The Eurasian military alliance has presented new guidelines for law enforcement operations to be applied in all member states to prevent ‘terrorist infiltration’. Last year 420 illegal organisations were identified, but there were also many summary actions against Tajiks after the attack on Krokus City Hall. Dushanbe is insisting that its citizens fully legalise their residence status in Russia by the end of April.

Lebanon considers it ‘imperative’ that the Syrian refugees in the country, at least 1.5 million, be repatriated. The change of leadership in Damascus also changes their status. At the meeting of donor countries organised by the EU, the Foreign Minister calls for ‘stopping crisis management and starting to resolve the crisis’, starting with the sanctions that must be cancelled.

The directive applies to both Card holders and those without documents. From 1st April they will be forcibly expelled, but the advice is to ‘leave voluntarily’ before the deadline. Human rights groups are concerned. Meanwhile, at the Torkham crossing, tribal leaders from both sides have signed a truce.

The young son of a bishop of the (Protestant) Church of North India died and two women were raped in a crime committed at a well-known tourist site. The Catholic bishop of Bellary, Mgr D'Souza, calls for “culture of safety and security for all women".

In a statement, the Gemelli Hospital reported “a slight improvement” in the pope’s conditions The Vatican released the pope’s message for the path towards Easter, titled this year “Let us journey together in hope”.

The clash was caused by the death of 50-year-old Basri, originally from Riau, and the injury of four other people. Their boat allegedly did not stop in front of the warnings of the Malaysian Mmea, who opened fire. Analysts believe that Subianto's nationalist policy cannot allow the incident to go unnoticed, while safeguarding relations.

Israel celebrates the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari as part of the fragile truce. However, the fate of the foreign workers still being held hostage in the Strip remains a mystery. These include six Thai nationals and one Nepalese national about whose fate nothing has transpired even during negotiations in recent days. The families' fears that “everything may fall apart” before their return.

With Russia's doors increasingly closed, many workers from the region have left for South Korea. But Central Asians seeking prospects in Western countries are also increasing, often ending up as victims of unscrupulous exploiters. Turkey as an intermediate destination where they stay for a few years hoping then to reach Europe or America.

Demand is growing in Europe, especially in the health and long-term care sectors. Migrants’ contribution to the Philippine economy is critical, but they need legal protection and support, as well as repatriation plans in case of need. In 2023, remittances hit a record US$ 37.2 billion, or 8.5 per cent of GDP, the largest amounts coming from the United States, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

South Korea has introduced a voluntary repatriation programme for illegal migrants that would avoid expulsion and include a waiver on heavy fines. At the end of 2023, some 423,675 foreigners were staying illegally in the East Asian country out of more than 2.5 million. About 145,000 Thais, who are more than a third of all foreigners staying illegally, could benefit from the measure.

Rescued at sea in October 2021, the few dozen Sri Lankan exiles, including children, applied for asylum in the Chagos Islands, which is still an uninhabited British overseas territory (with a large military base). The UK refused to accept them, despite complaints about their conditions, and view the current humanitarian solution as temporary.

From Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, new regulations are lengthening the time it takes to obtain citizenship, with tough tests of knowledge of the local language to discourage Russian relokanty. In Turklmenistan, citizenship is almost impossible to obtain without Turkmen kinship, but ‘ius soli’ is still in force for children of foreign parents.

In the town of Bando, Ibaraki prefecture, at least 20 men and women lived in a community. There was also a restaurant and a karaoke bar in the disused facilities. There are 600,000 Vietnamese working in Japan, but they are also the largest group among the nearly 10,000 trainees who have ‘disappeared’ in the country over the past year.

The government is cutting red tape to boost the economy. Many new Thais have been waiting for their papers for years and now will finally have access to several rights. Without this amnesty, children born to parents from ethnic minorities would have needed 44 years to receive citizenship.

A Taliban minister and the Iranian ambassador met in Kabul to discuss the return of Afghans to their country of origin, with an Afghan delegation set to travel to the Iranian capital. An NGO reported the recent killing by Iranian border guards of Afghan migrants (260 dead and wounded, according to some sources).

The platform was launched by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India-Latin rite on the eve of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Migrants can register to be welcomed and helped by host communities. Migrants bring wealth to local parishes, as was visible last Sunday in Mumbai during the Karam festival, celebrated by over 800 Catholic migrants at St Stephen's Church.

On 20-21 November, a curfew will be imposed in all provinces to facilitate data collection. The last census occurred in 1997, while those that followed were postponed or cancelled due to violence and domestic conflicts. For Iraqi scholar, census data will inform policy making in a country shaped by sectarian and confessional divisions.

To date there are 2.59 million people without employment in the country, with a particular incidence in the younger segments of the population. The figure of those who expatriate to complete their studies or better professional opportunities continues to grow. The local church's commitment to education, starting with technical institutes.

The number of women seeking work abroad continues to rise: from 40 percent in the pre-pandemic period to 46 percent in 2023. The main destination remains the Middle East, where they find employment mainly as domestic workers. The government is trying to reverse this trend, but still more than a thousand choose to expatriate every month. 

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan the two countries in the region from which the largest number of labor migrants come. But the approach is quite different: the former seems to be abandoning its compatriots, while the latter operates a more careful policy, considering expatriates crucial to its economy. Pressures against Tajiks after the Krokus City Hall bombing in Moscow.

Despite Myanmar’s conflict, many Sri Lankans still travel to the former Burma in search of work but end up victims in trafficking networks. At least 40 have been freed recently, but dozens more are still captive. The authorities urge Sri Lankans, often vainly, to look for work at agencies registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

Another boat with 45 refugees on board sank in the past few hours in the very stretch of water at the centre of concerns over Houthis attacks against shipping. Almost one hundred thousand people travelled this route in the past year, which the International Organisation for Migration defines as the most dangerous in the world.

In a vademecum aimed in particular at workers from Central Asia all the behaviour to avoid in order not to suffer the measure, specco accompanied by a ban on re-entry for a period of between 3 and 5 years. A further 20 new articles of the Administrative Code have been added to the offences already reported directly by the police.

Despite its rich energy resources, for which it receives billions of dollars from exports, Turkmenistan continues to experience a severe internal economic crisis. And with the greatest difficulties in emigrating to other countries, thousands from the villages flock to the capital in search of work. With police harassing the 'vagrants'.

After the first forced repatriation by plane, the issue also entered the TV debate between Trump and Biden. The post-Covid economic crisis the main reason. Routes also to Italy via Serbia, with worrying contours of modern slavery.

Turkish police detain at least 474 people. In Afrin, four people died in gunfight between protesters and Turkish troops. Violence was triggered by reports that went viral on social media concerning sexual abuse by a Syrian refugee against a minor. The case reflects the growing intolerance towards foreigners in Turkey.

The regulation approved by the Diet overcomes the current employment system that ended up favouring abuses. A new attempt to counter the labour shortage. Increased flexibility is provided by reduced timeframes and favoured access to qualified positions: it will be possible to leave unprofitable and discriminating positions. 

In his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church will celebrate this year on 29 September, the Pope writes: “How many Bibles, copies of the Gospels, prayer books and rosaries accompany migrants on their journeys across deserts, rivers, seas and the borders of every continent!” Blessing Okoedion, a Nigerian survivor of trafficking, says she “learnt again what it means to be a Christian.”

Thousands are camped at the airport, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, waiting. The old quota system has been cancelled. Some 15 countries with specific agreements with Malaysia are involved. Foreigners are expected to cover about 15 per cent of the labour force by next year.

The workers have spent thousands of euro on documents, but for months they have been waiting for a clearance to leave that has not arrived. In the crosshairs the consultancy company VFS Global, which was in charge of handling the administrative paperwork. Also involved are brokers and swindlers who exploit conditions of need to do business. 

At least 1,200 young people have returned home in recent days in special flights, landing in Islamabad and Lahore. The attacks were triggered by a video that went viral showing “people of Asian appearance” harassing students. Kyrgyz authorities say they will take the appropriate measures to ensure justice, but a climate of intolerance towards migrants is growing in the country.

More than a month after the attack on Krokus City Hall, the retaliation against Tajik migrants in Russia has not subsided, to the point of prompting a protest note from Dushanbe. Hundreds remain stranded at airports and at the border with Kazakhstan, but Moscow cannot afford to lose the country where its most important military base in Central Asia is located.

A course dedicated to their protection was held at the Caritas Village and attended by 200 women. Significant contribution made by migrant labour to the national economy through remittances recognised.

There is still deep disagreement between Lebanon and Brussels over the presence of more than two million people in the country without official documents. The country of the cedars demands their repatriation, while Europe only wants to avert migration to its shores, offering money in exchange. On the table is an aid plan for one billion euros over four years.