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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.
Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes of the current president’s Social Democratic Party dons boxing gloves during a visit to a nursing home on the campaign trail in Cascais, on January 9. Photo: EPA-EFE
European Union

Europe’s far-right eyes run-off in Portugal’s presidential election

A record 11 candidates are standing in the election, while a housing crisis and cost of living fears overtake anti-immigrant sentiment.

Britain

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

Donald Trump

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

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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.

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.

D66 supporters react to the first exit poll result in the Dutch parliamentary elections in Leiden, the Netherlands, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
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’.

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.

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.

Police officers escort protesters near the Bell Hotel in Epping, London, on August 31, after a temporary injunction that would have blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the hotel was overturned, including Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu. Photo: AP
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.

Locals lay notes and flowers near a portrait of Lola Daviet in Fouquereuil, France, in October 2022. Photo: AFP
Britain

UK migrant sex offender freed from jail by mistake instead of being deported

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu’s crimes had sparked protests at the hotel where he was housed with other migrants.

Crime

UK far-right figure Tommy Robinson back in court over refusal to give phone PIN

Robinson had refused a police order to unlock his phone, claiming it contained videos related to his journalism work.

Keir Starmer

Starmer warns UK Labour is in ‘fight of our lives’ as party meets

The gathering comes amid talk of a possible leadership challenge, with Labour lagging well behind Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform UK party.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, centre. Photo: PA Wire / dpa
Britain

UK to launch mandatory digital ID to curb illegal migration

The plan faced immediate criticism for potentially infringing on civil liberties and failing to deter illegal immigration.

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The UK announced plans for a new nationwide digital ID in a bid to curb illegal migration. Photo: Getty Images
The Netherlands

30 arrested as violent Dutch anti-immigration protesters clash with police

Officers deployed tear gas and a water cannon after demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles, and a police car was set on fire.

Britain

Starmer says UK will not tolerate racial intimidation after far-right London rally

In his first comments on Saturday’s rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, Starmer also condemned attacks on police officers.

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Britain

Protesters clash with police at 110,000-strong far-right rally in London

Some demonstrators displayed images of Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist and Trump ally who was killed in Utah this week.

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Protesters hold a picture of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking in Utah, at an anti-immigration rally in London on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Britain

Grim night on English Channel as 3 die, 3 go missing trying to cross to UK

The three who died were believed to have been crushed, French officials said, calling it ‘a night unlike any they had seen in months’.

Britain

Five Eyes meeting to focus on ‘smashing’ people smuggling gangs

The UK will host ministers from allied countries with an aim to boost border security, tackle other crime issues.

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Britain

UK police arrest 5 men at hotel near London during anti-asylum protest

Two groups of protesters marched to the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Heathrow Airport before some masked men tried to break in, police said.

Protesters near London call for the closure of accommodation for asylum seekers. On Saturday, masked men tried to force their way into a hotel used by asylum seekers near Heathrow Airport. Photo: AFP
Nigel Farage

UK’s Farage unveils plan to deport asylum seekers, warns of ‘civil disorder’

Reform UK leader proposes repealing human rights laws, as his party claims it could deport 600,000 asylum seekers if it wins power.

Reform UK Nigel Farage poses in front of a screen displaying “deportation departures” at the launch of his party’s plan to deport asylum seekers, at Oxford Airport in Kidlington, Britain on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Britain

Asylum hotel protests continue in UK as government plans new fast-track process

There were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels by the end of June. Labour has promised to end the use of the sites by 2029.

Britain

Protest-hit UK town wins bid to empty asylum-seeker hotel

Protests broke out in Epping in July after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl, which he denies.

Britain

280 arrested as UK cracks down on illegal delivery riders

Operation was part of a push by the government to tackle illegal migration, along with new rules for companies to verify workers’ immigration status.

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A cyclist from the food delivery company Deliveroo speeding through city streets. British immigration enforcement officers stopped and questioned 1,780 individuals between July 20 and 27 and 280 people were arrested. Photo: Shutterstock
Britain

UK to begin returning migrants to France under new ‘1 in, 1 out’ deal

The UK government said it was ‘operationally ready’, and migrant detentions are expected to begin ‘within days’.

The number of migrants making the dangerous journey in flimsy dinghies this year crossed 25,000 at the end of July. Photo: AFP
US immigration

Rwanda says reached deal to take up to 250 migrants deported from US

Trump administration is seeking to ramp up removals to third countries, including convicted criminals to South Sudan and eSwatini.

Britain

More clashes and arrests at UK immigration protests

Demonstrators calling for mass ‘remigration’ gather in Manchester while in London protesters converge outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

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