A small boat carrying 125 migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK on Saturday, setting a new record for the largest number of people on a single vessel making the perilous journey.
The crossing occurred amid a surge in small boat arrivals, with nearly 900 migrants making the crossing on the same day.
The so-called 'mega dinghy' surpassed the previous record of 106 migrants aboard a single boat, highlighting the increasing use of larger, overcrowded vessels by people smugglers. Authorities have expressed concern over the safety risks associated with such overcrowded conditions.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the crossing.
"These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders," Mahomood said.
The UK government has been under pressure to address the rising number of small boat crossings. In response, the UK and France have implemented a "one in, one out" immigration policy, allowing the UK to return asylum seekers who arrived via the Channel, while accepting an equal number of individuals with family ties to the UK.
Despite these measures, the number of migrants attempting the crossing continues to rise. As of late September 2025, more than 33,000 people have made the journey this year, with the majority being men aged 18 to 39.
The tragic consequences of these crossings were underscored over the weekend, as a child died after falling from an overcrowded dinghy, and two women lost their lives in a separate incident.
Authorities continue to investigate these incidents and the activities of people smuggling networks operating in the region.
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A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Morocco held their nerve to beat the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic late equaliser, Gabriel Martinelli spared Brazil's blushes with a stoppage-time winner against Japan, while Paraguay stunned Germany in the tournament's biggest shock to reach the World Cup last 16.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday.
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