French authorities arrested 26 people and seized 11 million euros ($12 million) as they smashed a migrant trafficking ring suspected of bringing several thousand people from South Asia into France, border police told AFP on Thursday.
Mauritanian police have reportedly arrested 125 Pakistani migrants who were trying to cross to Spain's Canary Islands. The northwestern African country has again become a crucial launchpad for migrants aiming for Europe.
The UK has agreed several deals with Iraq to return migrants and combat people smuggling. It is seen as a big step towards fulfilling the British prime minister’s pledge to "smash the gangs" operating abroad.
Starting at midnight on November 27, Lampedusa saw the arrival of 12 boats, bringing a total of 465 migrants to the island in just one day.
Milan has a new center for migrants, the Milano Welcome Center, which will be a unique point of access to services for those who just arrived in town and have been granted international protection.