The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to agree on a joint declaration on war-torn Syria, capping a day of negotiations in which the organisation's special envoy to the country called to jump-start the deadlocked peace process.
Russia, Syria's main ally, repeatedly blocked negotiations on the matter, diplomats said.
The conflict in Syria, which broke out after the regime suppression of anti-government protests in 2011, has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions.
Endless rounds of UN-backed peace talks in the decade since failed to stem the bloodshed and in recent years were largely overtaken by parallel negotiations led by Russia and Turkey.
"The divisions in the international community need to be bridged," Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, said after a Security Council videoconference.
Mr Pedersen said that without "constructive international diplomacy" on Syria, it was unlikely that "any track – constitutional track or any other – will really move forward".
Diplomats said the failure to agree on a declaration was down to Russia, which had made demands unacceptable to western nations.
"The Russians are asking too much," a diplomat said.
The council's monthly meeting on Syria is usually public, but officials kept the session private after a meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva last month ended with no progress.
Estonia's UN envoy Sven Jurgenson lamented the lack of progress.
"The aim was not to create a debating club, but to give Syrian people a way out from a 10-year conflict," he said.
"It is clear to everyone that the Syrian government has taken advantage of these meetings to delay any real reconciliation."
The committee was created in 2019 to modify Syria's 2012 constitution, which directs the organisation of elections under UN supervision.
"Session five of the Constitutional Committee was a missed opportunity and disappointment," Mr Pedersen said of the January meeting, which included the Syrian regime, the opposition and civilian society.
"There is a lack of trust and confidence and a lack of will to compromise – and a lack of political space to compromise too," he said.
Diplomats said western powers were unanimous at Tuesday's meeting in decrying the failure of the political process.
One representative said the constitutional committee had achieved nothing, and accused the Syrian regime for "delay tactics".
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Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
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Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
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Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
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The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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