Damascus, Syria - December 11, 2024 Businesses have reopened, and daily activities are resuming in Damascus after the lifting of a curfew in the Syrian capital and surrounding areas on Wednesday, which was imposed three days earlier following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government. The lifting of the curfew came after Mohammed al-Bashir, previously a regional leader in northwestern Syria, announced Tuesday that he had been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until March 2025. Now, new Syrian flags representing the transitional government have been raised across the country and painted on the facades of shops, and banks and bazaars have started reopening. In the Hamdidyia bazaar, an important and historical commercial hub of Syria, business is gradually resuming. Al-Bashir chaired a meeting in Damascus on Tuesday attended by members of his new government and those of Assad's former cabinet to discuss the transfer of portfolios and institutions. This is a step seen by many as positive and along the path of restoring government services and putting Syria back on track after an era of bloodshed and sanctions. Al-Bashir has said his priorities are restoring security and state authority. He hopes to bring home millions of Syrian refugees and provide essential services, even as concerns remain over Syria's future and how inclusive it will be. Shotlist: Damascus, Syria - Dec 11, 2024: 1. Various of traffic, pedestrians; 2. Man opening door; 3. Facade of Syria International Islamic Bank; 4. Resident withdrawing money from ATM; 5. People at bazaar; 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan, store owner (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 7): "Hamadiyia bazaar was opened two days ago. We had two days of chaos in the country and we were cautious. Now we have reopened the bazaar and it is like it was before, and it will be better."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Marwan working; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 8. People at bazaar; 9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad, store owner (full name not given): "I hope that those who live abroad and miss their home and family can come back. It is safe here. Our bazaar is now open and we are doing fine."; 10. People at bazaar. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]