Migrants aboard a rubber dinghy after being intercepted by French authorities off the port of Calais on December 25, 2018. Marine Nationale via AP
Migrants aboard a rubber dinghy after being intercepted by French authorities off the port of Calais on December 25, 2018. Marine Nationale via AP
Migrants aboard a rubber dinghy after being intercepted by French authorities off the port of Calais on December 25, 2018. Marine Nationale via AP
Migrants aboard a rubber dinghy after being intercepted by French authorities off the port of Calais on December 25, 2018. Marine Nationale via AP

More than half of migrants stopped in English Channel from Iran


Jamie Prentis
  • English
  • Arabic

Iranians made up well over half of the 463 migrants who were intercepted trying to reach the UK from across the English Channel in the first three months of this year, government figures have shown.

Figures show 266 people claiming to be from Iran were stopped in the Channel along with 119 Iraqis, 47 Syrians and 13 migrants from Afghanistan.

Typically, migrants attempt to cross the world’s busiest shipping route in inflatable small boats.

Data compiled by Migration Watch UK, a think-tank campaigning for lower immigration into Britain, shows more than 1,700 people have arrived illegally in the UK from across the Channel so far this year, including 684 in May.

Authorities have not released official statistics for April or May because “the figures have not passed through a data quality check and cannot be assured”.

The UK government has invested €68.6 million (Dh280m) into a series of border security agreements with France that include “investments in improving border infrastructure at the ports of Calais and Dunkirk, the delivery of strategic communications campaigns, co-operation on return charter flights and developing access to French asylum services”.

While the government has threatened to send back those who make it ashore, data released in January shows that the majority, including those from Iran, have strong cases for asylum and are not returned to Europe.

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

Rankings

ATP: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 ( 1); 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 ( 1); 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 ( 1); 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3); 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 ( 2); 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960; 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 ( 1); 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)

WTA: 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts ( 3); 2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 ( 4); 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2); 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 ( 1); 5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 ( 3); 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4); 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940; 8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 ( 1); 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6); 10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 ( 1)

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What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.