Latest news with #Serdar
Local France
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Macron hosts Turkmenistan leader in rare Paris talks
Known in Turkmenistan as "Arkadag" ("protector") and president since 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov remains the number one in the ex-Soviet Caspian nation despite handing over the presidency to his son Serdar in 2022. The trip to Paris is a highly unusual visit abroad by Berdymukhamedov, who is the subject of a cult of personality at home and has penned numerous books including, most recently, one honouring his own achievements. France and the EU are eyeing gas reserves in the region as Europe moves to end its reliance on Russian gas in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Turkmenistan, meanwhile, is seeking to shift more of its exports westwards and reduce its dependence on China as its main export partner. The landlocked state has the fourth-largest gas reserves in the world but is vulnerable to fluctuations in Beijing's economy. How to deliver any gas to Europe from Turkmenistan, which has borders with Iran and Afghanistan, remains a logistical issue. 'Open a new page' Berdymukhamedov hopes his visit will "give a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation" and "open a new page in the history of relations" between Ashgabat and Paris, according to the official Turkmenistan news agency. Several agreements were signed at the Élysée but they did not mention cooperation on energy. France's Thales Alenia Space Group signed a framework agreement for the supply of a second telecommunications satellite to the former Soviet republic. The two governments also agreed to cooperate in the field of sustainable urban development while concluding a roadmap for educational and academic cooperation and the extension of a joint archaeological mission in Turkmenistan. Berdymukhamedov, who emphasises neutrality as the cornerstone of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, last visited France in 2010, when Nicolas Sarkozy was president. He also met with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in 2016. Advertisement Turkmenistan has no legal independent media and is one of the most closed-off states in the world, an authoritarian system that some rights groups have compared to North Korea. Berdymukhamedov has also gained notoriety for unusual antics that are glorified at home on state TV that have included crooning songs, Rambo-style performances on the shooting range and zooming around racetracks in a sports car. While he ceded the presidency to his son in 2022, Berdymukhamedov governs de facto alongside Serdar as chair of the country's supreme constitutional authority. Press freedom monitor Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks Turkmenistan 174 out of 180 countries on its press freedom index, saying that news coverage there "amounts only to praise for the regime". Officially, the nation recorded not a single case of Covid-19.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Suat Serdar vs. AS Roma – Player props & odds to score a goal on April 19
Suat Serdar vs. AS Roma – Player props & odds to score a goal on April 19 [gambcom-standard rankid="4130" ] Will Suat Serdar find the back of the net when Hellas Verona goes up against AS Roma on Saturday, April 19 at 2:45 PM ET? For current stats and anytime goalscorer odds, keep scrolling. Hellas Verona ended up with a draw on April 13 against Genoa CFC, 0-0. Hellas Verona took nine more shots in the matchup, 10 to one. Keep up with Serie A action this season on Fubo! Suat Serdar's Odds to Score a Goal vs. AS Roma Odds to score a goal next game: +1100 Soccer player prop odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 12:40 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. [gambcom-standard rankid="4142" ] Suat Serdar's 2024-25 Stats Looking at expected goals, Serdar (0.5 xG) has almost matched his actual goal tally (one). Thus far in the 2024-25 season, he has taken 15 total shots. That's an average of 0.9 shots per match. Hellas Verona vs. AS Roma Scoring Insights Hellas Verona is 15th in Serie A in goals scored (30 overall, 0.9 per game), and Roma is fifth in goals conceded (32 overall, 1.0 per game). Roma is ninth in Serie A in goals scored (47 overall, 1.5 per game), and Hellas Verona is 20th in goals conceded (59 overall, 1.8 per game). With 30 goals scored and 59 allowed, Hellas Verona is 18th in Serie A in goal differential. Roma is sixth in Serie A in goal differential at +15. Hellas Verona vs. AS Roma Match Info Matchup: Hellas Verona at Roma Hellas Verona at Roma Time: 2:45 PM ET 2:45 PM ET Date: April 19, 2025 April 19, 2025 Venue: Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico Live stream: Watch this game on Paramount+ Watch Hellas Verona vs. AS Roma on Paramount+ More Player Props: [gambcom-standard rankid="4338" ]
Al Jazeera
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Syria's al-Sharaa launches probe into deadly clashes, vows accountability
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has launched an investigation after hundreds of people were killed in fighting between security forces and fighters loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous. 'We announce the formation of a fact-finding committee regarding the events on the coast and form a higher committee,' al-Sharaa said in an address to the nation on Sunday following days of violent unrest. The Syrian leader said that the country was confronting attempts to drag it into a civil war. In his speech, al-Sharaa said that 'remnants of the former regime' had no choice but to surrender immediately as he vowed to hold accountable 'anyone involved in civilian bloodshed'. The Syrian presidency earlier announced that an 'independent committee' had been formed to 'investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them', adding that the perpetrators would be referred to court. 'The Committee has the right to use whoever it deems appropriate to perform its duties, and submit its report to the Presidency of the Republic within a maximum period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this decision,' the presidency's statement read. Latakia. 'Qardahah is symbolically an extremely important [city], because it is the birthplace of the al-Assad regime,' said Serdar, reporting from Damascus. 'But one of the critical locations … is Baniyas, in Tartous. Banias is home to the largest oil refinery in Syria, and the security forces are saying that remnants of the old regime [have] several times attempted to attack that oil refinery,' he added. The violence in Banias came despite a call for peace by al-Sharaa earlier on Sunday. Serdar said that Syrian security forces have reported a loss of 230 of their own personnel, while the majority of those killed have been civilians. Deadly clashes The fighting began after the pro-Assad fighters coordinated attacks on security forces on Thursday. The attacks spiralled into revenge killings as thousands of armed supporters of Syria's new leadership went to the coastal areas to support the security forces. The clashes – which London-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said had already killed 1,000 people, mostly civilians – continued for a fourth day on Sunday. Syrians have circulated graphic videos of executions of civilians. Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify the casualty figures. In the face of the clashes, al-Sharaa urged 'national unity' as he reassured a crowd at a mosque in his childhood neighbourhood of Mezzeh, in Damascus. 'We have to preserve national unity and domestic peace. We can live together,' the president said. 'Rest assured about Syria, this country has the characteristics for survival … What is currently happening in Syria is within the expected challenges.' 'A major setback' United Nations rights chief Volker Turk demanded prompt investigations into the killings and said those responsible must be held to account. Turk said announcements by the country's authorities to respect the law need to be followed by action to protect Syrians and to ensure accountability for abuses. According to Labib al-Nahhas, a Syrian opposition politician and activist, the violence is 'a major setback' for post-Assad Syria. 'What happened right now is a highly sophisticated, coordinated attack, instigated and supported by Iran and Hezbollah, according to data and intel that is available,' al-Nahhas told Al Jazeera. 'Iran, which is looking for new leverage in Syria … they are counting on the sectarian and religious tension that exists in Syria due to six decades of the Syrian regime. But this is where the new authorities have a chance to show a different kind of tone and way.' The new government must build 'a strong national, unified front' – the cornerstone of which 'would be a new transitional government that is truly inclusive, not [just] lip service', al-Nahhas said. 'It's the responsibility not only of the authorities, but also the entire Syrian society, to really focus on the positives, on the common ground.' Regional stability Jordan, meanwhile, hosted a regional conference on Sunday to discuss issues facing Syria such as security, reconstruction and refugees. Top officials from Turkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon joined the meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman. 'All of those countries sharing a border with Syria have a vested interest that there is stability and security for the new administration and for the Syrian people,' said Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman. 'For example, stability in Syria means that the millions of refugees that Turkiye and Jordan are hosting can return voluntarily to Syria,' she added. 'If there is stability and the rule of law and a united Syria, then Iraq can have more comfort in the fight against ISIS [ISIL]…. If there is stability and security, Jordan can also be more comfortable in the fight against drug trafficking, which has created a crisis for the Jordanian government.' Al-Assad's overthrow in December ended more than five decades of dynastic rule by his family, which was marked by severe repression and a devastating war that erupted in 2011 after peaceful anti-government protests were met with a brutal security crackdown. Tens of thousands of Syrians were killed and millions were forced to flee the country or displaced internally as Syria descended into war.
Al Jazeera
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Syrian forces in deadly clashes with Assad-linked fighters in Latakia
Gunmen loyal to deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have killed at least 15 security personnel in ambushes in the coastal province of Latakia, a security source told Al Jazeera. The attacks took place on Thursday near the town of Jableh in the Latakia countryside, part of the coastal area which forms the heartland of the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs. A Syrian security source told the Al Jazeera Arabic network that 15 security personnel were killed in 'various armed ambushes'. 'The Syrian state will impose its authority on all groups outside the law and will not allow security to be threatened,' said the source. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar, said tensions were running high after the attacks. 'Since the fall of the Assad regime three months ago, this is perhaps one of the biggest security challenges that the new government is facing,' he said. The central government had sent reinforcements consisting of 'dozens and dozens of military vehicles' to the city of Latakia from several governorates, including Hama, Homs and Idlib, he said. Soon after the attack, a video was released by an Assad-era commander, saying that a resistance group called the 'coastal shield regiment' had been formed against the new government, said Serdar. The security director of Latakia province had earlier told the Syrian state news agency SANA that security forces were clashing in the Latakia countryside with armed groups loyal to Assad-era special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan. Security forces in Latakia announced that the situation was now under control and that several of the attackers had been killed, with 'many more captured', said Serdar. A curfew was also announced in the coastal city of Tartous.
