Latest news with #Saul
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Expert Urges International Community Not To Leave Somalia Behind
MOGADISHU (21 May 2025) – Somalia faces extraordinary challenges in the fight against Al-Shabaab and Daesh armed groups, a UN expert said today, expressing solidarity with the people and the Government in the face of persistent terrorist threats. 'I recognise the extensive efforts by the Somali authorities to prevent terrorism, through a comprehensive strategy combining law enforcement, military operations, combating violent extremism and addressing the root causes of terrorist recruitment,' the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country. 'I also acknowledge Somalia's severe security and resource constraints.' Saul noted with concern that Somalia has adopted excessive and overbroad terrorist definitions and offences, as well as expansive intelligence and security powers that could compromise fundamental human rights. He warned that some terrorism offences attract the death penalty even when they do not involve intentional killing, as required under international law. During his visit, the expert received reports of arbitrary arrests, protracted pre-trial detention, lack of legal representation, possible enforced disappearance, excessive use of force, and ill-treatment in detention. 'I am deeply concerned about widespread violations against children in armed conflict, including killings, maiming, forced recruitment, sexual and gender-based violence, and trafficking,' the Special Rapporteur said. Saul said he was particularly concerned about the use of military courts to try terrorist suspects, which lack sufficient independence and fair trial safeguards. 'Prison conditions also do not meet international standards,' he said. The Special Rapporteur acknowledged achievements of military operations against terrorist groups, but said he was concerned that military forces lacked the necessary rules, procedures and accountability mechanisms to prevent, prosecute and remedy violations. He also expressed deep concern over the use of clan militias alongside the military, in the absence of a legal framework to safeguard human rights. The Special Rapporteur urged Somalia, with international support, to establish and adequately resource rehabilitation and reintegration centres and programmes for individuals who disengage from Al-Shabab, including women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. He warned that countering terrorism financing laws risked impeding the delivery of independent and impartial humanitarian relief to vulnerable civilian populations in acute need. 'Counter-terrorism laws are also adversely affecting the freedom of the media to report on security matters and restricting and chilling the human rights work of civil society organisations,' Saul said. 'I encourage Somalia to establish independent and effective oversight and accountability mechanisms for all counter-terrorism actors, redouble efforts to address root causes, pursue conflict resolution and peace-making, strive for inclusive and participatory governance, and combat corruption, poverty and discrimination against minorities.' He encouraged international partners to maintain political and financial support for Somalia, in the face of devastating recent funding cuts by some donors. 'This is a critical moment for Somalia,' he said. 'Sustained international engagement is essential to support national efforts to build lasting peace, strengthen rule of law, and protect human rights while countering terrorism.' The Special Rapporteur will present a detailed report on his findings to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
America needs a come-to-Jesus meeting about helping the poor, feeding the hungry
Editor's note: As part of our commitment to foster civil conversations in Viewpoints, we're inviting faith leaders to submit edited versions of their homilies that transcend religion, with messages that can appeal to people of all faith traditions. In almost every version of the Bible, the first 19 verses of chapter nine in the Book of Acts are labeled "The Conversion of Saul." This is not necessarily how Luke, the author, thought of the story. Remember that headings, chapters and verses were added to scripture much later in time than the writing of these letters, much less organized into the biblical canon. Nonetheless, this text is often framed as a come-to-Jesus meeting in which Saul (later known as Paul) is 'saved.' It is about the moment in which Saul 'became' a Christian, converting from Judaism to Christianity. Of all the come-to-Jesus stories we have, this is arguably the most famous. But this story is based on one, narrow definition of the word conversion. In their book, "The First Paul," scholars Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan explain, 'In a religious context, the word [conversion] has three meanings, not all of which apply to Paul. The first is conversion from being nonreligious to being religious, the second is conversion from one religion to another, and the third is conversion within a religious tradition.' When we consider the first kind of conversation, from nonreligious to religious, we know that this does not apply to Paul. Borg and Crossan note that, '[Paul] was deeply religious before his Damascus experience. In his own words, he was filled with religious passion: 'zealous for the traditions of my ancestors'; 'as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless'' He was delighted to let everyone know just how religious he was, early and often. The second type of conversion also does not apply. Paul was not a Christian, for as Borg and Crossan remind us, 'Not only was Christianity not yet a religion separate from Judaism, but Paul thought of himself as a Jew after his conversion and for the rest of his life. Paul's [conversion] was a conversion within a tradition: from one way of being Jewish to another way of being Jewish, from being a Pharisaic Jew to being a Christian Jew.' Opinion: Jesus advocated peace and love, but also nonviolent political resistance After his experience on the road to Damascus, which led to him being cared for by the very people he intended to persecute, Paul spent the rest of his life ministering to and caring for multiple faith communities instead of enacting violence against them. He 'saw the light,' as the saying goes, and went from bouncer to head of hospitality. If there is any conversion in this story, it is that Paul went from being driven by the law to inspired by love, from applying judgment to embodying mercy, and from compelling exclusion to inviting embrace. If Christians in America were to have a similar conversion experience, the turnaround would be just as dramatic as it was for Paul. Far too many of us are obsessed with legalism, living as if faith can be distilled down to a list of tenets of faith one has to believe in order to belong, assuming authority to stand in judgment, and hell bent on excluding others from full participation in the kingdom of God. This so-called Christian nation desperately needs a come-to-Jesus meeting so that we might remember what our Teacher said about welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry and caring for the sick. Like Paul, we'll assuredly find ourselves caring for the poor instead of enacting violence against them. May we see the light. God, hear our prayer. The Rev. Lori Allen Walke is senior minister at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: US Christians should focus on God's kindness | Opinion
Al-Ahram Weekly
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Palestine remains the central cause of the Arab world
We are Christians, and we are proud of it. We belong to the Arab nation, and our first and foremost cause is the cause of Palestine. There is a historical truth that no one has the right to ignore or distort: the message of pure Christianity began in Palestine. Our holy land is the birthplace of Christianity. It is the land of the Nativity, the Incarnation, and the Redemption. From Palestine, Christianity spread to all corners of the world—especially to sister Antioch, where Saul of Tarsus went and, on the Straight Street that leads to Mary's Church in Damascus, became Paul, the chief among the apostles. It also reached sister Alexandria, where the Evangelist Mark established its church. The Churches of Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria form a spiritual triangle from which the light of faith spread to the world. Among them, the Church of Jerusalem remains the mother of all churches. This is a historical reality that no one should ignore. Due to the occupation and its policies, and the suffering imposed on the Palestinian people, among other factors, the number of Christians in Palestine has declined. Not long ago, they made up about 1% of the population. Today, they are even fewer. These Palestinian Christians are the children of this sacred land. Even if they are small in number due to the circumstances we mentioned—and others—they are still called to be the salt and the leaven of this land. They should not be seen as a minority, even if their numbers are small. We are not minorities in our homelands—not in Palestine, nor anywhere else in this region. Our language is Arabic, and our identity is Arab. There is no contradiction between being Arab and belonging to any of the historic churches rooted in this land. We, the Greek Orthodox, are part of this region. So are the Syriac Orthodox, the Coptic Orthodox, the Catholics, the Evangelicals, the Maronites, and others. All of these churches are Arab, their language is Arabic, and Arab identity, as we understand it, is not based on race. It does not contradict the cultural or linguistic uniqueness of any church. To be Greek Orthodox does not mean you are not Arab. Arab identity embraces all the peoples of this region, with their different religious, ethnic, doctrinal, and national backgrounds. Arabism is a unifying space for everyone, even if it is now going through a difficult and painful phase—fragmentation, sectarianism, conflict, and division have led some to question or abandon their Arab identity, replacing it with narrow sectarian or factional loyalties. To the Christians of this region—from the Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Coptic, Maronite, Catholic, and others—I say: your attachment to your church, to your cultural identity, to your ecclesiastical language does not cancel your Arab belonging. Arabism brings us together, even if today it is weakened, fractured, and burdened by decline. And in this state of weakness, I see that some foreigners who support our Arab causes—chief among them, the cause of Palestine—are more faithful to Arab identity than some of those who claim to belong to it. Arabism is thought, culture, language, humanity, and civilization. It is not backwardness, decline, sectarianism, or division. I know this issue deserves deeper study and research. But I wanted to say, simply and clearly, that I am proud to belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, and I am proud to be both Palestinian and Arab. I do not see any contradiction between these identities. When I visited the Church of the Archangels of the Greek Orthodox in the Al-Daher district of Cairo, I noticed a sign that read: 'The Church of the Arab Greek Orthodox.' That phrase caught my attention. I realize that in our current Arab context, this topic may provoke debate. That is natural—and even necessary. But I say to those who will discuss and engage in this dialogue: we Christians of the East are not living through an identity crisis, as some want to suggest. We belong to all our churches—with their names, traditions, histories, and languages—but we are also Arabs. We are united by one language, and by a true Arab identity—not a distorted or fake one. And our compass remains Palestine—the land of the Nativity, the Incarnation, and the Redemption. It is the beating heart of Christianity and the beating heart of humanity. There can be no Arab identity without Palestine, which must remain the central cause of the Arab world—and the cause of all free people everywhere, from all religions and backgrounds. *Archbishop Atallah Hanna is the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia in Jerusalem. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Canelo Alvarez could become boxing's first billionaire after mega-deal
Alvarez became the undisputed super-middleweight world champion for the second time on Saturday night and it could only get better for the Mexican Canelo Alvarez could be on the verge of making history by becoming the first 'billion dollar boxer'. This year kicked off with Alvarez supposedly gearing up for a bout with YouTube sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul, but in an unforeseen twist, the Mexican star had a change of mind. Instead, he inked an extremely profitable four-fight contract with Riyadh Season - a deal unveiled in February by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, thus killing the potential clash with the 'Problem Child'. As per recent calculations made by Prime Casino and given the staggering $400 million (£302m) value of his new deal, 'Saul' is destined to pocket an impressive £175m this year alone. This mammoth sum earmarks him as the highest-earning athlete globally in terms of career earnings. The 34-year-old became the undisputed super-middleweight world champion for the second time when he outpointed Scull in Saudi Arabia. All three judges gave the Mexican the nod, by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 119-109. However, it was an uninspiring fight as the pair combined landed the fewest punches in a 12-round fight in boxing history. Even with that lacklustre performance, the prospect for 'Saul' looks incredibly bright, with predictions of him becoming the inaugural billion dollar boxer as mentioned by his business manager, Richard Schaefer. Speaking to The Ring, the ex-Golden Boy CEO had high praise for Alvarez: "Canelo is, without any question, the smartest businessman in boxing I have ever met. And we are going to get him over that next hurdle... He's going to be the first fighter to break the billion dollar net worth. I have zero questions about it. When? Probably next year." Speaking of his bond with the Mexican boxer, Schaefer said, "I'm very fortunate. I started with him when he was 17 years old. I've known him since then and now he's 34. We worked together during the Golden Boy days and always had an amazing relationship and friendship with him. And then he reached back out. We stayed in touch. We were friends. We called each other. "We met each other. But I was sort of retired, I've done my thing in boxing and was happily retired. And then he called me and he said, 'Look, it would be great to have you back. Come and help me with everything.' He's my friend. So I'm very happy to do that. I'm thrilled, excited to be working for him and with him, handling all different aspects; fight negotiations, all these other businesses, everything." After clinching another triumph in the ring, the expectation is set for the Mexican champion to collide with Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 12. In what looks set to be one of the biggest fights of the year, both fighters joined in the centre ring for a tense face-off ahead of the bout - which is set to see both men rewarded handsomely.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Canelo Alvarez net worth to soar after overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo
After penning a lucrative four-fight deal with Riyadh Season this year, the Mexican boxing superstar is set to earn a fortune for his efforts in the ring in 2025 Canelo Alvarez 's net worth will skyrocket as the Mexican is set to earn a guaranteed $200 million (£175m) this year. With that, the 34-year-old will surpass Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of career earnings in 2025. Back in February, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh that the Mexican pound-for-pound star had signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season. It looked set that 'Saul' was going to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in May, before news eventually broke that Alvarez had taken a different route. As part of the deal, Alvarez will fight William Scull this weekend before facing Terence Crawford in the autumn. He will then have two further fights in Saudi Arabia next year. After agreeing a lucrative deal with Riyadh Season - a deal worth a reported $400 million (£302m) - research from Prime Casino, who offer the latest live casinos, has determined that he is guaranteed a whopping sum of £175m this year, making 'Saul' the wealthiest sports star in the world in terms of career earnings. 'Saul' - who is set to pocket over £5 every second - will reportedly earn £3.37m and will roughly pocket over £14.5m per month. The Mexican's closest challenger is Ronaldo - with the Portugal captain banking a whopping £171m a year from Al-Nassr, meaning Saudi Arabia is once again footing the bill. Despite not winning a single tournament last year, golfing superstar Jon Rahm still managed to make a staggering £150m thanks to his partnership with LIV Golf. Also featuring on the list, Oleksandr Usyk sits in third following his two fights with long-time rival Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian earned £90.7m for his performances against the 'Gypsy King.' Both Neymar and NFL star Dak Prescott complete the top six. While Alvarez is set to earn a life-changing amount after penning a deal with Riyadh Season, the Mexican is still focused on the task at hand this weekend. "I'm very excited," he told DAZN. "It's one of my dreams, fighting in another country, and now I'm close to it. It makes me feel excited and motivated. "Here, in Riyadh, they treat me like I do at home, so I feel good. I feel the love. I have had two weeks here already. They treat me like a king. Sometimes it is different, but they treat me really good and I appreciate that. It's very important [to become undisputed again] because I want to be the first and only one."
