Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has joined forces with five fellow European officials to push forward a proposal aimed at reinforcing the European Union’s asylum framework—highlighting a future where deportations to countries like Syria and Afghanistan would be normalized.

The talks took place atop Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain, shortly after Germany implemented a controversial measure in May to deny entry to certain asylum seekers at the border. That move, which authorities claimed was coordinated with neighboring nations, nonetheless sparked heated public debate.

During the gathering, Dobrindt sat down with officials from Austria, France, Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, along with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

Together, they outlined a unified plan for reform, including a push to dismantle legal barriers that currently block rejected asylum seekers from being relocated to safe, non-EU nations for processing. The proposals also support allowing asylum requests to be handled in designated third countries.

“We share the conviction that Europe must act with determination and unity to reduce illegal migration effectively,” stated a joint declaration circulated by the German interior ministry.

According to the same document, deportation to high-risk countries like Syria and Afghanistan should become routine once more. It also suggests applying visa penalties to nations that refuse to cooperate with the EU’s deportation efforts.

This renewed migration stance aligns with recent actions by the German government, which just carried out the deportation of 81 Afghan nationals—its latest move in a more aggressive migration strategy launched in May.

Authorities in Germany have detained a Libyan national wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged leadership role in a prison infamous for systematic torture and sexual abuse.

Khaled Mohamed Ali Al Hishri, believed to have served in a commanding position within the Special Deterrence Force during Libya’s civil conflict, was taken into custody on Wednesday, according to officials in Germany.

The ICC confirmed that Al Hishri will remain detained in Germany as domestic legal processes continue.

Prosecutors at the Court allege that Al Hishri is responsible for a range of serious offenses, including murder, sexual violence, and inhumane treatment, between February 2015 and early 2020, when he is said to have held a high-ranking post at Mitiga prison.

The facility, located in western Libya, was one of the country’s largest detention centers. Prosecutors describe it as a site where detainees were crammed into unsanitary conditions, repeatedly subjected to coercive interrogations and acts of torture.

According to the ICC’s account, both male and female prisoners were also victims of sexual abuse, including instances of rape.

The arrest occurs at a particularly sensitive moment for the Court, which is under pressure following political backlash over a recent arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning alleged offenses related to the conflict in Gaza. The move led to sanctions by the United States and criticism from several of the Court’s European member countries.

Amid these tensions, the ICC is also dealing with internal leadership changes. Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has temporarily stepped aside due to an ongoing UN-led inquiry into claims of sexual misconduct, which he denies. The prosecution office is currently being led by his two deputies.

In its statement issued Friday, the ICC prosecution office confirmed plans for Al Hishri’s transfer to The Hague and stated that preparations for trial proceedings are underway.

“This development is so needed at a time of unprecedented turmoil in the field of accountability generally and at the ICC specifically,” said Kip Hale, a lawyer involved in documenting Libya-related atrocities.

“Yet, it is most important for the victims of the many atrocity crimes committed at Mitiga prison,” he added.

Earlier this year, another Libyan ICC suspect, Osama Elmasry Njeem, was detained in Italy. However, authorities there later released him back to Libya, citing errors and inconsistencies in the arrest warrant. He too was suspected of involvement in abuses committed at the same prison facility.

Finance leaders from the world’s largest economies were on the verge of reaching a shared position on global trade and other pressing matters during their summit on Friday, marking what could be their first unified stance since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and the onset of tariff tensions.

This meeting comes after a failed attempt to produce a joint statement earlier this year, during a February gathering, which had disappointed the host nation, South Africa.

If a consensus is finalized at the current discussions taking place in Durban, it would mark a significant step forward even though G20 declarations are symbolic and not legally enforceable, and the final language remains to be seen.

“I don’t think it’s a secret. It hasn’t been issued yet, but there’s going to be a communique,” said Raymond Gilpin on Friday.

Another participating official noted cautious hope, saying the group was edging closer to producing a formal communique. That sense of optimism was echoed by multiple delegates.

“We have to see the final text, but I think it’s important that we reached a communique and common language. That’s an improvement from the last G20,” said Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen.

This year, South Africa has focused on advancing a continent-wide agenda under the theme Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability. Key topics have included tackling the high cost of borrowing and mobilizing resources to combat climate-related risks.

Participants worked toward developing unified statements addressing global economic uncertainty and climate financing, while also navigating sensitive discussions surrounding trade policies.

Some officials indicated that the final draft might highlight the value of open markets while avoiding direct criticism of tariff practices, and could refer to “extreme weather events” rather than explicitly using the term “climate change.”

Negotiators reportedly faced difficulty identifying terms acceptable to Washington, particularly given the absence of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who skipped the two-day gathering.

This was not the first time Bessent was absent he had also missed the February meeting, which saw limited attendance from several other key nations including China, Japan, and Canada, despite the U.S. preparing to take over the rotating G20 presidency later this year.

Though Bessent’s nonattendance posed challenges, insiders noted that the U.S. had still been participating in background conversations on global trade, economic matters, and environmental policy wording.

Tarrif Threats

Finance heads from several major economies, including Brazil, India, China, France, and Russia, did not attend the Durban summit. However, the South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, emphasized that every member country had a presence at the table.

Despite full representation, the weight of U.S. trade policies under Trump loomed large, disrupting international trade norms and affecting global market confidence.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, speaking during side talks with G7 counterparts, pressed for swift resolution to the global trade standoff.

“What I take home from this is that I hear a lot of countries advocating for free trade and the importance of free trade. It’s under pressure right now. It’s not good for the world,” the Dutch finance minister added.

In response to a new directive from President Donald Trump, truck drivers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, have started learning English to align with updated U.S. language regulations for commercial drivers.

Roughly 50 drivers making routine deliveries between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas, are now participating in weekly English training sessions ranging from four to eight hours. Their employer, Fletes Sotelo, initiated the program to help them meet the language expectations for operating within the U.S.

According to the company’s owner, Manuel Sotelo, the language lessons were launched about a month and a half ago with the intention of helping every driver grasp fundamental English skills. Sotelo also leads the Ciudad Juarez transportation union.

One driver, Jose Murguia, said the language course is a timely initiative in light of recent developments.
“It’s important to know the language, at least in the ways that are necessary for our work, which is to transport goods into El Paso,” he explained.

Although the U.S. had already required drivers to speak English, a previous policy from 2016 advised inspectors not to penalize drivers solely for lacking proficiency. That guidance was revoked by Trump’s executive order in April.

This order followed another declaration made in March, officially designating English as the national language of the United States.

Critics have called the executive mandate unfair, pointing out that the U.S. is home to millions of people who communicate in languages other than English.