Syrian youths work at a scrapyard in the Turkish-controlled northern city of Al Bab. After a decade of war, an estimated 2. 5 million children in Syria are out of school with another 1. 6 million at risk of dropping out, according to the UN's children agency Unicef. As it marked World Children's Day on November 20, the agency estimated that nine in 10 children live in poverty and more than 5,700 children — some as young as seven — were recruited into the fighting. All photos: AFP
Syrian youths work at a scrapyard in the Turkish-controlled northern city of Al Bab. After a decade of war, an estimated 2. 5 million children in Syria are out of school with another 1. 6 million at risk of dropping out, according to the UN's children agency Unicef. As it marked World Children's Day on November 20, the agency estimated that nine in 10 children live in poverty and more than 5,700 children — some as young as seven — were recruited into the fighting. All photos: AFP
Syrian youths work at a scrapyard in the Turkish-controlled northern city of Al Bab. After a decade of war, an estimated 2. 5 million children in Syria are out of school with another 1. 6 million at r
A Syrian youth works at a scrapyard in the Turkish-controlled northern city of Al Bab. After a decade of war, an estimated 2. 5 million children in Syria are out of school with another 1. 6 million at risk of dropping out, according to the UN's children agency Unicef. As it marked World Children's Day on November 20, the agency estimated that nine in 10 children live in poverty and more than 5,700 children — some as young as seven — were recruited into the fighting. All photos: AFP
Syrian 15-year-old Mohammad Makhzoum, second right, poses for a picture with his siblings at home in Al Bab. Mohammad, who has been working since he was nine, leaves home every day at dawn for a basic foundry where he helps melt metal amid thick and toxic black fumes. He said he wanted to make sure his sister and two brothers avoid a fate that has beset so many of Syria's children. “I am their mother and father,” he said, his face covered in soot. “I work so that they can continue their studies, because … they shouldn't be denied an education like I was.”
There is no official data in Syria on child labour rates. But they are believed to have steadily increased throughout the course of the conflict, with the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis fuelling further spikes over the past year. “It is evident that child labour has increased in Syria … because of Covid-19 and the worsening economic crisis,” Unicef spokeswoman Juliette Touma said. “Children in Syria, when they are involved in labour, are exposed to conditions that are absolutely horrific,” she said.
Mohammad, who originally is from the town of Maarat Al Numan in Idlib district, dropped out of school at the age of nine to support his family after his father was killed by artillery shells fired by government forces. Two years ago, his mother was killed during a battle between rebels and regime forces in the same area. He fled with his siblings to Al Bab, where they live in a small bullet-riddled flat, furnished with nothing but thin foam mattresses. His weekly income of $5 barely covers their food needs, but Mohammad still manages to source enough for his siblings' school supplies. “I work for their sake … I like to see them comfortable,” he said. “I want to see them become doctors or teachers, without having to suffer like I had to.”
12-year-old Amer Al-Shayban works at a makeshift oil refiner in Al Bab. “I am forced to work … it's not in my hands,” Amer said, explaining that he is the main breadwinner for his family. “I work summers and winters in the refinery to support my parents … my chest hurts regularly because of the smoke and fumes.” After his shift, he returns to a nearby displacement camp, where he lives with his parents and five younger siblings. His father suffers from diabetes and clogged arteries, leaving the family mostly reliant on Amer's monthly income of $5. “I dream of carrying a pen and a notebook and going to school,” he said. “That is better than the furnaces, the diesel and this smell.”
Nadim Al-Nako, aged 12, has given up hope of ever returning to school, after he dropped out two years ago. Nadim works with a blowtorch most of the day — without any safety googles — in his father's workshop to make pots and pans. His salary goes entirely to household expenses, he said. “War destroyed our dreams,” he said. “I don't care any more about school or anything of the like, the only thing I care about is this profession.”
Key findings of Jenkins report
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
An arms embargo
A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Racecard:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
