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Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Urgent warning issued over growing number of migrants paying huge sums to enter UK aboard yachts
Border Force lacks the resources to deal with an increasing number of migrants coming to Britain illegally on yachts, motorboats and trawlers, officials have warned. Growing numbers of migrants are entering the country irregularly by private vessels rather than aboard small boats, a borders trade union said. Lucy Moreton, of the ISU union which represents Border Force staff, said: 'What we are seeing more of now is small yachts being used to transport people. 'They can start from the Brittany coast in France and then sail into one of the small ports around the UK or get dropped off in the water.' The Daily Mail reported last week how a £70,000 six-berth yacht, Tacoma, was hired at a French marina by a man who claimed to be Austrian. He told the owners he planned a pleasure cruise along the Brittany coast – but then headed for Cornwall. The £70,000 six-berth yacht, Tacoma, was hired at a French marina by a man who claimed to be Austrian. He told the owners he planned a pleasure cruise along the Brittany coast – but then headed for Cornwall - with 17 Albanians aboard The Tacoma's owners – monitoring it on a tracker - alerted the UK Border Force who pounced on the yacht as it reached the mouth of the Helford River, near Falmouth, on April 13. Hiding inside the cabin were 17 Albanian migrants, including one woman, hoping to slip illegally into Britain. Ms Moreton said: 'It is now more of a growing issue as the small boat route becomes more and more challenging. 'It's something we have started monitoring more closely, but we simply don't have the staff to do everything.' She went on: 'The problem is, most of the ports in the UK do not have a Border Force officer working at them so it comes down to local police forces and members of the public. 'And the system of boat ownership is very hard to monitor, small boats have transponders switched on to avoid getting hit by bigger boats but they can always switch them off. 'All the unmanned ports have posters which say 'if you see anything which looks suspicious call this number', but that's about it when it comes to security. 'What's happening with small yachts now speaks to the desperation of the people trying to cross the Channel and the pull the UK has.' Fees paid to smuggling gangs to enter the UK on a yacht will be far higher than the amounts charged for a place in a dangerous and ovcercrowded dinghy. Entering Britain clandestinely in a yachts or other small vessel will also be attractive to foreign nationals with a criminal record. Those who have previously made a failed asylum claim here, or have been deported, may also wish to avoid detection by the authorities. Albanian nationals, such as those found aboard the Tacoma, face fast-track removal measures back to their home country under an agreement signed by former home secretary Priti Patel in 2022. In another case in September last year, nine Iranian passengers were caught illegally attempting to enter the UK on board a pleasure boat near Brixham, Devon. Some criminal gangs have been caught in the act attempting to use yachts to cross the Channel by the National Crime Agency (NCA), dubbed 'Britain's FBI'. A Georgian national, Igor Romanovi, was jailed in France in 2023 following an investigation by the NCA and French authorities into an organised crime group suspected of using pleasure boats to smuggle migrants across the Channel. A boat operated by the group was involved in a smuggling run which saw 11 migrants brought to shore in Rye, East Sussex in February 2022. And, in 2021 a different gang was jailed for planning to smuggle 69 Albanian migrants into the UK on a fishing vessel. They had planned to bring in 50 more every week. Small ports and airfields were first identified as a potential weakness in Britain's border security measures as long ago as 2002. Lord Carlile of Berriew KC, then the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, warned they were the 'soft underbelly' of Britain's war against terrorism. Concerns about the vulnerability of Britain's coastline were raised in two reports in 2010 and 2011 by John Vine, the then independent inspector of borders. Both found small ports were at risk from people smuggling. The warnings were repeated by terror watchdog David Anderson in 2017. An NCA spokesman confirmed the 'clandestine manner' of entering Britain may appeal to those with criminal pasts. 'We have seen cases where organised crime groups have used larger maritime vessels, such as fishing boats and yachts, to facilitate entry for migrants,' he said. 'Often these are used by those who may be prepared to pay more to avoid contact with law enforcement, in contrast to small boats where migrants and their smugglers seek contact to enter the asylum system. 'The NCA, alongside our law enforcement partners, have undertaken a number of operations which have seen people involved in this form of people smuggling arrested and prosecuted. 'Bringing people to the UK in this way remains dangerous and also risks our border security. 'Tackling organised immigration crime in all its forms remains a priority for the NCA, and we would ask anyone who lives or works around the coast or in a maritime environment to report suspicious activity to the police.' A Home Office spokesman said: 'We will stop at nothing to dismantle vile people-smuggling gangs, which is why our new maritime directorate within Border Force is explicitly focused on general maritime security to uphold the integrity of the border. 'Through close collaboration across agencies, Border Force will have access to better intelligence, joint operational activity and better engagement with international partners. 'This will ultimately enhance our approach to dealing with irregular migration, including illegal activity involving yachts, and further help to tackle people smuggling gangs.' end
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dad and sons play catch to 'Handle Hard Better'
ITS A NORMAL SUMMER EVENING AT THE ANKENY BASEBALL FIELD. BUT FOR CORY WIEDERIN, THIS NIGHT MEANS SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE. SOT: 'JUST WAKE UP AND STAY POSITIVE.' CORY GETS TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH…OR MAKE THAT 2 FIRST PITCHES, TO HIS SONE KELLEN AND BECKETT. A WELCOME DISTRACTION TO THE LAST 15 MONTHS OF LIFE. CORY STARTED MID MARCH OF 2024 PAINLESS SEMATURA, BLOOD IN URINE I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A KIDNEY STONE. WENT TO MY PRIMARY GOT A CT SCAN SCHEDULED. THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. WE WERE HEADING TO KC TO WATCH ISU WRESTLING AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHPS. WE FOUND OUT ON THE WAY I DID NOT HAVE A KIDNEY STONE I ENDED UP HAVING A VERY LARGE TUMOR ON MY KIDNEY, LEFT SIDE. CANCER…LIFE FOR THE WIEDERIN'S HAD JUST BEEN FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. SOT: CORY 'WE WERE DEVASTATED YOUNG HEALTHY GUY. DON'T EVEN GO TO THE DR FOR A REGULAR VISIT. SO WE WERE SHOCKED AND DEVASTATED IT WAS TOUGH TO HANDLE.' BRITTANY 'COMPLETE SHOCK, KIND OF THE WHY HIM. YOU ASK ALL THOSE WHY QUESTIONS. OR HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? ' LIFE CONTINUES ON, BUT STAYING POSITIVE CAN BE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE. BRITTANY 'EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOUR MIND SPIRALS. BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY POSITIVE.' CORY: 'YOU ASK YOURSELF WHY ALL THE TIME BUT DOING THAT ISNT GOING TO HELP ME GET FORWARD, THINKING BACKWARDS. IM THINKING POSITIVE AND MOVING FORWARD EVERYDAY TRY NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE WHYS BUT WHATS NEXT. ' CORY HAD SURGERY TO HAVE THE KIDNEY REMOVED. BUT THE CANCER IS A RARE, AGGRESSIVE FORM, MEANING URGENCY IS NEEDED. CORY 'WE DON'T KNOW WHATS IN STORE FOR ME YET AS FAR AS TREATMENT. IN A CLINICAL TRIAL RIGHT NOW AT MAYO. WERE ON MY 25TH TRIP UP THERE AND WILL HAVE MY 22ND SCAN, IN 15 SHORT MONTHS.' THE WIEDERIN'S HAVE ADOPTED A SIMPLE MESSAGE. HANDLE HARD BETTER. BRITTANY 'IT TURNED IN TO OUR LIFE MOTTO, ITS REALLY HARD TO HANDLE HARD BETTER. KNOW THERES REALLY TOUGH DAYS AND SOMETIMES THEY GET THE BEST OF YOU. GET THE BEST PF ME SOMETIMES YOU BREAK DOWN AND THEN YOU BUILD BACK UP. WHEN WERE TOGETHER YOU KEEP MOVING.' CORY 'IT'S A CUTE CATCH PHRASE UNTIL ITS ACTUALLY TIME TO PUT YOUR WORK BOOTS ON AND HANDLE HARD IT MEANS A LOT TO US I THINK ANYBODY CAN RELATE TO IT.' SEARS: THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS WAS OBVIUOSLY A MAJOR SHOCK TO THE WIEDERIN FAMILY. BUT CORY DECIDED HE WASNT GOING TO JUST SIT AROUND AND LET THE CANCER COMPLETELY TAKE OVER HIS LIFE, SO HE MADE A SIMPLE PROMISE TO HIS BOYS. FOR THE NEXT 365 DAYS, FULL CALENDAR YEAR, THEY'LL PLAY CATCH. A FATHER AND HIS SONS, EVERY DAY. NO MATTER WHAT. CORY 'ITS JUST MOMENTS TOGETHER EVEN JUST OUT THERE TALKING, NO OTHER OUTSIDE NOISE. JUST US THROWING THE BALL AROUND PLAYING CATCH HAVING A CONVERSATION, SILENT.' KELLEN ' I LOVE PLAYING CATCH WITH MY DAD.' AND ON THIS NIGHT…THE WIEDERIN BOYS TOOK THE FIELD AT ANKENY TO HAVE A CATCH. BRITTANY ' SEEING THE 3 OF THEM PLAYING CATCH, HAVING FUN, IT WARMS THE HEART BECAUSE ITS JUST THE SIMPLEST THINGS RIGHT. JUST A BALL AND A GLOVE, YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR DAD, YOUR SON. ITS JUST INCREDIBLE I LOVE IT.' CORY 'We started on March 25th playing catch every day 365 days, so today will be day 75..' AS THE CANCER JOURNEY CONTINUES FOR CORY AND THE WIEDERIN'S IT'S ALL ABOT THE PRICELESS MOMENTS CREATED AS A FAMILY. BRITTANY 'EVERYTHING…I LOVE THESE BOYS, I LOVE CORY, SO FAMILY TIME IS PRICELESS. WORK CAN WAIT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS CAN WAIT. ITS ALL ABOUT THE 4 OF US AND WHAT WORKS FOR THE 4 OF US WHAT THE BEST FOR THE 4 OF US.' CORY: 'IT WAS VERY HARD IM ONLY 43 YEARS OLD IVE GO A LOT LEFT TO DO A LOT LEFT TO TEACH.' JOHN SEARS.. CORY 'EVERYDAY YOU JUST TRY AND STAY POSITIVE.' WHO 13 SPORTS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Free admission offered at historic Indiana sites during Juneteenth
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — In honor of Juneteenth, the Indiana State Museum and Historical Sites will offer free admission to all of its locations across the state on Saturday, June 21. Juneteenth is a federal holiday recognized on June 19 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States following the Civil War. Three locations in southwest Indiana — Angel Mounds, New Harmony, and Vincennes State Historical Sites — will welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a way to celebrate the holiday. The beginner's guide to celebrating Juneteenth The Indiana State Museum and Historical Sites said visitors at the Angel Mounds State Historical Site will be able to explore the newly transformed interpretive center, which showcases the modern perspective of native descendants of the Mississippi culture from 1100-1450 A.D. Attendees will also be able to learn how the mounds were created to align with certain celestial events, such as the summer and winter solstices, and the special meaning this site has in today's world. Juneteenth at WH: 'Black history is American history' During visitors' trip to the New Harmony State Historical Site, they will be able to hear stories of the early utopian communities — the Harmonists and the Owenites — that once called the area home. Visitors will also be able to walk the halls of the Fauntleroy House and Thrall's Opera House — buildings early utopian communities left behind. The Indiana State Museum and Historical Sites said tours will offer tours at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., CDT. Community House No. 2 will also be open throughout the day for guests to explore during self-guided tours. ISU holds Juneteenth celebration on campus At the Vincennes State Historical Site, visitors can learn more about Indiana's time as a territory by exploring the state's oldest town and former territorial capital from 1800-1813. Guided tours will be offered at the original Territory Capital building, the Jefferson Academy, the Elihu Stout print shop and the Old French House, offering visitors insight on what life was like during Indiana's territorial period. Building tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., EDT. Guests can also learn more about the area's importance as an early military outpost during self-guided tours at Fort Knox II. The Indiana State Museum and Historical Site said the tours are first-come, first-served, and advanced registration is encouraged by calling the sites directly. Visitors can also go to their website for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Figure skating Grand Prix assignments: Alysa Liu, Chock/Bates headline Skate America
World champions Alysa Liu and Madison Chock and Evan Bates headline November's Skate America as figure skating's Grand Prix Series assignments for the Olympic season have been announced. The world's top skaters each compete twice over the six-event regular season in October and November, with the top six per discipline over the series qualifying for December's Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. Advertisement The Final will be the last gathering of the world's top skaters before the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Liu and Chock and Bates will be joined by at Skate America in Lake Placid, New York, by two-time U.S. Olympian Jason Brown. GRAND PRIX ASSIGNMENTS: Women | Men | Pairs | Ice Dance This season, Skate America is the fifth of six Grand Prix stops from Nov. 14-16. The Grand Prix season starts in France from Oct. 17-19, then moves to China, Canada and Japan before Skate America. After Skate America, the last regular season Grand Prix is in Finland. Two-time world champion Ilia Malinin is entered in the first and third Grand Prix events in France and Canada. Adeliia Petrosian ISU names figure skaters from Russia eligible for Olympic qualifying as neutral athletes Adelia Petrosian has been cleared to compete in Olympic figure skating qualifying and is a gold-medal contender.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa State University president signs statement calling for national investment in R&D
Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen joined other university and business leaders in calling for national investment in research and development. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa State University leadership has joined universities, companies and other organizations across the U.S. in calling for the Trump administration to further invest in national research and development and ensure the country's future as a talent pipeline and innovation powerhouse. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen last week signed a written statement penned by the Council on Competitiveness, a nonprofit organization with the mission of enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, asking President Donald Trump and Congress to support a 'renewed call to action' to strengthen domestic innovation and production capabilities. The statement includes recommendations for transforming American innovation by investing in research and new technologies, strengthening partnerships and attracting global talent. ISU spokesperson Angie Hunt said Wintersteen decided to sign the statement to support investment in research and development. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Investing in innovation is vital for developing new cutting-edge technologies that fuel our economy and keep our state and country competitive,' Hunt said. 'Iowa State is a trusted partner for innovative and proactive solutions, and President Wintersteen understands the value of working collaboratively with industry and government to meet societal needs.' Other universities whose leaders signed onto the statement include the University of South Carolina, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California Davis and San Diego, the University of Arizona, the University at Buffalo, Boston University, Boise State University, the University of Nebraska and Illinois systems, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Idaho State University, Ohio State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Memphis, the University of Colorado Boulder, Vanderbilt University and the University of Wyoming. Gallup and PepsiCo were also featured on the list of 50 Council on Competitiveness members who signed the statement, as well as the American Federation of Teachers. The statement named China as the U.S.'s biggest competitor in its nearly 250-year history, and said the country 'aims to rewrite the rules of the global economy, control emerging 'dual-use' technologies, and dominate the strategic industries of the future.' One of the recommendations included in the statement is for the U.S. to 'invest at scale' in dual-use technologies like advanced materials, AI, biotechnology, precision agriculture, semiconductors and more. It also recommends enhancing statecraft for critical technologies and implementing a new National Defense Education Act to grow the number of Americans with some level of STEM degree. 'To achieve President Trump's vision of a Golden Age of American Innovation, we must strengthen our innovation system by reinvesting in the research partnerships and innovation infrastructure that have made the United States the global leader in turning knowledge and ideas into commercial value and societal impact,' the statement said. Increased and expanded partnerships are also recommended in the statement, from those between research universities, the business sector and the government to international allies, as well as bringing research and development investment up to 2% of the U.S. GDP and maintaining efforts to recruit and retain global talent while following research security protocols. R&D funding at the federal level as a part of the total GDP used to sit at more than 2% in the 1960s, according to the statement, but has dropped to the current .7%. Actions taken by Trump and his administration have gone against what the organization is recommending, including revoking international student SEVIS statuses and visas and, most recently, halting the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students until new guidelines relating to social media are available, the Associated Press reported. Cutting funding to science agency budgets and research funding, as well as reducing staff in federal offices, were mentioned in the statement as moves that 'threaten the research infrastructure that underpins America's innovation capacity and capability.' The U.S. has been a global leader of science and technology advancements since World War II, the statement said, driven by a model of partnerships and collaboration between academia, industries and the government. A renewed investment in R&D on a national scale, driven by commitments on both sides of the aisle, to continue this trend and keep the U.S. innovating. 'We must accelerate the policy drivers and investments required to increase national productivity and improve the living standards for all Americans,' the statement said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
