Ceuta Migration Crisis Unfoldsactive

Right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and center-left Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday reiterated their push to combat illegal migration after thousands of unauthorized migrants surged into Spanish exclave Ceuta in late July. “We are aware that many might be wondering about our cooperation. We come from very different political backgrounds, and we certainly do not agree on everything,” Meloni posted in a “joint message” on Facebook, sharing an archival photo of herself and Frederiksen. “We do not accept uncontrolled immigration to Europe, and we have promoted a strict immigration policy, both in our nations and in Europe,” the statement continued. In response to the Ceuta crisis, which reignited Europe’s long-running debate on illegal migration, Denmark and Italy had sent a joint letter to the European Commission demanding immediate action at the EU’s external borders. The letter was co-signed by 20 other European heads of state and government. Italy has since been one of the harshest critics of Spain’s left-wing government and its migration policies, with Rome announcing border controls for travelers arriving from Spain on Friday. Meloni and Frederiksen argued that the adverse effects of illegal migration — “rising crime rates, growing pressure on public services, and an erosion of citizens’ trust” — were indisputable. “For too long, ordinary people … have paid too high a price because of uncontrolled immigration,��…

The BBC has found posts on Facebook and Instagram inciting a second massive crossing from Morocco to Spain. Meta claims to have removed the posts that violate its policy.

Ceuta Mayor-President Juan Jesus Vivas took part in the demonstration

The prime ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, have criticized this Monday the "uncontrolled immigration to Europe," blaming it for the increase in crimes and sexual violence, and have defended increasing the number of deportations. "We do not accept uncontrolled immigration to Europe," states the joint statement they published this Monday, emphasizing that despite their ideological differences, they have been promoting a "strict immigration policy" in their respective countries, but also at the European level. "No one can deny the negative impacts of illegal immigration on our societies: crime rates increase, pressure on public services rises, and citizens' trust is eroding," they expressed. "It is particularly serious when illegal migrants, deprived of the right to stay in our countries, commit violent crimes, traffic drugs, or become responsible for sexual violence," both heads of government emphasized, assuring that citizens expect "concrete actions." Among these is an increase in deportations, and for this, they have defended the need to establish more repatriation centers in third countries, as well as other "innovative solutions outside Europe." However, they have assured that "this is not enough" and have also focused on "the millions of ci…".

A Malaysian lawmaker is offering a 5,000 ringgit (US$1,200) reward to catch the person responsible for an arson attack which left an elderly woman in critical condition in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. The 62-year-old counter staff suffered 50 per cent burns to her body after an unidentified individual doused her in what police believe was petrol and set her on fire at a lottery shop in Kepong, a suburb some 14km (nine miles) from the city. Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the attack was an “act of...

Katherina Reiche says Berlin seeks to attract €3.75tn in private capital by 2040

The migratory pressure from North Africa faced by Europe is not a new phenomenon, nor is the entry of illegal immigrants into Spain through the territories that country maintains in Ceuta and Melilla, bordering Morocco. However, what recently happened in the first of these enclaves has highlighted the level of concern that the issue has been gaining in the internal politics of EU countries. The virtual influx of 72,000 people who entered Spanish territory and consequently the EU—leaving 79 dead—prompted an immediate harsh reaction from the bloc, even leading the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to announce Spain's suspension from the Schengen area, which allows free movement of EU citizens throughout the territory of its member countries. Furthermore, in a letter promoted by Meloni herself and her Danish counterpart, Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen, and signed by 20 other member countries of the bloc—including Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Hungary—a strong warning was issued to the government of Pedro Sánchez. "We have a duty to effectively dissuade and tirelessly combat illegal immigration," the document states, adding that it cannot be allowed "that massive and uncontrolled crossings, the instrumentalization of migration, or other hybrid threats give the impression that it is possible to enter the European Union illegally." It is…

While the death toll rises to 142 as a result of the massive influx of migrants into Ceuta, thousands of citizens gathered this Sunday in Constitution Square to demand an immediate response from the authorities to the crisis facing the Spanish enclave in North Africa. Called under the slogan "Enough already, Ceuta does not surrender" by the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu communities and the Provincial Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Ceuta, the mobilization expressed the discontent and concern of the residents over the migratory pressure and its consequences for the city. Protest in Ceuta According to Spanish media reports, during the rally, which lasted approximately an hour, some protesters interrupted a moment of silence for the dead migrants, sang the regional anthem, and called for the resignation of the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. "Ceuta is not for sale. Ceuta is Spain," some protesters chanted — as reconstructed by the Spanish newspaper El País — while others shouted "Sánchez, resignation!" Likewise, the protesters — whom the National Police estimated at 5,000 — demanded the intervention of the competent authorities in the city's migratory crisis. In a statement, the organizers dissociated the march from any political party and called for national unity to face the situation. In the same vein, the…

Hundreds of Ceuta residents gathered on Sunday to demand an “immediate, decisive and proportionate” response to the migration crisis. The protest, organised by the city’s four religious communities, was marked by criticism of the central government and calls for unity.

Spanish intelligence has so far concluded that the rush into Ceuta was spontaneous and caused by spreading messages on social media.

Team manager has ‘no idea’ why they disappeared, after reports one of Commonwealth Games athletes said they intended to claim asylum Years of arduous preparation and training had come to fruition and the pressure was finally lifted. After competing for their country in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, athletes from Uganda were afforded a couple of days’ sightseeing time before catching their plane home on Tuesday. But when the flight took off, there were four empty seats. Continue reading...

Ceuta Mayor-President Juan Jesus Vivas urged the Spanish authorities to accelerate the return of migrants to Morocco, calling it the only way to resolve the "absolutely intolerable" situation

Young Malaysians are reporting worsening illnesses, heat-related health problems and disruptions to basic services as climate change intensifies, raising questions over whether the country’s adaptation policies can protect future generations. Unicef Malaysia’s National Youth Climate Change Survey 2025, released in July, found that climate change was no longer only an environmental challenge but an immediate public health and economic issue. The survey gathered responses from 1,420 young people...

The Minister for European Affairs (FdI) confirms the government's hard line: "Schengen has already been suspended 498 times since 2006"

The head of state comments on the management of flows, commemorating Marcinelle. In the exclave, there are still 8-11 thousand immigrants. PD: our stop is a farce. The EU mediates.

The testimonies of the first travelers to experience the checks at Spanish airports: "We got off the plane and, after not even twenty meters, they checked us on the runway. They checked everyone, one by one."

After 72,000 migrants from the Moroccan city of Fnideq reached the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on July 30 and 31, the director of the Ceuta and Melilla Observatory analyzes the state of relations between Morocco and its Spanish neighbor in an interview with Le Monde.

MADRID.– Spanish migration agents began temporary border controls on travelers from Italy this Saturday, in response to similar measures taken by the Italian government following the Ceuta crisis. Controls on air and sea connections were being carried out "randomly," said the Spanish Ministry of the Interior about the new inspection measures, which will be in place until September 7. According to the ministry, controls will be carried out on all individuals crossing the affected air or sea internal borders, regardless of their nationality, applying the appropriate verification regime according to their legal status. "I don't see much use of the word diplomacy in these decisions, neither by the Italian government nor by the Spanish government," lamented Italian Maria Celeste Grillo, a 36-year-old tourist recently landed at Madrid's Barajas airport. Spanish authorities justified the measure by "the persistent irregular migratory pressure" that Italy faces, where thousands of migrants arrive annually by sea from the North African coasts. Spain thus returned the boomerang of criticism and restrictive measures from far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against the government of socialist President Pedro Sánchez due to the Ceuta crisis, where in just a few days, people entered by sea and p…

The growth of commercial aviation is forcing countries to accelerate the training of new pilots and, at the same time, expand the number of professionals qualified to instruct them. Panama is not exempt from this pressure: only Copa Airlines plans to double its fleet by 2034, surpassing 200 aircraft, an expansion that will require a significant number of new aviators in the coming years. The Panamanian airline announced this year the acquisition of up to 60 Boeing 737 MAX, which will be added to 40 aircraft already pending delivery, bringing the total to over 100 planes in the next eight years. The expansion will not only require pilots but also crew members, mechanics, operational staff, and other professionals linked to the aviation activity. In this scenario, training no longer solely depends on accumulating flight hours and experience in a cockpit. There is also an increasing need for pilots capable of transmitting their knowledge through structured methodologies, especially in an activity where proper instruction has direct implications for operational safety. Against this backdrop, 50 pilots completed in Panama the Higher Education Teaching Diploma for Aeronautics, a 200-hour academic training developed over six months by the University of Panama. The program aims to complement the technical experience of the aviators…

Participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of a van ramming near the CSD parade in Berlin. The march was accompanied by enhanced security measures.

The Spanish government has agreed to temporarily restore controls at internal borders of ports and airports for travelers coming from Italy after the Giorgia Meloni government refused to lift Spain's suspension from the Schengen area. According to government sources, this measure has been adopted due to "the persistent irregular migratory pressure faced by the transalpine country." Border controls will be operational from 00:00 hours this Saturday, August 8, and will consist of identity and nationality checks of travelers through passports. In the case of nationals from third countries, visas or residence permits will be reviewed. These controls will be carried out randomly and will be in effect until 00:00 hours on September 7, unless "a change in the circumstances that motivated their adoption advises modifying this period." Italy says it does not accept "ultimatums" The Spanish government had urged Italy to lift the Schengen suspension imposed after the migration crisis in Ceuta more than a week ago. For this, it gave a deadline of three days, until Sunday, August 9. Otherwise, it warned that Spain would be "forced to adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens." However, the Italian government has warned that "it does not accept ultimatums or impositions..."

The tribute today to all the victims in the camps and ghettos

EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen has called for closer monitoring on social media platforms moving forward, amid the spread of misinformation during the recent migration influx at Spain's Ceuta.

Red high-temperature warnings remained in effect for much of southern and western Italy through Saturday.

The intervention of the President of the Republic on the seventieth anniversary of the tragedy, in which 262 workers lost their lives, including 136 Italian emigrants

Work safety and no exploitation, a founding principle and shared European heritage

Ireland this week found itself at the centre of Europe’s increasingly fraught migration debate, as it sought to calm a dispute among European Union member states following last week's influx of 50,000 people into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

For decades, an Indian man's lime shoes have been a grim trail marker for many climbing the world's highest peak.

The EU is examining the border restoration decided by Rome: informally it has indicated that it is excessive compared to the Ceuta crisis.

Surprise in response to Madrid. Focus on border security with an eye on Vannacci's moves

It is the first death of migrants who attempted to access the enclave by air.

The mass incursion into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta showed would-be EU members how the European bloc responds to a genuine shock to its self-proclaimed values of ‘solidarity’.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said on ⁠Friday it has ⁠ordered mandatory drug testing ⁠and will conduct stricter screening for all pilots across its airlines, following the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot for alleged trafficking in Indonesia last month. The unidentified pilot, 39, was detained ‌on July 28 after authorities found 26kg (57lbs) of the mind-altering drug MDMA in his luggage upon his arrival in Jakarta from Kuala Lumpur. Urine tests also showed the Malaysian Airlines pilot had...

BRUSSELS — When French and German security officials announced last month their intention to establish a "sovereign European digital infrastructure," insiders from the technology and defense sectors on both sides of the Atlantic immediately understood what they really meant: "Goodbye Palantir." Throughout Europe, there is active search for alternatives to this American data analysis company, which increasingly many government officials consider too involved in some of the most sensitive areas of public action, ranging from local police and international intelligence to national defense and healthcare systems. But it will be extremely difficult for Europe, in its quest for digital sovereignty, to do without Palantir, whose data expertise, largely unmatched, has become an essential part of daily procedures. "Let's be honest, Palantir's product is very good and addictive, it's a bit like sugar in Coca-Cola," admits MoDem deputy Philippe Latombe, French advocate for digital sovereignty. "Palantir is capable of processing enormous amounts of data with great precision and, thanks to its experience, the company has had time to improve its algorithms for many clients and adapt them to...

Protests reflect deep frustration with poor job prospects and government missteps

After migrant surge from Morocco, EU says Spain assured Schengen is safe but warns Europe's borders are 'vulnerable'.

Indonesia has sought to assuage security concerns ahead of its 81st Independence Day as it vows to fight misinformation about potential disorder in its capital marring the celebrations, saying the situation is “fully under control”. Some shopping centres and office complexes in Jakarta installed additional safety barriers on their premises last week, sparking wild speculation of possible unrest surrounding the August 17 event. Images of the heightened measures went viral on social media,...

Sorry, we can’t let this one go

Reviled by Modi, revered in Pakistan — Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir left a legacy that Munis D Faruqui now re-examines with the help of rare contemporaneous accounts

Commenting on remarks by Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin pointed out that "no evidence has been presented of illegal activities by Russia that could be verified"

Malaysian authorities vowed to identify and close security loopholes in its airports after a pilot allegedly transported drugs from the country before being arrested in Indonesia last week. Malaysia’s home and transport ministries would implement steps to improve aviation security, and would place police officers at certain checkpoints, the government’s spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said in a briefing on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting. “Malaysia Airlines will also revise their protocols for...

Portugal's Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has subtly criticized the Spanish Government's immigration policies, following the recent crisis in Ceuta, reproaching them for the "lack of regulation" to address this phenomenon, which "often has a pull effect." "These days we are witnessing, with disbelief, the lack of rules, regulation, for migration flows, where some insist on adopting policies that often have a pull effect, calling them without providing the conditions to host and integrate them," Montenegro stated, according to Lusa. A clear reference to the Spanish Government, which, unlike Portugal, is not doing "what must be done," as the Prime Minister said this Tuesday, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the country's first private family health unit, in the Lisbon municipality of Torres Vedras. "In Portugal, we are doing what needs to be done. We are creating conditions for people to have dignity when they arrive in Portugal," Montenegro emphasized, defining these terms as "having a job, a home, and (...) access to health, education, and mobility." Last week, about 70,000 people entered Ceuta illegally in just 24 hours, causing a migration crisis that the Spanish Government already considers resolved after returning almost all of them to Morocco. This Tuesday, the ministers of…

A bolt from the sky knocked out two railroad crossings, forcing drivers to make long detours between east and west. Meanwhile, flights at Leipzig airport were suspended after a mystery object came to light. DW has more.

According to Spanish authorities, about 72,000 illegal migrants managed to reach Ceuta at the end of July by swimming and on foot

Our reporter Julián López Gómez reached the autonomous city just two days after at least 72,000 people illegally crossed its border with Morocco. Amid widespread confusion, anxiety and bewilderment, this is what he saw and heard.

UK police looking into reports of 'missing' athletes who didn't return home after Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.

In today’s newsletter: The past week shows how quickly images, rumours and right-wing political opportunism can eclipse the facts on the ground Good morning. Last week, an estimated 72,000 migrants began crossing into a tiny Spanish enclave on the tip of Morocco. Within 24 hours, most of them had headed home. At least 88 people died after attempting the crossing, according to local officials. This isn’t the whole story of what happened over the last week, but the facts are worth remembering. At an emergency meeting yesterday, EU interior ministers sought to draw a line under Ceuta, insisting that the passport-free Schengen area had never been at risk from the arrival of migrants at this scale. Despite this, much of the media coverage has suggested that events in Ceuta represent a territorial threat to Europe, sparking calls for greater security across the region’s borders. Environment | Eight of the biggest oil companies amassed profits of more than $90bn (£67bn) in just three months as the Iran conflict sent energy prices soaring and the emissions-fuelled climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves. UK politics | Women should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, promising a root-and-branch reform of standards after several damning maternity scandals. Middle East | Jordan is convening an emergency meeting over an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the most important Muslim site in Jer…

The Moroccan Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke out on Sunday and Monday, placing responsibility for the migration crisis on the government of Pedro Sanchez.

Copa Airlines continues expanding its destination network in Latin America with the addition of Porlamar, on Margarita Island, Venezuela, and a reorganization of its Hub of the Americas operations at Tocumen International Airport, which will allow for more connection options starting in 2027. The new route between Panama City and Porlamar will begin operating on November 26, 2026, with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Flight CM651 will depart from Tocumen International Airport at 9:50 a.m. and land at General Santiago Mariño International Airport at 1:36 p.m. The return service, identified as CM652, will depart from Porlamar at 2:46 p.m. and arrive in Panama at 4:30 p.m., according to the company. The addition of Porlamar will allow travelers to connect with Margarita Island, located in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, a region with nearly 500,000 inhabitants whose economy largely depends on tourism and commerce. The island is known for destinations such as Playa El Agua, Playa Parguito, Playa El Yaque, as well as San Carlos de Borromeo Castle and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Valley. From that point, it is also possible to access Coche and Cubagua islands, where the ruins of Nueva Cádiz are located, considered one of the first Spanish settlements established in South America. The expansion is not limited to the addition…

According to two Spanish media outlets, authorities have identified several suspected jihadists among migrants who arrived in Ceuta.

It started with Instagram posts that suggested Spain’s border with Morocco was opening up. Then came Facebook users tracking coastguard patrols and TikTok videos showing where to swim. After many shares and comments, thousands of Moroccans became convinced that Europe was suddenly within reach. Within hours, young people began heading towards the border with the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa. Packed buses rolled into the neighbouring Moroccan city of Fnideq. Regional trains filled...

Panamanian airline Copa announced on Tuesday direct flights to Santiago Mariño International Airport, in Margarita, Nueva Esparta state, with three weekly frequencies starting from November 26. “At Copa Airlines, we believe that greater connectivity creates more opportunities for people, businesses, communities, and the economic development of our region,” said Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbron. The new operations will connect Tocumen International Airport, Panama's main airport, and the important Neo-Margarita connection hub, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. “The addition of Porlamar to our network responds to this purpose and allows us to offer a new alternative to connect Margarita Island and Nueva Esparta state with Panama and more than 80 destinations on the continent, facilitating travel for tourism, business, and visiting family and friends,” Heilbron added. The city of Porlamar (near the airport) is the main commercial and tourist center of Margarita Island, a region with about 500,000 inhabitants known for its beaches, cuisine, and cultural richness, according to information from the Panamanian airline. Mobile payment, Biopago, and Binance Pay, three favorite payment methods among Venezuelans Copa Airlines maintains destinations in Venezuela to Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo, Barcelona, and Barquisimeto. However, after the devastating…

Last week's deadly surge of migrants into Spain's North African enclave Ceuta did not "compromise" the European Union's visa-free Schengen travel zone, the Spanish interior minister said on Tuesday, following an emergency meeting at which member states affirmed their solidarity with Spain.

In recent days, the case of Bernarda Vera has given rise to denialist narratives regarding the serious human rights violations committed during the dictatorship by state agents. The truth about this terrible wound has taken years to be built and should not be questioned based on a single case. Recently, visiting minister Álvaro Mesa informed Bernarda Vera's family members that a DNA expert report confirmed a probability of identification greater than 99.9999%. Bernarda Vera appears on the list of missing persons in the Rettig Report; however, investigations have verified that she is alive and resides in Argentina. It should be noted that this is not the first case in which corrections have had to be made to the list of missing persons initially compiled by the Rettig Commission. Like Bernarda Vera's case, but in reverse, is the case of Luis Pino Soto, a young man who in 1986 was 15 years old when he was made to disappear and who, due to an error, was not initially included and only in early 2026 was this mistake corrected. Both are isolated cases whose rectification accounts for less than 1% of the 1,469 cases of missing persons that have been verified in the Report. However, we have not seen major headlines of denunciation regarding young Luis Pino. In this scenario, political exploitation of what happened to Bernarda Vera is not appropriate. While it is commendable that...

The Finnish interior minister conceded that Spain cannot be excluded from the Schengen zone simply because a member state demands it.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi proposed a "new approach" under which migrants would be accommodated at centers in third countries

A Malaysian pilot was arrested at Jakarta airport after being found with around four stone (26kg) of drugs hidden in his luggage.

The prime minister lashed out at EU colleagues who blamed his government’s pro-immigration policies for the recent Ceuta episode.

Next Wednesday, November 18, at 8:00 p.m., the stage of the CA660 Theater of Fundación CorpArtes will host one of the most admired and influential figures in contemporary jazz: Kenny Garrett, who will arrive in Chile with his band to present Sounds from the Ancestors, a project described as "deeply spiritual, vibrant, and full of energy," according to a statement. It will be a highly anticipated reunion between the American saxophonist and the Chilean audience. After a long absence since his previous visit to the country, Garrett will return at one of the most solid and creative moments of his career, accompanied by a group capable of transforming each composition into a collective experience. "His music invites listening, but also moving, celebrating, and letting oneself be carried away by a language where improvisation, rhythm, and great human warmth coexist," says the same text. In Sounds of the Ancestors, Kenny Garrett turns his gaze toward the music that has accompanied and sustained various communities across generations. The project gathers echoes of church chants, recited prayers, Yoruba rhythms, and African drums, making them dialogue with jazz, gospel, soul, funk, and Afro-Caribbean traditions. More than a nostalgic evocation of the past, it is a celebration of a memory that remains alive, transforming and transmitting itself from one generation to another. The repertoire also…

MADRID.– The Spanish government reiterated on Monday that it had no intelligence report predicting the magnitude of the migration crisis in Ceuta, amid the controversy sparked in the country after reports published by local media claiming that the National Intelligence Center (CNI) issued several alerts to the Ministry of the Interior. "There was no report warning of the magnitude of the situation we had to respond to," declared government spokesperson Elma Saiz in statements to the public TV channel TVE's program "Mañaneros." Responding to a question about a possible "failure of Spanish intelligence services," Saiz insisted that "something so unprecedented was not at all foreseen," referring to the wave of more than 50,000 migrants who arrived at the Spanish enclave in North Africa last Thursday. The spokesperson defended the actions of the government of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, arguing that the "unprecedented response" to the crisis "was given in 48 hours," with the return of most migrants to their countries of origin, "which would not have been possible without Morocco's cooperation." Intelligence services under scrutiny According to reports from El País and Cadena SER, citing official sources familiar with the matter, Spanish intelligence services had concluded that Morocco did not plan the crossing m…

The hard-right Reform UK party unveiled plans on Monday for, if it wins power, “the largest military operation” in the Channel “since World War II” to stop migrants crossing on small boats. The proposal – which experts and other political parties promptly rubbished – comes days after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco, reigniting Europe’s debate over irregular migration. “What happened in Ceuta over the weekend shows you just...

The arrival of 60,000 people into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco last week has created serious tensions within the EU over immigration. Spain has called for a meeting of EU interior ministers which is due to take place Tuesday.

After participating in the Public Security Committee at the La Moneda Palace, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Fernando Rabat, addressed the scope of the project that seeks to create an agency to manage the seized assets of criminals. According to the Secretary of State in El Mercurio, the initiative aims to "give a punch to organized crime," by directly intervening in the assets of criminal organizations. The goal would be to allocate the resources obtained from seizures to strengthen the operational capacities of the institutions that combat crime. Additionally, a special fund is sought to be created for victim reparations. In this context, Rabat explained that "what is being studied and analyzed is to generate an institution that, regarding those assets that come from a crime, can be liquidated as quickly as possible." "Additionally, the analysis also includes the destruction of all these assets, for example, drugs, cigarettes, illegal alcohol, and also generating a fund for victim reparations," he stated. The minister assured that "a very interesting project has been proposed that we are analyzing, studying, and developing to present as soon as possible." In response to opposition voices suggesting that the measure include the lifting of bank secrecy, the minister said that this discussion "does not...

Lost in the furious response from EU leaders accusing Spain of gross negligence by allowing the storming of the EU border in Ceuta last Thursday (30 July), a Spanish enclave on the African continent next to Morocco, is the damage that this could do to EU relations with Rabat. Though Spain is facing most of the anger from EU members for the mass border crossing, Morocco’s own standing with the EU has been badly damaged. The crossing is the most serious crisis at the Spanish enclaves on the African continent since 2021. An estimated 60,000 migrants crossed into Spanish territory, a process that left a death toll of more than 70 on Monday (3 August). Read more Mass sea crossings to Spain’s Ceuta enclave prompt EU anti-migrant panic The 2021 crisis was deliberately caused by Morocco opening the border at Ceuta – a retaliation against Spain after Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, the political arm of the Sahrawi independence movement, traveled to Spain in an Algerian jet on an Algerian diplomatic passport to be treated for coronavirus. Five years on, Morocco has positioned itself as the EU’s most “key and trusted” ally on trade, counter-terrorism and migration control and it is hard to see why they would jeopardize this. Morocco’s latest PR triumph was in getting Christopher Nolan to film part of his Hollywood epic based on Homer’s Odyssey in the sand dunes of Dakhla in Western Sahara, part of a push to make Western Sahara a tourist destination. Rea…

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sought to smooth over tensions with Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused many of his fellow EU leaders of exploiting the migration crisis in Ceuta to attack his government. In a letter sent to Sánchez on Monday, von der Leyen praised Spain’s handling of the influx of migrants from Morocco into its North African exclave. Her response came after Sánchez wrote to her over the weekend, condemning leaders who “have chosen to attack Spain and to call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday was the first to propose Spain be suspended from the 29-country Schengen zone in which internal border controls have largely been abolished. Italy and France both imposed restrictions on free movement last week. Around 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco last week, with dozens dying in the attempt. Almost all those who entered have since returned to Morocco. Von der Leyen on Monday praised the “swift handling” of returns by Spanish and Moroccan authorities, saying they had “successfully prevent[ed] illegal movement onwards to mainland Spain and Europe.” The exchange followed a joint letter from 22 EU leaders at the weekend calling for an emergency meeting of interior ministers and a tougher, coordinated response to the crisis. That meeting will take place on Tuesday, with EU ambassadors discussing the situation on Monday afternoon. The intervention by EU leaders opened a new political fight over Spain’s migration policy, including Madrid’s plan to regularize more than 1 million undocumented migrants. Some governments argued that the measure created a “pull factor” by encouraging people to believe that irregular entry could eventually lead to legal residency. Sánchez rejected that criticism in his letter, accusing some EU countries of responding in a “selfish,” “polarizing” and unlawful manner. He argued that Spain needed European solidarity rather than blame after the deaths and the strain placed on Ceuta’s authorities. The Spanish government refused to comment for this article. Von der Leyen’s letter offered that solidarity while making clear that the crisis would also have to prompt stronger EU action. “Migration is a European challenge that requires a European response,” she wrote. “And in this, solidarity is fundamental.” The Commission, she said, had offered Spain financial and operational support, with Frontex, Europol and the EU asylum agency ready to assist. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner on Friday told Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska that the bloc was willing to “increase support for Spain” to “control the situation,” and to deploy members of Frontex, the EU agency that supports member countries in monitoring and managing the EU’s external borders, to Ceuta. Frontex currently has staff deployed in Ceuta, as well as on the Canary Islands and parts of the Andalusian coastline. An official watches as people gather at the border between Morocco and Spain on July 31, 2026. | Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP via Getty Images Madrid has repeatedly declined to request that the agency’s presence in Spain be increased, insisting that border control falls under the jurisdiction of national authorities. Following a surge in migrant arrivals to Ceuta in 2021, and an increase in arrivals to the Canary Islands in 2024, Spain’s interior ministry rejected calls to ask for Frontex’s support, insisting it had sufficient resources to manage the situation. ‘We must do more’ Von der Leyen said the incident had exposed weaknesses in the bloc’s border management. “It is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points,” the Commission president wrote, including through “vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed.” She outlined five priorities: preventing irregular migration through stronger cooperation with partner countries, reinforcing the EU’s external borders, establishing early-warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and improving returns. Morocco, she said, remained an “important strategic partner” in combating migrant smuggling and irregular migration. The EU should work with Rabat and Madrid to improve early-warning systems around Ceuta and Melilla, as well as technical and financial support for Morocco, she said. Von der Leyen also endorsed the emergency meeting of the EU’s justice and home affairs ministers on Tuesday, describing it as a first step toward a collective response. The ministers should agree on a way forward before EU leaders assess the measures at their next European Council meeting, she said. “Spain and its people can count on the enduring support of the Commission,” von der Leyen concluded.

EL Pais noted that the crisis in Ceuta caught Madrid off guard, as the government was focused on fighting forest fires at the time

According to Ceuta's head of government Juan Jesus Vivas, the situation has not yet completely returned to normal

Malaysia’s call for major powers to apply international law “consistently, not selectively” could signal growing regional unease with how big players are seen to invoke rules only when convenient. Defense Minister Khaled Nordin delivered the message on Monday at the 37th International Military Law and Operations Conference in Kuala Lumpur, where he said major powers had a special responsibility to uphold global stability without bending the rules to suit their interests. “Malaysia sees you as...

Stuart Norval is pleased to welcome Camille Le Coz, Director at Migration Policy Institute Europe. Le Coz offers a nuanced interpretation of the recent events in Ceuta that challenges the dominant political narratives emerging across Europe. She shifts attention away from emotionally charged images toward the structural forces shaping migration: demographic pressures in North Africa, labour shortages in Europe, the role of smuggling networks amplified by social media, and the enduring tendency of migration crises to become instruments of domestic political competition. In doing so, she offers a reminder that Europe's migration debate is often driven less by the movement of people itself than by competing political narratives about what those movements represent.

On August 2, the Spanish government’s press office reported 72 fatalities, and the Moroccan authorities reported 11 deaths

The European Union will hold an emergency video conference meeting of national ministers on Tuesday to discuss the mass migrant crossings into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

Morocco on Sunday said 11 people died trying to reach Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta this week as the country's interior ministry blamed the sudden surge on the "spread of misleading information" on social media. Morocco’s figure is significantly lower than the death toll issued by Spain, which says at least 72 people died.

Moroccan migrants described their despair at their economic future, explaining what propelled them across the border with Spain.

Rabat reported 11 migrant deaths after thousands crossed into Ceuta, starkly contrasting with Spain’s toll of at least 72. The surge sparked EU diplomatic tension over Spanish border policy.

Italy's proposal for centers in safe countries. The Pope: 'Find justice solutions'

The death toll from Thursday’s mass rush into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco reached at least 72 on Sunday as five more bodies were found along Ceuta’s coast, officials said. More than 50,000 people crossed ‌into Ceuta by land and sea in an unprecedented surge that began on Thursday at one of the European Union’s only two land borders with Africa, prompting alarm across the bloc. More than 48,000 returned to Morocco within 48 hours and more again over the weekend, Spanish...

The Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Fernando Rabat, referred this Sunday to the National Search Plan and addressed the project announced by the government of José Antonio Kast to modify the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH). Regarding the case of Bernarda Vera, who remained on the lists of disappeared detainees for 51 years before information about her presence in Argentina was known, he stated that it was "a success insofar as it fulfills an objective." "It also shows that when we talk about strengthening and eliminating any doubt regarding these situations, we must strengthen the search plan to also achieve that goal," he said. Regarding the administrative summary opened by the government to clarify the situation, Rabat indicated that "it seems to us that more than two years have passed during which there is a situation that generates uncertainty, that generates doubt, and that was not properly addressed." The minister also defended that the review of the lists is part of the objectives of the National Search Plan. "Within the plan, it is also about ensuring certainty that the people listed are correctly classified as disappeared," he said. Furthermore, Rabat assured that the government currently has no information about new cases similar to Vera's, although he did not rule out that "after strengthening the Search Plan and investigations..."

Five more bodies have been found along Ceuta's coastline as enclave recovers from unprecedented border influx.

While 50,000 people, mostly young Moroccans, rushed to the Spanish enclave on Thursday and Friday, Ceuta now stands deserted, with most would-be exiles having turned back.

Families search for children not seen since 60,000 people crossed into Spanish enclave, as death toll rises to 72

Ceuta was returning to normal over the weekend after an unprecedented migrant surge that saw up to 60,000 people enter the tiny Spanish exclave from Morocco in just two days. But with at least 72 migrants dead and most arrivals having already returned to Morocco, residents were still grappling with the humanitarian, political and social fallout.

In joint letter, 22 member states call for 'strengthening of external borders' after nearly 60,000 migrants enter Ceuta.

This weekend, thousands of Moroccans attempted to reach the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta.

Anti-immigration campaigners were set to hold a rally in the Spanish territory to call for tougher action, after thousands of migrants entered the exclave last week.

At the EU summit on Ceuta, also the proposal to tighten the GSP+ program on tariffs.

Spain has installed a 500-metre-long sea barrier between its North African enclave of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco. It comes after tens of thousands of migrants breached the border earlier this week, with at least 67 people dying in the attempt. While most of those who crossed quickly returned to Morocco, the incident has reignited the immigration debate in Europe and beyond. The EU is due to hold an emergency video conference on the issue on Tuesday. Charlotte Hughes reports.

Italy has reintroduced checks on travellers arriving from Spain after the Ceuta crisis. ID checks are carried out at Italian ports and airports for non-EU citizens; here is how.

Most of the people who surged into Spain on Thursday have since returned to Morocco. A small minority are holed up on a seafront, tired, hungry and vowing to stay.

Spain installed the 500-meter-long barrier on Saturday in response to the tens of thousands of migrants who had suddenly rushed en masse to the country's North African territory earlier this week.

Tens of thousands of migrants briefly cross into Spain's north African territory of Ceuta from Morocco.

The European Union (EU) will hold an extraordinary videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, according to Italy's ANSA news agency on Saturday. The announcement was made by Micheal Martin, the Irish prime minister whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, following calls from Spain and a 22-country initiative led by Italy and Denmark for a coordinated European response to the migrant crisis. Italy and Denmark on Saturday spearheaded a joint initiative calling for a coordinated European response to recent developments at the EU's external border in Ceuta, according to a statement released by the Italian government. The letter, signed by the leaders of 22 European countries, was sent to top EU officials. It expressed "serious concern" over the situation in Ceuta and stressed the need to prevent uncontrolled irregular crossings, combat migrant trafficking networks, eliminate factors that may incentivize new illegal entries and ensure a unified and effective European response. "We are determined to prevent smugglers from challenging the integrity of the Union's external borders," the letter said. "We have a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration by coordinating our action, strengthening our external borders and addressing all policies that can serve as pull factors, such as the regularization of a very large number of irregular migrants," the letter added. On the same day, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also called on the EU to convene an extraordinary meeting to coordinate a common response to the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, while criticizing what he described as the "selfish" attitude of some member states. Sanchez said around 50,000 migrants had entered Ceuta irregularly, but Spain restored control of the border in less than 48 hours, provided humanitarian assistance, returned virtually all of those who had crossed illegally and prevented any unauthorized onward movement to mainland Europe. He said these efforts were made possible through close cooperation with Moroccan authorities and the support of other EU member states. He also highlighted Spain's long-standing migration policy, which he said had made the country one of the EU's most secure external borders. Sanchez also said that while most EU governments had expressed solidarity and offered assistance, others had chosen to "attack Spain" and call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area. The latest developments came after one of the largest irregular migration incidents on Spain's southern border in recent years. According to the Spanish government, at least 67 people died during the crisis, while more than 48,000 of the nearly 50,000 migrants who entered Ceuta returned to neighboring Morocco. Read more: Why Ceuta is at the center of a migration surge

SIR DIRECTOR: Unions, by insisting on ignoring the productivity problem of public hospitals, documented for 32 years, do not defend the public system; they undermine it. It affects 87% of Chileans, especially the most vulnerable. We care as much about what is invested in health as about what is obtained from that investment. Beyond each country's expenditure, resources will always be scarce, so efficiency and productivity will always be necessary. It is also not correct to claim that the crisis of the Isapres, with 914,000 fewer beneficiaries in six years, left a younger and healthier portfolio. According to the ISP UNAB report of April 2025, the portfolio aged more than 8 percentage points and became more sinister. Public healthcare production grew 25.3% between 2019 and 2025, from 154.6 to 193.7 million services. But professional staff increased by 96%, hospitalization days decreased by 2.7%, and specialty consultations fell by 3.3%. Diagnostic and laboratory tests, which are less labor-intensive, now account for 80% of all healthcare activity, compared to 40% in Isapres. In 2025, diagnostic and laboratory tests totaled 156.2 million, an anomalous figure when compared to the rest of the public healthcare activity. In the private system, despite the incentives for overconsumption that characterize it, this type of service occupies a much smaller place within the total. That is where the confusion lies…

The former minister and founder of Sant'Egidio: "I do not see the need for the Italian blockade. In 2023, in Lampedusa, the EU was supportive."

The former High Representative: "Meloni's letter and the others are dangerous. The right tries to create fears and provoke fractures"

Soldiers round up Moroccans hoping to remain in the enclave in the face of local opposition

What caused more than 50,000 migrants to storm a Spanish enclave in Africa, and did Israel have anything to do with it?

There have been tense exchanges between Spain and other EU states over the influx of migrants into the enclave of Ceuta.

The Spanish authorities said on Saturday that they were installing a floating barrier on the sea border between  its North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco, after a surge of tens of thousands of migrants into the territory earlier in the week provoked alarm across the European Union.