Monday's summit Trump invites Putin for a second meeting for Autumn, this time in Washington. The EU issued a stark warning to…

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European Commission takes further steps in infringement procedures against Hungary on migration

The European Commission has today decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for non-compliance of its asylum and return legislation with EU law. The…

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Thursday Morning Briefing

Good morning, From Trump's back pedalling to the Queen's messages hidden in brooches. From the court room in Valletta to the temporary beach volley court in the same city. Our…

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Migrants in Libya face the greatest danger in years – UN

Thompson Reuters Foundation: Migrants in Libya face the greatest danger in years of being trafficked, exploited or enslaved by armed groups and criminal gangs - which are becoming stronger - as…

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NGO Open Arms set off for Spain

ANSA: The Spanish NGO Open Arms migrant rescue ship which on Tuesday said it had rescued a woman and recovered the bodies of another woman and her child off Libya…

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Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Matteo Salvini denounces photos of people stranded at sea by Libya as fake after being accused that this is a result of his action. Donald Trump blames his…

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Open Arms releases shocking photos of a woman and child stranded at sea. Italian Interior Ministry claims its fake news.

Libya would have left a woman and a child dead who were on board a boat in distress. This is reported by the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms publishing on…

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The cave ordeal should help put a spotlight on the issue of statelessness in Thailand

AP: The 12 boys and coach of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a cave in Thailand last week share a characteristic with many of the professional European…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning Our morning briefing for today focuses on the main points following the US - Russia summit where comments by US President Trump were deemed as treasonous. On the…

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Zuwara, Libya: 8 people found suffocated in freezer container as they were being trafficked (Graphic Content – Photos might be disturbing)

Editorial Note. Some of the photos in this post might be disturbing Libya Observer: 8 illegal immigrants – six children, one woman and one man – were found suffocated due to…

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Disembarkation operation for migrants on board Protector complete in Pozzallo

All migrants on board the FRONTEX boat Protector have disembarked in Pozzallo. The operation was authorised by the Italian government and only after the governments of Malta, Spain, Portugal, France…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning, France wins the World Cup while Trump arrives in Helsinki for his summit with Putin. Before leaving the UK he stresses that the EU is a foe of…

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Sunday Morning Briefing

Good morning Wishing everyone a good Sunday. Here's our morning briefing. In an official statement, the government of Malta said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat pledged to participate in…

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New diplomatic rift between Malta and Italy as a boat with 450 migrants is in Malta’s search and rescue area

According to TGCOM the boat now has entered Italian territorial waters. EARLIER Times of Malta : Matteo Salvini has vowed Italy would bar a boat with 450 migrants currently in…

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EU pushes ahead with ‘Disembarkation platforms’ outside Europe to stop illegal migration

Financial Times: European interior ministers have vowed to intensify the fight against illegal immigration by pushing ahead with the creation of “platforms” outside the continent to stop migrants arriving into the…

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The Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The world news scene was 'overshadowed' by Trump's tirades and comments at NATO summit and in Britain. He can easily be dubbed as a the 'agent of disruption'…

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Italy: Disembarkation of immigrants from Diciotti authorised following intervention by President Mattarella

"The landing of the migrants who are on board the ship Eighteen is about to start" the premier Giuseppe Conte announces this after a day of stalemate. "The procedures for…

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The Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning The successful rescue operation in Thailand ended successfully, highlighting a number of 'human traits' that at times are overshadowed by the dullness of other happenings around us. This…

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US: First children – family reunions

New York Times : Federal officials struggled on Tuesday to pull off a series of court-ordered reunifications between dozens of detained migrant children and their families at various sites around…

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Salvini prepares for political-football mission to Russia as he indicates his hope that France won’t make it to the World Cup final

The Local: Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini says he plans to go to Moscow this weekend to combine a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the World Cup final. Salvini…

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Libya takes ownership of large area of sea migrant route

Euronews: Libya — with the backing of the European Union — has officially taken ownership of a large area of the sea migrant route into Europe for search and rescue…

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Italy and Libya agree to reactivate friendship treaty that allowed for migrants to be returned to Libyan territory

Euronews / Libya Observer: Italy and Libya have agreed to reactivate a friendship treaty signed a decade ago that allowed migrants to be returned to Libyan territory. "We agreed to reactivate…

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Salvini vows to stop foreign naval ships from docking in Italian ports

DW: Italy's hardline Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, vowed on Sunday to stop foreign naval vessels that have saved migrants in the Mediterranean Sea from docking in Italian ports, extending a ban first placed…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning The rescue operation currently underway in Thailand dominated most of the international news outlets agenda. However during the past hours Theresa May's latest setback on Brexit, with the…

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Indifference kills, and we desire to lift up our voices in opposition to this murderous indifference – Pope Francis

The Local: "The Middle East has become a land of people who leave their own lands behind,” Pope Francis said. Pope Francis on Saturday voiced concern that Christians will disappear from…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, A briefing on the on-goings around the globe. >> MV Lifeline rescue vessel captain Claus-Peter Reisch yesterday told the court defiantly that “it is never a crime to…

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Rescue ship refused entry by Italy and Malta arrives in Spain (Video)

A ship belonging to Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms docked in the port of Barcelona Wednesday with 60 migrants rescued off the Libyan coast on board, after Italy and Malta…

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Merkel addresses Bundestag on migration for first time since clash with Seehofer

DW: Addressing parliament for the first time since her clash with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the German chancellor sought to stress a common way forward. But things remain tense both inside…

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Insight: The Economics of Migration – Lawrence Zammit

In recent days and weeks the issue of migration has been quite a hot issue in the Mediterranean and in the United States. At times the issue was debated more…

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UK Migrant’s child separation – Not just Trump

Sky News: A migrants' rights charity has condemned the UK government for "routinely" separating families by placing parents in immigration detention. Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) says it deals with…

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Libya to develop plans to combat illegal immigration

Libya Observer: The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Illegal Immigration Affairs Mohammed al-Shibani confirmed that the ministry is to develop a plan to combat illegal immigration in Libya. Shibani…

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Tuesday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Tuesday's Morning Briefing. Migrant vessel Sea-Watch 3 captain Pia Klemp yesterday accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and European politicians of bearing responsibility for the mass grave in the…

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Reports of new shipwreck off Libya – 114 persons missing

ANSA reports that there was a new shipwreck of migrants. According to this report, 114 persons are missing and it was reported by UNHCR. The shipwreck happened off the Libyan coast.…

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Spain and Greece get additional €45.6 million in emergency funds support to respond the migratory challenges

The European Commission has awarded an additional €45.6 million in emergency assistance to support Spain and Greece respond to the migratory challenges they face. The European Commission has awarded an…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning The human, the diplomatic and the political impact of migration dominate the latest developments reported in our Morning Briefing. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has confirmed his offer…

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UNHCR – 63 people missing after boat capsizes close to Libya

The UNHCR Libya announced another tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea where 63 people are missing after the boat they were on board capsized. Another 41 people were rescued by the…

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Nine migrants arrive in Malta by boat

The Malta Independent: Nine migrants have been arrested by the police after they were found loitering in Marsascala after landing there by boat, the police said. The migrants landed near the…

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OECD: Italy once again amongst world leaders in terms of the country of origin of economic migrants

Sole 24 Ore : In the last report on migrants, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) pointed out that Italy has once again became part of list of…

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Sunday Morning Briefing

Good morning Sunday's morning briefing follows. Spain said that Barcelona will be the docking port for an aid boat that rescued 60 migrants in waters near Libya but was not…

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EU Summit Reaction – Maltese MEP Miriam Dalli

The final agreement reached in the early hours of Friday morning falls short of an agreement on asylum rules. Once again, the EU has failed to agree to real solutions.…

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100 persons feared dead after migrant boat capsizes off Libya

CNN: The lifeless bodies of three babies, dressed in brightly colored clothing and looking almost as if they were sleeping, were carried carefully ashore Friday in Libya. Held in the outstretched…

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EU Summit – Maltese Prime Minister Muscat comments to Corporate Dispatch

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who was one of the first to announce the agreement in the early hours of Friday expressed his views to Corporate Dispatch that the conclusions…

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EU Summit – Agreed Conclusions on Migration

. The European Council reconfirms that a precondition for a functioning EU policy relies on a comprehensive approach to migration which combines more effective control of the EU’s external borders,…

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EU Summit – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Comments

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is reported to be satisfied by the deal. "It was a long negotiation but from today Italy is no longer alone." He listed the elements…

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EU Summit – Angela Merkel Comments

In comments reported by Euronews, Angela Merkel said "Overall, after an intensive discussion on the most challenging theme for the European Union, namely migration, it is a good signal that…

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Maltese Government declares that migrant NGOs won’t be to make use of Malta as their port of operations

Following recent events that brought to the fore information that was previously unknown, Malta needs to ascertain that operations being conducted by entities using its port services and operating within…

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