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New Statesman
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Did Zia Yusuf jump, or was he pushed?
Photo by Anthony Devlin / Getty Images Zia Yusuf has announced he is resigning as chairman of Reform (presumably effective immediately), 11 months after suddenly appearing out of nowhere to take on the job. In a post on X, Yusuf gave the official reason for his departure: 'I've worked full time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results. I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.' Reform descended into internal fighting this week over the maiden question of its newest MP. At PMQs on Wednesday, Sarah Pochin asked Keir Starmer: 'Given the Prime Minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?' As I wrote at the time, her intervention – reviving a debate that hasn't been topline political news for around a decade – took the Commons (and the Prime Minister) by surprise. It seems it also caught her own party off-guard, with Reform hastily clarifying that banning the burqa was not party policy' – although Nigel Farage suggested there should be a public debate on this issue. Yusuf, however, seemed to offer a much more blatant slap-down, tweeting this morning 'I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do.' It is not clear if his criticism of Reform's fifth (and only female) MP is the reason for his swift departure. But there have been tensions surrounding Yusuf and his meteoric rise from political outside to chairman of Reform for some time. He was not a former councillor or MEP, but a businessman without any experience in party politics. His arrival coincided with the removal of Reform's co-deputy leaders, Ben Habib and David Bull, which caused considerable internal backlash. Other personnel decisions (sackings) soured the mood further. Habib quit the party a few months later, and has been highly critical of both Farage and Yusuf's leadership since. Then came the row over Rupert Lowe earlier this year. As with Yusuf's departure today, Lowe's removal from the party over accusations that he had bullied staff was swift and ruthless. Both Lowe and Habib have been scathing about how the situation was handled, with Habib accusing Reform of becoming 'the Nigel dog-and-pony show' and suggesting Yusuf was enabling the destruction of the grassroots movement by ousting someone like Lowe. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Neither of them wasted any time in celebrating his departure. 'Thank goodness Zia Yusuf resigned' wrote Habib within minutes of the announcement. Lowe's Twitter response was longer. 'The question is – how did a man with no political experience be given such vast power within Reform?' he asked – a question Westminster watchers have been wondering since July. He accused Yusuf of deploying 'woke lawfare' against him (a reference to continuing row over the exact situation regarding his expulsion), continuing 'Yusuf was the driver, but he was given the keys by Farage.' (Not everyone in Reform seems thrilled about Pochin, incidentally – there were some fascinating facial expressions from those onstage when she opened Reform's big press conference last week. This is a party that doesn't easily tolerate rising stars.) For his part, Farage is keeping his cards close to his chest – for now. Unlike with Lowe, there has been no open criticism of Yusuf. 'I am genuinely sorry that Zia Yusuf has decided to stand down as Reform UK Chairman,' Farage tweeted. 'As I said just last week, he was a huge factor in our success on May 1st and is an enormously talented person. Politics can be a highly pressured and difficult game and Zia has clearly had enough. He is a loss to us and public life.' Then again, such public magnanimity may be a reward to Yusuf for leaving with grace (in contrast to Lowe, whose anti-Farage campaign continues.) All this comes on the eve of a potentially huge electoral upset. By tomorrow we'll know if Reform's efforts to change the political weather in Scotland have paid off, when the result of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election come in. If Reform is able to scrape even a second-place finish, it will set the agenda for politics north of the border for the next year. This clearly isn't the best time for a personnel row. As one former Reform member put it: 'Two words: shit show.' [See more: Who will win the Hamilton by-election?] Related
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kyogo future tackled head on as Celtic await 'likely' Balikwisha exit and Hatate price tag 'named'
The Scottish champions are facing a busy summer as they prepare to defend their Premiership crown Stade Rennes' chairman Arnaud Pouille insists there is "no opposition" to Kyogo Furuhashi being included in the squad for next season. The comments come amid reports that the former Celtic star will be left out of Habib Beye's 25-man unit that he takes into pre-season. The frontman made his £10million move to Ligue 1 in January when boss Jorge Sampoali was at the helm - with sporting director Frederic Massara negotiating the deal. But since the departure of both allies for the Japan international, the 30-year-old struggled to even make the matchday squad in the final weeks of the season - and has yet to find the net for his new club. Amid reports that Premier League side Bournemouth are considering a bid for the misfit, Pouille told Ouest-France that there was no issues over the striker's long-term future. He said: 'Kyogo was an element on which Frederic and Jorge agreed, we discussed him with Habib around January 27 or 28, if I remember correctly, and there was no opposition from Habib to integrate him into the squad. 'Afterwards, there was a system of competition. In one of his first matches, he got injured and then his place was taken by the emergence of Kader Meite, which remains good news for Stade Rennes.' Elsewhere, reports in Belgium suggest that Royal Antwerp expect winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha to leave this summer. Celtic have long been admirers of a £6million-rated wide man who has earned rave reviews - after chipping in with two goals and four assists in the final five games of the campaign. Voetbal Primeur state a departure is now "likely" with Antwerp looking to bring in €30million (£25million) to provide "economic breathing space' for the club. In terms of outgoings, Celtic hero Peter Grant reckons the club would accept a price of £10million for Reo Hatate this summer. The 27-year-old has been a key figure in the Celtic engine room with Udinese among the club said to be showing an interest - with Brazil icon Zico pitching his former side to the Hoops' star. Grant told the Go Radio Football Show: 'If Celtic get £10 million for Reo Hatate, then they would sell him. "I don't mean that disrespectfully, because they will look at it and think, 27-28 years of age. They will think, 'okay, that's good money at that age'. That's just not Celtic. I think that's good value, in the respect of that. I think Brendan is very much aware of that. 'They know the areas they want. 100 per cent, they know exactly what they want, at this moment in time. Even before the (Scottish) cup final.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Time Out Dubai
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time Out Dubai
UAE weather: Record-breaking temperatures in May
The United Arab Emirates has had its hottest ever May, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. The scorching UAE weather in May has seen temperatures soar beyond 51°C in some parts of the country in the past week, breaking the previous record for May of 50.2°C set in 2009. On Saturday May 24, temperatures hit 51.6°C in Sweihan near Al Ain – marking the hottest May ever. It was the second consecutive day that the record was broken, with temperatures hitting 50.4°C in Al Shawamekh in Abu Dhabi on Friday May 23. The good news is that the peak heat in May is now over and that we can expect temperatures to drop slightly before the start of June. As summer approaches, NCM meteorologist Dr Ahmed Habib has explained the cause of the high temperatures. He said: 'We are affected by a very hot air mass coming from over the desert to our area, associated with a thermal low. 'This area is very, very hot. We are affected by this air mass, which has meant temperatures reaching between 49 and 51. 'But this low pressure will move east and the temperature will gradually decrease in the UAE. 'We've recorded extreme temperatures in May this year. The highest recorded in 25 years.' The Dubai summer will officially begin on Saturday June 21. In addition to a record-breaking May, the UAE also experienced its hottest April since records began, with average daily highs of 42.6°C. However, Dr Habib explains that the record-breaking months don't necessarily mean that we'll have temperatures that will continue to break records in June and July – but that we should be braced for humidity. He added: 'It depends on the pressure system. What we haven't had during the peak temperatures in May is humidity. We've had a dry heat until now. 'But in the summer, I think this will change. There will likely be a hot and humid air mass associated with the Indian monsoon season coming our way. 'It depends on where the air mass is coming from. If it comes from over the sea, then the humidity will increase. If it's coming from the desert, it will not increase so much.' Looking to stay cool in the heat? Check out the best things to do indoors in Dubai (with AC). Dubai public holiday info you need to know UAE public holidays 2025: When are all the public holidays this year? The dates to know UAE public holidays law explained: What happens if a day off is on a weekend The law has changed in 2025 Everything you need to know about annual leave in Dubai Know your rights
The Print
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Bangladeshi tribunal frames charges against 8 persons for atrocities during 2024 uprising
The tribunal for the first time took cognizance of a case filed over mass killings and atrocities committed during the July 2024 uprising. The protests had led to the ouster of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina's regime. Dhaka/New Delhi (PTI) Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday framed charges against a former police commissioner and seven other officers for their alleged atrocities during last year's anti-government protests. A three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by Justice M Golam Mortuza, accepted the charges submitted by the prosecution against Dhaka's ex-police commissioner Habibur Rahman Habib and seven other policemen and set June 3 as the date for starting hearing in the case. 'There are grounds to take into cognizance the formal allegations,' Prothom Alo newspaper quoted the bench as saying. According to the charges, the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habib, now at large, allegedly ordered subordinates to open fire on protesting crowds at the Chankharpul area in old Dhaka. Apart from Habib three other accused are on the run while four are in jail. The four were present as the tribunal accepted the charge. Hasina, who is now in India, and several of her cabinet and party colleagues are accused of identical crimes. The tribunal's move came as government employees for a second consecutive day staged protests inside the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday against the proposed Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The protestors have been demanding its withdrawal, calling it a black law that made it easy for authorities to take punitive actions and terminate the government employees. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's interim Cabinet approved the law last week and now awaits presidential assent. National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials also abstained from work for the second consecutive day demanding scrap of a separate new ordinance. The protest began after the NBR Reform Unity Council rejected the finance ministry's decision to amend the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance which seeks to dissolve the NBR and form two existing divisions, separating tax policymaking from administration. Yunus's government in the past two days faced several challenges. There have been reports of discord between the military and the interim government over the possible timeline for holding the parliamentary elections and other policy issues related to Bangladesh's security affairs, particularly involving a proposed humanitarian corridor of aid channel to Myanmar's rebel-held Rakhine state. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman along with the Navy and Air Force chiefs met Yunus last week and reportedly reiterated their call for election by December this year to allow an elected government to take charge. They also conveyed their reservation about the corridor issue. The next day, Zaman held a senior officers meeting at Dhaka Cantonment and said he was unaware of the government's several strategic decisions despite the military's active role. The military also decided to be tough against rampant incidents of 'mob justice'. Troops were called out of their barracks with magistracy power to maintain law and order. Yunus on Saturday held an unscheduled closed-door meeting of the advisory council which later said in a statement that they discussed in detail the 'three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice'. 'The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public,' it read. The statement said despite all obstacles, the interim government continued to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests. PTI AR NSA NSA This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladeshi tribunal accepts charges against 8 persons for crimes against humanity during 2024 uprising
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday accepted charges against Dhaka's former police commissioner and seven other fellow officers for crimes against humanity during last year's uprising that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina 's regime. The tribunal for the first time took cognizance of a case filed over mass killings and atrocities committed during the July 2024 uprising A three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by Justice M Golam Mortuza, accepted the charges submitted by the prosecution against Dhaka's ex-police commissioner Habibur Rahman Habib and seven other policemen and set June 3 as the date for starting hearing in the case."There are grounds to take into cognizance the formal allegations," Prothom Alo newspaper quoted the bench as to the charges, the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habib, now at large, allegedly ordered subordinates to open fire on protesting crowds at the Chankharpul area in old from Habib three other accused are on the run while four are in jail. The four were present as the tribunal accepted the who is now in India, and several of her cabinet and party colleagues are accused of identical tribunal's move came as government employees for a second consecutive day staged protests inside the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday against the proposed Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, protestors have been demanding its withdrawal, calling it a black law that made it easy for authorities to take punitive actions and terminate the government Adviser Muhammad Yunus's interim Cabinet approved the law last week and now awaits presidential assent. National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials also abstained from work for the second consecutive day demanding scrap of a separate new protest began after the NBR Reform Unity Council rejected the finance ministry's decision to amend the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance which seeks to dissolve the NBR and form two existing divisions, separating tax policymaking from government in the past two days faced several have been reports of discord between the military and the interim government over the possible timeline for holding the parliamentary elections and other policy issues related to Bangladesh's security affairs, particularly involving a proposed humanitarian corridor of aid channel to Myanmar's rebel-held Rakhine chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman along with the Navy and Air Force chiefs met Yunus last week and reportedly reiterated their call for election by December this year to allow an elected government to take charge. They also conveyed their reservation about the corridor next day, Zaman held a senior officers meeting at Dhaka Cantonment and said he was unaware of the government's several strategic decisions despite the military's active military also decided to be tough against rampant incidents of "mob justice".Troops were called out of their barracks with magistracy power to maintain law and on Saturday held an unscheduled closed-door meeting of the advisory council which later said in a statement that they discussed in detail the "three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government - elections, reforms, and justice"."The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public," it statement said despite all obstacles, the interim government continued to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests.
