Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
The newly appointed Foreign Minister in Syria's interim government, Asaad Hassan Al Shibani, warned Tehran not to spread chaos in Syria and to respect the country's sovereignty and its people's will as Syria moves towards a new chapter in its relations with Iran.
“Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and the country's sovereignty and security. We warn them from spreading chaos in Syria and we hold them accountable for the repercussions of the latest remarks,” Mr Al Shibani posted on X.
In a televised speech on Sunday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Syrian youth to “stand with firm determination against those who have orchestrated and brought about this insecurity”.
“We predict that a strong and honourable group will also emerge in Syria because today Syrian youth have nothing to lose. Their schools, universities, homes, and streets are unsafe,” Mr Khamenei said.
Syria is struggling with the uncertainty of its new reality after the fall of president Bashar Al Assad. Mr Al Assad fled to Russia after militant rebels, lead by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, overthrew him in a lightning offensive almost three weeks ago and created a new authority in the capital Damascus.
Fighting, however, continues over control of the north, where the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have launched a counter-offensive against the Ankara-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) to take back areas near border with Turkey. Both sides have been engaged in weeks of intense fighting since Mr Al Assad was deposed, with the SNA capturing the city of Manbij and areas around it.
Washington considers the SDF a vital ally in preventing a resurgence of ISIS in Syria. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Ruken Jamal, a representative of the Women’s Protection Units, or YPJ, under the SDF, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that their fighters are just over 10 kilometres away from the centre of Manbij in their continuing counter-offensive. Ms Jamal accused Ankara of trying to weaken the group’s influence in negotiations over Syria’s political future through the SNA.
“Syria is now in a new phase, and discussions are under way about the future of the country,” Ms Jamal said. “Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.”
UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that since SNA’s offensive in northern Syria against the Kurds started earlier this month, dozens have been killed from both sides. It also said on Tuesday that the SDF, following overnight fighting, reclaimed four villages in areas near the strategic Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates.
While the SNA was involved in the offensive that toppled the former regime, it has continued its push against the SDF. On Monday, the SDF spokesman Farhad Shami said the group's forces pushed back the Turkish-backed rebels from areas near the dam. He said the SDF also destroyed a tank belonging to the rebels south-east of Manbij.
Turkish-backed armed groups and Turkish fighter jets for years have attacked positions where the SDF are largely present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the large shared border.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Kurdish militants in Syria will either lay down their weapons or "be buried in Syrian lands along with their weapons".
Speaking to members of his AK Party, Mr Erdogan also said Turkey would soon open its consulate in Aleppo, and that it expected an increase in traffic at its borders in the summer of next year as some of the millions of Syrian migrants it hosts begin returning home.
During Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s landmark visit to Syria last week, he maintained his country's strong position on the SDF in his meeting with de facto leader Ahmad Al Shara.
“It has turned the region into a cauldron of terror with PKK members and far-left groups who have come from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Europe,” Mr Fidan said in a news conference after the meeting. “The international community is turning a blind eye to this lawlessness because of the wardenship it provides (against ISIS).”
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi expressed concern about a strong ISIS resurgence due to the power vacuum in Syria and the continuing fighting, which has left the Kurdish-led group unable to carry out its attacks and raids on the extremist group’s scattered sleeper cells.
Tens of thousands of children, family members, and supporters of ISIS militants are still held in large detention centres in north-eastern Syria, in areas under SDF control.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
MO
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Major Cinnamon, Fernando Jara, Mujeeb Rahman
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Al Mureib, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Remorse, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Meshakel, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Desert Peace, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Sharamm, Ryan Curatlo, Satish Seemar
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
More coverage from the Future Forum
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
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Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
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.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE squad
Men's draw: Victor Scvortov and Khalifa Al Hosani, (both 73 kilograms), Sergiu Toma and Mihail Marchitan (90kg), Ivan Remarenco (100kg), Ahmed Al Naqbi (60kg), Musabah Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Hosani (66kg)
Women’s draw: Maitha Al Neyadi (57kg)
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
