Reform UK unveiled plans to use military personnel, including Royal Marines, to forcibly return small boat migrants to France or Belgium, overriding French objections if necessary. The party calls it the largest Channel operation since WWII, but the Conservatives and other critics deem the policy unworkable and not credible.
Reform UK announced plans to use the Royal Navy to intercept small boats in the English Channel and return migrants to France or Belgium, a proposal dubbed "operation fortress." The party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf claims this is possible despite international law and potential diplomatic arguments with France, while the government emphasizes tackling criminal gangs and providing safe routes.
Coordinating Minister K Shanmugam was promoted to senior minister in a Singapore cabinet reshuffle, becoming the first to hold the title with a portfolio. Labour chief Ng Chee Meng was reinstated to the Prime Minister’s Office, alongside other ministerial appointments and a ministry renaming.
MPs warn of "utter chaos" and "miles of tailbacks" at the port of Dover unless the EU's entry/exit system (EES) technology is fixed or checks suspended before peak holiday traffic. The system's biometric kiosks are unusable due to French tech delays, causing significant concerns for British holidaymakers and freight.
British MPs warn of "utter chaos" and "miles of tailbacks" at the port of Dover unless EU's entry/exit system (EES) technology is fixed or checks suspended by next week, ahead of peak summer holiday traffic. The system's biometric kiosks are unusable due to French tech delays, causing significant concerns for holidaymakers and freight.
Senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has been given additional charge as the interim Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). He will continue his role in the Ministry of Home Affairs while leading the education board until a permanent appointment is made.
The European Commission has proposed restricting temporary protection for newly arriving Ukrainian refugees fit for military service, a measure requested by Ukraine. This first-time proposal is likely to be approved, while temporary protection for other Ukrainians is extended until March 2028.
An Australian woman linked to the Islamic State group, identified as former Sydney resident Hodan Abby, has been authorized to return to Australia. The government can no longer enforce a criminal exclusion order, but she will face extensive security monitoring.
Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie is to receive enhanced security due to perceived threats linked to a One Nation-led campaign, particularly over his involvement in the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes case.
US-based Management and Training Corporation (MTC), operating Australia's immigration detention centers via Secure Journeys, faces multiple investigations due to catastrophic security failures. These include detainee escapes, staff assaults, and a lack of basic safety equipment, prompting warnings from regulators about risks to staff and detainees.
Hong Kong authorities are considering requiring claw machine operators to display winning odds and potentially increase prize values. The proposed changes aim to protect consumers and prevent addiction, including individual licensing for machines and displaying license details and anti-addiction slogans.
Hong Kong authorities are considering new regulations for claw machines, including requiring operators to display winning odds and potentially increasing prize values. The proposed regime aims to protect players and prevent addiction by issuing individual licenses for each device and mandating the display of license details and anti-addiction slogans.
South Africa's Constitutional Court rules that rejected asylum seekers cannot reapply without new legislation, citing potential for 'never-ending cycle' and administrative chaos, in a case involving Burundian nationals.
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) were the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination on Friday concluded the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the government-appointed...
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) are the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on Friday into the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination will also conclude the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the...
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) are the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on Friday into the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination will also conclude the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the...
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) are the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on Friday into the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination will also conclude the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the...
Australia has deported American YouTuber Sneako. The government cancelled his visa and imposed a lifetime ban. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated the country is better without his divisive presence. This action follows legislative amendments allowing the government to protect the community from those spreading hatred. Sneako was ordered to leave immediately or face detention. The decision received cross-party support.
A group of 13 Australians related to alleged Islamic State (Isis) jihadists is returning home from Syria, Australian authorities said on Wednesday, warning some will face arrest. The four women and nine children, who had been living in Roj camp in Syria, are expected to land in Sydney and Melbourne airports on Thursday, according to local media. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he received an alert on Wednesday morning when the group’s travel booking was made. “The government is not...
Malaysia's home affairs ministry banned two books for containing communist elements, including a memoir of the grandmother to an ally of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Days later, the minister announced plans to revoke the bans, along with a prohibition against a Mao Zedong translation funded by Anwar's PKR party. The rapid reversal has sparked confusion among Anwar's supporters, with some questioning the consistency of his reformist image.
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadly Wang Fuk Court fire will scrutinise the roles of building and home affairs authorities on the 20th day of evidential hearings. Four witnesses from the Buildings Department and the Home Affairs Department are scheduled to give evidence before the judge-led panel on Monday. The inferno broke out on...
An independent committee investigating the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, will hear testimony from four witnesses from the Buildings Department and Home Affairs Department on the 20th day of evidential hearings. The November 2025 blaze killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. The inquiry is examining jurisdictional failures between government departments that allegedly referred fire risk complaints to each other instead of addressing them.
An independent committee investigating the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po will examine the roles of the Buildings Department and Home Affairs Department on the 20th day of hearings. Four witnesses from these departments are scheduled to testify. The November 26 fire killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. The inquiry has heard that multiple government departments referred fire risk complaints to each other rather than addressing them.
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadly Wang Fuk Court fire will scrutinise the roles of building and home affairs authorities on the 20th day of evidential hearings. Four witnesses from the Buildings Department and the Home Affairs Department are scheduled to give evidence before the judge-led panel on Monday. The inferno broke out on...
