The French authorities have rescued 91 migrants who got into difficulty while trying to make their way to Britain in small boats, amid a surge in the number of crossings.
Two lifeboats, a coastguard cruiser and a tug boat came to the aid of the migrants who were in four vessels, maritime officials said on Wednesday. Two minors were among the group, which reportedly included people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.
They were pictured being escorted off a rescue craft in Calais after their inflatable boat had begun to take on water as they tried to cross the English Channel to the UK.
The series of operations took place off the coast of Boulogne and Dunkirk in northern France. Both ports are known spots for people smugglers to send boats illegally into the busy shipping route.
After being brought back to land, all those taken from the dinghies were handed over to police.
The migrants’ failed attempt at making the perilous sea journey comes amid a surge in Channel crossings owing to the mild weather.
A weekly record was broken last week as 1,959 migrants landed on British shores in the seven days to September 10, the PA news agency reported.
More migrants were expected to try crossing from France on Thursday as mild weather is forecast, before conditions deteriorate.
On Thursday morning, five or six people reached Dover after being picked up by the UK's Border Force. They told reporters they came from Syria and Sudan.
They were seen disembarking a vessel before making their way along a jetty towards a processing centre at the port.
Hours later UK Home Secretary Priti Patel visited Dover to meet Border Force teams dealing with the continuing arrival of small boats.
She was seen wearing a life jacket on board a Border Force vessel, chatting to staff.
Last night, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle, she reiterated her aim to tackle the problem of illegal immigration.
Ms Patel wrote: “A huge privilege to continue serving as Home Secretary under our Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“There is still so much more to do to deliver for the British people. Tackling illegal migration, cutting crime and continuing to keep our great country safe.”
This morning, Sky News said it had seen a French vessel accompanying a migrant boat into British waters where it was met by Britain’s Border Force.
A reporter in the port of Calais said they had seen a heavy police presence on beaches this morning, including police helicopters, police vessels at sea and foot patrols.
Much of this surveillance is funded by the British government.
Several young children were among a group of migrants that arrived in Dungeness, Kent, on Monday.
Immigration officers were seen tending to a woman who had been taken ill on the crossing.
They carried her away from a boat on a stretcher while the rest of the people were helped ashore by members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Border Force agents were this week filmed practising “pushback drills” in the Channel, a tactic denounced by France.
Officials on jet skis chased a boat at high speed before surrounding it in a bid to turn it around.
Last week it was revealed that the Home Office had instructed the Border Force to test the method in a bid to stem the flow of small boats from France.
The French government warned it would not co-operate with the proposed policy.
A representative for the Home Office told The National that “a range of safe and legal options for stopping small boats” was being examined.
Former Conservative Party MP and attorney general Dominic Grieve was critical of Ms Patel’s approach.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, he dismissed the plan to turn boats back into French waters as “a gimmick”.
“All this business about turning boats back in the Channel, which appears to be a policy that she has espoused and is very pleased to promote, is complete nonsense,” he said.
“It’s a gimmick and the trouble with gimmicks is that if you pursue them they diminish your status with key partners with whom you’re going to have to work if you’re going to prevent illegal immigration, which in this case happens to be the French.”
Since 2018, 11 people are known to have died attempting the crossing and another three people are missing, say officials.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
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The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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