DAMASCUS // Syria's government said yesterday it had nothing to hide from a UN team of chemical weapons inspectors that are expected to visit the war-ravaged country in the coming days.
The announcement came a day after the United Nations said a team of inspectors led by the Swedish arms expert, Ake Sellstroem, would soon depart for Syria after getting the green light from Damascus.
"There were no difficulties in the negotiations and Syria said it was ready to give the team all the facilities it needed to carry out its mission," a UN official said. "Syria has nothing to hide."
The spokesman for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said the team would investigate the sites of alleged chemical weapons attacks for two weeks.
The mission had been delayed over differences with the government over the scope of the inquiry into the use of chemical arms.
The United Nations last month reached a framework agreement with the Syrian government on the mission, but it had been awaiting a final green light from Damascus.
Elsewhere in Syria yesterday, Al Qaeda militants killed two Shiite teenagers whom they accused of being pro-government gunmen.
* Agence France-Press and Associated Press
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
