LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a showdown with her pro-EU MPs on Wednesday over parliament’s role in the final Brexit deal, which could influence her entire negotiation strategy.
MPs will vote on amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill setting out how much power lawmakers will have if the government fails to agree a departure deal before Brexit in March 2019.
May says she expects to get an agreement with Brussels, but warned that any attempt to tie her hands could undermine the ongoing negotiations.
She averted a rebellion by pro-EU MPs in her Conservative Party on the issue of parliamentary powers last week with a promise of a compromise, but within days they had rejected her proposal as inadequate.
Instead they worked with peers to introduce their own amendment to the unelected upper House of Lords, which agreed it by a landslide on Monday.
The amendment now returns to MPs in the elected lower House of Commons, where Conservative rebels will ally with opposition parties in a bid to finally make it law.
May’s spokesman refused to say if he believes the government has the numbers to win the vote, but made clear that no more concessions would be forthcoming.
“We cannot accept the amendment on a meaningful vote agreed in the Lords,” he said, adding that it “would undermine our ability in the negotiations to get the best deal for the country.”
“We will be retabling our original amendment,” he said, adding: “We hope that all MPs will be able to support the government’s position.”
The vote, due on Wednesday afternoon or early evening, could have implications for Britain’s wider Brexit strategy, indicating where the power lies in parliament.
May commands only a slim majority in the 650-seat Commons, made possible through an alliance with Northern Ireland’s 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs.
A victory for the pro-EU rebels would embolden them ahead of debates next month on Britain’s future trading relationship with the European Union, which they are seeking to keep as close as possible.
It would likely anger euroskeptics, who accuse the rebels of seeking to thwart Brexit.
They are also becoming increasingly frustrated with the withdrawal process under May’s leadership.
Leading Conservative rebel Dominic Grieve denied he was trying to undermine the government or stop Brexit, but warned that if parliament rejected the final Brexit deal, there would be a crisis.
“That’s what wakes me up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat,” he told Sky News television.
“The very reason I’ve prompted this amendment is to provide a mechanism to make sure that we don’t come to government collapse immediately.”
But euroskeptic Conservative MP Graham Stringer said Grieve and his supporters were only interested in “sabotaging the whole process.”
“The purpose of the latest Grieve ruse is to give parliament the power to delay or stop Brexit,” he said.
Despite agreement on Britain’s financial settlement and EU citizens’ rights, the Brexit talks are progressing slowly, and there are few hopes of a breakthrough at an EU summit later this month.
Both sides are still publicly aiming for an agreement in October, but this is looking more and more difficult.
Negotiations are currently stalled on how to avoid border checks between Northern Ireland, a part of the UK, and neighboring EU member Ireland when Britain develops its own trade and customs policies.
“Serious divergences” remain over Northern Ireland, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Tuesday after a final round of talks between London and Brussels ahead of the European summit.
The British government has also yet to decide on what it wants from the future economic relationship.
It has been clear about one area, security cooperation — but many of its proposals were on Tuesday knocked back by Barnier.
He said Britain could not stay in the European Arrest Warrant, take part in meetings of policing agency Europol or access EU-only police databases.
“We need more realism about what is and what is not possible,” he said.
British PM faces Brexit showdown with pro-EU rebels
British PM faces Brexit showdown with pro-EU rebels
- MPs will vote on amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill setting out how much power lawmakers will have if the government fails to agree a departure deal before Brexit in March 2019
- The vote, due on Wednesday afternoon or early evening, could have implications for Britain’s wider Brexit strategy, indicating where the power lies in parliament
Fire erupts in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills, containment efforts underway
- The blaze erupted near Saidpur Darra, Jungle Number 15 and Rumli areas
- Over 70 firefighters are participating in the operation to put out the blaze
ISLAMABAD: A wildfire erupted in the Margalla Hills in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Monday, the Islamabad district administration said, with efforts underway to put out the blaze.
The Margalla range, part of the Himalayan foothills, often experiences bushfires in the summer months. Last year, several incidents of forest fire were reported at the hills as various parts of the country remained in the grip of intense heatwaves.
On Monday, a fire broke out near Saidpur Darra, Jungle Number 15 and Rumli areas on the hills, prompting an immediate response from the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) fire brigade and officials of the district administration.
“More than 70 firefighters are participating in the operation to control the fire,” the district administration said in a statement.
“The fire was brought under control once, but it broke out again.”
No casualties or property damage have been reported in the wake of the fire, according to authorities.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
“The fire will be brought under control again soon,” the district administration added.
Dubai Basketball face deciding game in ABA League quarterfinals
- Third game against Cedevita Olimpija will be at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday
DUBAI, UAE: Dubai Basketball lost to Cedevita Olimpija (94-89) in Game 2 of the ABA League quarterfinals, resulting in a final deciding game, to take place on Tuesday, May 20 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Dubai entered Game 2 in Ljubljana with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, following a one-point home win. Victory in Slovenia would have secured immediate qualification to the semifinals. However, Dubai Basketball were facing one of the league’s most physical contenders at Stozice Arena.
Cedevita Olimpija wasted no time asserting their home-court advantage, taking the lead early in the first quarter. But as witnessed last week at Coca-Cola Arena, the game quickly turned into a fierce back-and-forth. Dubai’s Danilo Andusic and Italian fan favourite Awudu Abass stepped up under pressure, narrowing the gap with swift offensive responses.
Despite Dubai Basketball fighting back and briefly gaining an advantage in the second quarter, the traveling team were unable to cement a long-lasting lead over the Dragons at their home court. A momentary six-point difference in the second quarter offered a glimpse of victory, but Cedevita’s offense came back strong, closing the advantage and overtaking the visitors.
Aleksej Nikolic of Cedevita delivered a standout performance, finishing as the top scorer of the night with 30 points. Second highest scorer of the night was Dubai Basketball’s Andusic with 23 points.
The decisive clash on Tuesday is more than just a pivotal game in the ABA League — it represents a historic opportunity for Dubai Basketball to cement its place among the best in the league. As the only team representing the Middle East, Dubai has already made a powerful statement in its debut season, with top-tier performances and a winning mentality that has captured international attention.
With every team in the league beaten at least once, a 14-game unbeaten streak, and a record-breaking performance for the most points scored in a single quarter, the team has already made history. Now, they stand on the edge of another milestone, qualification for the semifinals.
Death toll from IED blast in Pakistan’s southwest rises to four
- Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades
- The attack comes days after four paramilitary troops were killed in the province
QUETTA: At least four people have been killed and 12 others wounded in a bomb blast in Pakistan’s turbulent southwestern province of Balochistan, a security official said Monday.
An improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a parked car in Killa Abdullah district of Balochistan, less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the provincial capital of Quetta.
“It seems the IED exploded before reaching its intended destination,” a local security official, Ghulab Khan, told AFP.
“All those killed are civilian passersby,” he added.
Riaz Khan Dawar, a senior local government official, confirmed the details to AFP, adding the explosion took place close to a paramilitary compound on Sunday evening.
Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces, foreign nationals, and non-locals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
The attack came days after four paramilitary troops were killed in the province.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is the most active group in the region and often carries out deadly attacks against security forces, but the local chapter of Daesh and the Pakistani Taliban have also claimed recent attacks.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, with Islamabad accusing its western neighbor of allowing its soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan — a claim the Taliban deny.
In Balochistan, separatist violence has intensified, including a March attack by ethnic Baloch militants on a train carrying 450 passengers, which sparked a two-day siege and left dozens dead.
More than 241 people, mostly security officials, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to an AFP tally.
Saudi banks’ March profits jump 27% on lending boom
- Total bank credit reached SR3.1 trillion in March, an annual increase of 16.26%
- Saudi banks are expected to maintain stable profitability throughout the year
RIYADH: Saudi banks recorded a 27.1 percent year-on-year increase in net profits in March, reaching SR8.81 billion ($2.35 billion).
According to the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, this figure reflects earnings before zakat and tax.
The robust performance marks one of the strongest monthly earnings in recent years. It underscores growing confidence in the Kingdom’s banking sector amid steady economic activity and a strong pipeline of Vision 2030-related projects.
According to a January report by S&P Global Ratings, Saudi banks are expected to maintain stable profitability throughout the year. The analysis highlighted a favorable economic environment and declining interest rates as key enablers of continued credit expansion.
In particular, corporate lending is anticipated to remain the primary driver of loan growth in 2025, supported by increased construction activity, infrastructure investment, and government-led initiatives.
S&P expects lending growth to hover around 10 percent for the year, with corporate lending closely tied to Vision 2030 implementation leading the surge. Meanwhile, mortgage lending is projected to recover moderately in response to lower borrowing costs.
Saudi banks are also expected to continue leveraging international capital markets to fund growth. S&P estimated credit losses will stabilize at 50 to 60 basis points, supported by strong provisioning cushions built in recent quarters.
The March performance aligns with broader credit dynamics observed in Saudi Arabia. According to SAMA, total bank credit reached SR3.1 trillion in March, an annual increase of 16.26 percent, the highest growth in over three years.
Corporate loans accounted for 55.19 percent of the total, rising 22.3 percent year-on-year to over SR1.71 trillion.
This trend reflects a shift in Saudi lending priorities, with businesses now driving the lending landscape. The uptick in business credit signals increased private sector activity, particularly across construction, real estate, and manufacturing.
This robust banking performance aligns with the Kingdom’s broader non-oil economic momentum. According to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index compiled by S&P Global, the Kingdom recorded a PMI of 58.1 in March, the highest among its Middle Eastern peers and well above the 50.0 threshold, indicating expansion.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning reported in February that non-oil activities now make up 52 percent of gross domestic product, having grown 20 percent since the launch of Vision 2030.
With the government targeting $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by 2030, the expansion of the banking and non-oil sectors plays a critical role in attracting global capital and supporting long-term economic sustainability. As corporate activity intensifies and lending strategies evolve, Saudi banks appear well-positioned to balance growth, profitability, and resilience.
Netanyahu: Israel must avert Gaza famine ‘for diplomacy’ while pressing for full territorial control
Netanyahu: Israel must avert Gaza famine ‘for diplomacy’ while pressing for full territorial control
- Israel's blockade of Gaza since March 2 came under increasing international pressure to restore aid
- Netanyahu vows full military control of Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens and international warnings mount
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel must prevent famine in Gaza for “diplomatic reasons,” even as he vowed to press ahead with military operations to “take control of all” of the war-torn territory.
His comments came amid mounting international concern over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and as Israeli forces launched what they called extensive new ground operations against Hamas.
“The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip,” Netanyahu said Monday in a video posted to his Telegram channel.
“We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped.”
‘Prevent Famine for Diplomacy’
Netanyahu also said it was necessary for Israel to prevent a famine in Gaza for “diplomatic reasons,” after his government announced it would allow limited food aid into the territory.
The premier’s defense of the decision to at least partially lift a more than two-month aid blockade followed criticism from far-right members of his coalition who opposed the move.
“We must not let the population (of Gaza) sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons,” Netanyahu said the Telegram video, adding that even friends of Israel would not tolerate “images of mass starvation.”
Israel has said its blockade since March 2 was aimed at forcing concessions from the Palestinian militant group.
But it came under increasing international pressure to restore aid to Gaza, where UN agencies have warned of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines.
The territory was at “critical risk of famine,” with 22 percent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian “catastrophe,” the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said this month.
Neytanyahu on Monday shrugged off criticism of the aid resumption as “natural,” calling the decision “difficult, but necessary.”
