Medihospes to Lay Off Staff at Migrant Centers in Albania Amid Legal and Operational Challenges
Medihospes, the cooperative managing Italy’s migrant centers in Albania, has announced it will lay off nearly all employees working at the two facilities, with dismissals set for February 15. The decision comes as legal hurdles prevent the full operation of the centers. Despite being awarded a €134 million contract in May to manage these centers, only a handful of staff members, including doctors and cleaners, remain, while Italian police continue to oversee the area. The centers, located in Shengjin and Gjader, were largely unused after several failed attempts to transfer migrants, as Albanian courts refused to authorize their detention, citing concerns over the compatibility of the practice with European Union law. Medihospes cited contradictory court rulings and the inability to receive new migrant flows as reasons for suspending operations, while the Italian government contemplates changing the centers’ purpose to house migrants whose asylum requests have been denied. The European Court of Justice is expected to rule on the definition of “safe countries of origin” by February 25, which could further impact the project.
Food Poisoning Outbreak Kills Three Elderly Residents in Florence Area Care Homes
Three elderly residents have died in recent days due to a suspected food poisoning outbreak that affected over 100 residents across four nursing homes in the Florence area, all owned by the same company. The illness began Sunday evening after a meal, with seven individuals hospitalized; two died Monday and another Thursday, while four others were discharged. Of the 173 total residents across the four facilities, 114 cases of gastroenteritis were reported. Investigations are underway by the Tuscany health authority, with food samples being tested to identify the source, including dishes such as carrot puree, vegetable mix, rabbit with potatoes, and pizza. The company, Sereni Orizzonti, which manages 91 elderly care homes in Italy and Spain, has suspended its central kitchen services while also conducting internal investigations. This is not the first time the company has faced scrutiny, as it was previously investigated for a COVID-19 outbreak in one of its homes in 2020, and again in 2021 for complaints about working conditions and food quality.
lleged Spy Scandal Involving Giacomo Tortu and Marcell Jacobs Unfolds
On February 13, Il Fatto Quotidiano published an article claiming that Giacomo Tortu, manager and brother of Italian sprinter Filippo Tortu, allegedly hired an investigation agency to spy on Olympic 100m gold medalist Marcell Jacobs between 2020 and 2021. The agency, Equalize, reportedly accessed Jacobs’ medical records, phone calls, and messages in search of potential doping evidence, despite Jacobs never being implicated in any doping-related investigations. The claims come from an ongoing inquiry into Equalize, which is accused of illegal access to state databases for private information. While the allegations against Giacomo Tortu remain unproven, they are being investigated by the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL), which could impose sanctions if Tortu is found involved. Jacobs, who has not commented, is reportedly considering legal action. The controversy has reignited public interest in the rivalry between Tortu and Jacobs, two of Italy’s top sprinters.
Milano Prosecutors Investigate Amazon for Alleged 1.2 Billion Euro Tax Fraud
The Milan public prosecutor’s office is investigating Amazon for alleged tax fraud amounting to 1.2 billion euros, related to remote sales in Italy between 2019 and 2021. The investigation involves the company and three of its managers. According to the prosecutors, Amazon failed to report the identities and details of non-European sellers to the Italian tax agency, which would have been necessary for collecting VAT. The company is accused of using a predictive algorithm that overlooked tax obligations for goods sold by non-EU vendors, enabling it to evade taxes. The total amount of fraud, including penalties and interest, is estimated to reach approximately 3 billion euros. This is not the first tax investigation into Amazon in Italy; last July, Milan’s financial police seized 121 million euros on similar fraud suspicions.
Ferrovie dello Stato Launches Major Information Campaign Amid Upcoming Railworks Disruptions
Ferrovie dello Stato has launched an extensive information campaign to alert travelers about upcoming disruptions due to maintenance work on Italy’s rail network. This initiative includes a dedicated website and widespread updates at stations, marking a shift from the past, where communication about train cancellations or delays was more localized. The campaign follows criticism from last summer when many construction projects were launched without sufficient notice, leading to unexpected inconveniences for passengers. CEO Stefano Donnarumma acknowledged the communication shortcomings and emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency. With nearly 4,000 active construction sites over the past two years, funded partially by the PNRR, Ferrovie dello Stato is committed to continuing infrastructure investments, amounting to 100 billion euros by 2030. As these works inevitably cause disruptions, the new website allows travelers to check region-specific updates and monitor real-time train statuses. Large QR code panels are also being installed at stations to provide continuous updates on project progress. Despite potential delays, Donnarumma assured that the disruptions would be short-term and manageable.
