Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem during a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on September 28. Don Emmert / AFP
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem during a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on September 28. Don Emmert / AFP
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem during a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on September 28. Don Emmert / AFP
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem during a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on September 28. Don Emmert / AFP

Syria: a vital moment not to be wasted


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Eight years into a war that has claimed more than 360,000 lives, there is finally some hope for Syria’s future. At the United Nations on Thursday, the foreign ministers of the US and several Arab and European countries called on Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria, to urgently establish a committee to draft a post-war constitution and report on its progress later this month.

It reiterates the need for a political solution in Syria that paves the way for elections. “Those who seek a military solution will only succeed in increasing the risk of a dangerous escalation,” said a statement by the group of ministers.

The Syrian war is delicately poised, following an agreement between Russia and Turkey – two of its pre-eminent aggressors – to prevent an all-out assault on the final rebel-held enclave of Idlib.

Diplomats at the UN General Assembly have rightly sought to use the pause in bloodshed as an opportunity to kickstart a political process. Dependent on their success are the lives and livelihoods of millions of Syrians.

Unsurprisingly, representatives of the Assad regime have been pugnacious, as they position themselves to retain control of post-conflict Syria. On Saturday, foreign minister Walid Al Muallem lashed out at the US and western powers, accusing the anti-ISIS coalition of fighting "everything except terrorism" and killing civilians. The committee drafting Syria's new constitution would not accept outside dictates, Mr Al Muallem said, vowing to reject all external intervention.

Given the authority the regime has yielded to Russia and Iran, his blind rejection of outside involvement is absurd. Considering President Bashar Al Assad’s flagrant deployment of barrel bombs and chemical weapons against his own people, there is a morbid irony in the Syrian regime attacking the US for murdering civilians.

Meanwhile, the Russians and Iranians have sought to set the agenda in Syria and control its destiny with their talks held in Astana, Kazakhstan, but their exclusionary efforts have been met with deaf ears at UNGA.

There is still much work to be done to end Syria's gruesome war. On Friday, Russia started delivering powerful S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to the regime, while Iran retains its physical presence on Syrian soil. For that reason, US National Security Adviser John Bolton's remarks that the US will remain involved until Tehran's troops and clients leave were reassuring.

Meanwhile, Mr Al Muallem’s speech contained a sinister warning to returning Syrian refugees that they must abide by Mr Al Assad’s laws, or face grim consequences. It was a reminder of the immense threat the regime still poses to millions of displaced Syrians, who want only to return to a peaceful homeland.

But, at long last, a temporary cessation of violence appears to be holding, with the backing of major powers. This is a critical moment for Mr de Mistura to make inroads in Syria and establish a path to peace, elections and reconstruction. It quite simply cannot be wasted.

Lowest Test scores

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020

38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888

Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  9. Peshawar, Pakistan
  10. Bagpat, India
Results

2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.

3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m

Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m

Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.

4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.

Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.

54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m

Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

Britain's travel restrictions
  • A negative test 2 days before flying
  • Complete passenger locator form
  • Book a post-arrival PCR test
  • Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
  • 11 countries on red list quarantine

     
The biog

Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Favourite car: Lamborghini

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%20turbo%204-cyl%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E298hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E452Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETowing%20capacity%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.4-tonne%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPayload%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4WD%20%E2%80%93%20776kg%3B%20Rear-wheel%20drive%20819kg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrice%3A%20Dh138%2C945%20(XLT)%20Dh193%2C095%20(Wildtrak)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDelivery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20August%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

The Birkin bag is made by Hermès. 
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars