Syrian militant group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, fresh from leading the ousting of long-time dictator Bashar Al Assad from office, has named Mohammed Al Bashir as the head of a transitional authority to govern the country.
The move came after a meeting between Mr Al Bashir, HTS leader Ahmad Al Shara and current Prime Minister Mohammad Al Jalali.
Mr Al Bashir has served for a year as head of the HTS-linked Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), which has been running most of the governorate of Idlib in Syria's north-west since 2017, according to a profile released by the SSG. Before this, he was Minister of Development and Humanitarian Affairs for the SSG under his predecessor Ali Keda.
Born in Idlib's Jabal Zawiya in 1983, Mr Al Bashir is a qualified engineer who has a degree from the University of Aleppo in electrical and electronic engineering, and another from the University of Idlib in Sharia Law, the profile said. He has taken a course in advanced English language, and holds certificates in project management and administrative planning.
Before he embarked on his political career, he worked at a gas plant owned by the Syrian Gas Company in 2011, as head of the precision instruments department.
In recent months he has given press briefings on the SSG's movements, particularly during the surprise 12-day advance which led to HTS-led forces toppling Mr Al Assad.
Pledges after his election as Prime Minister of the SSG by the local Shura Council in January this year may offer an insight into his thinking on governance. His focus in Idlib was on modernising government processes using technology, encouraging investment, strengthening the economy and focusing on the humanitarian needs of thousands of displaced people living in the area, Syrian news outlet Levant24 reported in January.
He has not yet commented on his vision and strategy for a transitional government, nor what such a transition may look like.
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
