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

THE rise of the far right in Britain and the fascistic takeover by the Trump regime in the US is due in part to the sycophancy of world leaders, argued Greek former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.
Varoufakis was speaking alongside Jeremy Corbyn on Friday at a Westminster University event celebrating the life and legacy of former Labour Party minister and socialist, Tony Benn. Benn, who died 11 years ago, would have turned 100 on April 3.
The discussion was hosted by his daughter Melissa Benn and explored Benn’s inspirational leadership and commitment to working people, while centring his ideas and achievements in the context of current political events.

Still the only black man to win the US Open tennis title, a statue of the legendary champion, Arthur Ashe, is now the only one remaining on Monument Avenue in his Richmond, Virginia hometown, where confederate leaders of the Civil War were also once displayed, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER

Danni Perry’s flag display at the Royal Opera House sparked 182 performers to sign a solidarity letter that cancelled the Tel Aviv Tosca production, while Leonardo DiCaprio invests in Tel Aviv hotels, reports LINDA PENTZ GUNTER

For 80 years, survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings have pleaded “never again,” for anyone. But are we listening, asks Linda Pentz Gunter

Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestine only as long as Israel continues to massacre its inhabitants has been met with outrage, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER