27 FEB: NYT | U.N. Links North Korea to Syria's Chemical Weapons Program
"The possible chemical weapons components were part of at least 40 previously unreported shipments by North Korea to Syria between 2012 and 2017 of prohibited ballistic missile parts and materials that could be used for both military and civilian purposes, according to the report, which has not been publicly released but which was reviewed by The New York Times."
12 MAR: REUTERS | Russian agencies say Syrian army found rebel chemical weapons workshop in Ghouta
"MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian military said on Monday that it had found a rebel workshop in eastern Ghouta used to make chemical weapons, Russian news agencies reported on Monday citing a Syrian colonel."
26 MAR: Syrian rebels withdraw from Ghouta
"Rebel fighters agreed to be transported to northern Syria after the government's month-long offensive to capture the last major rebel stronghold near the capital Damascus."
01 APR: WaPoo | The Latest: Russia in talks with last rebel group in Ghouta

A council member of the opposition-controlled town of Douma in the eastern Ghotua suburbs of Damascus says reports of an agreement to surrender the town to the central government are not true.

Iyad Abdelaziz says there is no agreement reached to have the Army of Islam rebel faction leave Douma for north Syria and hand over the town to government forces. He says, however, that "humanitarian cases" will be allowed to evacuate on Monday. ...

07 APR: Trump says 'big price to pay' for Syria chemical attack
"A joint statement by the medical relief organization Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) [1], [2], [3] and the civil defense service, which operates in rebel-held areas, said 49 people had died in the attack late on Saturday in the town of Douma. Others put the toll even higher."
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Near the beginning, around 2013, I compared al Arabiya to Anglo-american reporting. As the migration gather momentum I noted with interest Syrian men complaining to al Arabiya that families left behind were being held for ransom.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.