分类： world

Spain is embarking on a landmark initiative to grant legal residency to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, a move driven by both economic necessity and humanitarian principles. The program, which opens for applications in April, offers a one-year renewable residency visa to foreign nationals who can prove at least five months of residence and a clean criminal record.

The decision emerges against a backdrop of severe challenges faced by an estimated 500,000 to over one million undocumented individuals. Migrants like Diana from Peru, who spoke to the BBC, describe a precarious existence marked by exploitation, underpayment, and restricted access to housing and banking services. ‘Employers can tell you one thing and then get you to do something else. Sometimes they pay you less than what you’ve agreed to,’ she recounted, highlighting the vulnerability of those without papers.

However, the government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist coalition, frames the policy as a pragmatic solution to Spain’s economic realities. With unemployment at an 18-year low and the economy growing by nearly 3% last year, foreign labor is indispensable. Elma Saiz, Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Immigration, revealed that foreign workers constitute 14.1% of the 22 million registered workforce and have driven half of Spain’s economic growth since 2022. A 2024 central bank report further underscored this dependency, projecting a need for 25 million migrants over the next three decades to sustain the economy and social security system.

The initiative has garnered support from key business sectors. Farmers’ association ASAJA and the main employers’ federation, CEOE, have expressed broad approval, citing the critical role migrants play in agriculture, elderly care, and hospitality. Yet, they urge careful implementation to ensure workers secure long-term contracts.

The policy faces fierce opposition in Spain’s polarized political landscape. The conservative People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo condemned it as ‘the confirmation of the lack of an immigration policy,’ while the far-right Vox party warned of a ‘pull effect’ that would overwhelm public services. The European Commission has also urged caution, emphasizing that residency permits must not facilitate unlawful movement to other EU nations.

Despite the controversy, the move is seen as a lifeline for countless individuals. In Madrid, organizations like Aculco are preparing workshops to guide applicants like Manuel, a Peruvian caregiver, through the process. ‘This will change the lives of a lot of people,’ said immigration lawyer Pilar Rodríguez, noting that regularization will allow migrants to work legally, pay taxes, and contribute fully to the society they help sustain.

KAPIKOY BORDER CROSSING, Turkey — As Iran’s airspace remains shuttered following recent military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces, the land border crossing near Turkey’s Van province has emerged as a vital lifeline connecting Iranians to the global community. The Kapikoy border gate, nestled within mountainous terrain, has witnessed a steady flow of travelers with existing connections to Turkey through employment, family ties, or dual citizenship arrangements.

Contrary to expectations of mass exodus, border activity reveals a more nuanced reality. Most travelers are accelerating prearranged visits rather than abandoning their homeland permanently. Reza Gol, a 38-year-old plastic surgeon traveling from Urmia to Istanbul for medical consultations, exemplified this trend: ‘It’s not clear whether we will leave Iran for good, but I can clear my head a little bit in the meantime. Everyone is staying in their houses—people are not running away.’

The journey remains fraught with complications. Pooneh Asghari and her Iranian-Canadian husband face reluctant relocation to Canada despite having established lives in Iran. ‘All our life is there,’ Asghari lamented, hoping for a brief absence. Economic constraints prevent widespread departure, as noted by Fariba (identifying partially for security): ‘People are very poor now. So they are staying at home, and they are scared.’

Border logistics have become increasingly complex. While Turkey initially suspended day-trip crossings, regular transit has resumed for Iranians and third-country nationals. Official figures indicate balanced movement, with 2,032 entries versus 1,966 departures recorded recently. Travelers typically proceed to Van airport for connecting flights, though weather disruptions and cancellations create additional hurdles.

Mehregan, a 26-year-old student stranded en route to China, described her ordeal: ‘If I can’t get on a flight tomorrow from here I will miss my flight to China’—potentially losing nonrefundable tickets. The regional economy suffers concurrently, with hotels and shops anticipating significant losses during normally bustling Nowruz holidays.

Turkey maintains preparedness for potential refugee influx, having constructed 380 kilometers of concrete walls and numerous surveillance towers along its Iranian border. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed contingency plans involving tent camps and buffer zones, though significant refugee movements have not yet materialized.

Harrison Mirtar, a 53-year-old Iranian-Canadian returning from parental visits in Tehran, expressed resentment toward foreign intervention but contextualized the crisis: ‘They are in their homeland. Life is going on, but with some bombs.’ This sentiment captures the resilient pragmatism characterizing most Iranians’ response to the escalating conflict.

Norwegian authorities have launched a formal investigation into a possible explosive incident that occurred near the U.S. Embassy compound in Oslo during the early hours of Sunday. According to official statements from Oslo police, emergency services received multiple reports of a loud detonation-like sound approximately at 1:00 a.m. local time.

The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has responded by deploying additional security personnel to the scene as a precautionary measure. However, PST communication adviser Martin Bernsen confirmed that Norway’s national terrorism threat assessment remains unchanged following the incident. Preliminary assessments indicate no casualties or injuries resulting from the event.

Both the U.S. Embassy in Oslo and local law enforcement officials have declined to provide immediate commentary, directing media inquiries to the U.S. State Department. At present, specific details regarding the nature of the explosion or potential perpetrators remain undisclosed as the investigation continues. Security perimeter around the diplomatic facility has been reinforced while forensic experts examine the area for evidence.

A recent drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, a British military installation in Cyprus, has intensified longstanding tensions regarding the United Kingdom’s continued military presence on the Mediterranean island. The assault, which damaged a hangar facility one week ago, has sparked divergent interpretations among stakeholders.

For British defense analysts, the successful penetration of base defenses highlights concerning vulnerabilities in UK military capabilities. For many Cypriot citizens, however, the incident represents another dangerous consequence of foreign military occupation. Approximately 200-300 protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, brandishing banners demanding the removal of British bases from Cypriot territory.

Local business owner Natasha Theodotou articulated the sentiment of many demonstrators: ‘We seek an independent Cyprus. Just as we experience occupation by Turkish forces, we remain occupied by the UK.’ Theodotou’s comments reference the island’s complex geopolitical situation, where Turkey controls the northern third since its 1974 invasion, while Britain maintains two sovereign base areas covering 98 square miles under a 1960 independence treaty.

British military intelligence assesses that Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, launched the drone from Lebanese territory. While UK officials deny that Akrotiri serves as a launch point for American offensive strikes against Iranian targets, the base’s reported use by U.S. U-2 surveillance aircraft potentially explains why it became a target for Iranian proxies seeking retaliation against U.S.-Israeli operations.

The demonstration incorporated multiple geopolitical concerns, with participants expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticism of U.S. and Israeli policies. Chants of ‘Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here’ echoed through Nicosia’s streets, which remain divided by a UN-patrolled buffer zone—often called the world’s last partitioned capital.

Protesters emphasized security concerns, with participant Shona Muir stating, ‘Their presence alone here makes us more of a target.’ This contrasts sharply with the UK Ministry of Defence’s position that the bases ‘play a crucial role in supporting the safety of British citizens and our allies,’ noting recent operations where British jets intercepted Iranian drones from the location.

The Cypriot government has carefully distinguished between the attacked UK facility and Cypriot sovereignty, while Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos acknowledged the base issue requires ‘careful reflection’ following recent events. Demonstrators meanwhile demand greater transparency regarding base activities, with Stephanos Stavros emphasizing that the foundational treaty must be complied with through ‘full transparency.’

Any potential renegotiation of the base agreements would involve extraordinarily complex diplomatic negotiations between the UK, Greece, Turkey, and both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, making immediate resolution unlikely despite growing local opposition.