Switzerland reports $112 mil in frozen Syrian assets
The Swiss government stated Wednesday that 99 million Swiss francs ($112 million) worth of Syrian assets are now frozen in Switzerland, the majority of which have been barred for years.
Since Switzerland ratified European Union sanctions against Syria in May 2011, the majority of the amount has been frozen, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco).
In response to an EU move, Switzerland this week added three additional individuals to its list of individuals subject to sanctions relating to Syria.
Switzerland supports UN Gaza ceasefire resolution
Switzerland supported a successful resolution passed by the UN General Assembly that demanded the immediate release of the hostages and an unconditional, long-term peace in the Gaza Strip.
Late Thursday in New York, Switzerland and 157 other members approved the text. Despite 13 abstentions and nine votes against, including from the US and Israel, the resolution was approved.
UN General Assembly resolutions have political symbolic value but are not legally enforceable. The body passed identical resolutions twice last year, but this time the demands are more forceful and the language of the text is clearer.
Swiss parliament rejects UN migration pact
The parliament has decided that Switzerland should not ratify the UN Global Compact on Migration.
Even though the document is not legally obligatory on the Confederation's immigration policy, the House of Representatives rejected it on Thursday by a vote of 121 to 65, following the Senate's lead.
The Pact is a comprehensive framework for action to enhance international cooperation in the subject of migration, and it was adopted by the UN in December 2018.
read more: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/parliament-says-no-to-un-migration-pact/88581862
Belgium ordered to pay reparations for colonial kidnappings
Five mixed-race ladies who were taken from their families during the Belgian Congo's colonial era were ordered to receive reparations from the government by a Belgian court.
According to a governmental policy, the women, who are now in their 70s, were taken from their mothers when they were young and placed in orphanages.
A "plan to systematically search for and abduct children born to a Black mother and a white father" was alleged by the court.
Judges declared the kidnappings "an inhumane act of persecution" and declared this a crime against humanity on Monday.
read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3l1w2pn9go.amp
Tibetans in Switzerland and Liechtenstein Commemorate the 76th International Human Rights Day with Peaceful Demonstration
The Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein planned a nonviolent protest in front of the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva on December 10, 2024, the 76th International Human Rights Day.
They encouraged the Chinese authorities to shut down permanent schools and demanded human rights in Tibet. After singing the Tibetan national song and organising a nonviolent march, the event started with a gathering in front of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights office in Geneva.
A representative from the Tibet Bureau in Geneva, Thinley Chukki, took part in the protest. They gathered in front of the world conference and then honoured the Tibetan martyrs with a moment of silence.
News Bits collected by [Region Head]:
Poulina Banerjee (BA IR 3rd year)
Published By: Varsha Das (BA IR, 3rd year)
Austria Halts Asylum Processing for Syrians Following Assad’s Ouster
Austria’s caretaker government suspended the processing of asylum applications for Syrians after Syrian rebels seized Damascus, leading to President Bashar al-Assad's flight to Russia.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans for a "programme of orderly repatriation and deportation" to Syria, though no specific methods were disclosed.
The government also paused family reunification for Syrian refugees, affecting 1,146 pending applications.
The move reflects Austria’s conservative People's Party's hardline stance on immigration, which aligns with the policies of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/world/austria-stops-processing-syrians-asylum-applications-after-assad-falls-2024-12-09/
Austria Lifts Veto on Bulgaria and Romania’s Full Schengen Membership
Austria has lifted its veto on Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of the Schengen free-travel area, clearing the way for EU interior ministers to formalize the decision.
Bulgaria and Romania had previously joined "Schengen Air" in March 2024, with air and maritime border checks lifted. The latest move allows land border entry into the Schengen zone.
Austria claims its initial veto prompted stronger border controls, resulting in a significant drop in illegal border crossings — from 70,000 interceptions last year to 4,000 this year.
The Austrian Interior Ministry framed the shift as a success in addressing illegal immigration, crediting its initial opposition for the enhanced border control measures.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austria-drops-veto-bulgaria-romania-fully-joining-schengen-travel-zone-2024-12-09/
Belgium Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity for Colonial-Era Abduction of Children in Congo
A Brussels appeals court ruled that Belgium committed crimes against humanity by kidnapping thousands of mixed-race children from their Black mothers during colonial rule in Congo (1908-1960). Five women, now in their 70s and 80s, were awarded €50,000 each as compensation for "moral damage" caused by their forced separation from their families.
Thousands of mixed-race children, known as métis, were taken from their mothers and placed in Catholic institutions where they were labeled "children of sin." The children suffered malnutrition, abuse, and loss of identity, with some being told their fathers were dead or that "the state" was their parent.
After Belgium's government apologized for its role in 2019, five survivors, including Lea Tavares Mujinga and Simone Ngalula, pursued legal action. Initially, a lower court rejected their claim in 2021, but they won on appeal in 2024, marking a landmark legal acknowledgment of Belgium’s colonial crimes.
The ruling is being hailed as a historic victory and a precedent in European legal history. It represents the first time a European court has condemned a colonial-era state for crimes against humanity, setting a legal precedent for addressing colonial injustices.
"The Belgian government took my youth away," said plaintiff Monique Bitu Bingi. The ruling offers some relief for survivors and their families, with many hoping it will prompt further accountability for colonial-era abuses.
French Government Collapses After No-Confidence Vote Against PM Michel Barnier
The French government has fallen after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote, the first such collapse since 1962. The motion, backed by 331 MPs, came just three months after Barnier’s appointment by President Emmanuel Macron.
The crisis was sparked when Barnier invoked special powers to pass a €60bn deficit-cutting budget, drawing opposition from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and far-right National Rally (RN), who called it "toxic" and undemocratic.
Barnier must resign but may remain as caretaker PM. President Macron faces pressure to appoint a successor quickly, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump visiting Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
With no parliamentary majority and no new elections until July, the next prime minister will face similar challenges. While Macron is not directly affected, Marine Le Pen warned that ignoring voters' voices could increase calls for his resignation.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxz934p56qo
Russia to Halt Gas Supplies to Austria from Saturday: Key Highlights
Russia will suspend gas deliveries to Austria via Ukraine, effectively ending Moscow’s last significant gas flows to Europe. This move follows Ukraine’s refusal to extend its gas transit agreement with Gazprom, aimed at cutting Russia's war profits.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer assured citizens that no household will face heating issues, as gas storage is sufficient. Energy supplier OMV has prepared for the cut-off, securing imports from Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Hungary and Slovakia, which also rely on gas via Ukraine, will face changes. Hungary already imports gas via the TurkStream pipeline, while Slovakia will need to adjust its energy sources.
The gas suspension is seen as a strategic flex by Russia amid growing pressure for a Ukraine ceasefire. EU officials stated that member states have alternative supply options, reducing reliance on Russian gas.
Read more at: https://indianexpress.com/article/news-today/austria-says-russia-to-cut-off-gas-soon-9672244/
