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Syria has arrested two senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, in a move that could help the new government in Damascus in its quest to have US sanctions lifted.
Khaled Khaled, the head of the PIJ's Syrian branch, and Yasser Al Zufri were arrested in Damascus, an official from the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group leading the Syrian government confirmed.
Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of the PIJ, on Tuesday described the pair as "two of the best of our cadres". It added they were arrested last week and demanded their release.
The Brigades said the two men were arrested "in a way that we did not hope for by a brother whose land has always been a haven for the faithful and for the free".
The PIJ is a junior partner of Hamas in Gaza and one of the non-state groups in the Middle East closest to Iran. Tehran was a powerful regional backer of the former regime in Syria and a main loser in the overthrow of Bashar Al Assad.
HTS, formerly linked with Al Qaeda, has allowed PIJ to remain in Syria since ending the 53-year Assad family rule in December.
Hazem Ayyad, a researcher in Amman who specialises in Palestinian affairs, said the arrests could help Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara in two ways − by winning favour with the US and curbing the Israeli rationale for strikes on Syria.
US demands
The US has repeatedly demanded that the new order in Syria disengages from militant groups and foreign extremists, in addition to not taking any military action against Israel, according to diplomats briefed on the meetings.
The arrests came after two Republican US congressmen, who are part of President Donald Trump's core support in the legislature, met Mr Al Shara in Damascus during the last three days. Mr Al Shara's government is pressing to have sanctions lifted.
"It is a small move compared with the potential gains," said Mr Ayyad of the arrests. He cautioned that it would be difficult for Mr Al Shara to embark on more direct moves in favour of Israel, such as normalisation, because of wide pro-Palestinian sentiment in Syria, and the ideology of HTS.
Mr Ayyad pointed out that the arrests came shortly after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Mr Al Shara met in Damascus. "HTS appears to have taken a decision only to deal with the recognised Palestinian representatives," he said, referring to Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority.
Hamas links
Hamas relocated its external leadership from Damascus to Qatar in 2012 after falling out with Mr Al Assad, but started mending ties with him in the last three years of his rule. Former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had supported restoring ties with Mr Al Assad before he was killed in Gaza last year.
Hamas had briefly supported the 2011 revolt against Mr Al Assad. The PIJ group's founder Fathi Al Shiqaqi was an admirer of Iran's late supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini.
Israel has has expanded a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, south-west of Damascus, by taking territory. But there have been no more Israeli strikes on Syria since officials from Turkey, which supports Mr Al Shara, met Syrian officials for de-escalation talks too weeks ago in Azerbaijan.
This month, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Washington was sympathetic to "the struggles of the Syrian people who have [for] suffered decades under the Assad regime".
But Washington has said co-operation is contingent on the government suppressing terrorism, sidelining "foreign terrorist fighters" and "verifiably" destroying Mr Al Assad’s chemical weapons, as well as ensuring freedom for the country's minorities.
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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Griselda
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Company%20Profile
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
India Test squad
Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
3%20Body%20Problem
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
