Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara will not travel to Baghdad for the Arab Summit this weekend, Syrian state media has reported, after an invitation from Iraq's Prime Minister sparked protests over his past links to Al Qaeda.
Syria's delegation will instead be led by Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani, state-owned channel Ekhbariya TV said on Monday.
Many Iraqis object to Mr Al Shara's history with Al Qaeda in Iraq, where he served as a senior field leader for the extremist group fighting against US and Iraqi troops after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Rallies have been taking place across Iraq in recent weeks since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani invited Mr Al Shara to Saturday's event, which will be Baghdad's first time hosting Arab League leaders in more than a decade.
The Iraqi capital has banned protests in the run-up to the summit, with the Interior Ministry saying security forces will arrest anyone breaking the order.
The annual Arab Summit comes at a critical time for the region, as Israel's war on Gaza intensifies, and Iran and the US hold talks in an attempt to reach a deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme. The event is expected to focus on Gaza reconstruction.
For the Iraqi government, the summit is a way to underline the return of Baghdad to a central role in the Middle East after decades of war and political isolation.
But the Iraqi Prime Minister has faced widespread criticism for inviting Mr Al Shara, whose Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group seized power in Damascus last December in a rebel offensive that toppled Syrian president Bashar Al Assad.
Mr Al Shara was one of thousands of foreign fighters who travelled to Iraq after the 2003 US invasion, mainly through Syria. American troops arrested him in 2005 and he was released about six years later. He then returned to Syria and formed an Al Qaeda-affiliated rebel group fighting against Mr Al Assad's troops. He broke ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and formed HTS.
Mr Al Shara's decision not to attend the summit highlights Syria's mixed results establishing ties across the region since he took power last year. He has made rapid inroads with Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has tread more carefully with others where Iran has had strong influence, such as Iraq.
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
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July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
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Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
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Third-place-play-off: Portugal v Mexico, 4pm on Sunday
Final: Chile v Germany, 10pm on Sunday
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
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Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
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The specs
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
