Syrian Kurds mourn in the northern town of Afrin during the funeral of fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) on February 18, 2018. George Ourfalian / AFP
Syrian Kurds mourn in the northern town of Afrin during the funeral of fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) on February 18, 2018. George Ourfalian / AFP
Syrian Kurds mourn in the northern town of Afrin during the funeral of fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) on February 18, 2018. George Ourfalian / AFP
Syrian Kurds mourn in the northern town of Afrin during the funeral of fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) on February 18, 2018. George Ourfalian /

Syria forces to enter Afrin amid deal with YPG: Kurdish official


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  • Arabic

Syrian government forces will enter the northern region of Afrin on Monday following a deal with the Kurdish-led fighters who control it, a Syrian Kurdish politician told local media on Sunday.

It comes amid a Turkish offensive against Kurdish militia fighters in Afrin that began last month.

Under the agreement struck between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces alliance and Damascus, government troops will enter Afrin to "protect borders", Sheikho Bilo, an official from the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (PYD), told Kurdish news site Rudaw.

The SDF alliance is dominated by fighters from the PYD's armed wing, known as the People's Protection Units (YPG). The YPG has been the US-led coalition's most important ally in the fight against ISIL in Syria.

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An attempt by Syrian government forces to protect the country's northern borders could see them come into direct conflict with the Turkish troops who are engaged in a cross-border offensive against the YPG in Afrin. Turkish forces are fighting alongside Syrian Arab fighters opposed to Damascus.

The deal between the SDF and Damascus comes after Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mikdad called on Kurds and Arabs in Afrin to unite against the Turkish offensive.

“Afrin is an integral party of the Syrian Arab Republic,” Mr Mikdad said on Wednesday last week, Rudaw reported.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km

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Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

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For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.

Squads

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

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Stephen King, Penguin