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Toronto, Dec 11 (IANS) Toronto witnessed a powerful demonstration on Wednesday as members of the Canadian Hindu community gathered outside the Bangladeshi Consulate to protest the ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The event, organised by Canadian Hindu Volunteers, brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, unified in their call for global intervention against what they described as a "systematic campaign of genocide" targeting the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

The protesters accused the current Bangladeshi government, led by controversial Islamist figure Muhammad Yunus, of orchestrating widespread violence and discrimination against Hindus.

Participants highlighted the desecration and destruction of ancient Hindu temples, the brutal murders of priests, and the unjust imprisonment of community leaders. Hindu professionals, they claimed, are being systematically removed from their jobs, their families subjected to plunder, and women suffering unspeakable sexual violence—all part of what they called an orchestrated effort to erase Hindu culture, faith, and identity from Bangladesh.

The social media handle, X of Canadian Hindu Volunteers expressed that the silence of the international community is deafening, “This is not just a crisis, it is an organised and deliberate assault on human rights and religious freedom. The global community must act now before it is too late,” the post said.

Organizers emphasized the dire need for action, urging Canadians to pressure their elected officials to raise the issue in Parliament and demand diplomatic measures against the Bangladeshi regime. They called for Canada to lead by example, imposing sanctions and leveraging its global influence to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The demonstrators also made an emotional plea for justice, insisting that silence equates to complicity. "This isn’t just about Bangladesh’s Hindu community, it’s about defending the principles of human dignity and freedom worldwide,” a page, 'Canadian Hindu Volunteers' said in a post on X.

"We, as Canadian Hindus, call on the international community to act decisively. Silence is complicity, and inaction enables the perpetrators of these crimes. We urge all Canadians to join this cause by writing to their elected officials, urging them to raise this issue in Parliament, and demanding action. Canada must take a stand by holding the Bangladeshi regime accountable through diplomatic pressure and sanctions," Canadian Hindu Volunteers, posted on X.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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Khartoum, Dec 11 (IANS) At least 65 civilians were killed in an artillery attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Khartoum State government announced.

"The terrorist militia committed today (Tuesday) the largest human massacre through artillery shelling targeting citizens in Karari locality, killing over 65 people and injuring hundreds of others who crowded the hospitals," Khartoum State's press office said in a statement.

According to the statement, Ahmed Osman Hamza, governor of the Khartoum State, visited the targeted areas, including the Karari locality bus station in northern Omdurman, where a shelling strike on a passenger bus killed 22 people, Xinhua news agency reported .

The rest of the victims fell in a simultaneous shelling that targeted a market near the bus station and a health centre, it noted.

The governor condemned the RSF for targeting defenceless citizens, saying "this attack aims to terrorise and frighten the citizens to leave the safe areas," according to the statement.

He called on the international community and organisations to play their role in protecting civilians who are directly targeted by the "militia" inside their homes, markets and medical institutions.

Fath Al-Rahman Mohamed Al-Amin, director general of Khartoum State's health authorities, said "hospitals in Omdurman continue to receive victims who are either dead or injured, while health workers are making strenuous efforts to save the lives of the injured and provide health care."

The RSF has not yet issued any comment on the incident.

Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023.

The deadly conflict has resulted in more than 27,120 deaths and displaced over 14 million people, either inside or outside Sudan, according to estimates by international organisations.

--IANS

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Rome, Dec 11 (IANS) The death toll from a massive explosion at a fuel depot in central Italy rose to five after the body of the last missing worker was found, Italian authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred Monday morning at a facility operated by ENI, Italy's largest energy company, in Calenzano near Florence in the Tuscany region. The blast, which reverberated across surrounding areas, caused panic among residents who initially feared it was an earthquake or bomb, Xinhua news agency reported.

Initially, two deaths and at least 14 injuries were reported. A search and rescue operation was launched for three missing workers, two of whom were found dead within hours. As of Tuesday, three hospitalised individuals remained in serious condition, according to the office of Tuscany's regional governor, Eugenio Giani.

The Calenzano depot spans some 170,300 square metres and stores petrol, diesel, and kerosene for distribution. The explosion occurred in the section where tank trucks were loaded.

Prosecutors in nearby Prato have opened an investigation into multiple manslaughter. Meanwhile, the Tuscany regional government has declared a day of mourning for Wednesday.

In response to the tragedy, workers and trade unions demanded improved workplace safety. Around 500 workers held a sit-in outside ENI's refinery in Livorno on Tuesday, as reported by Ansa news agency. The General Confederation of Labour, Confederation of Workers' Union, and Labour Union announced a two-hour strike across the province on Wednesday.

Workplace safety remains a critical issue in Italy. According to data from the national insurance agency INAIL, some 776 deadly incidents and 433,002 injuries were reported between January and September this year. Throughout 2023, it recorded 1,147 deaths and nearly 600,000 injuries.

--IANS

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New York, Dec 11 (IANS) President-elect Donald Trump has named Republican Party activist Harmeet Dhillon, who is a supporter of the farmers’ protest in India and raised aallegations of “Indian death squads”, to be the assistant attorney general for civil rights.

“In her new role at the DOJ (Department of Justice), Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY”, Trump said on Truth Social announcing on Monday.

Trump also noted that she “is a respected member of the Sikh religious community”.

On social media X, Dhillon who goes as “@pnjaban”, has expressed support for the farmers’ protest and raised what she said were “apparently Indian death squads operating in North America targeting Sikh activists”.

In a criticism of the administration of President Joe Biden, she virtually accused it of a cover-up, writing, “Our government refuses to provide details. Why”?

The mention of “death squads” was an apparent reference to the case filed against an Indian citizen and a former RAW official accusing them of plotting to kill a Khalistani activist in the US and echoes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations against India.

Mentioning her family’s agrarian roots, another post by Dhillon said, “I stand with the #FarmersProtests”!

In yet another post she urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet with the protesters and make a compromise.

“As the Punjab-born descendant of farmers, my heart breaks to see Punjabi farmers assaulted for protesting Indian gov't's pro-big-corporation farm bill that will destroy their farms, way of life, and culture. Hear them, meet with them, & compromise, PM Modi”, she posted.

The post of assistant attorney general for civil rights, for which she has been named, does not directly have international responsibilities and it does not oversee the two controversial cases involving India.

The ongoing case alleging the conspiracy against the Khalistani will not come under her purview as it will be the domain of the assistant attorney general of the national security division.

The case alleging bribery by Indian business leaders is under the deputy assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division.

Trump has not announced names for those positions.

“Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties”, Trump said in his Truth Social post.

He added, “Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted”.

If her appointment is approved by the Senate, Dhillon will become the second Indian American to hold the top civil rights position after Vanita Gupta, who held that position in former President Barack Obama’s administration and was the associate attorney general for two years under President Biden.

Dhillon ran unsuccessfully for the chair of the Republican National Committee last year.

She has been a member of the Republican National Committee and said a Sikh prayer at the Republican National Conventions in 2016 and 2024.

In the 2020 election, she was a legal adviser to the Trump campaign.

She was the co-chair of the Women for Trump, a group mobilising women’s support for his election.

Her career as a civil rights career has focused on the rights of conservatives and their causes, which she is expected to bring to the DOJ.

Trump said that she took on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers”.

During the Covid pandemic, she sued California, New Jersey, and Virginia against their lockdown rules that prevented churches from holding worship services.

She also sued the University of California Berkley on behalf of a youth group for preventing a right-wing activist from speaking there.

Another case she took up was that of a White man who alleged that he was fired by Google for writing a memo crticising the company’s diversity programmes.

She has also sued the extreme leftist group, Antifa, for allegedly attacking a journalist.

Another case she has filed is against a California hospital group on behalf of a woman who said that the doctors there gave her sex change treatment when she was a minor.

--IANS

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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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