Migration crisis, terrorism top Hollande, Merkel meeting

Migration and terrorism were the hot topics of discussion at the 18th Franco-German summit in Metz, France where French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Thursday to boost bilateral ties.

Wanted migrants pose threat to Sweden

Scores of migrants in Sweden pose a security threat to the country, its security service said on Thursday.

Return of irregular migrants to be carried out with legal safeguards - EU

The European Commission on Wednesday stressed that the return of irregular migrants, and asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected, can only be carried out in respect of European and international law.

EU asylum system must be replaced - Swedish PM

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Wednesday called for a common asylum system in the European Union (EU).

German parliament passes stricter asylum laws

The Bundestag, or lower house of the German parliament, passed on Thursday a package of new regulations to tighten asylum rules in an effort to deal with an unprecedented influx of refugees.

UN refugee agency concerned about European restrictive practices

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) was concerned about restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries over refugees and asylum-seekers, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.

Australians rally against removal of asylum seekers

 Dozens of rallies have taken place across Australia as protesters called on the government to stop the deportation of scores of asylum seekers after a failed legal challenge in the High Court last week.

UN agency urges Australia to refrain from transferring individuals to Nauru

The spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville, on Wednesday said the organization was very concerned about the situation of the 267 people at risk of being transferred from Australia to Nauru following the High Court's decision delivered this morning in Canberra.

Japan rejected 99 percent of refugees in 2015

Japan rejected 99 per cent of asylum applications last year, accepting only 27 refugees, government figures have shown.

The country's justice ministry said on Saturday it received a record 7,586 asylum applications in 2015, up 50 percent compared to the year before.

Austria sets limit on 2016 asylum seeker numbers at 37,500

Austrian federal, state, and local council leaders met to discuss the refugee crisis at a summit in Vienna on Wednesday, deciding to set a limit on the intake of asylum seekers at 37,500 for 2016.

Germany sends migrants back to Austria

Germany is turning back more migrants at its border with Austria, particularly those from Afghanistan who Germany insists do not qualify for asylum, Austrian authorities said January 11.

Turkey mistreated scores of migrants, says Amnesty

Turkey has detained and mistreated scores of migrants, pressuring some to return to war zones, a new report by Amnesty International says.

Over 300,000 refugees without asylum in Germany

More than 300,000 refugees currently living in Germany have not yet submitted an application for asylum as the German authorities are overloaded, German media Focus Online reported on Thursday.

HRW report reveals ordeals faced by Syrian asylum seekers attempting to enter Turkey

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Monday documenting accounts of Syrian asylum seekers attempting to enter Turkey to flee violence in their war-torn country.

EU ‘late to support Turkey on migrants issue’

The European Union’s offer of funds to Turkey as part of a plan to deal with the refugee crisis should have been made a long time ago, European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri has told Anadolu Agency.

Austria to adopt Stricter asylum policy in mid-November

The Austrian government is to implement tougher asylum laws starting mid-November that include a "timed asylum" measure along with toughened family reunification rules.

Human Rights group alleges Australia paid people smugglers

Almost six months after the Australian government was accused of paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, a London-based human rights group has taken out advertisements in Australian newspapers to underline the claims.

Iraqi refugees protest against Finland's suspension of granting asylum

A group of Iraqi refugees staged a demonstration in the Finnish capital of Helsinki on Monday to protest against Finland's freezing granting asylum to Iraqi and Somali applicants.

Refugee crisis: Bavaria threatens Merkel with constitutional challenge

The southern German state of Bavaria threatens German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the refugee crisis with a constitutional challenge, announced by the State Chancellery in Munich on Friday after a meeting of the cabinet.

EU set to step up illegal immigrant deportations

European Union governments are set to agree to step up deportations of illegal immigrants among the hundreds of thousands who have failed to win asylum as they try to cope with a surge in refugees from war-torn Syria.