Live updates: Follow the latest news on the UK general election
Keir Starmer’s first official briefing as Prime Minister after a landslide election victory is set to be held in a secure room with intelligence chiefs on the security threats facing the UK, one that could define Labour’s return to government.
The Middle East will play a significant role in that closed-door meeting, analysts and diplomats have told The National, with both opportunities and threats to be discussed, including growing fears of war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Gaza will clearly be a key issue but also one in which the new government could provide impetus for a deal, experts have said.
Iran will continue to prove a challenge, potentially an ever-increasing one with its developing nuclear weapons programme, as well as the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency that could release “trigger happy” Republicans on to the Middle East.
Foreign reshuffle
Mr Starmer's first major foreign policy act may well be to replace Foreign Secretary David Lammy with a more experienced hand, a Labour insider told The National.
“Many people in and around government think that it would be pretty unwise to keep him in post and Labour should really think about shifting it to someone who has a more nuanced view of the Gaza conflict, not a view that's going to lead to anything disastrous,” the former adviser said.
That someone may well be former international development secretary Douglas Alexander, although this is strongly denied by Labour.
“The question is what talents Starmer chooses to draw on, as Labour have been out of power for so long that it's front benches are a little bit short of real-world experience,” said former ambassador to Yemen, Edmund Fitton-Brown.
“You've got people like Douglas Alexander who could be used that way, especially if Starmer anticipates that the UK is going to face a number of difficult decisions in the foreign policy arena and face them fairly quickly.”
Lebanon looms
The speed at which world events develop could be lightning fast.
“Unless we're extraordinarily lucky, we're going to face some kind of blow up between Israel and Hezbollah and it's not going to be pretty,” said Mr Fitton-Brown.
If that happens, then the Yemeni Houthis will step up their Red Sea attacks, as will Iran via its proxies.
But more challenging will be whether Mr Starmer unequivocally backs Israel and the repercussions that might result from that among his pro-Palestinian MPs. In its manifesto, Labour said it would work to recognise Palestine a part of a renewed peace process.
Despite an outstanding majority, Labour was dented in its heartlands with independent candidates standing on a Gaza platform making inroads.
Gaza outcomes
If the Gaza conflict is resolved then the war with Lebanon will probably recede, yet current hopes of a ceasefire are distant.
But the new Labour administration has the opportunity to seize the initiative on an issue that has witnessed a “vacuum of western leadership” since the Hamas October 7 attacks, said Dr Sanam Vakil, of the Chatham House think tank.
A “dedicated envoy” with the clout that former foreign secretary David Cameron brought to the job, such as David Miliband, another former foreign secretary, could be one appointment.
“Britain certainly has an opportunity to lead the way, bringing together western partners working with countries across the region on Palestinian statehood and Israeli security,” said Dr Vakil. “And there's some great ideas but there should be some greater co-ordination and alignment between Washington, Whitehall and Europe on how they're going to move things forward.”
The potential return of Donald Trump should provide the incentive for the UK government to be “more robust and engaged” in finding a rapid solution, he added.
Michael Stevens, of the Rusi think tank, believes the first six months of a Starmer premiership “are going to be defined in the Middle East” in finding a solution to Gaza.
One pitfall would be that if he is “not seen to be on the right side” by his large grouping of pro-Palestinian back benchers, he will feel increasing political pressure.
While there would be pressure for Labour to follow through on its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state, Mr Fitton-Brown argued that Mr Starmer was unlikely to follow the “gesture politics” of other European states.
Two-state principle
Dr Michael Milshtein, head of Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University, urged the new Labour government to understand that a two-state solution cannot “really be implemented today”.
“It should be a ‘two-state principle’, which is actually separation, and that is the thing London should demand from Israel.”
He added that Mr Starmer assistance in the normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab world “could be very helpful”.
Trump card
All Labour’s foreign policies could be turned on their heads with the possible return of Trump to the White House.
Republican hardliners within that administration will be “much more trigger happy” than previously, said Mr Fitton-Brown, speaking from New York.
“They will look at the Middle East and say, ‘we're going to start showing people who’s boss' and with Trump that's going to include things like assassinating the new equivalent target of people like Qassem Suleimani [former IRGC commander].”
Mr Stevens suggested a Trump administration’s policy on Iran will “turn very hawkish, very fast”, especially with Iran continuing with their uranium enrichment capabilities to “pretty threatening levels”.
There was little chance of a nuclear deal, in part because the Iranians did not trust the US system to honour one, given that Mr Trump dumped the previous agreement.
From Labour’s perspective, it was a question of would they contain Iran with sanctions or engage with it with an economic relationship, which he deemed unlikely.
Dr Vakil said for Labour to have “a greater portfolio of engagement” across the region “because there are a number of interconnected conflicts that haven't really been resolved”.
Instead these had been “contained” but unless areas such as Sudan, Syria and Libya were addressed they could significantly worsen.
Gulf economy
Dr Vakil said the Conservative government had been too focused on a “very commercially based relationships” with the Gulf that reflected its “inward facing outlook” post-Brexit.
“The Gulf remains our biggest economic focus, and probably the largest focus of diplomatic activity, whether that's through sending ministers or prioritising a free-trade agreement,” she said.
Britain should also be working with the Gulf states “to support their security concerns” and play a “bridging role” in the Iran relationship, she added.
But more importantly it could play a broader role in supporting Gulf security as “what's ultimately missing is a regional security framework and architecture” which was the “space that Labour could step up and into”.
Another quick win for Labour would be to reinstate the Middle East and North Africa ministerial post that was axed without explanation by Boris Johnson when he was prime minister in 2022.
In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
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About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Specs
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The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
THE SPECS
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The biog
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
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- 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
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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on Quran memorisation:
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
Company%20Profile
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