Here\u2019s a prediction. Future historians will look back on just 16 words and reflect on the extraordinary self-harm they caused the UK in the first quarter of the 21st century. Those 16 words are: \u201cShould the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?\u201d That was the question asked in 2016 of UK voters over the age of 18 who took part in their country\u2019s supposedly \u201cadvisory\u201d Brexit referendum.<\/p>\n
History teaches that future generations sometimes look back on their ancestors and wonder: \u201cWhat on Earth were they thinking?\u201d Brexit already fits into that category. Vote Leave narrowly won the referendum and the UK left the EU. But far from ending arguments about the country\u2019s relationship with Europe, these arguments have never gone away. They have intensified in almost a decade of recriminations, regret, rethinks and now renegotiations.<\/p>\n
One result is the miserable state of the UK\u2019s Conservative party that brought its people Brexit. They are in deep trouble, intellectually adrift, led (for now at least) by the hapless Kemi Badenoch, bereft of ideas, lacking real talent and facing challenges from the right<\/a> and Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform UK party. It would of course be foolish to underestimate the survival instincts of the party of Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. The Tories will probably recover eventually.<\/p>\n But Brexit won\u2019t. Brexit is already brain dead, clinging on life support.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s government is reluctant to bury it, at least for now. But they appear to be gradually changing UK-EU relations<\/a> towards something that looks like Brexit in name only, with their new deal to reduce trade friction and costly border bureaucracy. This will eventually enable UK goods and holidaymakers to pass more rapidly through European seaports and airports. These and other changes have been welcomed by supermarkets, retailers, exporters and meat and food processors across the country, plus many individual businesses and trade organisations, and by the public.<\/p>\n The deal is of course opposed by the people who helped bring the country the Brexit fiasco \u2013 Ms Badenoch and Mr Farage. They claim the new deal is a \u201cbetrayal\u201d of the referendum result. But since the referendum was a supposedly \u201cadvisory\u201d vote on that vague 16-word question, the Brexit bunch are left fighting yesterday\u2019s political battles.<\/p>\n It is unlikely the UK ever achieve as good a deal with the EU as that negotiated by Thatcher. Even so, the world has changed unimaginably since the 2016 vote<\/p>\n It is true that since 1945, UK politicians have constantly argued and dithered about their country\u2019s relationship with Europe. After the Second World War, as former US secretary of state Dean Acheson memorably put it, \u201cGreat Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role\u201d. Mr Acheson believed the obvious role meant the UK joining with other Europeans.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d policies may confirm that observation and accelerate that process in future<\/a>. Even so, the UK has often been reluctant to accept that its islands are tied by geography and history to the European continent just 40 kilometres from its shores. In 1952, France and Germany created the European Coal and Steel Community, followed in 1957 by the European Economic Community (later the EU). The UK did not get on board until 1973. Later, Mrs Thatcher negotiated hugely beneficial terms for the UK in the EU, but Brexit upended all that and upended her Conservative party too.<\/p>\n Former prime minister Boris Johnson ruthlessly got rid of Conservative MPs who opposed the UK\u2019s exit from the EU. The resulting Brexit deal was a mess<\/a> of trade restrictions, border checks, bureaucracy, long queues of lorries and forlorn UK holidaymakers delayed at EU passport control. This debacle explains why the Conservatives are currently enduring their fourth leader in three years under Ms Badenoch. Astonishingly, the Tories are now so unpopular in opinion polls that they lie fourth behind the governing Labour party, the Liberal Democrats and the upstart Reform UK.<\/p>\n Three things are now absolutely clear.<\/p>\n First, the UK\u2019s people overwhelmingly think Brexit was a mistake. Second, while few politicians dare speak about \u201coverturning\u201d Brexit, the \u201creset\u201d announced by Mr Starmer is the beginning of the end for the Brexit delusion. Third \u2013 unfortunately \u2013 it is unlikely that the UK will ever achieve in future as good a deal with the EU as that negotiated by Mrs Thatcher in the 1980s.<\/p>\n Even so, the world has changed<\/a> unimaginably since the 2016 vote \u2013 changed by Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mr Trump\u2019s unpredictability and the constant threats about trade wars and tariffs. More positively, many European governments understand the value of the UK\u2019s defence industry, its military and its support for a secure Europe. Many people in the UK also now more clearly understand their common European home and the need to work together with their closest neighbours, friends and trading partners.<\/p>\n Recent YouGov polling reflects how the public mood has changed. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) of Britons think Brexit has failed. More than half (53 per cent) say they would vote to rejoin the EU. Unfortunately, rejoining doesn\u2019t appear to be an option. And if the UK\u2019s people ever vote in any future referendum, it needs to be more carefully constructed than that vaguely phrased sentence of 16 ill-defined words that got the country into the Brexit mess in the first place.<\/p>\n Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill<\/p>\n Sharrie Williams<\/strong> Sinopharm vaccine explained<\/p>\n The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an inactivated\u00a0vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated,” said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE’s National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.<\/p>\n “What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live.”<\/p>\n This is then injected into the body.<\/p>\n “The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose,” she said.<\/p>\n “You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen.”<\/p>\n The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.<\/p>\n Dr Al Kaabi\u00a0said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.<\/p>\n \u201cSince it is inactivated, it will not last forever,” she said.<\/p>\n UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsMore from Aya IskandaraniMore on Quran memorisation:Killing of Qassem SuleimaniIt Was Just an Accident<\/p>\n Director:<\/strong> Jafar Panahi<\/p>\n Stars:<\/strong> Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr<\/p>\n Rating:<\/strong> 4\/5<\/p>\n ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand<\/p>\n UAE fixtures<\/strong> MATCH INFO<\/p>\n West Ham United 2<\/strong>\u00a0(Antonio 73′, Ogbonna\u00a090 5′)<\/p>\n Tottenham Hotspur\u00a03<\/strong> (Son 36′, Moura\u00a042′, Kane 49′)<\/p>\n Zayed Sustainability PrizeThe%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n How to come clean about financial infidelity<\/p>\n Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching<\/p>\n BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES<\/p>\n Friday<\/strong> (all kick-offs UAE time)<\/p>\n Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)<\/p>\n Saturday<\/strong><\/p>\n Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Borussia Monchengladbach\u00a0v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)<\/p>\n Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)<\/p>\n Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay<\/p>\n %3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There’s%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n The Sand Castle <\/p>\n Director: <\/strong>Matty Brown<\/p>\n Stars:<\/strong> Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea<\/p>\n Rating:<\/strong> 2.5\/5<\/p>\n The years Ramadan fell in MayMore from Neighbourhood Watch:Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?<\/p>\n Some facts about bees:<\/p>\n The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer<\/p>\n The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days<\/p>\n A queen bee lives for 3-5 years<\/p>\n This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony<\/p>\n About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate\u00a0each hive<\/p>\n Honey\u00a0is packed with vital\u00a0vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.<\/p>\n Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen\u00a0<\/p>\n Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids<\/p>\n Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments<\/p>\n Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is\u00a0used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, \u00a0protects from disease, keeps their home\u00a0free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts<\/p>\n Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain<\/p>\n Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities<\/p>\n The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes<\/p>\n Is beekeeping dangerous?<\/p>\n As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures.\u00a0If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The%20specs<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n The burning issue<\/p>\n The\u00a0internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment \u2013\u00a0major manufacturer\u00a0Volvo\u00a0is to stop\u00a0producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021\u00a0and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040.\u00a0The National\u00a0takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read part four:\u00a0an affection for classic cars lives on<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Read part three:\u00a0the age of the electric vehicle begins<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree<\/strong>
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R\u2018n\u2019B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams<\/strong>
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.<\/p>\n
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final<\/p>\n\n