Since Ahmad al-Sharaa came to power in Syria, the Damascus government has been given carte blanche to use maximum force against any threat to its continued rule, writes VIJAY PRASHAD

IF THE “Earth is a common treasury for all” then so is music. Everyone will love something today and after the last 18 months what better way to celebrate being with family and friends than watching great live artists again. What better place than the Diggers festival and what a superb line-up.
National and local stars combine to provide a variety of genres and each act in its own way will be a joy to see. They have waited a year to perform today so give them all a wonderful Wigan welcome.
The historical Wiend area of the town will be alive with stalls, bars, and a couple of stages. After the Diggers re-enactment on the main stage UkePunk will open the show. Hailing from Ramsbottom, no guitars will be used in the making of their unique sound.

While 69 per cent of Ukrainians want negotiated peace, Western leaders are cynically prolonging the war for their own strategic and economic goals, to the immense detriment of Ukraine and Europe, write BOB ORAM and MAGGIE SIMPSON
