SYDNEY // The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, squashed a challenge by her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, by a convincing margin yesterday - but her problems are far from over.
She must not only reunite her Labor Party, bitterly divided and reeling from venomous in-fighting, but also rescue it from the doldrums in time to have a chance of winning the next election, due late next year.
Mr Rudd, who Ms Gillard deposed in mid-2010, promised not to initiate another leadership bid after losing a ballot of Labor politicians 31 votes to Ms Gillard's 71.
Mr Rudd said he bore no grudge, but colleagues say he could be drafted for another challenge if Labor's popularity did not improve.
Political analysts said the party might even look for a third candidate, given how widely Mr Rudd is disliked by his parliamentary colleagues, notwithstanding his popularity with the electorate.
Labor's share of the primary vote has sunk to 26 per cent under Ms Gillard - a low for the party. The latest poll, published in The Australian yesterday, gave it 35 per cent, compared with 45 per cent for the conservative Coalition.
A Labor victory still seems a distance away, although Mr Rudd is also more popular than the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, who has 34 per cent support.
For the Coalition, the leadership battle - and the public bloodletting - has been a gift. As Labor strategists ruefully admit, the opposition has accumulated a wealth of material for an election campaign, including footage of Labor ministers criticising each other's character and ability.
Ms Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, acknowledged that the internal ructions had been "ugly".
Addressing voters, she said: "The leadership question is now determined. I can assure you that this political drama is over … I feel impatient to get on with the job of building this country's future."
Mr Abbott said she had won only "a stay of execution". And he challenged the independent MPs propping up her minority government to state whether they had confidence in her, "given the devastating critique of this prime minister that we've seen delivered by so many of her own colleagues".
Although the cross-benchers will continue support the government, the position of Labor malcontents is less clear. With Mr Rudd's departure to the backbenches, Ms Gillard must appoint a new foreign affairs minister.
She also has to decide whether to sack the five ministers who voted against her, or retain them, in the interests of unity.
"This whole affair has been very destructive," said James Walter, professor of political science at Melbourne's Monash University.
"It's not impossible that Labor could turn the situation around, but it's a big ask. If the poll support is still so low towards the end of this year, there might be people saying 'We can't let this go on'."
Others, though, believe the affair may boost Ms Gillard's popularity. She showed grit and resilience under pressure, and yesterday was gracious towards Mr Rudd, who, according to his critics, tried to sabotage Labor during the 2010 election campaign, and thereafter worked to undermine her government.
Paying tribute to Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard listed his achievements in public life, including steering Australia through the global financial crisis, apologising to the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal people forcibly removed from their families and being "an amazing advocate of Australia's interests on the world stage".
Analysts attribute Ms Gillard's low poll ratings to an effective campaign by Mr Abbott, relentless criticism of her by certain newspapers and a series of poorly judged decisions.
The latter have included the notorious "Malaysia Solution" for processing asylum-seekers, which was thrown out by the High Court.
Some also believe she has been more harshly judged because of being a woman. "She has not done a bad job with a very difficult set of cards," said Norman Abjorensen, a political scientist at the Australian National University.
"But the way she's been treated raises the question of whether Australians are prepared to accept a female head of government, and from what we've seen, we've got a long way to go."
Peter Hartcher, political editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, noted yesterday Labor MPs had failed to endorse the candidate with voter appeal.
"For a party that is on a steady trajectory to electoral defeat, it was an extraordinary act of steely resolve," he wrote.
"Or suicidal madness," he added.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf – $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
