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France-UK Migration Deal Angers EU

Published

3 weeks ago

June 27, 2025

A symbolic split: UK and EU take diverging paths on migration. Credit: Elionas2 from pixabay via Canva.com

On June 27th 2025, a diplomatic fault line opened across Europe. France is finalising a migration pact with the UK that allows Britain to send intercepted migrants back to French soil. What actually appears to be a bilateral solution has now prompted a continental backlash. Both Italy and Spain, which are currently on the sharpest edge of Europe’s migration map, have slammed the deal, warning that the fracture of the EU is already a fragile consensus on asylum policy.

The UK wants fewer Crossings, France wants control, but Italy and Spain say this deal undermines years of negotiation under the EU, which has been packed with migration on the side. So what’s actually in the draft pact? Why is it sparking anger now, and how can it unravel the EU border, as Europe tries to reset its migration response? This is how timing, trust, and rising tension between national fixes affect continental responsibility.

The proposed France‑UK agreement follows a familiar pattern: Britain wants to return migrants. Those who arrive illegally across the English Channel, and France appears willing, on paper, to take some of them back..

According to the Financial Times, the pact is still in draft form, and this would create a framework that would allow the UK to return irregular migrants to France more easily, thereby bypassing existing mechanisms.
The deal is being framed as a cooperation on returns, which the UK lost access to after Brexit, and now it’s become a bilateral workaround.
In practical terms, it would streamline removals, giving UK border authorities faster legal routes to offload asylum seekers, with France absorbing some of the intake, likely under a quota system.
But there’s no official quota number yet. No public framework for appeals. And no clear roadmap for how it aligns — or conflicts — with the EU’s newly ratified Pact on Migration and Asylum.

This legal ambiguity is precisely what is fueling southern Europe’s anger, as Spain and Italy, which are already inundated with arrivals from the Middle East and Africa, view this deal as a dangerous precedent.

Because if France constructs a deal with Britain, what’s to stop other nations from doing the same? They’re not opposing returns. They’re opposing opt-outs from European burden-sharing, which is being done behind closed doors.

Southern pressure builds

Italy’s foreign minister has warned that any migration arrangements would alter the EU solidarity without consultation. This threatens the stability of the 2024 EU Migration Pact because the proposed deal is legally grey and politically short‑sighted.

In 2024, Italy received over 150,000 irregular sea arrivals, while Spain handled both maritime and land entries via Ceuta and Melilla.
These aren’t abstract statistics — they’re the daily reality shaping domestic politics, pressuring public services, and fuelling voter unrest.

So when France, a fellow EU member, quietly engages in a deal with the UK — outside the EU framework — it sets off alarm bells.

Because what happens next? Could Britain offer a separate deal to Spain? Would Germany negotiate alone next time? The fear isn’t just unfairness — it’s fragmentation. Southern states worry a series of bilateral quick fixes could unravel the EU’s long-fought balance.

It’s a reminder that in migration policy, who gets a say matters as much as who gets the arrivals.

Europe’s migration pact

In 2024, the long‑awaited Pact on Migration and Asylum was finalised. It was a way to share the burden fairly between member states, reduce border tensions, and restore public confidence in broken systems.

At its core, the pact created two essential promises:

Frontline states wouldn’t be left alone when migrant arrivals spike.
Nor could any country bypass the rest with ad hoc deals.

Now that second promise is under scrutiny because the proposed France-UK agreement sidesteps wide cooperation in favour of a bilateral shortcut. If France can go solo with Britain, what stops others from doing the same?

And Spain’s Interior Ministry reportedly warned that the deal risks turning migration back into a patchwork of preferences, where powerful countries would make the rules and smaller countries would follow.

To further understand this deal, we must step back and examine Europe’s unresolved migration dilemma more closely.

In the UK, the number of channel crossings is rising again, with over 12,000 irregular migrants having crossed from France to the UK so far in 2025, according to a 30% increase reported by the UK Home Office.
For France, the officials in Paris are wholeheartedly becoming a holding zone for migrants who have failed to reach Britain. They also want to maintain influence over channel issues,

especially after Brexit, which severed London’s formal EU asylum return channels.

By engaging directly, the UK-France reasserts itself as the continental gatekeeper, offering conditional cooperation on its own terms. The deal can’t appear to bypass EU law, nor provoke a southern backlash that leaves it isolated in Brussels.

One deal, one message to Europe

If the France-UK migration deal goes ahead, even if it is stated as a pilot initiative, it will mark a turning point in how Europe manages its most politically fraught issue, asylum.

As we know, migration is not slowing down the climate-driven displacement; the political, stability, and economic fallout from conflict zones will continue to push thousands towards disorders, and as those numbers rise, so will the temptation for some governments to seek shortcuts.

To provide a clearer example, Italy has already signed agreements with Tunisia and Libya, and Greece has done the same with Turkey. Eastern European states have built walls and pushed back policies. Fragmentation isn’t new. But it’s growing more formal — and more accepted.

For now, the migration pact remains intact — in name, at least. But the strain is showing. And unless these tensions are addressed head-on, Europe’s next migrant wave may not just overwhelm its borders.

It might pull apart the political bridges meant to hold it together.

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Inma’s Racing Heart

Published

6 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Ion Axinescu

Inma from Archez. Credit: Locos de la Colina Facebook page.

Sometimes, running means more than running.

In just six months, Inma from Archez (a small village in the Axarquia region) has completed over 50 races across Andalusia. But what truly makes Inma stand out is her total commitment to causes that matter.

Inma wears her club’s colours (Locos de la Colina club in the Axarquia region) not just for sport, but for solidarity. Over the past few months, she’s taken part in charity races supporting cancer patients, working with organisations that fund research and assist families through the toughest of times.

She’s run for children with special needs, helping raise money for therapies and treatments to improve their quality of life. And she’s supported awareness for rare diseases, giving voice and visibility to families too often left unheard.

Each race she’s run has symbolised far more than participation, far more than endurance and competitive spirit. We’re talking about hope, compassion, and the belief that sport can be a powerful force for doing good.

All in all, Inma reminds us that running isn’t just about crossing finish lines: it’s about showing up for others. Empathy can go hand in hand with a passion for sport — that’s the real lesson.

And that makes Inma not just a runner, but also an inspiration.

Read here more news from Axarquia.

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Bazlama Buzz: Mayor Hooked On Turkish Cuisine

Published

12 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Adam Woodward

bazlama-buzz:-mayor-hooked-on-turkish-cuisine

Mayor of Estepona José María Garcia Urbano cuts the red tape again at Bazlama. Credit: EWN

Bazlama officially swung open its doors on Tuesday, July 15, to a huge crowd of fascinated new diners, eager to see what all the buzz was about. Mayor of Estepona, José María Garcia Urbano, was among them to cut the ceremonial ribbon and try out the flatbreads everyone has been talking about.

Co-Founder Sarah Moravvej explained, “We came across Bazlama in Istanbul and loved the food, the experience, and the whole concept. We felt it was something which was missing on the Costa del Sol.”

“Turkish food and hospitality are exceptional and deserve to be better known, and the Bazlama brand is amazing at transporting you to Turkey and delivering not just delicious Turkish cuisine but a true cultural experience.”

Bazlama is a family business, run by a mother-and-daughter team, drawing from recipes passed down through generations. They work hard to retain family values and make every guest feel like they are being welcomed into a traditional Turkish home. The love and generosity you feel at Bazlama restaurants is something special.

The breads that impressed José Maria García Urbano.
Credit: EWN

The new restaurant in El Paraiso, located on Calle Isla Verde 12, Benamara, close to the Senator Banús Hotel, is Bazlama’s first European venture, introducing its celebrated all-you-can-eat Turkish breakfast to the continent. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, the restaurant serves a scrumptious breakfast banquet featuring traditional breads, cheeses, jams, hot dishes like menemen scrambled eggs, and the signature bazlama flatbread. Guests can also enjoy gozleme and mezze set menus, paired with Turkish tea, drinks, and cocktails. The authentic flavours, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including organic produce from a small family farm in Estepona, which create a healthy and delicious dining experience.

The opening has brought 19 new jobs to the area, with plans for more as Bazlama extends its opening hours. Committed to sustainability, the restaurant plans to implement a waste-free model by partnering with local charities. Since its inception in Cesme, Turkey, in 1992, Bazlama has expanded to six locations in Turkey and one in Dubai, with a London branch on the cards for the near future. The Costa del Sol outpost is a big step in the brand’s international expansion, offering a cultural adventure through dishes like acuka spicy red pepper spread and stuffed gozleme.

Sarah and her sister Salmeh have joined the brand’s strong female leadership, and they invite guests to experience Turkish hospitality and become part of the Bazlama family. To reserve a table, call 951 830 136 or follow @bazlamakahvalti on Instagram and Facebook.

José María García Urbano, mayor of Estepona comes to Bazlama.
Credit: EWN

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Man With Highest IQ Claims Jesus Will Return

Published

14 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Letara Draghia

man-with-highest-iq-claims-jesus-will-return

Dr YoungHoon Kim. Credit: X @yhbryankimiq

Dr YoungHoon Kim, officially recognised as having the highest IQ in the world at 276, has gone viral for claiming that Jesus Christ will return within our generation.

The South Korean quantum physicist made the bold religious statement via X (@yhbryankimiq), citing divine revelation and scientific theory, including Einstein’s relativity and quantum physics, as evidence.

Who is Dr YoungHoon Kim?

As of 2024, Kim holds the official title of “World’s Highest IQ Person Now,” verified by the Official World Record®, the World Memory Championships, and the World Memory Sports Council, which is in partnership with Guinness World Records.

His high-range IQ score has been confirmed through various accredited tests and organisations, including:

GIGA Society (1 in a billion)
Olympiq Society (1 in 3 million)
Mega Society (1 in a million)
Triple Nine Society (1 in 1,000)
Mensa (1 in 50)

Dr Kim is founder and CEO of NeuroStory, a deep-tech healthcare company backed by the South Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups, focusing on brain health and AI solutions. He also leads the United Sigma Intelligence Association (USIA) – a global nonprofit think tank including public intellectuals like Noam Chomsky, Steven Pinker, and Yuval Harari.

He currently collaborates with research labs at Cambridge and Yale, and serves in leadership roles at the Lifeboat Foundation, Complex Biological Systems Alliance, and International Longevity Alliance.

Kim has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates in cognitive science and psychology and is an honorary professor at several institutions.
He also holds high-ranking positions in mind sports, such as:

Deputy President of the World Memory Championships
Council Member of the World Mind Sports Council
Known as “The 2nd Tony Buzan,” succeeding the inventor of Mind Maps.

“Jesus will return in our generation”

His bold statements, posted on X and YouTube, have gone viral with millions of views, shaking up both religious and scientific communities. In several posts, Kim has declared:

“I am the man with the highest IQ in the world, YoungHoon Kim… Jesus Christ will return in our generation. This is a truth revealed to me by God, the Father and the Holy Spirit.”

“From the world’s highest IQ record holder: Heaven is real. Hell is real. God is real. That’s not belief. That’s not religion. That’s not a message from a church. That’s the ultimate truth of the universe.”

“Christian Manifesto – from the world’s highest IQ record holder: 1. Jesus is God. 2. The Bible is 100% true. 3. The afterlife exists 100% 4. Heaven is real. Hell is real. 5. Evolution is a scam. 6. Feminism is a fraud. 7. Homosexuality is sin.”

Linking religion with science and quantum theory

Kim says Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum physics support his beliefs.

“Einstein showed that time moves differently depending on speed and gravity… Quantum physics teaches that what we believe and observe can shape what becomes real.”

He suggests Jesus’ prophecy about returning during “this generation” refers to eternity rather than human perception of time.

In another post, Kim explains:

“Science says that when the brain stops, our consciousness disappears. Well, quantum physics says that information never disappears. Never. It just changes form.”

The idea that the universe may be a simulation, popularised by some scientists, is also believed by Kim.

“Some scientists and philosophers believe that our world could be a simulation created by a higher-dimensional being, which I believe.”

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