Temperatures over Britain’s small boat crisis have risen to boiling point. A new craze of painting makeshift English flag crosses on street crossings tells the migrants that born and raised in the country is more important than in need and threatened.
As I write, demonstrators are assembled outside hotels housing the migrants – who cannot work until their asylum claim is processed – in their hundreds at a dozen or more locations.
The belief among the angry, that too many people have irregularly arrived in the UK in conditions of crisis, has pushed the situation to a confrontation.
Yet, the latest annualised figures state that "small boat" arrivals represent two in five of those coming into the country.
The truth is there is a blizzard of schemes and pathways that have seen something like six million people arrive in the UK to live over the past decade.
The demonstrations tell us that the situation has become untenable. We have reached a point of good and bad migration that frontline politicians must confront as the overriding issue.
Foreign policy has been a contributor to the crisis as much as domestic drivers and maladministration. If there is a way forward that restores a sense of purpose to the migration system, it is in foreign policy that a recovery of respectability can be found.
Take the Afghan data breach scandal that was revealed earlier in the summer.
A fierce focus on the moral rights of those affected by UK policies remains important and necessary
It is an example of how the UK government has been messing up on the asylum front. It is also an area where London can show it still has a moral dimension to its asylum policies, even as it brings in tough approaches to cut the numbers.
Twenty years of involvement in Afghanistan after the Nato-led intervention in 2001 did not end well for the UK. The restoration of Taliban rule put relations with the central Asian country in the deep freeze.
People from all walks of life on both sides are continuing victims of the failures in the relationship. One particular cohort is the Afghans who served as fellow fighters, translators and local advisers within the UK military and diplomatic deployment.
Since the Taliban takeover more than 36,000 Afghans have been resettled in the UK. Thousands have spent years living an almost underground existence in Pakistan waiting for clearance and visas to come to the country.
Billions have been spent and the government was forced into a cover-up over a data leak that exposed more than 18,000 Afghans who had applied. The government finally withdrew attempts to censor news of the leak in July and said it would honour a commitment to take in any outstanding applicants for resettlement in the UK.
Speaking in July, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, confirmed there were applications in the UK’s system remaining to be processed and promised officials would “complete that job”.
That moral undertaking must be carried through. If there is to be a world of good and bad migration, the plight of the Afghans must be resolved. As recently as last week there were headlines on the security threats tied to the leaked list as it was handed over by the Taliban to a potentially hostile Iranian system.
There is no bed of roses when the Afghans reach the UK. One survey of the riots targeting asylum hotels last summer said 15 of the 20 worst-hit areas topped the list for highest numbers of Afghan resettlement arrivals.
But Britain offered a safe haven, not only to the Afghans but hundreds of thousands from Hong Kong and Ukraine as well. They have all had different resettlement experiences but share a common predicament, that remaining in their homeland became untenable. In time, many of those brought to the UK by these schemes will have the positive immigrant history to tell, one that statistics show is common to the story of migration.
Their situation must not be threatened by the current bottleneck of numbers overwhelming the system at one level and stirring a populist backlash at another.
At this stage it should be in their interest that the government addresses a root and branch review of how it has handled the asylum system.
A poll out on Monday found that 71 per cent believed the government is handling the asylum hotel situation badly. Only nine per cent of voters thought the Labour government was best equipped to handle the issue.
Labour is the party that, courtesy of Tony Blair as prime minister in 1999, proposed the global principle of Responsibility to Protect. That humanitarian principle of intervention in the face of atrocity became known as the Blair Doctrine after a landmark speech in Chicago.
Defusing the current tensions over migration necessitates a marked changed in the Labour party’s orthodox thinking to address brutal everyday realities.
As Monday’s poll shows, UK voters are in an unforgiving mood over the issue and are ranking it highly in the list of priorities. Invidious choices about stopping arrivals by boat, stays in hotels and relocation schemes are set to dominate the political landscape for years ahead.
It is still possible to honour the undertakings adopted after Mr Blair’s landmark Chicago address. A fierce focus on the moral rights of those affected by UK policies remains important and necessary.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
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South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Pharaoh's curse
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.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
