Maha Kumbh Mela: Crowd crush at Indian festival kills at least seven
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Syrian president says country should not be unified 'with blood'
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said he rejected attempts at creating autonomy in Syria and warned that the country's unification "should not be with blood" following a month of sectarian violence. Speaking on state TV on Sunday, Sharaa pushed back against demands by hundreds of Druze protesters in Syria's southern Sweida province calling for self-determination for the religious minority. "We still have another battle ahead of us to unify Syria, and it should not be with blood and military force... it should be through some kind of understanding because Syria is tired of war," Sharaa said. Since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December, Sharaa has struggled to stymie violence across the country, while a number of religious and political minorities have called for the decentralisation of power. "I do not see Syria as at risk of division. Some people desire a process of dividing Syria and trying to establish cantons... This matter is impossible," said Sharaa. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Some parties seek to gain power through regional power, Israel or others. This is also extremely difficult and cannot be implemented." Violence between members of the Druze minority, Bedouin tribesmen and state forces has seen more than 1,600 people killed in Sweida since the beginning of July. It also followed further violence in the coastal province of Latakia, where attacks by alleged Assad loyalists provoked a violent sectarian backlash against the minority Alawi population, of which the former president and his family were members. At least 1,500 Alawi were killed in the subsequent violence, with a Reuters investigation tracing much of it back to officials in Damascus. In his comments on Sunday, Sharaa conceded that they had "witnessed many violations from all sides... some members of the security forces and army in Syria also carried out some violations". He said the state was required "to hold all perpetrators of violations to account". Saturday's demonstrations in Sweida included calls for Sharaa's overthrow as well as displays of the Israeli flag. Israel bombed government forces last month, claiming it was acting to defend the Druze population. Sharaa's government has also been in talks with the semi-autonomous Kurdish-led administration that controls much of the north and northeast. Implementation of a 10 March deal on integrating its civil and military institutions into the state has been held up by arguments over issues such as decentralisation, which Damascus has rejected. Joseph Daher, a Swiss Syrian professor at the University of Lausanne, told Middle East Eye earlier this month that he was concerned by Sharaa's approach to Syria's post-Assad reconciliation. "Sharaa does not want to deal with political and social actors that are organised," he said. He told MEE that he saw the new government pursuing the creation of a new "ruling regime" with centralised power, but it still lacked the capacity to effectively assert its authority. "I think the lack and the failure to control Sweida, not only because of Israeli attacks, but also local resistance, is also an indication that this is one of the contradictions of this government," Daher said. "That it wants to seek monopolisation, centralisation of power, but at the same time is quite weak - whether militarily, human capacities, financially, politically."
Filipino Times
2 hours ago
- Filipino Times
UAE President Offers Condolences to Pakistan After Deadly Flash Floods
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has extended his condolences to Pakistan following the devastating flash floods that claimed over 340 lives in just two days. According to reports, 328 of the deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where flash floods and collapsing houses left widespread destruction. At least 120 others were injured. In a message to Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the UAE President expressed solidarity with the Pakistani people, praying for the recovery of those injured and comfort for the families of the victims. The UAE also conveyed its sympathy over the loss of five lives in a helicopter crash during a relief mission, including two pilots. The crash occurred as the crew attempted to deliver aid in flood-hit areas amid poor weather. Meanwhile, in Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 60 people were killed after floodwaters swept through a Himalayan village, burying homes and residents under mud and debris.
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
India's Modi cuts taxes, pushes self-reliance amid Trump tariff tensions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country on Friday to move towards more self-reliance, manufacture everything from fertilisers to jet engines and EV batteries, and vowed to protect farmers in the face of a trade conflict with Washington. With the punishing tariffs imposed on Indian exports by US President Donald Trump expected to hurt growth in the world's fastest growing major economy, Modi announced lower goods and services taxes (GST) from October - a move that could help boost consumption. He also announced India would set up a new defence system called 'Sudarshan Chakra' in the aftermath of India's four-day military conflict with Pakistan in May. He did not elaborate but a government statement said the system is aimed at neutralising enemy infiltrations and enhancing India's offensive capabilities. Indian defence and policy circles have informally referred to the Russian S-400 air defence system - which played a key role during the fighting with Pakistan - as Sudarshan Chakra, after a Hindu mythological weapon. Modi was addressing the nation on the occasion of its Independence Day at a time New Delhi has been struggling with Trump's tariffs and the collapse of trade talks, largely due to differences over imports of American farm and dairy products. "Farmers, fishermen, cattle rearers are our top priorities," Modi said in his customary annual address from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. "Modi will stand like a wall against any policy that threatens their interests. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers," he said. Modi did not mention the tariffs or the US in his speech that lasted nearly two hours. Last week, Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations. The new import tax will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50 per cent - among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Modi has never spoken about the tariffs directly, only alluding to them in a speech last week, where he swore to protect the interests of farmers, even if it came at a personal price. Farmers are a key political constituency in India and they violently protested against Modi's last big push to reform the sector, forcing him to repeal three farm laws in 2021 in what was a rare defeat for him. TAX CUTS TO BOOST CONSUMPTION Although local manufacturing and self-reliance have been Modi's key focus areas for years now, the push is seen to have gained urgency amid ongoing global trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. "The need of the hour is to take a resolve for building a strong India... I want our traders, shopkeepers to display boards for 'Swadeshi' products," Modi said, using the Hindi word for made in India goods. He said made in India semiconductor chips would hit the market by the end of this year and that India was pushing for self-reliance in producing critical minerals with exploration underway at more than 1,200 locations. Trump's tariffs threaten to disrupt India's access to its largest export market, where shipments totalled nearly $87 billion in 2024, hitting sectors like textiles, footwear, shrimp, gems and jewellery. In retaliation, some supporters of Modi have sought to stoke anti-American sentiment and called for a boycott of US companies such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. Modi's promise to cut GST by October's Diwali festival, which encompasses one of India's biggest shopping seasons, follows previous commitments to overhaul it by reducing the number of rate brackets under the 2017 tax regime. A group of ministers have been preparing a report that will consider merging tax slabs and lowering rates on some products. In February, India cut personal income tax for some individuals to boost spending. Earlier this month, the central bank kept interest rates steady, following a 100 basis point cut this year so far. The government has proposed to the ministers' panel that it recommend reducing taxes on mass use items as well as on goods used by women, students and farmers to boost consumption and enhance affordability, the finance ministry said in an X post. The government will move towards making GST a simple tax with two rate slabs, one standard and another merit, it said. Special rates will be applicable only for a few select items.
