India, Feb. 13 -- Italy's conservative Government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni has approved a bill introducing new measures aimed at fighting illegal immigration, including a so-called "naval blockade" for migrant ships trying to reach Italian shores. A cabinet meeting in the late Wednesday afternoon gave the go-ahead to the bill, which now needs to be discussed and approved in both chambers of parliament before becoming effective.

Italy's new migration package - which also includes stricter surveillance at borders and cooperation with European agencies - comes a day after the approval of the new EU pact on migration and asylum, which Rome plans to implement swiftly. The package includes new powers that would enable Italian authorities ...