Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister, with wife Jenny Morrison after casting his ballot in Sydney. Bloomberg
Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister, with wife Jenny Morrison after casting his ballot in Sydney. Bloomberg
Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister, with wife Jenny Morrison after casting his ballot in Sydney. Bloomberg
Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister, with wife Jenny Morrison after casting his ballot in Sydney. Bloomberg

Conservatives set to retain power in Australia election upset


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Australia's ruling conservative coalition appeared to have secured a shock election win on Saturday, with the media predicting the alliance defied expectations to retain power.

National broadcaster ABC called the election for Prime Minster Scott Morrison's conservative Liberal-National Coalition, although with just over half of votes counted it was not clear if it would be a minority or majority government.

The results stand in contrast to pre-election polls, which predicted the centre-left Labor Party would win.

Mr Morrison's coalition won or is ahead in 72 seats in its quest for a 76-seat majority, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Several seats are still either too close to call or the vote count has not progressed enough to declare a winner.

"At the moment, it's looking very strongly like the Morrison government will be returned," said ABC chief election analyst Antony Green.

"We're just not sure in what position it will be returned," he said, saying that although it may be a minority government, the Coalition would have more seats than Labor.

"I thought I was coming to a wake, to be quite honest with you," Liberal supporter Greg Napper told Reuters at Sydney's Wentworth Hotel, where the government holds its official election night function. "This is a party – the results are encouraging."

Mr Morrison's coalition defied expectations by holding onto a string of outer suburban seats in areas where demographics closest resemble America's Rust Belt, blocking Labor's strongest path to victory.

Sombre mood in Bill Shorten's hometown

The mood was sombre in Melbourne, the hometown of Labor leader Bill Shorten, on Saturday night as the anticipated victory dissipated.

"I think people have become afraid after a very negative campaign," Labor supporter Julie Nelson said. "They managed to convince people they should be afraid of change."

Labor's 2019 campaign focused on higher spending for health and education, and more ambitious curbs to greenhouse-gas pollution.

Both major parties suffered a fall in their primary vote, according to AEC data, which was caused in part by a high-profile campaign by Clive Palmer's populist United Australia Party.

The election campaign sparked several high-profile local battles, including attempts to remove Peter Dutton, a senior politician who has championed Australia's controversial policy of detaining asylum seekers in offshore centres.

Although Mr Dutton retained his Queensland seat, former conservative prime minister Tony Abbott conceded that he had lost his Sydney seat of Warringah to high-profile independent Zali Steggall.

There are also 40 of 76 Senate seats up for grabs. The outcome of these contests will determine how difficult it will be for the next government to enact policy.

Tony Abbott loses seat in ‘unprecedented’ defeat

Mr Abbott was soundly defeated in his formerly safe seat on Sydney’s wealthy north shore, ending a 25-year parliamentary career.

Mr Abbott, 61, suffered a 13 per cent swing against him in Warringah to Ms Steggall, a lawyer and former Olympic skier. Mr Abbott conceded defeat on Saturday evening and congratulated Ms Steggall, but said he took solace from the very strong performance by the government after what was widely agreed to be an effective campaign by Mr Morrison.

"The good news is much more important than the bad news. The good news is that there is every chance that the Liberal-National Coalition has won this election," Mr Abbott told supporters. “Scott Morrison will now quite rightly enter the Liberal pantheon forever.’’

Tony Abbott, the Australian former prime minister and Warringah Liberal candidate, is joined on stage by his wife Margie and sister Christine Forster after conceding defeat. EPA
Tony Abbott, the Australian former prime minister and Warringah Liberal candidate, is joined on stage by his wife Margie and sister Christine Forster after conceding defeat. EPA

Mr Abbott was criticised over the years for his arch-conservative views that have seen him doubt climate change, oppose same-sex marriage and reinstate Australia’s archaic honours system of appointing knights and dames.

After being removed as Liberal leader by his own MPs, he remained in parliament on the backbench and often criticised the policy positions of his moderate successor, Malcolm Turnbull.

“This is a slaughter. This is unprecedented,” said Labor MP Anthony Albanese. “This is the absolute faithful walking away from Tony Abbott.”

Mr Abbott served as prime minister for two years from September 2013 before he was dumped in a party coup. A figurehead of the Liberals’ hard-right, he was a lightning rod for controversy for much of his political career, and was famously labelled a misogynist by then Labor prime minister Julia Gillard in 2012.

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
End of free parking

- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18

- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued

- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket

- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200. 

- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200

- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The bio

Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales

Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow

Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades

Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus

Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga

Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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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.
The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

MANDOOB
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

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Scores in brief:

Day 1

New Zealand (1st innings) 153 all out (66.3 overs) - Williamson 63, Nicholls 28, Yasir 3-54, Haris 2-11, Abbas 2-13, Hasan 2-38

Pakistan (1st innings) 59-2 (23 overs)

2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL

Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia