Latest news with #Pinheiro


Hamilton Spectator
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
UN commission says Syria must end violence against Alawites and protect places of worship
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of a U.N. investigative commission on Friday called commitments made by the new authorities in Syria to protect the rights of minorities 'encouraging' but said attacks have continued on members of the Alawite sect in the months since a major outbreak of sectarian violence on Syria's coast. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that the current Syrian government — led by Islamist former insurgents who ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad — had given his team 'unfettered access' to the coast and to witnesses of the violence and victims' families. 'Disturbingly, reports continue to circulate of ongoing killings and arbitrary arrests of members of the Alawite community, as well as the confiscation of the property of those who fled the March violence,' he said. Pinheiro's commission also 'documented abductions by unknown individuals of at least six Alawite women this spring in several Syrian governorates,' two of whom remain missing, and has received 'credible reports of more abductions,' he said. Pinheiro also called on authorities to put in place more protections for places of worship after Sunday's suicide bombing attack on a church outside of Damascus. The attack, which killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, was the first of its kind to take place in the Syrian capital in years. The Syrian government has said that the perpetrators belonged to a cell of the Islamic State group and that they thwarted a subsequent attempt to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb in Damascus. 'Attacks on places of worship are outrageous and unacceptable,' Pinheiro said. 'The authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities and ensure that perpetrators and enablers are held accountable.' Assad was deposed in a lightning rebel offensive in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. In March, hundreds of civilians, most of them from the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs, were killed in revenge attacks after clashes broke out between pro-Assad armed groups and the new government security forces on the Syrian coast. Pinheiro said his commission had documented scattered 'revenge attacks' that happened before that, including killings in several villages in Hama and Homs provinces in late January in which men who had handed over their weapons under a 'settlement' process set up for former soldiers and members of security forces under Assad, believing that they would be granted an amnesty in exchange for disarmament, were then 'ill-treated and executed.' He praised the interim government's formation of a body tasked with investigating the attacks on the coast and said government officials had told his team that 'dozens of alleged perpetrators' were arrested. Pinheiro said the government needs to carry out a 'reform and vetting program' as it integrates a patchwork of former rebel factions into a new army and security services and enact 'concrete policies to put an end to Syria's entrenched cycles of violence and revenge, in a context where heightened tensions and sectarian divisions have been reignited.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


San Francisco Chronicle
20 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
UN commission says Syria must end violence against Alawites and protect places of worship
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of a U.N. investigative commission on Friday called commitments made by the new authorities in Syria to protect the rights of minorities 'encouraging' but said attacks have continued on members of the Alawite sect in the months since a major outbreak of sectarian violence on Syria's coast. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that the current Syrian government — led by Islamist former insurgents who ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad — had given his team 'unfettered access' to the coast and to witnesses of the violence and victims' families. 'Disturbingly, reports continue to circulate of ongoing killings and arbitrary arrests of members of the Alawite community, as well as the confiscation of the property of those who fled the March violence,' he said. Pinheiro's commission also 'documented abductions by unknown individuals of at least six Alawite women this spring in several Syrian governorates,' two of whom remain missing, and has received 'credible reports of more abductions,' he said. Pinheiro also called on authorities to put in place more protections for places of worship after Sunday's suicide bombing attack on a church outside of Damascus. The attack, which killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, was the first of its kind to take place in the Syrian capital in years. The Syrian government has said that the perpetrators belonged to a cell of the Islamic State group and that they thwarted a subsequent attempt to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb in Damascus. 'Attacks on places of worship are outrageous and unacceptable,' Pinheiro said. 'The authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities and ensure that perpetrators and enablers are held accountable.' Assad was deposed in a lightning rebel offensive in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. In March, hundreds of civilians, most of them from the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs, were killed in revenge attacks after clashes broke out between pro-Assad armed groups and the new government security forces on the Syrian coast. Pinheiro said his commission had documented scattered 'revenge attacks' that happened before that, including killings in several villages in Hama and Homs provinces in late January in which men who had handed over their weapons under a 'settlement' process set up for former soldiers and members of security forces under Assad, believing that they would be granted an amnesty in exchange for disarmament, were then 'ill-treated and executed.' He praised the interim government's formation of a body tasked with investigating the attacks on the coast and said government officials had told his team that 'dozens of alleged perpetrators' were arrested. Pinheiro said the government needs to carry out a 'reform and vetting program' as it integrates a patchwork of former rebel factions into a new army and security services and enact 'concrete policies to put an end to Syria's entrenched cycles of violence and revenge, in a context where heightened tensions and sectarian divisions have been reignited.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN commission says Syria must end violence against Alawites and protect places of worship
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of a U.N. investigative commission on Friday called commitments made by the new authorities in Syria to protect the rights of minorities 'encouraging' but said attacks have continued on members of the Alawite sect in the months since a major outbreak of sectarian violence on Syria's coast. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that the current Syrian government — led by Islamist former insurgents who ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad — had given his team 'unfettered access' to the coast and to witnesses of the violence and victims' families. 'Disturbingly, reports continue to circulate of ongoing killings and arbitrary arrests of members of the Alawite community, as well as the confiscation of the property of those who fled the March violence,' he said. Pinheiro's commission also 'documented abductions by unknown individuals of at least six Alawite women this spring in several Syrian governorates,' two of whom remain missing, and has received 'credible reports of more abductions,' he said. Pinheiro also called on authorities to put in place more protections for places of worship after Sunday's suicide bombing attack on a church outside of Damascus. The attack, which killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, was the first of its kind to take place in the Syrian capital in years. The Syrian government has said that the perpetrators belonged to a cell of the Islamic State group and that they thwarted a subsequent attempt to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb in Damascus. 'Attacks on places of worship are outrageous and unacceptable,' Pinheiro said. 'The authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities and ensure that perpetrators and enablers are held accountable.' Assad was deposed in a lightning rebel offensive in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. In March, hundreds of civilians, most of them from the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs, were killed in revenge attacks after clashes broke out between pro-Assad armed groups and the new government security forces on the Syrian coast. Pinheiro said his commission had documented scattered 'revenge attacks' that happened before that, including killings in several villages in Hama and Homs provinces in late January in which men who had handed over their weapons under a 'settlement' process set up for former soldiers and members of security forces under Assad, believing that they would be granted an amnesty in exchange for disarmament, were then 'ill-treated and executed.' He praised the interim government's formation of a body tasked with investigating the attacks on the coast and said government officials had told his team that 'dozens of alleged perpetrators' were arrested. Pinheiro said the government needs to carry out a 'reform and vetting program' as it integrates a patchwork of former rebel factions into a new army and security services and enact 'concrete policies to put an end to Syria's entrenched cycles of violence and revenge, in a context where heightened tensions and sectarian divisions have been reignited.'


Winnipeg Free Press
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
UN commission says Syria must end violence against Alawites and protect places of worship
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of a U.N. investigative commission on Friday called commitments made by the new authorities in Syria to protect the rights of minorities 'encouraging' but said attacks have continued on members of the Alawite sect in the months since a major outbreak of sectarian violence on Syria's coast. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that the current Syrian government — led by Islamist former insurgents who ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad — had given his team 'unfettered access' to the coast and to witnesses of the violence and victims' families. 'Disturbingly, reports continue to circulate of ongoing killings and arbitrary arrests of members of the Alawite community, as well as the confiscation of the property of those who fled the March violence,' he said. Pinheiro's commission also 'documented abductions by unknown individuals of at least six Alawite women this spring in several Syrian governorates,' two of whom remain missing, and has received 'credible reports of more abductions,' he said. Pinheiro also called on authorities to put in place more protections for places of worship after Sunday's suicide bombing attack on a church outside of Damascus. The attack, which killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, was the first of its kind to take place in the Syrian capital in years. The Syrian government has said that the perpetrators belonged to a cell of the Islamic State group and that they thwarted a subsequent attempt to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb in Damascus. 'Attacks on places of worship are outrageous and unacceptable,' Pinheiro said. 'The authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities and ensure that perpetrators and enablers are held accountable.' Assad was deposed in a lightning rebel offensive in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. In March, hundreds of civilians, most of them from the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs, were killed in revenge attacks after clashes broke out between pro-Assad armed groups and the new government security forces on the Syrian coast. Pinheiro said his commission had documented scattered 'revenge attacks' that happened before that, including killings in several villages in Hama and Homs provinces in late January in which men who had handed over their weapons under a 'settlement' process set up for former soldiers and members of security forces under Assad, believing that they would be granted an amnesty in exchange for disarmament, were then 'ill-treated and executed.' He praised the interim government's formation of a body tasked with investigating the attacks on the coast and said government officials had told his team that 'dozens of alleged perpetrators' were arrested. Pinheiro said the government needs to carry out a 'reform and vetting program' as it integrates a patchwork of former rebel factions into a new army and security services and enact 'concrete policies to put an end to Syria's entrenched cycles of violence and revenge, in a context where heightened tensions and sectarian divisions have been reignited.'


USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 256: Make your predictions for Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales
UFC Fight Night 256: Make your predictions for Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales We want your predictions for UFC Fight Night 256. Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we'll use the official tallies that are registered by Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC Fight Night 256 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Make your picks below. Tecia Pennington vs. Luana Pinheiro Records: Pennington (14-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Pinheiro (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) Pennington (14-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Pinheiro (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) Past five: Pennington 3-2, Pinheiro 2-3 Pennington 3-2, Pinheiro 2-3 Division: Women's strawweight Women's strawweight Rankings: Pennington No. 13 Pennington No. 13 Odds (as of 05.12.25): Pennington -455, Pinheiro +350 Carlos Hernandez vs. HyunSung Park Records: Hernandez (10-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Park (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Hernandez (10-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Park (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Past five: Hernandez 2-3, Park 5-0 Hernandez 2-3, Park 5-0 Division: Flyweight Flyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Hernandez +140, Park -170 Denise Gomes vs. Elise Reed Records: Gomes (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Reed (8-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) Gomes (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Reed (8-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) Past five: Gomes 3-2, Reed 3-2 Gomes 3-2, Reed 3-2 Division: Women's strawweight Women's strawweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Gomes -550, Reed +410 Connor Matthews vs. Yadier del Valle Records: Matthews (7-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), del Valle (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Matthews (7-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), del Valle (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Matthews 2-3, del Valle 5-0 Matthews 2-3, del Valle 5-0 Division: Featherweight Featherweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Matthews +320, del Valle -420 Tainara Lisboa vs. Luana Santos Records: Lisboa (7-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Santos (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) Lisboa (7-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Santos (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) Past five: Lisboa 5-0, Santos 4-1 Lisboa 5-0, Santos 4-1 Division: Women's bantamweight Women's bantamweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Lisboa +120, Santos -140 Jared Gordon vs. Thiago Moises Records: Gordon (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Moises (19-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) Gordon (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Moises (19-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) Past five: Gordon 2-3, Moises 3-2 Gordon 2-3, Moises 3-2 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Gordon -110, Moises -110 Matheus Camilo vs. Gabe Green Records: Camilo (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Green (11-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Camilo (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Green (11-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Past five: Camilo 5-0, Green 2-3 Camilo 5-0, Green 2-3 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Camilo -185, Green +155 Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa Records: Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Erosa (31-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Erosa (31-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) Past five: Costa 4-1, Erosa 3-2 Costa 4-1, Erosa 3-2 Division: Featherweight Featherweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Costa -230, Erosa +190 Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Dustin Stoltzfus Records: Ruziboev (35-9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Stoltzfus (16-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) Ruziboev (35-9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Stoltzfus (16-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) Past five: Ruziboev 4-1, Stoltzfus 3-2 Ruziboev 4-1, Stoltzfus 3-2 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Ruziboev -285, Stoltzfus +230 Mairon Santos vs. Sodiq Yusuff Records: Santos (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Yusuff (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) Santos (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Yusuff (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) Past five: Santos 4-1, Yusuff 2-3 Santos 4-1, Yusuff 2-3 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Santos -135, Yusuff +115 Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig Records: Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) Past five: Bellato 4-0-1, Craig 1-4 Bellato 4-0-1, Craig 1-4 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.12.25): Bellato -500, Craig +380 Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Records: Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC), Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC), Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) Past five: Burns 2-3, Morales 5-0 Burns 2-3, Morales 5-0 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: Burns No. 9, Morales No. 15 Burns No. 9, Morales No. 15 Odds (as of 05.12.25): Burns +500, Morales -700 UFC Fight Night 256 fight card (as of May 12, 2 p.m. ET) MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET) Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig Mairon Santos vs. Sodiq Yusuff Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Dustin Stoltzfus Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa Matheus Camilo vs. Gabe Green PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)