Bombs planted on a military bus have killed 14 Syrian soldiers in the centre of Damascus, state media reported, denting the regime's claims of having secured the capital.
Hours later on Wednesday in north-western Syria, artillery shelling by forces loyal to President Bashar Al Assad killed 13 people in a town under Turkey’s sphere of influence, monitoring groups said.
The attack on the town of Ariha in Idlib governorate during school drop-off time resulted in the heaviest reported civilian death toll in one day since a proxy war between Russia and Turkey in the region renewed last month.
The two countries were on the verge of war over Idlib in February and March 2020, in a culmination of the internationalisation of the Syrian civil war, before Moscow and Ankara pulled back from the brink.
Russia's intervention in Syria in 2015 enabled the regime to overrun rebel areas in Damascus and its surrounding area. Russian firepower restored other cities and rural areas, mostly along an axis running north and south of Damascus, to the regime.
But Russian might has not been able to end the civil war, with Moscow becoming the main actor on the diplomatic arena regarding the situation as US attention turned elsewhere.
The civil war broke out after the regime cracked down on the revolt in March 2011 against five decades of Assad family rule over Syria.
The majority Sunni country has been dominated by members of its Alawite minority since mostly Alawite officers, among them Assad's father Hafez, took power in the 1963 coup.
The official Syrian news agency quoted a military source as saying that the two bombs went off at 6.45am while the military bus was near a main intersection during the morning rush hour in Damascus.
The bombs were "attached to the bus" before it neared the Hafez Al Assad Bridge, a main flyover in the centre of the city, the source said. A third device was dismantled on site where it fell off after the explosion.
The site is a few hundred metres away from the agency's offices, the Interior Ministry and the Four Season Hotel, one of the most expensive hotels in Damascus, where UN staff stay.
“We will chase these terrorists who committed this heinous crime wherever they are,” Interior Minister Mohammad Khaled Al Rahmoun said while inspecting the explosion site.
He said an investigation would be launched.
Pictures on state television, which described the blast as “terrorist bomb attack", showed the charred bus as medics were trying to remove bodies.
Loyalists forces and militias supported by Iran have been pushing troops and personnel from Damascus and other areas to the north-west for the last two months before an expected attack on Idlib, Syrian opposition figures in Amman and Istanbul say.
Child victims
The shelling that reportedly killed 13 people in Idlib on Wednesday was aimed at the town of Ariha. The governorate is home to the largest concentration of refugees in Syria.
They number around three million, with another one million in areas controlled by Turkey in the neighbouring province of Aleppo.
The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, said one of the victims was an 8-year-old girl called Rimas who was holding her father's hand when the attack took place, killing them both.
Two White Helmet volunteers lost a family member during the shelling. Basil Hafez, whose sister Qamar Hafez, an Arabic teacher, was killed along with Muhammad Al Amin who lost his 14 year-old brother, Ibrahim.
Ariha lies on the M4, a major motorway patrolled by the Turkish Army. The M4 links the city of Aleppo to the Mediterranean coast, where the bulk of Russian forces in Syria are based.
Attacks by the regime and pro-Iranian militia in recent weeks, as well a Russian air bombing, were all thought to be with the aim of capturing the road.
The Idlib Media Group, run by citizen journalists opposed to Assad, said the shelling started at 7.55am on the town’s square and main market. Three schools are located in the vicinity.
“Most of those who died were on their way to the school,” the group said. Three children and one female teacher among the dead have been identified, it said.
Rami Al Sayyed, an opposition activist in Idlib, said the attack was a continuation of heavy targeting of frontline regions in recent weeks.
“We have seen the regime and its allies using field artillery and rocket launchers as a prelude to advancing on the ground,” he said by phone.
A Syrian opposition source in Amman said that at least three small Turkish bases around Ariha escaped the shelling.
Fears of wider conflict
Turkey has more than a dozen fortifications and observation posts along the M4. These are part of a military ring separating the Turkish sphere of influence in Idlib and Aleppo from regime areas.
In February 2020, a dispute between Ankara and Moscow almost led to war in north-western Syria, after an air strike in Idlib killed 34 Turkish soldiers.
Turkey retaliated by killing dozens of regime personnel in artillery and drone attacks, and destroying a significant portion of its heavy armour in Idlib, before a deal between Ankara and Moscow in March 2020.
Hostilities eased after the pact but low-intensity warfare in the north-west continued.
Among its participants is Russian-backed Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG) militia based in the pocket of Tal Rifaat north of the city of Aleppo, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.
The deal in March 2020 gave the advantage at the front lines in north-west Syria to the regime and its militia allies.
Officials in Ankara say Turkey cannot afford to cede any more territory in Idlib, citing the possibility of refugees reaching the Turkish border if the regime and its allies push further into the region.
Idlib residents say the Turkish military has been sending reinforcements to the region since last month and setting up more small bases in the governorate.
But speculation has been mounting among members of the Syrian opposition to Assad that Turkey would swap areas in Idlib near the M4 for Tel Rifaat with the Russians, and possibly other areas captured in the last decade by Kurdish militia to the north-east.
With the civil war having tilted in favour of the regime, attacks in the Syrian capital have been rare in the past three years.
Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in Britain, said the bus bombing on Monday constitutes "a huge security breach".
“Whoever did this – whether it's ISIS or Al Nusra militant group or others – wanted to send a message to the regime that there is no safe place,” he said.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More on animal trafficking
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The%20specs
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
