Global report
1 GREECE
Greeks finish border wall on fear of Afghan migrant rush
Greece has completed a 40km wall on its Turkish border, below, and installed a surveillance system to prevent migrants from reaching Europe. The Taliban victory in Afghanistan has sparked fears that Europe could face a migration crisis similar to that in 2015
Michalis Chrisochoidis, the citizen protection minister, said the wall was to stop a repeat of six years ago. A 12km fence was already in place, he said, adding: “We cannot wait passively. Our borders will remain safe and inviolable.” Athens said last week it would turn people back. Notis Mitarachi, the migration minister, said: “Greece will not be a gateway to Europe for illegal Afghan migrants.”
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, raised the issue last Friday with the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Erdoğan’s office said Afghanistan and Iran, which is a route into Turkey, needed support or a new wave was certain. More than 1 million people escaping war and poverty crossed from Turkey into the EU in 2015. About 60,000 stayed in Greece. Turkey struck a deal in 2016 to stem the flow in exchange for financial support.
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2 UNITED STATES
Floods kill 22 in Tennessee after rainfall breaks records
At least 22 people were confirmed dead as rescue crews
