The British government is preparing to strike deals with Middle East and Asian countries to stop illegal immigrants setting off for the UK, it has been reported.
It is understood that the home office will pay millions to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Turkey and Vietnam to stop people leaving for small boat crossings across the English Channel.
In a deal similar to one struck by Italy, the government will make a “co-operation and security” agreement in the coming weeks, The Sunday Times said.
The proposal is understood to have been inspired by Italy’s success in reducing migrant boat entries by 62 per cent in the last year after deals with Tunisia and Libya.
Large financial inducements have played a significant role in the reduction after Italy paid Tunisia €105 million ($110m) to bolster its border security. It gave also the country another €100 million to buy patrol ships and enhance its coastguard. In Libya, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s government boosted its coastguard and signed a major gas deal.
But there has been some criticism of the move after Libya is said to have forcibly moved migrants back to detention centres where they have endured violent abuse. Tunisia has faced the same accusations.
But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met Ms Meloni in Rome in September, has vowed to “smash’ the human trafficking gangs as a major political priority.
He praised Italy’s “upstream work” in Libya and Tunisia, adding that “preventing people leaving their country in the first place is far better than trying to deal with those that have arrived”.
The dangerous English Channel crossings have become a continued political headache for Britain, with 32,900 people arriving in small boats so far this year compared to 29,437 in 2023. This is despite the previous Conservative government paying France £500 million ($631m) over three years to increase the security presence on its northern coast.
A key agreement that the UK home office wants to make is with the Kurdistan region of Iraq which is responsible for most of the smuggling gangs, including alleged trafficking boss Barzan Majeed, also known as “Scorpion”, who was arrested in May.
The department has assessed that Kurdish groups in the northern Iraq region exercise a lead role in the smuggling making Erbil a key point in the discussions.
The department will now make customised deals with the Kurdistan region, Vietnam and Turkey that could include a “returns deal”, similar to a successful one agreed with Albania under the previous Conservative government.
British border and security officials could also help train their counterparts in the countries to break up gangs.
While figures show that Afghans (5,730) and Iranians (3,844) made up the largest portion of small boat arrivals in the year to June, Vietnamese had soared to 3,031 and Turkish to 2,925 with Syrians at 2,849.
Illegal immigration into Britain has become a major political issue with former prime minister Rishi Sunak attempting but failing to get his Rwanda deportation scheme in place before losing the July general election.
However, there are reports that incoming US President Donald Trump could resurrect the Rwanda scheme to help in the mass deportation of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in America.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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Sand storm
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- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The years Ramadan fell in May
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BABYLON
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Price: From Dh149,900
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
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Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
