Immigration

Migrant crossings into Europe spiked in May: report The number of migrants seeking to enter the EU tripled in May compared to the previous month. It's a sign traffic along Europe's migration routes is picking up again after a lull brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Deutsche Welle) European border agency Frontex recorded a sharp increase in migrants hoping to enter the EU last month, German media reported Sunday. The spike comes after coronavirus lockdowns and widespread border closures cut the number of potential asylum-seekers able to reach […]

Clothing

Protesters gather to oppose religious symbols ban, one year after Bill 21 became law Law bans wearing of religious symbols such as a hijab or kippah by public servants in positions of authority

(CBC) Dozens of people gathered outside Quebec Premier François Legault’s Montreal office on Sunday to stage a sit-in, in opposition to the province’s ban on religious symbols that became law one year ago. The most controversial section of the law, known as […]

Academics & Education

FGM declining in Finland, school health survey suggests Eighty out of over 35,000 girls who responded to the survey said they had been subjected to female genital mutilation.

(Yle) Some 80 girls in Finland reported having undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), according to a school health survey by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL. The agency’s 2019 school health survey asked over 35,000 girls in upper secondary and […]

Government & Politics

Coronavirus: Experts warn of bioterrorism after pandemic The Council of Europe has warned of a potential increase in the use of biological weapons, like viruses or bacterias, in a post-coronavirus world. Terrorists would not forget 'lessons learned' during the pandemic.

(Deutsche Welle) Security experts from the Council of Europe have warned that the global coronavirus outbreak may increase the use of biological weapons by terrorists in the future. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable modern society is to viral infections and […]

Government & Politics

Over 100 ‘Islamic State’ fighters return to Germany Authorities say a third of Islamic State fighters who left Germany for Syria have since returned. Germany is taking a 'holistic approach' in dealing with ex-jihadi fighters, including deradicalization and reintegration.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that over 100 members of the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) terrorist group have returned to the country following the jihadi [network’s] failed incursions in Iraq and Syria. “Security authorities obtained knowledge that they actively engaged […]

Legal

EU agency wants ‘IS’ returnees charged with war crimes A new report from an EU-backed genocide investigation body says adding war crimes and genocide to terrorism charges for 'IS' fighters returning to the EU will lead to tougher sentences and 'more justice' for victims.

(Deutsche Welle) Former “Islamic State” (IS) fighters who returned to Europe from conflicts in Iraq and Syria should be charged with war crimes along with terrorism, said a report released Saturday by the EU-backed “Genocide Network.” According to the network, many so-called […]