British prime minister Boris Johnson will make a fresh attempt to hold national elections on Monday after his government was rocked by the resignation of a senior minister.
Mr Johnson lost a series of votes and expelled 21 MPs from his ruling party in a turbulent week that sparked doubts about his ability to quit the European Union by October 31.
Mr Johnson’s dwindling stock of loyal MPs means that he lacks the parliamentary firepower to force through his policies. He was buoyed by new opinion polls on Sunday that suggested he could secure a significant majority if elections were held before the scheduled date of 2022.
Early elections require the agreement of two-thirds of MPs and the opposition has refused to back the move unless Mr Johnson extends talks with the EU.
Ministers indicated that he could ignore legislation agreed last week that would force him to delay Brexit if he fails with the fresh effort for new elections.
Mr Johnson on Thursday reiterated his determination to deliver Brexit saying he'd “rather be dead in a ditch” than agree to another delay beyond October 31. That move could see the government taken to court over its refusal to carry out the new law.
Robert Buckland, a minister and the government’s senior law officer, played down suggestions that he would quit and said that he had spoken with the premier about upholding the rule of law. "Speculation about my future is wide of the mark," he wrote on Twitter.
The continued turmoil followed the resignation of Amber Rudd, the Work and Pensions Secretary, from Mr Johnson’s cabinet and the party. She said that he had made no real effort to secure a new deal with the European Union.
She also criticised the “purge” of longstanding members of her party who had refused to back the prime minister’s strategy that she claimed was focused on leaving without a future deal on political relations and trade with the EU.
“It's a big symbol that the Conservative Party doesn't embrace moderate people," she said. “I kept on arguing against it, but I wasn't getting anywhere."
The 21 – who included two former chancellors and Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames – were expelled after voting against the government by supporting a bill to stop Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
"I know I couldn't carry on in the Conservative Party at such a high level and see 21 of my colleagues, who are good, moderate people who also want a deal, excluded from it,” she told the BBC. “I just needed to move and stand by them.”
Mr Johnson’s office said she knew she would have to sign up to potentially leaving the EU with no-deal when she took on the job in his cabinet.
“We are disappointed to learn that Amber has chosen to leave government and the party,” a spokesman for 10 Downing Street said in a statement.
Treasury chief Sajid Javid also rebutted her claim that the government was not seeking a new agreement with the EU. He insisted that the government was "straining every sinew” but cited proposals already rejected by the EU.
Mr Johnson’s allies shrugged off the loss of Ms Rudd – a former interior minister who campaigned to remain in the European Union. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that Mr Johnson was "right to restore some discipline".
Mr Johnson's brother, Jo, resigned on Twitter two days ago, saying that he was torn between “family loyalty and the national interest”.
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
Results:
5pm: Baynunah Conditions (UAE bred) Dh80,000 1,400m.
Winner: Al Tiryaq, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Abdullah Al Hammadi (trainer).
5.30pm: Al Zahra Handicap (rated 0-45) Dh 80,000 1,400m:
Winner: Fahadd, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
6pm: Al Ras Al Akhdar Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m.
Winner: Jaahiz, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Al Reem Island Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m.
Winner: AF Al Jahed, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
7pm: Al Khubairah Handicap (TB) 100,000 2,200m.
Winner: Empoli, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh80,000 2,200m.
Winner: Shivan OA, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD
The line-up as it stands for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns
Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev
Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bludgeon Brothers v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
Singles match
Triple H v John Cena
To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MO
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