ROME: Italy’s hard-right government passed a new law Monday to overcome legal opposition to a migrant deal with Albania, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused judges of political bias.
The decree, which was adopted at a cabinet meeting late Monday, enshrines in law the government’s definition of countries as “safe,” which would mean Rome can fast-track applications from asylum seekers from those countries.
The move follows a ruling by Italian judges on Friday against the detention of the first migrants sent for processing in Italian-run centers in Albania.
Rome has said that other European Union countries are interested in its flagship policy as a way of processing asylum requests in countries outside the bloc.
But 12 Bangladesh and Egyptian migrants sent to Albania last week had to leave again after the judges’ ruling and were taken to Italy.
The judges pointed to a recent European Court of Justice ruling which stipulates that EU states can only designate whole countries as safe, not parts. Some nations on Italy’s list include areas which are not considered safe.
As a general rule, EU law takes precedence over conflicting national laws.
Meloni on Friday slammed the ruling as “prejudiced” and said she had called the cabinet meeting “to approve laws to overcome this obstacle, because I don’t think it’s up to the judges to say which countries are safe, but the government.”
The cabinet decree would enter into force immediately, before being made law by parliament, where the government has a majority.
The law states that all parts of the designated countries are safe for all categories of people, disregarding caveats in the government’s current directives.
However, the government did exclude three countries — Cameroon, Colombia and Nigeria — from its previous list of 22 “safe” countries in order to conform with a recent ruling from the European Court of Justice. The list of countries will be updated annually.
Immigration lawyer Guido Savio told AFP the abrupt change would likely lead to new legal challenges.
Italy has long been on the front line of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe and Meloni was elected in 2022 on a pledge to stop the boats.
Her coalition has previously clashed with judges over attempts to limit the work done by charity organizations who rescue migrants at sea.
The row escalated Sunday, with Meloni publishing excerpts on social media of a letter sent by one prosecutor to a group which includes judges.
In it, Marco Patarnello warned that Meloni is “stronger and much more dangerous” than former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who faced frequent legal woes and who repeatedly attacked the judiciary.
Right-wing politicians said the letter proved the legal bias against the government.
Critics pointed out however that Meloni did not post the rest of the text, in which Patarnello said “we must not engage in political opposition, but we must defend jurisdiction and the citizens’ right to an independent judge.”
Across the European Union, individual member states are responsible for drawing up their own “safe” country lists. However, the EU intends eventually to agree on a bloc-wide list, officials say.
Italy PM seeks to save Albanian migrant deal amid spat with judges
https://arab.news/jsm8b
Italy PM seeks to save Albanian migrant deal amid spat with judges
- Rome has said that other European Union countries are interested in its flagship policy
- Bangladeshi and Egyptian migrants sent to Albania had to leave after the judges’ ruling
France says Algeria has issued arrest warrants for writer Daoud
PARIS: Algeria has issued two arrest warrants for acclaimed French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, the French Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, as tensions surge between the two countries.
The Algerian judiciary informed France of the move, the Foreign Ministry said.
“We are monitoring and will continue to monitor developments in this situation closely,” he said, stressing that Daoud was “a renowned and respected author” and that France was committed to freedom of expression.
In 2024, Daoud won France’s top literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, for his novel “Houris,” centered on Algeria’s civil war between the government and radicals in the 1990s.
The novel, banned in Algeria, tells the story of a young woman who loses her voice when a hard-liner cuts her throat as she witnesses her family being massacred during the war.
In November, the woman, Saada Arbane, told Algerian television, using a speech aid, that the main character in the book is based on her experiences. Daoud, 54, has denied his novel is based on Arbane’s life.
Arbane says she told her story during a course of treatment with a psychotherapist who became Daoud’s wife in 2016.
She has accused Daoud of using the details narrated during their therapy sessions in his book.
UN appoints special envoy to combat Islamophobia
- Former Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos will serve in new role
- UN observes International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15
NEW YORK CITY: The UN has appointed a special envoy to combat Islamophobia in a bid to fight anti-Muslim hatred around the world.
The new position will be filled by Miguel Angel Moratinos of Spain, who also serves as high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, an initiative to combat extremism.
Moratinos previously served in the Spanish government and worked closely with the UN during his time as foreign minister from 2004 to 2010.
He also served as EU special representative for the Middle East peace process from 1996 to 2003.
In that role, he promoted peace agreements and attempted to foster dialogue between Israel and the Arab world.
He also served as Spanish ambassador to Israel in 1996.
The UN marks International Day to Combat Islamophobia each year on March 15. The day was first observed following a resolution put forward by Pakistan that was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2022.
The document was sponsored by the 60 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
This year on March 15, Moratinos spoke out against the “bigotry and dehumanizing rhetoric” that Muslims “have to quite often face in many parts of the world.”
“Hate speech drives wedge between communities, sparks fear and anger and may often lead to violence which threatens peace and stability in societies,” he said.
“All forms of hate should be rooted out wherever and whenever it occurs. This means pushing for policies that fully respect human rights and protect religious and cultural identities, particularly of minorities.
“This means investing in social cohesion by encouraging initiatives that promote dialogue, mutual respect and protects human rights and the dignity of all.”
Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating conclave hasn’t elected pope in first vote
Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating conclave hasn’t elected pope in first vote
- The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday
- They return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning
VATICAN CITY: Black smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.
The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some four hours after 133 cardinals solemnly entered the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy and formally opened the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis to lead the 1.4 billion-member church.
With no one securing the necessary two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, the cardinals will retire for the night to the Vatican residences where they are being sequestered.
They return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning.
Russia hosts world leaders for 80th anniversary of defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II
- Putin described Chinese President Xi Jinping as ‘our main guest’ at the Victory Day festivities when he discussed preparations for his visit with China’s FM
- US President George W. Bush attended the 2005 Victory Day parade along with the leaders of France, Germany and other heads of states
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is set to host the leaders of China, Brazil and other heads of states for festivities on Friday marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, has become the country’s most important secular holiday. A massive parade through Red Square and other ceremonies underline
Moscow’s efforts to project its power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the 3-year-old war in Ukraine.
“For Putin, this day is important as a demonstration how broad a coalition backing Russia is,” said political analyst Nikolai Petrov.
The lineup of leaders coming to Moscow this year contrasts sharply to some past celebrations that drew top Western leaders at a time of friendlier ties between Russia and the West.
The festivities have been overshadowed by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at all four of the capital’s airports, with dozens of flights delayed or canceled, stranding hundreds of passengers.
Tightened security around the celebrations also led to restrictions on cellphone Internet service and reports of outages. Banks and taxi firms have preemptively warned customers about disruption to services over the holidays due to unstable Internet access, and some shops and supermarkets have restricted deliveries due to potential network problems.
Putin described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “our main guest” at the Victory Day festivities when he discussed preparations for his visit with China’s foreign minister. The Russian leader noted that he and Xi are to discuss both bilateral and global issues at their summit in Moscow.
Xi arrived Wednesday for a four-day visit. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov has said they would discuss trade and Russia’s supply of oil and gas to China, as well as cooperation within BRICS — the bloc of developing economies that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa but has since expanded to more countries.
Putin and Xi have met over 40 times and developed strong personal ties to bolster their “strategic partnership” as they both face soaring tensions with the West.
China has offered robust diplomatic support to Moscow after the 2022 invasion and has emerged as a top market for Russian oil and gas, helping fill the Kremlin’s war coffers. Russia also has relied on China as the main source of machinery and electronics to keep its military machine running after Western sanctions curtailed high-tech supplies.
While Beijing hasn’t provided weapons to use in Ukraine, it has backed the Kremlin diplomatically, blaming the West for threatening Russia’s security. China also condemned Western sanctions against Moscow.
Russia, in turn, has consistently voiced support for Beijing on issues related to Taiwan.
Last month, Ukraine reported capturing two Chinese soldiers who were fighting for Russia and claimed there were over 150 others deployed alongside Moscow’s forces. Beijing disavowed official involvement, saying it told its citizens not to enter foreign conflicts. Reports suggested the men were mercenaries answering advertisements.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Mod i, another top ally whom Putin has courted, had been expected in Moscow but he canceled his trip amid tensions with Pakistan after an attack in which gunmen opened fire on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
India, which has had persistent tensions with China, watched the growing Russia-China relationship with unease but sought to maintain close ties with Moscow. Russia is a major defense supplier for India, and New Delhi’s importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine. Just like China, India has become a key buyer of Russian oil.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also arrived Wednesday, his first official trip to Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine. He twice visited Russia during his previous tenure as president in 2003-10.
Other guests include Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has openly challenged the European Union’s policies over Ukraine. Fico has shrugged off warnings from the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, against visiting Moscow, defiantly saying, “nobody can order me where to go or not to go.”
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic made his first trip to Russia since the invasion, despite EU pressure that visiting Moscow could derail Serbia’s ambitions to join the bloc. He arrived in Moscow on Wednesday after falling ill last week on a trip to the US, which raised questions about his attendance. The Kremlin said Putin will have bilateral meetings with him and Fico on Friday.
Petrov said attendance by European countries despite EU pressure demonstrates “that the Kremlin isn’t just in any sort of isolation but has quite powerful support not only in the Global South but also in the West.”
Putin met Wednesday with the leaders of Cuba and Venezuela, who also came to Moscow. He and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed an agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation.
The leaders of Vietnam and Burkina-Faso, plus presidents of several former Soviet nations, also were expected.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the guest list reflects the importance of the holiday and “shows that Russia not only has allies, but a large number of countries that feel close to the spirit of our ideology and world vision.”
Ushakov said Tuesday that leaders of more than two dozen countries are expected, and Putin will hold more than 15 bilateral meetings. The Kremlin also invited US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, although “whether she will be present at the parade, we will see on May 9,” Ushakov said. The State Department didn’t confirm whether any US officials would attend.
Ushakov said Wednesday the presidents of Laos and Azerbaijan weren’t coming after all. Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith fell ill with COVID-19, Ushakov told Russia’s Life news outlet, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who the Kremlin said in March had accepted an invitation, had to attend events at home.
Relations between Moscow and Baku cooled after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan in December, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Aliyev said it was shot down over Russia, albeit unintentionally, and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the incident for several days. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging responsibility.
Aliyev hasn’t attended the Moscow parade since 2015, the Russian daily Vedomosti reported.
When Russia’s ties with the West blossomed after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, many Western leaders attended Victory Day celebrations. In 1995, US President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister John Major and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien were among the guests.
US President George W. Bush attended the 2005 Victory Day parade along with the leaders of France, Germany and other heads of states, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on Red Square for the 2010 parade.
Ties with the West were badly strained after Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow backed a separatist insurgency. Western leaders stopped coming to the event.
US President Donald Trump, who this year upended Washington’s policy of isolating Russia over the war, hasn’t ruled out visiting Moscow someday, but will not be attending on Friday.
Russian air defenses down 12 more Ukrainian drones en route to Moscow, mayor says
- Sobyanin noted that 12 drones headed for the capital had been repelled or destroyed
- Several drones had been destroyed over Kaluga region
MOSCOW: Russian air defense forces downed 12 Ukrainian drones flying toward Moscow, the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said on Wednesday.
Sobyanin, in a series of posts over four hours on the Telegram messaging app, noted that 12 drones headed for the capital had been repelled or destroyed.
Earlier on Wednesday the Telegram channel Shot, which has sources in Russia’s law enforcement agencies, reported that one drone had been downed in the Moscow region, while several others had been destroyed over the neighboring Kaluga region.
Russia’s aviation watchdog said that the Zhukovsky airport in the Moscow region outside the capital and the main airport in the city of Kaluga south of Moscow had been temporarily closed.
Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, subject to periodic closures throughout the day, was operating in the early evening.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had downed 524 drones over the past 24 hours. The ministry did not specify the locations where the drones were destroyed.
The Russian capital is preparing to host more than 20 world leaders at a Red Square military parade on Friday to mark the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany.
Some of the leaders, like China’s Xi Jinping, flew into Russia on Wednesday.
