#migrant smuggling trade

[persephoneggsy]

so i did this a while back, finally remembered it, and now i'm posting it

Mass Effect x Dragon Age AU

I did one of these already, sort of, for ME: Andromeda, but this one is set in the Milky Way.

Elaborations below:

Merrill is a quarian who was exiled from the Migrant Fleet. She's looking for a way not to destroy the geth, but to bring them back under quarian control, thinking they're too valuable a resource to just get rid of. Unfortunately, this made many quarians view her as dangerous, and she was exiled for the crime of experimental geth research. Making Merrill a quarian was the first choice I did for this AU, I think it fits really well.

Aveline is an asari. I'd considered krogan or turian, or simply keeping her human, but in the end I went with asari mostly because Aveline always struck me as condescending in the same way many asari are, lol. She's a commando who later moved to the Citadel to join C-SEC.

Isabela is a turian. She's a barefaced turian, meaning she has no association to a colony. Instead of following the typical turian tradition of proudly serving in the Hierarchy's military, Isabela instead ran off to become a space pirate, specializing in smuggling. She frequents the bars around Omega and has earned herself a fearsome reputation among the mercenaries.

Bethany remains a human; she grew up on a colony world with her siblings, and had a relatively peaceful childhood, despite the Alliance constantly badgering her parents to send her and her older sister to their biotic training program.

Marian, also a human, eventually ran away from home to become a mercenary. She resented her father for forbidding her and her siblings from joining the Alliance - not because she was particularly patriotic, but she felt like her father's grudge against the Alliance prevented her and her siblings from receiving the best training possible. Her powerful biotics made her both an asset and a target, and she soon caught the eye of a certain Council Spectre...

Fenris is a drell. He was raised under the Compact, an agreement between the drell and the hanar, and his purpose was to become a bodyguard... And then his training group was attacked by batarian slavers and he was taken captive. For many years, Fenris suffered under the batarians' rule, until he finally managed to escape. Unwilling to return home, he instead roams the galaxy, taking out as many batarian slaving operations as he can.

Anders is a human who escaped from a biotic testing facility run by Cerberus. Though this left him with a grudge against Cerberus, he also hates the Alliance, whom he sees as no better and will also use biotic children as weapons. He dreams of establishing a safe haven for biotics, and is willing to go to increasingly drastic measures to see that dream become a reality.

Varric is a volus. Unlike his business-minded brother, Varric does not spend his days negotiating trade agreements or doing finance consultations. Spending his days at the Afterlife bar on Omega, he's an information broker, and a pretty damn good one at that. With his specially crafted weapon Bianca, he's not too bad in a fight, either.

Carver, much like his older sister, left home to seek out his own path, and ended up joining the Alliance against his parents' wishes. He thrived in the military, quickly climbing the ranks due to his strength and competency. He's being primed for N7 training under the wathcful eye of Spectre Sebastian Vael.

Sebastian is a human, and a Council Spectre (I'm imagining this AU as a sort of nebulous period where humanity isn't as looked down upon as they were at the start of ME1, and there are a fair number of human Spectres running around). A wild child in his youth, his parents sent him to the Alliance to straighten him out, and to their relief, it worked like a charm. He specializes in covert missions and favors sniper rifles and tech powers.

[beardedmrbean]

NEW YORK CITY - The NYPD’s Detective Bureau is tracking the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, made up of young migrants – some just 11 years old – who are believed to have arrived as NYC experienced an influx of asylum seekers.

Jason Savino, assistant chief at the NYPD Detective Bureau, said on Good Day New York that this is the first time "we've seen structure with Tren de Aragua."

"Now, we're seeing that structure. There's actually kick-ups where people are recruiting these younger members as young as 11, and they've been described as some of these robbery incidents as young as 8 years old," Savino said.

According to police, the gang’s crimes have become more brazen, with members even posting their weapons on social media.

"Right now, what we have, I like to call a perfect storm of sorts … tremendously brazen, absolutely ruthless individuals that have created a multitude of crimes with basically no repercussions," Savino said.

"[Times Square] is their threshold, that's where they feel comfortable, that's where they post to social media." Jason Savino, assistant chief at the NYPD Detective Bureau

Savino continued: "What started out as a robbery crew, upwards of 50 robberies – 20 individuals – arrested for upwards of 50 robberies," Savino said. "And out of those 20 individuals, every single one of them is on the streets today."

‘Little Devils’

Meanwhile, "Los Diablos de la 42" -- Spanish for "Little Devils of 42nd Street"-- have proven to be a big problem for Times Square and the NYPD.

"[Times Square is] their threshold, that's where they feel comfortable, that's where they post to social media," Savino said.

Police officials say they're working to nab members of the Los Diablos – a subset of the Tren de Aragua. Sources tell the New York Post about 20 young migrants are targeting locals and tourists in numerous robberies and other crimes at the "Crossroads of the World."

"There is no deterrence," the source added. "You have a 15-year-old who continues to treat our city like his personal video game."

What is Tren de Aragua?

Tren de Aragua, which translates to Aragua Train, began in 2012 among trade union members in the Aragua province of Venezuela who used the country's rail system for crime, according to the New York Post.

The gang is involved in robberies, drug dealing and human trafficking throughout South America, and authorities warn that the group is looking to expand its international empire, according to the Post.

Earlier this year, Deputy Inspector Nicholas Fiore said the NYPD recorded a "tremendous" surge in moped robberies that they believe are orchestrated by Tren de Aragua recruits.

"There are orders coming from Columbia and from Venezuela, [they move] to Miami and then to New York," Fiore said.

Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, the Venezuelan migrant accused of shooting two NYPD officers earlier this year during a traffic stop, reportedly confessed to police that gang members were instructed to shoot police officers.

In court, Queens Assistant District Attorney Lauren Reilly said that Mata had told investigators that members of Tren de Aragua were smuggling firearms into city shelters inside food packages that do not have to go through metal detectors.

Savino told Good Day he's concerned about gang warfare.

"We do believe there's a spillover from Venezuela, where a homicide did occur," he said. "So this could be the continued beef from Venezuela, tremendously concerning, but that would ignite the fire. We're on top of it, and we'll certainly prevent it."

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Kallie Cox at KCUR:

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in 2021, the governors of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska answered his call to tackle crime and illegal immigration along the state’s border with Mexico. Their efforts are failing, critics say.

Hundreds of National Guardsmen have spent the past three years rotating through a deployment in Texas. They’ve traded Midwestern green grass, highways and sprawling crop fields for dusty roads, a dry riverbed and close-ups of concertina wire thousands of miles away from their families. Baking for hours in the withering heat, the troops from Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska share a mission under the banner of Operation Lone Star: Intercept immigrants arriving illegally and drugs crossing the U.S. border from Mexico. “Political theater” is how immigration and border relations researcher Tony Payan describes the operation. He regularly travels both sides of the border interviewing activists, migrants and experts about immigration.

Unlawful migration has become a political flashpoint since Donald Trump began campaigning on the issue and arguing for a border wall in 2015. It continues to be a key element of GOP campaigns. According to a July poll from Gallup, about 55% of Americans support a decrease in immigration to the U.S. Payan, director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said the troops tasked with maintaining these border patrols have become increasingly stressed as long stretches of inactivity and heat take their toll. The Republican governors of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, along with Republican governors from other states, said the troops would be intercepting human smugglers and massive shipments of fentanyl. There were predictions of mass arrests, drug busts and the apprehension of suspects on the terrorist watchlist.

[...]

‘Every state is a border state’

In March 2021, Abbott launched Operation Lone Star by sending the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to patrol sections of the border between legal entry points. Since then, 14 additional states — many of which sit thousands of miles from the Mexico border – have sent resources to support the Texas operation. Abbott called on other states across the country to participate because, as the governors of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska have all argued in separate press releases: “Every state is a border state.” Since 2021, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska have together sent 519 National Guard service members and 143 state troopers and other law enforcement personnel to the border, according to information published by the states. The combined cost is approximately $7.1 million.

“As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of Iowans and protecting them at home starts with protecting the border,” Reynolds said in a 2023 statement. Pillen echoed her sentiments after a visit to the border in 2024. “Our federal government continues to ignore our border crisis,” he said. “The highest calling of government is public safety. We, as governors, must stand together to stop the constant influx of illegal drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.” While Operation Lone Star targets the areas at the border between legal ports of entry, the Department of Homeland Security notes: “More than 90% of interdicted fentanyl is stopped at ports of entry where cartels attempt to smuggle it primarily in vehicles driven by U.S. citizens.”

Midwestern states that do not touch a single mile of Mexico have spent millions propping up Operation Lone Star as part of Texas’s war on undocumented immigrants.

[zvaigzdelasas]

European leaders and Tunisia’s president announced progress on Sunday in the building of hoped-for closer economic and trade relations and on measures to combat the often lethal smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.[...]

Saied, speaking through a interpreter, said that he expects the memorandum to be followed by “a set of binding agreements” — suggesting more negotiating work ahead.[...]

Specific aid that von der Leyen announced included a 10-million euro ($11 million) program to boost exchanges of students and 65 million euros ($73 million) in EU funding to modernize Tunisian schools. On migration, Von der Leyen said: “We need an effective cooperation more than ever.”[...]

Tunisia has faced an international outcry over the plight of hundreds of migrants who were deported to inhospitable desert areas on the Libya and Algeria borders. On the Tunisia-Algeria border, local reports have said as many as 30 migrants died.[...] “The Tunisian people have provided these migrants with everything possible, with unlimited generosity, while many organizations, supposed to play their humanitarian role, only manifested themselves in press releases,” [Saied countered]

17 Jul 23

[hera-the-shoggoth]

The Town of Innsmouth is a small fishing port in east-central Massachusetts with a troubled history.

Founded during the Jacobean Era at the mouth of the Manuxet River, it grew gradually through the 18th century into a mercantile hub, at its height sending ships to ports throughout China, India, and the South Pacific Islands and developing a diverse local culture.

This resulted in occasionally violent social conflict with its neighbors in a very protestant and racist region of rural New England. In the 1840s a wave of hysteria swept through the surrounding towns due to a minor outbreak of fever, and the epidemic was blamed on Pacific immigrants which had married into local families during the previous decade. The economy was devastated by the destruction and rioting which followed, though the event is largely forgotten.

As the Asia-Pacific trade routes began to wane in the mid-19th century, the town contracted and returned to its traditional fishing, which itself faded into obsolescence due to the much larger industrial-scale operations out of the major cities.

The local land-owning elites which had grown rich during the age of mercantile sailing tried to reorient the town to light industry, finding some success in precious metals refinery due to their connections with the Malay gold trade from the late 18th century. At the same time, there was a resurgence of the Innsmouth fishing industry due to uncommonly rich yields throughout the late 19th century and into the 20th.

Around this time, the city embraced a peculiar local religious denomination centered around a pagan veneration of the sea and fishing, which emerged during the age of the Pacific trade out of the local masonic lodge and the maritime methodist and baptist churches. Its existence contributed to decades of animosity between Innsmouth and the surrounding region.

A small boom of new commercial development followed, and a branch railroad was built connecting Innsmouth to its inland neighbors formerly cut off due to the thick wetlands surrounding the Manuxet River. The streets were paved during this time and electric lighting was installed. The population began to grow as migrants from the south settled there to find work in the emerging industries surrounding the refineries and Innsmouth was nearly incorporated as a city.

A series of murders and bombings during the 1920s hit the community hard and many people were left homeless or fled, resulting in a persistent decline which continues to this day. Furthermore, Innsmouth was a center of rum smuggling and speakeasy culture during the Prohibition Era, and the town was dealt a harsh blow by a major FBI raid in 1927 which shut down the Marsh Gold Refinery due to extensive connections with the illegal liquor trade.

Innsmouth was left with very little commerce. All that remained were the unprofitable fishing industry and a tiny service economy centered on a grocery store, a few restaurants, bars which reopened following the repeal of prohibition, and a hotel. There are no colleges or high schools, and much of its youth has migrated elsewhere since the 1940s. The town's aging population currently stands at 1,173.

The Civic Flag of Innsmouth was designed in 1953 by 58 year old local resident Eber Gilman to celebrate the town's tricentennial that year, and was adopted officially in 1960. It reflects the area's mercantile history as well as its ubiquitous fishing culture and gradual revival.

On a blue field in the center of thirteen white stars it features a brigantine sailing ship with yellow banners, representing wealth and good fortune. Beneath the ship are three white cod emblematic of the fishing industry. Checkered against the three cod are three droplets of red blood, which represent the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War in which the town sent sailors to privateer and soldiers to enlist in the federal army.

Over the mast of the ship is a bright yellow droplet, which represents the historical gold refining industry, as well as the the bright yellow moonlight which shines over the harbor. The flag is 1:2 in aspect ratio, and the fly ends in a swallowtail which begins at the center-point. The upper tip of the swallowtail is colored yellow, representing gold and wealth, while the lower tip is in red, representing toil and struggle. Together they represent the dual nature of the town's heart.

Hopefully in the future more awareness will be directed at the plight of rural towns across the United States which have been in a slow process of death for the last two centuries due to the concentration of industry in the larger cities, leaving traditional sources of revenue obsolete and unprofitable. Innsmouth's story reflects a history of poverty, racism, loss, and perseverance which has shaped the American working class.

[head-post]

Trump to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

US President-elect Donald Trump, without waiting until he takes office on January 20 next year, has announced his intention to impose 25 per cent customs tariffs on goods coming into America from neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico, as well as reiterating his intentions to impose effectively barrier tariffs on imports from China.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social:

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.”

With such harsh protectionist measures, the American leader, in his own words, is going to force said countries to do more to fight illegal migrants and drugs sneaking into the US. Trump’s sudden announcement collapsed Asian trading exchanges and also sharply depreciated the Canadian and Mexican currencies against the US dollar.

In addition, Trump announced the imposition of “an additional 10 per cent tariffs, on top of any additional tariff, on all numerous products from China entering the United States” due to Beijing’s alleged unwillingness to crack down on drug smuggling into the US.

Damage from new tariffs

Analysts believe the imposition of the tariffs would cause huge damage to Mexico’s auto and electronics industries, which are oriented towards exports to the United States. The annual trade turnover between the two countries is estimated by Mexican authorities at $800 billion. Canada’s case will primarily affect hydrocarbon exports to the US, valued at nearly $200 billion.

Trump’s announcement of the impending imposition of customs tariffs caused a clear consternation among the US geographically closest ally, Canada. As Ottawa immediately stated, Canada’s highest priority is “securing a shared border” and Canada’s border agency is doing everything it can to “disrupt the flow of fentanyl from China and other countries.”

Beijing’s response was more restrained. The Chinese embassy in Washington said:

“The Chinese side has notified the US side of the progress in anti-drug law enforcement operations. All this proves that the idea of China deliberately allowing the flow of fentanyl precursors to the US is contrary to facts and reality. No one wins in a trade or tariff war.”

Read more HERE

[newstfionline]

Thursday, November 14, 2024

As Trump prepares for mass deportations, Mexico is not ready (Washington Post) This week, Donald Trump appointed Tom Homan as “border czar” and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff, signaling a strong commitment to a hardline anti-immigration agenda. Few countries stand to be more affected than Mexico by what Trump has described as “the largest deportation in the history of our country.” Nearly half of the estimated 11 million people living illegally in the United States are Mexican, according to analysts. Deporting them is cheaper and easier than sending migrants back to more distant countries that are at odds with Washington, such as Venezuela. In Mexico, migrant advocates are alarmed at what’s coming. Sending millions of jobless Mexicans back to towns they left years ago could create chaos in areas already suffering from poverty and organized crime, they say. “Neither the shelters nor the border area nor Mexico are ready for this,” said Héctor Silva, a Protestant pastor who runs the Senda de Vida migrant shelter in Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas.

Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands (AP) Dozens of soldiers and police fanned out across a neighborhood on a recent night in the Turks & Caicos Islands just days after the archipelago reported a record 40 killings this year. They were on the hunt for criminals and illegal weapons fueling a surge of violence across the Caribbean as authorities struggle to control a stream of firearms smuggled in from the U.S. Illegal firearms are blamed for an increase or a record number of killings in a growing number of Caribbean islands this year, including Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas. In a letter sent to U.S. legislators in late September, New York’s attorney general and 13 other colleagues across the U.S. demanded new measures to stop the flow of guns, noting that 90% of weapons used in the Caribbean were bought in the U.S. and smuggled into the region.

In South America, the U.S. is already losing a trade battle with China (Reuters) In South American copper giant Peru, the incoming Donald Trump White House, opens new tab will find itself already on the losing side in a trade battle with China, part of a bigger power realignment around the resource-rich region in Washington’s backyard. Peru, the world’s no. 2 copper exporter, is set to host Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders this week, with China’s President Xi Jinping expected to attend and inaugurate a major new Chinese-built port in the country. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is also on the guest list. Peru reflects a wider challenge for the White House around South America, where China’s presence has grown rapidly given its huge appetite for the region’s main exports: corn, copper, soy, beef and battery-metal lithium. That’s made Beijing the go-to trade partner from Brazil to Chile and Argentina, eroding Washington’s regional political clout, a trend that widened under Trump’s ‘America First’ inward turn during his first administration and again under Biden. Peru demonstrates the dramatic shift. China’s trade lead there over the United States widened to $16.3 billion last year, UN Comtrade data show, a stark reversal of just a decade ago when Washington was the dominant player.

Russia launches first missile attack on Kyiv in months as North Korean troops fight Ukraine in Kursk (AP) Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday, authorities reported, as the Pentagon said most of the North Korean troops sent to help Moscow’s war effort are fighting to drive Ukraine’s army off Russian soil in the Kursk border region. Air raid warnings blared for hours as Russia targeted eight regions of Ukraine, firing six ballistic and cruise missiles and 90 drones, the Ukrainian air force said. The air assault came as most of the more than 10,000 North Korean troops sent by Pyongyang to help Moscow in the war are engaged in combat in Russia’s Kursk border region, according to the Pentagon. A Ukrainian army incursion into Kursk three months ago has succeeded in holding a broad area of land and has embarrassed the Kremlin.

India's top court bans 'bulldozer justice' as punishment (BBC) In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, India’s Supreme Court reinforced the principle of separation of powers by banning extrajudicial demolitions, commonly referred to as “bulldozer justice.” The ruling came after a series of demolitions targeting homes of individuals accused or convicted of crimes, primarily affecting minority Muslim communities. In a statement, the court emphasized that such practices violate the rule of law and issued strict guidelines requiring 15-day notice for demolitions and threatened contempt of court for non-compliance. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, praised the decision, calling it a vital step in upholding citizens’ rights in India’s constitutional democracy.

China’s underground raves (AP) Crouch through the small metal door and walk down the dark tunnel, and even before you step into the abandoned air raid shelter, the air reverberates with pounding techno beats. Young Chinese holding booze and cigarettes shake and sway in a red-lit passageway, below a big screen rolling through quotations from Chairman Mao. This is an underground rave in China, part of a subculture growing in hidden corners of the nation’s cities, even as its political and cultural mainstream grow increasingly controlled, staid and predictable. For Chinese ravers, these gatherings—often called “ye di,” or “wild dances”—not only offer a rare space for unfettered fun, but signal resistance to the narrowly prescribed future a rigid society expects for them. Chinese young people face intense pressure and high expectations from the society around them. In recent years, facing bleak economic prospects, Chinese youth culture has been swept by a series of viral slang terms to describe frustration and hopelessness: “ 996 “—the brutal 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week work schedule many companies ask of employees. “Involution”—an endless treadmill of pointless competition that fresh graduates face. “ Lying flat “—the growing trend among young people of giving up all ambition and aiming to do as little as possible. Techno dance parties are an escape from all that.

Indonesia’s volcanic eruption grounds international flights on tourist island of Bali (AP) Several international airlines canceled flights to and from Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali on Wednesday as an ongoing volcanic eruption left travelers stranded at airports. Tourists told The Associated Press that they have been stuck at Bali’s airport since Tuesday after their flights were suddenly canceled. Media reports said that thousands of people were stranded at airports in Indonesia and Australia. Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province spewed towering columns of hot ash high into the air since its initial huge eruption on Nov. 4 killed nine people and injured dozens of others.

Attack, Withdraw, Return: Israel’s Bloody Cycle of War in North Gaza (NYT) When Israeli forces first swarmed into Gaza last year, they targeted North Gaza, an area stretching across densely packed urban centers and small strawberry farms near the border with Israel. The military said that hardened Hamas fighters were hiding among the civilians there, so it struck residential neighborhoods, hospitals and schools turned shelters. It was one of the deadliest moments of the war. Now, almost exactly a year later, it is all happening again. In an effort to stamp out what the military has called a Hamas resurgence, troops, tanks and armed drones have hammered the area almost daily, displacing 100,000 residents and killing likely more than 1,000 others, according to the United Nations. There are so many corpses, multiple residents and a local doctor said, that stray dogs have begun to pick at them in the streets. “Life over the past four weeks, if I can sum it up, is a people being exterminated,” said Islam Ahmad, 34, a freelance journalist from North Gaza who described helping bury neighbors in a mass grave.

Health care workers in Gaza ask why the international community ignores their suffering (Salon) Just over a year ago, after a massive explosion in the parking area of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed 471 people and wounded hundreds more, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who was performing surgery at Al-Ahli when the roof fell in, gave an extraordinary press conference. Flanked by fellow health care workers in their scrubs and surrounded by white-shrouded dead bodies in the hospital courtyard, Abu-Sittah, a British-Palestinian volunteer in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders, described how people came to the hospital in search of safety. “This is a war crime that the world has seen coming,” he declared. “Israel has been warning the entire world that it was going to attack Palestinian hospitals, and it did exactly that.” While Israel has denied responsibility for that specific attack, whose origin is still debated, since then, Israeli forces have directly attacked hospitals and other health care facilities dozens and dozens of times. In a recently-released investigation that was presented to the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 30, the U.N.-mandated independent Commission of Inquiry found that Israel has implemented a concerted policy to destroy the health care system in Gaza, and that it has committed the crime against humanity of “extermination.” While the evidence of Israel’s repeated and deliberate attacks on health care infrastructure has been presented to the world, many health care professionals and their patients have asked the international community why their calls for intervention are being ignored—and wonder where the solidarity is with health care workers in Gaza.

In Africa, meager expectations for a second Trump presidency (AP) African leaders may have been quick to congratulate Donald Trump on his election, professing a desire for mutually beneficial partnerships, but there are meager expectations that his presidency will change things for this continent of over 1.4 billion people. In the wake of Trump’s win, Kenya’s William Ruto said his country “stands ready” to deepen its ties with Washington. Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu spoke of a second Trump administration ushering in an era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal” cooperation. Still, observers say African countries—once described by Trump as “shithole countries”—are definitely not going to be high on his to-do list. U.S. foreign policy has not made Africa a priority for a long while—beyond seeing the continent through the lens of countering rivals such as Russia and China, said Charles Ray, chair of the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Africa Program. Africa “will be at the very bottom of (Trump’s) list of priorities,” Ray said.

Self-Pubbed (Publishers Weekly) A new analysis of ISBNs found that the number of self-published books increased by 7.2 percent from 2022 to 2023, reaching 2,637,367 titles that year. The number of traditionally published titles slipped by 3.6 percent, to 563,019 titles in 2023. Amazon reports that over the past 10 years, Kindle Direct Publishing authors have made $3.5 billion in royalties, of which $650 million came in the past 12 months.

The Leonid Meteor Shower (Lifehacker) The annual Leonid meteor shower peak is coming this weekend, and while it may not be the brightest and most spectacular meteor event of the year, it’s still worth seeking out. The 2024 Leonid shower has been active since Nov. 3 and is predicted to peak early on Nov. 18, with the best viewing late on Nov. 17 into the early hours of November 18 (and possibly the morning of Nov. 17 as well). While the meteors radiate from a point near the constellation Leo, they’ll likely appear in all parts of the night sky. In ideal conditions, the Leonids produce 10–15 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the shower won’t be as visible this year thanks to a waning gibbous moon. If you’re headed out to find the Leonids, bring everything you need to get comfy and stay cozy for a while—you could be rewarded for your effort.

[ticktockaura]

‘Death trap’ Channel boats traded by smugglers in German city - BBC undercover... (PART 5)

Small boats and outboard motors in various states of disrepair used by people thought to be migrants to cross the Channel

The smugglers talk about their ability to get equipment to Calais within “three, four hours”, which indicates they feel bold enough to use motorways, rather than back roads.

Essen’s location means boats can be delivered within a morning or afternoon, should a good weather forecast prompt a surge in crossing attempts and therefore demand.

According to research by the fInitiative against Transnational Organized Crime, boats are typically transported by vans or cars from Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands to the French coast, with Germany a “particularly important transit point”.

Most of the vessels, they found, have been manufactured in China before being sent, by container, to Turkey and then moved into Europe.

One of the report’s authors, Tuesday Reitano, says Germany’s role as a hub has grown for various reasons including robust “anti-smuggling controls” in France, which have driven increasingly organised gangs to operate over longer distances.

She also believes the German authorities are less engaged with the issue of Channel crossings because, “It’s not a problem that’s on their border”.

[daily-media]

PM Keir Starmer Visits Brussels to Strengthen UK-EU Relations

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made his inaugural visit to Brussels, aiming to mend ties and restore trust with the European Union following the contentious Brexit negotiations. Despite the rain, the atmosphere was significant, with Union and EU flags displayed prominently at the press podiums and the red carpet at the European Parliament meticulously prepared for his arrival.

Starmer was warmly welcomed by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as he presented a comprehensive agenda focused on closer cooperation. He emphasized the need for collaboration on defense, security, energy, climate change, and addressing irregular migration, which had previously been labeled as "illegal migration" under the former Conservative government. He asserted that the British public desires sensible leadership regarding EU relations.

However, while Starmer’s messages were met with polite acknowledgment from European officials, enthusiasm was tempered by the bloc’s reluctance to engage in extended negotiations. The EU still grapples with the consequences of losing the UK as a member and is cautious about entering discussions that may lead to more deadlock.

The path to enhanced cooperation appears most viable in security and defense, particularly following the collaborative efforts to impose sanctions on Russia and bolster support for Ukraine after its invasion. Yet, a point of contention remains regarding the involvement of British businesses in the EU’s rearmament initiatives.

On migration, there’s mutual agreement on curbing people-smuggling gangs, but the approach is complicated. French and German interior ministers recently called for a formal agreement with the UK to open legal pathways for asylum seekers, noting that many irregular migrants aim to reach the UK.

In his visit to Rome, Starmer sought insights on tackling migration at its source through economic agreements in Africa and the Middle East. However, human rights advocates have criticized such deals for potentially leading to migrant abuses.

A major concern for the EU is the Labour government’s commitment to reducing trade barriers, which Brussels views as a consequence of the UK’s exit from the single market and customs union. Starmer reaffirmed that renegotiation of this stance is off the table, complicating the prospect of trade enhancements.

The UK government is pushing for smoother food and drink exports, as well as easier access for UK artists to the EU. In return, some EU member states seek increased fishing rights in UK waters. The EU also proposes a youth mobility scheme allowing young Europeans and British citizens to study and work in each other's regions for a limited period.

Despite these discussions, Starmer maintains that "free movement is a red line," aiming to sidestep contentious issues during press interactions. He emphasized that the focus of his meetings should be on the broader picture and achievable outcomes, rather than dwelling on limitations.

The European Commission insists on adherence to existing agreements—such as the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement—before initiating new discussions. This summer, concerns were raised regarding compliance with several terms.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations are set to commence soon, with regular EU-UK summits scheduled for the new year. The notion that Brexit negotiations could persist indefinitely appears to be taking root once again among observers in Brussels.

[fancy-dapper-fox]

April Post on Heavy Topic

Hello, Today I am posting about how Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing affects Coral Reef Health. I will also be briefly touching on how law enforcement “compliance” plays into this. I am in a Marine Science Club and am using the club’s monthly project of creating a post about tropical conservation concerns as an opportunity to share information I’ve researched. If anyone reads my post and has additional info, please share! Also, the information I give is really summaries of what I’ve looked into so I will be providing links to my sources. 

So the first thing I want to talk about is what exactly coral reefs are and what makes them so important. According to the International Coral Reef Initiative there are over 100 species of coral reef (that we’ve discovered so far) and despite how they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor they support an estimate of over 25% of all marine life. The coral reefs support that marine life by providing suitable habitat areas – they minimize waves and current impact and provide safe breeding and resting grounds. Something to also remember is that they don’t just support marine life, they also support human life – mainly people who live on coastlines and rely on income from fishing and tourism (I’ll touch more on this later). The human reliance on the coral reefs can be positive as it helps monitor marine life and prevent overpopulation but it can also bring a harmful issue – IUU. 

So what exactly is IUU? The International Maritime Organization (IMO) describes it as “IUU fishing takes advantage of corruption and exploits weak management regimes, in particular those of countries lacking the capacity and resources for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). IUU fishing threatens marine biodiversity, livelihoods, exacerbates poverty, and augments food insecurity.” and the U.S Department of State office of Marine Conservation gives a very important point that “IUU fishing can take on many forms, ranging from small-scale vessels misreporting their catch or straying into a neighboring country’s waters, to coordinated efforts by transnational crime syndicates. IUU fishing can also undermine port and maritime security, as criminal elements may use similar trade routes, landing sites, and vessels as used for smuggling migrants, and trafficking arms, drugs, and other contraband.” 

To make this information a bit easier to understand: IUU fishing uses law enforcement gaps to overfish and opens routes for even more criminal activity. IUU fishing affects the environment and all living things in it (even humans are not immune to this activity). 

Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing threatens the reefs health because most illegal fishers are not concerned about the damage they do – they destroy coral to get to fish, they spill chemicals by accident near the reefs, they deplete the areas of algae which is a plant coral has a symbiote relationship with. 

All this IUU and the damage that happens during it creates a domino effect of health problems for the coral reefs making them inhabitable which drives the marine life away which in turn ruins the environment. 

Something I want to note really quick is a vocab term that is coming up --- MPA's : Marine Protected Areas

“Many MPA experts consider insufficient enforcement to be one of the primary drivers of non-compliance in MPAs (Iacarella et al. 2021), and gaps in enforcement often result from a deficient budget (Kuempel et al., 2017). Non-compliance is likely to become an increasingly widespread problem for MPAs if we prioritize MPA coverage over MPA quality. A 2017 study examining data of hundreds of MPAs from every temperate and tropical ocean basin found that 65% of managers describe their budget as inadequate and 91% describe their staff capacity as “below optimum” (Gill et al. 2017). Therefore, to make MPAs as effective as possible, we must focus on adequately financing and staffing them to facilitate high enforcement and compliance levels.” This quote is from The Marine Conservation Institute. Even thought the information is a bit dated I thought it was a good idea to include this piece of information. Now when I ay law enforcement “compliance” I am specifically talking about certain people in the law enforcement departments compliance to remain ignorant towards the importance of monitoring MPA. A lot of times patrols don’t deem certain areas to be of importance or law enforcers like judges don’t see that protecting “some plants and fish” is important enough to dish out punishment to IUU people. 

So because of negligence, ignorance, or even just minor oversights a lot of IUU people get away with their illegal activity. 

I'm of course not going after or attacking every single law enforcement official because quite a few of them do take their work seriously but realistically it only takes a few "bad" law enforcers to creates gaps in the system that illegal fishers can take advantage of.

Not to mention there are publicized cases on law enforcement officials who have been suspected or confirmed of taking bribes so that people slip through the cracks of the justice system.

Now I'm going to talk a bit more on how/why humans are affected by the decline of Coral Reef Health:

Coral ecosystems protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism. And in addition to that they are a source of new medicines, and they have cultural significance.

The continued decline of coral reef ecosystems will have significant social, cultural, economic and ecological impacts on people and communities in the U.S. and around the world.

Of course, not all hope is lost - it's not all doom and gloom.

There are many conservation projects + programs being worked on to help the coral reefs. There is the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, The Ocean's Harmony no-profit organization and many more.

There are even volunteer programs: (These are just a few, I will attach a link with a list of more)

Coral Reef and Diving Project – Thailand 

Coral Reef Restoration in Bali

Great Barrier Reef Conservation in Australia

Caribbean Reef Diving Project in Carriacou, West Indies

Island Volunteering Project in the Maldives

Coral Reef Restoration Volunteer (Volunteer world website)

And you don't have to volunteer or work in the marine science or conservation field to help!

You could repost/like/share info on online platforms. You can fact check articles you read. You can involve yourself in voting for environment protection bills. You can watch live videos of researchers (Like nautiluslive on Instagram) You can go to community events. Report suspected IUU when you see it (Stay safe though). You could buy books, clothing, art, jewelry (like fahlo) to support conservation programs financially. You can teach your kids, friends, family (pets?) to spread awareness. YOU CAN EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Before I end my little ted talk I do want to bring attention to one more group who has worked hard on the conservation of Coral Reefs:

The Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN).

Ever since they launched in 2018 the organization has worked as representation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Queensland. They have worked on their conservation efforts as rangers, mapping land and tracking changes within the local ecosystems.

I hope everyone who reads this find it inspiring and educational.

Sources: 

NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) - Who We Are 

Understanding Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing | NOAA Fisheries 

Coral Reefs: Status, Risks and Outlook | World Resources Institute (wri.org) 

Why are coral reefs dying? (unep.org) 

Four reasons illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing affects us and what we can do about it | FAO Stories | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing (imo.org) 

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing - United States Department of State 

Saving the Coral Reefs: 9 Innovations in Coral Reef Restoration (treehugger.com) 

Meet the Indigenous Women Leading Conservation Efforts in the Great Barrier Reef | Condé Nast Traveler (cntraveler.com) 

Benefits of coral reefs | ICRI (icriforum.org) 

Coral reefs: Essential and threatened | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov) 

Restoring Coral Reefs | NOAA Fisheries 

Projects - Oceans' Harmony (oceansharmony.org) 

The Top 7 Coral Reef Conservation Volunteer Projects | WorkingAbroad 

▷ Coral Reef Restoration 🐚| Reef Conservation 2024 | Volunteer World 

[beardedmrbean]

A House Democrat in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is breaking from the group to call for "tougher" border security measures after the ongoing migrant crisis forced U.S. officials to suspend railway operations between Texas and Mexico in two cities.

The statement by Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, whose district is anchored in Laredo, stands in stark contrast with the CHC’s position on the current border negotiations between Republicans and the White House. 

Cuellar said rail operations were being stopped in Eagle Pass and El Paso on Monday morning so Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) could "redirect personnel to process migrants."

"The crisis at our border is seriously affecting legitimate trade," Cuellar wrote the evening prior. "This year alone, vehicle and rail operations have been suspended at multiple ports of entry due to an overwhelming number of migrants, worsening delays for truck drivers transporting goods and costing our economy millions."

He finished, "Our border communities desperately need more federal resources, and we need tougher measures at the border. We must secure the border now."

CBP accused smugglers of using freight trains to bring people into the U.S. illegally in a statement on Sunday night announcing the planned closures for Monday at 8 a.m. local time.

"CBP is continuing to surge all available resources to safely process migrants in response to increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals," the statement said.

"After observing a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains, CBP is taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities."

It comes amid intense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in both the White House and Senate over President Biden’s $110 billion supplemental aid package for Israel, Ukraine and other causes. 

Republicans have made clear they would not consider Biden’s request unless it was tied to stricter border security and asylum measures.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which is all-Democrat, released a statement last week urging Biden to show restraint in what he is willing to commit to in managing the border crisis.

"We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trump-era immigration policies that Democrats fought so hard against – and that he himself campaigned against – in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support," they said. "Caving to demands for these permanent damaging policy changes as a ‘price to be paid’ for an unrelated one-time spending package would send a dangerous precedent."

[locustheologicus]

Human Trafficking: an issue that concerns us all 

Trafficking constitutes an unjustifiable violation of the freedom and dignity of victims, the constitutive dimension of the human being willed and created by God. It must therefore be considered a crime against humanity. Without a doubt, without a doubt. - Pope Francis

Part of the concerns that we have working with migrants is the possibility that some of our new arrivals are involved with human trafficking. Human Trafficking involves those who, out of desperation, are made to participate in the sex trade and those who are in the forced labor market, aka modern day slavery.

In March of 2023 I wrote a post where I shared my insights on a book titled “The Great Escape” by Saket Soni. It is a well researched book on an instance of a 2008 forced labor scheme that abused desperate Indian migrants. The situation that we currently experience, with the recent migrants, raises some possible red flags. Communities of illiterate North Africans who seem to be guided by a spokesman for basic food and clothing raises these concerns. Here is a list of red flags that we are aware of and attentive to:

Worker’s are not free to leave premises.

Worker’s live at the business.

Worker’s are transported to the location by the owner or manager and all workers arrive and leave at the same time.

Worker’s have excessively long and/or unusual hours or is always available on demand.

Worker’s owe a large debt that is continually increasing and cannot be paid off.

Workplace has high security features such as opaque windows, bars, locks outside doors.

Worker’s seems to be deferring to another person before giving information, avoids eye contact, or isn’t allowed to speak.

Goods or services are priced below general market rates.

Someone else controls the worker’s identification documents and finances.

Most of these communities are being placed in the shelter system so the first few flags do not come under our awareness. But the last three flags are sometimes seen and this is what concerns us. The situation of modern day slavery emerges from commercial exploitation of groups of people that live in desperate situations and are told that opportunities exist to become American citizens if they accept forms of indentured servitude. One of the things that we see is that smuggling rings are popping up all over to take advantage of these desperate communities. Currently, many nations are experiencing dramatic instability, such as Venezuela, Senegal, Haiti, Ecuador, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Guinea, and areas of Eastern Europe. This is creating a devastating situation for many desperate people and, at the same time, it is developing a gang-driven human smuggling market to take advantage of their despair. 

The International Labor Organization has a link with resources on this issue and they offer a video below to help explain this situation better.         

Pope Francis captured the reality of human trafficking well in his most recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti:

Sadly, some “are attracted by Western culture, sometimes with unrealistic expectations that expose them to grave disappointments. Unscrupulous traffickers, frequently linked to drug cartels or arms cartels, exploit the weakness of migrants, who too often experience violence, trafficking, psychological and physical abuse and untold sufferings on their journey”. Those who emigrate “experience separation from their place of origin, and often a cultural and religious uprooting as well. Fragmentation is also felt by the communities they leave behind, which lose their most vigorous and enterprising elements, and by families, especially when one or both of the parents migrates, leaving the children in the country of origin”. For this reason, “there is also a need to reaffirm the right not to emigrate, that is, to remain in one’s homeland”. #38

The right not to emigrate is not a call to close the borders. Instead Pope Francis calls on all of us to stregthen the global political and economic infrustructure that can regulate these unjust abuses and to promote sustainable development that allows communities to live within their own sense of harmony and stability. Again, Pope Francis shares this vision in Fratelli Tutti.

I would also note the need for a reform of “the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth”… There is a need to ensure the uncontested rule of law and tireless recourse to negotiation, mediation and arbitration, as proposed by the Charter of the United Nations, which constitutes truly a fundamental juridical norm”. There is need to prevent this Organization from being delegitimized, since its problems and shortcomings are capable of being jointly addressed and resolved. #173

These are desperate times for sure, but we as Catholics are taught the social vision that emerges from our faith tradition. We respond to the dignity that we share with all members of the human community and as such we tend to the needs of those we encounter and advocate for the possibility of a better world. 

In the coming days, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 5856). This bipartisan bill would do several things to combat the scourge of human trafficking.

[iilssnet]

Riding the Waves: Italy's Maritime Legal Landscape & Security

Riding the Waves: Italy's Maritime Legal Landscape & Security === Italy, with its vast coastline and strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea, has long been a hub for maritime activities. As a nation heavily reliant on maritime trade and tourism, it is crucial for Italy to maintain a strong legal framework for maritime operations and ensure the security of its coastal waters. In this article, we will delve into Italy's maritime legal landscape, explore the challenges it faces in terms of maritime security, and discuss the efforts being made to strengthen and safeguard its coasts.

Riding the Waves: Italy's Maritime Legal Landscape

Italy's maritime legal landscape is built upon a rich history of seafaring traditions and a comprehensive legal framework. The country has ratified numerous international conventions and treaties, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions. These form the foundation of Italy's maritime laws, ensuring compliance with international standards and regulations. Furthermore, Italy has established its own national legislation, such as the Italian Navigation Code, which governs various aspects of maritime activities, including vessel registration, navigation rights, and safety regulations. This comprehensive legal framework provides a solid foundation for maritime operations in Italian waters.

Understanding Italy's Maritime Security Challenges

Italy faces a variety of maritime security challenges due to its geographical location and the increasing complexity of global security threats. One of the key challenges is irregular migration, with Italy serving as a major entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. This poses significant security and humanitarian challenges, which require effective legal strategies to address. Additionally, Italy must contend with the threat of maritime crime, including drug trafficking, smuggling, and piracy. These criminal activities not only jeopardize the security of Italian waters but also disrupt international trade and maritime commerce. It is crucial for Italy's legal framework to adapt and respond effectively to these evolving security challenges.

Navigating Italy's Legal Framework for Maritime Operations

Navigating Italy's legal framework for maritime operations requires a firm understanding of the country's national legislation as well as international conventions and treaties. Vessel owners and operators must comply with regulations related to vessel registration, crew requirements, safety equipment, and environmental protection. Italy also places a strong emphasis on port state control, ensuring that foreign vessels calling at its ports adhere to international standards and regulations. This includes inspections to verify compliance with safety and security measures. By maintaining a robust legal framework, Italy aims to promote safety, security, and environmental sustainability in its maritime operations.

Safeguarding Italy's Coasts: The Role of Maritime Law

Maritime law plays a crucial role in safeguarding Italy's coasts by establishing legal mechanisms to prevent and respond to maritime incidents. Italy has established a specialized maritime police force, the Guardia Costiera, which is responsible for enforcing maritime law, conducting search and rescue operations, and investigating maritime crimes. Moreover, Italy has implemented measures to enhance the security of its ports and coastal waters, including the use of advanced surveillance technologies, cooperation with other nations, and joint operations with international organizations. By integrating legal and operational efforts, Italy strives to ensure the safety and security of its maritime domain.

Tackling Maritime Crime in Italian Waters: Legal Strategies

To tackle maritime crime in Italian waters, Italy has implemented various legal strategies. The country has established specialized courts with jurisdiction over maritime crimes, ensuring swift and effective legal proceedings. This helps deter criminals and send a strong message that maritime crime will not be tolerated. Italy also cooperates closely with international partners, sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations to combat maritime crime. This collaboration strengthens Italy's legal strategies by extending their reach beyond national borders. Additionally, Italy actively participates in international initiatives and forums aimed at addressing maritime crime, contributing its expertise and experience to global efforts.

Shaping the Future: Italy's Efforts to Strengthen Maritime Security

Italy recognizes the importance of continuously evolving its legal framework to address emerging maritime security challenges. The country is actively engaged in developing and implementing advanced technologies and systems to enhance maritime surveillance and response capabilities. This includes the use of drones, satellite monitoring, and information-sharing platforms. Furthermore, Italy is investing in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and capabilities of its maritime law enforcement agencies. Training programs focus on areas such as maritime law, search and rescue operations, and combating maritime crime. These efforts aim to strengthen Italy's ability to respond effectively to maritime security threats and maintain a secure maritime environment. === Italy's maritime legal landscape and security measures are crucial for protecting its coasts, ensuring safe and secure maritime operations, and addressing emerging challenges. By maintaining a robust legal framework, implementing effective strategies, and investing in future initiatives, Italy is positioned to navigate the waves of the maritime industry and safeguard its maritime domain. As the country continues to shape the future of maritime security, it remains committed to upholding international standards and collaborating with global partners to create a safer maritime environment for all. Read the full article

[neyatimes]

European Union and Tunisia announce progress in building economic and trade ties, and on migration

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — European leaders and Tunisia’s president announced progress on Sunday in the building of hoped-for closer economic and trade relations and on measures to combat the often lethal smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. The leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Commission made their second visit to Tunis in just over a month. They expressed hope that a…

[head-post]

UK PM announced investment to tackle threat to national security from people-smuggling gangs

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will announce extra funding during the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow on Monday, the first time in more than 50 years in the UK, Sky News reports.

The announcement, which kick-starts a week-long crackdown on people smuggling, will increase the total funding for the Border Security Team (BSC), set up by the Labour government to “wipe out gangs” – a new slogan introduced during the election campaign – for the next two years to £150 million.

Labour originally allocated £75m to BSC thanks to the former Conservative government’s scrapping of the Rwanda scheme, which sent illegal immigrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing, asylum and resettlement.

The new £75m will go towards National Crime Agency (NCA) technology so agents can use data and “intensify co-operation” with other European countries to “investigate and disrupt human smuggling networks.” It will also fund 300 Border Agency command staff and 100 specialist NCA investigators and intelligence officers to catch criminals who facilitate people smuggling.

The ability of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to bring convictions faster in international organised crime cases will also be funded.

Sir Keir is expected to tell senior ministers and police chiefs from Interpol’s 196 member countries:

“The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge. I was elected to deliver security for the British people. And strong borders are a part of that. But security doesn’t stop at our borders. There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women and children die in the Channel. This is a vile trade that must be stamped out – wherever it thrives. So we’re taking our approach to counter-terrorism – which we know works, and applying it to the gangs, with our new Border Security Command. We’re ending the fragmentation between policing, Border Force and our intelligence agencies.”

The government announced in the King’s Speech that it will introduce a Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill in an attempt to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants arriving in the UK, especially on small boats. It will be the fourth Immigration Bill since 2022, as both the former Conservative and current Labour governments have struggled to tackle the issue.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper did not elaborate on how soon the number of small boat crossings could fall as a result of the funding.

She said the Prime Minister had made it clear that “we want to see significant progress” but that the government needed partnerships with other countries and “that is what we are working on.”

Asked whether the French authorities could do more to stop the sailings, she said more could be done through all European countries “across the supply chain” and the UK “needs to be in partnership with those countries.”

Illegal migration breaks records in UK

In October, the number of crossings on small boats reached a high this year of more than 5,000. In the first two days of November, 433 people arrived in the UK on small boats.

A total of 31,904 people have made such a journey this year, 16.5 per cent more than in 2023 (26,699) but still 22.1 per cent less than in 2022 (39,929).

Sir Keir will attend the European Policy Community summit in Hungary later this week, where migration and people smuggling are expected to be discussed.

The Prime Minister will also announce a £6 million increase in support for Interpol to fight global organised crime and £24 million to tackle serious international crime affecting the UK, particularly in the Western Balkans.

A Conservative Party spokesman said:

“Keir Starmer’s announcement on tackling gangs will mean absolutely nothing without a deterrent to stop migrants wishing to make the dangerous journey across the Channel.It is a shame that Starmer has not recognised the extent of the crisis in the Channel sooner, as he and the Labour Party voted against numerous measures to stop the gangs while they were in opposition. If Starmer continues to ignore the need for a deterrent to stop migrants crossing the Channel, there will be more deaths in the Channel as more and more migrants continue to cross it. He needs to get a grip of the crisis in the Channel.”

Read more HERE