epa07273065 British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan (L) react as they meet children in Twickenham stadium in London, Britain, 10 January 2019. The Prime Ministers met kids from a 'CBRE all schools programme' which is a RUF initiative to help children from states schools to play more rugby. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
epa07273065 British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan (L) react as they meet children in Twickenham stadium in London, Britain, 10 January 2019. The Prime Ministers met kids from a 'CBRE all schools programme' which is a RUF initiative to help children from states schools to play more rugby. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
epa07273065 British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan (L) react as they meet children in Twickenham stadium in London, Britain, 10 January 2019. The Prime Ministers met kids from a 'CBRE all schools programme' which is a RUF initiative to help children from states schools to play more rugby. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
epa07273065 British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan (L) react as they meet children in Twickenham stadium in London, Britain, 10 January 2019. The Prime Ministers

Brexit on the brink as Theresa May resists demand for plan B


Damien McElroy
  • English
  • Arabic

Theresa May is planning to give parliament just 90 minutes to debate an alternative route to the British exit from the European Union, an official said on Thursday as fears grew over the risks posed by political deadlock over the deal.

Parliament has moved to take control over the shape of Brexit currently scheduled for the end of March. The loss of control over the process by the government has increased the odds that Brexit could be postponed, adding to economic uncertainty, or could be pre-empted by a general election.

Following defeat on a vote that set a three day deadline for Mrs May to propose an alternative if the Withdrawal Agreement she sealed with Brussels is defeated on January 15, Mrs May said a so-called Plan B motion would be tabled on Monday, January 21.

Sterling fell on the foreign exchanges on Thursday as uncertainty grows over how the crisis can be resolved. Traders said the range of negative outcomes was growing, weighing on the already beleaguered currency, which fell to $1.27.

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Read more:

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Theresa May loses her first Brexit vote of 2019

Election threat rises as May sets Brexit vote for 15th

Lorries take part in planned traffic jam as UK prepares for no-deal Brexit

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Meanwhile the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used a keynote speech in northern England, a stronghold of the movement to leave Europe, to demand a new election.

The opposition leader is threatening a confidence vote in Mrs May's minority government if she loses the vote. He said his party would fight on a manifesto promise for a negotiated Brexit. He added that could mean an extension of the  Article 50 provisions for leaving the EU if it came to power.

“An extension would be a possibility because there needs to be time to negotiate” with the EU, Mr Corbyn said. A newly elected Labour government would be “right against the clock.”

Downing St hosted the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was given a lunch of roast beef stuffed with treacle, on Thursday, hoping to shore up support from a key investor. The Japanese leader has warned that a no-deal Brexit would destroy European supply chains and trigger an exodus of Japanese industries.

At a joint press conference with Theresa May, Mr Abe expressed "total support" for the deal Ms May has negotiated.

"We truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided, and in fact that is the whole wish of the whole world," he said.

The two leaders said they had agreed to build on Japan's deal with the EU to create an  "ambitious bilateral arrangement" post-Brexit.

“It is the strong will of Japan to further develop this strong partnership with the UK, to invest more into your country and to enjoy further economic growth with the UK" said Mr Abe.

In the latest set-back for Mrs May, moderate cabinet ministers such as the business secretary Greg Clark have hinted at resignation should the government end up presiding over a no-deal Brexit.

“We need to act to avoid a no-deal because I don’t think there is anything remotely like a majority in Parliament that will tolerate this,” he said.

What the government will do next if -- as expected -- she loses the crucial vote will be determined by the crisis atmosphere in the aftermath. A string of amendments could emerge for a second referendum or in support of a Norway-style alignment with the EU single market and customs union.

For the pound the big concern in the meantime is that the hard-Left Labour leader could take advantage.

"The idea that we could have a Corbyn government, with nationalisation policies that could mean more borrowing, a more expansionary and populist fiscal stance would be negative for the budget deficit and therefore for the pound," said Jane Foley, a Rabobank strategist.

"Although the threat of a messy Brexit has been around for a while, it starts to become far more tangible when you see data like this," she added.

Manchester United v Liverpool

Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)

Other key dates
  • Finals draw: December 2
  • Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
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Monster

Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

3/5

 

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Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

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
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)

Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)

Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)

Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)

Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)

Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)

Eibar v Alaves (7pm)

Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)

 

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)
The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets