Syria has extended its permission for the UN to use two additional border crossings for earthquake relief efforts for another three months, according to an announcement made by Bassam Sabbagh, Syria's UN ambassador, on Saturday.
In his Twitter statement, Mr Sabbagh said that Syria had decided to prolong the UN's access to the border crossings of Bab Alsalama and Al Ra'i until August 13.
This decision comes after the initial approval granted by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad on February 13, a week after an earthquake that claimed more than 50,000 lives in Turkey and Syria.
The agreement for the UN to use these two border crossings was set to expire on Saturday.
The extension followed a request from the UN on Friday.
Mr Al Assad's initial agreement to open the Bab Al Salama and Al Ra'i crossings in February came after diplomacy from the UAE. This decision allowed aid to be delivered into opposition-held zones in the north-west.
The UN had already been given a Security Council mandate to use the Bab Al Hawa border crossing to deliver aid to millions of people in the north-west since 2014.
The opening of the additional crossings was seen by aid agencies as a significant step in increasing deliveries.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which struck near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep in February, caused substantial damage and loss of life.
The tremor hit at a time when most people were indoors, making the scale of casualties caused by collapsing structures worse. Images of blocks reduced to rubble or left with gaping holes gave a glimpse of the extent of the suffering.
The earthquake's aftermath has highlighted the critical importance of maintaining humanitarian access into Syria's north-west, a region home to millions of people who rely heavily on the aid delivered through these border crossings after years of civil war.
Despite the extension, Amnesty International said that aid through these crossings would remain legal under international law regardless of whether the extension is granted.
The organisation said the critical nature of UN cross-border relief operations was essential to prevent further suffering of the civilian population in north-west Syria.
The response to the earthquake also underscores the need for continued international co-operation in the face of disaster, with countries such as the UAE, the Netherlands, and Romania stepping in to provide aid and support, aid groups said.
As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the quake, the extended access to border crossings for aid distribution will play a crucial role in the recovery process, they said.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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.
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."
Persuasion
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
