Russia, Syria to hold further talks on Russian military bases in Syria, TASS reports

The Assad regime was overthrown in early December. (AFP)
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Updated 29 January 2025
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Russia, Syria to hold further talks on Russian military bases in Syria, TASS reports

DAMASCUS: Russia and Syria will hold further talks regarding Russian military bases in Syria, Russia’s news agencies reported late on Tuesday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as telling journalists after his talks with Syrian officials.
“This issue requires additional negotiations,” TASS news agency cited Bogdanov as saying. Bogdanov is heading Russia’s delegation to Damascus for the first time since Moscow’s ally President Bashar Assad was toppled.
He added that so far there have been no changes to the presence of Russian military bases in the country.

 

 


Medicine shortage sparks worry in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan

Updated 14 min 21 sec ago
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Medicine shortage sparks worry in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan

  • Landlocked Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest of former Soviet republics and brings in most of medicines from Russia, India and Pakistan
  • Many Kyrgyz have to build up considerable savings in order to receive treatment abroad, a practice that authorities have promised to end

BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan announced on Friday it was facing a shortage of medicines, particularly for treating serious illnesses in the Central Asian country, that imports almost all pharmaceutical products.
Landlocked Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest of the former Soviet republics and brings in most of its medicines from Russia, India and Pakistan.
Many Kyrgyz have to build up considerable savings in order to receive treatment abroad — a practice authorities have promised to end.
In 2023, the Kyrgyz government set up a state-owned company — Kyrgyzpharmacy — to centralize the distribution to hospitals of medicines needed to treat cancer, blood diseases and epilepsy.
The measure — which involved buying medicines directly from manufacturers — was designed to combat corruption.
“The company needs 3.5 billion Som — more than 38.5 million euros ($40 million) — to guarantee the purchase of medicine and increase volumes,” said Health Minister Alymkadyr Beishenaliev.
The government has also launched a network of state-run pharmacies designed to bring down the price of medicines — which is higher than in most other ex-Soviet states.
The health minister acknowledged on Friday that most of them were not profitable and announced he had sacked the head of Kyrgyzphamarcy, at the request of President Sadyr Japarov.
Members of parliament have warned about the shortage of medicines, criticized the state of the medical infrastructure and suggested raising funds for children with cancer.
On Thursday, parliamentary speaker Nurlan Shakiyev said: “Supply of medicines to the population is a thorny issue.”
He noted the public was “concerned about a significant increase in the price of essential and sought-after medicines.”


Saudi Ministry of Education issues directive for national dress for secondary school students

Updated 19 min 25 sec ago
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Saudi Ministry of Education issues directive for national dress for secondary school students

  • Policy does not apply to students enrolled at foreign schools

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Education announced on Friday a new policy requiring secondary school students in public and private institutions to adhere to the national dress code.

The policy comes in line with the directives of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The decision, which aims to reinforce national identity and instill pride in Saudi heritage, mandates that Saudi students wear the traditional thobe along with a ghutra or shemagh, while non-Saudi students are required to wear the thobe, SPA added.

The policy does not apply to students enrolled at foreign schools.

The move reflects the crown prince’s commitment to strengthening the connection between younger generations and Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage, SPA reported.

The ministry also emphasized that the initiative aligned with national efforts to instill values, deepen students’ sense of belonging and reinforce their loyalty to the country’s leadership.

National dress is a key element of identity and reflects the rich traditions of Saudi society and is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage while preparing future generations for leadership and progress, the ministry said.

To ensure a smooth transition, the ministry has planned awareness campaigns and educational programs for students and parents to highlight the significance of the national dress in fostering cultural pride and maintaining a unified national image within the school environment.


Sweden releases 5 arrested following the killing of an Iraqi who carried out Qur’an burnings

Updated 18 min 34 sec ago
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Sweden releases 5 arrested following the killing of an Iraqi who carried out Qur’an burnings

  • Salwan Momika staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam’s holy book in Sweden
  • Momika was killed in a shooting Wednesday night at an apartment building

STOCKHOLM: Swedish prosecutors said Friday they have ordered the release of five men who were arrested after the fatal shooting of an Iraqi man who carried out several Qur’an burnings.
Salwan Momika staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam’s holy book in Sweden in 2023. Videos of the Qur’an burnings got worldwide publicity and raised anger and criticism in several Muslim nations, leading to riots and unrest in many places.
Momika was killed in a shooting Wednesday night at an apartment building in Sodertalje, near Stockholm. Five people were arrested in the following hours on suspicion of murder.
Prosecutor Rasmus Öman said in a statement Friday that the suspicions they committed a crime have weakened and he no longer sees a reason to keep them in custody.
The statement added that the suspicions have not yet been dismissed completely and investigators are still looking into what exactly happened and who was behind the killing.


Postecoglou hopes for end to ‘vicious cycle’ of Tottenham injuries

Updated 38 min 35 sec ago
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Postecoglou hopes for end to ‘vicious cycle’ of Tottenham injuries

  • Postecoglou is under severe pressure after a miserable run of seven Premier League games without a win
  • Postecoglou is battling a lengthy injury list that threatens to stop the north Londoners ending their malaise

LONDON: Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham’s “vicious cycle” of injuries has hampered his attempt to get the troubled club back on track.
Postecoglou is under severe pressure after a miserable run of seven Premier League games without a win, with six defeats in that dismal spell also triggering fan protests against chairman Daniel Levy.
Ahead of Sunday’s game at Brentford, Postecoglou’s side are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the relegation zone.
The Australian earned a little breathing space on Thursday when a 3-0 win against Elfsborg booked Tottenham’s place in the Europa League last 16.
But Postecoglou is battling a lengthy injury list that threatens to stop the north Londoners ending their malaise.
Postecoglou was already without Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner and James Maddison.
Romania defender Radu Dragusin became the latest to be bitten by the injury bug when he was forced off against Elfsborg, although center-back Micky van de Ven played 45 minutes on his return from a hamstring problem.
“We’ve had to deal with a real extreme situation, which unfortunately once we got hit, it is then very hard to rectify on the run,” Postecoglou told reporters on Friday.
“We obviously got some significant injuries early on, which hampered our progress, and then we had to rely on a small group of players to get us through and that then burdened them.
“It has been this vicious cycle. The volume of games that clubs are playing, we’ve been in an extreme situation but a lot of clubs are facing similarities in Europe.”
It is a vital week for Tottenham, who travel to Liverpool holding a 1-0 lead in the second leg of the League Cup semifinals on Thursday before heading to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on February 9.
Injuries forced Postecoglou to turn to youth academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Mikey Moore and Damola Ajayi, who all scored their first goals for the club against Elfsborg.
Now the former Celtic boss is desperate to avoid any further fitness setbacks as he bids to end a Tottenham trophy drought stretching back to 2008.
“Every time I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s usually been an oncoming train,” he said.
“We seem to be losing players as we get them back. We don’t want to lose anyone else, but again, best laid plans.
“You can’t plan for these things. We’ve got a big week coming up, starting Sunday.
“We’re going to have to do it with this core group of players, so we’ve just got to be careful about how we go about it.”


Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival

Updated 31 January 2025
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Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival

  • Zahawi, who is a chemical engineer by background, recounted to the audience how he fled Iraq for the UK at the age of 11
  • Zahawi’s father fled to the UK first, and a few months later, Zahawi, his mother and sister joined him there, seeking refuge

DUBAI: Iraqi-born British former politician Nadhim Zahawi took the stage on Friday for a conversation moderated by Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, during the 17th Emirates Airline Festival of Literature at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.
The talk, “Nadhim Zahawi: The Boy From Baghdad,” shared its name with his book, in which Zahawi reflected on his journey from Baghdad to Britain, his career in business and politics, and the challenges of identity and belonging.
Zahawi, who is a chemical engineer by background, recounted to the audience how he fled Iraq for the UK at the age of 11, after his family was forced to escape their home under threat from Saddam Hussein’s regime.
He said: “At that age, you remember quite vividly, especially traumatic events … I really remember, one Sunday lunch at my aunt’s home, whose husband broke the news to my father that they’re going to come and get him tomorrow morning. Literally all he had was hours to get out of the country.”
“He packed a small bag, he wrote on the wall in our home: ‘My name is Hareth Al-Zahawi’ and a verse from the Qur’an, and that one day he will come back and see his home,” he recalled.
“We went to the airport with him; myself, my older sister and my mother. I remember vividly, the Baghdad International Airport … had a viewing platform, where in the late ’70s you would see the aircraft. There weren’t these sophisticated arms that come out. You had to walk to the plane and they put the steps up. We watched him go up the steps and we had to sort of pretend to say goodbye as if he was going on holiday because you don’t know who is watching you at the airport.”


Just before the flight took off, Zahawi recalled, an army truck sped up to the plane, and he and his family feared that his father would be taken off the flight and arrested. However, the soldiers escorted someone else instead. Zahawi later learned from his father that the person removed was seated directly in front of him.
Zahawi’s father fled to the UK first, and a few months later, Zahawi, his mother and sister joined him there, seeking refuge. He shared how these formative experiences shaped his perspective and ambitions.
He then spoke about how refugees are not necessarily a burden on society and why he refuses to call himself a political refugee.
“I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I am introduced as a refugee to the United Kingdom. What I try to say is that we are actually first-generation immigrants to the UK,” he said.
He added that this label makes him feel like an “imposter” because most people’s vision or stereotype of a refugee is someone who may have come from a less privileged background than he did.
Transitioning to his professional journey, Zahawi discussed his ventures in international business. He also provided insights into his political career, shedding light on the policies and individuals that have significantly impacted the UK’s landscape.
Zahawi said that he got into politics by accident, as he had almost no political interest growing up. “I wanted to become a show jumper,” he said, recalling how he once tried to convince his father to invest in a riding school. His father dismissed the idea, telling him, “Well, you go into university, make your own money, and then you can go to a riding school.”
It was not until his first week at University College London that an unexpected encounter shifted his perspective. At the Freshers’ Fair, he was confronted by a Socialist Workers Party member handing out magazines. “I promise you that all I did was politely say, ‘No, thank you’ — not because I didn’t respect socialism, but because I wasn’t interested in politics … He was so aggressive, saying, ‘People of your color, you should be ashamed of yourself.’”
Instead of reacting with anger, Zahawi decided to explore his viewpoint.
“I remember in 1979 or 1980, my mother saying to me: ‘Son, a grocer’s daughter has just become prime minister. You can do anything in this country.’ And she was right,” he added.
Throughout the talk, themes of identity and belonging were prominent, as Zahawi reflected on navigating life between two cultures and the evolution of his adoptive homeland, Britain.
He praised the UK’s political system for offering opportunities regardless of background, contrasting it with the US.
“I can’t name any other country that has got to this level of achievement. In America, politicians will choose particular districts where they have a large ethnic group that may be beneficial to their background,” he said.
Zahawi highlighted his own experience as an example, recalling how he was selected as a Conservative candidate despite coming from an immigrant background. “I was selected in Stratford-on-Avon in a room full of Conservative members, pretty much white. The seat is 97 percent white, affluent middle-class, farming community. This is the birth and resting place of William Shakespeare, yet they selected Nadhim Zahawi, a boy from Baghdad, as their champion, their candidate.”
He emphasized how his political success reflected the country’s openness to diversity. “They voted him in the 2010 election, and then voted him back four times after that with increased majorities. That is a country that, in my view, is truly colorblind,” Zahawi said.
He also discussed identity: “I think in many ways I am a proud Brit of Kurdish background. I am very proud of my Kurdish roots. But, ultimately, the country that has defined my life, that has given me my opportunity in life, is the United Kingdom,” he said.