Jordan has become the latest regional country to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria.
Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said Amman had appointed an acting charge d’affaires at its embassy in Damascus.
Government sources say the diplomat has been asked to increase trade and business relations with Syria.
The sources said he would explore opportunities for Jordanian business owners and investors to help in Syria’s reconstruction.
Jordan has been without an ambassador in Syria since 2012, and despite the two countries keeping embassies open throughout the conflict, relations have been at times frosty.
Amman has been hosting rebel fighters and co-ordinating with them in southern Syria, which Jordanian officials stress was at the behest of its western allies.
Syria has been without a representative in Amman since May 2014, when Jordan expelled Bahjat Suleiman for “interference in internal affairs” and “repeated insults” to Jordan and its leadership.
In response, Syria expelled Jordan’s charge d’affaires.
Despite this, the two countries co-operated closely over their 380 kilometre border.
Diplomatic ties are being re-established three months after Jordan reopened its border with Syria.
“Whether or not a regional rapprochement occurs with the Syrian regime, it is in Jordan’s interests to improve diplomatic ties with Syria for the economic opportunities of reconstruction and trade,” said Fares Braizat, chairman of Jordanian think tank Nama Strategic Intelligence Solutions.
The Nassib crossing alone provided $1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) in annual trade before the war, while logistically, Syria and Jordan are crucial to each other.
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Syria remains Jordan’s only overland route towards the West through Turkey, providing the cheapest access for goods to Europe, which imports Jordanian produce in winter.
And Jordan hopes its Red Sea port of Aqaba can become the entry and exit point for trade between Asia and Syria.
A Jordanian parliamentary delegation travelled to Damascus to meet President Bashar Al Assad in November.
Since they returned to Amman they have lobbied relentlessly for Jordan to reinstate its ambassador. They say the interest in resuming ties is mutual.
Politicians who met Mr Al Assad discussed energy co-operation, reviving and extending the Arab Gas Pipeline that runs from Egypt through Jordan to northern Syria, logistics and transport of goods and services between Europe and the Gulf.
Damascus has also received delegations from Jordanian contractors and engineers to explore opportunities in rebuilding infrastructure, roads, electrical grids, water networks and housing projects.
Jordan’s involvement in rebuilding Syria and reviving the trade routes between the region and Europe would be an economic lifeline for the kingdom.
Jordan suffers near-record 18.6 per cent unemployment, is mired in a debt crisis and has continuing protests and economic unrest.
“We are trying to open as many economic spaces to allow our citizens to breathe,” said Qais Zayadin, a Jordanian politician who was part of the delegation.
“From an economic perspective, it is vital for us to reset this relationship.”
Jordanian officials hope that strengthened ties and an improved security situation in Syria will encourage the return of some of the 1.3 million refugees who have fled to the kingdom.
In the three months since the Nassib border with Syria was reopened, 20,000 Syrians have gone home, various statistics show.
But the UN has confirmed only about 6,000 refugees returned.
There has been a rapid thaw in ties between Syria and much of the Arab world. The UAE reopened its embassy in Syria last month with other Gulf states expected to follow.
There has been a push for the Arab League to readmit Syria – which was suspended in 2011 over the killing of protesters, in time for the March Arab Summit in Tunis.
Sources say Jordan and have been leading the quiet campaign for Syria’ reinstatement.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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
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
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
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
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
On racial profiling at airports
