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Greece’s Asylum Freeze Sparks Global Outcry Amid Crete Migrant Surge

In a move that has ignited fierce backlash from human rights organizations and the United Nations, Greece has passed legislation temporarily halting asylum applications from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. The three-month suspension, approved by parliament with 177 votes in favor and 74 against, allows for expedited repatriation without prior identification. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the measure as a “difficult but necessary decision” in response to a sharp rise in irregular arrivals, particularly from Libya to the island of Crete. Over 7,000 migrants have reached Crete and nearby Gavdos this year, straining local resources and prompting concerns from the tourism industry. Rights groups, including the International Rescue Committee, have condemned the ban as illegal and inhumane, warning it violates international and European law. The UNHCR echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right regardless of how or wh...

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US-China Trade Truce: A Step Forward, But Challenges Remain

In a significant development, the United States and China have reached a framework agreement to ease export restrictions and maintain their tariff truce. The deal, finalized after two days of intense negotiations in London, aims to remove China's export curbs on rare earth minerals and magnets while also scaling back some recent U.S. export restrictions.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the agreement as putting "meat on the bones" of a prior consensus reached in Geneva. However, the framework still requires approval from both President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping before implementation. If approved, it could prevent the Geneva agreement from unraveling due to dueling export controls.

Despite the progress, deep-rooted trade tensions remain unresolved. The U.S. has long criticized China's state-led, export-driven economic model, while China has resisted unilateral tariff policies imposed by Washington. The two sides have until August 10 to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement, or tariff rates will revert to significantly higher levels.

Global markets responded cautiously to the news, with investors wary of the deal's long-term viability. While the agreement signals a willingness to cooperate, experts warn that fundamental trade disagreements between the two economic giants persist.

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