If the headlines from Syria are dominated by the wanton destruction of irreplaceable archaeological treasures, this is not the whole story of the region’s heritage.
The other side of the coin is here, in the state-of-the-art conservation centre at Cairo’s new Grand Egyptian Museum.
In its own way, the museum is a project to rival the Pyramids of Giza, in whose shadow it stands.
The conservation centre is expected to be the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, with state-of-the-art laboratories and experts trained in the restoration and conservation of important relics such as wood carvings, stone statues and mummies.
It has been established with technical assistance and training from Japan, with the museum authorities announcing last week that it will run independently of the Egyptian government, with its own board of trustees and international directors.
Costing an estimated US$500 million (Dh1.83 billion), the museum’s foundation stone was laid by the former president, Hosni Mubarak, in January 2002.
Delays caused by funding issues and Egypt’s political turmoil mean that the museum will not open its first galleries to the public until 2018, when it is hoped it will drive a revival of the country’s tourist industry.
In the meantime, the centre is the first part of the project to be operational, ensuring that when the museum does open, visitors will see the treasures from Egypt’s past as never before.
plangton@thenational.ae
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
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Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
