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Herald Sun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
London and Paris were working Thursday to thrash out a deal on undocumented migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats on the last day of the French president's state visit to Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron posed for the cameras outside Downing Street, as they headed inside for a summit with senior ministers focused on that issue and other shared concerns. They include the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a "reboot" of defence ties including joint missile development and nuclear co-operation. The two leaders agreed Wednesday that there was a need for a "new deterrent" to curb the small boat crossings. The issue has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. The UK would tackle undocumented migration with "new tactics" and a "new level of intent", Starmer said in summit opening remarks, adding: "We will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is." A so-called "one in, one out" migrant deal, details of which were reportedly still being discussed, would see migrants sent back to France in return for the UK accepting a similar number of migrants with strong asylum cases. As the leaders met, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage meanwhile posted a video and photo on X from another boat showing the scene in the waterway between Britain and France -- one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Describing it as a "classic" scenario over the past five years when the sea was calm, he described seeing "about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy" with UK Border force "waiting for the handover". - Pomp and politics - The mooted migrant-exchange scheme, which has sparked "serious concerns" among some other European nations, could initially involve around 50 people a week, French daily Le Monde reported. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. During a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Starmer outlined his government's policies to tackle issues such as illegal working, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Illegal employment opportunities are one of the "pull factors" France claims has made the UK particularly attractive to migrants. Thursday's summit follows two days of events spanning pomp and politics, trade and culture for Macron and his wife Brigitte. The French first couple were welcomed on Tuesday by King Charles III and Queen Camilla with a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London. - Ukraine focus - As part of a mooted defence agreement, the UK and France would order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles -- long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies -- while stepping up work on a replacement system, the UK defence ministry said. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia following Moscow's full-scale 2022 invasion. Starmer and Macron will also on Thursday dial into a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the 30-nation coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. Starmer's office said this week that the call would "discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia". They will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency. The state visit also saw Macron formally announce the loan of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, to the British Museum for 10 months from September 2026 in return for a number of English treasures. bur-vl-har/jj Originally published as Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
Observer
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
LONDON: London and Paris were working on Thursday to thrash out a deal on undocumented migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats on the last day of the French president's state visit to Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron posed for the cameras outside Downing Street, as they headed inside for a summit with senior ministers focused on that issue and other shared concerns. They include the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a "reboot" of defence ties including joint missile development and nuclear co-operation. The two leaders agreed on Wednesday that there was a need for a "new deterrent" to curb the small boat crossings. The issue has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. The UK would tackle undocumented migration with "new tactics" and a "new level of intent", Starmer said in summit opening remarks, adding: "We will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is." A so-called "one in, one out" migrant deal, details of which were reportedly still being discussed, would see migrants sent back to France in return for the UK accepting a similar number of migrants with strong asylum cases. As the leaders met, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage meanwhile posted a video and photo on X from another boat showing the scene in the waterway between Britain and France -- one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Describing it as a "classic" scenario over the past five years when the sea was calm, he described seeing "about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy" with UK Border force "waiting for the handover". The mooted migrant-exchange scheme, which has sparked "serious concerns" among some other European nations, could initially involve around 50 people a week, French daily Le Monde reported. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. During a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Starmer outlined his government's policies to tackle issues such as illegal working, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Illegal employment opportunities are one of the "pull factors" France claims has made the UK particularly attractive to migrants. Thursday's summit follows two days of events spanning pomp and politics, trade and culture for Macron and his wife Brigitte. The French first couple were welcomed on Tuesday by King Charles III and Queen Camilla with a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London. — AFP
Daily Record
05-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Edinburgh RNLI rescue group cut off by tide at Cramond Island
RNLI crew in Edinburgh were dispatched to Cramond Island after reports of a group who had become cut off by the tide and were in need of help. Edinburgh lifeboat rescue crews raced to save a group of people who found themselves 'cut off by the tide'. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat rushed to Cramond Island on Sunday June 29 after receiving reports of individuals who had become stranded. This came just as volunteer crew were finishing up their annual open day. The lifeboat was retasked after arriving at the scene to Limekilns where children were stranded on the rocks - with that task a higher priority due to the flooding tide, reports Edinburgh Live. After they had ensured the children were safe, the crew returned to Cramond Island and took the group back to Cramond Village where they were met by local coastguard teams. An RNLI spokesperson said: "The initial tasking was to reports of three persons cut off by the tide on Cramond Island. The lifeboat was launched, and made way to the scene. "Upon arrival, UK Coastguard retasked the lifeboat to attend an incident at Limekilns pier where a number of children were reported to be stranded on rocks. As this was a higher priority tasking and a flooding tide, the lifeboat made best speed to Limekilns. "The crew found three paddle boarders as they arrived on scene. It was confirmed that these were the casualties initially reported by the first informant. The paddleboarders confirmed they were on the rocks earlier, and were safe and well. "Following this, the crew made their way back to Cramond Island to continue with the original tasking. Five persons were recovered from the island and taken to Cramond Village, to meet with local Coastguard teams. "The lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service again at 7.50pm." In a separate incident on June 24, we reported that two people had to be rescued by the RNLI after getting into difficulty in an inflatable kayak off the coast of North Berwick. The pair were caught in fierce offshore winds and began drifting dangerously out to sea, prompting a rescue operation by the North Berwick RNLI. Volunteers launched lifeboat SUNIJO just before 4pm on Tuesday June 24, after receiving an emergency call. Strong south-westerly winds created a serious risk, and the kayak users were unable to paddle back to shore. Coastguard rescue teams said the speed at which they were drifting meant they would not have been able to make it back safely without help. Working alongside the North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and tour vessels from the Scottish Seabird Centre, RNLI crews located the duo and brought them safely back to land, reports EdinburghLive. RNLI helm Fraser Fulton issued a warning about the dangers of offshore winds, which are often underestimated. He said: 'Offshore winds are seen as a hidden danger at the coast. It may seem sheltered right inshore, but further out to sea the conditions are significantly different, with large waves and stronger winds that can be difficult to paddle against. 'We advise against using any inflatable, not powered by an engine, on the sea during offshore winds. Unfortunately in North Berwick, with the prevailing south-westerly winds, that is the majority of the time.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
12-year-old among three rescued after being caught in rip current
The incident happened around 2.40pm at Tyninghame Beach in East Lothian. The UK Coastguard paged Dunbar RNLI for assistance after a report of two people in the water. It soon transpired there were three individuals involved after the inshore D class lifeboat was launched 10 minutes later. The volunteer crew arrived at the scene 10 minutes later and found the trio had been helped by a local surfer but the family all needed medical attention. They had got into difficult after being caught in a strong rip current running out to sea and the assistance of the experienced surfer helped save them from any more damage. Read More Competitor in Jim Clark Rally dies in crash during Scottish Borders race One of the three was airlifted to hospital in the Coastguard helicopter, with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland also in attendance. Dunbar RNLI helm Jamie Forrester said: 'When we arrived the casualties were all in need of medical assistance. One, in particular, was very unwell. We treated the casualties until the helicopter and ambulance arrived. 'Tyninghame Beach is notorious for strong rip currents, which are difficult to spot. This incident shows how easy a simple trip to the beach can turn serious. If it hadn't been for the swift actions of the experienced surfer, who was a strong swimmer, this could have been a very different outcome.'
Daily Tribune
12-03-2025
- Daily Tribune
UK makes manslaughter arrest over North Sea crash
British police arrested a 59-year-old man yesterday on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with a ship crash in the North Sea that sparked a massive blaze, leaving one crew member missing and presumed dead. Investigations have already started into what led a cargo ship to strike a tanker carrying jet fuel on Monday, as fears remained of possible harm to the area's marine and wildlife. The UK Coastguard, which led the operation, rescued 36 people on Monday, including all the 23 crew on the US-flagged Stena Immaculate tanker, which had been chartered by the US military. But a missing member of the Solong cargo vessel crew was "likely deceased", UK transport minister Mike Kane told parliament. Police in England reported an arrest, but released little information about the suspect. "Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision," Humberside police's senior investigating officer Craig Nicholson said in a statement. Kane also said the fire on the Stena Immaculate "appears to be extinguished" but this was not immediately confirmed by the Coastguard. "The Solong is still alight and the fire on board the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished," the UK Coastguard said. The Coastguard was closely monitoring the Solong, which had broken free of the tanker overnight and was limping southwards, accompanied by four tug boats, including one which had a line attached to the stricken vessel. AFP photos taken during a helicopter fly-over showed smoke still pouring from the Solong, while a large hole could be seen in the side of the Stena Immaculate. The accident occurred at around 09:48 am (0948 GMT) on Monday when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship ploughed into the tanker, anchored about 13 miles off the northeastern port of Hull. The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to a spokesperson for the command, which operates civilian-crewed ships for the US Defense Department. Crowley, the US-based operator of the Stena Immaculate, said the crash had "ruptured" the tank "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released". There was "no evidence of foul play," Kane in his statement to parliament. No sodium cyanide The Stena Immaculate was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, Crowley confirmed. The German owners of the Solong said on Tuesday however that the container ship was not carrying sodium cyanide, as had been reported the previous day. "We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board with sodium cyanide (inside)," German shipping company Ernst Russ said. Kane said "as it currently stands, no signs of pollution from vessels is observed at this time. "But monitoring is in place and should that change, assets in place, they will be provided as needed," he added. Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis told the Netherlands' ANP news agency it had been tasked with salvaging the Stena Immaculate. Environmental concerns Four ships with firefighting capacity were dispatched to the site, a Boskalis spokesperson said, adding the tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be extinguished. Much of the heavy smoke and flames have cleared and the company was now checking for "hotspots" on the ship which could potentially still indicate on board fires, spokesman Martjin Schuttevaer. Boskalis was also measuring the atmosphere around the vessel for potential toxic fumes. "We want to make absolutely sure it's safe before we board the vessel," he said. UK Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the investigation was being led by US and Portuguese authorities, since the vessels were sailing under their flags. "We're obviously very alive to the potential impact on the environment," he told Times Radio, but added the Coastguard was well equipped to deal with any oil spills. "The good news is... it's not like a crude oil spill," Ivor Vince, founder of environmental risk advisory group ASK Consultants, told AFP. "Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly," he said.
