Let them take the ferry - Reader says Schengen Agreement would stop the boats
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
The papers continue to report almost daily stories about the high numbers of Channel boat crossings.
It beggars belief that armed French police just watch as migrants board craft.
What is the point of them being armed if they are no deterrent? Perhaps they just have pistols and need machine guns to ward off the traffickers who may also be armed?! But we are paying them millions to prevent the boats leaving.
I strongly believe we should be in the Schengen Agreement – part of borderless Europe – and then these dangerous journeys would stop as people would be able to get here on ferries and trains.
And perhaps these people desperate to come to this country would find that the grass isn't greener over the other side of the Channel and return to continental Europe to find a country where the standard of living is higher.
In that way, they wouldn't have to spend thousands of euros and then feel that they are stuck here. Of course, Border Forces would have to do more of the checking of restaurants, car washes, nail bars and other workplaces that they already visit to check they aren't hiring illegal workers.
But all these massive sums spent on fruitlessly trying to stop many of the boats could be diverted, increasing the Border Forces operations in the UK. Penny Munden, Croydon
The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported on Tuesday this week that the Noura Al-Kaabi Kidney Dialysis Center in the north of Gaza is now 'a pile of rubble'.
This after it was apparently destroyed by the Israeli military. Dr Ghebreyesus added that 'the destruction of this health facility directly endangers the lives of patients with kidney failure'.
Assuming there was no military threat from the building, is there any reason why this destruction should be described as anything other than racist violence by the Israeli government? Kevin, Watford
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Are there any depths to which the Israeli government can sink in its genocide of the Palestinians for some people to stop saying, 'It's all the fault of Hamas'? I doubt it. Mick, West Midlands
My dad was a doctor in the 1940s. He would have morning surgery with no appointments, then go out on his rounds to see patients at their home. He came back for lunch, then it was out again in the afternoon to see patients, back for tea, then evening surgery. After that, he would be on call at night and many a time had to visit for emergencies. Somehow, I don't think doctors today would work that hard. S Rushworth, Southport
Richard Row (MetroTalk, Wed) defends Elon Musk's work slashing US government spending as drastic but necessary. What efficiencies did he make exactly? And he's left things in a 'better' position? For whom? All he did was take money from some of the poorest people. It was completely unnecessary. Agatha, Surrey
MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables
MORE: Next launches limited edition Spoil Him Grooming Box worth £88 ahead of Father's Day
MORE: Boy, 14, 'hacked to death in an instant by man with Samurai sword' on way to school
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Russia blames Britain for Ukraine's attack on airfields destroying 40 war planes
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Russian ambassador to the UK has blamed Britain for Ukraine's strikes on its airfields – and warned the action could lead to World War III. Andrei Kelin claimed it was thanks to Britain's advanced technology that Ukraine was able to hit targets deep inside Russian territory. Up to 40 Russian bombers and other large planes were destroyed at five bases on Sunday. Kelin claimed in an interview with Sky News, without providing evidence, that British intelligence played a major role in the covert operation, named Operation Spiderweb. The plan, 18 months in the making, was orchestrated by a former clothes merchant who worked as a DJ on the side. He said: 'This kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geo-spatial data, which can only be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington. 'I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, but it has not been denied by Britain. 'We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together in Ukraine.' Kelin said Ukraine's actions were 'bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation' and said Kyiv should not 'try to engulf World War III'. On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied Britain's involvement in the operation. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.' Britain is a leader in the geo-spatial data field – but the technique wasn't necessarily needed to find and target the Russian bombers, which were parked out in the open on the runways of five air bases. An expert has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use 'game-changing' nuclear weapons in a show of strength in response to the operation. According to Russia's new nuclear doctrine, published in 2024, any attacks on military infrastructure which 'disrupt response actions by nuclear forces' could lead to nuke strikes in return. The drones used in Operation Spiderweb were smuggled into Russia and launched remotely off the back of trucks. Destroying the bombers, well out of reach of air defences, means months of repair, weakened deterrence, and morale collapse for the Kremlin. Ukraine says nearly 120 kamikaze drones simultaneously launched from the trailers, striking the airbases and crippling the Russian air force. More Trending In total, they inflicted in the region of $7billion worth of damage. Putin has vowed revenge for the audacious attacks, and has launched several strikes on Ukraine since then. Last night, four people died and 20 more injured after a Russian strike on the capital of Kyiv, its mayor said. Search and rescue operations are underway after multiple explosions were heard and falling debris set fires across several districts of the city. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Russia 'combat ready' while top general warns UK must prepare for attack MORE: New footage gives kamikaze drone pilot's view of attack on Russian airbases MORE: Gang 'live-streamed arson attacks in London' for Wagner Group
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Scotsman Obituaries: Lord Ross, former Lord Justice Clerk and one of the great Scottish judges
Lord Ross was a champion of the Scottish legal system Donald MacArthur Ross, Lord Ross, Lord Justice Clerk. Born: 29 March 1927 in Dundee. Died: 26 April 2025 in Edinburgh, aged 98 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Donald Ross held a succession of the highest offices in the Scottish legal system of which he was a proud and doughty champion. He was the youngest of three children of John Ross, a solicitor in Dundee. His elder brother John was in the Parachute Regiment, took part in the first raid on the French coast at Bruneval in 1942, was awarded the DSO for bravery in North Africa, and was captured in Sicily, spending the rest of the war as a POW. Donald was educated at the High School of Dundee, of which he was Dux, and later became president of the Old Boys Club as well as the Edinburgh Angus Club. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Encouraged by his father and brother, he aimed for the Bar rather than join the family practice in Dundee. He first graduated M.A. at the University of Edinburgh, then did two years' National Service with a commission in the Black Watch and returned to Edinburgh for the LL.B, winning the Class Prizes in Scots Law, Conveyancing and Forensic Medicine and the Vans Dunlop scholarship. One of his contemporaries said Donald absorbed in one hour what it took them five hours to learn. He and others lived in a small flat in the New Town that was known as the Snake Pit in spite of (or perhaps because of) the respectability of its inhabitants. Donald was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1952. At that time there were fewer than a hundred advocates in practice at the Bar, and Donald soon gained a reputation as a skilled and tenacious Junior. He had a succession of 'devils' (pupils), several of whom later became judges. As one of them, Ranald (later Lord) MacLean, observed, his approach was one of hard work, acuity of mind and intellectual honesty in identifying the problem and following the argument where it led, whether desired or not. At that time, participation in politics was still the 'Establishment' route to preferment, since the Lord Advocate, the Solicitor General and all the Advocates Depute (Crown Counsel) changed with a change of government; and appointment as Standing Junior to one of the Government Departments was in the gift of the Lord Advocate. Donald stayed out of politics and was believed to hold anti-Establishment views, which might surprise those who knew him later. At any rate, he didn't become a member of the New Club until he became Dean. In 1958 Donald married Dorothy Annand, daughter of a farming family, whom he had known since childhood in Kirriemuir. They were devoted to each other and Dorothy, who radiated warmth and good humour, added a touch of levity when Donald became too serious. They had two children, Kirsty and Catriona, and set up home in Lauder Road, which was the scene of many happy parties, particularly before Christmas. Sadly, Dorothy died in 2004. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Donald took silk in 1964 and quickly established himself as one of the leaders of the Bar. After cross-examination about compulsory purchase of the new Heriot-Watt site, the Acting Principal said: 'Next time, make certain that that advocate Ross is on our side – I certainly don't want to go through that again'. From the point of view of the client, Sir Charles Fraser says he was very nice to work with, always interested and always very practical. In 1967, the office of Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates fell vacant, and Donald was elected by those who wished to see the creaking machinery of the Faculty move into the 20th century. Donald led a programme of reform including a new system for invoicing and collecting advocates' fees, employing Clerks, librarians and other staff, making suitable pension arrangements, and completely refurbishing the building and contents of the Advocates' Library. In 1972 he was appointed Sheriff Principal of Argyll & Bute (in those days a part-time appointment held by one of the senior QCs) and in 1973 he was elected Dean of Faculty, the greatest tribute the Bar can pay to one of its leaders. As Dean he was able to celebrate the completion of the Library with a formal opening by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Elwyn Jones, in 1996. Throughout his life he retained a particular respect and affection for the Faculty, its history and its traditions. In 1977, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice and in 1985 he succeeded Lord Wheatley as Lord Justice-Clerk, an office he held for a further 12 years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was a master of the law of Scotland and deserves to be remembered as one of the great Scottish judges. He was less enthusiastic about new ideas from Luxembourg and Strasbourg. Lord Pentland (now Lord President) says that, towards those who appeared before him, Donald was firm but always fair, though he could be impatient if the arguments presented were palpably unsound. He was particularly kind to young counsel, provided they were properly prepared. Even if he had to take a hard line when their arguments were unsound, he never held it against them the next time they appeared. In 1990 and 1991 he was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly, and Dorothy was a particular success as Her Grace, radiating her cheerful good humour to their guests at Holyrood. As well as service as a judge, Donald undertook a series of public commitments: member of the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals 1970-76; the Committee on Privacy 1976; chairman of the Boundary Commission for Scotland 1977-2002; member of the Court of Heriot Watt University 1978-90 and Chairman 1984-90. After retirement from the bench, he became Chairman of the Judicial Studies Committee for Scotland from 1997 to 2001. He believed strongly in the value of organised studies for judges at all levels and brought great energy to the seminars and training courses that were devised. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 2002, he chaired an expert group on the question of compensation for those who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood products. The group's answer was that it was wrong that they should be treated less favourably than people who had contracted HIV under similar circumstances, and recommended lump sum payments, financial support and support arrangements. They made further recommendations to improve the provision of advice, assistance and legal aid in clinical negligence cases. As happened too often, their report ended in the long grass. Donald was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1988 and served as Vice President from 1999 to 2002. He was awarded honorary LL.D.'s by the Universities of Edinburgh, Dundee, Abertay and Aberdeen, and by Heriot-Watt. After Dorothy's death, Donald took great pleasure in cruising to many parts of the world with Swan Hellenic. He read a lot, but his eyesight gradually failed and he was made very comfortable in Cramond Residences, where he died. Donald was essentially a kind man, firm in his views and, behind it all, a man of genuine modesty. Obituaries
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump explains why Egypt was not included in travel ban
In introducing the partial or complete ban on travel from citizens of 19 nations on June 4, Trump cited the Boulder, Colorado, attack that took place at an event raising awareness about Israeli hostages. The suspect in the case, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an Egyptian man who entered the U.S. on a tourist visit that he overstayed after applying for asylum, federal officials say. More: Trump's travel ban is his fourth attempt. See how list compares to 2017 Yet, the travel ban that Trump unveiled days later did not include Egypt, raising questions about the timing and purpose of the ban, which the president's critics say unfairly targets African and Muslim-majority nations. Trump requested that the State Department and other national security officials put together a list of countries for potential visa restrictions in an executive order just after taking office. But nothing came of it for months, until the Boulder attack, which he blamed on the previous administration. "We want to keep bad people out of our country. The Biden administration allowed some horrendous people," Trump said in the Oval Office, as he touted his deportation policies. Egypt has acted as a central mediator alongside the United States and Qatar in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, helping to establish a ceasefire and secure the release of prisoners and hostages. The United States had conducted joint training exercises with Egypt since 1980 and considers the Arab nation that has been ruled by Abdel Fattah El-Sisi since 2014 a regional partner. The Egyptian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
