Two women, both Somalis, died Saturday while trying to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said, adding that the body of another migrant had been found in a canal.

Some 60 other migrants were rescued in the incident in which the two women died, when around 100 people got on to a makeshift boat south of the beaches of Neufchatel-Hardelot at around 3:15 am (0115 GMT) in a bid to get to the UK.

Their overloaded boat returned to shore an hour later, after its motor failed to start, the local prefecture said in a statement.

Civil protection workers took in 60 people for care, while others who had been on the boat ran away when rescuers turned up, said Isabelle Fradin-Thirode, an official in nearby Montreuil-sur-Mer.

A couple and their child suffering from moderate hypothermia were rushed to a hospital in Boulogne, she said.

The body — that of a man in his late 20s or early 30s — was recovered from a canal in the town of Gravelines, next to Dunkirk, said the prefecture and AFP journalists at the scene.

These latest incidents bring the number of Channel crossing deaths to at least 26 this year, according to an AFP tally based on official data.

Since January, a record 32,000 migrants have arrived in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats.

Franco-British deal

Under a recent Franco-British scheme, the UK can return them after arrival if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, including those who have passed through a “safe country” to reach UK shores.

In return, London will accept an equal number of migrants from France who are likely to have their asylum claims granted.

This agreement does not appear to have discouraged migrants from making the perilous crossing.

On Friday, an AFP team in the Gravelines area saw hundreds of migrants preparing to cross the Channel from different points on the beach whenever the weather turned favourable.

AFP reporters interviewed several migrants at a makeshift camp at Loon-Plage near Dunkirk earlier this week.

Some told reporters that they had already suffered acute hardship and dangers to come so near their ultimate goal.

Taking a small boat across the channel, “you aren’t sure you’ll survive,” he said.

“But that’s OK, we still have to try our luck.”

DUBAI: Dubai International Airport has launched the world’s first AI-powered Smart Red Carpet Corridor, enabling passengers to complete immigration formalities within seconds.

The advanced system eliminates the need for passports or boarding passes, allowing up to 10 travellers to pass through simultaneously. Currently available at Terminal 3’s Business Class Departure Hall, the facility is expected to revolutionise the passenger experience.

Authorities say the Smart Corridor is particularly beneficial for families, as it saves time while making immigration smoother and more efficient.

According to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai: “The Smart Red Carpet Corridor is a groundbreaking service that completes immigration procedures in just seconds. There are plans to expand this facility across all terminals in the future. Our goal is to enhance Dubai Airport with more digital services.”

The initiative underscores Dubai’s commitment to positioning itself among the world’s leading destinations by harnessing digital technology and artificial intelligence to improve travel convenience.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to send troops to Portland, Oregon and to protect federal immigration facilities against “domestic terrorists”, saying he was authorising them to use “full force, if necessary.”

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a press conference on Friday, Wilson said an apparent influx of federal officers did not come at the request of the city, and called it an overreach and a distraction.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters that “crazy people” were trying to burn buildings in Portland. “They’re professional agitators and anarchists,” he said, without providing evidence.

Trump has made crime a major focus of his administration even as violent crime rates have fallen in many US cities. His crackdown on Democratic-led municipalities including Los Angeles and Washington has fueled legal concerns and spurred protests.