The global chemical weapons watchdog imposed an unprecedented punishment on Syria on Wednesday in response to the Assad regime’s toxic gas attacks over the past decade.
The move to strip Syria of its “rights and privileges” was backed by 87 member states of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The rebuke means Syria loses its voting rights at the watchdog, to stand for election in its executive council, or to hold any office in the agency. It's the first time a OPCW member has been hit with such a sanction.
France initially put forward the proposal -- with support from another 45 countries -- to condemn Syria, with Paris’s envoy telling the OPCW “we owe this to the Syrian people”.
Iran and Russia were among the 15 countries to vote against the motion.
"The member states of the OPCW have sent a strong message: repeated use of chemical weapons by Syria is unacceptable for the international community," the French delegation to the watchdog said.
The motion says that Damascus will be suspended until member states decide that it has fully declared all of its chemical weapons and facilities.
An OPCW investigation last year found there were reasonable grounds to believe the Syrian military assaulted the town of Latamneh with sarin and chlorine gas attacks in 2017.
Syrian authorities then missed a 90-day deadline to declare the weapons used in the attacks and comply with OPCW inspections. Damascus has rejected accusations it used chemical weapons during the Syrian civil war.
Fernando Arias, director general of the OPCW, said Syria’s responses to inquiries about its chemical weapons still "cannot be considered accurate and complete" despite many years of inspections.
Syria joined the watchdog in 2013 after a gas attack that killed 1,400 people in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, which was blamed on the Syrian government.
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
