Syrian Presidency: SDF Call for Federalism Threatens the Country’s Unity, Safety 

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. (Reuters)
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Syrian Presidency: SDF Call for Federalism Threatens the Country’s Unity, Safety 

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. (Reuters)

Syria's leaders said on Sunday that Kurdish demands for the country to adopt a decentralized system of government in a post-Assad political order posed a threat to national unity.

"We clearly reject any attempt to impose a partition or create separatist cantons under the terms of federalism or self-autonomy without a national consensus," Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office said in a statement.

"The unity of Syrian territory and its people is a red line," the statement said.

Rival Syrian Kurdish parties, including the dominant faction in the Kurdish-run northeast, agreed at a meeting in Syria's Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli on Saturday on a common political vision for Syria's Kurdish minority.

A communique at the end of the conference, which was attended by US officials, demanded that a future Syrian constitution should enshrine respect for Kurdish national rights in Syria after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

"A joint Kurdish political vision has been formulated that expresses a collective will and its project for a just solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria as a decentralized democratic state," the pan-Kurdish statement said.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the US, last month signed a deal with Damascus on merging Kurdish-led governing bodies and security forces with the central government.

The Syrian presidency's statement also said recent statements by SDF leaders advocating a federal solution went clearly against that deal.

The agreement with the SDF could be a "constructive step forward if it was implemented with national spirit, away from narrow agendas," it continued.

It warned against obstructing state institutions in regions held by the SDF and against imposing a monopoly on resources. "The SDF leadership cannot take unilateral decisions in northeastern Syria. There can be no stability and no future without real partnership," it declared.

During the 14-year civil war, Kurdish-led groups took control of roughly a quarter of Syrian territory, where most of the country's oil wealth is found along with fertile arable land that produces a major proportion of the country's wheat.

Kurdish officials have objected to the way Syria's new rulers are shaping the transition from Assad's rule, saying they are failing to respect Syria's diversity despite promises of inclusivity.

The presidency statement stressed that "Kurdish rights are being protected under the one state, without the need for foreign intervention or hegemony." It called on the SDF to commit to the agreement reached in March and to prioritize national interests.



Paolini Becomes First Italian in 11 Years to Reach Rome Final

Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning the semi-final tennis match against Peyton Stearns of the United States at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Thursday, May 15, 2025, (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning the semi-final tennis match against Peyton Stearns of the United States at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Thursday, May 15, 2025, (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Paolini Becomes First Italian in 11 Years to Reach Rome Final

Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning the semi-final tennis match against Peyton Stearns of the United States at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Thursday, May 15, 2025, (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning the semi-final tennis match against Peyton Stearns of the United States at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Thursday, May 15, 2025, (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman in more than a decade to reach the final of her home Italian Open when she beat American Peyton Stearns 7-5 6-1 on Thursday.

Paolini is the first Italian to advance to the final in Rome since her doubles partner Sara Errani lost to Serena Williams in 2014.

Paolini had found herself a set and 4-0 down to Diana Shnaider in her quarter-final tie before storming to victory and once again the world number five had a slow start in the opening set before mounting a comeback.

"I am very happy, I don't know what to say! It's a dream to be here, it's a dream to play in Italy, it's a dream to be able to play the final," the 29-year-old said, according to Reuters.

Any hopes of a quick start for Paolini were put to rest when Stearns jumped into a 3-0 lead amid muted applause from the home crowd as the Italian soon found herself 4-1 down.

The American looked comfortable and poised to take the opening set before Paolini clawed her way back as she saved set points to level it at 5-5, pumping her fist with a triumphant scream that got the crowd roaring again.

The comeback was complete when Paolini, having won four games in a row, took the opening set after more than an hour of play.

The momentum was firmly with Paolini as she broke Stearns for a fifth time to go 4-1 up in the second set and the deflated American had no answer as the Italian's winners whizzed past her.

Stearns fired a forehand wide on match point as the crowd erupted and Paolini raised her arms in celebration.

"You (the crowd) gave me a boost because today it was a bit of an uphill start and I struggled at the beginning, thank goodness you were there," she added.

"We won this match together. Point after point I managed to fight, to turn it around, even if at the beginning I did not have a good feeling. But I am happy with the way I managed to turn this match around."