Saudi Arabia, along with the US, the UK and France, accused the Syrian administration of impeding any sort of tangible outcome from the Geneva 2 conference, according to Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor of the online Rai Alyoum news website.
This development means abandoning moves for a political solution and once again resorting to military escalation to tip the scales on the battlefield in favour of the opposition.
This led the Free Syrian Army to replace chief-of-staff Salim Idris – backed by the West and the Gulf states – with the more experienced Colonel Abd al-llah Al-Bashir to head the military group.
But will this make any difference? It’s difficult to tell because in the last two and a half years, three different people have held the position of the head of the opposition.
With the first two being failures – Riad Al Asaad because of war injuries and Idris due to his so-called “ineffectiveness” – it is difficult to tell if Al Bashir will do any better.
However this is a monumental success compared to the opposition’s political sphere.
The FSA has seen five different people hold the helm in the last three years, with the most recent iteration being Ahmed Al Jarbaan, who leads the group not through his own popularity but because of his Western and Saudi supporters.
Al Idris’s failure was mostly in his inability to turn the FSA into a formidable force.
He sabotaged several conferences in Turkey and his dealings with other potential allies were anything but encouraging.
As long as the US fails to provide military assistance to the FSA, the balance of power will remain the same in Syria.
The US is aware of its ability to tip the scales through military support.
However, it fears the repercussions of sophisticated arms falling into the hands of Islamists after a military victory in Syria – especially with the implications for Israel.
Comparisons have been drawn to the US’s stance in the 1980s with Afghanistan, during which it armed the Mujahideen with Stringer missiles and other effective military technology.
The US’s response is simply that it was more troubling back then, especially because of the Soviet Union’s growing presence in the region.
However, with the coming “military escalation, the rules of the game have changed on Syrian soil,” he wrote.
“Both sides should expect many surprises, although it is not expected that Russia will stand idly as the escalation occurs.”
Military escalation will surely lead to more death and destruction in Syria and, for the media, more blood with which to paint the picture.
No progress in talks was a regime goal
The second round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva has ended with an important achievement for the Syrian regime: it failed to make any progress, Abdullah Iskandar wrote in yesterday’s edition of the London-based Arab daily Al Hayat.
The Syrian regime refused to discuss transition at the Geneva 2 conference. In the meantime, it was pressing on with its killing operations in besieged cities, claiming more lives than the time before Geneva 2, the writer said.
The Syrian regime’s barrel bombs have forced people to make concessions to the regime because they could not bear a lack of the basics of daily life, especially since the regime’s military crackdown showed no sign of abating.
Meanwhile, the regime and its allies are bracing themselves for what they consider to be a decisive battle in the area from Qalamon to the outskirts of Homs, and on the border with Lebanon.
These efforts on the ground have found political cover from their Russian ally, which threatened to veto any resolution that might come from the United Nations. In parallel, an assertion came from Iran that Bashar’s Syria is its frontline.
The lack of progress at the Geneva 2 talks has benefited the Syrian regime, and now it is more fervent in its crackdown after it saw boundless support from Russia and Iran despite their arrangements with the US.
Al Sadr leaving politics was Iran’s overall goal
Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada Al Sadr announced his decision to exit from politics indefinitely, columnist Tariq Al Homayed wrote in Asharq Al Awsat.
“The reasons for his decision are obvious, especially under the tyrannical rule of prime minister Nouri Al Maliki, who is seeking a third term at the premiership.”
Al Sadr, an outspoken figure against the Iraqi regime, said the prime minister’s ways were the primary reasons for his decision, along with Iran’s interference and influence within the country.
It seems clear that Al Maliki will get his coveted third term by continuing to eliminate opponents by any means, even if it meant accusing them of terrorism.
“This indicates an Iranian scheme to continue to monopolise Iraq through a few loyal subjects and prevent the emergence of any independent Iraqi leadership or any resistance to Iranian authority,” the writer suggested.
It was clear that Tehran couldn’t risk having a prime minister who is not of its own choosing in Baghdad.
In light of Bashar Al Assad’s situation and Hizbollah’s dwindling morale as its image in the Arab public opinion has been all but destroyed, the upcoming phase is delicate for Iran. It can’t stand any loose ends or any dramatic political shifts.
* Digest compiled by Translation Desk
Translation@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
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
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)