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• Spain has requested assistance from the European Commission, specifically seeking support from Frontex and Europol to screen migrants staying irregularly in Ceuta. • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that an inquiry into the recent surge of migrants is ongoing and accused far-right groups of spreading "fake" information regarding the situation. • The move highlights the growing pressure on Spain's North African exclaves to manage irregular migration flows while maintaining security.

Christian Drogan crossed the channel in a small boat from France into England for a TalkTV documentaryRupert Murdoch’s online channel TalkTV is facing criticism after it did not disclose that a journalist who travelled to Britain in a small boat for a documentary was a Reform party member and activist.The channel revealed the “world exclusive” this week, stating that the treacherous journey had made the former builder turned journalist Christian Drogan the first British man “to invade his own country”. Continue reading...

City residents had accused council of giving ‘free rein’ to campaign promoting England flags Birmingham city council is seeking an injunction to stop members of an anti-migrant group from erecting flags, including union jack and St George’s flags, on public infrastructure across the city.A nationwide campaign to give prominence to the England flag, which resulted in thousands of St George’s crosses being flown from lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure, is believed to have started last summer in Birmingham. Continue reading...

All US immigrant visa applications halted as state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access. Plus tributes pour in for Dolly Parton, who has died aged 80Good morning. All US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants whom they deem could need US assistance. The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August.Applicants with scheduled interviews were sent emails that their appointments had been canceled. Agency officials claim this will ensure visa applicants will not end up relying on US public benefits. This week the Trump administration also announced plans to revoke visas from asylum seekers who had initially entered the US for tourism or business. Up to 200,000 people seeking asylum could be affected.Is the move lawful? “The court made clear that immigration laws cannot be used to justify discrimination,” Joanna Cuevas Ingram, a senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, said. In February, a federal judge overturned the president’s attempt to suspend the US refugee system entirely.Why are the states suing Meta? The lawsuit centers on the allegations that Meta deliberately designed addictive products that hooked young people, leading to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and suicide. Meta has denied all allegations, saying the states are chasing an “outlandish payout”. Continue reading...

Trump administration has moved away from high-profile, militarized raids as its deportation spree has ramped upThe Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July, according to newly released government data – apprehending an average of 1,500 people and removing 1,100 people daily.This latest data confirms what attorneys and immigrant advocates have been seeing across the US – although the administration has moved away from the high-profile, militarized raids that came to define its immigration enforcement approach last year, it is quietly ramping up its operations. Continue reading...

Move by state department to limit access is part of Trump’s crackdown on both lawful and undocumented immigrationAll US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants who they deem could end up relying on US assistance, a state department official confirmed Tuesday.The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August, according to the official and visa appointments had to be adjusted to accommodate “in-depth training”, according to the official. The state department has been working on updated guidance and training since early this year, “to ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently”, they added. Continue reading...

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously championed a hardline EU policy focused on the "return" of irregular migrants to externalize border controls. • The strategy is now backfiring as other EU member states are increasingly invoking the "first-arrival principle" to request that Italy take back migrants. • This shift highlights a growing tension within the EU regarding the shared responsibility of migrant distribution and border management.

Pima county figures show highest number of monthly migrant deaths in two years as critics condemn US policyAccording to newly released data from the medical examiner’s office in Pima county, Arizona, the remains of 19 migrants, including children, were recovered along the Arizona-Mexico border last month.The figure accounts for the highest number of monthly deaths in that area since 2024 and brings the number of total remains found to 73 this year, 14 more than the same time period last year. Continue reading...

Agreement is among largest third-country deportations driven by Trump administration’s immigration crackdown The United States sent 20 deportees to Liberia, who arrived on Thursday as part of 1,200 migrants that the African country will receive under a new deal.The deportees arrived at the Roberts international airport outside Monrovia. The Liberia-US agreement is among the largest third-country deportations driven by the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. Continue reading...

Trump administration put sanctions on the international criminal court’s president and a senior trial lawyerThe international criminal court on Wednesday condemned the latest US sanctions targeting senior ICC staff, including its president, as a “flagrant attack” on the global tribunal’s independence and vowed to continue seeking justice for atrocities around the world.The state department announced Tuesday that it had hit ICC president Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and ICC senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, who is from Senegal, with sanctions that freeze any assets they have in US jurisdictions or come into contact with the US financial system. Continue reading...

Dozens of non-profit groups urge Labor not to limit work rights for temporary migrants. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJoyce says One Nation are ‘not homophobes’, but won’t be seen at Mardi GrasOne Nation leader Barnaby Joyce says his party are not homophobes, but will absolutely not attend a Mardi Gras event.Everybody’s trying to make us as a pack of homophobes, which we’re not. It’s just ridiculous. And we’re not racist, we’re not homophobes, but we always get these tropes thrown at us …You can absolutely bet I would not go to the Mardi Gras. But that’s my business, and we just want you to live your own life.This is not the Australia we want to be and it is not the answer to the growing challenges facing our community. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Uran Ferizi says arrivals fell sharply after short-lived influx, but country continues to be stigmatisedThe number of Albanians who travelled to Britain in small boats four years ago remains the focus of “unhinged” and “hysterical” criticisms from rightwing politicians and the media, according to the country’s UK ambassador.Uran Ferizi said the influx of more than 12,000 people from the Balkan state in 2022 was “real”, “exceptional” and “short-lived”, but the Albanian community in the UK was still being framed by those events by Reform UK and the Daily Telegraph. Continue reading...

• Spain has implemented border controls on travelers arriving from Italy following a diplomatic dispute triggered by a border rush in Ceuta. • The move follows a failed ultimatum from Madrid demanding that Rome halt its own entry checks on non-EU nationals arriving from Spain. • Italy has rejected Spain's demands, stating it will not accept "ultimatums" and will maintain its suspension of Schengen rules until at least August 15.

• EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen has initiated talks with major tech companies to address the spread of misinformation during a recent migrant influx at Ceuta. • The misinformation campaign coincided with diplomatic tensions, as Spain and Morocco exchanged blame over the crisis. • Moroccan authorities claim a Spanish Supreme Court ruling was misrepresented on social media and exploited by human traffickers to fuel the influx.

Documents published on US embassy’s website prompt claims of attempt to export Maga propaganda to UKThe US embassy in London is offering grants of up to half a million dollars for new “public education” programmes in what has been criticised as interference in British domestic politics.Using language that the pro-Trump Maga movement has sought to appropriate, a funding notice identifies a goal of fostering a “national conversation” about “shared civilizational values” underpinning US-UK ties. Priority will go to applicants aiming to celebrate “freedom of speech” and “limited government”. Continue reading...

• Spain has issued an ultimatum to Italy following a diplomatic dispute over the potential suspension of Schengen Zone open-border policies. • The conflict stems from the ongoing migrant crisis in Ceuta, leading to a "war of words" between the two European Union member states. • Under current regulations, Schengen members are permitted to temporarily reintroduce border controls if there are significant security or public-order concerns.

• NASA successfully executed a risky "Big Bang" energy-saving maneuver on the Voyager 2 spacecraft, extending its operational power for another year. • The 50-year-old probe is running low on power for its science instruments as it continues its journey through interstellar space. • This success provides a critical proof-of-concept for NASA engineers seeking to prolong the mission of the twin spacecraft.

Expansion of immigration enforcement at US airports puts employees at odds with agents seeking 2,000 daily arrests A dramatic increase in immigration enforcement at US airports has reportedly placed the airline industry at odds with the Trump administration as workers decline to help federal officials arrest their targets – many of whom have pending applications for visas, asylum or green cards.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – both part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – have expanded their collaboration to make as many as three dozen daily arrests at US airports last month, the Wall Street Journal reported. Continue reading...

Shift in monitoring methods has led to revenue boost for Geo Group, a private prison firm, that also makes the deviceThe US is tracking nearly 54,000 immigrants through GPS-enabled ankle monitors as part of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) electronic surveillance program, according to private prison corporation The Geo Group. Early last year, just 17,000 immigrants were wearing the devices..The Geo Group owns BI Inc, the company that runs ICE’s intensive supervision appearance program (ISAP), and reported the numbers in its earnings call on Thursday. Continue reading...

• The European Commission is currently in discussions with Spanish officials to provide additional financial support for the city of Ceuta. • This funding is intended to bolster border security forces and increase humanitarian assistance following an unprecedented surge of migrant arrivals. • The measure is critical as Ceuta struggles to manage the logistical and humanitarian aftermath of the record-breaking influx of people.

• The August 2026 Startup Grants in Europe report highlights top non-dilutive funding options designed to help startups extend their financial runway and scale without giving up equity. • Successful applications in 2026 are characterized by strong evidence, plain-language writing, alignment with policy goals, and clear budget logic, while buzzword-heavy decks are likely to fail. • This guidance is critical for founders seeking to reduce dilution and improve their chances of securing government or institutional grants across Europe, including specific regions like Spain and Belgium.

Iran players stayed in country after Asian Cup in MarchDuo condemned as traitors in Iran for not singing anthemTwo former Iranian footballers said on Thursday they were “proud” to have been granted Australian citizenship after being called traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game.Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection after the high-profile protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March. Continue reading...

• EU interior ministers met on Tuesday to demand tougher action against migrant smuggling networks and the implementation of stronger return policies. • The emergency meeting follows a massive surge last week where approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. • The crisis resulted in at least 75 deaths due to drowning and crushing during the chaotic crossings, sparking alarm across the 27-member bloc.

• EU Migration Commissioner Gunnar Brunner criticized Spain's plan to regularize undocumented migrants, stating that such a scheme sends a "not a good signal" to the rest of Europe. • The comments follow a crisis meeting in Ceuta and a decision by Italy to reintroduce air and sea border checks with Spain for one month. • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned Italy's border restrictions, claiming they were driven by "prejudice, fake news, ignorance and political interest."

Ruling vacates convictions of founder Stewart Rhodes and other militia members who took part in 2021 Capitol attackA US judge on Tuesday granted the justice department’s bid to dismiss cases against ‌members of the rightwing Oath Keepers militia who took part in the January 6 2021 attack ​on the US Capitol, according to a ​court filing.The ruling from Washington-based US district judge Amit Mehta tosses out convictions ​of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and other ​members of the group who were convicted of seditious conspiracy for plotting to stop the transfer of ​power after Donald Trump lost the ​2020 election. Continue reading...

• Spain successfully returned approximately 70,000 of the 72,000 migrants who illegally entered Ceuta last week back to Morocco. • Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Grande-Marlaska defended the operation, stating that the Schengen zone remained secure despite criticism from some European governments. • EU officials, including Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bødskov, commended Spain's "swift response" while emphasizing the critical need for stricter EU border controls.

• Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska provided updated estimates on migrants who entered Ceuta last week as the Spanish government approves millions in funding to manage the crisis. • During emergency talks on Tuesday, EU ministers discussed the situation, with Denmark and Italy specifically pushing for more stringent migration measures. • Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov called for increased EU funding for border security to prevent a recurrence of the 2015-16 migration crisis, which saw over a million refugees enter Europe.

Migration commissioner says scheme regularising undocumented people ‘not a good signal’ for EuropeExplainer: Why is Ceuta a migration flashpoint?The EU’s top official on migration has criticised Spain’s plan to regularise undocumented migrants as “not a good signal” for Europe, after an emergency meeting intended to draw a line under divisions on the Ceuta crisis.Magnus Brunner, the European commissioner for migration, said that while the EU could not currently see a direct link between events in Ceuta and Spain’s regularisation plan, the policy was “definitely not a good signal for the rest of Europe”. Continue reading...