A week, said the former British premier Harold Wilson, is a long time in politics. Over the past seven days, North Africa certainly proved the point. In Sudan, a referendum has concluded that may see the south split from the north; in Tunisia, riots in the street that would have been almost unthinkable only a month ago have toppled a president.
For changes with such sweeping consequence, both countries seem to have thankfully experienced far less violence than might be feared. But what is equally true is that both countries are at a new starting point with many questions left to be answered.
In the long run-up to south Sudan's referendum, it was always known that the details would still have to be resolved. By contrast, events in Tunisia seem to have surprised even the main actors.
A clear picture has yet to emerge. On Friday, the former president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali left the country, ending up in Saudi Arabia. It was unclear whether he left of his own free will or from pressure by the military. Within 24 hours, the constitutional court had declared that he had "definitively" left power and appointed the parliamentary speaker, Fouad Mebazza, as acting president.
What is certain is that the departure of Mr Ben Ali - the lightning rod of protests for more than a month - has not completely defused the situation. Looting and gunshots still troubled Tunis last night.
A period of calm would allow Mr Mebazza and the new government - or, rather, a reformulated old government - a chance to demonstrate their credibility if they so choose. So far, they have made the right sounds. Shortly before being sworn in as interim president, Mr Mebazza said Tunisians "without exception" would be allowed to participate in elections, which are constitutionally mandated within the next 60 days. The quality of those elections, with an opposition that has been squashed and co-opted for decades, remains to be seen.
The grievances of Tunisians, economic and political, have not departed with Mr Ben Ali. In no small part, protests have been fueled by the perception of endemic corruption in his family and administration. For this next government to have any credibility, they will have to demonstrate the will to tackle corruption which saps the country's economy at every level.
How much can be achieved in the next two months, even if the government has the will, is an open question. Tunisia has systemic problems that have been emphasised in the past month, ranging from unemployment to political alienation. Good governance and the institutions to answer citizens' demands will not appear overnight.
We have seen how quickly the status quo can be changed, but not what the end result will be. Certainly today Tunisians face new risks, as well as new opportunities. It is, after all, the beginning of a brand new week.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."