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German cities struggling with winter influx of Western Balkan migrants

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German cities struggling with winter influx of Western Balkan migrants

This winter, cities in Germany confronted one more inflow of refugees however this time it was not Ukrainians fleeing struggle however folks from Western Balkan international locations searching for to flee their international locations’ harsh winters and poor social residing situations.

Cologne has, as an illustration, recorded extra migrants from the Western Balkans in current months than through the Yugoslav Wars that occurred from 1991 to 2001, in response to the western metropolis’s press officer, Katja Reuter.

“The variety of folks from the West Balkans in Cologne metropolis housing is over 1,000. On account of fluctuation, a extra precise quantity shouldn’t be obtainable.

“Round 40 p.c of the refugees come from Ukraine, and the opposite nationalities are properly over 60 p.c. The vast majority of them come from Albania,” mentioned Reuter.

Now, the town has reached its official capability of what number of refugees it could absorb, having an overachievement reception charge of 107.23 p.c.

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Western Balkan route

The Western Balkan route was, in 2022, essentially the most used for unlawful border crossings into the EU, in response to the bloc’s exterior border company. Frontex recorded 145,600 unlawful crossings by way of the Western Balkan, a 136% bounce from the earlier 12 months and the best quantity noticed since 2015.

This route was utilized by a wide range of nationalities with residents from Syria, Afghanistan and Türkiye accounting for the biggest variety of detections.

Now, the EU has determined to step up its presence on the Western Balkan borders with Frontex to quickly deploy workers there — which would be the first time the company may have staff monitoring non-EU borders — to curb unlawful migration.

Cologne doesn’t give migrants from the Balkans refugee standing till they obtain authorized asylum standing from Germany’s immigration authorities, which might usually take months to years to realize. Nevertheless it continues to deal with these coming to the town to fight homelessness.

“The town of Cologne is obligated to deal with all refugees regardless of which nationality or origin. The occupancy administration organises metropolis housing in response to the obtainable housing assets,” mentioned Reuter.

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“On account of this technique, more often than not, refugees from completely different origins or nationalities are housed collectively. When lodging are majorly stuffed with refugees from the identical nation of origin, this is because of housing calls for of the individuals in want of lodging or the variety of newly arrived refugees.

“Subsequently, there are each refugees from Ukraine who’re being housed with different nationalities in addition to people who share their lodging solely with compatriots,” she added.

North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia

Cologne’s silver lining got here when their fall prediction — that there can be a brand new inflow of Ukrainian refugees due to Russian assaults on the nation’s vital infrastructure — didn’t happen. At present, they solely have round two to 4 Ukrainian refugees coming to the town every day.

This has helped the town cope all through winter, as they anticipate spring will see migrants from the Western Balkans go away.

“Due to the poor social situations within the international locations of origin, [for example] costly heating materials, folks from the Western Balkans go to Germany in winter after which return in spring. That is repeated yearly,” Reuter mentioned.

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“As many cities or communes in Germany, it’s difficult to deal with refugees. In cities like Cologne, many individuals – not solely refugees – are on the lookout for reasonably priced flats and such. It’s difficult to supply sufficient room for refugees,” she added.

Higher Bavaria, the place Munich is the capital metropolis, is at present housing 850 migrants from the Western Balkans — practically double final 12 months’s quantity — although the whole variety of these coming is unsure. 

The vast majority of these arriving are from North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia, and whereas the numbers are at present low, rising tensions between the latter two international locations may result in extra migrants for the area sooner or later.

Tensions have grown between the 2 neighbouring international locations since November when Kosovo made a routine determination to ban Serbs residing within the nation from utilizing Belgrade-issued license plates within the nation. Very like its Russian ally, Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence, and the escalating tensions have brought about issues for Western international locations.

When requested how Higher Bavaria is making ready for an inflow ought to tensions escalate, press officer Wolfgang Rupp advised Euronews: “We can’t make predictions about future arrivals of refugees. Nevertheless, the District Authorities of Higher Bavaria is repeatedly increasing its lodging to have the ability to home each migrant arriving inside our jurisdiction.”

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NBC Orders More Episodes of New Fall Comedy St. Denis Medical

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NBC Orders More Episodes of New Fall Comedy St. Denis Medical


‘St. Denis Medical’ Season 1 Episode Count NBC, More Episodes Order



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Mexico hot tub death: US tourist who was electrocuted remembered as ‘big family man’ who had 'heart of gold’

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Mexico hot tub death: US tourist who was electrocuted remembered as ‘big family man’ who had 'heart of gold’

An American tourist who died after being electrocuted in a hot tub while vacationing with his wife in Mexico is now being remembered as a “real big family man” who had a “heart of gold.” 

Jorge Guillen, a 43-year-old from El Paso, Texas, according to media reports, died June 11 “in the jacuzzi of a complex of private condominiums in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora after an electric discharge,” Mexican prosecutors say. His wife, Lizette Zambrano, 35, remains in critical condition after reportedly being transferred to an American hospital. 

“Our best friends have experienced a horrible accident. Jorge had a heart of gold and was always there for family and friends. The love they shared was one for ages,” reads a GoFundMe page set up for the couple. 

Video purportedly taken from the scene showed people screaming as they gathered around a beachfront hot tub following the incident. In the footage, a dark object could be seen bobbing around in the water. 

MAN KILLED AFTER GETTING ELECTROCUTED IN SEASIDE RESORT JACUZZI 

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Jorge Guillen and Lizette Zambrano are from El Paso, Texas, according to media reports. (GoFundMe)

Western Technical College – where Guillen was a student – held a moment of silence in honor of him Friday during a graduation ceremony, according to KFOX14/CBS4. 

“Those who knew George knew that he was enthusiastic. He was passionate. He loved HVAC. He was a real big family man. Definitely a very respectable, professional young man,” the trade school’s president, Maxine Valencia, said to the station. 

“We are just as saddened as the rest of the world about the passing of our beloved student, Jorge Guillen. The news reached us last night through one of Jorge’s classmates,” the school also wrote on Facebook. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the family of his wife, Lizzette Zambrano, who remains in critical condition.” 

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES FIND BODIES OF 4 MEN, 2 WOMEN PILED UP IN RESORT CITY 

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Puerto-Penasco-Mexico

This September 2018 photo shows a beach at Puerto Peñasco in the state of Sonora, Mexico. (AP Photo/Annika Wolters)

Zambrano is described by the El Paso Times as being a former teacher in the Ysleta Independent School District. 

During the investigation, Mexican officials spoke with someone who is familiar with the couple, who said she saw the two of them were not moving in the jacuzzi. 

The witness also reportedly told investigators she attempted to get into the jacuzzi after discovering the couple was non-responsive, but she was shocked. 

Puerto-Penasco-Sign

Prosecutors in Mexico have launched an investigation into the death of Guillen and the injury of Zambrano in Puerto Peñasco. (PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)

 

The witness told investigators that was the moment she called for help. 

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Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report. 

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Hundreds of thousands in France protest far right ahead of snap elections

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Hundreds of thousands in France protest far right ahead of snap elections

Anti-racism groups joined French unions and a new left-wing coalition in protests across France against the surging nationalist far right as frenzied campaigning is under way in advance of snap parliamentary elections.

About 21,000 police and gendarmes were deployed at rallies on Saturday with authorities expecting between 300,000 and 500,000 protesters nationwide, France’s interior ministry said.

In Paris, those who feared the elections would produce France’s first far-right government since World War II gathered at Place de la Republique before marching.

Crowds have been gathering daily in France, ever since the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) made historic gains in the European Parliament elections last Sunday. This prompted Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call for a snap legislative election, to be held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.

A large crowd turned out in spite of rainy and windy weather on Saturday holding placards reading “Liberty for all, Equality for all and Fraternity with all” – a reference to France’s national motto – as well as “Let’s break frontiers, documents for all, no to the immigration bill.”

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Speaking from Place de Republique, hard-left CGT union leader Sophie Binet told reporters, “We are marching because we are extremely worried [RN’s leader] Jordan Bardella could become the next prime minister … We want to prevent this disaster.”

Demonstrators march with placards during an anti-far right rally in Nantes [Romain Perrocheau/AFP]

‘Ideology based on fear’

Among the protesters in Paris, some also chanted “Free Palestine, viva Palestina,” and wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.

Among them was Nour Cekar, a 16-year-old high school student, who has French and Algerian parents and wears the hijab.

“To me, the extreme right is a danger because it supports an ideology based on the fear of the other, whereas we are all French citizens despite our differences,” she said.

Cekar added she will vote for the left-wing coalition because “it is the only political [entity] that addresses racism and Islamophobia.”

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Meanwhile, in the French Riviera city of Nice, demonstrators marched down Jean Medecin Avenue, the city’s main shopping street, chanting against the National Rally and its leader Bardella, 28, as well as President Emmanuel Macron.

Protest organisers said 3,000 took part, while police put the number at 2,500.

Nice is traditionally a conservative stronghold, but has, over the past decade, turned firmly in favour of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and her far-right rival Eric Zemmour.

Nacira Guenif, a sociologist at University Paris 8, called the rise of the far right a “very dangerous situation”, and said many young people who attended rallies on Saturday denounced “the fascists”.

“This is a greater danger than ever. This is the first time where the far right rose to 30 percent of the vote in the European elections. The reason the youth and a lot of people were on the streets today is to say they don’t want this to happen in France,” Guenif told Al Jazeera.

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Demonstrators march in Nantes on Saturday [Romain Perrocheau/AFP]

Huge gamble for Macron

Reporting from Paris, Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler noted the French president’s call of the election took everybody, including his own ministers, by surprise.

“Macron says he called this election because he has heard the voice of the people, of the voters. He said he’s seen the EU election that took place and saw that people are unhappy with his policies in this government. Therefore, he says he’s given the choice back to the people.”

The move is a huge gamble, she said. “People are here to say they fear the far right that would destroy France’s values of rights, liberty, freedom and equality.”

To prevent the National Rally party from winning the upcoming elections, left-wing parties finally agreed on Friday to set aside differences over the wars on Gaza and Ukraine and form a coalition. They urged French citizens to defeat the far right.

French opinion polls suggest the National Rally is expected to be ahead in the first round of the parliamentary elections. The party came out on top in the European elections last week, garnering more than 30 percent of the vote cast in France, almost twice as many votes as Macron’s party Renaissance.

Macron’s term is still on for three more years, and he would retain control over foreign affairs and defence regardless of the result. But his presidency would be weakened if the National Rally wins, which could put Bardella on track to become the next prime minister, with authority over domestic and economic affairs.

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French voters go to the polls first on June 30 and again July 7.

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