BEIRUT // Syrians voted in a referendum on a new constitution which President Bashar Al Assad said would pave the way for a multi-party parliamentary election within three months. Here are some of the main points of the new constitution:
Political parties
It drops a clause that effectively granted Mr Al Assad's Baath Party a monopoly on power by styling it as the "leading party in the society and the state". Several new parties have already been licensed, but the new text forbids political activity or parties based on "religious, sectarian, tribal [or] regional" basis, which would prevent the Muslim Brotherhood registering, and also restrict parties representing minority Kurds.
Presidential Powers
Real power remains with the president, who "lays down the general policy of the state and oversees its implementation", can declare war or a state of emergency, can draft laws and assumes legislative authority when parliament is not sitting.
Presidential Terms
The president is limited to two seven-year terms. Mr Al Assad's second term expires in 2014. However, another clause in the constitution says laws will not apply retroactively, implying Mr Al Assad could serve another two terms until 2028.
Running For President
It allows for a contested presidential election, rather than a vote to approve a single candidate. The seven presidential elections since 1971 had only had one name on the ballot paper: Mr Al Assad - first Hafez and then his son Bashar. A presidential hopeful must have the support of 35 members of parliament and must be at least 40-years-old, a requirement which was circumvented when Mr Bashar inherited power on his father's death in 2000. The president must have lived in Syria for 10 years, a requirement which would rule out many of Mr Assad's opponents who have lived in exile for years.
Religion
The state respects all religions, but the constitution retains a requirement for the president to be a Muslim and says Islamic law is a major source of legislation - alienating minority Christians, many of whom have steered clear of the revolt against Mr Al Assad.
Economy
It drops a clause that describes Syria as a "planned socialist economy". Instead, the economy "shall be based developing public and private economic activity through economic and social plans aimed at increasing the national income, developing production, raising the individual's living standards and creating jobs".
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
What is tokenisation?
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The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km