Category: TOP STORIES

European countries halt asylum process for Syrians after fall of al-Assad govt

Prague, Dec 11 (IANS) Several European countries have announced the suspension of asylum processes for Syrian nationals in light of the political developments in Syria following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government.

The Dutch government has imposed a six-month freeze on decisions regarding asylum applications from Syrians, the country’s Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber stated in a letter to the House of Representatives on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Faber explained that the uncertainty surrounding the situation in Syria after the fall of the al-Assad regime made it difficult to evaluate asylum applications accurately.

In Belgium, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons has also temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian citizens. Scheduled personal interviews will be canceled, and ongoing reviews of applications are on hold. According to the office, this suspension aims to allow a more precise evaluation of the risks faced by applicants in the event of their return to Syria.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the country’s Interior Ministry on Monday to halt all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and review previously granted asylum cases. Family reunifications for Syrians in Austria have also been suspended, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans to prepare a repatriation and deportation program for Syrians.

In the Czech Republic, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told the Czech News Agency that the country had ceased processing asylum applications from Syrians as of Sunday due to the evolving situation.

“This is a common procedure in situations where there are significant changes in the situation in the country,” Rakusan explained.

Malta has similarly paused the examination and processing of both new and existing asylum applications from Syrian nationals, while countries such as France and Greece are reportedly considering similar measures.

France’s Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) said on Monday that it is closely monitoring the developments in Syria. “In cases where the situation in an asylum seeker’s country of origin changes, this may lead to a temporary suspension of decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals, depending on the specific circumstances,” Ofpra stated.

In 2023, 4,465 asylum applications were submitted to Ofpra by Syrian nationals, with around 2,500 more submitted in 2024 so far.

In Greece, sources at the Migration and Asylum Ministry revealed that decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals are expected to be temporarily suspended. The decision, which could impact approximately 9,500 applicants, is set to be finalised later this week.

According to a recent report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), asylum authorities in the 27 EU member states, along with Norway and Switzerland, received 84,000 asylum applications in September 2024, of which 14,000 were submitted by Syrians.

–IANS

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Biden kept updated on Syria, Sullivan to travel to Israel: White House

Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) US President Joe Biden has been kept up-to-date about the situation in Syria, and his national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, is traveling to Israel on Wednesday with Syria on top of the agenda, an administration spokesperson said.

“The president is staying fully briefed by his national security team” on the development in Syria, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said during a gaggle with members of the press. “And that will remain the case going forward,” he added.

Biden spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday, during which the president “emphasised his full support for a Syrian-led transition process under the auspices of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” Xinhua news agency reported quoting a readout of the call provided by the White House.

“I think it’s safe to say that he will stay in contact with our counterparts in the region, and he has directed the national security team to do the same,” Kirby said of Biden.

Additionally, Kirby said Sullivan will be traveling to Israel on Wednesday. “Certainly, there will be a lot on the agenda,” he said of Sullivan’s trip, “but Syria will no doubt be at the top of that list.”

–IANS

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Zambia’s top court bars ex-leader from contesting future elections

Lusaka, Dec 11 (IANS) Zambia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is barred from contesting the 2026 general elections and any future elections, as he has already served the constitutionally mandated two terms in office.

The court determined Monday that Lungu is not eligible to run again, having been elected twice — first from 2015 to 2016 and again from 2016 to 2021. In a landmark judgment delivered by six judges, the court dismissed Lungu’s argument that his first term should not count as a full term since he had completed the remainder of the term left by his late predecessor Michael Sata, Xinhua news agency reported.

Justice Arnold Shilimi, deputy president of the Constitutional Court, who read the judgment, clarified that the combined interpretation of the constitution clearly defined Lungu’s term in office from Jan. 25, 2015, to September 13, 2016, as a full term.

However, the court also ruled that Lungu was eligible to contest the 2021 elections.

In response to the ruling, Lungu posted a statement on his Facebook page, describing the verdict as expected and accusing it of political manipulation. “For months, the hands of political manipulation have, with undeniable force, steered us toward a conclusion foreseen not by the merits of reasoned argument or constitutional fidelity but by the weight of orchestrated design and political machinations,” he said.

While he acknowledged the verdict, Lungu expressed his resignation to the outcome, saying he had put plan B in motion which shall legally fight to win for Zambians.

This judgment effectively blocks Lungu’s attempt at a political comeback, after his defeat in the 2021 elections to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu had previously insisted that the Constitutional Court had already resolved his eligibility for the 2021 polls, which were the subject of the case brought before the court by a young activist seeking clarity on Lungu’s future eligibility.

–IANS

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French forces begin withdrawal from Chad

Yaounde, Dec 11 (IANS) France started the withdrawal of its troops from Chad, with some fighter jets taking off from a French base in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena, according to the Chadian army.

In a brief statement, Chanane Issakha Acheikh, Chadian army spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the public would be informed of each stage of the withdrawal until the final departure of all French forces, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last month, Chad announced that it had ended a security and defence cooperation agreement with France, stressing that it was time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partners according to national priorities.

–IANS

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Three arrested in connection with The Hague explosion

The Hague, Dec 11 (IANS) Dutch police announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with Saturday’s devastating explosion in The Hague that claimed six lives.

The arrests took place on Monday night, with several vehicles seized during the operation, police said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Investigators are working to determine whether one of the seized cars matches the description of a vehicle reportedly seen speeding away from the explosion site on Tarwekamp Street in the northeastern Mariahoeve district. A burnt-out car discovered near the scene has intensified suspicions.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the explosion, which has been classified as a criminal case. Police said that their probe remains active, and additional arrests have not been ruled out.

Dutch emergency services concluded their search for victims late Monday. The explosion, which occurred on Saturday morning, caused the partial collapse of an apartment building, resulting in six deaths and four injuries.

–IANS

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India evacuates 75 nationals from Syria after rebel forces overthrow Assad regime

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) India evacuated 75 of its nationals from Syria on Tuesday, two days after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian government, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.

The evacuation was carried out amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country following the collapse of the Assad regime. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the successful operation, stating that the evacuees had safely crossed over to Lebanon and would soon return to India via commercial flights.

“The evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India,” the MEA said in an official statement.

India’s embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the operation, prioritizing the safety of its citizens in the conflict-ridden nation. “The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad,” the statement added.

The MEA also urged Indian nationals still in Syria to stay connected with the Embassy in Damascus for updates. They were advised to reach out via the emergency helpline number (+963 993385973) or email (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in).

The situation in Syria escalated rapidly after rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of Damascus, marking the end of Bashar al-Assad’s nearly 14-year rule and the Assad family’s five-decade dominance. Assad fled the country and reportedly sought asylum in Russia.

In response to the developments, the MEA earlier called for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria. “India will continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for a resolution led by the Syrian people,” it said.

–IANS

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Adani to finance Sri Lankan Port project on its own, withdraws request for US DFC funding

Mumbai, Dec 10 (IANS) The Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones (APSEZ) Ltd on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding.

In a stock exchange filing, Adani Ports said the project “is on track for commissioning by early next year”.

“We would like to inform that Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) project in Sri Lanka is progressing well and is on track for commissioning by early next year,” said the flagship Adani Group company.

“The project will be financed through the company’s internal accruals and capital management plan. We have withdrawn our request for financing from the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC),” it added.

In November last year, the US International Development Finance Corp agreed to provide a $553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of CWIT at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

The CWIT project was started in September 2021, when Adani Ports signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings, pledging over $700 million to expand the capabilities of Colombo Port.

The CWIT will be Sri Lanka’s largest and deepest container terminal, with a quay length of 1,400 metres and an alongside depth of 20 metres.

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest trans-shipment port in the Indian Ocean and it has been operating at more than 90 per cent utilisation since 2021, signalling its need for additional capacity.

The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets.

The annual cargo handling capacity of this new terminal is likely to exceed 3.2 million.

—IANS

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Champions League: Work to do for Barca, Atletico to assure top-8 finish in group

Madrid (Spain), Dec 10 (IANS) Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are in different moments of form as they prepare for vital UEFA Champions League ties on Wednesday night. Both need to win their games improve their position and maintain their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Barcelona, currently third in the 36-team group, has to play Borussia Dortmund and Benfica away from home before entertaining Atalanta, meaning it still has a lot of work to do to assure the top-eight finish that would see it qualify directly for the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Atletico have an easier calendar ahead of them but need to keep winning to climb from their current 15th place into the top-eight. Facing last season’s finalist Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick must be worried about his side’s recent form in La Liga, which has seen it lose two and draw two of its last five games, reports Xinhua.

Part of the reason for Barca’s problems is that a defense that looked solid at the start of the season is now starting to leak due to a packed fixture, with few options to rotate key players given the long-term injuries to Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen. Araujo is on the verge of returning to action and will travel to Germany, although he is unlikely to play on Wednesday. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski will lead the Barca attack.

Atletico have what should be a much easier game when they entertain Slovan Bratislava, who travel after five defeats from five games in which they have conceded 18 goals and scored just four.

Atletico, meanwhile, are playing their best football of the season and goes into the game after a thrilling 4-3 league win at home to Sevilla. Diego Simeone’s side is currently just a point outside the top eight, with games against Bayer Leverkusen and RB Salzburg still to play, and a win on Wednesday would give them an excellent chance of finishing in the top eight.

Antoine Griezmann was outstanding against Sevilla and with Julian Alvarez and Rodrigo De Paul also performing well at the moment, Wednesday should be a comfortable night in the Metropolitano Stadium.

–IANS

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Assam: Convention held to equip youth with skills to mitigate disaster risks

Guwahati, Dec 10 (IANS) A two-day state convention on “Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future” organised by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), began on Tuesday, aimed at equipping youth and community volunteers with skills to mitigate disaster risks and promote resilience at the grassroots level.

The event is being held at the Birinchi Kumar Barua (BKB) Auditorium, Gauhati University.

The convention was inaugurated by Assam’s Sports and Youth Welfare Minister, Nandita Gorlosa, who highlighted the need for sustainable living and disaster preparedness to minimise the impact of natural and human-induced calamities.

She emphasised the importance of using lessons from past disasters to build a safer future for humans, animals, and ecosystems.

An exhibition showcasing disaster management activities by various stakeholders, volunteers, and students was also inaugurated by the Minister.

ASDMA’s Chief Executive Officer, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, said that empowering young responders through initiatives like Aapda Mitra, Circle Level Quick Response Teams (CQRTs), and integrating disaster preparedness into school curriculums is a priority.

He stressed that trained youth can act as first responders and agents of change in their communities during emergencies.

Nanigopal Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, in his keynote address, underlined the importance of blending traditional practices with modern strategies for disaster management.

He cited examples from Assam’s history, such as the Mising tribe’s flood-resilient “Chang Ghars” and sustainable initiatives like floating hospitals, to emphasise the need for localised solutions.

Arunasis Chakraborty, Head of the Centre for Disaster Management at IIT Guwahati, highlighted the devastating floods in the Himalayan region in 2023 and stressed the importance of linking education with disaster preparedness.

He pointed out that 1.2 billion youth worldwide are exposed to disaster risks, making their training and awareness crucial for a resilient future.

A Coffee Table Book titled “Empowering Next Generation for a Resilient Future” was launched by Minister Gorlosa during the program.

The event was attended by district project officers, field officers, and 40 top-performing Aapda Mitra volunteers facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Representatives from 10 states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, and Sikkim, shared their best practices and innovative models for disaster management during the convention.

–IANS

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Bihar: Two police officers suspended in East Champaran, salaries of 60 cops withheld

Patna, Dec 10 (IANS) Swarn Prabhat, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Champaran, has suspended two officers and withheld the salaries of 60 personnel after severe lapses found in their duties on Tuesday.

The SP suspended Harpur police station SHO Vishwajeet Kumar and Additional SHO Ravi Raj of the city police station. The salaries of 60 personnel, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, and constables of the city police station, were withheld due to negligence.

SHO SI Vishwajeet Kumar was suspended for failing to effectively implement the liquor law.

Additional SHO Ravi Raj was suspended for negligence revealed during a recent operational review.

Additional SHO Kishan Paswan from Banjaria police station has been appointed as the new SHO of Harpur police station, replacing the suspended Vishwajeet Kumar.

All personnel of the City Police Station were issued show-cause notices, with salaries withheld pending further inquiry.

“The suspension and withholding of salaries were based on findings during a review meeting of the police stations. The personnel were found negligent in executing warrants, attachments, and proclamations, which are critical for maintaining law and order,” Prabhat said.

Prabhat said that the investigations against the alleged police personnel were currently underway.

“The show cause notices were served to them and if their reply is not satisfactory, we will go for further departmental proceedings against them,” he said.

–IANS

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