Clashes in north-west Syria killed 22 pro-government fighters and militants on Sunday in the highest death toll since the start of a ceasefire there two months ago, a monitor said.
A truce since March 6 had largely stemmed fighting in Idlib, Syria's last major rebel bastion, after a months-long regime campaign in which hundreds of civilians were killed and almost a million were forced to flee.
But before dawn on Sunday, rebels attacked the positions of pro-regime fighters on the western flank of the militant-dominated region, according to anti-government monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The clashes in the Sahl Al Ghab area killed 15 regime fighters, as well as seven jihadists including members of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras Al Deen group, the UK-based monitor said.
"It's the highest death toll for fighters since the truce came into force," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman, who relies on sources inside Syria.
"There had been intermittent clashes and bombardment between both sides before, but this is the most violent attack yet."
The Idlib region of some three million people is dominated by the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group led by Syria's former Al Qaeda affiliate, but other militants, such as Hurras Al Deen and rebel groups, are also present.
The truce brokered by Syria government ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey has kept Syrian and Russian warplanes out of the region's skies, and has largely held despite sporadic clashes or rocket fire.
Tens of thousands have returned to their hometowns.
Hundreds of thousands of others remain in crowded displacement camps or in temporary shelters near the Turkish border.
Aid groups have warned that any outbreak of the novel coronavirus there would be devastating.
Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
THREE
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
