The EU's foreign affairs ministers on Monday reached a political agreement to begin easing sanctions on Syria, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.
“This could give a boost to the Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet. While we aim to move fast, we are also ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens,” Ms Kallas said in Brussels.
Technical details still need to be discussed, Ms Kallas said. She added that she hoped “these issues will be solved in the [next] weeks”.
“We have a step [by] step approach, so that if we see some steps going in the right direction, we are also willing to ease these sanctions,” Ms Kallas said. Earlier in the day, she also said that Brussels was ready to re-open its embassy in Damascus.
Speaking before the meeting, several EU ministers said that the priority would be to ease sanctions on the energy sector. “Today, we will decide to suspend certain sanctions that apply to the energy sector, transport, or financial institutions and that are currently hindering the economic stabilisation of the country and the start of the reconstruction process,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.
The EU expects that Syrian authorities will, in return, include religious and ethnic minorities in their political transition in addition to fighting ISIS and destroying the former Assad regime's chemical weapons.
France, which will host a meeting in support of Syria next month, has led, alongside Germany, the EU's diplomatic engagement with Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which took over Damascus on December 8.
'Not a blank cheque'
Syria's new leaders have been advocating a full lifting of sanctions. While the US moved earlier this month to ease restrictions on Syria to boost humanitarian aid, it did not lift its sanctions regime on the country, which also targets HTS. “Removing the economic sanctions is the key for stability of Syria,” the country's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said in Davos last week.
Speaking in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for investments in Syria's electricity sector, which is plagued by hours-long power cuts.
“We want the people in Syria to have electricity again, so they can get the economy on their feet again,” said Ms Baerbock, who visited Damascus with Mr Barrot on January 3. “But … we also need a political process. It's not a blank cheque.”
By easing sanctions, the EU is extending a message of confidence to the new administration in Damascus, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. “The message is that we want to open the door, and at the same time we want to open [our] eyes,” he said.
Mr Tajani said he had invited Mr Al Shibani to Rome “to strengthen co-operation”. Italian entrepreneurs are ready to invest in Syria's reconstruction, he added.
Syria's change in leadership has also raised questions about the future of an autonomous region in north-east Syria controlled by Kurdish groups. The US and France regard the Kurds as an ally in the fight against ISIS but Turkey views them as a terrorist threat.
“There needs to be political solution that respects the rights of the Kurdish people while taking into account the security interests of Turkey,” Mr Barrot said. “But that needs to be a peaceful process that respects and takes into account the fact that Kurds have played a significant role in the fight against ISIS and the fact that terrorist fighters of ISIS are now placed in prisons rather than spreading insecurity in Syria and Europe.”
EU diplomats have also been discussing a so-called snapback mechanism – a reinstatement of sanctions – if human rights abuses were to take place. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said that recent visits to Damascus by his European counterparts had paved the way to an “informed conversation around the issue of sanctions”.
“But it is vital that any discussion about that also has a snapback mechanism so that if things do go off-kilter, there is an ability to immediately reinstate sanctions,” Mr Harris said. “That is a prudent way to respond.”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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.
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
More on animal trafficking
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
