For today, links to eight reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 4-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down. GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
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NEWER Over a dozen killed in sectarian clashes in Jaramana, near Damascus. From Reuters. More than a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital today in clashes sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen, rescuers and security sources said. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and the Cradle, and HERE for March 10 AP report.
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FROM APRIL 27 Syrian president condemns Kurdish calls for federalism. From the Cradle, The office of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned recent Kurdish calls for federalism in Syria, saying they contradict an agreement reached between Damascus and authorities from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the country’s autonomous northeast. Sharaa’s office issued a statement . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 28 Saudi Arabia, Qatar pledge $15m to eliminate Syria’s World Bank debt. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced that they will pay Syria’s $15 million debt to the World Bank, allowing the international lender to resume its activities in the country after an interruption of more than 14 years. READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 28 UAE detains Syrian Defense Ministry official at Dubai airport. From the Cradle. Issam al-Buwaydani, a Syrian Defense Ministry official and head of the extremist Jaish al-Islam organization, was recently arrested by Emirati officials at Dubai International Airport. Two sources told . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 22 With Assad gone and Syria’s war over, the White Helmets have a new mission. Reported by Lauren Frayer and Jawad Rizkallah | NPR DAMASCUS — Founded in 2013, the White Helmets began as volunteers based mostly in rebel-held areas, and gained international fame for running into harm’s way to rescue civilians. Click HERE to listen and read.
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