Central News Hub

Month: December 2024

  • Indian Foreign Secy Heads to Dhaka

    Indian Foreign Secy Heads to Dhaka

    The visit comes against the backdrop of heightened concerns over reported atrocities against the Hindu minority…reports Asian Lite News

    Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is set to embark on a visit to Dhaka on Monday amid tensions over atrocities on the Hindu community there. He will hold Foreign Office Consultations with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Jashim Uddin.

    The visit comes against the backdrop of heightened concerns over reported atrocities against the Hindu minority under the Mohammad Yunus regime and the arrest of a prominent Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

    It also marks the first high-level diplomatic engagement from New Delhi to Dhaka following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 and her subsequent flight to India after large-scale anti-government protests rocked Bangladesh.

    Vikram Misri’s visit is to participate in the Foreign Office Consultations, a mechanism to address bilateral issues and foster dialogue. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the meeting last week, emphasising India’s commitment to addressing growing challenges in its eastern neighbour.

    This development follows an earlier meeting in September between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Md Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. That meeting, the first high-level interaction after Hasina’s ouster, focused on strengthening bilateral relations amid an increasingly strained atmosphere.

    India has expressed deep concern over rising extremist rhetoric, growing incidents of violence, and provocations against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Misri’s visit is expected to address these pressing issues and explore avenues for stabilising bilateral relations during a time of significant turmoil.

    Hindus all over the world have also been shocked by multiple attacks on the community and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

    “We are concerned about the surge in extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence, and provocations. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of all minorities,” the MEA had stated previously.

    ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Yunus says country is united

  • US lawmakers raise concerns over Webull’s ties to China 

    US lawmakers raise concerns over Webull’s ties to China 

    The lawmakers raised concerns about Webull’s compliance with US regulations, especially regarding market fairness, transparency, and data security. ..reports Asian Lite News

    Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have raised significant concerns about Webull Financial LLC’s ownership structure and operational ties to China . Due to these connections, the lawmakers highlighted the security risks posed to American investors’ data and the broader US financial market. 

    In their letter, the Committee underscored that Webull, which plans to go public via a merger with the SPAC SK Growth Opportunities Corp., continues to maintain substantial links with Chinese entities. 

    These include ties to Webull’s parent company, Fumi Technology, and Changsha-based Hunan Weibu Information Technology Co., which has received CCP-backed funding and shares personnel and technology with Webull. The lawmakers raised concerns about Webull’s compliance with US regulations, especially regarding market fairness, transparency, and data security. 

    Despite Webull’s restructuring to create the appearance of separation from the PRC, the company remains deeply intertwined with Chinese entities, raising serious questions about its independence and its ability to safeguard US user data. 

    This is particularly concerning given China’s stringent laws requiring companies to cooperate with state intelligence activities. Additionally, the Committee pointed to Webull’s recent move to Florida and the de-registration of brokers based in China, questioning the timing of these changes ahead of the planned SPAC deal. 

    Further concerns were raised about potential discrepancies in Webull’s compliance with US regulations, specifically in the SEC’s Rule 606 order routing data, which could indicate market manipulation or omissions in reporting. 

    In light of these risks, the Select Committee has demanded comprehensive documentation from Webull, including information on its efforts to ensure operational autonomy from the Chinese government, its data privacy practices, and its plans to protect the liquidity and security of U.S. investors’ capital. 

    The Committee has set a deadline of December 31, 2024, for Webull to respond to these inquiries. The Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party has the authority to investigate and provide policy recommendations on issues related to the CCP’s economic, technological, and security activities, especially as they impact American interests. As of the time of this report, Webull has not publicly responded to the letter. 

    Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that seven Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval vessels and three official ships were detected operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Sunday. 

    Of the seven People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s north, southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan’s MND. In response to China’s action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. 

    Sharing a post on X, MND wrote, “7 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.” 

    A day before, MND said that 15 Chinese military aircraft, eight naval vessels and four official ships were detected operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Saturday. 

    So far in December, Taiwan detected Chinese military aircraft 71 times and ships 50 times. Since September 2020, China has been using gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan. 

    Gray zone tactics are “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.” 

    Earlier on December 3, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised China’s interference in the diplomatic relations of other democratic countries, calling it “regrettable” that Beijing fails to understand normal diplomatic behaviours between democratic countries and thus frequently takes “provocative actions,” Taipei Times reported.  

    Taipei prosecutors on Friday indicted four former military personnel on charges of selling state secrets to China. The four individuals, surnamed Lai, Lee, Lin, and Chen, have been detained, Taipei Times reported. 

    According to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, the three suspects who were responsible for security at the Presidential Office Building served in the 211th Military Police Battalion, surnamed Lai, Lee and Lin, while Chen served in the Ministry of National Defense’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command. 

    “Lai served from August 2015 to November last year, Chen from December 2017 to July last year, Lee from 2018 to February, and Lin from 2021 to August. From the end of 2021 to the beginning of 2022, Lai and Chen were allegedly brought into the scheme by a man surnamed Huang, who is currently wanted, on behalf of China’s intelligence agents,” prosecutors said. 

    “Starting in April 2022, Chen used his cellphone to take photographs of classified documents before passing them on to Lai and Chen, or Chinese agents,” prosecutors added. 

    Further the Prosecutors highlighted that between March or April last year and August this year, Chen, using a fake identity, recruited fellow soldiers to spy for China in exchange for rewards, as per Taipei Times. 

    “From March or April last year to August this year, Chen, operating under an alias, started to seek out fellow soldiers who would be willing spy on behalf of China for rewards, prosecutors said. He forwarded the information of one active-duty soldier to Lai, although the soldier did not agree to join the scheme,” prosecutors said. 

    “Lai and Chen were compensated by the level of sensitivity of information provided to the agents, and how many fellow soldiers they contacted as part of the scheme.In October 2022, Lai was transferred to a new unit, and he referred Lee to his old unit, who continued the scheme by using his cellphone to take photographs of official documents and pass them on to agents, prosecutors added 

    After Lee was discharged from the military, he introduced Lin to the unit, who continued the espionage activities from January of this year onward, they said. 

    According to Taipei Times, in total, prosecutors estimated that Lai received NT$460,000 (US$14,194), Chen NT$450,000, Lee NT$664,100 and Lin NT$265,900 as rewards. 

    The office concluded its investigation and charged the four with accepting bribes in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act and the National Security Act in exchange for collecting state secrets on behalf of China. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Yunus says country is united

  • Lahore court’s breather for Imran Khan’s sisters 

    Lahore court’s breather for Imran Khan’s sisters 

    Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan disclosed that Imran Khan hinted at having “one final card up his sleeve” but chose not to reveal further details…reports Asian Lite News

    An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and party leader Salman Akram Raja until January 18 in a protest case, Ary News reported. 

    According to Ary News, the case refers to a violent clash that took place between PTI workers and police on October 5. The court also granted an extension in the interim bail of Ali Imtiaz Warraich and others. 

    It was reported that the PTI leaders had filed bail applications in four different cases. The extension of their interim bail provides them with temporary relief as they face charges related to the protest. 

    On the other hand, former PM Imran Khan has warned the government of launching a civil disobedience movement if his demands are not met. 

    As per Ary News, addressing media persons outside jail, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan said that former prime minister, who is currently incarcerated, has announced two key demands namely the release of “political prisoners” facing trial and the composition of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and the November 26 crackdown on PTI protesters. 

    Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan disclosed that Imran Khan hinted at having “one final card up his sleeve” but chose not to reveal further details, Ary News reported. 

    Addressing rumors about the former Prime Minister’s health, Aleema dismissed them as baseless. She shared that Imran Khan laughed upon hearing the fake reports and assured everyone of his good health, adding that he maintains his fitness through regular exercise. 

    Incarcerated former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, has been in the Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple charges. 

    Protests have erupted acrosss the country following Imran Khan’s arrest, as his supporters and party workers took to the streets to demand his release.  

    Meanwhile, The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) several top leaders in connection with the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case, ARY News reported. 

    According to reports, the 25 accused mentioned in the GHQ attack case include PTI’s top leaders like Ali Amin Gandapur, Shehryar Afridi, Zain Qureshi, Shibli Faraz, Tahir Sadiq, Malik Taimoor Masood and Kanwal Shauzab 

    ATC Rawalpindi Judge Amjad Ali Shah signed the warrants, ordering the Rawalpindi Police (CPO) to arrest them and present them before court by December 10. The court’s decision showcases efforts to hold the accused accountable for their alleged involvement in the GHQ attack case. 

    On December 5, Judge Amjad Ali Shah indicted PTI founder Imran Khan and 60 other PTI leaders were indicted in the GHQ attack case, ARY News reported. 

    After the decision announced by the ATC, the police arrested four PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Raja Basharat, and Malik Ahmad Chatta, in connection with the GHQ attack case. 23 other accused in the case, including Zulfi Bukhari, Murad Saeed and Shehbaz Gill, have been declared proclaimed offenders. 

    On May 9 last year, Khan, who served as Pakistan’s PM from 2018 to 2022, was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, where he was present for a hearing in a corruption case. He was accused of receiving illegal gifts and assets from other nations. 

    Protests erupted acrosss the country following Imran Khan’s arrest, as his supporters and party workers took to the streets to demand his release. The PTI protesters attacked and vandalised several civil and military installations, including the Jinnah House in Lahore, the Mianwali airbase, GHQ of the army in Rawalpindi and and others. 

    The protesters also set vehicles on fire, blocked roads and clashed with police and security personnel. Over 5,000 people were arrested and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and other laws for their involvement in the riots, ARY News reported. The federal government accused Imran Khan of being the mastermind of these attacks and said that it had evidence of his involvement. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Yunus says country is united

  • B’desh removes ‘barriers’ for Pakistani goods, nationals  

    B’desh removes ‘barriers’ for Pakistani goods, nationals  

    To make matters worse, the Yunus regime’s attempt at ‘cosying up’ with Pakistan has brought it under greater scrutiny and widespread denunciation. …reports Asian Lite News

    Bangladesh government under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is drawing global flak for failing miserably in stopping the genocide of Hindu minorities, reining in the Islamist forces and controlling the country’s consistent slide into the abyss.  

    To make matters worse, the Yunus regime’s attempt at ‘cosying up’ with Pakistan has brought it under greater scrutiny and widespread denunciation. 

    Two of its policy reversals, announced recently, mark a significant departure from the past. First, the Yunus regime has instructed its Customs department to exclude Pakistani shipments from ‘physical inspection’ in the hope of enhancing trade ties. Secondly, it has relaxed its policy of mandatory security clearance for Pakistani citizens seeking visas. 

    Both the policies are fraught with risk and are prone to misuse by Pakistani terrorists, drug syndicates and mafia as this may serve as a ‘conduit’ to infiltrate into the troubled nation and then put the entire Southern region into peril. 

    Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a noted Bangladesh journalist has raised strong concerns and apprehensions over Yunus govt’s reworked trade ties with Pakistan and also over ‘rules relaxation’ for Pak nationals. 

    “By abruptly withdrawing mandatory security clearance for Pakistani nationals and exempting Pakistani cargo from customs inspections, the Yunus regime has created an open gateway for threats to infiltrate the subcontinent,” wrote the journalist in a local daily ‘Blitz’.   

    “The calculated removal of security and customs checks serves not only to embolden Pakistani networks but also to erode India’s regional dominance and global reputation,” he wrote. 

    He has also gone ahead to make sensational and explosive charges at the US-Pakistan ‘nexus’ in bringing Bangladesh down, for their own interests. 

    Dropping a bombshell over Pak’s shipment of 30,000 kg sugar to crisis-hit Bangladesh, he said that narcotics and terrorists will be sneaked into the country which will yield another death blow to the already ‘failing’ country. 

    “A country which has no standing of its own is exporting sugar to Bangladesh. In the guise of sugar supply, it is sending a hidden consignment of cocaine amounting to 300 kg of narcotics in 30,000 kg sugar,” he said in an explosive charge. 

    He also launched an unsparing attack on the United States and its deep state for ‘conspiring’ to destroy Bangladesh in a planned manner. 

    “Behind Bangladesh’s plunge into anarchy and chaos, the US administration led by Joe Biden and its deep state is responsible. Biden government, the influential deep state including investors like George Soros have colluded with Pakistan to destabilize Bangladesh,” he underlined. 

    “The special privilege being meted out to Pakistani nationals as well as Pakistani produce in our country should be seen in this context. There is a well-coordinated approach to mislead and derail the Bangladeshi youth with drug supply, in a bid to keep the country in prolonged crisis,” he added. 

    He said that as a Bangladeshi national, he is extremely worried about the country’s downfall and also expressed fears about impending sanctions on his country after the Trump administration takes charge in the US. 

    “I sincerely believe that the new US government would act harshly on extremist regimes and Bangladesh may be one of them. I fear punitive tariffs, travel bans and sanctions on certain individuals,” he said. 

    Notably, the relaxation in ‘trade and human’ ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh comes at a time when the former itself is battling with rising extremism and radicalism. Many Muslim nations including UAE and Kuwait continue to maintain strict visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals, citing security concerns. 

    Trade dries in ICP Fulbari 

    The unrest in Bangladesh almost dried the trade in Integrated Check Post Fulbari Indo-Bangladesh border. Most of the exchange counters at the border were found empty. 

    Sanjay Ghosh, a Trader at Money Exchange Counter in Fulbari told ANI that the situation is very grim in their sector, as earlier, the Indians who went to Bangladesh were a major source of income for them. But now, they stare at a wan future. 

    “Now people don’t get visas for Bangladesh. Hence, our business is badly affected. Earlier, there was a lot of business before the Covid pandemic. After Covid, it has decreased a little. But, after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, the business has completely stopped… We want the country to be in a better condition. So, we will be better, and the people there will be better,” he said. 

    Pradeep, Singh, another money exchange business owner said, “We are in a very bad situation now. Because they are not giving us the visa. On an average, 30-40 people are coming to India these days. So you understand how our business going… The situation is very bad. We want things to be like before,” he said. 

    Saklen Ahmed, a resident of Bangladesh who came to India seeking medical treatment, told ANI that he wished that the hospital’s decision to not treat Bangladeshi patients must be revoked. 

    “My name is Saklen Ahmed. I have come to India from Bangladesh on a medical visa. And the medical treatment here is very good. In several places, like Bangalore, treatment for Bangladeshi patients has been stopped. It should not happen. I want to say that relations between Bangladesh and India should be good,” he said. 

    Tensions are currently high between Bangladesh and India. 

    Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will make a visit to Bangladesh on December 9 and meet his counterpart there. 

    This comes amid strained ties between New Delhi and Dhaka following reports of several attacks on minorities, especially Hindus under the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. 

    ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Yunus says country is united

  • ‘US should have nothing to do with Syria conflict’ 

    ‘US should have nothing to do with Syria conflict’ 

    Trump said because Russia, an Assad ally, is tied up fighting a war with Ukraine it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” …reports Asian Lite News

    President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday the US should not be involved in the conflict in Syria, where rebel forces are threatening the government of President Bashar al-Assad. 

    “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. 

    Trump said because Russia, an Assad ally, is tied up fighting a war with Ukraine it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” 

    If Russia were forced out of Syria, it “may actually be the best thing that can happen to them” because “there was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia,” Trump said. 

    Trump’s comments appeared to reflect his opposition to the presence of some 900 US troops in Syria, most of them in the northeast, where they have backed a Syrian Kurd-led alliance in preventing a resurgence of Islamic State militants. 

    Trump announced in 2018 during his first term that he wanted to withdraw the US troops because he said Islamic State was near defeat. 

    But he held off as advisers warned that a pullout would leave a void that would be filled by Iran and Russia. 

    Meanwhile, Trump met French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Élysée Palace in Paris on Saturday ahead of the re-opening of the Notre Dame cathedral. 

    The meeting between the trio was an attempt to kickstart tri-party talks on the Ukraine war. Macron had also indicated that the leaders would discuss the tense situation in the Middle East. 

    Macron, Zelensky and other world leaders are attempting to garner Trump’s support in Ukraine’s war against Russia. While the president-elect has vowed to end the Ukraine war during his campaign, his plans to achieve this peace remain unclear. 

    Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump’s team on a two-day trip earlier this week as well. A senior Ukrainian official said that the meetings had been productive, but declined to disclose details. 

    “We’ve had a good time together and we had a lot of success, really great success, working together on defense and offense, too,” Bloomberg quoted Trump as saying about Macron. 

    In his first international trip as president-elect, Trump will be joined by several world leaders to celebrate the renovation of the Notre Dame cathedral which was burned down in a fire in 2019. 

    ALSO READ: Moscow Rejects Opposition Control in Syria

  • US announces $988 mn assistance package for Ukraine 

    US announces $988 mn assistance package for Ukraine 

    This package is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities in its fight against Russian attacks by providing critical munitions..reports Asian Lite News

    The Department of Defense (DoD) on Saturday announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine, allocating USD 988 million through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). 

    This package is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities in its fight against Russian attacks by providing critical munitions, unmanned aerial systems, and support for maintenance and repair programs to sustain its combat power. 

    “Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression. This security assistance package commits an additional $988 million in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with munitions for rocket systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems,” the Pentagon said in a press release. 

    This package also includes support for maintenance and repair programs to help Ukraine reconstitute its forces and build and sustain combat power. 

    The capabilities in this announcement include ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS); and equipment, components, and spare parts to maintain, repair, and overhaul artillery systems, tanks, and armoured vehicles, the release added. 

    Notably, this is the Biden administration’s 22nd USAI package. The Pentagon further said that the United States will continue to work together with some 50 allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war. 

    Last month, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement marking 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale military invasion, expressing gratitude for international support and urging to contribute to the implementation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s victory plan. 

    “We call on our partners to support our struggle, to contribute to the implementation of the Victory Plan and to achieve a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace for Ukraine, Europe and the entire world,” the MFA stated. 

    “We call on our international partners to unite around the implementation of the Peace Formula, which is the only comprehensive vision for ending the war and establishing a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace. We need peace through strength, not appeasement. We are grateful to our partners for all the defence, financial, economic and humanitarian assistance they have provided. We call for continued and increased support. Restoring global stability and common security is impossible without restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the statement added. 

    Further, MFA urged partners to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence to protect critical energy facilities and respond more actively to Kremlin actions threatening Ukrainian nuclear energy facilities. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Moscow Rejects Opposition Control in Syria

  • Prince William and Trump meet after Notre-Dame reopening 

    Prince William and Trump meet after Notre-Dame reopening 

    After shaking hands at the ceremony, the pair also met afterwards, with the president-elect describing the prince as a “good man” doing a “fantastic job”. ..reports Asian Lite News

    The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump while visiting France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral. Prince William joined other world leaders in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous landmark, which was devastated by a fire five years ago. 

    After shaking hands at the ceremony, the pair also met afterwards, with the president-elect describing the prince as a “good man” doing a “fantastic job”. During the event, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech in which he said of the restoration: “We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility and will”. 

    Other leaders and dignitaries at the event included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing US First Lady Dr Jill Biden, who was representing President Joe Biden. Prince William was expected to discuss the importance of the US-UK “special relationship” with both Trump and the first lady during their respective meetings. 

    Greeting the prince at the ceremony, Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder before the two shook hands and spoke for a few seconds. He last met Trump in 2019 when the then-president made a state visit to the UK. 

    Prince William, who attended at the request of the UK government, joined French President Emmanuel Macron and dozens of other heads of state at the ceremony on Saturday. William and Trump met at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris. 

    The prince was standing in the foyer when Trump arrived. The pair shook hands and greeted one another again, before Trump gestured to the Prince of Wales and said: “Good man, this one”. Prince William asked the president-elect if he had warmed up, and Trump replied that he had and that “it was a beautiful ceremony”. 

    Kensington Palace has described the meeting between as “warm and friendly.” During their 40 minutes together, William and Trump discussed a range of global issues but focused on the importance of the UK/US special relationship. 

    The president-elect also shared some warm and fond memories of the late Queen for which the prince was said to be “extremely grateful.” William had also been due to meet Trump and Dr Biden earlier in the day but Kensington Palace said he had been delayed by weather on his journey from the UK to France. 

    Reuters President Macron, wearing a black overcoat and scarf with a white shirt, says something to Prince William, who is also wearing a black overcoat and a white shirt with a blue tie. Brigitte Macron, wearing a black coat, black scarf and beaded black bag looks on beside them as they stand outside the Notre Dame Reuters 

    Prince William’s journey to the ceremony was delayed by stormy weather At the ceremony, The Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led more than 1,500 guests through the reopening service. 

    A choir sang out as Macron took his seat next to Trump. A message from the Pope was read aloud before the French president delivered his address. Parts of the event had to be reconfigured due to the stormy weather – with a concert that was due to take place on the esplanade actually being staged on Friday. 

    The prince’s last official trip to Paris was in 2017, when he visited with the Princess of Wales for a two-day trip in the aftermath of the Brexit result. 

    He joined other world leaders in Normandy earlier this year for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War D-Day landings. The medieval cathedral has been closed since a major fire tore through it in 2019, destroying its wooden interiors before toppling its spire. 

    Macron set a five-year goal for the reconstruction of the Catholic church shortly after the fire. An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry-workers, art experts, sculptors and engineers worked on the project, which reportedly cost €700m (£582m). 

    Tickets for the first week of Masses in the cathedral sold out in 25 minutes, the cathedral’s rector said. 

    ALSO READ Moscow Rejects Opposition Control in Syria:

  • Syrian govt falls, Assad family rule ends 

    Syrian govt falls, Assad family rule ends 

    Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government…reports Asian Lite News

    The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. 

    Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free. 

    The man who read the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state.” 

    The statement emerged hours after the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following the remarkably swift advance across the country. 

    Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. 

    “I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country,” Jalili said in a video statement. He said he would go to his office to continue work in the morning and called on Syrian citizens not to deface public property. 

    He did not address reports that Assad had fled. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Associated Press that Assad took a flight Sunday from Damascus. 

    State television in Iran, Assad’s main backer in the years of war in Syria, reported that Assad had left the capital. It cited Qatar’s Al Jazeera news network for the information and did not elaborate. There was no immediate statement from the Syrian government. 

    As daylight broke over Damascus, crowds gathered to pray in the city’s mosques and to celebrate in the squares, chanting “God is great.” People also chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. In some areas, celebratory gunshots rang out. 

    Soldiers and police officers left their posts and fled, and looters broke into the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense. “My feelings are indescribable,” said Omar Daher, a 29-year-old lawyer. “After the fear that he (Assad) and his father made us live in for many years, and the panic and state of terror that I was living in, I can’t believe it.” 

    It was the first time opposition forces had reached Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured areas on the outskirts of the capital following a yearslong siege. The pro-government Sham FM radio reported that the Damascus airport had been evacuated and all flights halted. 

    The insurgents also announced they had entered the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital and “liberated” their prisoners there. The night before, opposition forces took the central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as government forces abandoned it. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. 

    The rebels had already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels’ moves into Damascus came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. 

    The advances in the past week were by far the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad’s government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. 

    The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” 

    In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria’s border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Lebanese border officials closed the main Masnaa border crossing late Saturday, leaving many stuck waiting. 

    Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. 

    Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he was performing his duties in Damascus. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said Sunday he does not know where Assad or the defense minister are. He told Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya early Sunday that they lost communication Saturday night. 

    He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. 

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  • ‘Only half of asylum decisions meet its quality standards’ 

    ‘Only half of asylum decisions meet its quality standards’ 

    Only 52% of asylum decisions sampled in the Home Office’s internal quality assurance process were satisfactory in 2023/24, new figures show, down from 72% the previous year. …reports Asian Lite News

    Only half of the Home Office’s recent asylum decisions have met its own internal quality checks, significantly fewer than before Rishi Sunak’s push to clear a backlog of old claims. Civil servants and lawyers say errors and omissions are also driving a huge increase in costly legal challenges, with more than 9,300 appeals lodged between this April and June. 

    Only 52% of asylum decisions sampled in the Home Office’s internal quality assurance process were satisfactory in 2023/24, new figures show, down from 72% the previous year. 

    In the same period, the number of appeals against asylum decisions lodged at the First-Tier Tribunal rose from 8,000 to 29,000. Almost half of challenges are currently successful. 

    An asylum official who spoke to the Observer on condition of anonymity said changes implemented after former prime minister Sunak’s pledge to process more than 90,000 old asylum claims by the end of 2023 had made decisions less safe. 

    “They significantly shortened the training period for asylum decision-makers,” they added. “They raised the targets to clear the backlog, focusing on quantity rather than quality. Decision-makers were expected to crank out seven ‘events’ a week, come hell or high water, and that adversely impacted on the quality of their decisions.” 

    The Home Office also introduced a two-hour limit for most asylum interviews, which the official said “made it very difficult to gather enough information to write a sustainable decision that could withstand legal scrutiny”, and “concise” templates for explaining refusals. 

    The quality assurance process was also downgraded during the push to clear the legacy backlog, with an internal Home Office report from June 2023 warning of “insufficient activity to identify risks” and a “risk of incorrect or unsustainable decisions”. 

    The asylum processing changes have been maintained since the general election, the Observer understands, despite Sunak declaring the legacy backlog “cleared” in January. 

    The Freedom from Torture charity called the quality assurance figures “alarming”. Head of asylum advocacy Sile Reynolds said: “If quality is sacrificed in the pursuit of efficiency, then we risk sending refugees back to torture and persecution. 

    “If this government doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes of the previous government, then it needs to urgently prioritise quality alongside speed.” Lily Parrott, a solicitor at Duncan Lewis who specialises in asylum claims, said she and her colleagues had “noticed a drop in decision-­making quality”. 

    She added: “We’ve been seeing a lot more unexpected refusals, and we’re very conscious that will probably just move the backlog from the Home Office to the tribunal. As the quality of decisions goes down, that’s leading to more refusals and more appeals.” 

    Parrott said errors in asylum refusals included decision letters with the wrong name, the wrong nationality, the wrong gender, and where “they’ve been clearly copying and pasting sections of other people’s decisions”. 

    The Observer has also been told of cases where the Home Office booked interpreters for asylum interviews who spoke the wrong dialect, generating inaccurate records of applicants’ testimony as a result. 

    The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association said members were seeing “factual mistakes”, failures to consider evidence and “poor-­quality interviews”. It added: “The Home Office is refusing cases on the basis that it does not believe individuals are at risk, because there is insufficient detail about the risk of persecution, while simultaneously appearing not to seek that detail or information.” 

    The Care4Calais charity said mistakes had a “profound” impact on vulnerable asylum seekers, who face “further needless anxiety, uncertainty and months in limbo for appeals to be processed”. 

    Hannah Marwood, the charity’s head of legal access, said: “These poor-quality decisions will wreck people’s lives by denying them the right to safety and protection.” 

    A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. We are getting the asylum system moving again by processing cases and increasing returns of people who have no right to be here.” 

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  • Sadiq may be in line to receive knighthood   

    Sadiq may be in line to receive knighthood   

    Khan will be joined by other senior Labour MPs and Conservatives who either stepped down, or lost their seats at the last election. …reports Asian Lite News

    The mayor of London Sadiq Khan is understood to be in line to receive a knighthood in the new year honours list, alongside other senior politicians who will also be given awards. 

    Khan, the first Muslim mayor of an EU capital when elected in 2016, is expected to be awarded for political and public services after working for more than 20 years as a Labour politician, first as MP for Tooting followed by his mayoral role. 

    Khan will be joined by other senior Labour MPs and Conservatives who either stepped down, or lost their seats at the last election. 

    News that Khan could be given a knighthood alongside other politicians was first reported in the Financial Times. 

    Emily Thornberry was reported to be in line for a damehood, having been the only member of Starmer’s shadow cabinet who did not receive a government role. 

    She now sits as a backbencher, chairing the Commons foreign affairs committee. It is thought the honour will be in addition to her title of Lady Nugee, which she uses because of her husband’s knighthood. 

    The former trade secretary and health secretary Patricia Hewitt is also expected to be awarded. 

    But it is not only Labour politicians who are set to receive honours, with Andy Street, the former Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, expected to be included on a draft list. 

    Street lost his mayoralty in a very narrow race in the May local elections. Ranil Jayawardena, the environment secretary under Liz Truss and Marcus Jones, who both lot their seats in the general election, are also expected to be awarded. 

    Jones was deputy chief whip during Rishi Sunak’s premiership. Nick Gibb, a Tory MP who has served as schools minister across three appointments is set to be another recipient of a knighthood. 

    The Cabinet Office said: “We do not comment on speculation on honours.” In October, former Tory ministers Sir David Davis and Sir Gavin Williamson received knighthoods for their public service. 

    At the time, Labour politicians condemned the honour, including health secretary Wes Streeting, who tweeted: “Reward for failure. Shameless.”

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