Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is set to outline measures to support the new authorities in Syria when he convenes his counterparts from the US, the UK, France, Germany and the EU on Thursday in the quest for influence over preparations for a new constitution.
Discussions will centre on Syria's transitional government, led by rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), which took over Damascus on December 8, ending more than five decades of rule by the Al Assad family.
"The meeting was strongly desired by Minister Tajani to take stock of the situation in Syria one month after the fall of the Assad regime," Italy's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Antony Blinken, the departing US Secretary of State, confirmed he will also attend Villa Madama outside Rome for the meeting, which aims to "takes stock" of the situation in Syria. The US State Department said the meeting was "to advocate for a peaceful, inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition".
The foreign ministers will discuss a landmark national dialogue conference that Syria's new leaders say will set the priorities for the country. Initially planned for January, the conference has been delayed, with another yet to be set.
Other topics on the agenda at Thursday's meeting will be the drafting of a new constitution in Syria and the country's economic recovery after 13 years of civil war, the Italian Foreign Ministry added.
Implementing a new constitution could take up to three years, HTS leader and Syria's de facto ruler Ahmad Al Shara said last month. Elections are not expected until 2029.
In the most high-level visit yet by Western officials, France and Germany sent their foreign affairs ministers to Damascus to meet Mr Al Shara last week. Italy, which had been pushing for the EU to normalise with former president Bashar Al Assad before his escape from Damascus, has yet to follow suit.
The EU had become increasingly divided in the past months over its approach to Syria. In July, Rome had appointed an ambassador to Damascus. Paris and Berlin had shunned re-establishing diplomatic relations. In a speech on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "proud" that his country had maintained that position over more than a decade.
Since Mr Al Assad's departure, European officials have been cautiously optimistic about HTS, which is under UN, US and EU sanctions for its former links with Al Qaeda. Some officials expressed concern after the publication last week of a new school curriculum in Syria.
Tobias Lindner, Germany's Foreign Office special co-ordinator for Syria, told the BBC that Mr Al Shara's comments since taking office had sounded "promising" so far.
Syria's financial and economic sectors remain under severe Syrian sanctions, though the US on Monday announced a partial easing of restrictions in certain sectors.
European leaders have said they are studying the possibility of lifting some sanctions at EU level – including those affecting humanitarian aid – on the Syrian state but not all.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that it would depend on how the transitional government in Damascus takes into account European demands, particularly regarding the integration of ethnic and religious minorities in public representation.
Western sanctions had originally been put in place as a response to former president Bashar Al Assad's human rights violations against his people in the face of peaceful protests in 2011 that later morphed into civil war. Half a million people are believed to have been killed in the ensuing violence.
The fall of the Assad regime is also a significant blow for its historic supporters, Russia and Iran. French, German and British diplomats are now hoping to pressure Iran to agree to new restrictions on its nuclear activities. A new round of talks on the matter is scheduled in Geneva on January 14 and 15. A representative for the EU Commission, which has been acting as a mediator in these talks, said they continued to be in regular contact with Iran but had no further details to share.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
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Rating: 4/5
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
The%C2%A0specs%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
