An ancient Assyrian artefact taken from a site considered to be a cradle of world civilisation has been returned to Iraq after spending more than two decades in a police storage unit in London.
The frieze, which weighs about 333kg and is 1.16 metres by 1.13 metres, depicts the upper portion of the carving of an Assyrian genie that originally adorned the walls of Northwest Palace at Nimrud in modern-day Iraq.
Carvings depicting the genie were popular in the reign of Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II, who commissioned them to adorn the walls of his palace. The genie was considered to be a protective spirit that symbolised fertility.
The artefact was excavated from the site in the 1970s and is believed to have been taken in the 1990s after the First Gulf War. Its location was unknown for about a decade, until it turned up in an antiquities market in London in 2002, according to a BBC report from 2016. It was then locked in storage by officers in the Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit because its legal owner was unknown.
The frieze, originally 2m tall, had been badly damaged, leaving only the head and body. However, it remained extremely valuable, with rumours that the remaining portion was for sale for about £3.5 million ($4.6 million).
A similar, but complete stone carving of a genie from the palace was sold in 2018 through Christie’s auction house in New York for $31 million, shattering a previous world record for Assyrian art. The buyer was anonymous.
The British Museum played a pivotal role in the return of the damaged stone carving to Iraq. Dr St John Simpson, a senior Middle East curator and archaeologist at the museum, told The Telegraph: “It’s the largest antiquity believed to have been repatriated to Iraq in the past 20 years and very important, as it has a perfect provenance.
“As a sculpture excavated by an Iraqi archaeologist at a capital of Assyria that was badly destroyed by Islamic State, it has added symbolic value.”
Discussions about its return took place over “several years”, according to the Iraqi embassy in London. Speaking at an event to mark the artefact’s return, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, Mohammed Jaafar Al-Sadr, spoke about its historical significance, which increased after the destruction of the Nimrud Palace in Nineveh Province by ISIS. The ambassador urged “all individuals in possession of Iraqi artefacts to return them to their homeland”.
The Assyrians arose in about 2,500BC in northern Iraq and at one point ruled over a realm stretching from the Mediterranean to Iran. In July, Iraq announced it had recovered 181 artefacts that had been smuggled out of the country from Nimrud and taken to Los Angeles in the 1990s.
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3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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All matches in Bulawayo
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Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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1. Fasting
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
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THREE
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Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
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Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
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