“A profound moment of resilience, unity and hope” is how Unesco chief Audrey Azoulay described the upcoming reopening of historic religious sites in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Speaking to The National as she began a visit to the city on Wednesday, Ms Azoulay recounted how work to rebuild the landmark 12th century Al Nuri Mosque and its Al Hadba minaret after they were blown up by ISIS in 2017 was accompanied by restoration work on Al Safa and Al Tahera, two historic churches of Mosul.
It is an important moment of symbolism that stands in stark contrast to the cruelty and fanaticism that blighted so many lives in Iraq and neighbouring Syria under ISIS’s so-called caliphate. In contrast to the wanton destruction carried out by ISIS fighters during their 29-month occupation of Mosul, the international community, donors – led by the UAE organising stakeholders and a generous $50 million in funding – as well as local engineers, architects and workers came together to restore Mosul’s tolerant and communal spirit.
Nevertheless, it should be remembered that many Moslawis – as well as people across Iraq, Syria and other countries blighted by ISIS – still carry the physical and psychological scars of those difficult years. Many also remain displaced from their homes. Their suffering should be a warning that allowing ISIS or groups like it to regain a toehold in the Middle East would be a catastrophe.
ISIS is not finished. The terrorist network remains a threat in remote areas of Iraq, poses a risk of resurgence in Syria and a rapidly changing region presents the extremists with opportunities to regroup. The presence of thousands of battle-hardened ISIS prisoners held in camps in north-east Syria is a particular security problem, especially for the Kurdish-led forces that run these jails, and the new Syrian government.
This is a situation that must not be mishandled. Yet there is a worrying lack of urgency about co-operating to find solutions. This week, The National reported that the US wants radical elements in Syria to be sidelined by the new government in Damascus. But if anything has characterised the Trump administration’s ISIS policy so far it is incoherence.
Although one of its first acts was to target ISIS sites in Somalia, there have been threats to withdraw US troops from Syria, a move that would leave local forces exposed to attack even as they as they struggle to maintain security at detention sites such as Al Hol and Al Roj. Washington’s recent foreign aid freeze temporarily hit the salaries of security and humanitarian staff working at these facilities.
ISIS remains a threat in remote areas of Iraq, poses a risk of resurgence in Syria and a rapidly changing region presents it with opportunities to regroup
However, that such camps still exist years after ISIS’s reign of terror collapsed is a collective international failure. As foreign governments re-engage with Damascus, it is time for more accountability – that means repatriating more fighters to the countries where their radicalisation took place, and avoiding tactics such as stripping citizenship from suspects, thereby leaving them to be Syria’s problem.
There are signs of a more collaborative approach taking shape, with reports this week that Syria's new leaders are in talks with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces who have "expressed willingness" to put their weapons under state control, according to President Ahmad Al Shara. Efforts that increase Syria’s cohesion and stability ought to be supported.
The ISIS issue is too dangerous to allow room for complacency. The years it took to rebuild Mosul’s historic religious sites, and the continuing difficulties of the displaced and those who suffered under ISIS all show the lasting damage that allowing extremism to develop can do. Fumbling the response to ISIS amid this time of regional volatility risks opening the door to a repeat of past crimes.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More on animal trafficking
The five pillars of Islam
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E536hp%20(including%20138hp%20e-motor)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%20(including%20400Nm%20e-motor)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C380%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
Four stars
More on animal trafficking
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Squads
India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.
Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
