Syria on Friday welcomed Britain’s decision to lift sanctions on 24 entities, including the central bank and oil companies, that were imposed during Bashar Al Assad’s presidency.
The UK is the first country to ease restrictions on dealings with Syrian petroleum companies, banks and Syrian Airlines since the ousting of Mr Al Assad in December.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the UK’s move was a “positive step” that would contribute to Syria’s economic and political recovery and benefit its people.
Syria is looking forward to further "positive outcomes following the lifting of sanctions that harmed the population, despite the fact that it targeted the previous regime”, the ministry said in a statement. "We reiterate our call to end all economic restrictions that delay the country's economic and political recovery."
The Syrian Petroleum Company, Syria Trading Oil Company and Overseas Petroleum Trading were also among those delisted.
The interim administration of President Ahmad Al Shara, whose Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebel group led the offensive that toppled Mr Al Assad after a 13-year civil war, is grappling with the fallout of Assad-era sanctions, corruption and looting of Syria's wealth, and the need to repair extensive damage from the war and restore services. It has called repeatedly for the lifting of western sanctions that were imposed during the brutal conflict.
The European Union last month suspended a range of punitive measures against Damascus, including restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction. The bloc still has sanctions in place targeting people and economic sectors in Syria.
It also lifted the frozen assets of five banks, eased restrictions on the Central Bank of Syria and indefinitely extended an exemption to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“We have spent the past two months engaging in discussions and diplomatic efforts to ease the unjust sanctions that have burdened our people,” Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said on X last month.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
Results
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5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
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7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
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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)
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
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Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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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
