DAMASCUS // Syrian security forces killed at least 55 protesters across the country yesterday, activists said, as an emergency UN Human Rights Council session met to condemn Damascus for using deadly force against peaceful civilian demonstrators.
In the day's single bloodiest incident, at least 32 unarmed villagers were shot dead while trying to break the military blockade of Deraa, the city that has been the epicentre of the rebellion, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Agence France-Presse.
In response to the continued violence, US President Barack Obama last night ordered new sanctions against Syria's intelligence agency and two relatives of President Bashar al Assad, US officials said.
Yesterday's killings came as thousands of anti-government protesters once again took to the streets in defiance of a military crackdown and a ban on public demonstrations. Members of Syria's security forces were also killed yesterday, according to the government.
Three officers died in Homs, the country's third-largest city and four soldiers were killed in Deraa, where another two were captured, according to state media. AFP reported that at least 15 civilians were killed in Homs.
Syrian authorities insist they are now fighting a militant Islamic insurrection, an assertion that was met with scepticism at an emergency meeting of the UN Human Rights Council yesterday in Geneva.
The 47-member council condemned Damascus for its use of disproportionate force against protesters.
The UN right council also voted to launch its own investigation into killings by the authorities, as well as probing other allegations of human rights abuses.
Since an anti-government uprising began last month, more than 500 civilians have been killed in crackdowns by the government, human rights monitors say, with the UN yesterday putting the number of wounded at more than 1,800.
Deraa, 100 kilometres south of Damascus, yesterday remained the focal point of the uprising.
Thousands of people from villages surrounding the besieged city tried to march through a military cordon of heavily armed infantry and tanks. Although they failed to enter the city itself, the symbolism of the attempt was powerful.
"The authorities wanted to end this opposition through force, but the people marched which means Deraa isn't defeated and this is not over," said a supporter of the protesters in Damascus.
As the rallies and bloodshed continued, however, there were signs of protest fatigue. Some of those in favour of the demonstrations said they are starting to fear that opposition activists have become too reckless in pushing their agenda for sweeping political change.
"We've seen enough blood," said a 50-year-old Syrian who, until now, has been cheering on the protesters. "Now there must be a pause in the demonstrations for two weeks, to test if the president really is going to make reforms.
"If things keep going as they are, it will be a civil war. Most of the people do not want that, it will benefit no one," he said.
In the face of an unprecedented challenge to his 11-year rule - and the very structure of Syria's one-party state - Mr Assad has vowed to undertake a raft of reforms but has simultaneously tried to stop protests through tightened security measures.
Mr Assad was not among those targeted by the new US sanctions, which will include asset freezes and bans on US business dealings, but he could be named later if violence by government forces against pro-democracy protesters continues, Obama administration officials said.
The security clampdown escalated this week when a powerful military force swept into Deraa, sealing the area off. Residents and human rights groups say soldiers have since used artillery and snipers to indiscriminately kill civilians there, preventing them from access to medical treatment, food and water.
The siege conditions, however, failed to break Friday's now routinely observed show of dissent. According to activists, protesters
demonstrated yesterday in key areas, including 10,000 people in Banias, and thousands more in Idleb, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Raqqa.
There was also a protest in Midan, in the heart of Damascus, which was broken up by security forces using tear gas, witnesses said. Dozens of plain clothes security officers, armed with sticks, were policing the area, backed by snipers on the roofs of surrounding tower blocks.
In addition, combat troops were deployed on the streets of the Syrian capital yesterday for the first time since the uprising started. Soldiers in full combat gear were positioned on Abbaseen square, with bus loads of plainclothes security forces lining the roads nearby, ready for quick deployment.
Abbaseen square is seen as a strategic location, both by the authorities and protesters. For weeks, demonstrators from rebelling northern Damascus suburbs have tried to march to the square to gain a permanent foothold in the capital. The authorities have, so far, stopped them.
In Hajar Aswad, a tough, working class suburb in southern Damascus where at least seven civilians were killed last week, according to residents, all was quiet yesterday. Plainclothes security officers in more than a dozen buses - usually used for public transport - were waiting in the centre of the neighbourhood to face off with any demonstrators.
"People probably looked at that force and decided not to go out," said one Syrian who, like many residents of Hajar Aswad, is a refugee from the occupied Golan Heights. "The people don't want to fight in the streets and anyway, there always tomorrow. The government can't leave the security in those buses all week. When they go, the protesters will come back."
psands@thenational.ae
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
Education reform in Abu Dhabi
The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem -- science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Championship Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 2,200m
Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Company%20Profile
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The%20Specs
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Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf – $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
Company%20Profile
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AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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