Keyword: English Channel

The 39-year-old Iranian national, accused of arranging several crossings from northern France to England, fainted upon hearing his sentence.

Call came as UK Border Force officials detained 74 people after 8 boats were spotted off Kent coast and two vessels were intercepted in France.

British and French sea rescue services intervened in the early hours on Christmas Day to bring to safety at least 40 migrants, including children, attempting to cross the English Channel to England in precarious conditions in five separate boats.  

A fleet of French fishing trawlers surrounded British boats fishing scallops off the Normandy coast, when heated exchanges included stone-throwing by the French who are angry that their scallop reserves, which they are prohibited from fishing between June and September, were being depleted by the British.

The French navy said the group of Northern Fleet vessels were waiting for a storm to pass and were not holding exercises as reported in Russia.