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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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Europe Scorched: Deadly Heatwave Grips Continent in Record-Breaking June


A blistering early summer heatwave has swept across Europe, claiming at least eight lives and setting new temperature records in multiple countries. The extreme weather has triggered widespread health alerts, wildfires, and even forced the shutdown of a nuclear reactor in Switzerland.

Spain has been hit particularly hard, with four fatalities reported—two from wildfires in Catalonia and two more in the regions of Extremadura and Córdoba. France and Italy each reported two deaths, including elderly individuals who succumbed to the heat on beaches in Sardinia.

Temperatures soared above 40°C in parts of Germany, marking the hottest day of the year so far. Red alerts were issued across 18 Italian cities and several regions in central France, where hundreds were hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses.

The heatwave has also disrupted infrastructure. Violent storms triggered by atmospheric instability caused mudslides in the French Alps, halting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Beznau nuclear power plant reduced operations due to overheated river water used for cooling.

Scientists attribute the early and intense heat to a "heat dome" effect, exacerbated by warming seas and climate change. With greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

This deadly start to summer serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate resilience and adaptation across Europe.

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