Latest news with #UK-bound
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
UK launches first sanctions in new strategy to deter migrant crossings
The UK sanctioned over 20 people and groups linked to migrant smuggling, using new powers to tackle irregular migration. Migrants try to board a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Equihen, northern France, on June 30, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP) The UK imposed sanctions Wednesday on more than two dozen people, groups and suppliers from the Balkans, the Middle East and China accused of helping migrants cross the Channel. In what it called a 'landmark' first use of new powers, the move came as the government faces political pressure to stem migrant arrivals on small boats from northern France, at record levels. The asset freezes and travel bans announced target individuals and entities 'driving irregular migration to the UK', and include four 'gangs' and 'gangland bosses' operating in the Balkans, the Foreign Office said. They also hit a small boat supplier in China, so-called 'hawala' money movers in the Middle East, and seven alleged people-smugglers linked to Iraq. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it 'a landmark moment in the government's work to tackle organised immigration crime' impacting the UK. ALSO READ: Two South Africans, one laptop and a billion-rand travel company 'From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world,' he added. 'My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.' 'Terrorising refugees' Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office a year ago promising to curb the journeys by 'smashing the gangs' that facilitate the crossings, but he has struggled to deliver. Nearly 24,000 migrants have made the perilous journey across the Channel so far in 2025, the highest ever tally at this point in a year. The issue has become politically perilous in the UK, blamed for helping to fuel the rise of the far-right and violence at anti-migrant demonstrations. ALSO READ: Macron turns to politics on second day of UK state visit Protests have erupted sporadically outside hotels believed to house asylum-seekers, with a recent demonstration outside one in Epping, east of London, descending into clashes that injured eight police officers. Riots sparked by the stabbing to death of three young girls in northwestern Southport a year ago also saw suspected asylum-seeker hotels attacked and anti-migrant sentiment on display. As part of its strategy to curb new arrivals, the government is also cracking down on illegal working, which European neighbours cite as a 'pull factor' for UK-bound migrants. It announced late Tuesday a new agreement with delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats which includes sharing the locations of asylum hotels to help tackle illegal working. Meanwhile in another new tactic, artificial intelligence technology will be trialled to assess disputed ages of asylum-seekers who claim to be children, the interior ministry said Tuesday. ALSO READ: Dirco slams old travel advisory about terrorism in South Africa 'Far-fetched' Wednesday's designations represent the UK's first use of its new 'Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime'. It claims the regime is a 'world first', empowering the Foreign Office to target foreign financiers and companies as well as individuals allegedly involved in facilitating people-smuggling to the UK. In all, it sanctioned 20 individuals, four gangs — two Balkan groups and two of North African origin operating in the Balkans — and Chinese firm Weihai Yamar Outdoor Product Co. It has advertised its small boats online 'explicitly for the purpose of people-smuggling,' the Foreign Office said. Among those facing curbs was Bledar Lala, described as an Albanian controlling 'the 'Belgium operations' of an organised criminal group' involved in the crossings. ALSO READ: No, Malema, the UK is not a bully The UK also targeted Alen Basil, a former police translator it accused of now leading a large smuggling network in Serbia, 'terrorising refugees, with the aid of corrupt policemen'. London hit alleged 'gangland boss' Mohammed Tetwani with sanctions, noting he was dubbed the 'King of Horgos' over his brutal running of a migrant camp in the Serbian town Horgos. Author and researcher Tom Keatinge, of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the sanctions were 'a new front in the UK's efforts to control a business model that brings profit to the enablers' and misery to victims. 'However, I would caution against overpromising,' he told AFP. 'Talk of freezing assets and using sanctions to 'smash the gangs' seems far-fetched and remains to be seen. 'History suggests that such assertions hold governments hostage to fortune.' NOW READ: UK moves warplanes to Middle East amid Iran crisis – By: © Agence France-Presse
Int'l Business Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
UK Launches First Sanctions In New Strategy To Deter Migrant Crossings
The UK imposed sanctions Wednesday on more than two dozen people, groups and suppliers from the Balkans, the Middle East and China accused of helping migrants cross the Channel. In what it called a "landmark" first use of new powers, the move came as the government faces political pressure to stem migrant arrivals on small boats from northern France, at record levels. The asset freezes and travel bans announced target individuals and entities "driving irregular migration to the UK", and include four "gangs" and "gangland bosses" operating in the Balkans, the Foreign Office said. They also hit a small boat supplier in China, so-called "hawala" money movers in the Middle East, and seven alleged people-smugglers linked to Iraq. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it "a landmark moment in the government's work to tackle organised immigration crime" impacting the UK. "From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world," he added. "My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account." Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office a year ago promising to curb the journeys by "smashing the gangs" that facilitate the crossings, but he has struggled to deliver. Nearly 24,000 migrants have made the perilous journey across the Channel so far in 2025, the highest ever tally at this point in a year. The issue has become politically perilous in the UK, blamed for helping to fuel the rise of the far-right and violence at anti-migrant demonstrations. Protests have erupted sporadically outside hotels believed to house asylum-seekers, with a recent demonstration outside one in Epping, east of London, descending into clashes that injured eight police officers. Riots sparked by the stabbing to death of three young girls in northwestern Southport a year ago also saw suspected asylum-seeker hotels attacked and anti-migrant sentiment on display. As part of its strategy to curb new arrivals, the government is also cracking down on illegal working, which European neighbours cite as a "pull factor" for UK-bound migrants. It announced late Tuesday a new agreement with delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats which includes sharing the locations of asylum hotels to help tackle illegal working. Meanwhile in another new tactic, artificial intelligence technology will be trialled to assess disputed ages of asylum-seekers who claim to be children, the interior ministry said Tuesday. Wednesday's designations represent the UK's first use of its new "Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime". It claims the regime is a "world first", empowering the Foreign Office to target foreign financiers and companies as well as individuals allegedly involved in facilitating people-smuggling to the UK. In all, it sanctioned 20 individuals, four gangs -- two Balkan groups and two of North African origin operating in the Balkans -- and Chinese firm Weihai Yamar Outdoor Product Co. It has advertised its small boats online "explicitly for the purpose of people-smuggling," the Foreign Office said. Among those facing curbs was Bledar Lala, described as an Albanian controlling "the 'Belgium operations' of an organised criminal group" involved in the crossings. The UK also targeted Alen Basil, a former police translator it accused of now leading a large smuggling network in Serbia, "terrorising refugees, with the aid of corrupt policemen". London hit alleged "gangland boss" Mohammed Tetwani with sanctions, noting he was dubbed the "King of Horgos" over his brutal running of a migrant camp in the Serbian town Horgos. Author and researcher Tom Keatinge, of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the sanctions were "a new front in the UK's efforts to control a business model that brings profit to the enablers" and misery to victims. "However, I would caution against overpromising," he told AFP. "Talk of freezing assets and using sanctions to 'smash the gangs' seems far-fetched and remains to be seen. "History suggests that such assertions hold governments hostage to fortune." Some of the more than two dozen people, groups and suppliers sanctioned by the UK over alleged involvement in cross-Channel migrant smuggling AFP Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in London on July 9, 2025 AFP A protester wrapped in the St George flag of England during anti-migrant protests in Epping, Essex, this month AFP Migrants try to board a smuggler's boat to cross the Channel, from the beach of Equihen, northern France, on June 30, 2025 AFP
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PIA to resume UK flights from mid-August: spokesperson
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume its flight operations to the United Kingdom from mid-August, the national carrier's spokesperson confirmed during a televised interview on Wednesday. Speaking on Aaj News' program 'News Insight with Amir Zia', PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said the airline will restore direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to Manchester and Birmingham, while flights from Karachi will operate to London. 'The aircraft are ready, although we are facing a shortfall of four to five planes,' Hafeez said, adding that restoring full operations on older routes remains a logistical challenge. 'Still, the airline is making every possible effort to resume its key international connections.' The development comes after British aviation authorities granted clearance for Pakistani carriers to operate in UK airspace, marking a significant milestone after a prolonged suspension of direct flights due to regulatory issues. According to Hafeez, the UK remains PIA's most crucial route in Europe, and its revival is expected to significantly boost the airline's financial health. The resumption of UK-bound flights is part of PIA's broader strategy to regain international market share and restore public trust in its services.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
No 'mechanical or maintenance issues' with crashed Boeing
The airline's top executive has told employees to avoid drawing premature conclusions about the June 12 accident The preliminary investigative report into the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner did not reveal "mechanical or maintenance issues" with the aircraft, the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson told employees in a letter that was seen by The Print website and other Indian media outlets on Monday. Wilson also discouraged employees from relying on speculation and rumors that had been circulating in the media following the release of the initial report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). "Instead of focusing on interpretations, I suggest we note that the Preliminary Report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed," Campbell said in the letter. "There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyzer and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status," Campbell added, urging "everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over." As a precautionary measure, Wilson wrote, all Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India's fleet underwent checks within days of the accident and were deemed fit for service. The UK-bound plane carrying 242 people crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, India shortly after takeoff on June 12. Only one person on board survived. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed. The AAIB report, released on Saturday, revealed that cockpit switches controlling the fuel supply were moved to the 'cut off' position seconds after takeoff, shutting off fuel to both engines. On Monday, India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, directed all domestic carriers operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to complete crucial inspections on their fuel switch locking systems by July 21.
India Gazette
12-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Preliminary report on Air India Boeing crash released
The probe has found that both engines of the plane shut down mid-air after the fuel supply was cut by valves that were switched off Last month's Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash was caused by the fuel supply to the engines being shut off, a preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has found. The UK-bound plane carrying 242 peoplecrashedinto a residential area in Ahmedabad, India shortly after takeoff on June 12. Only one person on board survived. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed. According to thereportreleased on Saturday, cockpit switches controlling the fuel supply were moved to the 'cut off' position seconds after takeoff, shutting off fuel to both engines. The report states that in the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking why the fuel switch was cut off. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report says, noting that seconds after the exchange, the plane began losing altitude. One engine restarted when the switches were turned back on, but the plane continued to descend, and one of the pilots issued a Mayday call. The plane was airborne for only 32 seconds and traveled 0.9 nautical miles before it crashed. The report does not state whether the switches were manually or accidentally flipped. It does not attribute the remarks it mentions to either the captain or first officer, nor does it identify who issued the distress call. The investigators have ruled out fuel quality issues, overloading, bird strikes, and the presence of hazardous cargo. All systems were reportedly normal at takeoff. The report does not currently recommend action against Boeing, which built the aircraft, or General Electric, the engine manufacturer. Both companies, along with the US Federal Aviation Administration and UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, are involved in the ongoing investigation. Commenting on the report, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu urged the public to not "jump to conclusions," stressing that it is based on early findings and "many technicalities" remain unresolved. Air India acknowledged the report in a statement on X and said it is cooperating with the authorities, but declined further comment. Experts earlier cited potential crew error, mechanical failure, or incorrect takeoff settings as possible causes of the tragedy. Following the crash, India's aviation regulator ordered safety checks on all Air India Dreamliners. READ MORE: Midair emergencies force four Boeing Dreamliners to divert India flights Boeing has faced growing scrutiny over safety issues in recent years. Its 737 MAX plane was grounded around the world from 2019 to 2020 following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people. (
