Syria is poised to come in from the cold at the UN’s nuclear watchdog, with the agency’s boss travelling to Damascus this month.
Rafael Grossi revealed he was invited by Syria’s government in order to “re-establish a meaningful, constructive dialogue”.
His talks on “remaining issues from the past” are likely to address a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor that was destroyed in an air raid by Israel in 2007.
Syria denied it was a secret nuclear site and the matter has never been cleared up to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s satisfaction.
Mr Grossi, the IAEA director general, is similarly pressing Iran to explain the presence of uranium at two undeclared sites several years ago.
He will also visit Iraq this month, expecting a “confirmation of its unwavering commitment to non-proliferation”.
Speaking at an IAEA board meeting on Monday, he warned of a domino effect if arms control is not maintained in the Middle East.
The agency is “trying to uphold the non-proliferation norm to the best of our abilities” at a time of conflict in the region, he said.
The Syria issue has lain dormant during the country’s long civil war, with President Bashar Al Assad’s regime accused of stonewalling the IAEA.
The agency assessed in 2011 that the desert site at Deir Ezzor was probably a secret nuclear facility. Syria, which has no known civilian nuclear programme, denied this.
The US alleged that Syria, assisted by North Korea, was building a reactor far from any civilian grid that appeared suited to make plutonium.
The site was destroyed in a night-time air raid in 2007, with Israel’s military later confirming suspicions it was responsible.
No new information has come to light in recent years, with the US last year accusing Syria of hoping the IAEA would “lose interest”.
However, Syria's isolation has thawed and Mr Grossi told the board he was approached over the weekend by Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad with an invitation to Damascus.
The mission to Syria will take place on March 19, “immediately after” a visit to Baghdad, Mr Grossi said.
He welcomed Syria’s offer to “re-establish a meaningful, constructive dialogue and process to facilitate the clarification of remaining issues from the past”.
“I will start again my efforts in Syria, which is a very important case which has been continuing without a concrete outcome or a resolution for a long time,” he said.
“It’s been 13 years since the IAEA board of governors adopted a resolution regarding the situation there. We have been talking past each other.”
No progress on Iran
By contrast, Mr Grossi said he had no breakthrough to report on Iran, which has continued to increase its uranium stockpile.
Mr Grossi said he doubted whether Iran “remains committed” to resolving its dispute with the IAEA over mysterious uranium traces.
Iran has "not provided the agency with technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles or revealed where the nuclear material is now, he said.
He said he was frustrated by Iran’s decision to withdraw credentials for experienced IAEA inspectors last year.
“We’ve been exchanging on this. It’s not like there hasn’t been a conversation on this. But I haven’t received any positive answer on it,” he said.
Despite these concerns, the IAEA's 35-member board is not expected to confront Iran with a fresh resolution at this week's meeting. Tehran denies pursuing a nuclear weapon.
Asked about the war in Gaza, Mr Grossi said he had condemned “loose talk” of Israel using atomic weapons in the enclave. Israel is widely assumed to have nuclear arms but has a policy of neither confirming nor denying this.
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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UAE FIXTURES
October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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