EU gotta know when to hold ‘em: America's latest trade deal
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Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer hails major UK-France deal to tackle Channel small boat crossings
The 'one-in, one-out' pilot scheme could see some adult migrants who make the Channel crossing at risk of return if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible A major treaty between the UK and France attempting to tackle dangerous Channel crossings is set to come into force tomorrow. The"one-in, one-out" pilot scheme could see some adult migrants who make the crossing at risk of return if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible. In exchange, people with a legitimate claim to live in Britain will be sent in their place under the treaty, which remains in force until June 2026. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron reached the agreement last month during the French President's state visit to the UK. It was agreed the scheme would begin as a pilot and is the first returns deal struck with France since Britain left the European Union. It comes after Nigel Farage appearances on Sky News sparked thousands of complaints. Keir Starmer said: 'This government has been fixing the foundations of the broken asylum system we inherited and today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France. 'This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs' business model. 'The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.' Ministers have previously declined to say how many migrants could be returned. But reports have suggested the pilot will be capped at 50 a week - around 2,600 each year. The Home Office said ratification of the treaty comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau signed the final text last week. They said the EU Commission had also given the green-light to the scheme, which Ms Cooper described as "groundbreaking". She said under the deal "people who undertake illegal, dangerous journeys to the UK – putting lives at risk and fuelling organised crime – can be returned to France". She added: "In return, we will take people who apply legally with appropriate documentation to be transferred to the UK, subject to clear eligibility criteria and stringent security checks. 'This is an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings – undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally can't be returned to France." 'It is also right to make clear that – while the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict – this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal, and uncontrolled routes." On Monday the Home Office also announced a £100million boost to border security to pay for up to 300 additional National Crime Agency Officers. The cash will also fund a pilot of the 'one-in, one-out' returns deal with France.
Sky News
5 hours ago
- Sky News
Donald Trump wades into Sydney Sweeney ad debate
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad. The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans". It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards. In a since-corrected Truth Social post, the US president initially misspelt Sweeney's first name, saying: "It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying of the shelves.' Go get 'em Sidney." Most of the criticism has centred on videos using the word "genes" instead of "jeans", with one in which Sweeney says: "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits. But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message. The video appeared on American Eagle's Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign. In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign "is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone." Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump's intervention. Trump knows all publicity is good publicity US correspondent @marthakelner They say all publicity is good publicity, and Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad is certainly notching up the column inches, especially now Donald Trump has intervened. The US president must have been breathlessly excited when he found out Sweeney was a registered Republican because he wrote a Truth Social post in support of her before deleting it twice and reposting three times to correct various spelling and grammatical errors. He clearly could not wait to get involved in the discourse. "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there,' he wrote. "Go get 'em Sydney!" In any other era, the president weighing in so heavily on one side of a pop culture issue would've been unusual. But the current president knows people are talking about the ad around their dinner tables and at parties right now. By injecting himself into the discussion, they will now be talking about him too. In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with "woke" ones "on the other side of the ledger" - as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift. "The tide has seriously turned - Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be," he wrote.
Business News Wales
6 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Apprenticeship Pathway 'Should Be Promoted as a Respected and Quality Option'
Schools, colleges, employers and the Welsh Government must work together to present apprenticeships as a strong start to a career, the Senedd's Economy Committee has concluded. The Committee heard evidence from apprentices and apprenticeship providers and has laid out recommendations for the Welsh Government to help people make better choices about their education and training in its latest report, Apprenticeship Pathways. The Committee believes that if the Welsh Government increases awareness and take-up of apprenticeships this will allow people to improve their skills and earning potential, building a more productive workforce and boosting the economy. Matt, who did an apprenticeship at Gower College, gave evidence to the Committee and said: 'The biggest issue is awareness. I had no idea apprenticeships existed, what they led to, or that they were equivalent to GCSEs. When I was unemployed, no one at the job centre mentioned them—and I never saw a poster or heard about them from employers either. 'I'm now a senior healthcare assistant, and I had to either have a Level 3 qualification or be willing to study for one. While senior management supported this, many line managers don't understand how apprenticeships work or how to support staff properly. 'These qualifications are ideal for people like me who left school with nothing. Through my apprenticeship with Gower College and support from Swansea Bay University Health Board, I gained GCSEs in Maths and English, new skills for my job, and I'm now studying for a nursing degree. It's taken me from no qualifications to university.' The Committee heard that many learners are not aware of alternative routes into employment and pursue further academic study even though they could be much happier, more successful and more suited to the vocational one. The Committee has laid out a number of recommendations for the Welsh Government on apprenticeship pathways, with calls for: Better engagement and promotion of apprenticeships as a viable education pathway for students The Welsh Government should work with schools, colleges and employers to present vocational courses as a good quality option Faster progress in developing a vocational education and training strategy Barriers to recruiting and retaining skilled assessors and apprenticeship trainers to be addressed Increases to pay for apprenticeships to be explored as part of the fair work agenda. Andrew RT Davies MS, Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, said: 'For many people, apprenticeships can be an excellent choice. They combine learning earning, working and training. The apprentices who gave evidence were enjoying their courses and they are thriving as a result. 'However, we heard about many challenges facing people who want to do an apprenticeship, not least understanding and navigating the system itself. For young people, the academic route is clear, and schools work hard to signpost and encourage their learners to do A-levels and degrees, the same cannot be said for apprenticeships. 'We're calling on the Welsh Government to work with schools, colleges and employers to make sure that the apprenticeship pathway is promoted to everyone as a respected and quality option. 'There are huge benefits to apprentices, employers and the economy if we get this right in Wales.'
