In an effort to prevent migrants from trying to cross the Mediterranean from Africa, the Italian government is trying out with a novel development-focused strategy. If the plan is successful, analysts say, could serve as a model for all of Europe. For VOA, Henry Wilkins reports from the Italian island of Lampedusa, where residents are welcoming the measure after thousands arrived there in a single week last year.
Research groups argue that the increased use of the Balkan route by migrants and asylum seekers to reach western Europe, as reported by the EU border agency Frontex, is due to the increasing danger of sea routes.
Many migrants cross the “deadliest border in the world” from Africa to Europe in pursuit of a better life: The Mediterranean Sea is located in the Mediterranean region. Despite the dangers, the International Organization for Migration reports that the number of people crossing the border has increased to an estimated 77,000 in the first half of this year
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) welcomed the evacuation of 93 asylum seekers to Italy from Libya on Thursday (November 25), where they had been living in precarious situations with uncertain futures
The Catholic Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, located in the very central Istiklal Caddesi, one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, is currently in no danger of ending up on the real estate market as a private luxury building. In recent days, Sebahattin Gök has been arrested and brought to justice, the man who last year, thanks to a network of accomplices, organized a complex fraudulent operation to illegally gain possession of the largest church Catholic Istanbul in order to resell it to the highest bidder. Investigations into the case confirmed that the “gang” of Gök and his associates were specializing in real estate scams committed against ecclesial and religious communities as well as foreign owners or those belonging to ethnic minority groups