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Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Greece drafts tougher law for rejected asylum seekers, PM says
FILE PHOTO: Migrants gather at the port of the village of Sfakia, following a rescue operation at open sea, on the island of Crete, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou/File Photo ATHENS - Greece has prepared legislation that will introduce tougher penalties for rejected asylum seekers and speed up returns to their home countries, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. The Mediterranean nation was on the frontline of a 2015-2016 migration crisis when more than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa crossed into Europe. The surge in arrivals triggered calls for countries on Europe's southern frontier like Greece and Italy to shore up their borders. The numbers have since fallen. But migration remains a politically charged issue in Greece, and Mitsotakis has pledged to toughen his stance. "Penalties will be heavier for those who enter the country illegally or stay in our country, if their asylum application is being rejected," Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, which discussed a new draft law on illegal migration. Mitsotakis said the bill will also aim to speed up returns through a "more effective and fair mechanism". The regulations will need parliamentary approval before taking effect. Migrant flows to Greece dropped 30% in the first four months of this year compared to the previous year as fewer people entered along its eastern border with Turkey. But sea arrivals from Libya to the outlying islands of Crete and Gavdos have surged in recent months along a new smuggling route on the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of rejected asylum seekers are stranded in Greece. In order to accelerate asylum processes and reduce pressure on asylum systems, the EU's executive last week proposed amending European law to allow member states to deport rejected asylum seekers if they can be sent to a third country deemed safe by the bloc. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Greece drafts tougher law for rejected asylum seekers, PM says
FILE PHOTO: Migrants gather at the port of the village of Sfakia, following a rescue operation at open sea, on the island of Crete, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou/File Photo ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece has prepared legislation that will introduce tougher penalties for rejected asylum seekers and speed up returns to their home countries, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. The Mediterranean nation was on the frontline of a 2015-2016 migration crisis when more than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa crossed into Europe. The surge in arrivals triggered calls for countries on Europe's southern frontier like Greece and Italy to shore up their borders. The numbers have since fallen. But migration remains a politically charged issue in Greece, and Mitsotakis has pledged to toughen his stance. "Penalties will be heavier for those who enter the country illegally or stay in our country, if their asylum application is being rejected," Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, which discussed a new draft law on illegal migration. Mitsotakis said the bill will also aim to speed up returns through a "more effective and fair mechanism". The regulations will need parliamentary approval before taking effect. Migrant flows to Greece dropped 30% in the first four months of this year compared to the previous year as fewer people entered along its eastern border with Turkey. But sea arrivals from Libya to the outlying islands of Crete and Gavdos have surged in recent months along a new smuggling route on the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of rejected asylum seekers are stranded in Greece. In order to accelerate asylum processes and reduce pressure on asylum systems, the EU's executive last week proposed amending European law to allow member states to deport rejected asylum seekers if they can be sent to a third country deemed safe by the bloc. (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Edward McAllister and Joe Bavier)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
The Headaches at Newark Airport Could Continue For A While
Since last week, Newark Liberty International Airport has experienced frequent delays and flight cancellations, affecting both inbound and outgoing travel. Over 500 flights were affected on Monday, according to FlightAware, and already Tuesday, there have been 44 canceled outgoing flights and over 200 flights impacted by the issues. Newark's problems stem from equipment failures, a shortage of air traffic control staffers and the closure of one of the facility's busiest runways. Right now, it looks like it might be a while before things get better. On the runway front, Jeff Goldman wrote Tuesday that Runway 4L-22R, which handles nearly 47% of the airport's flight activity, is closed until June 15 for renovation. The runway reopens next month, but from Sept. 1 through the end of the year, will be closed on weekends between 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Sunday. 'Due to the volume of flights arriving and departing EWR (the closure) will significantly affect carriers' ability to operate reliably and on time,' federal officials said last November. 'Absent increased scheduling flexibility during the construction period, the FAA anticipates a high likelihood of congestion, delays, and cancellations at EWR.' United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER wide body passenger aircraft spotted during take off, departing from Newark Liberty International Airport EWR serving New York Metropolitan area. The B777 airplane has the registration tail number N783UA and is powered by 2x Pratt & Whitney PW4090 jet engines. United Airlines with headquarters in Chicago is the largest airline in the world by destination and fleet size member of Star Alliance aviation alliance group. Newark, United States on November 2024 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto/Getty Images As for the equipment trouble, Galen Munroe, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, revealed Monday that back on April 28, a Philadelphia control center responsible for sorting flight traffic for Newark 'temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control,' and were 'unable to see, hear, or talk to them.' Obviously, that's incredibly alarming, and the aftereffects of the outage have also been devastating. Munroe said that a number of controllers from the Philadelphia operation have utilized their rights under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, which allows employees who are injured or involved in a traumatic event at work to take leave without penalty. As a result, Newark is short-staffed, and though the FAA has pledged to hire 2,000 new traffic controllers nationwide this year, those efforts aren't going to help the second-busiest airport in the New York area at the moment. "Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it's now clear – and the FAA tells us – that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a letter to customers last Friday. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: A monitor shows flight delays at Newark International Airport on May 05, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. Delays and cancellations at one of the nation's busiest airports have persisted for about a week, with these disruptions continuing into Monday morning. Air traffic control outages, runway construction, and an announcement by United Airlines that over 20% of FAA controllers at Newark walked off the job have all contributed to delays and cancellations. (Photo by)United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Monday a plan to "radically transform" air traffic control and fix a problem that has been brewing for decades. 'We're going to build a brand-new air traffic control system — from new telecom, to new radars, to new infrastructure. We're bringing on new air traffic controllers,' Duffy said. Duffy added that officials have slowed traffic down in Newark to help alleviate the congestion and make commuters "feel safe." 'When you have an incident like this, you want to make sure that people are safe,' Duffy said. 'And so, you just have less departures out of the airport until we feel comfortable and safe that the system isn't going to go down again.'
Gulf Business
28-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Riyadh Air willing to buy Boeing planes from cancelled Chinese orders
Image credit: Nicolas Economou/ Getty Images Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas on Monday said that the Saudi startup carrier would be ready to buy Boeing is looking to resell potentially dozens of planes locked out of China by tariffs after repatriating a third jet to the United States in a delivery standoff that drew new criticism of Beijing from US President Donald Trump. Read- 'What we've done… is made it quite clear to Boeing, should that ever happen, and the keyword there is should, we'll happily take them all,' Douglas said in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market conference. Boeing took the rare step of publicly flagging the potential aircraft sale during an analyst call last week, saying that there would be no shortage of buyers in a tight jet market. Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has been ordering planes from both Boeing and Airbus ahead of its launch, including 60 narrow-body A321-family jets from Airbus in October and up to 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners ordered in March 2023. The airline does not expect delivery delays from either airline to be resolved any time soon. Douglas said The airline, which is aiming to launch in the fourth quarter, has hired 500 employees and intends to increase its workforce to 1,000 over the next 9 to 12 months, Douglas said. Thereafter, hiring of pilots and cabin crew will steadily continue as aircraft are delivered.
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Isn't This Defense Stock In Your Portfolio?
Fastened seatbelt during a flight. Inside a Ryanair low cost budget airline in the European route ... More FR1818 from Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport SKG LGTS in Greece to Eindhoven Airport EIN EHEH in the Netherlands. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) It offers better returns than your bank savings, ignores market crashes, and is tailored for the new economic landscape. Who are we referring to? It's TransDigm Group (NYSE:TDG). Still overlooking it? We understand. It's not an exciting tech name or a new AI superstar. It may seem dull. However, this is precisely the tactical error you should sidestep if you aim to grow your wealth. Evading significant fluctuations is crucial for wealth accumulation. The High-Quality portfolio, which aims to minimize volatility while providing compounding upside, has surpassed the S&P 500 and achieved returns exceeding 91% since its inception. Let's see if you still consider TDG stock unexciting after what we'll share. You've heard enough about tech stocks that fluctuate like trapeze artists. But what if there exists a stock that offers tech-like returns without the chaotic movements? One that provides you with a 5.5% dividend– right now – and possesses the strength to increase that payout continuously? Introducing the defense stock that quietly exceeds expectations – TDG At 5.5%, this dividend outperforms most savings accounts, money markets, and even Treasuries. But here's the catch – this dividend isn't a 'set-it-and-forget-it' yield. It has momentum behind it. What does this signify? This isn't merely a dividend investment – it's a cash-generating machine with growth potential. With healthy margins and swift revenue growth, dividends are set to increase as well. This implies that yields could rise or stay consistent as the stock price appreciates. Either way – you benefit! You enjoy growing income year after year. Many income stocks offer substantial dividends. Few provide them in conjunction with stability and capital appreciation. Contrast that with your favorite tech stocks. Nvidia: -62% in 2022, Meta: -75% drop from peak to trough, and Tesla – well, let's not even discuss that. With this defense investment, you're compounding quietly and steadily. And guess what – with its impressive margins, robust cash flow, and a DE ratio of 30%, this stock has considerable capacity to manage increased interest costs as debts are refinanced at higher yields in the coming years. This indicates that the risk to dividend growth is minimal. Think defense stocks are dull? Think again. Tariffs have returned. U.S.-China tensions are rising. The new industrial policy wave (whether called re-shoring, de-risking, or 'Make America Build Again') represents a favorable environment for defense expenses. Defense firms are not only safeguarded – they are positioned to prosper. And TDG has remained steadfast during market crises in the past. However, as the saying goes – never put all your eggs in one basket. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio is crafted to diversify stock-specific risks while providing access to potential growth. With a collection of 30 stocks, it has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 over the past 4 years. Why is that? Collectively, HQ Portfolio stocks have delivered superior returns with reduced risk compared to the benchmark index; experiencing less volatility, as shown in HQ Portfolio performance metrics
