All posts tagged: borders

The House | “Critical Friend”: Chief Inspector John Tuckett Resets Role Of Borders Watchdog

The House | “Critical Friend”: Chief Inspector John Tuckett Resets Role Of Borders Watchdog

Published by Sam Flores

New independent chief inspector of borders and immigration John Tuckett 9 min read1 hr Former submarine commander turned independent chief inspector of borders and immigration John Tuckett tells Sienna Rodgers he is resetting the watchdog’s relationship with the Home Office after years of tension John Tuckett spent much of his career in the Royal Navy, but witnessing the rescue of 60 migrants crammed into a rubber dinghy from one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes brought home the stakes at play in his new job. “When you see things at first hand, it obviously hits you more so than when you read about it in the newspapers or see pictures,” explains the new independent chief inspector of borders and immigration (ICIBI). “Seeing the kind of conditions they’re in, it really strikes you very forcibly what they’re experiencing.” Since starting the ICIBI job in October, the 74-year-old has been busily visiting frontline outposts: aboard a rescue boat going out from Ramsgate; to Manston, where small boat arrivals are first processed; to asylum …

Can you stop malaria crossing borders? One nation’s bid to wipe out the disease | Global health

Can you stop malaria crossing borders? One nation’s bid to wipe out the disease | Global health

Published by Sam Flores

The freezer is filled with blue-lidded tubes of cows’ blood, ready to be defrosted and used to feed the colony of mosquitoes. “Also, you can use your arm,” says Nombuso Princess Bhembe, who tends the mosquitoes at Eswatini’s national insectary, an unremarkable building in the town of Siphofaneni, part of the southern African country’s push to eliminate malaria. But the landlocked nation of 1.2 million people, formerly known as Swaziland, is facing headwinds from not only the climate crisis, aid cuts and insecticide resistance but also economic migration from countries with higher case numbers. In 2024, Eswatini recorded 362 confirmed malaria cases, while neighbouring Mozambique recorded 11.6m cases, one of the world’s highest figures. Next door, South Africa recorded 4,639. It is easy for the malaria parasite to travel in the blood of people using informal crossings along porous borders. Nombuso Princess Bhembe tends a colony of mosquitoes at Eswatini’s national insectary. Photograph: Kat Lay/The Guardian And a changing climate is creating better breeding conditions for mosquitoes, while also extending the malaria season to coincide …

Both drivers killed in two-car crash in Scottish Borders | UK News

Both drivers killed in two-car crash in Scottish Borders | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Two men have died following a car crash in the Scottish Borders. The fatal collision, involving a metallic green Ford Fiesta and silver Nissan Leaf, occurred in Kelso at about 6.50pm on Wednesday. Emergency services attended – but both drivers, two men aged 35 and 42, were pronounced dead at the scene. Police Scotland said no other injuries were reported. The crash site – the A6089 Edinburgh Road near to the junction with the B6364 – was closed for investigations to take place, and was reopened at about 1.30am on Thursday. Read more from Sky News:Four die as small boat sinks during English Channel crossingThe photo that left people so aghast they thought it was AI Sergeant Jamie Humpage said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of both the men at this extremely difficult time, and our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this collision. “I am appealing to anyone who was driving in the area at the time or saw either vehicle prior to the crash to please come …

Serbia says explosive found near pipeline to Hungary, days before crucial election – POLITICO

Serbia says explosive found near pipeline to Hungary, days before crucial election – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said “someone tried to blow up the TurkStream pipeline,” which conveys Russian natural gas into Hungary. “Undermining the security of our energy supply is an attack on our sovereignty,” Szijjártó said in a post on X. Those claims were quickly met with skepticism by Orbán’s main opponent, Péter Magyar, who is looking to unseat the pro-Russia prime minister in next Sunday’s vote. Orbán has made energy security a central issue amid a tense campaign, and Magyar has suggested that Vučić’s claim could be a false flag operation staged by two allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Viktor Orbán wants to cross a new border with the help of Serbian and Russian [actors], due to the collapse of the support of Fidesz,” Magyar said in a Facebook post Sunday afternoon. “Many people have publicly indicated that something will ‘accidentally’ happen in Serbia at the gas pipeline at Easter, a week before the Hungarian elections.” Magyar said he had asked Orbán to keep him informed about the situation and invite him to …

Dining across the divide: ‘He kept saying, “Bring them all in, borders are just a line in the sand.” I didn’t agree’ | Life and style

Dining across the divide: ‘He kept saying, “Bring them all in, borders are just a line in the sand.” I didn’t agree’ | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Abdal-Jabbar, 56, Manchester Occupation Monitors offenders on electronic tags Voting record So far Labour, now looking at options between Corbyn’s Your Party and the Greens Amuse bouche Is an extra in film and TV productions. He recently played a paparazzo in the new Batman movie Will, 28, Manchester Occupation Works in operations and admin at Manchester University Voting record Labour under Corbyn, and was a party member. Voted Green in 2024 Amuse bouche Volunteers at a heritage railway in Wales, a full-sized, preserved old slate railway, the first in the world. His dad is very train oriented For starters Abdal-Jabbar Lovely, presentable, polite chap. Very educated – he’s got a degree in history. I think he knew a bit more about contemporary politics than I did. Will He seemed very well put-together, well-spoken. We chatted about interviews and jobs and things – he seemed like he’d been all round the shop doing all sorts of things. Abdal-Jabbar He had impeccable table manners. I was eating the starter with my hands and he went in with a …

22 migrants die off Greek coast after six days at sea

22 migrants die off Greek coast after six days at sea

Published by Sam Flores

Twenty-two migrants hoping to reach Europe from North Africa have died off the coast of Greece after six days at sea in a rubber boat, survivors told the Greek coast guard on Saturday. The coast guard late Friday said 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a European border agency vessel off the island of Crete. The coastguard later said that 21 Bangladeshis, four South Sudanese and a Chadian citizen had emerged from the ordeal alive. Survivors said the bodies of those who had died were thrown into the Mediterranean sea on the orders of one of the people smugglers aboard the ship. Two survivors were taken to hospital in Heraklion on Crete, the coastguard said. Based on survivor statements, the coastguard said the boat had left Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21, bound for Greece, the gateway for many migrants hoping for asylum in the European Union. “During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water,” …

France to spend €70M on fuel subsidies for farmers, trucks and fishermen in April – POLITICO

France to spend €70M on fuel subsidies for farmers, trucks and fishermen in April – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

PARIS — The French government will spend €70 million to subsidize the price of fuel for farmers, logistics companies and fishermen from April 1 until the end of the month. “We have built a response at the national level which is gradual, targeted, sector-specific and limited to the month of April,” Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Friday evening, presenting the plan amid spiking energy prices caused by war in the Middle East. “My primary concern is, above all, to sustain growth while ensuring that every euro of public money is spent effectively,” said Lescure. Source link

France warns Israel against Lebanon ground offensive – POLITICO

France warns Israel against Lebanon ground offensive – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Barrot praised Lebanon’s government for expelling the ambassador of Iran, calling the move “courageous” after Hezbollah — backed by Tehran — fired rockets into Israel earlier in March. Israel subsequently re-invaded Lebanon, having pulled back in 2024 after a short conflict during which it also targeted Hezbollah. “I want to commend the statements and actions of the Lebanese government … which this morning took a courageous decision by deciding to expel the Iranian ambassador,” Barrot said, adding Hezbollah had “dragged the country … into a war.” Barrot’s warning follows a visit to Lebanon and Israel last week, where he pressed interlocutors from both countries on the risks of further escalation. His comments come as Western leaders harden their message to Israel. In a joint statement from mid-March, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. warned that a major Israeli ground offensive would have “devastating humanitarian consequences” and risk prolonging the conflict, urging a political solution. Israel’s operations in Lebanon continued, however. More than a million people in southern Lebanon have fled their …