Rishi Sunak was at pains to ensure his first Franco-British summit had at least one major achievement: a new friend in President Emmanuel Macron — in addition to deals sealed with Paris in key areas.
While agreements to tackle illegal migration, increase energy security and boost defence co-operation will be welcomed by his own MPs, perhaps Mr Sunak's biggest achievement is a breakthrough in relations with Paris.
After years of strained ties between the Macron government and previous administrations, Mr Sunak's intention to turn over a new leaf has been clear for some time. His display of affection for Mr Macron, whom he referred to as “mon ami”, or “my friend” in French, left no doubt about his goals.
In a sign that the relationship, called “Le Bromance”, is flourishing, Mr Sunak declared his counterpart a “friend of Britain”.
There was backslapping, handshaking and arms around shoulders as Mr Macron greeted his guest at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday morning.
The two leaders have many similarities, having both worked in economics before venturing into politics and eventually taking the helm of their respective nations.
They took part in a group discussion with government ministers from both sides and also held one-on-one discussions.
Mr Sunak’s approach to European leaders is markedly different from that of his predecessor Liz Truss and before her, Boris Johnson.
During a joint press conference following the summit, Mr Sunak and Mr Macron displayed a mutual respect that has been at times absent in UK-European relations since Brexit.
“It was not a summit like others. It was a summit of new ambitions,” declared Mr Macron. “Merci, mon ami!” gushed Mr Sunak before adding: “I feel very fortunate to be serving alongside you.”
There was even an offer of “congratulations” from Mr Macron on Mr Sunak's signing of the Windsor Framework with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with the French leader commending his guest's “resolve to re-engage with the EU”.
Earlier, the Prime Minister tweeted to say “it’s great to be in Paris” for the summit between what he called “close neighbours, great friends, historic allies”.
Mr Macron posted a message of his own on social media, saying the destinies of the UK and France are linked.
“Welcome to Paris, Rishi Sunak,” he added.
Mr Sunak referring to his host as a friend marks a shift from Ms Truss’s approach to the French leader. Shortly before entering No 10 last September, she was asked if Mr Macron was a friend; she responded by saying: “The jury is out.”
Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron meet in Paris — in pictures
Stop the boats
Days after unveiling his Illegal Immigration Bill, the UK Prime Minister struck a new deal with Mr Macron on tackling the flow of small boats from France to Britain via the Channel.
It will include the UK funding a new detention centre in northern France and 500 more law enforcement agents patrolling beaches in northern France.
“All underpinned by more drones and other surveillance technologies that will help ramp up the intersection rate,” Mr Sunak said, referring to people trying to cross the Channel illegally.
Speaking at a joint press conference following talks, he said the agreement will also include a new command centre established where French and British officials will work together under one roof for the first time to stop illegal migration. The centre will run 24/7.
Downing Street said the signatories will also work together “upstream” to stamp out illegal migration at the source, with Britain's National Crime Agency engaging with its French counterpart to patrol routes frequented by people smugglers.
More than 3,000 people have already made the perilous sea journey across busy shipping lanes in the Channel so far this year, with almost 46,000 arriving in the UK last year.
Over three years, Britain will contribute about £481 million ($581 million) in funding to help pay for the new measures. This includes £141 million in 2023-24.
Mr Sunak was keen to emphasise the problem of illegal migration is a “shared issue” for London and Paris.
“I have made it one of my five priorities to stop the boats,” Mr Sunak said in a statement. “We are delivering on that priority to stop people coming to the UK illegally.
“Last year, I agreed the largest ever small boats deal with France to increase UK-funded patrols by 40 per cent. This week, I announced measures to ensure nobody who enters the UK illegally can remain here.
“We don’t need to manage this problem, we need to break it. And today, we have gone further than ever before to put an end to this disgusting trade in human life. Working together, the UK and France will ensure that nobody can exploit our systems with impunity.”
Low-carbon energy co-operation
The first bilateral summit between the UK and France since 2018 also produced “an ambitious new energy partnership” in which the two nations will share ideas on alternatives to fossil fuels.
Mr Sunak said the deal will help the countries ensure that “never again can the likes of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin weaponise our energy security”.
The deal on civil nuclear energy co-operation includes an agreement through which Paris will “examine the case for new energy interconnectors” and a commitment to work together on low-carbon energy, he added.
“Together, I believe we are creating a future where every watt of energy powering our homes and industry will come from secure, sustainable and reliable sources,” Mr Sunak said.
The Prime Minister said he was “confident” the UK and France will be able to get the public “cheaper, more secure, more renewable and cleaner energy, faster” following Friday’s summit.
United in defence
Mr Sunak will also arrive back in Britain with a fresh defence pact under his belt.
He and Mr Macron agreed to strengthen military co-operation in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, through which the British and French armies will jointly train Ukrainian marines.
Mr Sunak said the initiative would give Kyiv “a decisive advantage on the battlefield” and help it to win the war.
Increasing interoperability between British and French forces and bringing both sides together for weapons developments are also hallmarks of the deal announced on Friday.
The British and French navies will also co-ordinate carrier deployments to the Indo-Pacific region under the deal.
Mr Macron emphasised the historical ties between his nation and the UK, saying they share a past “that binds us”. He added that the summit represented a reunion and reconnection of long-standing partners.
The French President said the war in Ukraine has placed “new responsibility” on European nations and that the two countries — both members of Nato and permanent members of the UN Security Council — would work together to “build concrete solutions for our future”.
“We share the same assessment, the same resolve: Russia cannot and will not win this war,” he said.
He added that the efforts of France and its allies aim to ensure the war “doesn't spread globally”.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Mann%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adam%20Driver%2C%20Penelope%20Cruz%2C%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Patrick%20Dempsey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more about the coronavirus
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
