An archaeological park unveiled in northern Iraq this week dates back more than 2,700 years to the rule of the Assyrians.
The area in Faida, located in the south of Dohuk governorate, comprises 13 monumental rock-carving reliefs in the walls of an irrigation canal that stretches for about 10 kilometres.
The carvings show kings praying to gods.
Officials said "other parts will be discovered in the future".
"Perhaps in the future others will be discovered", Bekas Brefkany, from the department of antiquities in Dohuk, told AFP.
Regional authorities hope to create the first of five parks at Faida, part of a project aimed at creating "a tourist attraction and a source of income", Mr Brefkany said.
An inauguration ceremony was held at the site on Sunday that included senior officials from Kurdistan region, Italian Consul General Michele Camerota, and the Italian ambassador to Iraq Maurizio Greganti.
The site was discovered in several stages over the last few years through excavations by a joint mission of Italian archaeologists from the University of Udine and their counterparts from the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage of Duhok Governorate in the Kurdistan Region.
The project was launched in 2019 to save the archaeological Assyrian complex at Faida.
Daniele Morandi Bonacossi, professor of Near Eastern archaeology at the University of Udine, said, last year that while there were other rock reliefs in Iraq, none were so "huge and monumental" as these.
Iraq was the site of some of the world's earliest cities.
As well as Assyrians it was once home to Sumerians and Babylonians, and to among humankind's first examples of writing.
But in recent years it has suffered at the hands of smugglers of ancient artifacts.
Looters have robbed Iraq of its ancient heritage, most notably after the 2003 US-led invasion.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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)
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
