Georgia
Germany will classify Georgia, Moldova as ‘safe countries,’ making rejecting asylum-seekers easier
BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet on Wednesday classified Moldova and Georgia as so-called “safe countries of origin” meaning asylum seekers from there can be rejected and deported faster than in the past.
The move, once parliament has approved the new regulation, is a further step in efforts to curb migration to Germany as the country struggles to house and integrate more than 1 million refugees who fled the war from Ukraine last year. Different from others fleeing to Germany, Ukrainians do not need to apply for asylum but get a right of residency immediately.
In addition to Ukrainian war refugees, more than 188,000 people applied for asylum in Germany this year. Among those, 6,612 applications came from Georgians and 1,910 came from Moldovans during the period from January to July. However, the approval rate for asylum pleas from Georgians and Moldovans stands currently only 0.15%, the German interior ministry said.
Despite the new regulations, Georgians and Moldovans will be able to continue to apply for asylum, but their chances of approval will be close to non-existent now. Also, the designation as a safe countries of origin shortens legal deadlines, especially for appeals to overturn negative decisions on asylum requests. An appeal has no suspensive effect, meaning people can be deporting during a pending trial.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser praised the Cabinet’s decision as an important step toward channeling people who come to Germany for a better life but are not wanted.
More than a tenth of rejected asylum applications comes from Georgia and Moldova, Faeser said.
“So here we can effectively reduce irregular migration very quickly,” she added.
The minister said Germany is also in the process of concluding migration agreements with Georgia and Moldova. The government has been trying to finalize migration deals with individual countries to open doors for immigrants with skills that are much needed on Germany’s labor market, such as nurses or truck drivers.
The German government defines safe countries of origin as “countries from which it can be assumed, based on the democratic system and the general political situation, that no state persecution is to be feared there in general and that the respective state can protect against non-state persecution in principle.”
Opposition Christian Democrats criticized the new classification as “only a drop in the ocean.”
“In addition to extending border controls, it would also be urgently necessary to classify the Maghreb states of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia as safe countries of origin,” the parliamentary faction of the Christian Democrats said in a written statement, adding that the government had not done enough to curb migration..
Georgia
Georgia Power restores power to 230k+ customers following Cora
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Following Winter Storm Cora, which brought heavy snow, freezing rain and ice to North Georgia, Georgia Power has restored power to more than 230,000 customers since the start of the storm.
As of Saturday morning, less than 60,000 customers remain impacted, according to Georgia Power. Crews are in the field now and the company expects that nearly all impacted customers who can receive power, will be reconnected Saturday.
Many areas experienced additional damage overnight from falling trees and limbs with the hardest hit areas including parts of Alpharetta, Jonesboro and Atlanta. As crews work today, the company says they are starting with damage assessment, which is an essential part of efficient restoration. These damage assessment teams are followed by repair crews depending on the amount of damage and access to the area.
As weather conditions improve, restoration efforts can accelerate, however, with temperatures expected to barely rise above freezing in many areas Saturday, Georgia Power says challenging road conditions and the potential for continued falling ice, limbs and trees may slow progress or cause additional damage.
Georgia Power continues to post the latest information, including estimated restoration times (ERTs) on its Outage Map as available, based on the latest information from field crews. Visit the online Storm Center to access the Outage Map and additional information.
Safety Tips for Customers and Crews
Georgia Power reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist following a storm, and to always heed the advice of local, state, and federal emergency authorities in storm-affected areas.
- Watch for Georgia Power crews working across the state. If you must be on the roads, please move over one lane for utility vehicles stopped on the side of the road – it’s the law in Georgia.
- Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire. Warn those going out to play in snow or clear debris to watch for and avoid downed wires.
- Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with heavy snow, debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be concealed. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.
- Take care if using a portable generator. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions, avoid using generators in enclosed spaces and be mindful of electrical safety. Click here for more safety tips.
Stay Connected & Informed:
- Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.
- Social Media – Follow Georgia Power across Facebook, Instagram and X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.
- Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
- Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times. The map is updated regularly from teams in the field.
- Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
Georgia
Georgia Department of Transportation trucks on the roads through Saturday morning
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Stalled and crashed cars littered Metro Atlanta roads Friday in wake of a winter storm that powered the streets with snow.
“That’s what happens when snow falls and ice forms on the ground, you have cars spin out of control, hit other cars, hit a median, and that’s the downside of folks that have to get out and have to get from point a to point b on days like this,” said Scott Higley, Director of Communications for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The Georgia State Patrol reported getting 1,376 calls Friday before 8 p.m. 269 of those calls were crashes. That’s with a 90% decrease in typical Metro Atlanta traffic for a Friday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
“At one point this afternoon, we already had over 400 calls for H.E.R.O. assistance throughout Metro Atlanta, so that’s a pretty significant number obviously,” said Higley.
GDOT will have trucks spreading brine and plowing snow throw the Saturday morning.
“Motorists should be warned when they wake up tomorrow morning. Saturday is not a normal Saturday in Metro Atlanta. We are not out of the woods yet. And with the temperatures predicted to fall as much as they are tonight, below freezing, we can expect some freezing on the roadways,” said Higley.
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
Georgia
Georgia DB Daylen Everette announces NFL draft decision
The Georgia Bulldogs’ top cornerback, Daylen Everette, will be returning for the 2025 college football season. Everette is coming off a breakout junior season.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback recorded a team-high three interceptions in 2024. Everette was particularly effective against the Texas Longhorns. He recorded nine tackles, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble, a pass deflection, two interceptions and a sack in two games against the Longhorns.
Everette is Georgia’s top 2025 NFL draft prospect to announce his return to school. Everette is ranked as the No. 100 prospect in the draft, per Pro Football Focus.
Everette’s return gives Georgia a lockdown cornerback for the 2025 season. He’ll try to become a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The former five-star recruit posted 58 tackles, three interceptions, three pass deflections and one sack in 2025. Everette’s decision is a bit of a surprise considering his NFL potential.
Everette announced his return to UGA via social media.
-
Politics1 week ago
New Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics1 week ago
Carter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics7 days ago
Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health6 days ago
Ozempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week ago
South Korea extends Boeing 737-800 inspections as Jeju Air wreckage lifted
-
Technology2 days ago
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
World1 week ago
Weather warnings as freezing temperatures hit United Kingdom
-
News1 week ago
Seeking to heal the country, Jimmy Carter pardoned men who evaded the Vietnam War draft