Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. EPA
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. EPA
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. EPA
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. EPA

Italy promises to take more legal migrants in bid to halt sea crossings


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Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Sunday his country was prepared to take more legal migrants as part of its efforts to block irregular migration.

On a visit to Cairo, Mr Tajani held discussions with Egyptian counterparts about ending the political deadlock in Libya as means of solving the migration crisis.

Egypt has largely prevented migrant boats from leaving its Mediterranean coast since 2016. The number of Egyptians crossing to Europe through Libya has risen sharply, with 20,542 disembarking in Italy last year, up from 1,264 in 2020, according to Italian government figures.

Egyptians also make up the largest group by nationality of migrants landing in Italy, Italian interior ministry data suggests.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (L) during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo, Egypt, 22 January 2023. EPA
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (L) during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo, Egypt, 22 January 2023. EPA

Italy is “ready to have more legal migrants, including those coming from Egypt”, Mr Tajani said at a joint news conference with counterpart Sameh Shoukry on Sunday.

He spoke about pilot projects to give migrants grants to study and train in Italy, although he did not give any indication of the numbers who would be allowed in.

He also called for a resolution of Libya's political and security crisis as a prelude to elections and a new constitution. “The solution to the Libyan problem is also part of the solution of the illegal immigration problem,” Mr Tajani said.

Both Egypt and Italy have been invested in efforts to find a solution for the crisis in Libya, an energy-rich North African state where human traffickers take advantage of the lawlessness to do business.

Libya has been mired in chaos since a Nato-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The country is now split between two rival administrations with claims to legitimacy.

On more direct relations between the two nations, Mr Tajani said he had received assurances from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi that his government would work towards resolving the case of an Italian researcher murdered in Cairo in 2016.

A second case concerns an Egyptian who is enrolled at an Italian university but is banned from leaving Egypt following his release in 2021 after two years in jail for publishing a contentious article about the human rights of Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Italian Cambridge University student Giulio Regeni who was found dead in Cairo, Egypt in 2016. Photo by Tim Stewart News/Shutterstock
Italian Cambridge University student Giulio Regeni who was found dead in Cairo, Egypt in 2016. Photo by Tim Stewart News/Shutterstock

The cases of Giulio Regeni, the Italian postgraduate student found dead in Egypt in 2016, and Patrick Zaki, the Egyptian who was studying in Italy and is on trial for spreading false news, were addressed in talks with Mr El Sisi and Mr Shoukry, said Mr Tajani.

“The problem was raised with the president, who told me it was the intention of Egypt to resolve the problems, and remove all the obstacles,” he said without giving details what Cairo intended to do.

“I asked for and received assurances for strong co-operation on the Regeni and Zaki cases,” Mr Tajani wrote on Twitter.

The Regeni case rocked Cairo’s relations with Rome, with Mr Regeni’s family and Italian authorities accusing Egyptian security forces of torturing and killing him. They denied involvement in his abduction or death.

Mr Regeni, 28, was a Cambridge University doctoral student researching labour movements in Egypt when he was abducted on January 25, 2016.

His body was found along a roadside several days later bearing marks of torture.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
The%20Specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.6-litre%20twin%20turbocharged%20V6%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20472hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20603Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh290%2C000%20(%2478%2C9500)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

The specs: 2018 Genesis G70

Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000

Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km

Results

2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)

2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

RESULTS

Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)

Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)

Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)

Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)

Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)

Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)

Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)

Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)

Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)

25-MAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi 
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze 

On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Results

2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.

3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.

4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.

5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.

Updated: January 23, 2023, 9:43 AM`