The US on Thursday stood firm on its decision not to mend diplomatic relations with Syria and accused Damascus of flooding the region with illicit drugs including Captagon.
US deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis told the 15-nation UN Security Council in New York that Washington would not lift sanctions on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad or support his country's reconstruction, “absent genuine, comprehensive and enduring reforms and progress on the political process”.
“And we have strongly discouraged others from doing so,” he added.
France’s UN diplomat Diarra Dime-Labille told council members that the EU had on Monday adopted new sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Captagon trafficking.
Twenty-five people and eight entities were named in the sanctions, including members of Mr Al Assad's family, over their alleged involvement in drug production and trafficking, particularly of Captagon.
Experts say Captagon is primarily produced in Syria, where packages containing millions of pills are smuggled into Gulf countries, Europe and beyond.
Mr DeLaurentis also accused Syria of allowing Russia to use its country as a “logistics node” to export its “destabilising activities” to Africa.
Russian troops have been active in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. The country's paramilitary Wagner Group is also present in a number of African nations.
In response to the US accusations, Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya accused the West of sheltering Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a former Al Qaeda affiliate and designated terror organisation, which has been “openly dismantling and undermining cross-line convoys in Idlib” and demanding “bribes” for access.
He told council members that the opening of two additional cross-border access points for humanitarian aid destined for earthquake survivors has “dampened” the enthusiasm of the UN to work out modalities for cross-line humanitarian access, which allows life-saving aid to be delivered to north-west Syria from the capital Damascus.
“We cannot tolerate the fact that contrary to the consensus-based resolution of the Security Council since August of 2021, only 10 convoys reached the de-escalation zone,” said Mr Nebenzya.
Moscow has previously sought to replace cross-border UN humanitarian aid with convoys from government-held areas across conflict lines in and around Syria's restive Idlib province.
Mr DeLaurentis urged all parties to remove obstructions to cross-line humanitarian deliveries to all parts of Syria and rejected any suggestion that humanitarian assistance is being blocked by US sanctions.
“We maintain robust humanitarian exceptions for US sanctions and welcome good faith discussions with the UN and others to address any specific instance where humanitarian actors have been unable to pursue humanitarian activities,” he said.
Mohammed Abushahab, UAE’s deputy ambassador to the UN, said that a political solution is the “only way” to overcome the Syrian crisis.
He underlined the need for an Arab leadership role that includes establishing the “necessary mechanisms and intensifying consultations among the Arab states to ensure the success of these endeavours”.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
