The UN has warned Rishi Sunak that his Illegal Migration Bill flouts international law.
The controversial legislation is set to be enshrined in UK law after scaling its final hurdles in Parliament, offering a boost to the Prime Minister following several setbacks to his pledge to “stop the boats”.
The bill places a legal duty on the government to detain and remove people who arrive in the UK by illegally crossing the English Channel.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said the package “significantly erodes the legal framework” in the UK that has protected migrants in the past, and risks “exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law”.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the bill raises “very serious legal concerns” from an international perspective and could prompt other nations to pass similar laws.
He said governments, including those in Europe, “may be tempted to follow, with a potentially adverse effect on the international refugee and human rights protection system as a whole”.
Mr Sunak’s administration won a series of votes on the bill in the House of Lords on Monday night, ending a weeks-long effort by some members of the unelected upper chamber to amend the package.
Last week, the government was forced to ditch parts of the bill pertaining to pregnant women and minors.
The next step is for the bill to be given Royal Assent, after which it will become law and known as an act.
Downing Street said the legislation will go hand-in-hand with the government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda while their claims are being processed.
Last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman won approval to bring a Supreme Court challenge against a ruling that Rwanda policy is unlawful.
“This is an important part of our work to stop the boats and obviously it will be paired with the Rwanda policy,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters.
“It’s important we have these two aspects together but it makes sense to have the act in place before this court challenge concludes.”
The passing of the Illegal Migration Bill offers a boost for Mr Sunak, following a series of setbacks to his pledge to “stop the boats”.
Mr Sunak said in June that his efforts to deter people from making the perilous crossing across the Channel were “starting to work”, and pointed to the low number of arrivals.
But earlier this month a record for 2023 was made when about 700 arrivals were registered.
Home Office figures showed that 686 migrants made it across on July 7, beating this year's previous daily record of 549 on June 11.
Sonya Sceats, chief executive of charity Freedom from Torture, criticised the passing of the Illegal Migration Bill.
“The UK has just taken a wrecking ball to the refugee protection system we helped to forge after the Holocaust,” she wrote on Twitter.
She pointed to the “unusual joint statement” from the UN human rights and refugee chiefs.
Mr Turk, the global body’s human rights chief, noted Britain “has long had a commitment to upholding international human rights and refugee law” which he said is “needed today more than ever”.
“I urge the UK government to renew this commitment to human rights by reversing this law and ensuring that the rights of all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are respected, protected and fulfilled, without discrimination,” Mr Turk said.
“This should include efforts to guarantee expeditious and fair processing of asylum and human rights claims, improve reception conditions, and increase the availability and accessibility of safe pathways for regular migration.”
Government ministers have argued that the bill will act as a deterrent for future asylum seekers.
The passing of the legislation came hours before a barge set to house 500 male migrants arrived in a port in the south of England.
The stationing of the Bibby Stockholm at Portland Port in Dorset forms part of Mr Sunak's plan to transfer migrants out of taxpayer-funded hotels to cheaper accommodation.
Locals have been protesting against the move.
But despite the arrival of the barge and the passing of the bill, Mr Sunak's promise to stem the flow of dinghies crossing the Channel is proving to be a difficult one.
Even as the legislation has worked its way through the legislative process, thousands of migrants have continued to make the crossing.
More than 13,000 people have been brought to UK shores after being plucked from boats in the Channel so far this year.
More than 3,000 people arrived in June alone.
The UK's backlog of asylum applicants stands at 130,000.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
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1. Fasting
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3. Hajj
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
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Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Fixtures
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Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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