Western rural Homs is a land of breezeblock buildings, green fields and drystone walls. The sky hangs grey over the landscape, as booms from artillery fire mingle with the bleating of sheep. Pick-up trucks filled with armed men speed through the villages that dot the hilly terrain.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December, this area has emerged as one of the most unstable parts of Syria, highlighting the huge challenge of post-conflict community reconciliation facing the country.
Security forces loyal to the new government in Damascus have carried out security sweeps in the region, aiming, they say, to target “outlaws” and arrest members of the former regime’s forces who have not handed over weapons to so-called reconciliation centres set up throughout Syria. In the western suburbs of Homs city and surrounding villages in recent weeks, The National witnessed two separate convoys of up to 30 armed men who appeared to be preparing for search operations, riding either in pick-up trucks or armoured vehicles.
Horrifying evidence has emerged of sectarian killings and abuse taking place at the same time as the security sweeps, by armed men apparently hungry for revenge against people in communities they blame for years of violence and displacement. Video and photos appear to show bodies, and men carrying guns beating people lying face down, while shouting sectarian slurs at them.
Revenge attacks
Several brutal incidents against members of the Alawite sect, a religious minority from which deposed president Bashar Al Assad comes, are examples of people taking justice into their own hands. In most cases, it is hard to pinpoint who is responsible for the killings. The violence indicates that the new Syrian authorities are unable to rein in extremist Islamist groups unwilling to accept Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious make-up, or that there is a lack of command and control in the new security forces.
“These crimes are always justified on the pretext that the victims are 'the remnants of the regime or the shabiha [pro-Assad gangs]', which exposes any Alawite to the risk of liquidation by field execution without evidence or trials,” Dr Ahmad Adeeb Ahmad, a prominent Alawite sheikh and founder of the Syrian Alawite Congregation, told The National. “The above suggests one of two things: either the matter is being carried out according to a systematic plan, or the current administration is unable to control the organisations affiliated with it.”
In one incident late last month, 15 men were killed in the village of Fahel, according to two residents interviewed by The National and information gathered by a Syrian civil society group.
According to their testimony, two groups of armed security forces entered Fahel on January 23, to carry out searches of homes. What happened was far more grave.
The first group carried out their searches and did not harm the villagers, the residents said. But the second arrested scores of young men before carrying out summary executions.
The bodies were brought to the entrance of the village and we labelled them, photographed them. Most of the bodies were killed by a gunshot wound to the head at near point-blank range
Resident of Fahel village
“A search operation entered the village. When they entered, there was an order given to remain at home. At the same time there was heavy gunfire in the air,” a resident of Fahel told The National via WhatsApp, asking to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
“With the search operation, two or three people entered every house in the village. In terms of my personal experience, their behaviour was sort of OK, they didn’t vandalise or mess up the house. From what the villagers saw, the groups did not all have the same ethics. There was a group that behaved well with the people and there was another group that carried out more violations.”
Another Fahel resident also described how the first group of men behaved in a civil manner, “trying to achieve peace and security, and so on”. But the second group, which entered the village at the same time as the first, were carrying weapons.
“Some of them had swords in their hands, knives, heavy weaponry, they started to strike with them and terrify people,” the second resident told The National. “People started to go back into their houses and those guys arrested 58 people.”
According to the Civil Peace Group, a Syrian civil society organisation, two of the 15 killed were shot at the village entrance after being removed from a vehicle carrying civilian passengers, and questioned about their identity and sectarian affiliations, before being dumped in fields around the village. The Civil Peace Group identified the men as employees of a bank and the state electricity directorate.
“They had been coming back from work in Damascus, they were stopped by two unknown cars,” one of the Fahel residents explained. "They were taken out of the bus and they were killed shortly after being taken out. According to the witnesses who were with them in the bus, two armed men entered the bus and asked, ‘Who is Alawite?’ Those two men replied, ‘We are Alawite’ and they were taken off the bus.”
The other victims were either retired or serving military personnel from the former Syrian army, the Civil Peace Group said. Their bodies were found in fields around Fahel, with gunshot wounds to the head, according to one of the residents, who said they had seen the bodies themselves.
“The bodies were brought to the entrance of the village and we labelled them, photographed them. Most of the bodies were killed by a gunshot wound to the head at near point-blank range,” the source said.
The National received pictures of the men’s bodies, which all bore severe trauma wounds to the head and neck, and were labelled with names and dates that corresponded with the accounts from residents and the Civil Peace Group.
Of the scores of men arrested during the operation – reports on the exact number vary – the fate of more than 40 people remains unknown.
When The National visited the area the day before the killings in Fahel, accompanied by members of the security forces, Alawite-majority villages such as Balqasah and Tareen were deserted, with shutters down on nearly all shopfronts. A media manager from the military command would not allow journalists to speak to members of the security forces gathered in the street in the Balqasah village area, and escorted the press throughout the visit.
The National was also in the rural western Homs area on the day of the Fahel massacre but again, officials and security forces prevented interviews with villagers on security grounds. Numerous other incidences of sectarian-based killings have been reported in western Syria in the past month.
In the neighbouring village of Marimeen, another four people were killed, also on January 23, a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
The government media office in Homs acknowledged abuse in the village, although did not mention killings in a public statement.
“Immediately after receiving complaints from the people of Marimeen village, urgent co-ordination was carried out with the competent security authorities to track down those involved in these violations, and after intensive investigations, a number of suspects were arrested and transferred to the competent judiciary to receive their just punishment,” the statement said.
The continuation of the state of security chaos, the increase in the rate of revenge operations and failure to hold their perpetrators accountable, will inevitably lead to a sectarian war
Dr Ahmad Adeeb Ahmad,
prominent Alawite sheikh
The Syrian Justice and Accountability Centre, a Washington-based human rights organisation, has documented a number of other incidents of killings and armed attacks in western Syria over the past month. The centre said attackers had targeted both Sunni and Alawite Syrians, and the common theme was “victim[s] being accused of significant past involvement with the Assad government and violations against civilians, rather than a common sectarian affiliation”.
While the desire for revenge against alleged members of Assad’s military and security forces is great, the centre pointed out that summary killings will not help to achieve justice in the long-term.
“Executing individuals who have knowledge of major violations prevents Syrians from learning more about the violations that occurred, including information about Syrians who were detained or disappeared during the conflict,” it said in a periodical report on human rights violations in Syria.
Weapons caches uncovered
Throughout the security sweeps, the security forces say they have uncovered large stashes of weapons and have sought to justify mass arrests of men in the area.
Journalists toured an abandoned warehouse complex made up of dozens of bunkers above ground. Inside some of the rooms were piles of mortars, 125mm tank projectiles, ammunition and paperwork listing members of the National Defence Forces, a pro-Assad militia. Sent pictures and video of the site by The National, a former British military weapons expert also identified power packs, old mines and wiring found in a box in one room as evidence of a lab for building improvised explosive devices.
“This is new, we found this place yesterday when we were following remnants of the regime,” said a member of the security forces, who did not give his name.
He explained how during the raids – which took place before the security sweep and killings at Fahel – there were “clashes” which led to deaths, although he did not provide numbers. “Yesterday there were clashes, we even had injuries in our ranks, and therefore they [pro-regime men] were killed,” he said.
Asked how they ensured no innocent people were killed, he said: “We only clash with the people who clash with us. We have been given instructions that we don’t use guns except during clashes.”
He explained how during a raid on alleged Assad regime cells in nearby villages, the security forces also made arrests, although again he did not provide a specific number of men apprehended.
Afterwards, the security forces took them for questioning and, he said, those whose involvement in alleged crimes could not be proven were released.
Regime records at the abandoned complex, listing members of the National Defence Forces, were used as justifications for arrests, a media relations official for the new security forces said.
“See here, these papers there are papers of the National Defence Forces, with the total number, how many there were,” the official said, pointing to names and numbers on a piece of paper found on the floor of the warehouse complex. “There are documents used as the basis for arrest. As a basis, there are [papers] with the security and intelligence forces.”
The link between those responsible for the numerous killings in western Syria and the security forces remains blurry. Authorities deny official security forces have wilfully killed innocent people and have vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
Responding to the Marimeen attacks, the Homs government media office said a “criminal group took advantage of this circumstance to commit violations against residents, impersonating security forces, and we affirm that any violations by individuals or groups will be dealt with firmly according to the laws in force”.
A media office official did not respond in time for publication to questions about charges brought against suspects, or if they had been released.
The Syrian Justice and Accountability Centre said most of the attacks and executions in western Syria did not appear to be “systematic practices sanctioned by the caretaker government”, but said security forces affiliated with the ruling Hayat Tahrir Al Sham had engaged in some of the violations.
The people of Fahel are not against any criminal being held to account. But it needs to be with transitional justice, not with justice based on revenge
Resident of Fahel village
All the same, the incidents have been severe and widespread enough to reverberate across Syria.
In the following days in the Sayyida Zaynab suburb of Damascus, Shiite Muslim residents cited the events in Homs as a reason for their fears over the future of security in Syria.
“I am Shiite, you saw what happened in Homs. If someone sees my face, maybe they will slaughter me,” said one man who did not give his name, as he queued for bread at a state-subsidised bakery.
Accountability
While the security forces say they were going after remnants of the Assad regime, the Fahel residents said the men killed had carried out a “reconciliation” with the new government, suggesting the limits of that process in the face of a lack of control over weapons and the use of force.
Others from the area believe the desire for vengeance played a large part in the killings and violations on Alawite and other minority communities.
According to Hassan, a resident of rural northern Homs who gave The National his first name only, the violence in Fahel was carried out by members of the security forces seeking vengeance for previous crimes. He cited a massacre that took place in the Houla area in 2012, which was, he said, carried out by residents of the rural western Homs area.
“What happened in Fahel are vengeful reactions by people belonging to the new security forces, and they went to Fahel and carried out individual acts, they did not take orders to kill,” he said. “But, for example, a person believes that people from Fahel killed his brother in 2013, from the X family, and [so] he kills members of that family. That’s what happened.”
That highlights the problems of command, control and discipline that Syria’s new leaders are facing, among a traumatised population where members of the security forces, among others, have lost family members, homes and businesses.
“The continuation of the state of security chaos and the increase in the rate of revenge operations, and the failure to hold their perpetrators accountable, will inevitably lead to a sectarian war,” said Dr Ahmad, the Alawite sheikh. “That is not in the interest of the Syrians and we do not want to move to a new war in the country.”
Like many Alawites, he was not a fan of Mr Al Assad. “I was persecuted by his security apparatus because of my opposition to government corruption and the Iranian presence,” he said, referring to the Iran-backed militias that allowed Mr Al Assad to hold on to power for more than a decade after the start of anti-government uprisings in 2011.
The violence also highlights the challenge of eliminating violent extremist groups who hold prejudices against Syria’s rich mix of ethnic and religious communities.
Dr Ahmad is calling on the new authorities to “prevent extremists from committing more massacres against Alawites and minorities. Put an end to all violations and do not consider them as individual acts, as some officials say in their statement – we are being killed without protection for us and without a deterrent for the killers.”
Villagers in rural Homs are aware that many want accountability for crimes committed under the regime but are urging Syrians to do this through the judicial system, not through mass killings of people in communities affiliated with Mr Al Assad.
“The people of Fahel are not against any criminal being held to account,” one of the Fahel residents said. But it needs to be “with transitional justice and not with justice based on revenge”.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The six points:
1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences
2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it
4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow
5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided
6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
How%20champions%20are%20made
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal
MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THREE
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Bangla Tigers 108-5 (10 ovs)
Ingram 37, Rossouw 26, Pretorius 2-10
Deccan Gladiators 109-4 (9.5 ovs)
Watson 41, Devcich 27, Wiese 2-15
Gladiators win by six wickets
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')
Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')
Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero
Getting%20there
%3Cp%3EGiven%20its%20remote%20location%2C%20getting%20to%20Borneo%20can%20feel%20daunting%20even%20for%20the%20most%20seasoned%20traveller.%20But%20you%20can%20fly%20directly%20from%20Kuala%20Lumpur%20to%20Sandakan%20and%20Sepilok%20is%20only%20half%20an%20hour%20away%20by%20taxi.%20Sandakan%20has%20plenty%20of%20accommodation%20options%2C%20while%20Sepilok%20has%20a%20few%20nature%20lodges%20close%20to%20the%20main%20attractions.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
