British companies want to improve business regulations with the EU. PA
British companies want to improve business regulations with the EU. PA
British companies want to improve business regulations with the EU. PA
British companies want to improve business regulations with the EU. PA

UK business leaders want improved trade relationship with EU


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

A significant number of businesses are still struggling with the UK-EU trade deal, the British Chambers of Commerce has warned.

Two years after the deal agreed to by Boris Johnson, the business organisation is calling on the government to look again at how trade with Europe can be improved.

The UK Brexit deal came after years of often fraught negotiations between London and Brussels, with the economic effects of the UK’s exit still a divisive issue.

Last month, the Office for Budget Responsibility said Brexit had caused a “significant adverse impact” to trade volumes and business relationships between UK and EU companies.

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, called for an “honest dialogue” on improving the UK-EU trade relationship.

“Businesses feel they are banging their heads against a brick wall as nothing has been done to help them, almost two years after the TCA was first agreed," Ms Haviland said.

"The longer the current problems go unchecked, the more EU traders go elsewhere and the more damage is done.

Brexit timeline - in pictures

  • May 7, 2015 - David Cameron wins General Election on the pledge to hold a EU referendum. AFP
    May 7, 2015 - David Cameron wins General Election on the pledge to hold a EU referendum. AFP
  • June 23, 2016 - The UK votes to leave the EU. AFP
    June 23, 2016 - The UK votes to leave the EU. AFP
  • June 24, 2016 - David Cameron resigns in wake of referendum defeat. AFP
    June 24, 2016 - David Cameron resigns in wake of referendum defeat. AFP
  • July 11, 2016 - Theresa May wins Conservative Party leadership election. AFP
    July 11, 2016 - Theresa May wins Conservative Party leadership election. AFP
  • March 29, 2017 - British government invokes Article 50. AFP
    March 29, 2017 - British government invokes Article 50. AFP
  • April 18, 2017 - Theresa May calls snap election. AFP
    April 18, 2017 - Theresa May calls snap election. AFP
  • June 8, 2017 - Theresa May wins general election with reduced majority. AFP
    June 8, 2017 - Theresa May wins general election with reduced majority. AFP
  • June 19, 2017 - Negotiations on withdrawal agreement begin. AFP
    June 19, 2017 - Negotiations on withdrawal agreement begin. AFP
  • November 14, 2018 - Text of withdrawal agreement published. AFP
    November 14, 2018 - Text of withdrawal agreement published. AFP
  • November 25, 2018 - Leaders of EU27 countries approve withdrawal agreement. AFP
    November 25, 2018 - Leaders of EU27 countries approve withdrawal agreement. AFP
  • January 15, 2019 - Theresa May loses parliamentary vote on withdrawal agreement. AFP
    January 15, 2019 - Theresa May loses parliamentary vote on withdrawal agreement. AFP
  • January 16, 2019 - Theresa May survives parliamentary vote of no confidence. AFP
    January 16, 2019 - Theresa May survives parliamentary vote of no confidence. AFP

The body is calling for a supplementary deal with the EU that can eliminate or reduce the complexity of food exports for small and medium-sized firms.

It also wants a Norway-style deal that would exempt smaller businesses from the requirement to have a fiscal representative for VAT in the EU.

Among a number of proposals, it is also calling for side deals with the EU and member states to allow UK companies to travel for longer and work in Europe.

The BCC, echoing the concerns of other business groups, has urged the government to find an agreement to the row over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland.

US President Biden warns UK not to damage Northern Ireland peace over Brexit - video

“Businesses want political leaders on both sides to move on from the debates of the past and find ways to trade more freely," Ms Haviland said.

“This means an honest dialogue about how we can improve our trading relationship with the EU.

"With a recession looming, we must remove the shackles holding back our exporters so they can play their part in the UK’s economic recovery.

“If we don’t do this now, then the long-term competitiveness of the UK could be seriously damaged.

“It is no coincidence that during the first 15 months of the TCA we stopped selling 42 per cent of all the different products that we used to.

“There are clearly some structural problems built into the TCA which cannot be addressed until it is reviewed in 2026.”

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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

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

Rating: 4/5

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
MATCH INFO

Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)

Banton 53 no

Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)

Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7

Qalandars win by six wickets

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600

Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

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'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams 
Penguin Randomhouse

Titan Sports Academy:

Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps

Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Telephone:  971 50 220 0326

 

The Cairo Statement

 1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations

2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred

3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC  

4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.

5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.

6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security

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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

SRI LANKA SQUAD

Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay

The design

The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.

More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.

The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.

The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.

A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.

Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.

Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.

Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.

 From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.

Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019. 

Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)

Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),

Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),

Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm) 

Benevento v Napoli (6pm) 

Parma v Spezia (6pm)

 Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)

Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)

Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Updated: December 22, 2022, 12:59 AM