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Europe’s refugee crisis

Europe’s refugee crisis
Starting in 2015, Europe struggled on a large scale to cope with its biggest influx of refugees since the second world war. Hundreds of thousands fled and have been fleeing from the war-torn Middle East and beyond. Many have resorted to risky boat voyages to reach Europe, and thousands have perished in the process.
Moroccan women migrants arrange blankets and belongings at a makeshift sleeping area near the Temporary Immigrant Reception Centre in Ceuta, Spain, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Spain

‘It’s really bad’: migrant women’s fears of sexual violence in Spain’s Ceuta

Some women at a makeshift camp say they are afraid to sleep at night: ‘a lot of guys are trying to attack the girls every night’.

Spain

Deadly migrant rush to Spain’s Ceuta was sparked by runaway online rumours

Britain

French, UK vessels save 157 migrants from burning boat in Channel

Spain

Spain denies intelligence warnings before Ceuta migrant crisis

Madrid rejects claims of ignored reports after tens of thousands surged into Spanish exclave in Africa.

A migrant runs from Spanish police as they cordon off access to the beach for people crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Friday. Photo: AP
Britain

France condemns Farage-led plan to deploy British navy against Channel migrants

Paris warns pushback operation would breach international law as hard-right party vows to return small boats.

Spain

Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave of Ceuta reaches 72

More bodies recovered near shoreline following mass movement of 50,000 people across Moroccan border.

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Spain

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

Migrants wade through the water near the border with Morocco as they attempt to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on Friday. Photo: AFP
Italy

Italy halts EU Schengen free-travel pact with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

Over 50,000 people had rushed into Spanish territory from Morocco, sparking concern over border security.

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Spain

Spain, Morocco try to halt rush on Ceuta enclave amid influx of 60,000

Spanish PM says his nation suffered a ‘violation of its territorial integrity’, blames human smugglers who ‘deceive so many young people’.

Italy

Pope visits Africa-Europe crossing as anti-migrant policies rise in US, EU

The Catholic Church’s first US pope has clashed with the administration of President Donald Trump over its treatment of migrants.

Pope Leo XIV (centre) meets with a migrant family by the arch of the monument Door of Europe, during a visit to Lampedusa island, Italy, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Switzerland

Swiss voters reject right-wing plan to cap population at 10 million

Warnings of economic fallout likened to Brexit discouraged support for the referendum which would cap Switzerland’s population.

A pro-population cap sign sits in a field, on the day of the vote on a plan backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to limit population growth to 10 million inhabitants, near Hundwil, Switzerland, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
France

2 dead after boat runs aground in France in failed crossing to UK

The vessel carried 82 people but ran aground with 65 on board after a French gendarmerie vessel rescued 17.

European Union

Bulgaria’s pro-Russian former president set for strong election win: exit polls

In his campaign, Rumen Radev talked about improving relations with Moscow and resuming the free flow of ‌Russian oil and gas into Europe.

European Union

Hundreds die crossing Mediterranean as 2026 already smashes records

At least 655 migrants died or went missing in January and February taking one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.

Migrants from Syria and Libya call for help as they are assisted by Spanish NGO Open Arms south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2022. Photo: AP
European Union

At least 15 dead after migrant speedboat and Greek coastguard vessel collide

A search for potentially missing people continues off Chios following the sea crash.

Greek emergency personnel in the port of Chios wait to transfer bodies of dead migrants. Photo: Reuters
Spain

Spain to grant legal status to migrants defying Trump trend, Europe’s policies

New decree offers status to roughly 500,000 residents, in contrast to the deportation focus of Trump’s administration and some EU leaders.

United Nations

Hundreds feared missing or dead in Mediterranean shipwrecks, UN says

IOM investigates reports of vessels being impacted by bad weather after departing from Tunisia and Libya for Europe.

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Britain

Farage’s Reform UK attracts another high-profile Conservative defector

Former home secretary joins right-wing Reform UK and declares ‘Britain is indeed broken’.

Britain’s Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Photo: Reuters
Britain

Britain’s surging Reform UK party draws big-name Tory defector

Robert Jenrick joins Nigel Farage’s Reform party as the Conservatives descend into civil war.

Donald Trump

Trump blasts ‘decaying’ and ‘weak’ Europe, pushes Ukraine on elections

US president doubles down on criticism of key allies over immigration and said that Russia has the ‘upper hand’ in the Ukraine war.

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Britain

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

An officer helps a woman after a group was picked up attempting to cross the English Channel from France in 2023. Photo: AFP
Britain

UK toughens asylum policy as anti-immigration sentiment rises

Policy overhaul seeks greater control over who can remain in Britain as tens of thousands of people claim asylum.

Migrants in Gravelines, northern France, walk in the water to board a small boat in an attempt to reach Britain. Photo: AP
Britain

UK says it’s ending ‘golden ticket’ for refugees with asylum overhaul

Those given refugee status will have it for 30 months instead of five years, and must wait 20 years to apply to live in the UK long term.

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The Netherlands

Dutch election a nail-biter with far-right and centrists neck-and-neck

Result too close to call in the Netherlands as overseas postal votes might decide the election.

Crime

UK police arrest asylum seeker sex offender mistakenly freed from prison

Man was captured nearly 48 hours into a manhunt, as Starmer orders an investigation into the ‘embarrassing blunder’.

Demonstrators protest after the mistaken release of an asylum seeker sex offender. Photo: Reuters
European Union

Catherine Connolly wins Ireland’s presidential election in landslide

The left-wing politician’s victory was marred, however, by a record number of spoiled votes.

Irish president-elect Catherine Connolly arrives at Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Britain

UK police search London for asylum seeker after mistaken release

The Ethiopian national was sentenced to 12 months in prison for sexual assault. His arrest in September sparked anti-migrant protests across Britain.

Crime

Algerian woman gets life sentence for rape, torture and murder of French girl

Dahbia Benkired, who killed Lola Daviet, 12, in a case that shocked the country, is the first woman to receive France’s harshest penalty.

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