Minutes of an Executive meeting from June of that year state further action would be considered “as appropriate” if the DUP went ahead with a threat to rotate its ministers. The minutes are within files which have been declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Devolved powersharing had been restored to Northern Ireland in May 2000 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had received the backing of his party to go back into the Assembly, despite there having been no decommissioning of IRA arms at that point. Then DUP deputy leader Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds took up the offices as ministers for regional development and social development, but refused to attend Executive meetings due to the presence of Sinn Fein ministers. The party also said it would rotate its ministerial posts to prevent other parties from taking them. A minute of an Executive meeting on June 8 said Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds had refused a request from First Minister Mr Trimble and deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to meet with them “to discuss recent public comments by the DUP concerning their positions as ministers”. The minute records that the Executive endorsed a proposal from the First and deputy First Ministers to write again to the two DUP ministers setting out sanctions against them. It says: “The First Minister and and Deputy First Minister would assume responsibility for representing the Executive Committee on transport matters at the British-Irish Council in place of the Minister for Regional Development. “The Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Regional Development would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee. “Pending the receipt of satisfactory assurances from DUP Ministers regarding the confidentiality and integrity of Executive Committee business, the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would not receive Executive Committee papers as of right. “The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would seek briefing, as appropriate, from officials in the Department for Regional Development and Department for Social Development.” The minute continues: “If the DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two Ministerial offices on a frequent basis, the Executive Committee would consider other action as appropriate.” Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds resigned as ministers on June 27 and were replaced by party colleagues Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow. A minute from an Executive meeting that day says: “The Executive Committee noted that the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would be resigning their posts that afternoon, and expressed concern at the proposed rotation of the ministries held by their Party Members.”
December 9, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Vienna University of Technology About 100 years ago, humanity learned to see with the help of electrons. In 1924, Louis de Broglie posited that—like light particles—electrons have wave properties. In 1927, the U.S. physicists Davisson and Germer provided experimental proof of this. A few years later, the engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll built the first electron microscope, which was more powerful than any light microscope . Given that electron waves are diffracted by much smaller objects than photons, the optical resolution limit of light was surmounted, heralding a new era of microscopy. Combining two worlds: Quantum electron microscopy "Electron microscopy is a crazy, cool technique," Philipp Haslinger, Associate Professor at the TU Wien, says. "In principle, we could use it to look at the spike proteins of a virus or its DNA—at the level of atoms, the pixels of reality." Haslinger, a quantum optics specialist, deliberately says "could," because there is a catch: The electrons are typically so high in energy that they destroy sensitive samples. For this reason, biological processes cannot be observed "live" with electron microscopes. According to Haslinger, there is one possible solution: "Gaining more information from fewer electrons." In pursuit of this goal, his 11 member team uses "quantum electron microscopy," which combines classic electron microscopy with the newer world of photon -based quantum optics. Spooky imaging One of their possible ideas is based on a method going by the evocative name of "quantum ghost imaging" or Zou-Wang-Mandel effect . In this method, an entangled electron–photon pair generates the image of the object. This is how it works: first, an electron races through a translucent medium and "overtakes" the light there, "a bit like an airplane going supersonic," explains Haslinger. This creates a photon, which is taken to be entangled with the electron. While the electron travels towards the sample, the photon enters a camera detector. As the two are entangled, the photon can be used to measure whether the electron has hit the sample. If the detected photons can be space-resolved successfully, the image of the object can be constructed. At least, this is the theory behind the approach published in Quantum Science and Technology . "Several research groups around the world are working on establishing the first proof of this entanglement—and we are up in the front line," says Haslinger. In practice, the innovative ideas are fraught with technical challenges. The team first had to adjust the existing microscope. "Normally, electron microscopes are built completely sealed from light—but we drill holes in them so that photons can escape so as to be measured," says the physicist. Promising outlook for biology and materials science What is needed now is proof of principle that the method can generate electron–photon pairs. "In fact, it could happen any day now," hopes Haslinger. "We have already recorded a ghost image. So we were able to see with electrons what the photon 'saw.' Now we are looking for evidence of interference phenomena between the two particles. Finding this evidence would give us clear smoking-gun proof of entanglement." An established variant of ghost imaging that uses entangled photon–photon pairs has proven its worth when observing particularly light-sensitive objects. If Haslinger's plan works out, this sparing treatment of the sample could for the first time be combined with the high optical resolution of electrons. Such a development would open up promising applications, for example, in battery research: The molecular and atomic changes on the surfaces of materials during charging and discharging could be better observed and this would help to identify optimized materials. There might also be spectacular new insights in biology, such as observing proteins as they fold without their being broken during irradiation. "Watching life as it happens, that would be a dream," beams Haslinger. A good 20 years ago, as a young physics student, he attended lectures by Anton Zeilinger, who got him interested in quantum optics. Now he and his colleagues could bring a new quality to electron microscopy, the history of which began a century ago. More information: Philipp Haslinger et al, Spin resonance spectroscopy with an electron microscope, Quantum Science and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1088/2058-9565/ad52bc Journal information: Quantum Science and Technology Provided by Vienna University of Technology
The jubilant streets of Damascus are awash with a sense of freedom. Women perform the “zaghrouta,” a piercing, celebratory ululation; men chant slogans; and the nation collectively breathes a sigh of relief. The fall of Bashar al-Assad and his flight to Moscow signals the end of an era of repression. Yet, amidst the celebrations, the echoes of history remind us that such moments are but the first steps in the arduous journey of transition. Assad’s dramatic departure is reminiscent of other despots forced into exile: Ferdinand Marcos Sr. fleeing to Hawaii in 1986, laden with treasures looted from the Philippine people; Muammar Gaddafi’s brutal demise in Libya; and Saddam Hussein’s humiliating fall in Iraq. Each instance of a dictator’s downfall has triggered euphoria, but also exposed deep challenges in the aftermath. For Syria, these challenges loom large, as the nation grapples with the legacies of autocratic rule, civil war, and external meddling. For over 50 years, the Assad family ruled with an iron fist, crushing dissent and maintaining power through a maze of alliances. The civil war that erupted in 2011 triggered heightened repression, leading to decades of unimaginable suffering: hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Scenes of jubilation in Syria mirror those of the Edsa People Power Revolution in the Philippines, where citizens took to the streets to topple Marcos Sr.’s regime. Just as Filipinos dismantled the vestiges of a dictator’s reign—smashing statues and reclaiming public spaces—Syrians now seize the moment to exorcise symbols of the Assad family’s domination. Yet, while the Philippines managed a relatively swift transition to democratic rule, Syria’s path is far more uncertain. History offers cautionary tales for Syria. Libya and Iraq, both torn apart after the fall of autocratic regimes, failed to establish stable political orders. These examples highlight the dangers of power vacuums and unbridled factionalism. Syria’s deeply fragmented opposition, including Islamist groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Kurdish factions under the Syrian Democratic Forces, is emblematic of these challenges. HTS, despite its pledge to embrace inclusivity, remains burdened by a controversial past with ties to al-Qaida, casting doubt on its ability to foster unity. The stakes are further complicated by Syria’s geopolitical significance. Regional powers such as Turkey, Iran, and Israel, alongside global actors like Russia and the United States, have entrenched themselves in the conflict. Israel’s recent seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, Turkey’s ongoing skirmishes with Kurdish forces, Russian interests in maintaining influence, and US preemptive strikes to deny weapons caches from remnant ISIS forces, underscore the volatile landscape. Any transition must navigate these external pressures while addressing domestic fissures. The nation’s ethnic and sectarian divisions, exacerbated by years of war, require sensitive reconciliation efforts. The abundance of weapons among various factions raises the specter of prolonged violence, as former allies in the fight against the Assad regime may turn on one another. Syria’s infrastructure lies in ruins, and its oil reserves, controlled by Kurdish forces, remain a contentious issue. International aid and investment are essential for rebuilding, but political instability and mistrust could hinder these efforts. Despite these challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Rebel leaders have expressed commitments to pluralism and minority rights, signaling a potential departure from the Assad regime’s exclusionary policies. Turkey, despite its complex role in the conflict, sees stability in Syria as a chance to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees. The international community, led by the United Nations, has pledged support for a peaceful transition. Such external engagement, coupled with lessons learned from other post-conflict transitions, could provide a framework for demilitarization, power sharing, and justice. The experiences of the Philippines, Libya, and Iraq serve as reminders of the perils and possibilities inherent in regime change. While the fall of Bashar al-Assad is a victory for the Syrian people, the road ahead demands wisdom, resilience, and unity. In the Edsa People Power Revolution, Filipinos found strength in collective action, dismantling martial rule, and reclaiming democracy. Similarly, Syrians now have the opportunity to forge a new identity rooted in inclusivity and justice. The fall of Bashar al-Assad is an opportunity for reinvention, though fraught with risks. The lessons of history caution against complacency. Celebrations must give way to dialogue, and euphoria must be tempered by the hard work of nation-building. —————- [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Amazon Boosts Investment in AI Startup Anthropic to $8 Billion