CAMP BASTION, AFGHANISTAN // British prime minister David Cameron, visiting Afghanistan on an unannounced trip, said troops could start withdrawing from the country as early as next year.
Mr Cameron, who arrived yesterday, shrugged off US and Afghan criticism of the troops' performance, saying it no longer held true. Troops deployed in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand were "not up" to the task of securing the province, American diplomats said in cables released by WikiLeaks last week.
At a conference in Lisbon last month, Nato leaders agreed to meet Afghan president Hamid Karzai's timeline for foreign troops to end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Some US and Nato leaders have warned that may spill into 2015.
That has thrown the spotlight on the readiness of Afghanistan's roughly 260,000 police and soldiers to take over from foreign forces.
Mr Cameron and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen David Richards, the head of Britain's armed forces, both painted an upbeat picture of progress in training the Afghan army.
"I think though next year, as we've agreed, it's conditions-based but looking at the progress we've made, I was only here three months ago it's quite astronomical how quickly things are coming together," Gen Richards said.
US and Nato commanders have been talking up improvements in Afghan forces, although others acknowledge there are problems with the training, equipment and retention rates among Afghan forces and that a target of 306,000 for Afghan forces by October 2011 might be hard to meet.
Both Mr Cameron and Gen Richards said improving conditions could allow British troops to start withdrawing next year. Mr Cameron has passionately defended his deadline of having no British troops in combat operations by 2015.
Britain has about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, the bulk of which are in Helmand, where they were spread thinly until US president Barack Obama last December ordered an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, the last of which arrived in August.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH INFO
Schalke 0
Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')
Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
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