Syria's long-time foreign minister Walid Al Moalem, a staunch defender of President Bashar Al Assad's crackdown on peaceful protesters that sparked a decade-long conflict, has died, state TV reported early on Monday.
There were no details on the cause of death, but the 79-year old had for years been in poor health with heart problems.
Al Moalem was appointed foreign minister in 2006 and also held the post of deputy prime minister.
Born in Damascus in 1941, Al Moalem later moved to Egypt, where he studied economics at Cairo University. A year after his graduation, he joined the Syrian Arab Baath Party, representing the regime in Saudi Arabia, England and Spain, among other countries.
After spending time in Communist Eastern Europe, Al Moalem worked his way through the ranks of the Foreign Ministry, holding a number of bureaucratic positions before becoming ambassador to Washington from 1990 to 2000. He became a deputy foreign minister, overseeing Damascus’ interests in Lebanon, in 2005.
During this time, he represented Syria at international conferences including the 2006 meeting of the Organisation for Islamic Co-operation.
According to a leaked US State Department cable on the event, Mr Al Moalem was working on strengthening his country’s ties with Turkey and Jordan. At the time, some observers hoped the rule of Bashar Al Assad would take the country towards a more moderate regional position.
The cable noted that Mr Al Moalem supported Iran’s nuclear programme and “reiterated Syria's support for the Iraqi people's aspirations to achieve national reconciliation”. The Syrian government was later accused of allowing terrorists to cross into Iraq to attack American-led coalition forces, a campaign which also claimed thousands of civilian lives.
Following Bashar Al Assad’s violent crackdown on protesters during the 2011 uprising, Al Moalem was sanctioned by the US Treasury.
But he remained defiant during the course of the country’s bloody civil war, telling the UN Assembly in 2012 that terrorism in Syria was "externally supported" and was "accompanied by unprecedented media provocation based on igniting religious extremism sponsored by well-known states in the region".
After 2011, these arguments were largely ignored as the government stepped up aerial bombardment of cities and the country's refugee population surpassed 12 million.
As international condemnation of the violence grew, in particular outrage following chemical attacks by government forces - something Mr Al Moalem blamed on rebel groups, Syria faced increasing isolation.
It is expected that Mr Al Moalem will be replaced by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, who is also a staunch supporter of Iran.
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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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.
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
