United News of Bangladesh

On Monday, the British government highlighted its success in conducting raids on businesses employing unauthorised workers and deporting thousands of migrants without legal status in the UK, reports AP. Described as a “blitz on illegal working,” the initiative is part of the centre-left Labour government’s commitment to reducing immigration—a key concern for many voters—and countering the rising popularity of the hard-right party, Reform UK. Two years on, survivors of Turkish earthquake still struggle with loss and hardship However, for migrant advocacy groups and some Labour Party members, the images evoke uncomfortable memories of a previous Conservative government’s pledge to create a “hostile environment” for illegal migration. This policy resulted in thousands of long-term legal residents being denied housing, employment, or medical care due to difficulties in proving their status. Many were detained or deported to countries they had not visited in decades. The government reported on Monday that immigration enforcement teams have conducted over 5,000 raids since Labour took office in July, targeting businesses such as nail salons, convenience stores, vape shops, restaurants, and car washes. Nearly 4,000 arrests have been made—figures that are notably higher than those recorded under the previous Conservative administration. Additionally, Britain has deported over 16,000 people within the same timeframe. Later on Monday, the government plans to release video footage of migrants being deported, a public relations move that has drawn criticism for being crude and insensitive. Home Office Minister Angela Eagle defended the government’s firm stance, stating: “We must have a system where rules are respected and enforced,” she told the BBC. “It is important to demonstrate what we are doing and to send a clear message to those who may have been misled about what awaits them in the UK if they attempt to enter illegally.” New tough immigration bill set to pass on Monday The government argues that the perception of easy access to employment in Britain acts as a “dangerous pull factor” for migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats. Both UK and French authorities have struggled for years to prevent these perilous crossings, which brought over 38,000 people to Britain in 2024. More than 70 individuals lost their lives attempting the journey. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has equated the criminal networks facilitating these crossings with terrorist organisations, asserting they pose a global security threat. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which faces a crucial parliamentary vote on Monday, introduces new powers, including the ability to confiscate suspected traffickers' phones before their arrest. The bill will also formally repeal the Safety of Rwanda Act, which supported the previous Conservative government’s contentious plan to send some asylum seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda. Starmer dismissed the scheme as an expensive gimmick and scrapped it shortly after taking office. Given Labour’s large parliamentary majority, the new immigration bill is almost certain to pass. However, some remain uneasy. Human rights group Liberty has warned that the bill establishes a “dangerous precedent” by incorporating counterterrorism-style powers for offences unrelated to terrorism. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have criticised the bill as “weak” and unlikely to deter boat crossings. Support for anti-immigrant Reform UK surges Although Labour secured a landslide victory just seven months ago, the government’s approval ratings have declined. Polls indicate growing support for Reform UK, the populist anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage. Despite holding only five seats in the 650-member House of Commons, Reform UK is now polling on par with both Labour and the main opposition Conservatives, even though the next general election is likely four years away. Reform UK’s rise has prompted both Labour and the Conservatives to adopt tougher rhetoric on immigration. However, Rob Ford, a political science professor at the University of Manchester, cautioned that trying to win back Reform UK voters with strong rhetoric on Farage’s key issues is a risky strategy with limited chances of success. 3 Baltic states leave Soviet grid, join European energy network “Labour won last summer with a ruthless focus on uniting a broad coalition around growth, public services, and the cost of living,” he wrote in The Observer. “Shifting the focus to divisive issues that play to Farage’s strengths is not a wise strategy.”

The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania officially severed their electricity links with Russia on Saturday morning, as officials deactivated the Soviet-era grid’s transmission lines in preparation for integration with the European energy network on Sunday, reports AP This marked the end of the Baltics' last connection to oil- and gas-rich Russia, more than thirty years after the Soviet Union's collapse. The transition held profound geopolitical and symbolic significance for both the Baltic states and the rest of Europe. Estonian keen to strengthen ICT collaboration with Bangladesh “The Baltic energy system is finally in our hands; we are in full control,” Lithuania’s Energy Minister, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, told reporters. On Saturday, the final transmission lines linking the Baltic states with Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad—situated between EU members Poland and Lithuania and the Baltic Sea—were switched off one by one. Lithuania led the process, with a specially designed 9-metre (about 29-foot) tall countdown clock in downtown Vilnius marking the final seconds. Latvia followed a few minutes later, with Estonia completing the disconnection. For the first 24 hours after detaching from the Soviet-era grid, the Baltic Power System will function independently. If all goes according to plan, the system will connect with European energy networks on Sunday afternoon via multiple links to Finland, Sweden, and Poland. A ceremony in Vilnius on Sunday evening will be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states, and other dignitaries. The Baltic countries, all NATO members, have had tense relations with Russia since declaring independence from the USSR in 1990. These ties deteriorated further following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In Baltics, Poland, grassroots groups strive to help Ukraine Over the past few years, sixteen power lines that once linked the Baltic states with Russia and Belarus have been dismantled, as a new grid connecting them with the European Union was established, including underwater cables across the Baltic Sea. “This is a physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our dependence on the Russian and Belarusian energy system,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told The Associated Press in a recent interview. The three Baltic states, which share a combined 1,633-kilometre (1,015-mile) border with Russia and Belarus, informed Moscow and Minsk of their disconnection plans in 2024 to mitigate any hostile reactions. “We have a protocol with the Russians detailing how everything should be disconnected,” Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid, stated on Saturday. Leaders of all three countries reassured their citizens that the transition would proceed smoothly, but precautionary measures were taken to counter potential provocations. In Latvia, the National Armed Forces and the National Guard were placed on heightened alert, though no incidents were reported early Saturday. Lithuanian, Latvian presidents discuss maritime border treaty, energy issues Meanwhile, Kaliningrad, which has no direct land connection to mainland Russia, already relies on its own power generation, according to Litgrid.

Two years have passed since a devastating earthquake shattered Turkey’s southern region, but for Omer Aydin and many other of its survivors the memory and the suffering remain fresh. While struggling with a third winter in the cold inside a shipping container-like temporary housing unit, the single father of three is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis that is affecting the whole country as well as still trying to heal the scars from the disaster. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on Feb. 6, 2023, and a second powerful tremor that came hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern Turkish provinces, leaving more than 53,000 people dead. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria. It was one of Turkey’s worst disasters. Aydin, a 51-year-old electrician who survived along with his elderly mother and his children, said sounds from the earthquake still echo in his mind. “The sounds of the homes crashing down, the sounds of the cries for help ... I still shake when they come to my mind,” Aydin told The Associated Press over the phone. The house Aydin shared with his mother and children in the Mediterranean port city of Iskenderun — in the worst-hit province of Hatay — split into two, he said. The family were lucky to get out without injuries, he said, but ended up spending four days in the cold inside a makeshift tent he constructed with plastic sheets and pieces of wood. Aydin now lives in a container home at a temporary housing settlement called a “container city” in Iskenderun but is struggling to make ends meet on a small state pension that he says barely covers anything. Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake in Taiwan Injures 27 He occasionally finds work as an electrician but jobs in Iskenderun are scarce, he says. He is the sole provider for his family. His oldest son, who is 26, is receiving cancer treatment and needs to travel regularly to a hospital in the city of Adana, some 135 kilometers (84 miles) away, adding to the financial burden. His youngest child, a daughter, is at school while his middle son is also unemployed while waiting to start his military service. Life in the container city is a daily struggle, and sanitary conditions can be poor, he says. His family will qualify to receive one of the hundreds of thousands of government houses that are under construction, but Aydin is worried about furnishing it or paying the bills once they move in. “I don’t even own a pin, what will I do once I move in?” he said. On Thursday, special prayers seeking blessings for the dead were recited from mosques, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Survivors visited cemeteries to pay respects to their loved ones, leaving carnations on their graves and offering their condolences to fellow visitors. Mourners held a minute of silence to remember the dead at 04:17 a.m. — the time the earthquake struck. Shouts of “can anyone hear me?” marked the ceremonies, echoing the cries of those who were trapped under the rubble two years ago. In Kahramanmaras, the epicenter of the earthquake, mourners gathered at the site of a large residential complex where several buildings were destroyed, leaving 1,400 people dead. Small scuffles broke out between police and mourners in Antakya, the provincial capital of Hatay, after officers set up barriers to prevent people marching to a main square. The barriers were eventually lifted, allowing mourners to place flowers on the surface of the Orontes River. Attending a commemoration event in the city of Adiyaman, where more than 8,000 people died, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government was aiming to deliver a total of 453,000 homes, shops and other work spaces by the end of 2025. 6.2 earthquake jolts southwestern Mexico “Not one single citizen will be left without a home or without claiming their workplaces,” Erdogan said. He later presided over an event where some families were handed keys to their new homes. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said 118 people have been sentenced so far to various prison terms for negligence, while more than 1,300 prosecution cases, filed for alleged negligence or violation of zoning laws, were in progress. Jessie Thomson, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Turkey, said nearly half a million people remain in temporary container cities two years after the earthquake struck. “Hundreds of thousands continue to face immense challenges securing sustainable incomes, with depression and despair rising,” Thomson said. “The road to recovery is long and arduous, demanding continued support and solidarity.” Aydin told the AP that when he rests his head on a pillow, he prays that he won’t wake up to face another day. “I swear, every day when I go to bed and put my head on the pillow, I pray to God to not wake me up in the morning,” he said. Songul Erol, a 29-year-old mother of two girls aged 7 and 3, is slowly rebuilding her life in Samandag, another town in Hatay province, after spending months in tents and a container home. With the help of funds provided by the Turkish Red Crescent to small businesses, she was able to rent a shop and reopen her business selling bait, nets, knives or other gear used by fishermen and hunters. She has turned a room at the back of the shop into a living space for herself and her daughters, whose severe allergies were exacerbated by the conditions in the tents and the container home. Earthquake kills 126 people in China near Mount Everest Haunted by memory of buildings that tumbled in Samandag, she told the AP in a video call that she has only one dream: “That is to move to a one-story house that is not surrounded by apartment buildings.”

The man is insistent: Our ship is in difficulty, so keep your distance, he instructs another vessel over the radio. “Warship on your course,” he says. "I am drifting. I’m not under command.” The broadcast, according to military officials, came from a Russian spy ship, the Kildin, as the vessel packed with intelligence-gathering equipment drifted temporarily out of control off the Syrian coast on Jan. 23, with flames and black fumes rising from its smokestack. The Associated Press obtained audio of the broadcast, as well as video and photos showing the blaze, that three military officials said were gathered by a ship from a NATO nation operating nearby. The officials, also from a NATO country, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the fire and radio transmission that Russian authorities haven't publicly reported. The audio provides an unusual peek inside Russia's fleet of spy ships that NATO nations are watching closely because of concerns that Moscow might sabotage underwater cables and pipelines amid tensions over the war in Ukraine. Even though the Kildin was in trouble, the secretive ship didn’t respond to an offer of help from the NATO vessel, the officials said. The U.K. last month tracked another Russian vessel that it identified as a spy ship in the English Channel. The Defense Ministry said the Yantar “was caught loitering over critical undersea infrastructure" and that a Royal Navy submarine surfaced close to the ship “to warn it had been secretly monitoring its every move.” Fire temporarily disables the ship The 55-year-old Kildin gathers intelligence on NATO activities in the Mediterranean and had been operating near naval exercises by alliance member Turkey before the fire, according to the officials who spoke to the AP. They said the blaze burned for at least four hours and that the Kildin’s crew removed the covers from lifeboats though they never put them to sea. NKorean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven't shown desire to defect: Seoul spy The Kildin also hoisted two black balls from its masts — a maritime signal that the ship can no longer steer, the officials said. They said the crew eventually regained control and that the Kildin is still stationed and gathering intelligence off the Syrian port of Tartus, accompanied by a frigate and a supply vessel. It is not clear what caused the blaze. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he wasn’t aware of a fire aboard the Kildin and didn’t say what the ship was doing at the time. He dismissed suggestions that it reflected poorly on Russian naval readiness. “Assessing the state of the fleet based on the breakdown of one particular ship or one particular malfunction is not professional,” Peskov said. Retired Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of France’s center for higher military studies, said that even though the Kildin regained steering, the fire highlights the logistical difficulties for Russia of maintaining naval forces in the Mediterranean, far from its bases in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea. Moscow also is no longer able to use its Black Sea Fleet for Mediterranean patrols because during the Ukraine war Turkey isn’t allowing warships to pass through the Bosporus, which links the Black and Mediterranean seas. “The maintenance of this Russian fleet, particularly in the Mediterranean, is extraordinarily complex,” Olhagaray said. Audio captures radio exchanges The audio gathered by the NATO ship is a 75-second radio exchange between the Kildin and a Togo-flagged cargo ship, Milla Moon, the officials said. The AP also obtained a second recording of conversations among crew members aboard the NATO ship. In that, they can be heard identifying the exchange they’ve just monitored as being between the Kildin and a Togolese vessel. Military officials provided both recordings to the AP, which was not able to independently authenticate them. Russia expels British diplomat after accusing him of spying Ship-tracking websites that use the data vessels emit on their identity, position, speed and course show the Milla Moon lifted anchor off Tartus and started cruising northward along Syria's coast on Jan. 23. That was the day of the Kildin fire, also in waters off Tartus, the military officials said. They said the Kildin at first identified itself to the Milla Moon as another ship, the Sky, and then asked to switch channels to continue the conversation. After the switch, the man with accented English is then heard identifying his vessel as a warship. “Motor vessel Milla Moon, this is warship on your course,” the voice can be heard saying on the clip. “Please hear me.” He asks the Milla Moon to steer clear. “I am drifting. I’m not under command," he says. Milla Moon responds that it will plot a course away before signing off with, “You are welcome. Good watch. Goodbye.”

Rahim Al-Hussaini was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims. He was designated as the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, in his father’s will. His father died Tuesday in Portugal. The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state. The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community announced earlier that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, died surrounded by his family. It said his burial and will-reading will be held in the coming days, followed by an homage ceremony. The late Aga Khan was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather the Aga Khan III unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect. A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West despite — or perhaps because of — his reticence to become involved in politics. Serbia's prime minister resigns as anti-corruption protests grow The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organization, deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for nonprofit development activities. Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in east Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to tithe up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan as steward.

At least 10 people, including the gunman, were killed Tuesday at an adult education center in what Sweden’s prime minister called the country’s worst mass shooting. But a final death toll, a conclusive number of wounded and a motive hadn’t yet been determined hours later. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a news conference in the aftermath of the tragedy, which happened on the outskirts of Orebro. The city is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm. The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. “Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm. “This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either. “But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,” he said. Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden. But there have been several incidents in recent years in which people were wounded or killed with other weapons such as knives or axes. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting “an event that shakes our entire society to its core.” While Swedes read about such violence in other places, Strömmer said that the country previously felt it wouldn’t happen there. Other tragedies in Swedish schools weren't to the extent of Tuesday’s attack, he said, calling it “indescribably sad” for the community. The shooting also sent shock waves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage at the carnage. EU, Moldova agree on energy plan to cut Russian dependence “What happened today in Örebro is truly horrifying,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media. “Such violence and terror have no place in our societies — least of all in schools. In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden.” The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive about the number of fatalities, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police. Police said that the death toll could rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the suspected gunman was among those killed. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and he wasn’t previously known to police, officials said. Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn’t provide a motive. “Of course, we all want to understand why this happened, what occurred, and what motives the perpetrator may have had,” Kristersson said. “We will have to wait for those answers — in due time, the picture will become clearer.” Police raided the suspect’s home after Tuesday's shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found. Eid Forest said there were no warning signs before the attack. Authorities were working to identify the deceased. Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf praised police and the rescue and medical personnel who responded to the shooting, and issued words of comfort to the families of the victims. “It is with sadness and dismay that my family and I have received the information about the terrible atrocity in Örebro,” the monarch said in a statement. “We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed support to neighboring Sweden, calling Tuesday's shooting “a terrible situation.” Serbia's prime minister resigns as anti-corruption protests grow “I am so sad and all my thoughts are with the victims and their families and with the entire Swedish community and society,” she said after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. “It’s a terrible situation. And of course, our neighboring countries have all of our support.” The shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots. Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school. “We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.

Swedish police said that about 10 people, including the gunman, were killed during a shooting Tuesday at an adult education center. But a final death toll and a conclusive number of wounded hadn't yet been determined. The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police. The shooting happened on the outskirts of the city of Orebro, which is located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm. Police said that the death toll could rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the suspected gunman was among those killed. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and he wasn’t previously known to police, officials said. Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn’t provide a motive. Car bomb blast in northern Syria leaves at least 15 dead The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students who are over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden. But there have been several incidents in recent years in which people were wounded or killed with other weapons such as knives or axes. Police raided the suspect’s home after Tuesday's shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found. Eid Forest said there were no warning signs before the attack. Authorities were working to identify the deceased. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will hold a news conference at 7:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) alongside Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, Earlier, Kristersson said that it was “a very painful day for all of Sweden,” Swedish media reported. “My thoughts are also with all those whose normal school day was exchanged for terror,” Kristersson said. “Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience.” The shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots. Pilot killed in northern Philippines helicopter crash Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school. “We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.

The European Union and Moldova on Tuesday agreed on an energy security plan aimed at weaning the country off its dependence on Russian supplies and integrating it into the 27-nation bloc’s network. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, said that Moldova would receive 250 million euros ($258 million) this year — 40% of it by mid-April — after Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom cut supplies on Jan. 1. Daily electrical outages were imposed after hundreds of thousands of people in Moldova’s separatist pro-Russian Transnistria region were left without heating and hot water last month over an alleged $709 million bill for past supplies to Moldova. The decision by Gazprom, which came into effect a day after a gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired, halted gas supplies to Transnistria’s gas-operated Kuciurgan power plant, the country’s largest, which provided a significant portion of Moldova’s electricity. Musk says USAID “criminal organisation, we’re shutting it down” The commission said that its financial package will provide support to consumers in Moldova – a candidate country for EU membership – to help pay their rising electricity bills. Some 60 million euros ($62 million) is earmarked for 350,000 people left in the cold in Transnistria. Moldova, a former Soviet republic of about 2.5 million people, was left entirely dependent on Moscow for natural gas after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but it has since pushed to diversify and expand its energy sources. The war also forced the EU to end its dependence on Russian energy imports. It has faced pressure from Moscow to give up its westward shift of recent years. Transnistria broke away from Moldova after a short war in 1992 but is not widely recognized.

An Italian navy vessel transported migrants back to Italy from asylum processing centres in Albania following a ruling by a court in Rome, reports AP. This marked the third unsuccessful effort by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to process migrants in the non-EU nation. Italy sends 49 migrants to Albania after court rejections A coast guard ship carried 43 migrants from the port of Shengjin, located 66 kilometres (40 miles) northwest of Tirana. They were part of a group of 49 men transferred to Albania aboard an Italian naval vessel on Tuesday. Five of them were returned the same day—four due to being minors and the fifth classified as a “vulnerable” individual. The status of one remaining migrant remains uncertain. According to Italian media, the men originated from Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Gambia. On Friday, an Italian appeals court in Rome declined to authorise the rapid expulsion of 43 asylum-seekers detained in Albania since Tuesday under a contentious migration agreement designed to relocate proceedings beyond European Union borders. The court referred the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which is expected to issue a ruling on 25 February regarding previous cases. A series of lower court decisions has created a rift between the Meloni government and Italy’s judicial system. In October and November, judges similarly blocked the expulsion of smaller migrant groups, seeking clarification from the European court on which countries could be deemed safe for repatriation of individuals whose asylum applications had been rejected. Last year, Italy signed a five-year agreement to process up to 3,000 migrants per month outside EU borders as part of Meloni’s strategy to curb illegal migration. Italy is a primary destination for tens of thousands of migrants who undertake the perilous central Mediterranean crossing. While the agreement has drawn criticism from human rights activists, some European partners have shown interest in the initiative. Italy, Albania, and the UAE sign clean energy deal In the first four weeks of this year, 3,704 migrants arrived in Italy, nearly three times the number recorded in the same period last year. Over the entirety of last year, 66,317 migrants arrived in Italy, marking a 58% decrease from the previous year. The largest group consisted of Bangladeshis, followed by Syrians, Tunisians, and Egyptians, according to the Italian Interior Ministry.

On 31 January 2020, at 11 p.m. London time—midnight in Brussels—the UK officially left the bloc following nearly five decades of membership that had enabled free trade and movement between Britain and 27 other European nations, reports AP. For Brexit supporters, this was the moment the UK reclaimed its sovereignty. For opponents, it signified a nation diminished and isolated. South Carolina set for 3rd execution since September Undoubtedly, the country was deeply divided, having taken a step into the unknown. Five years later, individuals and businesses continue to grapple with the economic, social, and cultural repercussions. “The impact has been quite profound,” said political scientist Anand Menon, who leads the think tank UK in a Changing Europe. “It has reshaped our economy. “And our politics has been fundamentally altered as well,” he continued. “A new division surrounding Brexit has become embedded in electoral politics.” A Nation Divided by Its Decision As an island nation with a strong sense of historical significance, Britain had always had a complex relationship with the EU. The 2016 referendum on whether to remain or leave came after decades of deindustrialisation, years of public spending cuts, and high immigration—circumstances that allowed the pro-Brexit argument to thrive, promising the UK would ‘take back control’ of its borders, laws, and economy. Yet the result—52% voting to leave and 48% to remain—came as a shock to many. Neither the Conservative government, which had campaigned to stay, nor pro-Brexit campaigners had prepared for the complexities of the separation. The aftermath of the referendum saw years of tense negotiations over the terms of the split, with a divided UK and an embattled EU locked in prolonged disputes. The deadlock in Parliament ultimately brought down Prime Minister Theresa May, who was succeeded in 2019 by Boris Johnson, vowing to “get Brexit done.” However, the reality was far from straightforward. A Blow to the UK Economy The UK left without an agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which had accounted for half its trade. What followed was 11 months of contentious negotiations, culminating in a last-minute trade deal on Christmas Eve 2020. While the agreement ensured goods could move without tariffs or quotas, it introduced new bureaucracy, costs, and delays for businesses. “It has cost us money. We are definitely slower and it’s more expensive. But we’ve survived,” said Lars Andersen, whose London-based company, My Nametags, ships children’s clothing labels to over 150 countries. To continue trading with the EU, Andersen had to establish a base in Ireland, through which all EU-bound orders must pass before reaching customers. While he considers the effort worthwhile, he notes that some small businesses have ceased EU trade altogether or relocated manufacturing outside the UK. Julianne Ponan, CEO of allergen-free food company Creative Nature, saw her growing export business to the EU collapse post-Brexit. Since then, she has successfully pivoted to markets in the Middle East and Australia, a shift she views as a positive outcome of leaving the EU. Now that she has navigated the bureaucratic hurdles, she is cautiously rebuilding business ties with Europe. “But we’ve lost four years of growth there,” she admitted. “And that’s the sad part. We would be much further along if Brexit hadn’t happened.” Some hospitals pause gender-affirming care to evaluate Trump's executive order According to the UK government’s Office for Budget Responsibility, long-term UK exports and imports are expected to be approximately 15% lower than if the country had remained in the EU, with economic productivity reduced by 4%. Brexit advocates argue that this short-term economic strain will be outweighed by Britain’s ability to forge its own global trade deals. Since leaving the EU, the UK has signed agreements with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. However, trade expert David Henig of the European Centre for International Political Economy suggests these deals have not compensated for the decline in trade with Europe. “The big players haven’t suffered as much,” Henig explained. “We still have Airbus, we still have Scotch whisky. We still do defence and pharmaceuticals. But mid-sized businesses are struggling to maintain their export position. And new firms aren’t entering the market.” Unintended Consequences In many ways, Brexit has unfolded differently from what both supporters and critics anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added further economic turmoil, making it difficult to isolate Brexit’s precise impact. One key area where expectations have not been met is immigration. A major motivation for many Leave voters was a desire to reduce immigration. Yet, post-Brexit, immigration has surged, as the UK has granted significantly more work visas to individuals from outside Europe. Meanwhile, the return of protectionist political figures, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump, has placed Britain in a precarious position—caught between Europe and its long-standing ‘special relationship’ with the United States. “The world is a far less forgiving place now than it was in 2016 when we voted to leave,” noted Menon. Can Britain and the EU Rebuild Their Relationship? Public sentiment towards Brexit appears to have shifted, with polls indicating a majority now view the decision as a mistake. However, the prospect of rejoining the EU remains remote. With divisions still fresh, few are eager to reopen the debate. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected in July 2024, has pledged to improve relations with the EU but has ruled out re-entering the customs union or single market. His approach focuses on incremental changes, such as easing restrictions for touring artists and recognising professional qualifications, alongside deeper cooperation on security and law enforcement. While EU leaders have welcomed the change in tone, their focus remains on internal challenges, with the UK no longer a priority. “I completely understand—it’s difficult to rebuild trust after such a tough divorce,” said Andersen. Nonetheless, he remains hopeful that the UK and EU will gradually move closer again. “I suspect it will happen,” he said. “But it will be slow and subtle—without politicians making a big fuss about it.”