Latest news with #Syriac
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Damascus, Kurdish authorities to resume talks on power-sharing
Shafaq News/ Self-Administration's Dialogue Committee in northeastern Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government are set to launch a new round of negotiations on May 30, a source revealed to Shafaq News on Wednesday. The Self-Administration's dialogue committee includes Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, and Assyrian representatives from Kurdish-majority regions as well as the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The committee's visit aims to lay the groundwork for advancing the agreement reached between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on March 10. According to the source, the negotiation agenda will cover topics related to the Self-Administration's institutions, including public services, economy, and education in the areas under AANS control. Meanwhile, Kurdish political leaders, including those from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), have endorsed a joint vision for regional federalism, which they plan to present during upcoming talks in Damascus. While Al-Sharaa has rejected proposals for autonomous cantons, Kurdish negotiators insist that decentralization and constitutional guarantees for Kurdish-led security forces are essential to any lasting political settlement. Badran Jia Kurd, an advisor to AANES, told AFP this week that there can be 'no compromise' on the demand for decentralized pluralism in Syria's political system. The dialogue with the interim Syrian government is ongoing, he affirmed, noting that it addresses 'complex files,' and requires 'greater confidence-building between the two sides than ever before.'
The National
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
'He fought for justice, for the poor, for an open church': Tributes as Pope Francis is laid to rest in Rome
Under brilliant sunshine, the funeral of Pope Francis was marked by huge crowds, as well as moments of complete silence across Vatican City and Rome that were broken only by the liturgy and spontaneous applause for a much-loved pontiff. At least 50,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square, with another 200,000 estimated to be outside. Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and world leaders attended the two-hour funeral Mass, with the UAE represented by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. It was a time for global tensions to be put aside and even temporary reconciliation, as the late Pope would have wished. French President Emmanuel Macron shook hands with US President Donald Trump, after months of tension between Europe and America. On two metal chairs placed close together in a quiet hall, the US leader met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since their dramatic bust-up in the Oval Office. A massive security operation, including a no-fly zone over the Italian capital, rooftop snipers and anti-drone technology ensured the service passed without incident. But despite the presence of so many foreign leaders and the formal attire of the red-clad cardinals, the day really belonged to the ordinary members of the Catholic Church. Many travelled from around the world, calling out their thanks for Pope Francis's life and work. Father Ricardo Camara travelled from Mexico to pay his respects. He said his congregation would forever remember the pontiff for his pursuit of social justice. "He was a great shepherd. He fought a lot for justice, for the poor, for migrants, for an open church," Father Camara told The National. Emil Anton, an Iraqi-Finnish dual citizen who woke up at 4am for the funeral. As a Syriac catholic, he praised Pope Francis's dedication to the Middle East. 'Pope Francis was the first Pope to go to Iraq. This was one of the most important things of his papacy," Mr Anton said. 'His legacy in the Middle East was important, it includes an emphasis on interfaith dialogue, with the declaration of fraternity in the UAE and his meeting with the Ayatollah [Ali Al] Sistani in Iraq, after which a day dedicated to coexistence was declared. His visit in Iraq was a lot of joy and consolation after the hard years'. Pointing to the huge crowd, Clement Iyam, 30, a Nigerian resident of Italy, said: 'This is testimony of a life well-spent. He dedicated his papacy to the poor and the marginalised. We're all happy to have been part of it.' Pope Francis's body had been placed in a simple wooden coffin in St Peter's Square. Beside it was an icon representing the Virgin Mary and child that is believed to have been painted by St Luke the evangelist in the first century. It normally hangs in the basilica of St Mary Major, where Pope Francis was to be buried at his request. A homily of the Pope's life and achievements was read by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, dean of the College of Cardinals. He spoke of the visit of Pope Francis to the UAE in February 2019. "During his trip to the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis signed a document on human fraternity for world peace and living together, recalling the common fatherhood of God," he said. Prayers were recited in languages including Arabic, French, Portuguese and Italian. With the Mass concluded, there was a major departure from previous funerals that included an internment inside St Peter's. For the first time in more than 100 years, the body of a pope was taken outside the Vatican gates to the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major, in central Rome. In an adapted 'popemobile', the coffin was driven slowly through the streets of the city, passing landmarks that included the Colosseum. Crowds lined the nearly 4km route, bursting into applause and cheers as the coffin passed. Pope Francis was laid to rest at a ceremony attended by a small group that, at his request, included some of the poorest and most marginalised in society, including refugees and convicted prisoners. Pope Francis chose the Basilica of St Mary Major for his devotion to the mother of Jesus, having said that 'the Virgin Mary has told me to prepare my tomb'. He prayed in the church after returning from every overseas trip. In total, Pope Francis is said to have made more than 100 visits to the basilica in his 12 years as pontiff. This was his last.
National News
25-04-2025
- Health
- National News
Sunday, April 27, 2025
NNA - Time Topic 8:30 am Public Health Minister Dr. Rakan Nassereddine participates in an awareness event organized by the Saeed Association for Colorectal Cancer Prevention under the title 'Every Step Makes a Difference', in Ain El Mreisseh. 9:00 am Official program begins, featuring speeches by Health Minister Dr. Rakan Nassereddine and WHO Representative in Lebanon Dr. Abdel Nasser Abou Bakr. 10:00 am Awareness walk from Ain El Mreisseh to the Military Bath and back. ************ 8:30 am The Syndicate of Opticians and Optometrists in Lebanon (SOOLB) and the Association of Licensed Optometrists in Lebanon (ALOO) hold their 20th and 8th respective conferences under the theme: 'A Vision for Future – 2nd Edition', at Le Royal Hotel – Dbayeh, under the patronage of Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nassereddine. 1:00 pm The Islamic Group in Lebanon receives condolences for the martyrdom of Dr. Sheikh Hussein Ezzat Atwi, at Al-Barghout Hall – Al-Khashoggi Mosque. (Condolences continue until 4:00 PM) 6:00 pm The Universal Syriac Union Party hosts a memorial festival titled: 'From the Cross to the Resurrection, We Walked the Golgotha Road in Procession', marking the anniversary of the Armenian and Syriac Genocides. Venue: Municipal Palace Theater – Jdeideh, Bouchrieh, Sadd. 7:00 pm Commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Lebanese Red Cross martyrs, under the patronage of President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun, at the Roman Amphitheater in Zouk Mikael.
Rudaw Net
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Rojava sends second aid convoy to Syria's coastal Alawite region
Also in Syria US calls for stronger UN response to terrorist threats in Syria Sharaa extends investigation into March violence against Alawites UN reiterates need for an inclusive Syria Rojava authorities slam Syrian cultural minister over labeling Syriac as 'Arabic dialect' A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A humanitarian organization based in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Friday dispatched a second aid convoy to Syria's Alawite-majority coastal region where violent clashes in March left hundreds dead and thousands in need of assistance. 'The second humanitarian convoy has launched as part of the grassroots initiative in northern and eastern Syria to assist our people in the Syrian coast,' read a statement from the Kurdish Red Crescent. The convoy includes 14,000 aid packages - 12,000 food baskets and 2,000 hygiene baskets - collected through donations from residents of Rojava, the Kurdish Red Crescent, and other organizations, including the Women's Initiative and the Mesopotamia Association, according to the statement. In March, residents of Rojava launched a campaign to support Alawite-majority areas in western Syria, where security forces loyal to Damascus clashed with armed groups reportedly linked to the family of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, killing around 1,500 people, mostly Alawites and many of them civilians. Ahmed Ibrahim, an executive member of the Kurdish Red Crescent, told Rudaw English at the time that around 10,000 boxes of essential items were sent in a first convoy of aid. The Qamishli-based organization, established in 2012, has become one of the largest local humanitarian actors, delivering aid to conflict-affected communities across Syria. The violence in western Syria has drawn widespread condemnation from Western and regional powers, as well as human rights organizations.
Rudaw Net
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
US calls for stronger UN response to terrorist threats in Syria
Also in Syria Sharaa extends investigation into March violence against Alawites UN reiterates need for an inclusive Syria Rojava authorities slam Syrian cultural minister over labeling Syriac as 'Arabic dialect' Militias withdrawing from Afrin as Damascus gains control: Official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Thursday raised alarm over the resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaida, and Iran-backed militias in Syria, and called on the United Nations Security Council to step up efforts against terrorist networks and regional proxies. 'The United States shares Israel's concerns about Syria becoming a base for terrorism, and both our countries have been clear that we oppose malign actors using Syria as a platform to foment instability,' Dorothy Shea, Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Syria when they met earlier in the week. Shea warned that ISIS and al-Qaida continue to operate inside Syria, while Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups are trying to regain a foothold in order to threaten Israel and other countries in the region. 'The [Security] Council should recommit itself to combating terrorism in Syria, call on Iran and other external actors to stop arming and advising terrorist groups, and urge regional states to rein in the actions of proxies who threaten regional peace and security,' she said. 'Israel has an inherent right of self-defense, including against terrorist groups operating close to its border,' she added. Since the fall of Assad's regime, Israel has scrambled to destroy Syria's military stockpiles. It also sent troops across the border into a buffer zone east of the annexed Golan Heights, justifying the move as a precaution against political instability in Syria. Tensions are high between Israel and Turkey. Ankara, a longtime supporter of the Syrian opposition that fought former dictator Bashar al-Assad, has emerged as a key ally of the new Syrian leadership, but has been on a collision course with Israel, which regards the new rulers in Damascus as a threat. Despite growing friction, the two have stated they do not seek conflict in Syria. Diplomatic and security representatives from both countries met on Thursday in Azerbaijan a day after Trump offered to mediate between them.
