Migrant crossings in the English Channel hit a new daily peak for 2023, with 775 people counted on Thursday.
The crossings were made in 14 small boats and beat the year's previous high of 686, on July 7.
Lifeboat crews said they were called into action on Thursday after reports of "casualties in the water", who were brought to safety. Coast guards said a helicopter was also dispatched.
The events on Thursday are believed to have brought the total number of migrants crossing the Channel to 100,000 since 2018.
There were 299 people detected that year and numbers mushroomed to 45,755 people in 2022.
The record daily figure is the 1,295 migrants who crossed in a single day, on 27 boats, in August last year.
UK Home Office figures say 15,826 people have crossed illegally this year even as ministers vow to "stop the boats".
Contentious asylum reforms last month became law, intended to prevent illegal migrants from staying in Britain.
100,000 migrants cross the Channel in five years - in pictures
The Illegal Migration Act brings in powers to speed up deportations and stop asylum claims. Critics say it is cruel and that detaining thousands of people will be expensive.
Government minister John Glen on Friday said an arrangement with France to fund police patrols had cut migrant numbers by an estimated 33,000.
But he played down the prospect of more drastic measures, such as leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, saying "plan A" should be given a chance to work.
"I believe in the plan that we’ve got in place. It hasn’t finished the legal process yet," Mr Glen, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told LBC radio.
"I believe in plan A and we will see that come to fruition in the autumn."
Ministers are also fighting legal battles in the courts over their plans to deport migrants to Rwanda and decisions to house migrants on former military sites.
Some asylum seekers were this week moved on to the Bibby Stockholm barge off the Dorset coast after the plans were beset by delays.
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Key fixtures from January 5-7
Watford v Bristol City
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham United
Wolves v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Luton Town
Fulham v Southampton
Norwich City v Chelsea
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets