HBD! Bassel Khartabil would be 45 today. Open‑hardware pioneer, Wikimedia contributor, and co‑founder of New Palmyra — with unreleased letters, drives and notes that could still reshape heritage preservation and open tech. Honor him: edit, share, build.
https://t.co/L3DJ7lK7is
🇸🇾🇪🇺 The EU has restored full trade relations with Syria, for the first time since 2011.
Syria's new government, which took power after Assad's fall, is trying to rebuild a country devastated by 13 years of civil war.
China and Gulf states are already moving into Syria.
For Europe, it's an opportunity to build influence in a strategically critical region before others do.
Source: Al Jazeera
The construction of #Damascus International Airport's Terminal 2 is making rapid progress.
Compare the image on LEFT (May 1, 2026) to the image on the RIGHT (April 15, 2026).
The $4bn project involves investments linked to the US, #Qatar & #Turkey.
"I am free — but many remain behind bars in Kuwait and across the region for speaking the truth. Today, my sisters and I have become part of the more than 50,000 Kuwaitis who have had their citizenship revoked.” - Ahmed Shihab-Eldin https://t.co/mCHBSQM9Ek via @pressfreedom
The New Palmyra Epigraphic Objects (NPEO) Project is Born.
NPEO is #ai x (photos of inscriptions) = results
We have:
- Palmyra Images from @basselkhartabil (Unreleased)
- 1,134 inscriptions released in March 2026
- NEWPALMYRA's 3000+ flickr community archive
👀 @scrollprize
We are working on an exhibition, learning about Epigraphy, a new panel proposal, a new media engine, and more. We need your help.
- Do you have photos of Palmyra from trips?
- Have Palmyra expertise?
- Have a panel or presentation?
🏛 https://t.co/RIcmbRHysS
***Breaking news - Bank of America 🇺🇸***
Syria is no longer designated as a sanctioned country. As a result, no special approvals are required, and all banking services may be conducted through standard processes.