Syrian Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with regular army

Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi has announced to AFP that he had reached a “preliminary agreement” with Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria’s military and security forces.Abdi, who heads the powerful Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), had met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus last week, along with US envoy Tom Barrack and US commander Brad Cooper.While the Kurdish forces — who control large swathes of Syria’s oil-rich northeast — had signed an agreement with the new Syrian authorities in March to merge their civil and military institutions, the deal’s terms were not implemented.”What is new in our recent talks in Damascus is the shared determination and strong will to accelerate the implementation of the terms” of the agreement, Abdi told AFP in an interview at a military base in the northeastern city of Hasakeh on Sunday. “The most important point is having reached a preliminary agreement regarding the mechanism for integrating the SDF and the (Kurdish) Internal Security Forces within the framework of defence and interior ministries,” he added.The Washington-backed SDF and Kurdish security forces consist of around 100,000 male and female members, according to them.The SDF played a vital role in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, which ultimately led to the jihadist organisation’s territorial defeat in the country in 2019.Abdi said that military and security delegations from his forces are currently in Damascus to discuss the mechanism for their integration.- Disagreements -After the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December, Sharaa announced the dissolution of all armed groups, to be absorbed by state institutions.Abdi explained that “the SDF will be restructured through its integration into the defence ministry”, as part of several formations.However, some disagreements remain.”We demand a decentralised system in Syria… we have not agreed on it,” he added, as they are “still discussing finding a common formula acceptable to all”.He stressed that they “agree on the territorial integrity of Syria, the unity of national symbols, the independence of political decision-making in the country, and the fight against terrorism”.”We all agree that Syria should not return to the era of war, and that there should be stability and security. I believe these factors are sufficient for us to reach a permanent agreement.”During the last meeting with Sharaa, Abdi said he had called for “modifying or adding some clauses to the existing constitutional declaration” announced in March, particularly those related to “guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish people in the constitution”. “There was a positive response to this matter, and we hope this will happen soon,” he added.Abdi also expressed his gratitude to the United States and France for facilitating negotiations with Damascus.Asked about Damascus’s main backer Turkey, which has always been hostile to the SDF, Abdi said “any success of the negotiations will certainly depend on Turkey’s role”, expressing hope that it will play a “supportive and contributing role in the ongoing negotiation process”.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the SDF on Wednesday to “keep their word” and “complete their integration with Syria”.When questioned on the region’s fossil fuel reserves, Abdi noted they “have not yet discussed the oil issue, but it will certainly be addressed in upcoming meetings”.”Oil and other underground resources in northeastern Syria to belong to all Syrians, and their revenues and revenues must be distributed fairly across all Syrian provinces”.

Gouvernement Lecornu: “le devoir de tous c’est d’oeuvrer à la stabilité”, exhorte Macron

Emmanuel Macron a appelé lundi les forces politiques à “oeuvrer à la stabilité” et non à “faire des paris sur l’instabilité”, au lendemain de la nomination du nouveau gouvernement de Sébastien Lecornu, déjà menacé de censure par LFI et le RN.”Je trouve que beaucoup de ceux qui ont nourri la division, les spéculations, n’ont pas été au niveau du moment où vit la France et de ce qu’attendent les Françaises et les Français”, a insisté le chef de l’Etat à son arrivée en Egypte où il assiste à un “sommet pour la paix” à Gaza. “Les forces politiques qui ont joué la déstabilisation de Sébastien Lecornu sont les seules responsables de ce désordre”, a-t-il martelé.Le gouvernement de Sébastien Lecornu, nommé dimanche soir, est déjà la cible d’une motion de censure initiée par La France insoumise et déposée lundi matin. Le Rassemblement national a également annoncé en avoir déposé une de son côté. M. Lecornu, reconduit vendredi, avait été contraint à la démission il y a une semaine, en voyant sa coalition gouvernementale voler en éclats avec la fronde des Républicains (LR).Face à ce chaos politique, M. Macron a demandé “à tout le monde de se ressaisir, de travailler avec exigence, respect”. Et, interrogé sur une possible dissolution en cas de nouvelle chute du gouvernement, il a assuré ne “faire aucun pari”.”Je souhaite que le pays puisse avancer dans l’apaisement, la stabilité, l’exigence et le service des Français”, a encore déclaré le président.

Gouvernement Lecornu: “le devoir de tous c’est d’oeuvrer à la stabilité”, exhorte Macron

Emmanuel Macron a appelé lundi les forces politiques à “oeuvrer à la stabilité” et non à “faire des paris sur l’instabilité”, au lendemain de la nomination du nouveau gouvernement de Sébastien Lecornu, déjà menacé de censure par LFI et le RN.”Je trouve que beaucoup de ceux qui ont nourri la division, les spéculations, n’ont pas été au niveau du moment où vit la France et de ce qu’attendent les Françaises et les Français”, a insisté le chef de l’Etat à son arrivée en Egypte où il assiste à un “sommet pour la paix” à Gaza. “Les forces politiques qui ont joué la déstabilisation de Sébastien Lecornu sont les seules responsables de ce désordre”, a-t-il martelé.Le gouvernement de Sébastien Lecornu, nommé dimanche soir, est déjà la cible d’une motion de censure initiée par La France insoumise et déposée lundi matin. Le Rassemblement national a également annoncé en avoir déposé une de son côté. M. Lecornu, reconduit vendredi, avait été contraint à la démission il y a une semaine, en voyant sa coalition gouvernementale voler en éclats avec la fronde des Républicains (LR).Face à ce chaos politique, M. Macron a demandé “à tout le monde de se ressaisir, de travailler avec exigence, respect”. Et, interrogé sur une possible dissolution en cas de nouvelle chute du gouvernement, il a assuré ne “faire aucun pari”.”Je souhaite que le pays puisse avancer dans l’apaisement, la stabilité, l’exigence et le service des Français”, a encore déclaré le président.

Asian equity markets drop after Trump reignites tariff row

Asian markets slipped Monday after US President Donald Trump reignited his trade war with Beijing by threatening last week to impose 100 percent tariffs on goods from China.However, the losses were tempered slightly by a more conciliatory tone on Sunday when Trump described Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as “respected”.Trump wrote on social media Friday that he would impose an additional 100 percent tariff on China and threatened to cancel a summit with Xi, citing Beijing’s export curbs on rare earth minerals used in a range of goods including smartphones, electric vehicles and military hardware.The extra US levies, plus export controls on “any and all critical software” would come into effect from November 1 in retaliation for what he called Beijing’s “extraordinarily aggressive” moves.”There is no way that China should be allowed to hold the World ‘captive’,” he said.Chinese products currently face US tariffs of 30 percent, while Beijing’s retaliatory tolls are currently at 10 percent.The outburst sent Wall Street into a spiral, with the Nasdaq losing more than three percent, and came as investors were already on edge over a recent tech-led surge that has stoked fears of a stock bubble.However, investors took a little heart from a post Sunday in which Trump said “The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!” and added that “respected President Xi (Jinping)… doesn’t want Depression for his country.”Beijing, in turn, accused Washington of acting unfairly, and the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday called the threat a “typical example of ‘double standards'”.”Threatening high tariffs at every turn is not the right approach to engaging with China,” it said in an online statement.The announcement came after months of fragile peace between the economic superpowers as they looked to reach a full trade deal after Trump’s tariff bombshell in April that saw the two sides ramp up tit-for-tat levies to eye-watering levels.”The question now is what comes next. That is, of course, impossible to say with any certainty,” said Michael Brown at Pepperstone.”However, it essentially comes down to whether this is the start of a return to the ‘bad old days’ of early April, and an end to the US-China trade truce; or, whether this is yet another negotiating gambit.”Markets across Asia sank into the red, with Hong Kong shedding more than one percent, while Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai were also well down.Shanghai was also down but pared earlier losses following data showing Chinese imports and exports surged more than expected last month, providing a much-needed boost to the economy.Still, Trump’s comments Sunday provided a little support, with US futures soaring more than one percent.And London, Paris and Frankfurt clawed back some of Friday’s losses.Gold, a safe-haven asset in times of turmoil and uncertainty, continued its rise, touching another record of $4,060.Bitcoin also edged back up after being battered over the weekend in a Trump-fuelled sell-off that saw the cryptocurrency fall below $105,000 from around $122,000. It was sitting just below $115,000 in Asian trade.There was also a healthy bounce for oil, which tanked Friday on Trump’s remarks, which compounded selling of the commodity owing to the Israel-Hamas peace deal that soothed worries about supplies from the Middle East.”Despite the possibility of a replay on how the markets reacted back in April, we believe the looming threat may be short-lived,” said Morningstar’s Kai Wang.”Both sides appeared to be posturing ahead of their November 1 meeting when the tariff truce is set to expire,” he added.He also pointed out that the US government shutdown was “increasingly dampening consumer sentiment in the US, and we do not believe Trump wants to re-escalate foreign policy issues without solving the domestic shutdown first”.- Key figures at around 0810 GMT -Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.5 percent at 25,889.48 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,889.50 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 9,457.56 Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1601 from $1.1615 on FridayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3334 from $1.3352Dollar/yen: UP at 152.41 yen from 151.57 yenEuro/pound: UP at 87.01 pence from 86.98 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 1.6 percent at $59.84 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.6 percent at $63.70 per barrelNew York – Dow: DOWN 1.9 percent at 45,479.60 (close)

Muthusamy takes six as Pakistan collapse to 378, South Africa 10-0

South Africa left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy took 6-117 on Monday, including three wickets in four balls, as Pakistan collapsed from 362-5 to 378 all out on day two of the first Test in Lahore.The 31-year-old’s maiden five-wicket Test haul helped the visitors restrict Pakistan, who began the day on 313-5, on a Gaddafi Stadium pitch beginning to take more turn.South Africa’s openers negotiated four overs to reach lunch at 10-0. Aiden Markram was on five and Ryan Rickelton on four.Earlier Salman Agha hit five fours and three sixes in his 93 and was the last man out, caught in the deep off spinner Prenelan Subrayen who took 2-78.Agha added 49 with Mohammad Rizwan to take their sixth-wicket stand to 163 before Muthusamy ripped out the middle order with three wickets in the 12th over of the day.Rizwan, on 75, was the first to go when he edged a sharply turning ball to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne after a knock containing two fours and two sixes.Two balls later Noman Ali went without scoring, bowled when he played down the wrong line and then Sajid Khan followed first ball, caught in the slips.It became 378-9 when Muthusamy bowled Shaheen Shah Afridi, on seven, for his sixth wicket that improved on his previous Test best of 4-45 against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.