Tag: boats

Colombia urges US to halt strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats: ‘It is murder’
Plea comes after Pete Hegseth announced two new strikes that left at least five people dead Colombia has condemned US airstrikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug-smuggling off the coast of South America, urging Washington to immediately halt further attacks in the Pacific and Caribbean. The plea came after Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of…

France backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats, sources tell BBC
France is backing away from a recent commitment to intervene more forcefully at sea to stop small boats from crossing the English Channel, according to multiple sources contacted by the BBC. There is evidence that France’s current political turmoil is partly to blame, but it will come as a blow to the UK government’s attempts…

Democrats to force vote to limit Trump war powers after strikes on Venezuelan boats
Claudia Grisales A pair of Senate Democrats is responding to a series of unprecedented U.S. military strikes on alleged drug traffickers at sea ordered by President Trump with a plan to force a Senate vote on a war powers resolution blocking the escalated action by the commander in chief. Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Tim…

Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats
Exclusive: Miller’s homeland security council has played a key part in coordinating operations, sources say Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has played a leading role in directing US strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug boats, according to three people familiar with the situation. At times, his role has superseded that of Marco…

Venezuela starts days of military and ‘electronic warfare’ drills after US strikes on alleged drug boats
Armed forces say ‘special naval militia’ involved in Caribbean deployment as defence minister cites ‘threatening, vulgar voice’ of Washington Venezuela says it has begun three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila as tensions soar amid US military activity in the region. Forces deployed for what Washington called an anti-drug operation…

Farage vows mass deportations to tackle small boats
Reform UK is pledging mass deportations of asylum seekers who arrive in the UK in small boats. The party’s leader – Nigel Farage – has told The Times that there is a “massive crisis” in the UK, which threatens national security and could lead to public disorder. Under the plans, people could be arrested on…

UK-French small boats pilot plan comes into force
The UK-French “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme, aimed at reducing the number of small boats crossing the Channel, has come into force with detentions of illegal migrants due to start within days. The deal will see some of those arriving in the UK in small boats detained and returned to France. In exchange the UK will…

New offence to criminalise online migrant boats ads
The offence, which the government is seeking to create under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently going through Parliament, would form part of a crackdown on the number of migrants coming to the UK on small boats. Assisting illegal immigration to the UK is already a crime, but officials believe the offence would…

Number of migrants crossing Channel in small boats rises to 36,816
Home Office figures released on New Year’s Day show 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats throughout 2024, an increase on the previous year, but not as many as in 2022. The last group, made up of 291 people, arrived on 29 December. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for the…
