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Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Bloodshed continues': Middle East war centres on criticising Israel
Sky News host Chris Kenny discusses the ongoing war in the Middle East as Israel attempts to 'stop bloodshed' as Sunni Islamists assault the Arabic Druze communities in Syria. 'They framed Israel as the aggressors here, but Israel was acting to stop bloodshed,' Mr Kenny said. 'Israel was acting to end the horrific massacre, torture, rape and kidnapping of Druze communities in Syria, now, most of this is too horrific to show anyone but the Arab Druze people … have been under attack from Sunni Islamists in Syria, so it is another example of attempted Islamist genocide and Israel acted to stop it.' WARNING: Distressing footage.
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Syria wants burkinis on public beaches, official denies ban on Western beachwear
FILE PHOTO: People walk on Tartous city beach, northwest of Syria, along the Mediterranean sea at sunset, July 18, 2008. REUTERS / Khaled al-Hariri/File Photo DAMASCUS - Syria's Islamist-led government has said women should wear burkinis or other swimwear that covers the body on public beaches, though an official denied there was any ban on Western beachwear and said the decision was misunderstood. The decision marks the first time Syrian authorities have issued guidelines related to what women can wear since Bashar al-Assad was toppled and Sunni Islamists took power in Damascus, after more than 13 years of civil war. While interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has promised to protect freedoms in the new Syria and an interim constitution guarantees women's rights, any move to enforce dress codes would be seen as a shift towards more conservative rule. The tourism ministry decree, dated June 9, said that visitors to public pools and beaches should wear "appropriate swimwear that respects public decency and the feelings of different segments of society". It calls for "more modest swimsuits" and specifies "the burkini or swimming clothes that cover the body more". It offered an exception for hotels classed as four-star or above, and for private beaches, pools and clubs, saying "normal Western swimwear" was generally permitted, "with adherence to public morals and within the limits of public taste". Ghiath al-Farrah, assistant minister for tourism, said the decision had not banned Western beachwear from public beaches. "Those who want to enter wearing Western clothing are allowed, but we allowed the burkini to cater to a large segment of society," he told Reuters, adding that the burkini had previously been banned in some places. "The word 'prohibited' is not mentioned in the decision at all," he said, adding that it was not a presidential decree and could be amended at the end of the season. The government's decision, signed by the tourism minister, said that at public beaches women should wear a cover or a loose robe over their swimwear when moving between the beach and other areas. Men should wear a shirt when not swimming, and are not allowed to appear bare-chested "in the public areas outside the swimming areas - hotel lobbies or ... restaurants", it said. Mahmoud Toron, an analyst close to the government, criticised the decision, saying he would have left swimming pools and beaches alone. "We are not lacking controversial issues amidst these turbulent storms," he wrote on X. The guidelines were part of a wider decree that included public safety guidelines ahead of the summer season, such as not spending too long in the sun and avoiding jellyfish. During the Assad family's iron-fisted rule, which was shaped by secular Arab nationalism, the state issued no directives about dress codes on public beaches, though people often dressed modestly, reflecting conservative norms. Since Assad was toppled, fliers have appeared urging women to cover up, but the government has issued no directives ordering them to observe conservative dress codes. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Journal
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Trump to meet heads of Arab states today amid controversy over luxury aircraft gift from Qatar
DONALD TRUMP IS set to meet the leader of Syria and the heads of the Gulf states in Riyadh today before travelling to Qatar, where controversy is swirling over the gifting of a luxury aircraft. The US president was set to 'say hello' to Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during his last day in Riyadh, after vowing to remove sanctions against the war-ravaged country. 'I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,' Trump said during a speech at an investment forum in the Saudi capital. 'What I do for the crown prince,' he added, before being joined on stage by Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, who along with Turkey has backed the Sunni Islamists who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December. The move comes despite misgivings about the direction of Syria from US ally Israel, which has unleashed military strikes on its neighbour both before and after the fall of Assad, an Iranian ally. Trump will also meet with leaders and representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. The diplomatic sitdowns followed a day dedicated to sealing billions of dollars in commercial agreements, with the United States and Saudi Arabia signing a raft of deals involving energy, AI, weapons and tech. The White House said that Riyadh would purchase nearly $142 billion in arms in what it described as the largest-ever weapons deal. Washington said that Saudi company DataVolt was set to pour $20 billion in artificial intelligence-related projects in the United States. Tech companies including Google will also invest in both countries – likely welcome news for Saudi Arabia which has long faced restrictions securing advanced American technology. Advertisement Qatar controversy Trump is set to head to Doha around midday. The tiny Gulf country that is home to a sprawling US air base has also served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas on ending the devastating war in Gaza. But the stop has largely been muddled by controversy following news that Trump planned on accepting a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar. The Boeing airplane would serve as a new, more modern presidential jet and then be put to Trump's personal use once he leaves the White House. The move raises huge constitutional and ethical questions – as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power as the ultra-sensitive Air Force One. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, yesterda vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. The visit to Qatar comes just days after Washington negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release of a hostage with US citizenship, Edan Alexander. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, hammered out a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that came into effect on 19 January – a day before Trump's inauguration– but failed to end the war. The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to chart a path forward. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, blocked aid and pledged to conquer the territory. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would enter Gaza 'with full force' in the coming day s, saying: 'There will be no situation where we stop the war.' Trump is set to finish his tour of the Gulf with a final stop in Abu Dhabi later in the week. - © AFP 2025
Iraqi News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Trump set to meet Syrian leader ahead of Qatar visit
Riyadh – Donald Trump was set to meet the leader of Syria and the heads of the Gulf states Wednesday in Riyadh before travelling to Qatar where controversy is swirling over the gifting of a luxury aircraft. The US president was set to 'say hello' to Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during his last day in Riyadh, after vowing to remove sanctions against the war-ravaged country. 'I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,' Trump said during a speech at an investment forum in the Saudi capital. 'What I do for the crown prince,' he added, before being joined on stage by Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, who along with Turkey has backed the Sunni Islamists who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December. The move comes despite misgivings about the direction of Syria from US ally Israel, which has unleashed military strikes on its neighbour both before and after the fall of Assad, an Iranian ally. Trump will also meet with leaders and representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. The diplomatic sitdowns followed a day dedicated to sealing billions of dollars in commercial agreements, with the United States and Saudi Arabia signing a raft of deals involving energy, AI, weapons and tech. The White House said that Riyadh would purchase nearly $142 billion in arms in what it described as the largest-ever weapons deal. Washington said that Saudi company DataVolt was set to pour $20 billion in artificial intelligence-related projects in the United States. Tech companies including Google will also invest in both countries — likely welcome news for Saudi Arabia which has long faced restrictions securing advanced American technology. – Qatar controversy – Trump was set to head to Doha around midday. The tiny Gulf country that is home to a sprawling US air base has also served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas on ending the devastating war in Gaza. But the stop has largely been muddled by controversy following news that Trump planned on accepting a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar. The Boeing airplane would serve as a new, more modern presidential jet and then be put to Trump's personal use once he leaves the White House. The move raises huge constitutional and ethical questions — as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power as the ultra-sensitive Air Force One. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, on Tuesday vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. The visit to Qatar comes just days after Washington negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release of a hostage with US citizenship, Edan Alexander. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, hammered out a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that came into effect on January 19 — a day before Trump's inauguration — but failed to end the war. The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to chart a path forward. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, blocked aid and pledged to conquer the territory. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would enter Gaza 'with full force' in the coming days, saying: 'There will be no situation where we stop the war.' Trump was set to finish his tour of the Gulf with a final stop in Abu Dhabi later in the week.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump set to meet Syrian leader ahead of Qatar visit
Donald Trump was set to meet the leader of Syria and the heads of the Gulf states Wednesday in Riyadh before travelling to Qatar where controversy is swirling over the gifting of a luxury aircraft. The US president was set to "say hello" to Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during his last day in Riyadh, after vowing to remove sanctions against the war-ravaged country. "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump said during a speech at an investment forum in the Saudi capital. "What I do for the crown prince," he added, before being joined on stage by Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, who along with Turkey has backed the Sunni Islamists who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December. The move comes despite misgivings about the direction of Syria from US ally Israel, which has unleashed military strikes on its neighbour both before and after the fall of Assad, an Iranian ally. Trump will also meet with leaders and representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. The diplomatic sitdowns followed a day dedicated to sealing billions of dollars in commercial agreements, with the United States and Saudi Arabia signing a raft of deals involving energy, AI, weapons and tech. The White House said that Riyadh would purchase nearly $142 billion in arms in what it described as the largest-ever weapons deal. Washington said that Saudi company DataVolt was set to pour $20 billion in artificial intelligence-related projects in the United States. Tech companies including Google will also invest in both countries -- likely welcome news for Saudi Arabia which has long faced restrictions securing advanced American technology. - Qatar controversy - Trump was set to head to Doha around midday. The tiny Gulf country that is home to a sprawling US air base has also served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas on ending the devastating war in Gaza. But the stop has largely been muddled by controversy following news that Trump planned on accepting a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar. The Boeing airplane would serve as a new, more modern presidential jet and then be put to Trump's personal use once he leaves the White House. The move raises huge constitutional and ethical questions -- as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power as the ultra-sensitive Air Force One. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, on Tuesday vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. The visit to Qatar comes just days after Washington negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release of a hostage with US citizenship, Edan Alexander. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, hammered out a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that came into effect on January 19 -- a day before Trump's inauguration -- but failed to end the war. The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to chart a path forward. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, blocked aid and pledged to conquer the territory. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would enter Gaza "with full force" in the coming days, saying: "There will be no situation where we stop the war." Trump was set to finish his tour of the Gulf with a final stop in Abu Dhabi later in the week. ds/sct/ysm
