Government commits extra £100m to stopping small boat crossings
The funding will enable the recruitment of up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers and provide new technology for intelligence gathering on people-smuggling gangs.
It will also support the 'one in, one out' returns agreement with France and fund interventions in key transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
New measures include a proposed five-year prison sentence for individuals advertising illegal Channel crossings or fake passports online.
The announcement follows record numbers of Channel crossings, with 25,000 arrivals recorded so far this year.
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Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
Germany should consider Israel sanctions, senior lawmaker says after trip
BERLIN, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition on Monday said Berlin should consider sanctions on Israel including a partial suspension of weapons exports or the suspension of a European Union-wide political agreement. The call by Siemtje Moeller, the deputy leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) parliamentary faction, reflects a sharpening of rhetoric from Berlin against Israel which has yet to yield any major policy changes however. Moeller, whose SPD joined a coalition with Merz's conservatives this year, wrote a letter to SPD lawmakers after returning from a trip to Israel with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul last week. "My assessment is that the Israeli government will move little without pressure. If such concrete improvements fail to materialize in the near future, there must be consequences," she said in the letter, seen by Reuters. Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be "taboo", she said, adding that Israeli statements that there were no restrictions on aid to Gaza were not convincing. At the same time, Moeller demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas. She said Hamas must no longer play a role in a political future in Gaza. "It must be disarmed, its reign of terror must end." Western nations have intensified efforts to exert pressure on Israel, with Britain, Canada and France signalling their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in Israeli-occupied territory at the United Nations General Assembly this September. Israel has criticised France, Britain and Canada, saying their decision will reward Hamas. Critics argue that Germany's response remains overly cautious, shaped by an enduring sense of historical guilt for the Holocaust and reinforced by pro-Israel sentiment in influential media circles, weakening the West's collective ability to apply meaningful pressure on Israel. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. A growing number of civilians are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and intensifying criticism of Israel over its curbs on aid into the enclave. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international outcry, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Oasis fans at Wembley gig where man died question alcohol use and security
Oasis fans who witnessed a fatal fall at Wembley stadium during a reunion concert on Saturday have questioned the security setup and the amount of alcohol being consumed in the stands. The Metropolitan police said a man in his 40s died after suffering injuries consistent with a fall at the end of the band's performance at about 10.19pm on Saturday night. On Monday, the Met announced that the Health and Safety Executive, the body which investigates accidents, had been informed. Witnesses who were 10 ft (3 metres) from where the man landed said he fell from the upper tier of Wembley's block 511, on to the aisle between block 211 and block 210. Emma, 40, from Liverpool, said the man landed next to a row behind her and her partner, Mike, only five seats away. 'I've been feeling awful ever since – I can't stop thinking about him,' she said. 'It happened directly behind our right shoulders. If he had fallen where someone was sitting, it would have killed both people.' Within seconds of the fall, several staff began trying to perform CPR on the man. Mike said: 'It's quite traumatic, seeing people just doing CPR on someone frantically. I haven't been able to focus on anything else.' Both Emma and Mike, who declined to give their full names, urged Wembley to review safety and alcohol sales at the stadium. Emma said: 'So much beer was being thrown throughout the whole concert. I was surprised they allowed people to bring drinks into the stands. It made the floor really slippy.' She added: 'They should put the security guard at the bottom of all the aisles too, and permanently station them there to stop people falling off.' Mike, who works in health and safety, said: 'Beer was coming from everywhere. I got hit by an empty cup right on the side of the head. If it had been full it would really have hurt. We started getting beer on us from the moment Oasis came on stage.' John, 52, a delivery driver from Oxford who also declined to give his full name, saw many fans leaning over the balcony from block 511. He said: 'There were loads of people who just kept going down to the front and leaning right over. One guy was stopped but after that no security came down. The security was so lax. There's a rail and a small guard but it did make me think someone could quite easily get knocked off there.' John added: 'It seemed unsafe. If they'd have actually posted a security guard at the bottom of those steps, where people were continually going, it would prevented the fall.' He was also surprised by the level of drinking at the gig. 'The amount of alcohol that was sold on the night was quite shocking. I constantly saw people with cardboard cup holders full of pints,' John said. Last week the Times revealed that Oasis fans were consuming an average of 250,000 pints a night during the Wembley gigs. Wembley Stadium has been approached for comment. In a statement on Sunday it said: 'The police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.' Saturday's concert was the fourth of seven sold-out reunion gigs at Wembley Stadium. Despite the tragedy on Saturday, the fifth gig on Sunday went ahead as planned. The sixth and seventh gigs will be in September.
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Teenager, 19, stabbed to death in 'targeted attack' in town centre car park - as three men are arrested
A 19-year-old teenager stabbed to death in a 'targeted attack' in a town centre has been named and pictured for the first time. Mohammed Afzal, known to his loved ones as Isa, was fatally attacked in Powerleague car park in the heart of Bury, Greater Manchester, just before 9pm on Friday, August 1. He suffered several stab wounds before sadly later dying from his injuries. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Mohammed's family are now being assisted by specialist officers during this 'difficult time'. Following the fatal incident, three teenagers were arrested and detained on suspicion of murder. They currently remain in police custody for questioning. The trio are all male and aged 19, with the latest arrested at Manchester Airport at 4.30am on Sunday. The others were detained in Bury and Bolton on Saturday night. Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team is leading the ongoing investigation into the shocking murder. On Sunday, Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton said that he believed the attack was 'targeted' and there was therefore no wider threat posed to the public. He described the incident as both 'violent and tragic', adding that it was 'witnessed by a lot of people'. DCI Charlton added: 'Even though we have three people in custody this is still a live investigation and that will continue today and into next week. 'This was a violent and tragic incident that was witnessed by a lot of people. 'This incident will have shocked the community and distressed anyone who witnessed it, but we believe this was a targeted attack with no wider threat. 'Our officers will be in the area today and over the next few days as we try to establish what happened in the lead-up to this awful incident. Greater Manchester Police have encouraged any individuals with information related to the incident have been asked to contact the force quoting log 3354-01/08/25 'We also have specialist officers supporting the family at this difficult time.' Forensic officers were seen gathering evidence from the Powerleague car park and a second scene on Valley Mill Lane, near the Roch Valley Greenway, over the weekend. Powerleague remained closed throughout the weekend, but reopened on Monday morning. Any individuals with information related to the incident have been urged to contact the force quoting log 3354-01/08/25. Information can also be reported by calling 101 or speaking anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
