It has been more than 40 days since President Donald Trump announced plans to pull American troops out of Syria, but Ilham Ahmed, a Syrian Kurdish leader who met officials in Washington this week, says the format and the timeline of the withdrawal are still being debated.
Ms Ahmed is co-president of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political wing of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces that led the fight against ISIS in Syria. In an interview with The National, she discussed possible post-US arrangements including the prospects of an understanding with Turkey, which considers Syrian Kurd militias to be a terrorist threat.
Q: How is your visit to the United States going so far and what have you been able to get from the Trump administration or Congress?
A: We have been holding important meetings. We are discussing the post-withdrawal situation or restructuring the withdrawal, so we avoid a rushed pull out. ISIS is still at large, even after the ground battles conclude it has sleeper cells and is very much a serious threat. We are asking the US to adjust its presence and transition to phase two, where we have to defeat ISIS as an insurgency movement, and turn the page on the socioeconomic level.
The Trump administration has not set a deadline for the withdrawal from Syria, and you said you were hoping to slow it down. Have you been able to do that?
It seems that the withdrawal will happen, but will it be a full withdrawal or will leave it behind counterterrorism units? It is unclear yet and there is no timeline at this point.
Have you discussed a Turkish safe zone in your meetings?
A Turkish-controlled safe zone was not discussed at all with us in all the meetings we have had in Washington. But protecting the border was discussed to avoid a clash with Turkey.
You reject the idea because of Turkey’s control?
Yes.
There are reports that the US is seeking European help to establish a buffer zone. Would that be acceptable for you?
If this happens under international monitoring or supervision then yes, we are open to the idea because these forces would have served and seen the reality.
What if the Assad regime strikes a deal and deploys to the North, would you accept it?
For the regime to protect the border, it would have to follow a political process where it would accept a decentralised administration – then we can talk about joint protection for the border.
Has the Trump administration given any assurances to protect you as the US president had said?
There is nothing definite yet, but what they are working on is guaranteeing the withdrawal is not rushed, and that there won’t be an invasion of our area. In theory, there are discussions, but we don’t have a mechanism or decisions yet.
Do you fear that Donald Trump may pick up the phone again, dial Recep Tayyip Erdogan and try to strike his own deal?
There is no easy answer to this question. But we recognise that there is a decision-making process in the US and discussions in the different departments on strategy options and alternatives.
What if Turkey decides to ignore US calls for restraint and go into your areas, what would your response be?
We are in talks with Russia and the Assad regime if the US pulls out. And if we don’t reach an understanding with Turkey on border security, we will weigh our options then.
Is there a proposal that the PKK members in your area would withdraw to Wadi Qandil [in Iraq]?
The talk about a withdrawal is not realistic. The bulk of our troops is Syrian; we won’t deny that when ISIS was attacking Kobani, many volunteers from Turkey joined and stayed, and some were martyred. They are Turkish Kurds but not PKK. They came to fight ISIS and when this fight is over, we are willing to discuss the matter.
Read More
• US Senate leader challenges Trump on Syria withdrawal as Kurds seek delay
• Acting US Defence Secretary: ISIS will lose last bits of Syria territory in 'weeks'
• Erdogan's safe zone will be anything but for Syria's Kurds
Are you open to the idea of Arab troops? There were reports that an Egyptian delegation visited your area.
We are not discussing this at the moment. But if there is an international resolution to send monitors, we don’t mind an Arab contingent.
President Trump has accused Syrian Kurds of selling oil to Iran. Are you?
We are not trading oil with Iran. We have local traders and they all sell internally, for pure internal consumption and to make their own living.
Are you a separatist movement? Turkey has fears that you will seek your own state.
Turkey is pushing us in that direction [chuckles]. But in reality our project and vision are Syrian. We want a decentralised federal democratic Syria where we can have a self-administered region.
What is the problem between you and the Syrian opposition?
Ever since the Syrian opposition came under Turkish control, it collapsed. The opposition wanted us to be just Syrians, with no acknowledgment of our Kurdish heritage and specificity. They wanted to impose that very much like the regime wants to do it on the basis of nationalism/Baathism.
What are the chances for an agreement between you and Turkey?
We are trying to work for an agreement with Ankara but it is unclear at the moment if we will succeed or not.
US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD5
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
The%20specs
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How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on animal trafficking
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
