Syria’s first wheat shipment since al-Assad ouster points to recovery
Traders say Syria has largely been relying on overland imports from neighbours this year. A ship carrying wheat has arrived in Syria’s Latakia port, the first such delivery since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December, the government said, as it pushes to boost an economy ravaged by nearly 14 years of ruinous civil war. Traders say Syria has this year been largely relying on overland imports from neighbours. Officials of the new government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa say that while imports of wheat and other basics are not subject to sanctions from the United States or United Nations, challenges in securing financing for trade deals have deterred global suppliers from selling to Syria. The Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Borders said in a statement that the ship carried 6,600 tonnes of wheat. It did not identify the nationality or destination of the boat, but one regional commodity trader told the Reuters news agency it was from Russia. Russia and Iran were Syria’s primary military and economic backers under al-Assad. They previously provided most of Syria’s wheat and oil products, but stopped after opposition fighters swept through the country in triumph and al-Assad fled to Moscow. Advertisement Syria’s border authority called the shipment “a clear indication of the start of a new phase of economic recovery in the country”, adding that it should pave the way for more arrivals of vital supplies. Al-Sharaa’s government is sharply focused on economic recovery after 14 years of conflict and has also been making efforts to open travel routes to the country. Most international airlines suspended operations to and from Damascus in 2012 amid the Syrian government’s violent crackdown on protests that began in 2011 and the subsequent civil war that drew in multiple outside actors. However, in January 2024, several airlines resumed service at Damascus International Airport following an announcement by the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority that international flights would be accepted. On Saturday, a Syrian passenger flight departed on Sunday for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the resumption of air travel between the two countries. A UN official said on Saturday that Syria’s authorities should also begin the process of economic recovery, without waiting for Western sanctions imposed under al-Assad’s rule to be lifted. “Waiting for sanctions to be lifted leads nowhere,” Abdallah Al Dardari, the regional chief for Arab states at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told the AFP news agency in an interview in Damascus. Al Dardari said this process should include “projects… directly affecting citizens”, the provision of services by civil society, particularly in education, and “the rapid improvement of public services”. Advertisement “People need to feel the improvement quickly … especially in such a difficult period,” he said. “With a clear vision and well-defined priorities, once the sanctions are lifted, funding will flow into Syria.” Some countries, including the US, have said they would wait to see how the new authorities exercise their power and ensure human rights before lifting sanctions, opting instead for targeted and temporary exemptions. Adblock test (Why?)
US attacks on Yemen tell Iran that US is “eyeing confrontation”
[unable to retrieve full-text content] The US is negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program while bombing its allies, says Professor Hassan Ahmadian.
US air strikes pound Yemen
NewsFeed Video shows US air strikes pounding Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, just days after the US bombed Hodeidah’s airport and Ras Isa port, killing at least 80 people. The UN says it’s gravely concerned by the US campaign against the Iran-backed group, which the Trump administration argues is necessary to protect international shipping in the Red Sea. Published On 20 Apr 202520 Apr 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Thousands gather for centuries-old Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem
Thousands of Christians gathered in the cavernous Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a centuries-old Holy Fire ceremony. Holding unlit candles, they packed into the sprawling 12th-century basilica built on the site where, according to tradition, Jesus was crucified and buried. In near-total darkness, the Greek patriarch entered the Holy Edicule and emerged with two lit candles. The flame was passed from one candle to the next, the light overcoming the darkness in the rotunda. The flame was later transferred to Orthodox communities in other countries on special flights. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the light miraculously appears inside the Holy Edicule, built on the traditional site of Jesus’s tomb, while sceptics going back to the Middle Ages have dismissed it as a carnival trick for the masses. Either way, the ceremony, which goes back at least 1,200 years, is a sight to behold. It has also ignited safety concerns. In 1834, a frenzied stampede broke out in the darkened church, and the ruler of the Holy Land at the time barely escaped after his guards drew swords and hacked their way through the crowd, historian Simon Sebag Montefiore recounts in his history of Jerusalem. Some 400 pilgrims died in the melee, most from suffocation or trampling. Advertisement Israeli authorities have sought to limit participants in recent years, citing safety concerns. That has drawn protests from church leaders, who have accused them of upsetting the delicate, unwritten arrangements around Jerusalem’s holy sites known as the status quo. On Saturday, there was a heavy military presence as thousands of worshippers passed through Israeli checkpoints to enter. Some worshippers lamented that the turnout lacked numbers this year because of Israel’s 18-month war on Gaza. “The number of police is higher than the number of pilgrims,” said Adeeb Joude, key holder for the Holy Sepulchre. Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City with major sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Middle East War, and annexed it in a move not recognised internationally. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. The Old City has a long history of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, among different religious groups that share its hilly confines and even within certain faiths. Perceived infringements on the status quo in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have led to brawls between monks of different denominations. Israel says it is committed to ensuring freedom of worship for Jews, Christians and Muslims, and has long presented itself as an island of tolerance in the Middle East. In recent years, however, tensions have risen with the local Christian community, most of whom are Palestinian Christians, a population that has dwindled through decades of conflict as many have moved abroad. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Real Madrid vs Athletic Club: LaLiga – Start, team news, squads, Ancelotti
Al Jazeera takes a look at Athletic’s visit to Real Madrid, where the LaLiga defending champions’ season hangs in the balance. Who: Real Madrid vs Athletic ClubWhat: Spanish LaLigaWhere: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, SpainWhen: Sunday at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) Follow Al Jazeera Sport‘s live text and photo commentary stream. Defending champions Real Madrid are in desperate need of all three points as they entertain Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga. The Spanish giants’ defence of their Champions League title ended with a defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday. And with Barcelona moving seven points clear at the top of LaLiga with their 4-3 comeback win against Celta Vigo on Saturday, Los Blancos can ill afford to drop points against a team that are proving tough to topple. What is the latest on Ancelotti’s future? Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has refused to speak about his future with the club after recent reports again linked him with a move to Brazil’s national team. The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game news conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer, and each time he responded that he didn’t want to speak about it. “At the end of the season, we will speak about this with the club,” he said more than once. Advertisement The 65-year-old is under contract with Madrid through June 2026. What has happened to Real Madrid’s season? Speculation regarding Ancelotti’s career plans once again spiked after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League. Besides the Copa del Rey, Madrid is still in the fight to defend its LaLiga title and will also play in the Club World Cup this summer. FT: #BarçaCelta 4-3 Raphinha leads the REMONTADA for @FCBarcelona! 🔥#LALIGAEASPORTS | #DesenlaceLALIGA pic.twitter.com/85zk1Fshis — LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) April 19, 2025 What is the link between Brazil and Ancelotti? Brazil have reportedly been after Ancelotti since last year as they seek an elite coach for the 2026 World Cup. The South Americans fired Dorival Junior as coach last month. What is Ancelotti’s record as a manager? Ancelotti is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times — three times with Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024) and twice with AC Milan (2003, 2007). He is also the only coach to have steered teams to domestic league titles in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France. Who is reportedly lined up to replace Ancelotti? Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso are both considered top candidates to replace Ancelotti should he leave Madrid. Klopp, however, is “very happy” in his current post at Red Bull despite rumours linking him to a return to management with Real Madrid, his agent said on Friday. The German became Red Bull’s global head of football in January, taking care of a stable of clubs, including RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls and Bragantino in Brazil. Advertisement Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen’s coach, on Friday refused to shut down speculation he could be set for a move to Real Madrid in the summer. “It’s not a good time to discuss the future. We’re at a very important moment in the season,” Alonso said. Leverkusen are six points behind league leaders Bayern Munich with five games remaining. How are Athletic Club fairing in LaLiga? Athletic hold fourth spot in the Spanish top flight with 15 wins from 31 games. No team have lost fewer games than the Bilboa-based club, who have suffered defeat on only four occasions. 📋✅ Our squad for the match! 🆚 @Athletic_en pic.twitter.com/a59FO36sqC — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 19, 2025 Real Madrid team news Kylian Mbappe is serving a one-game suspension after his red card against Alaves. Eduardo Camavinga returns from the suspension that ruled him out of the defeat by Arsenal. Ferland Mendy and Andriy Lunin have a chance of returning from knocks, but Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are out with knee injuries. Athletic Club team news Inaki Williams is likely to remain a sub due to an adductor injury. This match has probably come too soon for Yuri Berchiche to return from a muscular problem. 🗒 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 Ernesto Valverde has called up 2️⃣3️⃣ players for tomorrow’s clash with @realmadriden at the Santiago Bernabéu. ℹ️ Travel details 👉 https://t.co/VXWeD3nQkX#RealMadridAthletic #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/PTUplPO7Aq — Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) April 19, 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Canada’s PM Carney plans for stronger defence, broader trade amid US rift
In campaign platform, Carney plans to invest in the military and infrastructure while still cutting spending. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled plans to cut taxes and beef up defence spending, arguing Canada must project economic strength and defend its “sovereignty” from the United States amid roiled relations with its neighbour. Carney, who became prime minister after Justin Trudeau resigned on March 14, presented his Liberal Party’s campaign plan on Saturday before parliamentary elections on April 28. The vote will determine whether Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, secures a mandate to continue as premier or whether the rival Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, take power. Carney has said he is the best person to stand up to US President Donald Trump, who has opened up a rift in relations with the traditional US ally, imposing heavy tariffs and even threatening to annex Canada as the 51st US state. “President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, and that will never happen,” Carney said on Saturday. “Canada is not America, and it never will be, but we need to do more to just recognise that. We need a plan to deal with this new reality.” Advertisement ‘Investing too little’ Carney’s plan includes investing more in infrastructure and defence while cutting income taxes. He also envisions a trade diversification fund to help exporters expand outside the tariff-heavy US market. “We’re in an enormous crisis, so we have to be able to do two things: one, hold down on that wasteful spending, which we will do, but much more than that, we need to be bold and drive investment in the economy and take the amazing opportunities we have,” Carney said. The plan would boost defence spending to exceed a NATO target of 2 percent of gross domestic product by 2030. It includes buying more submarines, drones and icebreakers. Canada will also invest in transatlantic security with “like-minded” European partners, Carney said. Poilievre, too, has called for increased defence spending although he has proposed offsetting it with deep cuts to “wasteful” foreign aid. Carney aims to balance the budget within three years by cutting expenditures in the federal public service, all while safeguarding healthcare and pensions. “The government has been spending too much, and Canada has been investing too little,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
US attacks Yemen again after at least 80 people killed in Hodeidah
UN chief Antonio Guterres says he is ‘gravely concerned’ about US air strikes this week on Yemen. The United States has carried out 13 air strikes on Hodeidah’s port and airport, the Houthi-affiliated TV channel Al Masirah says, two days after a US air strike targeted the Ras Isa port, also in Hodeidah, killing at least 80 people and wounding more than 150. Al Masirah also reported Saturday that three people were killed and four injured due to a US attack on al-Thawra, Bani Matar, and al-Safiah districts in the capital Sanaa. The Houthis have promised to carry out “more operations” despite the ongoing US attacks. US President Donald Trump’s administration announced a major military offensive against the Houthis a few weeks ago. It said the air strikes are aimed at forcing the Houthis to stop threatening ships sailing on the Red Sea on a route crucial to international trade. Since November 2023, the group has reportedly launched more than 100 attacks on vessels it says are linked to Israel in response to Israel’s war on Gaza and in solidarity with Palestinians. On Friday, Houthi official Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi told Al Masirah that the “American enemy’s crimes” will not deter the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza, but “rather will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience”. Advertisement The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah or “supporters of God”, are an armed group that controls most parts of Yemen, including Sanaa. The group emerged in the 1990s but rose to prominence in 2014 when it seized Sanaa and forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee the country. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “is gravely concerned about the airstrikes conducted by the United States over the course of 17 and 18 April in and around Yemen’s port of Ra’s Isa, which reportedly resulted in scores of civilian casualties, including five humanitarian workers injured,” Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Saturday. Guterres expressed fears of damage to the port and “possible oil leaks into the Red Sea”, Dujarric added. The strikes on Ras Isa aimed to cut off supplies and funds for the Houthis, the US military said. It was the deadliest attack of Washington’s 15-month campaign against the Iran-aligned group. About 70 percent of Yemen’s imports and 80 percent of its humanitarian assistance pass through the ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and as-Salif. Ras Isa also is the terminus of Yemen’s main oil pipeline, which, along with its port, are “critical and irreplaceable infrastructure” in Yemen, according to the UN Development Programme. Adblock test (Why?)
Over 170 arrested for attacks on Pakistan KFC outlets in Gaza war protests
Western brands have been hit by boycotts and other forms of protests in Muslim-majority countries due to the Gaza war. Police have arrested close to 200 people in Pakistan in recent weeks after more than 10 group attacks on outlets of the United States-based fast-food chain KFC, sparked by anti-US sentiment, unconditional US backing for Washington’s close ally Israel and opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, officials say. The fast-food chain has become a target of protest and boycott calls by Islamist parties since the start of the war in Gaza as they link the brand to US support for Israel. At least 178 people have been arrested, the officials said this week. Police in major cities in Pakistan – including the southern port city of Karachi, the eastern city of Lahore and the capital, Islamabad – confirmed at least 11 incidents in which KFC chicken restaurants were attacked by protesters armed with sticks and vandalised. A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one KFC employee was shot and killed this week in a store on the outskirts of Lahore by unknown gunmen. The official added there was no protest at the time and police were investigating whether the killing was politically motivated or for some other reason. Advertisement In Lahore, police said they were ramping up security at 27 KFC outlets after two attacks took place and five were prevented. “We are investigating the role of different individuals and groups in these attacks,” Faisal Kamran, a senior Lahore police officer told the Reuters news agency, adding that 11 people, including a member of the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have been arrested in the city. He added the protests were not officially organised by the TLP. TLP spokesman Rehan Mohsin Khan said the group “has urged Muslims to boycott Israeli products, but it has not given any call for protest outside KFC”. “If any other person claiming to be a TLP leader or activist has indulged in such activity, it should be taken as his personal act which has nothing to do with the party’s policy,” Khan said. Western brands have been hit by boycotts and other forms of protests in Pakistan, other Muslim-majority countries and several Western nations over Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip. In February last year, McDonald’s cited boycott campaigns in the Middle East, Indonesia and Malaysia for sales growing just 0.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 16.5 percent growth in the same quarter the previous year. Unilever – which produces Dove soap, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Knorr stock cubes – also said sales in Indonesia in the same quarter had experienced a double-digit decline as a result of “geopolitically focused, consumer-facing campaigns”. Advertisement A KFC restaurant in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir was also set on fire in March last year as protesters chanted “Free Palestine.” More than 51,900 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s war, which began 18 months ago. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive. KFC and its parent company Yum Brands have not yet responded to news of the arrests in Pakistan. Adblock test (Why?)
Russia’s Putin declares unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine conflict
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, Unilateral cessation of hostilities to begin on Saturday at 6pm local time and runs until midnight on Sunday, the Kremlin says. President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral Easter truce in Russia’s war in Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said shortly after that Ukrainian air defence units were fighting off an attack by Russian drones, adding that showed Moscow’s true attitude to Easter and the lives of people. “Today from 18:00 (15:00 GMT) to midnight Sunday (21:00 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” Putin said in televised comments on Saturday while speaking to Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov. Putin said he assumed Ukraine would follow Russia’s example and said Kyiv’s actions during the ceasefire will show its readiness for a peaceful settlement. But the Russian president also told Gerasimov to ready troops to repel any violations of the truce by Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry posted on Telegram: “The ceasefire regime is being introduced for humanitarian purposes and will be observed by the Russian Joint Group of Troops [Forces], provided that it is mutually observed by the Kyiv regime.” Advertisement Last month, Putin agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure targets in Ukraine for 30 days after a phone call with United States President Donald Trump. However, both sides have told of numerous instances in which attacks have continued. Putin stopped short of accepting a broader US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has said it is ready to implement. According to Russian media reports, on Saturday Putin accused Ukraine of violating the truce on attacks on energy infrastructure more than 100 times but highlighted that the situation on the front line has been favourable to Russia so far. He also said that Moscow “has always been ready for negotiations” and welcomed the US, China and other countries’ efforts to ensure a fair settlement on Ukraine. Adblock test (Why?)
US VP Vance discusses thorny issue of migration with Vatican
The Vatican affirmed good relations with the US but noted ‘an exchange of opinions’ on global conflicts and migration. US Vice President JD Vance has met with the Vatican’s top diplomats, discussing the politically fraught issue of migration months after Pope Francis rebuked the new US administration’s hardline immigration stance. Vance, a Catholic convert, held what the Vatican described as “cordial talks” with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin – the Holy See’s second highest official after the pope – and Paul Richard Gallagher, the secretary for relations with states. “There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” the Vatican said in a statement. The two sides also stressed “the common commitment to protect the right to freedom of religion and conscience”, the Vatican said. In February, Pope Francis angered the White House after writing a letter to US bishops in which he condemned Trump’s plan to deport migrants en masse, describing it as a “major crisis”. Advertisement Trump’s border tsar told Francis to “stick to” religion. Vance had been hoping to meet with the 88-year-old Francis, who is recuperating after battling life-threatening pneumonia and spending nearly 40 days in hospital. The Vatican made no mention of any such meeting with the pontiff, who has resumed some official duties, and Vance’s entourage has not commented on the remainder of his programme in Rome. Last year, Francis also made a rare foray into the US election season to call harsh anti-migrant attitudes “madness” and criticise right-wing US Catholic figures for overly conservative stances. But following Saturday’s meeting, the Vatican did acknowledge the US Catholic Church’s “valuable service to the most vulnerable people”. Adblock test (Why?)