Italian Senate backs move to tighten rules on refugee status

STORY: Italian Senate backs move to tighten rules on refugee status DATELINE: April 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of migrants in Rome STORYLINE: The Italian Senate on Thursday gave the green light to a government decree that will tighten rules granting special protection to asylum seekers. The measure was first proposed after the Feb. 26 Cutro migrant boat tragedy, which claimed at least 91 lives. The results of the vote in the Senate were 92 in favor of the initiative and 64 against. The decree must now pass a vote in the lower house of Italy's parliament in order to become law, but the vote in the Senate was considered the most significant obstacle to its passage. The measure limits Italy's protection regime for asylum seekers and refugees, as a means of enabling the government to curb the rising tide of migrants across the central Mediterranean route. In recent years, Italy has been the main arrival point for migrants reaching Europe from Af

At least 30 dead after migrant ship rips apart near Italy's shores

STORY: At least 30 dead after migrant ship rips apart near Italy's shores DATELINE: Feb. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:45 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the coast (courtesy of Vigili del Fuoco) 2. various of investigation (courtesy of Vigili del Fuoco) STORYLINE: At least 30 migrants died early Sunday when their boat ripped apart off the coast of Italy, Italian media reports said. Italian state radio reports said the exact death count was still uncertain as of mid-morning local time Sunday as most of the dead bodies washed up on or near the shores of Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort town in the southern Italian region of Calabria. At least three dead bodies were recovered at sea, authorities said. Italian news agency ANSA said 33 people have died in this accident, including many children and women. Vigili del Fuoco, Italy's national fire and rescue brigades, said searches were ongoing via boat, jet ski and helicopter. They also reported pulling around 40 survivors out of the s