Saudi Arabia called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria on Sunday, in a major diplomatic boost for the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham government in Damascus.
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a meeting in Riyadh of western and Arab powers about the “importance of lifting unilateral and UN sanctions imposed on Syria”.
“Their continuation will hinder the ambitions of the Syrian people in achieving development and reconstruction,” Prince Faisal said after the meeting, the largest gathering to discuss Syria's future since HTS swept through Syria and took power from former president Bashar Al Assad in December.
Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani represented Syria at the talks.
Participants praised “positive steps” taken by the new administration to preserve state institutions and consult with other countries to counter terrorism and “start an inclusive political transition”, Prince Faisal said.
“We affirmed the need to continue giving all aspects of humanitarian and economic support to the Syrian state and achieve stability and reconstruction,” he said.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said the expanded ministerial meeting showed the “importance of collective regional, international and UN efforts to support the Syrian people at all levels, meeting their legitimate aspirations for lasting security, stability, prosperity and development”.
He said that the UAE supported Syria's independence and sovereignty, adding unity and cohesion among the Syrian people was important to “build a unified, stable, and secure Syria free from terrorism and exclusion”.
The fall of the Assad regime has upended international relations across the Middle East, curbing Iranian expansion and weakening Russian influence. Arab countries had ended hostilities with Mr Al Assad in the three years before his fall while European countries had started to engage with him in the hope of sending back Syrian refugees.
Over the past month in Damascus, HTS leader Ahmad Al Shara has installed his officials at the top of government and in senior line manager positions within the bureaucracy, as well as governor positions. He has said a transition of government could take years, without specifying the shape of the political system to come.
He has repeatedly called for sanctions to be lifted in order for Syria to rebuild.
Since the civil war in 2011, sanctions have been imposed on the Assad regime, as well as on HTS by the US and European countries. Western nations and the UN Security Council regard HTS, which was previously linked to Al Qaeda, as a terrorist organisation.
Now the EU is set to discuss the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria in a meeting in Brussels at the end of January, according to Kaja Kallas, the bloc's high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“We will work to ensure that we can indeed make a decision on this issue at that time,” she said in Riyadh.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said sanctions should be retained on remnants of the Assad regime who had “committed serious crimes” during the war.
“Syrians now need a quick dividend from the transition of power,” she said in Riyadh.
Washington has temporarily lifted some sanctions on the Syrian government that were first imposed in the 1970s over former leader Hafez Al Assad's support for militant groups, and stiffened considerably after Syrian authorities killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt in 2011.
In 2019, Congress passed the Caesar Act, which elevated sanctions on Syria to a new level, imposing bans on dealing with the Syrian regime and its associates across entire economic sectors. It was named after a photographer code-named Caesar who defected from Mr Al Assad's military and provided photos made public in 2014 that documented the killing of thousands of political prisoners.
For the next six months, the US will grant waivers to aid groups and companies to provide parts and services for Syria's water and electricity sectors, as well for sending humanitarian relief.
Under-Secretary of State Jon Bass represented Washington at the Riyadh meeting, which included Sheikh Abdullah, plus senior officials from Bahrain, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Turkey, which has close ties with HTS.
Last week, Mr Bass met Turkish officials in Ankara to discuss a “peaceful, inclusive” transition and “preventing Syria from being used as a base for terrorism”, the State Department said.
Two senior US diplomats met Mr Al Shara in Damascus last week. They relayed American concerns about his inclusion of foreign fighters in the nation's new security force. A source briefed on the meeting told The National that Mr Al Shara said their integration was necessary to preserve stability.
Several days after Mr Al Assad's fall in December, the same nations that met in Riyadh issued a declaration demanding that “Syrian territory does not pose a threat to any country, or a shelter to terrorists”.
The coming period would be critical for instilling pluralism and respect for human rights in Syria, they said, after 54 years of Assad family rule.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy, among those attending the Riyadh meeting on Sunday, said world powers “must come together to stand behind the people of Syria as they build a democratic future and a diverse and modern country”.
“Syrians deserve a bright and prosperous future,” he said.
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
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
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Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The five pillars of Islam
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THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
