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A BBC undercover investigation has exposed a violent and highly organised people-smuggling gang operating across northern France and the UK. The gang, led by Iraqi-Kurds Jabal, Aram, and al-Millah, is responsible for transporting migrants across the English Channel in small boats, often risking lives for profit, according to BBC.

Posing as a migrant, a BBC reporter accessed the gang’s hideout, revealing armed turf wars, hidden camps, and smugglers promising “safe” crossings despite deadly risks. In one failed launch in April 2024, five people died, including a 7-year-old girl.

The gang changes names and phone numbers to stay ahead of police, with key figures managing logistics from France, Belgium, and Iraq. Some members even claim asylum in the UK after escorting migrants.

Despite joint UK-French efforts and new border enforcement measures, including a “one-in, one-out” return policy, officials say smugglers remain a step ahead—fuelled by high profits and growing demand, BBC reported.

US President Donald Trump said he was unaware of American imports of uranium and fertilisers from Russia, a point India has used to defend its own trade ties with Moscow, Firstpost reported.

Asked about the imports, Trump responded, “I don’t know anything about it. I have to check.”

Despite sanctions, US imports from Russia rose 23 percent between January and May this year, reaching $2.1bn, with notable increases in palladium, uranium, and fertilisers.

Though significantly down from pre-war levels, American trade with Russia has seen a partial rebound, even as Washington criticises other nations for maintaining economic ties with Moscow, according to Firstpost.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has filed a lawsuit to remove Democratic lawmaker Gene Wu after more than 50 Democrats fled the state to block a vote on a Republican-led redistricting plan. Their absence denied the legislature the quorum needed to proceed, according to BBC.

The lawsuit, filed in the Texas Supreme Court, accuses Wu of abandoning his duties and calls for his removal through a rarely used legal process called quo warranto. The proposed redistricting would add five Republican-leaning seats to the US House of Representatives.

Democrats argue the walkout was a necessary move to defend democratic principles. Wu has not yet responded, BBC reported.

The Netherlands has announced a €500m ($578m) military aid package for Ukraine as part of a new NATO program, the Dutch Defense Ministry said Monday.

This marks the first contribution to the US-led Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a recently launched initiative through which NATO members finance military supplies for Ukraine sourced from US stockpiles, Xinhua reported.

The aid will include air defense systems, ammunition, and other critical equipment based on Ukraine’s most urgent needs. The PURL program, launched on July 14 by US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, aims to bolster ongoing support efforts by streamlining deliveries through newly established logistics hubs.