The dream of a better life is a common driving force among thousands of migrants who set out each year on perilous journeys in small boats to cross the seas hoping to make it safely to countries in the West.
This year, the number of men, women and children escaping circumstances in their home countries, whether in Africa, Asia or parts of the Middle East, has been on the rise – as is the number of people who have perished in such attempts. The new head of the UN migration agency, Amy Pope, rightly said this week, that there is a risk of deaths in the Mediterranean Sea becoming normalised.
Almost 3,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea, seeking European shores. Last year, the number of people recorded as dead or disappeared in trying to migrate by sea was 1,680. Viewed through a longer time period, since 2014, about 22,000 people have been recorded as dead or gone missing in this way.
"If we're really going to stop people crossing the Mediterranean on rickety boats and dying as they do so," Ms Pope said, "we need to approach the situation far more comprehensively." She has stressed the need to partner with private companies so that the issue of migration can be better managed.
By no means is it easy for migrants to leave behind familiar yet troubled homelands and risk their lives over days, even weeks, crossing inhospitable oceans
The hope of every migrating family or individual is usually to start afresh, leaving behind conflict, poverty, hunger or climate disasters. They can achieve this by working legally and contributing to the societies they adopt as their second homes – as many successfully do. Legal routes to assimilate migrants are a challenge in many countries. But if systems are in place, this can be overcome and yield positive results – for the migrants as well as the countries that open their borders to them.
Often, the indignity, lack of compassion and even racial prejudice meted out to countless refugees is not new. Ms Pope's reminder to the international community is thus especially pertinent: that migrants can be good for economies, especially in wealthy countries with ageing populations and low birth rates.
A report by the World Bank titled World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies corroborates as much. The Bank's senior managing director Axel van Trotsenburg said earlier this year: “Migration can be a powerful force for prosperity and development.”
This is a reasonable counter to the often-heard argument that migrants are a strain on the resources of the world's most advanced nations, particularly as they rebound from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
By no means is it easy for migrants to leave behind familiar yet troubled homelands and risk their lives over days, even weeks, crossing inhospitable oceans. But people continue to gamble their lives on these journeys, despite the possibility of being forcibly sent back from EU borders, as nearly 10,000 migrants were between May and August this year.
The issue of migration is unlikely to recede until long-term political solutions are found in countries from which people are fleeing. In the past nine months, about 186,000 people reached southern Europe by sea, landing in Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta. Factoring in that reality, it is imperative that the EU member states such as Italy and Germany resolve differences with one another on how to approach the challenge and formulate solutions that are both humane and practicable.
Apart from the compassionate need to do so, sensible migration policy, as research shows, can benefit European economies. Politicians need to stress this message more effectively to the electorate so that migrants and refugees from all countries are accorded the welcome and respect that befits our fellow human beings.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
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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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
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Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
Male 51kg Round 1
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
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Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
Female 57kg quarter finals
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
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