In a sign of how much Syria has changed in just eight months, the country’s new leadership recently finalised a deal with a Qatari company to build a media and entertainment complex on the outskirts of Damascus. The City of Damascus Gate is an ambitious mega-project that could restore Syria to its former place as a regional leader in film, television and tourism.
Such a development is just one indicator of how Syria has turned a corner after the chaos of its civil war and the stagnation of the Assad years. With several countries along with the EU lifting many of their Assad-era sanctions, Syrians are increasingly being empowered to revive their nation – economically, politically and culturally. As US President Donald Trump said during his May speech in Riyadh, “Now it's their [Syria's] time to shine.”
However, many serious challenges continue to confront Syria’s transition. Among these is the fact that the country’s head of state and the backbone of its political administration are still subject to UN Security Council counterterrorism sanctions. Although interim President Ahmad Al Shara has been successfully forging personal relationships with several regional leaders – including President Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi this week – such important work is complicated by the Security Council’s restrictions.
A rethink of this sensitive issue is due. Sanctions are coercive instruments meant to encourage changes in behaviour and Mr Al Shara has clearly moved far beyond his political origins in Syria’s collection of militant opposition groups. After his Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebels ousted Bashar Al Assad in December, Mr Al Shara began to overhaul a corrupt Syrian state, reach out to factions such as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, reform the country’s security forces and set in motion discussions to build a more representative Syria.
This is an imperfect process that has experienced many serious and deadly setbacks. However, by maintaining international sanctions against Syria’s head of state and many of its individual leaders, there is the risk of the Syrian transition facing obstacles in fully co-ordinating with the UN on political and security matters. Ironically, this could lead to less co-operation and co-ordination on issues such as terrorism and extremism. This would be a mistake, given that the UN is in a strong position to offer Syria vital technical and diplomatic support as it tries to build up its institutions.
The removal of sanctions, were it to happen, must also involve Syria’s leaders continuing to live up to their commitments to build a stable, just and tolerant country
The are suggestions that change is on the way. According to sources speaking to The National last week, the US is preparing to circulate to the Security Council a draft resolution calling for the lifting of sanctions on Mr Al Shara. Discussions are already under way between the council's permanent members – the US, France, UK, China and Russia – to potentially delist Mr Al Shara, his Minister of Interior Anas Khattab and HTS.
Such a move, were it to happen, must also involve Syria’s leaders continuing to live up to their commitments to build a stable, just and tolerant country. Issues such as the continued presence of foreign fighters in Syria’s armed forces is one that continues to sow concern about the path foward. But the best way to ensure there is no backsliding into extremism is to maximise Syria’s engagement with international institutions, such as the UN. Removing sanctions that have outlived their purpose would be one way to maintain the momentum of Syria’s transition.
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
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
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
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
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The%20specs
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
