CALAIS, France: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday asking France to immediately start taking back all migrants who land in England after crossing the Channel, after at least 27 died when their boat foundered off Calais.
Taking back migrants "would significantly reduce — if not stop — the crossings, saving thousands of lives by fundamentally breaking the business model of the criminal gangs" behind the trafficking, he said in a letter sent to Macron on Thursday evening.
The record wave of illegal migrants seeking to cross the English Channel is a volatile issue for both leaders amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment and controversy over what critics say is a callous attitude in both capitals.
Johnson's letter also set out areas for greater cooperation with France, proposing joint border patrols, aerial surveillance and intelligence sharing.
"We are ready to begin such patrols from the start of next week," Johnson said.
Britain and France had earlier called for a coordinated European response to stop people-trafficking in the Channel after the deadliest accident since the waterway in 2018 became a key route for migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia trying to reach England from France.
Home Secretary Priti Patel spoke with French counterpart Gerald Darmanin to put forward plans for greater "collaboration and innovation", according to a statement.
The two will meet this weekend and Patel will send officers to Paris after having offered to provide more people on the ground, it said.
However even as Paris invited European ministers to an emergency meeting at the weekend, the response risked being undermined by continued Franco-British squabbling after Brexit.
Macron, after vowing France would not allow the Channel to become a "cemetery", spoke earlier to Johnson to agree on stepping up efforts to thwart the traffickers blamed for the surge in crossings.
And in a terse readout of the talks, the Elysee Palace said Macron told Johnson that France and the UK have a "shared responsibility" and added he "expected the British to cooperate fully and refrain from exploiting a dramatic situation for political ends".
Patel had earlier refused to rule out the controversial step of turning migrant boats back across the Channel, under legislation now making its way through parliament."France is a transit country, we are fighting against these networks of smugglers who exploit people's misery, but for this we must improve European cooperation," Macron said on a visit to Croatia, saying that when the migrants arrived in northern France "it is already too late".
Seventeen men, seven women and three minors died when the inflatable boat lost air and took on water off the northern port of Calais on Wednesday. A manslaughter probe has been opened.
Darmanin said five suspected traffickers accused of being directly linked to the doomed crossing had been arrested.
Darmanin said only two survivors, an Iraqi and Somali, had been found and they were recovering from extreme hypothermia and would eventually be questioned.
Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart said a pregnant woman was also one of the victims.
About 200 people, mainly activists and some exiles, gathered early on Thursday evening in Calais to pay tribute to the victims.
The circumstances of the tragedy have not yet been clarified, but Mohamed, a 22-year-old Syrian, told AFP he was one of the last people to see them: "They were with me here in Calais three days ago.
"Three days ago, the group told us 'we're leaving for England', and they left," he said.
He said conditions were dangerous yesterday.
"In addition they went to sea without equipment," he said.In telephone talks, Johnson and Macron agreed on the "urgency of stepping up joint efforts to prevent these deadly crossings", according to Downing Street.
But Johnson told British media London had faced "difficulties persuading some of our partners, particularly the French, to do things in a way that the situation deserves".
In a sign of the tensions, Britain's biggest-selling tabloid newspapers all carried a front-page picture of a French police vehicle apparently sitting idly by as migrants entered the waters off northern France.
More than 25,700 people have made the cross-Channel journey in small boats this year -- three times the total for the whole of 2020, according to data compiled by Britain's PA news agency.
Darmanin insisted that Paris was doing all it could to break the trafficking networks, saying France had arrested 1,500 people smugglers since the start of the year.
Prime Minister Jean Castex also held a crisis meeting on Thursday with ministers to discuss new measures and invited the British, Belgian Dutch and German immigration ministers to a meeting in Calais on Monday.
UK PM asks France to take back Channel-crossing migrants
https://arab.news/c97z8
UK PM asks France to take back Channel-crossing migrants
- Britain and France had earlier called for a coordinated European response to stop people-trafficking in the Channel after the deadliest accident
GCC rally legends set for iconic reunion in Hail
- Part of 20th anniversary of Hail Toyota International Rally
- Retired drivers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman will race
JEDDAH: Several retired drivers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman will participate in a “Legends Rally” as a part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Hail Toyota International Rally, which takes place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
The drivers include Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and former member of Al-Faisal Racing Team, Qatari champion Saeed Al-Hajri, and Saudi rally champion Abdullah Bakhashab.
Other participants include Saudi rally champion Ahmed Al-Sabban, Omani rally champion Hamad Al-Wahaibi, and Saudi rally driver Farhan Al-Shamri, winner of the first edition of the Hail International Rally.
The event is sponsored by the Saudi motor federation and Jameel Motorsports.
The Hail Toyota International Rally covers the first rounds of several contests including the FIA World Cup for Baja Cross-Country Rallies, Middle East Baja Cup, Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship, and FIA World Cup for Baja Cross-Country Rallies for motorcycles.
The local and international drivers competing in the two-day event for cars and motorcycles include world champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi, world champion Juan Cruze Yacopini, Dania Aqeel, Saleh Al-Saif, Maha Al-Hamli, Hamza Bakhashab, Miroslav Zapletal and Abdullah Al-Shaqawi.
‘Pioneering change’ — new report highlights rise of women’s football in Saudi Arabia
- The analysis by NEOM Sport highlights the achievements and milestones of women’s football in the Kingdom to date and looks at its future
NEOM: A new report has been published that shines a light on the current landscape of women’s football in Saudi Arabia, looking at how it has grown so far and examining future opportunities.
The report by NEOM Sport, in partnership with the Asian Football Confederation, reveals how football has grown rapidly among women in the Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia. NEOM is a Presenting Partner of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.
Women’s football in Saudi Arabia has become a catalyst for their increased participation in sport on a wider scale, helping to redefine sports culture and societal norms for the future as well as promoting gender equality and healthier lifestyles in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030.
Aalia Abdulaziz Al-Rasheed, head of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation said: “It has been a truly remarkable journey for Saudi women’s football over the last six years since the establishment of a dedicated women’s football department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
“Driven by Saudi Vision 2030, we are hugely proud of the transformation across all areas of the game, including the establishment of four national teams, five competitions, 77,000 girls playing in our annual Schools League, six girls’ regional training centers and numerous coaching/refereeing development programs. It is truly something that needs to be seen to be believed.”
Jan Paterson, managing director of NEOM Sport, said: “This report, created in collaboration with our contributors, is our way of truly understanding the landscape — where we are, what obstacles lie ahead and how the future could look.
“But it’s about more than just football. It’s about providing more opportunities for women and demonstrating the far-reaching impact that sport can have on individuals and communities. Alongside the AFC, we aim to play our part in unlocking the full potential of women’s sport by telling the story of how key stakeholders are redefining football and empowering women across the Kingdom.”
With contributions from multiple stakeholders from the women’s game — including SAFF, the Saudi Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Sports for All Federation, the AFC and more — the report examines the strides taken that led to a significant increase in participation in women’s football between 2022-23.
Milestones over the past six years include the launch of the Saudi Women’s Premier League and women’s national team, the appointment of female leaders and achieving an official FIFA world ranking. Other contributing components include developmental pathways at grassroots level, the importance of leadership and coaching, investment in infrastructure and accessibility, and commercialization of the sport. These insights are among many highlighting how women’s football drives tangible strategic efforts that are propelling the sport and communities forward.
“Our mission is simple: We want to inspire and offer new opportunities for girls throughout the country to realize their dreams and showcase their talent and love for the beautiful game,” Al-Rasheed said.
“Our journey has inspired millions along the way, not just in Saudi Arabia but across different parts of the world. We are not doing this alone. We are open to the world and are already in 62 active partnerships with federations to co-develop the women’s game and realize its full potential. Today, 60 international players from 20 nationalities play in our leagues and have joined us on this journey.
“We are living in hugely exciting times and there is so much more to come from Saudi women’s football in the years to come.”
Oscar nomination for Palestinian documentary ‘No Other Land’
DUBAI: The Palestinian documentary “No Other Land” has been nominated for the Best Documentary at this year’s Oscars.
The film was directed by a collective of four Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers — activists Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor — and marks their directorial debut.
“No Other Land” follows the story of Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, as he fights against the mass expulsion of his community by Israeli forces. Since childhood, Adra has documented the demolition of homes and displacement of residents in his region under military occupation.
The film also explores his unlikely partnership with Abraham, an Israeli journalist who supports his efforts. However, their alliance is tested by the stark inequality between them — Adra lives under constant occupation, while Abraham enjoys freedom and security.
The film has dominated the pre-Oscar awards circuit, winning major accolades such as the top honor at the Cinema Eye Honors, Best Documentary and Best Director at the IDA Awards, Best European Documentary at the European Film Awards, and Best Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival, where it premiered last February.
This year’s Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 3.
US arrests, deports hundreds of 'illegal immigrants': Trump press chief
- Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the United States
Washington: US authorities arrested 538 migrants and deported hundreds in a mass operation just days into President Donald Trump’s second administration, his press secretary said late Thursday.
“The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” Karoline Leavitt said in a post on social platform X, adding “hundreds” were deported by military aircraft.
“The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she said.
Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the United States.
On Thursday Newark city mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a statement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “raided a local establishment... detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant.”
The mayor said one of those detained during the raid was a US military veteran, “this egregious act is in plain violation” of the US Constitution.
An ICE post on X said: “Enforcement update ... 538 arrests, 373 detainers lodged.”
New Jersey Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim said they were “deeply concerned” about the Newark raid by immigration agents.
“Actions like this one sow fear in all of our communities — and our broken immigration system requires solutions, not fear tactics,” they said in a joint statement.
Trump has vowed to carry out “the largest deportation operation in American history,” impacting an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States.
On his first day in office he signed orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while vowing to deport “criminal aliens.”
His administration said it would also reinstate a “Remain in Mexico” policy that prevailed during Trump’s first presidency, under which people who apply to enter the United States from Mexico must remain there until their application has been decided.
The White House has also halted an asylum program for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands of people stranded on the Mexican side of the border.
Earlier in the week the Republican-led US Congress green-lit a bill to expand pretrial incarceration for foreign criminal suspects.
Trump frequently invoked dark imagery about how illegal migration was “poisoning the blood” of the nation, words that were seized upon by opponents as reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
First international flight takes off for Muscat from Pakistan’s Gwadar airport
- China-funded airport opened for commercial operations on Monday after months-long delay
- Opening in August of $246 million airport postponed due to security fears after separatist attacks
KARACHI: The first international flight took off for Muscat from the China-funded Gwadar airport on Friday with 39 passengers aboard, just days after the facility in southwestern Pakistan began commercial operations after a months-long delay.
A security review, prompted by a string of deadly attacks by separatist militants in the southwestern Balochistan province in August last year, had delayed the airport’s opening to the end of 2024 from Aug. 14. The airport was then due to begin operations on Jan. 10 but finally opened this Monday as a Pakistan International Airlines flight arrived from the southern port city of Karachi.
Pakistan hopes the $246-million Chinese-backed project, which will handle both domestic and international flights, will become one of the country’s largest airports.
“First international flight departs from New Gwadar International Airport to Muscat,” national carrier PIA, which operated the flight, said in a statement, adding that it would initially run one weekly flight to Muscat.
“PIA is committed to activating air operations across the country in line with national aspirations and public needs.”
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the Gwadar airport would be able to handle A-380 aircraft and accommodate four million passengers annually.
The airport will eventually feature facilities like a cold storage, cargo sheds, hotels and shopping malls, with banking services arranged through the State Bank of Pakistan, according to the PM’s office. PIA has also planned to increase flights between Karachi and Gwadar to three times a week, while discussions are ongoing with private airlines and carriers from China, Oman and the United Arab Emirates to launch both domestic and international services.
China has pledged over $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, the program in Pakistan is also developing a deep-water port close to the new Gwadar airport, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China that is close to completion.
Although no Chinese projects were targeted in the militant attacks in August that delayed the airport’s launch, they have been frequently attacked in the past by separatists who view China as a foreign invader trying to gain control of impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, the site of a decades-long insurgency.
Recent attacks, including one in October 2024 in which two Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi, have forced Beijing to publicly criticize Pakistan over security lapses and media has widely reported in recent months that China wants its own security forces on the ground to protect its nationals and projects, a demand Islamabad has long resisted.
