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French and German Ministers Call for Inclusive Transition in First EU Visit to Post-Assad Syria
The French and German foreign ministers, Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, have made a landmark visit to Syria, marking the first European Union ministerial delegation since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. The visit aimed to engage with Syria’s new leadership and emphasize the need for an inclusive political transition.
Barrot and Baerbock met Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, in Damascus. Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, leads Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that spearheaded the rebellion against Assad. In recent years, HTS has distanced itself from its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda, seeking legitimacy on the international stage.
Baerbock approached the talks with cautious optimism, stating she came to Syria with an “outstretched hand” while remaining mindful of HTS’s controversial past.
Calls for Representation and Justice
The European ministers emphasized the importance of creating a political system that represents all of Syria’s diverse communities.
“Syria must embark on a political transition that ensures inclusivity for all its citizens, regardless of religion or gender,” Barrot said on Friday. He announced that France and the EU are offering judicial and technical support to help draft a new Syrian constitution.
Baerbock echoed these sentiments, stressing on social media that “a new beginning can only happen if every Syrian, irrespective of ethnic or religious identity, is given a voice in the political process.”
Focus on Human Rights and Accountability
During their visit, the ministers toured the notorious Sednaya prison, which under Assad’s regime was synonymous with arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Both were visibly affected by the experience, likening the prison to a “hellish concentration camp.”
Barrot stressed the importance of justice for Syria’s recovery. “Syria cannot move forward without addressing past atrocities,” he said, pledging France’s technical support to aid transitional justice and combat impunity. Baerbock called on the international community to help bring justice to the victims of Sednaya’s horrors.
Chemical Weapons and International Oversight
Barrot also recommended that Syria’s transitional government engage with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He proposed that a team be dispatched to Syria to assess and work toward the elimination of any remaining chemical weapons.
The visit reflects the EU’s cautious but determined approach to fostering stability and rebuilding diplomatic relations in Syria, with an emphasis on justice, inclusivity, and accountability.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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