Sudan to cut ties with UAE, defence council says
CAIRO, May 6 (Reuters) - Sudan will cut ties with the United Arab Emirates, the army-affiliated defence council said on Tuesday, after accusations that Abu Dhabi was supporting the rival paramilitary forces in the nation's civil war.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Syria orders women to wear burkinis on public beaches
Women in Syria must wear burkinis or swimwear that covers their body at public beaches and swimming pools, its tourism ministry has declared. It is the first time Damascus' Islamist authorities have issued guidelines for women to observe conservative dress codes since Bashar al-Assad's autocratic regime was toppled in December, amid concerns the country's new rulers could implement a more religiously conservative agenda. The new restrictions were part of a wider decree that detailed public safety guidelines for beaches and swimming pools, such as not spending too long in the sun. Syrians should wear 'appropriate swimwear that respects public decency and the feelings of different segments of society', it said, which required 'more modest swimsuits'. The order specified that women should wear 'the burkini or swimming clothes that cover the body more'. Men are required to wear shirts under the guidance, which said that 'topless clothing is not permitted in public areas outside of swimming areas, hotel lobbies, and food service areas'. 'In public areas outside of beaches and pools, it is preferable to wear loose clothing, covering shoulders and knees, and avoid transparent or overly tight clothing,' it added. Although 'normal Western swimwear' is still permitted at private clubs and luxury hotels, it said the new rules should be followed 'with adherence to public morals and within the limits of public taste'. The ministry said 'lifeguards and beach supervisors' would monitor compliance to the guidelines. Repercussions for rule breakers are unclear. The crackdown reflects the influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the de-facto Islamist coalition, designated a terrorist organisation by the UN the US, EU and UK, who led the lighting offensive that ousted Assad's regime and are now running Syria. Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's new president, has been working to assure global leaders that he won't restrict women's rights in the new Syria. Sunni Islamist group HTS – which has its roots in al-Qaeda – claims it has a more nuanced approach to implementing Sharia law than other hardline regimes in the Middle East. For example, Iran's morality police have brutally cracked down on women and girls perceived as failing to comply with the mandatory hijab laws and regulations, using public flogging and beatings as punishment. But al-Sharaa is treading a fine line, with observers abroad keeping a keen eye on signs that Syria could implement stricter Islamic laws. In December, he provoked a social media furore when he requested that a young woman who approached him for a photo covered her hair before taking a picture. Syria is working to rebuild after it was ravaged by 14 years of civil war. Last month, US president Donald Trump promised to lift economic sanctions on Syria, representing a major US policy shift toward the country. 'I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,' said Mr Trump. 'It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off,' he added. 'Good luck Syria, show us something very special.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
US to order evacuation of Iraqi embassy amid fears of Iran deal collapse
American embassies in the Middle East are preparing to send home non-essential staff and families owing to heightened risks in the region. According to a string of American and local security sources, the embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, is planning what officials called an 'ordered evacuation,' withdrawing non-essential staff. It was already operating at reduced staffing levels. But facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait are also to send home family members. The move is being considered as the prospect of the US signing a nuclear deal with Iran appears less and less likely. 'Trump committed to keeping Americans safe' Details emerged hours after Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran's minister of defence, said that Tehran would strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks failed, and tensions escalated with Washington. 'President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad,' a State Department official told The Telegraph. 'In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq.' Mr Trump said he was growing 'less confident' in the likelihood of signing a nuclear deal with the country. Speaking to the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast, Mr Trump said: 'I don't know. I did think so, and I'm getting more and more less confident about it,' when asked by the host if he thought Iran would agree to shut down its nuclear program. UK issues warning The UK maritime agency issued a warning earlier on Wednesday that increased tensions could trigger a military escalation with a knock-on effect on critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. Iraq, a rare regional partner of both the United States and its arch regional foe Iran, hosts 2,500 US troops and has Tehran-backed armed factions linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking US troops. Mr Trump has been under pressure from Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, to allow the country to strike Iran. So-far, Mr Trump has blocked strikes. He told reporters in the Oval Office last month: 'I told [Mr Netanyahu] this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution now. 'That could change at any moment.' The US president has also threatened to strike Iran if stalled talks over its nuclear programme failed. Iran's mission to the United Nations posted on social media that 'threats of overwhelming force won't change the facts'. 'Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability,' it said.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
US transportation chief backs independent audit into DC airspace
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday he supports an independent audit into airspace operations and safety oversight in the Washington, D.C., region after a January 29 fatal collision between an American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab regional passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people. On Monday, two dozen U.S. senators asked the inspector generals for the Pentagon and the Transportation Department to open audits in response to the collision and ongoing coordination issues between the Army and air traffic control at Reagan Washington National Airport, following the collision and a serious close call on May 1.
