The City of London, the financial district of the British capital. A group of London’s financial lobbyists will head to Brussels on July 5, 2017, for their first meeting with European officials and stakeholders since Brexit talks began. Frank Augstein / AP Photo / September 2, 2015
The City of London, the financial district of the British capital. A group of London’s financial lobbyists will head to Brussels on July 5, 2017, for their first meeting with European officials and stakeholders since Brexit talks began. Frank Augstein / AP Photo / September 2, 2015
The City of London, the financial district of the British capital. A group of London’s financial lobbyists will head to Brussels on July 5, 2017, for their first meeting with European officials and stakeholders since Brexit talks began. Frank Augstein / AP Photo / September 2, 2015
The City of London, the financial district of the British capital. A group of London’s financial lobbyists will head to Brussels on July 5, 2017, for their first meeting with European officials and st

Conflict and confusion over Britain's Brexit strategy


Damien McElroy
  • English
  • Arabic

British politicians and officials are in disarray over the country’s approach to exiting the European Union as a revolt against prime minister Theresa May’s tough negotiating stance gathers pace.

Senior civil servants have revealed that the choice ahead lies between making payments to stay in a very close trading arrangement with the EU or accepting a looser deal modelled on a recent EU-Canada free-trade treaty.

The prospect of replicating the current ties while restoring immigration controls and making free-trade deals with the rest of the world has been deemed unrealistic. This objective was famously dubbed "having our cake and eating it" by Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, after the referendum last June.

Mrs May's position that "no-deal is better than a bad deal" has also been dismissed as unworkable by her own officials, according to a report in the anti-Brexit Guardian newspaper.

While voters have decided to leave the European Union, the manner of Britain's departure is more disputed than ever. The failure of Mrs May's Conservative party to win a majority at the general election last month has thrown open the political debate on the negotiations.

"The economic arguments that had got lost in the last six months are now being heard again and those who had tried to railroad this by saying 'you are talking our country down' are now being given a run for their money," a source told the Guardian.

It has not helped Downing Street that recently departed figures are speaking out.

James Chapman, formerly the right hand man of David Davis, the Brexit secretary who oversees the Brussels negotiations, told the BBC that Mrs May’s absolutist positions on immigration had "hamstrung" the British.

“This is a new parliament, there's a new reality. She has to get these things through parliament,” he warned. “I think that there would be room to recalibrate some of this approach but at the moment she is showing no willingness to do this.”

Meanwhile David Jones, who was sacked as Mr Davis’s deputy following the election, weighed in to call on the government to shore up preparations for Brexit by recruiting more negotiators.

In a further embarrassment, Downing Street was on Monday forced to deny another report it was already braced to quit the EU talks in September as it anticipates a bust-up over the €100 billion (Dh417bn) exit bill demanded by Brussels. Business leaders were said to have been given the warning last week in a briefing from the prime minister's office.

The City of London signalled its concerns over the lack of clarity by revealing it would send its own delegation to consult with Brussels. Mark Hoban, a former Conservative treasury minister, will lead a team to meet Brussels officials to discuss continuing access to the bloc for the banking and insurance industries.

The fraying relations with European neighbours as a result of the Brexit pressure got another jolt when Michael Gove, a leading figure in the Leave campaign who has been restored to the cabinet, announced London would restore national controls over access to its seas for foreign fishing fleets.

The move drew a rebuke from Ireland, which shares sensitive sea lanes with Britain, and the four other countries affected. Newspaper headlines warned of a repeat of the 1970s Cod War, when Britain was drawn into a confrontation with Iceland over the right to fish in the North Atlantic.

Mr Gove and other leave ministers are keen on restoring Britain’s right to forge free-trade deals around the world. Liam Fox, the trade secretary, is already working on "signature-ready" pacts with a number of trading partners, most notably the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Officials say talks are proceeding well with the GCC but that nothing can been formalised until after the British exit from the EU.

When that will be is unknowable. The deadline for the end of the current negotiations is 2019. The influential chancellor, Philip Hammond wants to agree a long transitional period, when Britain remains in the EU’s customs union.

Mr Hammond has the support of the opposition Labour spokesman Keir Starmer, who has said London should "pay to stay in" the EU’s single market.

The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Results

Stage 7:

1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29

2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious

4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Mountain%20Boy
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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now