British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure from Conservative party backbenchers not to concede too much ground to the European Union in any deal on the Northern Ireland protocol.
Talks between Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic by video on Monday led to speculation that a resolution to the issues with the protocol was close.
Ireland's Deputy Premier, Micheal Martin, has expressed hope that a deal can be reached on the post-Brexit trading protocol in Northern Ireland, but said he could not be certain that would happen.
Mr Martin warned against playing politics with the future of Northern Ireland and said that any negotiated outcome between the EU and the UK would “transcend” anything else.
He said on Monday that “people had legitimate concerns around the operation of the protocol”. Mr Martin, who met Mr Sefcovic on Sunday night, said negotiations were “very challenging” for both sides.
He said there was “a very sincere and substantial attempt to resolve those concerns by the UK negotiating team with the EU negotiating team. I think we should allow that to come to realisation and fruition in the coming while and we should then focus on the needs of the people.”
Mr Martin said he would not be drawn on details when asked for his response to calls from Eurosceptic Conservative MPs for the UK government to proceed with stalled legislation that would empower ministers to unilaterally scrap the protocol.
The DUP, a British unionist party in Northern Ireland, is against any deal that might lead to a divergence from UK law or EU single market rules.
There is increasing pressure on Mr Sunak from senior colleagues to not make a Brexit deal with the EU that the DUP would reject.
If he were to agree a deal without DUP approval, it could harm efforts to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Downing Street denied suggestions the prime minister had been forced to delay an announcement — which had been expected as early as this week — amid concerns of a backlash at Westminster.
Veteran Tory Eurosceptic Sir Bernard Jenkin said that any deal which did not lead to a return to power-sharing at the Stormont Assembly by the DUP — which walked out in protest at the protocol — would be “completely disastrous”.
He said “If it doesn't receive the support of both communities in Northern Ireland it is going to make things worse because it will cement in place an agreement that has destroyed power-sharing in Northern Ireland”.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has also cautioned the UK government against dropping the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
Mr Sunak has paused progress on the bill pending the outcome of the negotiations with the EU.
Hardline Brexiters in the Conservative Party may also pose a threat to any agreement.
Negotiations in Northern Ireland have a history of never getting agreed on time due to entrenched divisions and a tendency towards intransigence, particularly within unionism.
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Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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