Free Syrian Army fighters escort a convoy of UN vehicles carrying a team of chemical weapons experts during their visit to one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Zamalka.
Free Syrian Army fighters escort a convoy of UN vehicles carrying a team of chemical weapons experts during their visit to one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbShow more

UN security council fails to agree on Syria action



MARSEILLE, FRANCE // Western diplomatic pressure for military action against Bashar Al Assad's Syrian regime moved to the United Nations yesterday as a British-sponsored motion urged approval of "necessary measures to protect civilians".

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on the motion that would authorise the use of military force against Syria. After the ambassadors met for a couple of hours at UN headquarters, the draft resolution was sent back to their governments for consultations, according to a Western diplomat.

The draft resolution had already faced a stiff test from two of the UN Security Council's five permanent members, Russia and China.

Their power of veto left western advocates of intervention with an uphill struggle to gain UN endorsement of any form of words appearing to sanction the use of force against the Assad regime.

Despite the united front of Britain and France, together with the United States, favouring targeted strikes in response to last week's chemical attack near Damascus failed to dispel fears that Europe would once again be divided by a Middle East crisis.

Germany's stance will be crucial to Europe's strategy, the EU policy chief warned.

Ahead of last night's meeting, Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, warned that attempts to impose a military solution would "lead only to further destabilisation" in Syria and the region.

Both the British prime minister, David Cameron, and the French president, Francois Hollande, believe action is justified by the brutality of an alleged chemical attack carried out in defiance of clear international agreements.

Mr Hollande talked of the need for the regime to be "punished".

For his part, Mr Cameron was said to be pondering the precise nature of the UK's response. But Downing Street said it would be lawful and "specific" to the chemical attack of August 21 that killed as many as 1,300.

Mr Al Assad denies state involvement and, in turn, accuses rebel forces of resorting to chemical warfare.

Germany's position may prove significant as the European position develops.

Berlin joined Paris in opposing the invasion of Iraq and, unlike France, abstained on the intervention that drove Muammar Qaddafi from power in Libya.

But the chancellor, Angela Merkel, is said to have come under discreet pressure from Washington to become more prominently involved in international diplomacy. The US and its pro-intervention allies will have been heartened by the comments of Steffen Seibert, Mrs Merkel's spokesman, that the alleged chemical attack was "a serious breach of the international convention, which categorically bans the use of these weapons. It must be punished; it cannot remain without consequences".

However, the potential for European disunity has been highlighted by Catherine Ashton, the European Union's high representative for foreign policy.

Baroness Ashton told reporters in the Estonian capital of Tallinn on Monday the world needed to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. While stressing that the EU had "various options", she admitted it would be very difficult for the 28-member bloc to reach a joint conclusion.

She also warned of the importance of obtaining UN backing for military action.

Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday the Syrian government was behind the chemical weapons attack. "Information available from a wide variety of sources points to the Syrian regime as responsible for the use of chemical weapons in these attacks," Mr Rasmussen said. "Any use of such weapons is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered. Those responsible must be held accountable."

Senior British military figures are among those uneasy about plans for the imminent use of force being considered by the United States, Britain and France.

General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British army, spoke of a risk that western strikes would lead to unwanted consequences. He told the BBC: "Although undoubtedly, by any moral standards at all, using chemical weapons against your own people - which is what on the balance of probabilities it now seems Assad has done - [is wrong], this does not constitute an open invitation for the international community to impose themselves on the internal affairs of another country."

But Mr Cameron said the regime's actions were morally indefensible and added: "What we have seen in Syria are appalling scenes of death and suffering because of the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. I don't believe we can let that stand."

The US, Britain and France appear to have dismissed Mr Al Assad's protestations of innocence and concluded there is no doubt responsibility for the attack rests with the regime.

Britain is also said to be persuaded by the view that UN endorsement is not necessary to give military action legal force.

The British foreign office and the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, have studied the possibility of relying on the contentious UN "humanitarian" exemption under which strikes could be launched without a resolution.

But Britain's opposition Labour party may make UN approval a condition of its support for the coalition government when parliament is recalled to vote on the crisis today.

A Labour spokesman was quoted by British media as saying: "We have made it clear that we want to see a clear legal basis for any action. As part of the legal justification, Labour is seeking the direct involvement of the United Nations through the evidence of the weapons inspectors and consideration by the security council."

foreign.desk@thenational.ae

twitter: For breaking news from the Gulf, the Middle East and around the globe follow The National World. Follow us

match info

Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')

Liverpool 0

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

Barbie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Greta%20Gerwig%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Ryan%20Gosling%2C%20Will%20Ferrell%2C%20America%20Ferrera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ

Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700

Engine 3.0L V6

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 340hp @ 6,000pm

Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km

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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

The National in Davos

We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATCH INFO

Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46', De Bruyne 65', Gundogan 70')

Aston Villa 0

Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)

Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

A cryptocurrency primer for beginners

Cryptocurrency Investing  for Dummies – by Kiana Danial 

There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine. 

Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.

Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this  book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.

Begin your cryptocurrency journey here. 

Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104 

The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition

Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km

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THE%20SWIMMERS
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About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

About%20My%20Father
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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Blonde
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