Afghanistan to take over own security after five years


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LONDON // Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, and his international allies struck a hard bargain to put the failing Afghan mission on track at a conference of 70 countries in London which marked the beginning of the West's exit strategy from the country. The Afghans agreed to take responsibility for security after five years as global leaders pledged US$140 million (Dh514m) for an international trust fund to help reconcile Taliban insurgents with the government and reintegrate them into society.

The one-day conference was notable for the lack of optimistic gloss and spin which has characterised previous conferences in the nine years since the US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban. "The conference has for the first time set a clear agenda with clear objectives," said Kai Eide, the United Nations' special envoy to Afghanistan. It was decided at the conference that foreign troops will begin withdrawing from districts - they were not named - as early as this year. Responsibility for half the provinces will be given to the Afghan police and army within two or three years.

For this to happen, donor nations agreed to help with the expansion of the army and police, which will number 305,600 by October 2011. A US military source at the conference said each battalion and unit would be given mentors. There will be a shift to the traditional justice system by strengthening local Shura councils to allow them to resolve local disputes which is the source of the vast majority of fighting between the Pashtun tribes in the south.

The top priority will be reconciling with the Taliban, which is Mr Karzai's personal project. A traditional tribal jirga, or gathering of elders will be convened later this spring to which the Taliban will be invited. The international fund for the National Council for Peace, Reconciliation and Reintegration will help former fighters with jobs and vocational training but there was no suggestion cash will be given to fighters to bribe them to stop fighting.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said the United States would back the plan if insurgents renounced violence, ties to al Qa'eda and embrace democracy. Mark Ward, special adviser on development for the United Nations, said former fighters could be put to work right away, a key concern of many observers who pointed out the national unemployment rate is 40 per cent. "Things can be done tomorrow. We can start investing in infrastructure in parts of the country where it is easier. For example, lay down foundations for new roads and put young people to work tomorrow."

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Director: Tim Miller

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis 

Rating: 3/5

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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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1987

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES

UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh

UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith

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Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

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  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies

Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe

Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE

UAE fixtures

Saturday, January 18, v Canada

Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan

Saturday, January 25, v South Africa

UAE squad

Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The bio

Favourite food: Japanese

Favourite car: Lamborghini

Favourite hobby: Football

Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough

Favourite country: UAE

Indika
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World Cup qualifier

Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')

UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

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