Britain’s opposition leader has hinted at support for a major rise in defence spending to combat the growing threat from Russia.
Sir Keir Starmer urged the government to reverse its decision to cut 10,000 personnel from the armed forces at a time when Nato has a major conflict on its borders in Ukraine.
The Labour leader suggested that he could back a massive military cash rise to 3 per cent of GDP that would take Britain’s defence budget from £45 billion to £66 billion ($83bn), making it the third highest spender behind China and America.
There is growing unease in the Conservative Party at the potential cuts to British forces while war is raging on the continent.
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons defence committee, argued that the government had to “wake up” to Russian belligerence and called for the 3 per cent rise.
Asked if his party would support the Conservative's proposal Sir Keir said it would be considered.
“I do think the government is going to have to come back to Parliament and look again at defence spending and I know many Conservative MPs think that as well,” he told the BBC.
“I would also say the government at the moment is proposing cutting a further 10,000 from our armed services and I think they are wrong to do that and I would call on them not to do it.”
He added that there was a now a “clamour” for the government to rapidly review “defence spending and the defence strategy”.
Other countries in Europe have already promised to increase their defence budgets, particularly those bordering Russia.
Poland’s government stated last month that it would move from 2.5 to 3 per cent of GDP while doubling its personnel to 250,000 troops.
Germany has promised a one-off $112 billion rise but has yet to make a commitment to take its defence budget from 1.5 to 2 per cent of GDP.
Even before Ukraine a recent International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) report found that European defence spending has grown 4.8 per cent in real terms in 2021, “more than any other region” as a result of Russian aggression.
Britain announced a significant defence increase last year, but like many other countries it has seen a slide in defence finances since the 1950s when it accounted for 8 per cent of GDP.
Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, announced last March a cut of 4,000 soldiers to 72,500 in the British Army, the smallest it has been in 300 years.
Controversially the plan also involved reducing the number of tanks from 227 to 148 upgraded Challenger 3s. The Ukraine war has proven the requirement for heavy armour when used correctly.
Britain raised its defence spending to Kyiv on Tuesday by a further £300 million making a total of £500 million since the war began.
Sir Keir welcomed the announcement. “We support the provision of military equipment and the in principle position of all political parties that we stand up for Ukraine," he said. "Standing against Russian aggression is very important."
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
