DAMASCUS // Syrian troops killed at least 25 people yesterday as anti-government protesters defied a huge security operation involving mass arrests and the deployment of tank-backed military units to major urban centres.
In response to Syria's use of force in suppressing anti-government demonstrations, the European Union yesterday followed the United States, announcing it has agreed to impose targeted sanctions against 14 leading members of the Syrian regime, though not against President Bashar al Assad.
Fewer protesters were involved compared to previous weeks, activists acknowledged, but they insisted the show of defiance in the face of such a massive crackdown proved they had not been bludgeoned into submission. Throughout the week as many as 8,000 suspected dissidents were arrested, according to human-rights groups.
Violence erupted yesterday in Homs and Hama, two major cities in central Syria, with 25 people killed, according to activists, who said security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters calling for Mr al Assad to give up power.
Syrian state media reported at least four members of the security forces were killed near Homs, including an army officer, and their bodies mutilated. As is routine, it made no mention of any civilian casualties. The government claims it is fighting an insurrection by foreign-backed Islamic militants.
Mr al Assad yesterday agreed to allow United Nations human-rights monitors in the country, according to the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. Mr Ban said he had been given a verbal agreement for the mission to gain access, during a telephone call with the Syrian leader yesterday. If that mission goes ahead, it will be the first independent assessment of humanitarian conditions in Syria since the uprising began more than seven weeks ago. Since then, at least 560 civilians have been killed by security forces, according to human-rights groups, many of them in Deraa, the revolt's epicentre. The Red Cross said yesterday it had successfully sent a team of doctors and lorries containing medical and humanitarian supplies to Deraa on Thursday. It had previously been unable to reach the city during the military siege.
Although Deraa was quiet yesterday, with a strong military presence remaining on the streets, in outlying districts, demonstrations continued.
Activists said efforts to impose a military solution on a political problem had failed, and that the government would have to seriously push through the sweeping reforms they have been demanding, including the release of all prisoners of conscience and an end to the domination of the unaccountable security services in daily life.
Some protesters have gone farther, saying these changes can happen only if Mr al Assad's 11-year rule comes to an end and the autocratic system of governance established by his father, Hafez al Assad, the former president, is swept away.
"The protests were smaller this week, and we know why - thousands of people have been arrested," said one civil-rights activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "But even with all of that, there were still demonstrations in many places, so there is no way the state can say the crisis is over - it isn't."
Security in Damascus was high, and dissident suburbs were sealed off by soldiers in full combat gear, supported by armoured personnel carriers. Those measures did not stop hundreds of protesters taking to the streets in the neighbourhoods of Maadamiyah and Kadam. But the measures did prevent demonstrators at separate locations from merging and marching on the centre of the capital.
In Midan, Damascus's southern gate, a crowd staged a brief demonstration after prayers, which was quickly broken up by security units. They detained Riad Seif, a leading opposition figure and former MP who has spent years in jail for publicly urging democratic reforms and criticising rampant corruption.
His arrest and the detention of other secular, socialist and Christian political campaigners run counter to the government's insistence it is only trying to fight armed Islamic factions, and, opposition groups say, show the ruling elite are merely intent on retaining their hold on power.
The internet in Syria was significantly disrupted yesterday but activists managed to upload videos of demonstrations, which were then aired on satellite television stations. Footage showed protests in Banias, Idleb, Raqqa and Qamishli, in addition to Homs, Hama and the capital.
Since the protests began in March, the authorities have used a mixture of clampdowns and promises of concessions to try to defuse this unprecedented outbreak of dissent. The government lifted martial laws last month, ending 48 years of emergency rule, a move that officials say proves their genuine willingness to reform. That change in law has not, however, brought about any noticeable change on the ground, with arbitrary arrests continuing, according to civil-rights monitors.
Another law, issued last month, ostensibly gave permission for public demonstrations but the interior ministry has subsequently refused to license any protests critical of the government. On Thursday it allowed a demonstration outside the French Embassy in Damascus, in response to growing French criticism of Syria.
It was the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who, in July 2008, ushered Syria back in from the diplomatic cold after years of isolation from the West.
psands@thenational.ae
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Company%20profile
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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
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
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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
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
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
The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
