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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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Trump to Send “Take-It-or-Leave-It” Tariff Letters to 12 Nations on Monday


U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has signed letters to 12 countries detailing new tariff levels on goods exported to the United States. The letters, described as “take it or leave it” offers, are scheduled to be dispatched on Monday, July 7.

Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to New Jersey, Trump declined to name the countries involved, stating that the list would be made public on Monday. The move follows a 90-day pause on elevated tariffs, which is set to expire on July 9. If no trade agreements are reached by then, the new tariffs—ranging from a base rate of 10% to potentially as high as 70%—will take effect on August 1.

Trump emphasized the simplicity of the letter approach, saying, “The letters are better… much easier to send a letter,” signaling a shift away from prolonged trade negotiations that have stalled with several major partners, including the EU and Japan.

So far, the U.S. has finalized trade deals with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while talks with India and the European Union remain unresolved. The administration’s strategy marks a significant escalation in its efforts to reshape global trade relationships on what it calls “reciprocal” terms.

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