<i>Welcome to The National's weekly newsletter Beshara, where we share the most positive stories of the week</i> A warning: this isn't the usual start to a good news missive, because this edition will be the last I write. I'm off to pastures new, but with so much pride in what we have all achieved together over the past two years. More than 60,000 of you read <i>Beshara</i>, which I feel shows that many people are interested in those doing good and finding solutions to the world's seemingly intractable problems. We've covered extraordinary sporting feats and acts of community in war zones, as well as goggling at more than our fair share of cute animal photos. Thank you for coming along for the ride with me, and I can assure you <i>Beshara </i>will stay just as positive in the future. This week's edition contains lanterns made from cans to bring children joy, a new emoji and life advice from Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg. As always, have a fantastic weekend, Taylor Muslims around the world celebrated Eid Al Fitr this week, but it was harder to find joy in Gaza. Parents told us how difficult it has been to create any atmosphere of happiness and giving, but one man was determined to delight the enclave's children, who have been suffering under blockade and war for 18 months. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/03/28/gazan-father-makes-lanterns-from-food-cans-for-children-to-celebrate-eid-despite-the-war/" target="_blank">Abu Anas</a>, who lives in Gaza's Old City, has been creating lanterns out of old food cans, inspired by his parents and grandparents who made them out of basic materials to provide light when they had no electricity. “I made the lanterns for the children. It's been a year and a half and we want to compensate them in any way – we try to distract them and make them happy,” the 40-year-old father of six said. – Emirati designer <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/luxury/2025/04/02/one-last-thing-omar-al-gurg-on-the-existence-of-aliens-and-the-most-niche-thing-he-watches-on-youtube/" target="_blank">Omar Al Gurg</a> shares his words to live by When longtime Syrian president Bashar Al Assad was deposed in December, millions took to the streets of cities across the country to celebrate. Many could be seen waving a flag widely considered to represent the opposition to Mr Al Assad's brutal regime, in which hundreds of thousands are thought to have been killed and disappeared by the government. Gone were the two-starred flags adopted in the 1980s. The flag, featuring three red stars in the centre on a white backdrop and a green stripe at the top, was first used in the 1940s after independence from France. On March 13, this flag was named the official flag of Syria and, this week, Apple changed its Syrian flag emoji to match. It is a small but significant step in Syria's journey to – hopefully – a brighter future. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2023/08/31/beshara-the-most-positive-pictures-of-the-week/" target="_self">See the Beshara photos of the week here</a>
