Notes on Syria’s New Currency
THE SYRIAN OBSERVER
January 5, 2026
The currency change has come without the level of national consultation that a decision of this magnitude requires, Wael Sawah argues.
The currency change has come without the level of national consultation that a decision of this magnitude requires, Wael Sawah argues.
Supporters of the new design argue that the design strengthens national belonging without favouring any single region.
By avoiding human faces, the state also avoids choosing which humans to honor.
Syrians are buzzing with anticipation after the lifting of the Caesar sanctions, wondering when prices will finally ease and their purchasing power rebound.
This disorder unfolds against the backdrop of severe living pressures, al-Hal writes.
Public blame has focused squarely on the National Guard forces, the dominant power in Suweida.
Syria’s path to economic recovery will not be determined by a single decision in Washington, Hind Khalifa argues in Al-Hal
Ayman al-Dasouki, senior researcher at the Omran Center, pointed out to Syria Television that although the Caesar Act’s impact on reconstruction is substantial, it represents only one among many hurdles to rebuilding Syria in a secure and stable manner.
On Monday evening, the Damascus Governorate issued an urgent appeal urging the public to avoid Umayyad Square in the city centre due to safety concerns amid rising reports of stampede-related incidents.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with figures from the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) and the American energy giant Chevron, according to al-Modon.
Dozens of factories have shuttered in the face of cheaper imports, al-Hal writes.
In a land tormented by sectarian storms, the horizon may remain dim, Daraj writes.
An initiative by the Syrian Bar Association aims to reinforce efforts to safeguard women’s rights and protect them from all forms of violence—physical, psychological, economic and, most urgently, digital.
Nasser Munzer founded the “Jaramana Cinema Club” to challenge the capital’s cultural monopoly, al-Modon writes.
The agreement aims to expand cooperation in the exploration and development of natural gas fields, al-Ikhbariya writes.
The departure of Christians cannot be viewed as an internal matter alone. It signals the erosion of centuries-old cultural bridges between East and West, and the loss of a vital interlocutor in Syria’s intellectual, economic and diplomatic engagement with the wider world, Mohammed Berro writes.
The gap between income and inflation has exacerbated poverty, Ultra Syria writes.
A spokesperson for the airline said the decision followed a routine operational review aimed at optimising fleet deployment in line with Emirates’ wider strategic priorities, Shaam writes.
In recent weeks, much of northern Syria has witnessed a near-total standstill in educational activity, as teachers across numerous schools have embarked on an open-ended strike, Ultra Syria reports.
Officials from Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced that unknown individuals had broken into the museum in the capital.
