Syria's downing of Turkish fighter sends a signal and regional conflict is now closer than ever
Turkish-Syrian relationships have known their ups and downs throughout the past four decades, but not once have they reached the point of shooting down planes, said Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi.
On Friday, a Turkish Phantom F-4 jet was directly hit by Syrian anti-air defences on the claim that it had violated air space over Syrian territorial waters. The jet's pilots are still missing.
"This means, we may be on the verge of a regional war," commented the writer.
The Syrian command may have used the incident to address strong messages to more than one party and demonstrate its power and preparedness for war.
The targeting of the jet serves indeed as a warning to the Turkish authorities, and indeed any other countries that champion the revolution, against offering further support to the Syrian opposition and especially against allowing extremist Islamic militants to cross into Syria territories.
The attack, from Syria's point of view, could also be used as a deterrent for Nato and especially the US. It confirms that Syria isn't weak and that any use of force against it would be risky.
The incident came at an opportune time for Damascus, which has been searching for a development to downplay the momentum the opposition gained last week when a pilot defected to Jordan with his MiG 21 jet.
"Surely, the Syrian command didn't commit such an escalatory action without prior consultation with its Russian allies," said Atwan. "Less than a week before the decisive Friends of Syria meeting in Paris, the Syrian regime is purposefully pestering Turkey, the former ally that would spearhead any foreign military intervention to bring down the regime."
But will Damascus succeed in pulling Ankara, and consequently Washington, into a pre-emptive war at this critical time? That remains to be seen.
The Turkish response to the affront was blurred, just as it was to the intensified Syrian support for the Kurdish Labour Party that has been increasing its attacks on Turkish forces recently.
"The Syrian regime is currently behaving like a cornered cat. By downing the Turkish jet, it may have intended to export its mounting crises as a way to relieve pressure internally," opined the writer.
Mr Assad's grip on security in his country is gradually waning as the uprising continues to spread and has reached the heart of Damascus, the political capital, and Aleppo, the commercial capital.
In light of the collapse of Kofi Annan's plan that failed to put a stop to military operations, and the disintegration of the international monitors' mission, regional conflict is closer than ever. In fact, it may have already begun. Syria is witnessing a proxy war between the US and its allies on one hand and Russia and its allies on the other.
United front in Egypt is light at end of tunnel
Finally, there is some light at the end of the tunnel in Egypt, with a united front formed against the ruling military council's power grab, wrote Fahmi Huwaidi in the Cairo-based daily Al Shorouk.
For the front of national forces to recognise the importance of unity at this critical time, to face the counter-revolution, is of paramount importance.
"Egypt can never get off the ground, nor can the revolution achieve its objectives, unless all honourable citizens join forces … to save the country from militarisation," the writer noted.
No faction had to cede its political platform, but all parties agreed on postponing their issues and found a common ground on combating the old regime's return "in disguise".
Now the confusion is cleared up, and no one will be excused to stand on the fence. This is "not about a power struggle between the military council and the Brotherhood … but about a pitched battle between the revolution and the counter-revolution".
"If you sill doubt that it is literally about a pitched battle, then keep track of the remnants-run media, and of how fiercely and wickedly they fought the battle to achieve their goals of morally assassinating the general staff of the revolutionary camp."
The national front has succeeded in rising above mistakes and differences, and rally around a goal, but it has to step up efforts to accomplish its ambitions.
Sudan, too, is moving into an 'Arab Autumn'
What is unfolding these days in Sudan means that another country is en route to an "Arab Autumn", wrote columnist Hashim Abduh Hashim in yesterday's edition of Saudi newspaper Okaz.
"The problem of the Sudanese can be summed up in poverty," the writer said.
But this plague finds its sources in several other issues. Parties and political alliances have failed, since independence in 1956, to work for the people.
Successive governments have taken advantage of the people, and failed to use the country's resources and strategic location to seal good transactions with other countries.
Also detrimental is the plague of infighting that is still on the rise, not only between governments but also among political parties and ideological alliances.
For their part, the Arab states did little to help Sudan get out of trouble and use its resources.
"I recall my meeting with former president Gaafar Nimeiry in 1982. 'You are sitting on a treasure chest while the Sudanese suffer,' I said. 'Arabs are right there,' he guffawed.
"Today, I hope that the situation which has already reached a tipping point won't get worse," the writer continued. "Political forces have no choice other than to join efforts to serve the interests of the Sudanese people."
* Digest compiled by The Translation Desk
translation@thenational.ae
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Game Of Thrones Season Seven: A Bluffers Guide
Want to sound on message about the biggest show on television without actually watching it? Best not to get locked into the labyrinthine tales of revenge and royalty: as Isaac Hempstead Wright put it, all you really need to know from now on is that there’s going to be a huge fight between humans and the armies of undead White Walkers.
The season ended with a dragon captured by the Night King blowing apart the huge wall of ice that separates the human world from its less appealing counterpart. Not that some of the humans in Westeros have been particularly appealing, either.
Anyway, the White Walkers are now free to cause any kind of havoc they wish, and as Liam Cunningham told us: “Westeros may be zombie land after the Night King has finished.” If the various human factions don’t put aside their differences in season 8, we could be looking at The Walking Dead: The Medieval Years.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
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MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Mountain%20Boy
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
MO
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
