French gov't presents new migration, asylum rules amid criticism

French government on Wednesday unveiled a new bill to better handle migration crisis and asylum requests, saying it would balance between efficiency and humanity amid growing critics from human rights groups and even from its ranks.

EU Says Asylum Numbers Dropped by Almost Half in 2017

The European Union's asylum agency said the number of people seeking international protection in Europe in 2017 dropped by almost half compared to the year before and that most applicants were Syrian.

Afghan Asylum-Seeker Tried for Killing Christian Woman Who Converted in Germany

The asylum seeker attacked the Afghan woman and stabbed her with a 20-centimeter knife 16 times near a supermarket in the German city of Prien.

Ousted Catalan leader in Brussels to apply for political asylum: media

Ousted Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont, as well as five of his advisers, is in Belgium, amidst speculation he could apply for political asylum, local media reported on Monday.

Germany expels 14 Afghans amid protests

Germany expelled 14 rejected Afghan asylum seekers, the interior ministry said Wednesday, amid angry protests that the war-ravaged country is unsafe for returnees.

Poll shows majority of Germans want cap on refugees

A majority of Germans want a cap on the number of asylum seekers taken in each year, according to the results of a poll published on Friday by German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

European nations urged to stop repatriating Afghans to their 'deeply unsafe' home country

Amnesty International has urged European nations to stop sending Afghans who do not qualify for asylum back to their "deeply unsafe" home country. The human rights group says the policy risks causing serious harm to those affected.

Germany resumes expulsions of failed asylum seekers to war-torn Afghanistan

Eight Afghans expelled from Germany arrived in Kabul on Wednesday as Berlin resumed deportations of rejected asylum seekers from the war-torn country months after suspending the process when a huge truck bomb hit the Afghan capital.

Dozens of asylum seekers in northern Finland cross border into Sweden

During a demonstration staged by a group of frustrated asylum seekers in Finnish border town of Tornio on Tuesday, 55 of the demonstrators crossed the border into the Swedish side.

France to establish asylum checks in Libya

France will establish reception centers in Libya to check the eligibility of asylum seekers risking their lives to reach Europe across the Mediterranean, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

UN chief asked developed countries to shelter more refugees

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday asked developed countries to provide shelter for more refugees and to share the responsibility with developing countries that are hosting 80 percent of the world refugees.

Rome's 5-Star mayor calls to halt migrants' flow into city

Rome mayor Virginia Raggi, a prominent member of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, has asked the government not to send any more asylum seekers to the capital, saying it is already groaning under the strain.

Germany Cancels Flight Deporting Migrants to Afghanistan after Blast: Media

The German government has cancelled a flight planned for Wednesday to deport rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan after an explosion killed at least 80 people in the Afghan capital Kabul, broadcaster ARD cited the interior minister as saying.

Austrian Parliament passes burqa ban

Austria's parliament voted to ban women from wearing full face coverings in public, part of a package of reforms aimed at integrating Muslim asylum seekers.

Germany sees fewer voluntary refugee departures in Q1 2017

Significantly fewer rejected asylum seekers voluntarily departed Germany in the first quarter of 2017, data showed on Thursday.

Berlin Halts Refugee Transfers to Hungary over Conditions

Germany said Tuesday it is refraining from transferring asylum seekers to Hungary under EU rules until Budapest gives assurances that the migrants would not be systematically detained.

Over half of Germans believe limit for asylum seekers reached: study

Around 54 percent of Germans believe that their country has reached its limit in terms of the acceptance of refugees, according to a recent survey by the Bertelsmann foundation.

Asylum-seekers entering Hungary to be detained in shipping containers

Asylum-seekers entering Hungary, as well as those currently in the country, are to be confined in camps composed of converted shipping containers while their applications are processed.

Supporters, opponents of asylum seekers protest in Helsinki

Demonstrations of supporters and opponents of asylum seekers in downtown Helsinki went peacefully on Saturday, although police warned of possible skirmishes in advance.

Germany to Send Home More Rejected Asylum Seekers

Germany will speed up expulsions of rejected asylum seekers under measures agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet Wednesday, as controversy rages over sending people back to strife-torn Afghanistan.