Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has signed a landmark agreement with Iraq to combat people smuggling and strengthen border security.
Made during a three-day visit to Baghdad and Erbil, the deal is the largest operational effort against organised crime between the two nations.
Cooper, the first UK Government secretary of state to visit Iraq since 2021, was joined by new border security chief Martin Hewitt for meetings with Iraqi and Kurdish officials.
Report by Covellm.
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Spiking is to be made a specific criminal offence for the first time, the government revealed on Monday. The new offence would mean perpetrators "feel the full force of the law", prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said. It comes as he met with police and hospitality bosses on Monday morning alongside home secretary Yvette Cooper.
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The Home Secretary has indicated her support for proposals to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people, ahead of a Commons vote next week. Yvette Cooper referred to her past backing of similar legislation when it was considered in Parliament several years ago. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Yvette Cooper refused to comment on whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he visited the UK, following arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Cooper stated, "The ICC is independent, and we respect its position," adding that the UK governmentâs focus remains on pursuing a ceasefire in Gaza and addressing the ongoing challenges in the Middle East. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced additional funding to the police force, as she set out plans to overhaul the work of forces in England and Wales. In a speech on Tuesday, Ms Cooper said "direct central government funding" for policing will increase by over half a billion pounds by next year. She also announced a new body which will organise specialist functions such as forensics, IT, and use of drones. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
In a bold statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to create a 30-kilometer-deep security zone within Syria. The zone is aimed at targeting Kurdish militants, particularly those from the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and its affiliates, the PYD and YPG. These groups are considered terrorist organizations by Turkey, and Erdogan emphasized the need for such a zone to secure Turkeyâs borders and combat terrorism.
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Police are investigating more than five people who may have "facilitated" Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged sexual abuse. There are growing numbers of claims that the former Harrods boss routinely sexually assaulted his employees. The Egyptian businessman died in 2023 at the age of 94, before the allegations came to light. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer has accused the last government of a âone nation experiment in open bordersâ. In a press conference in Downing Street, the prime minister accused the Conservatives of a âdifferent order of failureâ that happened âby design not accidentâ. Starmer said: âTime and again the Conservative Party promised they would get the numbers down. Time and again they failed, and now the chorus of excuses has begun.â Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer said a deal with Iraq will tackle people smuggling upstream âbefore it reaches our shoresâ. He said: âIâm pleased to announce today a new security agreement between Iraq and the UK. This is a world first, that will help us smash the people smuggling gangs and secure our borders. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Nigel Farage walked out of a Sky News interview when asked about Reform MP James McMurdock's 18-year-old assault conviction. Farage was questioned about the party's vetting process, and when pressed on McMurdock's past, he became frustrated and left, saying he was "off for lunch." McMurdock, who had not disclosed the conviction, had been sentenced to 21 days in a youth offenders' institution for kicking his partner. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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