Migrants wait for a food distribution near the former 'jungle' in Calais, France, August 23, 2017. Reuters 
Migrants wait for a food distribution near the former 'jungle' in Calais, France, August 23, 2017. Reuters 

Dozens of migrants rescued from English Channel over Christmas



Some 40 migrants, including two children, were rescued in the icy waters between southern England and northern France known as the Channel on Christmas Day authorities said. Another three adults were plucked from their 3.5 metre dinghy in the early hours of Boxing Day roughly 10 miles off the French coastline.

The French regional maritime authority said eight people aboard a small rubber boat were spotted in distress by two commercial vessels on Tuesday morning, about 12 miles from the port city of Calais. A police helicopter was called in to direct the rescue of the group whose nationalities are not known.

The UK’s Home Office said its border services had to respond to five separate incidents beginning early on Christmas Day.

All of the 40 rescued on Christmas Day, who have now been transferred to the UK and are receiving medical attention, said they were from Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan.

The incident comes amid a surge in attempted migrant crossings via the Channel Sea, the busiest shipping lane in the world and barely 20 miles wide at its narrowest.

The Home office said it was the result of criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people.

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Read more:

French boat rescues nine migrants stranded in English Channel

World moves in opposite directions on migration

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The ever increasing rise in attempts are sometimes blamed by human rights agencies on the French governments aggressive approach to makeshift migrants camps. Two years ago one of these informal centres near Calais, that at one point held 10,000 people, was closed. Some migrants have died after taking extreme risks to hide in lorries, take the ferry across the sea or smuggle themselves onto UK-bound trains.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

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

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

MATCH INFO

What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae