Mideast governments condemn suicide bombing of Syrian church as death toll rises to 25
The attack Sunday on the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox church during a Divine Liturgy in Dweil'a, near Damascus, was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tibetans in exile wonder: Will the next Dalai Lama be as charismatic as this one?
DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama has announced that he intends to reincarnate, paving the way for a successor to take on a mantle stretching back 500 years after his death. But as he approaches his 90th birthday, that news hasn't eased the worries of Tibetan Buddhists who wonder: What will happen when this Dalai Lama is gone? For decades, the 14th Dalai Lama has been more than a spiritual leader. He has sustained a nation in exile and managed to build a community that's kept the Tibetan culture and identity alive. He is the China -reviled spokesperson for a Tibetan homeland that many, like him, can see only from afar. He has received a Nobel Peace Prize and been courted by royalty, politicians and Hollywood stars, helping him draw global attention and support for Tibet. When his death comes, it will pitch the global Tibetan community into uncertainty, perhaps for years. His successor will have to be found through the traditional process of reincarnation. China, whose troops took control of Tibet in 1950, says it will reject anyone chosen without Beijing's consent. Tibetans in India's Himalayan town of Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama's home in exile, and scattered around the world fear a new onslaught on their cultural and religious identity. 'The absence of His Holiness would be a huge setback for the Tibetans,' said Penpa Tsering, the head of the democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile. 'The responsibility lies on us as to how we carry forward the legacy of His Holiness.' A long gap The Dalai Lama has become one of the world's most recognizable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet. He has not named a successor, but he says they will be born in the 'free world' — outside China. Previous Dalai Lamas have been identified by senior monastic disciples, under strict religious rituals meant to identify their predecessor's reincarnation. Monks interpret signs, consult oracles and send search committees to Tibetan households looking for a child who exhibits the qualities of the Dalai Lama. All of this takes years of effort, leaving a leadership vacuum. Years of religious education and training are needed before the identified successor grows up and takes up full responsibilities as spiritual leader. China has already sought to elevate other spiritual figures, particularly Tibetan Buddhism's No. 2 figure, the Panchen Lama, whose legitimacy is highly contested by many Tibetans at home and in exile. Gyaltsen Norbu was installed by Beijing as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 after followers of the Dalai Lama recognized a different boy as the Panchen's incarnation. That boy disappeared soon after. Joy and stubbornness And there's no guarantee the successor will have the current Dalai Lama's charisma, or his ability to balance a sense of joy with the stubbornness needed to counter China. 'He is a fulcrum, he's the epitome of the Tibetan movement,' said writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue, who was born in India. Tsundue for years has advocated for Tibet's autonomy. To him, the current Dalai Lama's absence will be hugely felt. Like many other Tibetans, however, his hopes are pinned on the government in exile. 'How is home not anything but a genuine human demand?' he added. Such concerns are most prevalent in Dharamshala, where a Tibetan community of over 20,000 administers its own schools, hospitals and monasteries and elects its own lawmakers and president. The Dalai Lama handed over his political powers to a democratically elected government in 2011. Beijing is likely to appoint its own candidate China doesn't recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile and brands the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist. It has shunned direct contact with his representatives for more than a decade. It has insisted that the Dalai Lama's successor will be from inside China and must be approved by its government. Tibetans in exile have long been wary of the officially atheist Chinese government's attempts to meddle with the Tibetan Buddhism reincarnation system. They see it as part of Beijing's plan to tighten its control over Tibet. 'If they do it, they are actually making a mockery of themselves among the free countries,' said Geshe Lhakdor, a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, calling Beijing's stance 'hypocrisy.' Tibetans say they were effectively independent for centuries and accuse China of trying to wipe out Tibet's Buddhist culture and language. Many of the more than 7 million Tibetans living under Chinese rule accuse Beijing of stifling religious freedoms, changing its ethnic makeup by moving millions of Han Chinese into the region and torturing political prisoners. The Chinese government denies these allegations. Waning global attention For years, governments across the world have feted the Dalai Lama for advocating for Tibetan rights and spreading a message of nonviolence. They have also helped him raise tens of millions of dollars to build Tibetan cultural and religious institutions. But Tsundue said that global powers have become more unreliable in their support of the Tibetan cause as China's influence grows. 'Everybody has benefited at our cost because they have been trading with China,' Tsundue said. 'We are, in a way, a victim of geopolitics.' Some countries, including the United States, view Beijing's attempts to control the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama as a violation of religious freedom and Tibetan cultural tradition. Others, like the European Union and India, have maintained a cautious stance to avoid friction with China. Tsering, the president of the government-in-exile, acknowledged this, calling Tibetans' efforts to keep the issue of Tibet alive 'a miracle.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. He also cautioned that the future depends on the Tibetan people at large. Under the Dalai Lama's 'Middle Way' policy, the movement for Tibet's autonomy has largely been nonviolent. It espouses autonomy under Chinese sovereignty. The newly announced succession plan, however, can prompt a reckoning of that policy, and it is unclear how the Dalai Lama's successor might approach dialogue with Beijing. Tsering cautioned that much could change in the coming years. His biggest worry is that the Dalai Lama's death in exile could trigger a violent response inside Tibet, where in recent years hundreds of monks and others reportedly set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule. 'I hope the Tibetans won't get radicalized,' he said.
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
South Korea's leader says trade deal with US remains unclear ahead of Trump's deadline
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that it remained unclear whether Seoul and Washington could conclude their tariff negotiations by the deadline set by President Donald Trump for next week, noting Thursday that both nations were still working to clarify their positions and identify areas of agreement. Speaking at his first news conference since taking office last month, Lee also reiterated his intentions to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, though he acknowledged that mutual distrust between the Koreas is too deep to heal anytime soon.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
South Korea's leader says trade deal with US remains unclear ahead of Trump's deadline
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that it remained unclear whether Seoul and Washington could conclude their tariff negotiations by the deadline set by President Donald Trump for next week, noting Thursday that both nations were still working to clarify their positions and identify areas of agreement. Speaking at his first news conference since taking office last month, Lee also reiterated his intentions to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, though he acknowledged that mutual distrust between the Koreas is too deep to heal anytime soon. Trump's tariff hikes and other 'America First' policies are major challenges for Lee's month-old government, as are North Korea's expanding nuclear program and domestic economic woes. Lee, a liberal, came to power after winning a snap presidential election caused by the ouster of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law in December. Lee said the tariff negotiations with the U.S. have been 'clearly not easy' and stressed that the countries must reach mutually beneficial outcomes. 'It's difficult to say with certainty whether we will be able to reach a conclusion by July 8. We are now doing our best,' Lee said. 'What we need is a truly reciprocal outcome that benefits both sides and works for everyone, but so far, both sides are still trying to define exactly what they want.' Trump's 90-day pause in global reciprocal tariffs is set to expire on July 9, potentially exposing South Korean products to 25% tax rates. Washington has separately been seeking higher duties on specific products such as automobiles and semiconductors, which are key exports for South Korea's trade-dependent economy. There are growing concerns in Seoul that Trump may also demand a broader deal requiring South Korea to pay significantly more for the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed on the peninsula to deter North Korean threats. Lee has consistently urged patience on tariffs, arguing that rushing to secure an early deal would not serve the national interest. His trade minister, Yeo Han-koo, was reportedly arranging a visit to Washington for possible meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. On North Korea, Lee said he would seek to restore long-dormant talks with North Korea, whose expanding military cooperation with Russia pose major security concerns to their neighbors. 'I think we should improve relations with North Korea based on a reliable coordination and consultation between South Korea and the U.S.,' Lee said. 'But I expect that won't be easy as mutual antagonism and distrust are too serious.' Lee previously faced criticism that he was tilting toward North Korea and China and away from the U.S. and Japan. But since the election, Lee has repeatedly vowed pragmatic diplomacy, saying he would bolster the alliance with the U.S. while also seeking to repair ties with North Korea, China and Russia. Some critics say it's too difficult to satisfy all parties. Lee's government has made proactive efforts to build trust with North Korea, halting frontline anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and taking steps to ban activists from flying balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korea hasn't publicly responded to the conciliatory gestures by Trump and Lee, but officials said North Korean propaganda broadcasts have since been unheard in South Korean border towns. Lee said he's been talking with his presidential security and intelligence officials about how to revive talks with North Korea but didn't elaborate. Trump has also expressed intent to resume diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Lee has said he would support Trump's push. North Korea has refused talks with the U.S. and South Korea since earlier Trump-Kim nuclear talks collapsed in 2019. North Korea is now pursuing relations with Russia, supplying troops and weapons to support its war against Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance.
