The people of Mosul, forced to live under ISIS rule between 2014 and 2017, would be the first to say that few other cities have suffered as much as theirs in recent years, both under the extremists' control and during the military campaign to liberate the city.
Mosul – which means “the linking point” in Arabic – is a place of historic diversity targeted by fanaticism. Few members of its Christian community remain and key symbols of its cultural and architectural heritage, including places of worship, were desecrated by ISIS fighters during their reign of terror.
And yet, Mosul has also shown its resilience and strength through difficult times. And this week witnessed another example of how restoring and preserving sites of cultural significance is a critical part of rebuilding societies torn apart by conflict. On Tuesday, a UAE-Unesco partnership started the final reconstruction phase of the city’s 12th-century Al Nuri mosque complex, including its Al Hadba minaret.
Once a symbol of Mosul’s rich history and culture, the landmarks were blown up by ISIS as government forces approached its Old City in June 2017. In April the following year, the UAE pledged more than $50 million to rebuild Al Nuri mosque and two historic churches, working closely with Unesco and the Iraqi government on the project.
In a ceremony on Tuesday held alongside Iraq's Culture Minister, Ahmed Al Badrani, Unesco's Director General Audrey Azoulay laid a handful of the stones recovered from the ruins of the mosque in 2017, describing the complex as a “symbol of Iraq's rich history and by rebuilding it, we are reviving this symbol”.
At the same time, a forum in Abu Dhabi organised by the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (Aliph) and the Department of Culture and Tourism heard how many of Iraq’s ancient sites could over the next five to six years be restored to their former glory, with the work putting the spotlight back on culture and communities.
There are significant historical examples where reconstruction work has a valuable role to play after the tide of war has ebbed. In Bosnia, the Old Bridge in the town of Mostar, which was built in 1566, was destroyed during the collapse of Yugoslavia into war. Its reconstruction, with the involvement of Unesco, brought together five donor countries and the World Bank, and became a potent symbol of resilience, rebirth and reconciliation.
Such resilience will be needed in the years to come in Turkey and Syria, where last month’s earthquakes destroyed or severely damaged numerous cultural landmarks – such as Gaziantep Castle, built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Valuable history in other countries remains at risk – in January, sites in Yemen and Lebanon were among those added to the UN's list of world heritage in danger.
What the Mosul reconstruction reveals is that as well as helping people displaced or left jobless by conflict and natural disasters, cultural restoration can offer work, economic benefits and, perhaps most importantly, lift a community’s morale. In any crisis, saving lives and protecting the vulnerable comes first, but when the time comes to rebuild, restoring a country’s spirit can be just as important.
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Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
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Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
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Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Three stars
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The five pillars of Islam
