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 guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
British police have arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after a major security incident was declared near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. air forces in Gloucestershire, England.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time on Monday despite an unexpected engine shutdown, deploying 26 new Starlink satellites before ending its shortened test flight with a controlled touchdown in the Pacific.
EU defence ministers have stepped up talks on military readiness and long-term support for Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Europe to close critical defence gaps and strengthen its ability to respond to security threats.
China and the U.S. have unveiled a broader package of economic cooperation after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, covering tariffs, agriculture, coal, finance, aviation and artificial intelligence.
The European Union is considering targeted accession roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania, offering clearer reform priorities and timelines as Brussels looks to speed up enlargement.
A decade ago, a far-right party winning a major Western European election would have caused a political shock. Today, such results are increasingly becoming part of Europe’s political landscape.
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