British prime minister Theresa May demanded more flexibility from the Irish government over safeguards designed to keep the border between the two states open to facilitate the UK's exit from the EU in March.
After suffering a crushing 432-202 vote defeat in Parliament last week on her proposed withdrawal agreement, Mrs May was required to report back on her efforts to seal a plan B.
Speaking to the House of Commons, she condemned a car bomb attack in Derry on Saturday night, an event that provided a reminder of the darkest days of the three decades of troubles.
She distanced herself from headlines suggesting a renegotiation of the 1998 treaty, known both as the Belfast Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement, but said further work was needed on the backstop on the Irish border contained in the withdrawal agreement.
"All of us agree that as we leave the European Union, we must fully respect the Belfast Agreement and not allow the creation of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland – nor indeed a border down the Irish Sea," she said.
Despite assurances, Dublin remained nervous over Mrs May's hopes to secure concessions on the border issue.
Simon Coveney, the deputy Irish prime minister, welcomed the confirmation that London would not seek to reopen the deal.
"The Good Friday Agreement is a hugely important foundation for the peace process and I don't think we should be talking about changing the Good Friday Agreement in an attempt to solve a political problem," he said.
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Read more:
Damien McElroy: Brexit is a crisis of timing, not direction
Election rumours put British politics on edge
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Mr Coveney dismissed suggestions by the Polish foreign minister that the backstop in the Brexit withdrawal deal could have a five-year time limit, saying this does not reflect the overall EU position.
Jacek Czaputowicz broke ranks with the EU leadership by suggesting the problem could be solved by setting a five-year time limit on the backstop.
Looking to other elements of the impasse, prime minister announced a new more collaborative approach to involve other politicians when framing its negotiating mandate for post-Brexit trade talks.
Britain's political impasse over Brexit is fueling concerns that the country may crash out of the EU on March 29 with no agreement in place to cushion the shock. That could see tariffs imposed on goods moving between Britain and the EU, sparking logjams at ports and shortages of essential supplies.
Labour Party Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer warned a no-deal Brexit would be "catastrophic," predicting it was "inevitable" Britain will have to ask the EU to extend the two-year countdown to exit.
Several groups of lawmakers are trying to use parliamentary rules and amendments to May's plan to block the possibility of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
One of those legislators, Labour's Yvette Cooper, said May was shirking her responsibility to the country by refusing to take "no deal" off the table.
"I think she knows that she should rule out 'no deal' in the national interest because it would be so damaging," Mrs Cooper said. "She's refusing to do so, and I think she's hoping that Parliament will do this for her. That is not leadership."
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Frida%20
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PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Honeymoonish
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
57%20Seconds
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