<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqNpuu6SdmIo2" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Almost 258 million people across 58 countries, or 22.7 per cent of the analysed population, faced severe hunger last year due to conflicts, climate change and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a United Nations report. The data released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization stated it was the fourth consecutive year in which the number of people facing food crises increased substantially - a “stinging indictment of humanity’s failure”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report is presented by the Global Report on Food Crises, an alliance of humanitarian organisations founded by the UN and the European Union. It shows that the number of countries where food insecurity had increased due to economic shocks had increased from 21 to 27.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Nearly 258 million people in 58 countries/territories were in Crisis or worse acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above, or equivalent) in 2022 – up from 193&nbsp;million in 53 countries/territories in 2021," reads the report.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Top 10 hungriest countries</strong></h2>

<p>According to the report, the top 10 hungriest countries in the world are -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Myanmar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan, Ukraine and Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"More than half of the 376,400 people in the catastrophe were in Somalia (214,100), but these extreme conditions also affected populations in South&nbsp;Sudan (87,000), Yemen (31,000), Afghanistan (20,300), Haiti for the first time in GRFC history (19,200), Nigeria (3,000) and Burkina Faso (1,800)," added the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reflecting on the findings of the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was a failure to implement UN goals to end world hunger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Rising poverty, deepening inequalities, rampant underdevelopment, the climate crisis and natural disasters also contribute to food insecurity,” said Guterres.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-food-crisis-looms-over-flood-hit-nigeria-528334" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Food crisis looms over flood hit Nigeria</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-food-crisis-looms-over-flood-hit-nigeria-528334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Interplay of causes driving hunger</strong></h2>

<p>Rein Paulsen, director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said an interplay of causes was driving global hunger. Climate shocks, conflicts, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine which had a drastic effect on the global trade of fertilisers, wheat, maize and sunflower oil were a few of the reasons that contributed to the problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The latest figures on the global acute food insecurity situation paint a very concerning picture. They tell us that now for four consecutive reports, four consecutive years, we have a situation that’s getting worse: the prevalence of populations facing acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse have increased for the fourth consecutive year," said Paulsen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This report is vitally important because it tells decision makers, it tells donors, it informs operational agencies and governments about the need for urgent action, scaled-up action, and the right type of action to address the situation,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-un-report-sounds-alarm-bells-over-lack-of-clean-drinking-water-574712" target="_blank"><strong>IN PICS | UN report sounds alarm bells over lack of clean drinking water</strong></a></p>

<p>Globally, only four per cent of all funding goes to food security interventions. The report and its damning findings should propel the countries and global bodies to pledge more money to ensure food reaches the tables of the most marginalised, the experts said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Almost 258 million people across 58 countries, or 22.7 per cent of the analysed population, faced severe hunger last year due to conflicts, climate change and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a United Nations report.

Almost 258 million people across 58 countries, or 22.7 per cent of the analysed population, faced severe hunger last year due to conflicts, climate change and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a United Nations report. The data released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization stated it was the fourth consecutive year in which the number of people facing food crises increased substantially - a “stinging indictment of humanity’s failure”. The report is presented by the Global Report on Food Crises, an alliance of humanitarian organisations founded by the UN and the European Union. It shows that the number of countries where food insecurity had increased due to economic shocks had increased from 21 to 27. "Nearly 258 million people in 58 countries/territories were in Crisis or worse acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above, or equivalent) in 2022 – up from 193 million in 53 countries/territories in 2021," reads the report. Top 10 hungriest countries According to the report, the top 10 hungriest countries in the world are -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Myanmar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan, Ukraine and Pakistan. "More than half of the 376,400 people in the catastrophe were in Somalia (214,100), but these extreme conditions also affected populations in South Sudan (87,000), Yemen (31,000), Afghanistan (20,300), Haiti for the first time in GRFC history (19,200), Nigeria (3,000) and Burkina Faso (1,800)," added the report. Reflecting on the findings of the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was a failure to implement UN goals to end world hunger. “Rising poverty, deepening inequalities, rampant underdevelopment, the climate crisis and natural disasters also contribute to food insecurity,” said Guterres. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Food crisis looms over flood hit Nigeria × Interplay of causes driving hunger Rein Paulsen, director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said an interplay of causes was driving global hunger. Climate shocks, conflicts, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine which had a drastic effect on the global trade of fertilisers, wheat, maize and sunflower oil were a few of the reasons that contributed to the problem. “The latest figures on the global acute food insecurity situation paint a very concerning picture. They tell us that now for four consecutive reports, four consecutive years, we have a situation that’s getting worse: the prevalence of populations facing acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse have increased for the fourth consecutive year," said Paulsen. “This report is vitally important because it tells decision makers, it tells donors, it informs operational agencies and governments about the need for urgent action, scaled-up action, and the right type of action to address the situation,” he added. IN PICS | UN report sounds alarm bells over lack of clean drinking water Globally, only four per cent of all funding goes to food security interventions. The report and its damning findings should propel the countries and global bodies to pledge more money to ensure food reaches the tables of the most marginalised, the experts said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Over 258 million people faced food insecurity in 2022: UN report

<p>Former US president Donald Trump has courted controversy yet again after it was revealed he removed an NBC reporter from his plane for asking questions about the criminal probe into Stormy Daniels hush money payments.</p>

<p>The incident allegedly took place on March 25&nbsp;after Trump's campaign rally in Waco, Texas, according to Fox News. He was speaking to a group of reporters aboard his plane when NBC News reporter&nbsp;Vaughn Hillyard said the former prez appeared frustrated by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’m not frustrated by anything. What am I, frustrated? I just did a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated by it. It’s a fake investigation. We did nothing wrong. I told you that. … It’s the exact opposite,"&nbsp;Trump replied, according to a recording obtained by the Washington Post.</p>

<p>"This is fake news, and NBC is one of the worst at it. Don’t ask me any more questions. I heard you’re a nice guy from NBC, but you’re not," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Trump orders to get the reporter out</strong></h2>

<p>Having been shut down by Trump, the reporter only spoke after half an hour but was promptly given the same&nbsp;treatment. According to reports, a frustrated Trump grabbed the reporter's two phones from the table and tossed them to a side.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t want to talk to you. You’re not a nice guy. Get him out of here," Trump could be heard telling his aides.&nbsp;"Let’s go, get him out of here. Out of here. Out of here," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Days after the alleged incident, Trump was indicted and later arraigned in New York City for falsifying the records related to hush-money payments to the former adult film star.&nbsp;He pleaded not guilty and maintained that he did not have an affair with Daniels.&nbsp;Notably, Trump is accused of having sex with the pornstar&nbsp;right after Melania gave birth to his son Barron.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/stormy-daniels-says-donald-trump-shouldnt-go-to-jail-in-hush-money-case-579942"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Stormy Daniels says Donald Trump shouldn't go to jail in Hush money case</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/stormy-daniels-says-donald-trump-shouldnt-go-to-jail-in-hush-money-case-579942/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Trump later slammed the probe and insulted Daniels, calling her 'horseface'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The district attorney of New York under the auspices and direction of the ‘department of injustice’ in Washington, DC, is investigating me for something that is not a crime, not a misdemeanour, not an affair,” said Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I never liked horseface," added Trump, using a term which he has used for Daniels in the past.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-uses-demeaning-nickname-for-stormy-daniels-at-waco-rally-denies-having-slept-with-her-576253"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Trump uses demeaning nickname for Stormy Daniels, denies having had an affair with her</strong></a></p>

<p>However, Daniels took the high road and said Trump should not be sent to prison.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration.&nbsp;I feel like the other things that he has done if he is found guilty, absolutely,"&nbsp;Daniels told British TV host Piers Morgan during an interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Former US president Donald Trump has courted controversy yet again after it was revealed he removed an NBC reporter from his plane for asking questions about the criminal probe into Stormy Daniels hush money payments.

Former US president Donald Trump has courted controversy yet again after it was revealed he removed an NBC reporter from his plane for asking questions about the criminal probe into Stormy Daniels hush money payments. The incident allegedly took place on March 25 after Trump's campaign rally in Waco, Texas, according to Fox News. He was speaking to a group of reporters aboard his plane when NBC News reporter Vaughn Hillyard said the former prez appeared frustrated by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's investigation. "I’m not frustrated by anything. What am I, frustrated? I just did a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated by it. It’s a fake investigation. We did nothing wrong. I told you that. … It’s the exact opposite," Trump replied, according to a recording obtained by the Washington Post. "This is fake news, and NBC is one of the worst at it. Don’t ask me any more questions. I heard you’re a nice guy from NBC, but you’re not," he added. Trump orders to get the reporter out Having been shut down by Trump, the reporter only spoke after half an hour but was promptly given the same treatment. According to reports, a frustrated Trump grabbed the reporter's two phones from the table and tossed them to a side. "I don’t want to talk to you. You’re not a nice guy. Get him out of here," Trump could be heard telling his aides. "Let’s go, get him out of here. Out of here. Out of here," he added. Days after the alleged incident, Trump was indicted and later arraigned in New York City for falsifying the records related to hush-money payments to the former adult film star. He pleaded not guilty and maintained that he did not have an affair with Daniels. Notably, Trump is accused of having sex with the pornstar right after Melania gave birth to his son Barron. WATCH | Stormy Daniels says Donald Trump shouldn't go to jail in Hush money case × Trump later slammed the probe and insulted Daniels, calling her 'horseface'. "The district attorney of New York under the auspices and direction of the ‘department of injustice’ in Washington, DC, is investigating me for something that is not a crime, not a misdemeanour, not an affair,” said Trump. “I never liked horseface," added Trump, using a term which he has used for Daniels in the past. ALSO READ | Trump uses demeaning nickname for Stormy Daniels, denies having had an affair with her However, Daniels took the high road and said Trump should not be sent to prison. "I don’t think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration. I feel like the other things that he has done if he is found guilty, absolutely," Daniels told British TV host Piers Morgan during an interview. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump shushes reporter, throws his phone and kicks him out of plane: Report

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqNpuu6SdmIo2" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>German and Italian police on Wednesday arrested more than 100 members of the Italian ’Ndrangheta' organised crime syndicate as part of a "wide-scale" operation. In Germany, more than 1,000 officers searched dozens of homes, offices and stores across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. Operations also took place in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.</p>

<p>Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta' is regarded as the world's richest organised crime group and European authorities have been waging a war against it for years. The mafia group has managed to earn revenues in excess of tens of billions of dollars by selling cocaine over the decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police in Bavaria said the arrests on Wednesday were the culmination of a three-year investigation effort codenamed 'Operation Eureka'. Michael Ebling, State Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, said the arrests were an "effective blow"&nbsp;against organised crime.</p>

<p>“Today sends out a very clear signal: There is no place for organised crime in Europe and there is certainly no place for it here with us in Rhineland-Palatinate,” Ebling was quoted as saying by dpa.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/italys-largest-mafia-trial-opens-for-ndrangheta-mob-group-356592" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Italy's largest mafia trial opens for 'Ndrangheta mob group'</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/italys-largest-mafia-trial-opens-for-ndrangheta-mob-group-356592/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>German state office of the criminal investigation said most of the suspects arrested are accused of money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud, and narcotics smuggling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, the investigators unearthed a widespread network of cafes, restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream parlours which acted as a front for the mafia organisation and took part in money laundering operations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Italian and Belgian investigators said the crime group smuggled close to 25 tonnes of cocaine worth $24.2 million between October 2019 and January 2022 from Calabria to Belgium, the Netherlands and South America.</p>

<p>Notably, last year in November, Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the mafia group was arrested in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ndrangheta's genesis</strong></h2>

<p>The mafia group's genesis dates back to the 18th century. Unlike most modern-day mafia groups, members of 'Ndrangheta' still follow ancient rites which are passed down orally and through secret codes. To avoid clutches of the law enforcement agencies, the group members avoid speaking on phones entirely, opting to drive hundreds of miles for a meeting.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-italian-mobster-belonging-to-the-ndrangheta-mafia-captured-in-argentina-530207"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina</strong></a></p>

<p>It consists of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine' which are based almost exclusively on blood ties. It has a monopoly on drug trafficking in Europe and also deals in arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and prostitution.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


German and Italian police on Wednesday arrested more than 100 members of the Italian ’Ndrangheta' organised crime syndicate as part of a "wide-scale" operation. In Germany, more than 1,000 officers searched dozens of homes, offices and stores across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.

German and Italian police on Wednesday arrested more than 100 members of the Italian ’Ndrangheta' organised crime syndicate as part of a "wide-scale" operation. In Germany, more than 1,000 officers searched dozens of homes, offices and stores across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. Operations also took place in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta' is regarded as the world's richest organised crime group and European authorities have been waging a war against it for years. The mafia group has managed to earn revenues in excess of tens of billions of dollars by selling cocaine over the decades. Police in Bavaria said the arrests on Wednesday were the culmination of a three-year investigation effort codenamed 'Operation Eureka'. Michael Ebling, State Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, said the arrests were an "effective blow" against organised crime. “Today sends out a very clear signal: There is no place for organised crime in Europe and there is certainly no place for it here with us in Rhineland-Palatinate,” Ebling was quoted as saying by dpa. WATCH | Italy's largest mafia trial opens for 'Ndrangheta mob group' × German state office of the criminal investigation said most of the suspects arrested are accused of money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud, and narcotics smuggling. According to reports, the investigators unearthed a widespread network of cafes, restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream parlours which acted as a front for the mafia organisation and took part in money laundering operations. Italian and Belgian investigators said the crime group smuggled close to 25 tonnes of cocaine worth $24.2 million between October 2019 and January 2022 from Calabria to Belgium, the Netherlands and South America. Notably, last year in November, Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the mafia group was arrested in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ndrangheta's genesis The mafia group's genesis dates back to the 18th century. Unlike most modern-day mafia groups, members of 'Ndrangheta' still follow ancient rites which are passed down orally and through secret codes. To avoid clutches of the law enforcement agencies, the group members avoid speaking on phones entirely, opting to drive hundreds of miles for a meeting. ALSO READ | Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina It consists of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine' which are based almost exclusively on blood ties. It has a monopoly on drug trafficking in Europe and also deals in arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and prostitution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Germany, Italy clamp down on notorious mafia group 'Ndrangheta'

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqNpuu6SdmIo2" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>A German court said on Wednesday that former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is ready to plead guilty in the 'Dieselgate' saga. Upon reaching an agreement with the Munich district court, Stadler will make the guilty plea in lieu of receiving a suspended sentence and a fine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a court spokesperson, the ex-Audi chief will receive a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of $1.2 million. Stadler's trial began in late 2020 and up until last week, he refused to plead guilty. However, after pleading guilty, the auto executive's confession is expected to be read out in two weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Stadler joined the company in 1990 and had been with Volkswagen ever since. He became Audi's CEO in 2007 and joined VW's management board three years later. However, after the scandal broke out, Stadler went to jail temporarily in 2018 before being laid off by the company.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The emissions-cheating scandal first broke out in 2015 and rocked the entire automobile world. Audi's parent company Volkswagen, which also operates subsidiaries such as Porsche and Skoda, admitted it had installed software to rig emission levels in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide. During the court proceedings, VW admitted that the cheating dated back to 2006.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cheating device allowed vehicles to appear less polluting in lab tests than they were on the roads. Research conducted by the University of West Virginia discovered that certain VW cars emitted up to 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxide when tested on the road.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/vw-dieselgate-fraud-timeline-of-a-scandal-252763#2014-252747" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Volkswagen 'dieselgate' fraud: Timeline of a scandal</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Former Audi exec pleads guilty</strong></h2>

<p>Stadler's admission comes barely a week after Wolfgang Hatz, a former top executive at Audi pleaded guilty. Hatz confirmed that he and two other colleagues arranged the installation of banned software to rig emissions in diesel vehicles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hatz's lawyer said the defendant "recognised and accepted" that in Germany the software would be considered an illegal defeat device and could also violate American laws.</p>

<p>In March, the Paris Court of Appeal rejected a request by VW to dismiss charges of deception in a separate diesel emissions investigation in France. The auto giant argued that it could not be charged a second time for a similar offence, having already paid $1.1 billion in fines in Germany in 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-launches-legal-probe-into-vw-in-dieselgate-scandal-390502"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;France launches legal probe into VW in Dieselgate scandal</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-launches-legal-probe-into-vw-in-dieselgate-scandal-390502/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Over eight years after the scandal broke out, it is still causing the 10-brand Volkswagen legal headaches. According to reports, the entire saga has cost the company more than $34 billion in damages, refunds and court fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A German court said on Wednesday that former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is ready to plead guilty in the 'Dieselgate' saga. Upon reaching an agreement with the Munich district court, Stadler will make the guilty plea in lieu of receiving a suspended sentence and a fine.

A German court said on Wednesday that former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is ready to plead guilty in the 'Dieselgate' saga. Upon reaching an agreement with the Munich district court, Stadler will make the guilty plea in lieu of receiving a suspended sentence and a fine. According to a court spokesperson, the ex-Audi chief will receive a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of $1.2 million. Stadler's trial began in late 2020 and up until last week, he refused to plead guilty. However, after pleading guilty, the auto executive's confession is expected to be read out in two weeks. Notably, Stadler joined the company in 1990 and had been with Volkswagen ever since. He became Audi's CEO in 2007 and joined VW's management board three years later. However, after the scandal broke out, Stadler went to jail temporarily in 2018 before being laid off by the company. The emissions-cheating scandal first broke out in 2015 and rocked the entire automobile world. Audi's parent company Volkswagen, which also operates subsidiaries such as Porsche and Skoda, admitted it had installed software to rig emission levels in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide. During the court proceedings, VW admitted that the cheating dated back to 2006. The cheating device allowed vehicles to appear less polluting in lab tests than they were on the roads. Research conducted by the University of West Virginia discovered that certain VW cars emitted up to 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxide when tested on the road. ALSO READ | Volkswagen 'dieselgate' fraud: Timeline of a scandal Former Audi exec pleads guilty Stadler's admission comes barely a week after Wolfgang Hatz, a former top executive at Audi pleaded guilty. Hatz confirmed that he and two other colleagues arranged the installation of banned software to rig emissions in diesel vehicles. Hatz's lawyer said the defendant "recognised and accepted" that in Germany the software would be considered an illegal defeat device and could also violate American laws. In March, the Paris Court of Appeal rejected a request by VW to dismiss charges of deception in a separate diesel emissions investigation in France. The auto giant argued that it could not be charged a second time for a similar offence, having already paid $1.1 billion in fines in Germany in 2018. WATCH | France launches legal probe into VW in Dieselgate scandal × Over eight years after the scandal broke out, it is still causing the 10-brand Volkswagen legal headaches. According to reports, the entire saga has cost the company more than $34 billion in damages, refunds and court fees. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Former Audi boss ready to plead guilty in 'Dieselgate' scandal

<p>Japanese lawmakers are set to introduce the country’s first laws against taking&nbsp;sexually exploitative photos or videos of others without consent. The language of the bill states that acts such as "upskirting"&nbsp;(taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts will be prohibited.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gropers, often called "chikan"&nbsp;in the local language, prey on women, especially in the famously crowded public transport system. For long, there had been demands from the public to bring a law making the offence punishable.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports state that anyone found violating the law could face&nbsp;imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to&nbsp;$22,000 (Three&nbsp;million Japanese yen).</p>

<p>The bill, once passed, will be part of Japan's total overhaul of sex crimes. Reportedly, as part of the overhaul, the definition of rape will be expanded as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To avoid the menace of "upskirting", mobile phone manufacturers in the country have also installed audible shutter sounds on the devices.</p>

<h2><strong>Three times increase in arrests</strong></h2>

<p>According to police statistics, in 2010, there were 1,741 arrests in Japan with regard to illegal photographs of women. The number of arrests swelled three times to over 5,000 in 2021, signalling a grave problem. Some reports at the time&nbsp;claimed that the "perverts"&nbsp;who took the objectionable photos were "bored"&nbsp;amid the pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In March, several men photographed themselves upskirting and groping anime statues at a theme park in the country. The now-deleted posts showed the masked men touching characters from Studi Ghbili in a sexually suggestive way.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-millions-in-japan-told-to-take-immediate-cover-582258"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-millions-in-japan-told-to-take-immediate-cover-582258/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After the photos went viral,&nbsp;Hideaki Ōmura, governor of&nbsp;central Aichi prefecture, where Ghibli Park is located, issued a warning of "firm and strict"&nbsp;action against the offenders.&nbsp;A couple of weeks after the warning, the three men&nbsp;visited the prefectural office and apologised for their actions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I feel deep regret for having caused trouble and disgusting so many people. I will refrain from doing such foolish things in the future. I am truly sorry,” said one of the men.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/street-piano-in-japan-confiscated-after-people-break-rules-reports-588119"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Street piano in Japan confiscated after people break rules: Reports</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, Japan is not the only Asian country to have come up with serious rules regarding "upskirting".&nbsp;In South Korea, those convicted of photo voyeurism face a fine of up to $7,500 (10&nbsp;million won) or a maximum prison sentence of five years.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in Singapore, the convicted face up to two years in jail, fines, caning or a combination of penalties. If the victims are younger than 14 years old, the convicted face&nbsp;mandatory imprisonment, plus fines and caning.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Japanese lawmakers are set to introduce the country’s first laws against taking sexually exploitative photos or videos of others without consent. The language of the bill states that acts such as "upskirting" (taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts will be prohibited.

Japanese lawmakers are set to introduce the country’s first laws against taking sexually exploitative photos or videos of others without consent. The language of the bill states that acts such as "upskirting" (taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts will be prohibited. The gropers, often called "chikan" in the local language, prey on women, especially in the famously crowded public transport system. For long, there had been demands from the public to bring a law making the offence punishable. Reports state that anyone found violating the law could face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $22,000 (Three million Japanese yen). The bill, once passed, will be part of Japan's total overhaul of sex crimes. Reportedly, as part of the overhaul, the definition of rape will be expanded as well. To avoid the menace of "upskirting", mobile phone manufacturers in the country have also installed audible shutter sounds on the devices. Three times increase in arrests According to police statistics, in 2010, there were 1,741 arrests in Japan with regard to illegal photographs of women. The number of arrests swelled three times to over 5,000 in 2021, signalling a grave problem. Some reports at the time claimed that the "perverts" who took the objectionable photos were "bored" amid the pandemic. In March, several men photographed themselves upskirting and groping anime statues at a theme park in the country. The now-deleted posts showed the masked men touching characters from Studi Ghbili in a sexually suggestive way. WATCH | Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover × After the photos went viral, Hideaki Ōmura, governor of central Aichi prefecture, where Ghibli Park is located, issued a warning of "firm and strict" action against the offenders. A couple of weeks after the warning, the three men visited the prefectural office and apologised for their actions. “I feel deep regret for having caused trouble and disgusting so many people. I will refrain from doing such foolish things in the future. I am truly sorry,” said one of the men. ALSO READ | Street piano in Japan confiscated after people break rules: Reports Notably, Japan is not the only Asian country to have come up with serious rules regarding "upskirting". In South Korea, those convicted of photo voyeurism face a fine of up to $7,500 (10 million won) or a maximum prison sentence of five years. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the convicted face up to two years in jail, fines, caning or a combination of penalties. If the victims are younger than 14 years old, the convicted face mandatory imprisonment, plus fines and caning. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan brings legislation to ban upskirting, secret filming of sexual acts

<p>The Indonesian authorities on Tuesday confirmed that the pigs supplied to Singapore from a farm were infected with the African swine fever (ASF) virus. The pig samples from the farm on Pulab Bulan in the Riau Islands province were tested,&nbsp;which make&nbsp;up for about 15 per cent of Singapore's&nbsp;total pork supply.</p>

<p>Honismandri, a veterinary authority official at the Riau Islands province, revealed that a new strain of virus might have infected the pigs as the symptoms varied from previous cases found in North Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They did not have diarrhoea or experience bleeding. The pigs might have been infected by migrating boars or crows from other islands nearby,"&nbsp;Honismandri was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-canadian-invasive-super-pigs-are-threatening-flora-and-fauna-in-the-us-know-everything-565033"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;How Canadian invasive 'super pigs' are threatening flora and fauna in the US? Know everything</strong></a></p>

<p>Honismandri added that the farm&nbsp;had been shut and all live pigs and fresh pork shipments from the island had been suspended.&nbsp;Notably, Singapore Food Agency (SFA)&nbsp;already stopped the import of pigs last month from the island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Due to the current situation, there will be temporary disruptions to the supply of freshly slaughtered pork from April 23 onwards," the SFA said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"SFA is working closely with the abattoir to sanitise the premises and surrounding environment after the slaughter of pigs that are currently at the abattoir has been completed, as well as to maintain the biosecurity measures at the abattoir."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/african-swine-fever-threatens-hungarian-mangalica-pig-367887"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;African swine fever threatens Hungarian Mangalica pig</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/african-swine-fever-threatens-hungarian-mangalica-pig-367887/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-canadian-invasive-super-pigs-are-threatening-flora-and-fauna-in-the-us-know-everything-565033#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>What is&nbsp;African swine fever?</strong></h2>

<p>African swine fever (ASF) is a highly virulent and contagious disease in pigs whose mortality rate can reach 100 per cent. However, it does not infect humans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has stated that ASF is quietly becoming a&nbsp;major crisis for the pork industry in recent years. There is no effective vaccine for the disease and it&nbsp;not only affects the animal's health&nbsp;but also has a&nbsp;detrimental impact on biodiversity</p>

<p>"The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon," the WOAH has stated in its advisory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The disease has reached multiple countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, affecting both domestic and wild pigs.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The Indonesian authorities on Tuesday confirmed that the pigs supplied to Singapore from a farm were infected with the African swine fever (ASF) virus. The pig samples from the farm on Pulab Bulan in the Riau Islands province were tested, which make up for about 15 per cent of Singapore's total pork supply.

The Indonesian authorities on Tuesday confirmed that the pigs supplied to Singapore from a farm were infected with the African swine fever (ASF) virus. The pig samples from the farm on Pulab Bulan in the Riau Islands province were tested, which make up for about 15 per cent of Singapore's total pork supply. Honismandri, a veterinary authority official at the Riau Islands province, revealed that a new strain of virus might have infected the pigs as the symptoms varied from previous cases found in North Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. “They did not have diarrhoea or experience bleeding. The pigs might have been infected by migrating boars or crows from other islands nearby," Honismandri was quoted as saying by The Straits Times. ALSO READ | How Canadian invasive 'super pigs' are threatening flora and fauna in the US? Know everything Honismandri added that the farm had been shut and all live pigs and fresh pork shipments from the island had been suspended. Notably, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) already stopped the import of pigs last month from the island. "Due to the current situation, there will be temporary disruptions to the supply of freshly slaughtered pork from April 23 onwards," the SFA said in a statement. "SFA is working closely with the abattoir to sanitise the premises and surrounding environment after the slaughter of pigs that are currently at the abattoir has been completed, as well as to maintain the biosecurity measures at the abattoir." WATCH | African swine fever threatens Hungarian Mangalica pig × What is African swine fever? African swine fever (ASF) is a highly virulent and contagious disease in pigs whose mortality rate can reach 100 per cent. However, it does not infect humans. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has stated that ASF is quietly becoming a major crisis for the pork industry in recent years. There is no effective vaccine for the disease and it not only affects the animal's health but also has a detrimental impact on biodiversity "The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon," the WOAH has stated in its advisory. The disease has reached multiple countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, affecting both domestic and wild pigs. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pigs exported to Singapore from Indonesia confirmed to have African swine fever virus

<p>Three years of COVID-19 curbs have led to a 'pent-up' demand amongst Chinese tourists. Millions are now taking full advantage of the Labour Day break and 'revenge travelling', as hotels and tourist hotspots struggle to cope with the rush of tourists. Videos on Chinese social media platforms show domestic travellers sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder, in a public toilet near one of the summits of Huangshan in Anhui province, one of China’s most popular tourist destinations.</p>

<p>According to a staff member, the tourists anchored themselves in the toilet as it was too late to go down the mountain and hotels were full, leaving no option for them to spend the night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seeing the mass migration of the population to enjoy the holiday weekend, the hashtag “how everywhere is crowded” remained a top trending topic on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform on Tuesday morning. Chinese netizens shared images and videos of huge crowds at the popular tourist destination whit few saying the situation was "gradually becoming ridiculous".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is the first day of my holiday and as the first stop I chose the&nbsp;Mutianyu&nbsp;section of the Great Wall, because I heard the Badaling section is too crowded. But here there are a lot of people as well. This morning I left at eight from the tourist centre and we arrived here at five in the afternoon. The traffic on the way here was also terrible," Wang Yingli, a 26-year-old tourist from Shaanxi was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/travel-boosts-in-china-after-years-of-curbs-556839"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Travel boosts in China after years of curbs</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/travel-boosts-in-china-after-years-of-curbs-556839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Another tourist added,&nbsp;“This is the first time I come to&nbsp;Mutianyu. Many years ago, I went to Badaling. I was worried that that section would be too crowded and I chose to come here instead, but the crowd here is huge as well. I came here to take some pictures.”</p>

<h2><strong>China set to break records</strong></h2>

<p>According to data released by the Chinese Transport Ministry, more than 159 million trips were made via car, airplane, rail and waterways in the first three days of the five-day holiday weekend, which was an increase of a whopping 162 per cent from the same period last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>National operator China Railway Group Ltd. expects to hit a record 120 million passengers between April 27 to May 4 —&nbsp;the so-called Golden Week period. Daily average trips across the country have already reached pre-pandemic levels set in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>More tourists mean more revenue for the companies. According to the Ministry of Commerce data, major retail and catering companies reported a 15.6 per cent jump in sales on Monday&nbsp;from a year ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China was the ground zero of the pandemic and one of the last countries to let go of the restrictions. The country under President Xi Jinping employed a zero-Covid tolerance policy which created horrific scenes. It was only in December last year that the communist regime lifted the draconian policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-cases-reportedly-rising-in-china-a-matter-of-global-concern-586624" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern?</strong></a></p>

<p>After a relative period of normalcy, cases started to increase in mainland China earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert as the holiday weekend approached.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Three years of COVID-19 curbs have led to a 'pent-up' demand amongst Chinese tourists. Millions are now taking full advantage of the Labour Day break and 'revenge travelling', as hotels and tourist hotspots struggle to cope with the rush of tourists.

Three years of COVID-19 curbs have led to a 'pent-up' demand amongst Chinese tourists. Millions are now taking full advantage of the Labour Day break and 'revenge travelling', as hotels and tourist hotspots struggle to cope with the rush of tourists. Videos on Chinese social media platforms show domestic travellers sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder, in a public toilet near one of the summits of Huangshan in Anhui province, one of China’s most popular tourist destinations. According to a staff member, the tourists anchored themselves in the toilet as it was too late to go down the mountain and hotels were full, leaving no option for them to spend the night. Seeing the mass migration of the population to enjoy the holiday weekend, the hashtag “how everywhere is crowded” remained a top trending topic on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform on Tuesday morning. Chinese netizens shared images and videos of huge crowds at the popular tourist destination whit few saying the situation was "gradually becoming ridiculous". “This is the first day of my holiday and as the first stop I chose the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, because I heard the Badaling section is too crowded. But here there are a lot of people as well. This morning I left at eight from the tourist centre and we arrived here at five in the afternoon. The traffic on the way here was also terrible," Wang Yingli, a 26-year-old tourist from Shaanxi was quoted as saying by Reuters. WATCH | Travel boosts in China after years of curbs × Another tourist added, “This is the first time I come to Mutianyu. Many years ago, I went to Badaling. I was worried that that section would be too crowded and I chose to come here instead, but the crowd here is huge as well. I came here to take some pictures.” China set to break records According to data released by the Chinese Transport Ministry, more than 159 million trips were made via car, airplane, rail and waterways in the first three days of the five-day holiday weekend, which was an increase of a whopping 162 per cent from the same period last year. National operator China Railway Group Ltd. expects to hit a record 120 million passengers between April 27 to May 4 — the so-called Golden Week period. Daily average trips across the country have already reached pre-pandemic levels set in 2019. More tourists mean more revenue for the companies. According to the Ministry of Commerce data, major retail and catering companies reported a 15.6 per cent jump in sales on Monday from a year ago. China was the ground zero of the pandemic and one of the last countries to let go of the restrictions. The country under President Xi Jinping employed a zero-Covid tolerance policy which created horrific scenes. It was only in December last year that the communist regime lifted the draconian policy. ALSO READ | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern? After a relative period of normalcy, cases started to increase in mainland China earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert as the holiday weekend approached. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chinese tourists sleep in toilets as ‘revenge travel’ kicks in during holiday weekend

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidE9ovLxcXJHeZ" /><meta charset="utf-8" />The White House on Monday announced that the US will end its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travellers and federal workers on May 11, nearly three years after first enforcing the policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, we are announcing that the administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travellers at the end of the day on May 11," read the statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security departments (DHS) will also initiate their own processes to end vaccination requirements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"HHS and DHS announced today that they will start the process to end their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain non-citizens at the land border. In the coming days, further details related to ending these requirements will be provided," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the White House, the administration was moving into a "different phase" of the Covid response as mandatory vaccination was one of the measures that was no longer required. Notably, the USA is one of the last few countries to remove the mandate for travellers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-us-energy-departments-report-claims-covid-19-was-likely-a-result-of-lab-leak-566518"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Trending on WION: U.S. energy department's report claims Covid-19 was likely a result of lab leak</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-us-energy-departments-report-claims-covid-19-was-likely-a-result-of-lab-leak-566518/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Vaccine mandate and the political fight</strong></h2>

<p>The vaccine mandate also became the centre of a political slugfest between the Republicans and Democrats. The requirement was one of the reasons why Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was not able to enter the US and was forced to miss several high-profile tournaments, including the Grand Slam.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Biden administration will be ending the requirements on the same day it terminates the pandemic-related public health emergency. Last month, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution, weeks before the emergency mandate was set to expire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former president Donald Trump's health and human services secretary Alex Azar first declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020. The public health experts at the time argued that requirements were necessary so as to confront vaccine hesitancy and increase protection against the deadly virus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month also stated it was planning to stop tracking the spread of COVID-19 in communities around the country. The CDC will keep a tab on Covid infections by tracking hospitalisations in some areas.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-public-health-emergency-deadline-approaches-cdc-to-stop-tracking-community-covid-numbers-587296" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | As US public health emergency deadline approaches, CDC to stop tracking community Covid numbers</strong></a></p>

<p>“We’re not going to lose complete surveillance, but we will lose that hyper-local sensitivity to it perhaps,” said CDC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>More than 1.13 million in the US have died from COVID-19 over the last three years. However, with the cases slowing down, the need for vaccine mandate has been nullified.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The White House on Monday announced that the US will end its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travellers and federal workers on May 11, nearly three years after first enforcing the policy.

The White House on Monday announced that the US will end its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travellers and federal workers on May 11, nearly three years after first enforcing the policy. "Today, we are announcing that the administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travellers at the end of the day on May 11," read the statement. Additionally, the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security departments (DHS) will also initiate their own processes to end vaccination requirements. "HHS and DHS announced today that they will start the process to end their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain non-citizens at the land border. In the coming days, further details related to ending these requirements will be provided," it added. According to the White House, the administration was moving into a "different phase" of the Covid response as mandatory vaccination was one of the measures that was no longer required. Notably, the USA is one of the last few countries to remove the mandate for travellers. WATCH | Trending on WION: U.S. energy department's report claims Covid-19 was likely a result of lab leak × Vaccine mandate and the political fight The vaccine mandate also became the centre of a political slugfest between the Republicans and Democrats. The requirement was one of the reasons why Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was not able to enter the US and was forced to miss several high-profile tournaments, including the Grand Slam. The Biden administration will be ending the requirements on the same day it terminates the pandemic-related public health emergency. Last month, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution, weeks before the emergency mandate was set to expire. Former president Donald Trump's health and human services secretary Alex Azar first declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020. The public health experts at the time argued that requirements were necessary so as to confront vaccine hesitancy and increase protection against the deadly virus. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month also stated it was planning to stop tracking the spread of COVID-19 in communities around the country. The CDC will keep a tab on Covid infections by tracking hospitalisations in some areas. ALSO READ | As US public health emergency deadline approaches, CDC to stop tracking community Covid numbers “We’re not going to lose complete surveillance, but we will lose that hyper-local sensitivity to it perhaps,” said CDC. More than 1.13 million in the US have died from COVID-19 over the last three years. However, with the cases slowing down, the need for vaccine mandate has been nullified. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US to end Covid vaccination requirements for international travellers, others on May 11

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidE9ovLxcXJHeZ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna in an interview with Bloomberg stated the company is expected to pause hiring for roles it believes can be replaced with AI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Krishna suggests that hiring in back-office functions, especially human resources could be suspended or slowed. Currently, 26,000 workers are employed in non-customer-facing jobs in the company.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I could easily see 30 per cent of that getting replaced by AI and automation over a five-year period," said Krishna, whose estimate means that roughly 7,800 employees might receive the sack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mundane HR tasks such as providing employment verification letters, and moving employees between departments will be fully automated, according to Krishna, However, few of the HR functions such as evaluating workforce productivity and composition will not be replaced over the next decade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chief Financial Officer James Kavanaugh had earlier stated that new&nbsp;productivity and efficiency steps are expected to drive $2 billion a year in savings by the end of 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IBM fires 3,900 workers</strong></h2>

<p>IBM, considered the world's largest industrial research organisation currently employs nearly 260,000 workers. The decision to pause hiring by IBM comes a few months after it announced it was laying off over 3,900 employees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In January, the US-based company said it was letting go of the employees due to missing its annual cash target and as part of larger asset divestments.&nbsp;IBM's 2022 cash flow was $9.3 billion, below its target of $10 billion, due to higher-than-expected working capital needs.</p>

<p>According to reports, by the time the layoff process is complete, nearly 5,000 IBM employees would have lost their jobs.&nbsp;However, according to Krishna, the company is still hiring talent and despite the firings, it added 7,000 people to its workforce in the first quarter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ibm-joins-other-tech-giants-in-mass-firings-will-lay-off-3900-employees-556030" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | IBM joins other tech giants in mass firings, will lay off 3,900 employees</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>AI's emergence and existential threat for workers</strong></h2>

<p>It was always feared that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will one day start taking away human jobs and looks like the countdown has started. Within a few months of Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI's viral chatbot, ChatGPT making its debut, the advancement in the AI field has caused companies across the board to tap into the unending potential of technology. However, the collateral damage is the humans who might be laid off to expand the profit margins.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ibm-announces-3900-job-cuts-after-missing-annual-cash-target-556169" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | IBM announces 3,900 job cuts after missing annual cash target</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ibm-announces-3900-job-cuts-after-missing-annual-cash-target-556169/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>A recent report by<strong>&nbsp;</strong>investment bank Goldman Sachs stated that AI could potentially replace the equivalent of around 300 million full-time jobs in the future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report added that 'Generative AI's' ability to create content such as images, videos, audio, text, and 3D models that are indistinguishable from human work is "a major advancement," and would have an impact on jobs everywhere.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna in an interview with Bloomberg stated the company is expected to pause hiring for roles it believes can be replaced with AI.

International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna in an interview with Bloomberg stated the company is expected to pause hiring for roles it believes can be replaced with AI. Krishna suggests that hiring in back-office functions, especially human resources could be suspended or slowed. Currently, 26,000 workers are employed in non-customer-facing jobs in the company. “I could easily see 30 per cent of that getting replaced by AI and automation over a five-year period," said Krishna, whose estimate means that roughly 7,800 employees might receive the sack. Mundane HR tasks such as providing employment verification letters, and moving employees between departments will be fully automated, according to Krishna, However, few of the HR functions such as evaluating workforce productivity and composition will not be replaced over the next decade. Chief Financial Officer James Kavanaugh had earlier stated that new productivity and efficiency steps are expected to drive $2 billion a year in savings by the end of 2024. IBM fires 3,900 workers IBM, considered the world's largest industrial research organisation currently employs nearly 260,000 workers. The decision to pause hiring by IBM comes a few months after it announced it was laying off over 3,900 employees. In January, the US-based company said it was letting go of the employees due to missing its annual cash target and as part of larger asset divestments. IBM's 2022 cash flow was $9.3 billion, below its target of $10 billion, due to higher-than-expected working capital needs. According to reports, by the time the layoff process is complete, nearly 5,000 IBM employees would have lost their jobs. However, according to Krishna, the company is still hiring talent and despite the firings, it added 7,000 people to its workforce in the first quarter. ALSO READ | IBM joins other tech giants in mass firings, will lay off 3,900 employees AI's emergence and existential threat for workers It was always feared that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will one day start taking away human jobs and looks like the countdown has started. Within a few months of Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI's viral chatbot, ChatGPT making its debut, the advancement in the AI field has caused companies across the board to tap into the unending potential of technology. However, the collateral damage is the humans who might be laid off to expand the profit margins. WATCH | IBM announces 3,900 job cuts after missing annual cash target × A recent report by investment bank Goldman Sachs stated that AI could potentially replace the equivalent of around 300 million full-time jobs in the future. The report added that 'Generative AI's' ability to create content such as images, videos, audio, text, and 3D models that are indistinguishable from human work is "a major advancement," and would have an impact on jobs everywhere. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Has the purge begun? IBM to pause hiring for jobs that AI could do

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidE9ovLxcXJHeZ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidE9ovLxcXJHeZ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>China has called for constructive reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying there should be representation for developing countries, especially the small and medium countries, but remained mum on India's inclusion at the high table of the permanent members.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee recently met Tareq MAM Albanai and Alexander Marschik, the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reforms and discussed the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The reform of the Security Council should uphold fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, allowing more small and medium-sized countries to have more opportunities to participate in the decision-making of the council," said the Chinese diplomat.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/india-at-unsc-how-long-it-has-to-wait-for-the-permanent-seat-354198"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;India at UNSC: How long it has to wait for the permanent seat?</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, China is one of the five permanent members alongside France, Russia, the UK and the US of the 15-member UNSC. The other 10 members are elected as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UNSC has been criticised for being a closed grouping, often out of touch with the ground reality and using the platform to serve selfish interests. For several years, India has been at the forefront, demanding reforms to the Security Council and a place at the table. New Delhi's rotating non-permanent membership in the council ended on December 31, 2022, and thus it becomes all the more important that India is included.</p>

<h2><strong>UNSC's credibility at stake</strong></h2>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has questioned the relevance of the UNSC by stating, “The credibility and effectiveness of global institutions is being questioned. The reason for this is that there has been no change in these institutions despite the passage of time. These institutions reflect the mindset and realities of the world 75 years ago."</p>

<p>India with the world's largest population and tag of the fastest-growing economy is rightly deserving of a place in the council, especially if the body wants to restore its credibility, according to experts. Last year, France and UK reaffirmed their support for India as a permanent member during the annual debate on UNSC reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-never-changing-unsc-why-no-permanent-unsc-seat-for-india-world-news-wion-584197"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;The never-changing UNSC: Why no permanent UNSC seat for India? | World News | WION</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-never-changing-unsc-why-no-permanent-unsc-seat-for-india-world-news-wion-584197/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>“France endorses the candidacy of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan as permanent members for permanent seats,” said Nathalie Broadhurst Estival, France's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the UK’s Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, also extended her country’s support for the membership bid of the&nbsp;G4 countries (India, Germany, Japan and Brazil) as well as permanent African representation on the Council.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-uk-back-g4-countries-bid-for-permanent-seat-on-un-security-council-535594" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | France, UK back India's bid for a permanent seat on UN Security Council</strong></a></p>

<p>However, despite batting for reforms, China has been blocking negotiations on UNSC expansion. The global economy and population needle is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific and if an inadequate Asian representation and no African representation remains, UNSC might be writing itself into irrelevancy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


China has called for constructive reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying there should be representation for developing countries, especially the small and medium countries, but remained mum on India's inclusion at the high table of the permanent members.

China has called for constructive reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying there should be representation for developing countries, especially the small and medium countries, but remained mum on India's inclusion at the high table of the permanent members. Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee recently met Tareq MAM Albanai and Alexander Marschik, the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reforms and discussed the issue. “The reform of the Security Council should uphold fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, allowing more small and medium-sized countries to have more opportunities to participate in the decision-making of the council," said the Chinese diplomat. ALSO READ | India at UNSC: How long it has to wait for the permanent seat? Notably, China is one of the five permanent members alongside France, Russia, the UK and the US of the 15-member UNSC. The other 10 members are elected as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers. The UNSC has been criticised for being a closed grouping, often out of touch with the ground reality and using the platform to serve selfish interests. For several years, India has been at the forefront, demanding reforms to the Security Council and a place at the table. New Delhi's rotating non-permanent membership in the council ended on December 31, 2022, and thus it becomes all the more important that India is included. UNSC's credibility at stake Prime Minister Narendra Modi has questioned the relevance of the UNSC by stating, “The credibility and effectiveness of global institutions is being questioned. The reason for this is that there has been no change in these institutions despite the passage of time. These institutions reflect the mindset and realities of the world 75 years ago." India with the world's largest population and tag of the fastest-growing economy is rightly deserving of a place in the council, especially if the body wants to restore its credibility, according to experts. Last year, France and UK reaffirmed their support for India as a permanent member during the annual debate on UNSC reforms. WATCH | The never-changing UNSC: Why no permanent UNSC seat for India? | World News | WION × “France endorses the candidacy of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan as permanent members for permanent seats,” said Nathalie Broadhurst Estival, France's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN. Meanwhile, the UK’s Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, also extended her country’s support for the membership bid of the G4 countries (India, Germany, Japan and Brazil) as well as permanent African representation on the Council. ALSO READ | France, UK back India's bid for a permanent seat on UN Security Council However, despite batting for reforms, China has been blocking negotiations on UNSC expansion. The global economy and population needle is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific and if an inadequate Asian representation and no African representation remains, UNSC might be writing itself into irrelevancy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China bats for UNSC reforms but remains mum on India's inclusion

<p>A Muslim mayor in the US has said he was stunned after being stopped from attending a White House celebration with President Joe Biden to belatedly mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.&nbsp;Mohamed Khairullah, the longest-serving mayor in New Jersey, was reportedly blocked by the US Secret Service from attending the meet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khairullah was on his way to Washington DC to attend Eid al-Fitr celebrations alongside Biden and&nbsp;prominent Muslim leaders when he received a call from the White House, stating he had not been cleared for entry by the Secret Service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It left me baffled, shocked and disappointed. It’s not a matter of I didn’t get to go to a party. It’s why I did not go. And it’s a list that has targeted me because of my identity. And I don’t think the highest office in the United States should be down with such profiling,"&nbsp;Khairullah was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.</p>

<h2><strong>US Secret Service fails to cite any reason</strong></h2>

<p>After the controversy snowballed,&nbsp;US Secret Service released a statement confirming that&nbsp;Khairullah was not allowed but refrained from detailing why.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“While we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, the mayor was not allowed to enter the White House complex this evening,” said spokesman Anthony&nbsp;Guglielmi.</p>

<p>“Unfortunately we are not able to comment further on the specific protective means and methods used to conduct our security operations at the White House.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/infiltrating-the-secret-service-us-secret-service-agents-compromised-469470"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Infiltrating the secret service: US secret service agents compromised</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/infiltrating-the-secret-service-us-secret-service-agents-compromised-469470/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Man named Khairullah on FBI's list</strong></h2>

<p>After being disinvited&nbsp;a few miles away from the White House, 47-year-old Khairullah informed the&nbsp;New Jersey wing of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) about the incident. The body instantly called upon the Biden administration to do away with the FBI’s dissemination of information from what is known as a Terrorist Screening Data Set. It includes the names and backgrounds of hundreds of thousands of individuals who are perceived as a threat to the USA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to CAIR, a person named&nbsp;Khairullah with the same birthdate as the mayor was on the said list, according to a dataset that the body obtained in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If&nbsp;such incidents are happening to high-profile and well-respected American-Muslim figures like Mayor Khairullah, this then begs the question: what is happening to Muslims who do not have the access and visibility that the mayor has?” said&nbsp;Selaedin Maksut,&nbsp;executive director, CAIR.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khairullah, born in Syria, immigrated to the US in 1991 and became a permanent citizen in 2000, having lived in Prospect Park since. He was elected as the town's mayor in 2001 and has spent 14 years as a volunteer firefighter in the community.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-multiple-fatalities-dozens-injured-after-dust-storm-in-illinois-causes-highway-pile-up-587960"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;US: At least six killed, dozens injured after dust storm in Illinois causes highway pileup</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, during his address to the attendants at the White House gathering, Biden said he was committed to helping Muslim communities and that their culture was "woven throughout American culture".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"At this point, we look ahead to the work that remains.&nbsp;We remember Muslim communities around the world that are enduring conflict, poverty, hunger, disease, and those that are displaced from their homes. And we recommit to the tireless work of building peace and standing up for the rights and dignity of all people.&nbsp;All people."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A Muslim mayor in the US has said he was stunned after being stopped from attending a White House celebration with President Joe Biden to belatedly mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

A Muslim mayor in the US has said he was stunned after being stopped from attending a White House celebration with President Joe Biden to belatedly mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Mohamed Khairullah, the longest-serving mayor in New Jersey, was reportedly blocked by the US Secret Service from attending the meet. Khairullah was on his way to Washington DC to attend Eid al-Fitr celebrations alongside Biden and prominent Muslim leaders when he received a call from the White House, stating he had not been cleared for entry by the Secret Service. “It left me baffled, shocked and disappointed. It’s not a matter of I didn’t get to go to a party. It’s why I did not go. And it’s a list that has targeted me because of my identity. And I don’t think the highest office in the United States should be down with such profiling," Khairullah was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. US Secret Service fails to cite any reason After the controversy snowballed, US Secret Service released a statement confirming that Khairullah was not allowed but refrained from detailing why. “While we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, the mayor was not allowed to enter the White House complex this evening,” said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. “Unfortunately we are not able to comment further on the specific protective means and methods used to conduct our security operations at the White House.” WATCH | Infiltrating the secret service: US secret service agents compromised × Man named Khairullah on FBI's list After being disinvited a few miles away from the White House, 47-year-old Khairullah informed the New Jersey wing of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) about the incident. The body instantly called upon the Biden administration to do away with the FBI’s dissemination of information from what is known as a Terrorist Screening Data Set. It includes the names and backgrounds of hundreds of thousands of individuals who are perceived as a threat to the USA. According to CAIR, a person named Khairullah with the same birthdate as the mayor was on the said list, according to a dataset that the body obtained in 2019. “If such incidents are happening to high-profile and well-respected American-Muslim figures like Mayor Khairullah, this then begs the question: what is happening to Muslims who do not have the access and visibility that the mayor has?” said Selaedin Maksut, executive director, CAIR. Khairullah, born in Syria, immigrated to the US in 1991 and became a permanent citizen in 2000, having lived in Prospect Park since. He was elected as the town's mayor in 2001 and has spent 14 years as a volunteer firefighter in the community. ALSO READ | US: At least six killed, dozens injured after dust storm in Illinois causes highway pileup Notably, during his address to the attendants at the White House gathering, Biden said he was committed to helping Muslim communities and that their culture was "woven throughout American culture". "At this point, we look ahead to the work that remains. We remember Muslim communities around the world that are enduring conflict, poverty, hunger, disease, and those that are displaced from their homes. And we recommit to the tireless work of building peace and standing up for the rights and dignity of all people. All people." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Secret Service turns away Muslim mayor from Biden's Eid celebrations

<p>The Rishi Sunak administration in the UK&nbsp;is planning to use&nbsp;redundant cruise ships, ferries and barges to house asylum seekers in ports around the country, at the cost of millions of pounds to the taxpayer, according to an exclusive report by<em> The Guardian.</em>&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the lawmakers failing to clear the asylum backlog as hotels remain filled to the brim, officials have been told to look at alternatives. As many as 10 cruise liners have been sought, including a&nbsp;used cruise ship from Indonesia which could be docked at a few of the UK ports, big enough to house them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bibby Stockholm, an accommodation vessel owned by Bibby Line, will be anchored at the Portland port from early June with the first batch of migrants soon taking their place on it. More asylum seekers will arrive onboard during the summer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Peel Ports, which&nbsp;operates port infrastructure in the Birkenhead area said it will only accommodate the plans if full engagement is guaranteed by the local council.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moreover, a&nbsp;leading maritime company has also conducted a feasibility study into housing migrants on abandoned oil rigs, according to the publication. However, the government is unlikely to give a nod to the proposal due to safety and logistical difficulties.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-announces-law-to-stop-illegal-immigrants-569817"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UK announces law to stop illegal immigrants</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-announces-law-to-stop-illegal-immigrants-569817/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-detain-rishi-sunak-defends-new-bill-for-crackdown-on-illegal-immigrants-570071#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>We will detain you: Sunak to illegal migrants</strong></h2>

<p>At the start of the year, Sunak, amid much pomp laid out five pledges for 2023, of which one was to&nbsp;stop migrants from entering the UK illegally.&nbsp;Afterwards, Home Secretary Suella Braverman tabled the Illegal Migration Bill&nbsp;before the House of Commons with the Tory leader simultaneously issuing an ultimatum to illegal migrants crossing the English Channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Stopping the boats is not just my priority, it's the people's priority. Our position is clear, if you arrive here illegally you will not be able to claim asylum," said Sunak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"People must know that if they come here illegally it will result in their detention and swift removal. Once this happens, and they know it will happen — they will not come, and the boats will stop."&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Sunak's enthusiasm appeared to take a hit last month when he said his plan to stop small boats crossing the Channel "won't happen overnight". He also&nbsp;pushed the timeline to achieve his goals beyond the general elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-detain-rishi-sunak-defends-new-bill-for-crackdown-on-illegal-immigrants-570071" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | 'We will detain': UK PM Rishi Sunak defends new bill for crackdown on illegal immigrants</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, former interior minister Priti Patel in April last year brought the "Rwanda Asylum Policy"&nbsp;under which immigrants arriving in the UK through "illegal"&nbsp;means would be sent to the African country of Rwanda to seek asylum.</p>

<p>The immigration crisis reached a peak in 2022 when over 45,000 people entered the UK, breaking the previous year's record by more than 17,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The Rishi Sunak administration in the UK is planning to use redundant cruise ships, ferries and barges to house asylum seekers in ports around the country, at the cost of millions of pounds to the taxpayer, according to an exclusive report by The Guardian.

The Rishi Sunak administration in the UK is planning to use redundant cruise ships, ferries and barges to house asylum seekers in ports around the country, at the cost of millions of pounds to the taxpayer, according to an exclusive report by The Guardian. With the lawmakers failing to clear the asylum backlog as hotels remain filled to the brim, officials have been told to look at alternatives. As many as 10 cruise liners have been sought, including a used cruise ship from Indonesia which could be docked at a few of the UK ports, big enough to house them. Bibby Stockholm, an accommodation vessel owned by Bibby Line, will be anchored at the Portland port from early June with the first batch of migrants soon taking their place on it. More asylum seekers will arrive onboard during the summer. Meanwhile, Peel Ports, which operates port infrastructure in the Birkenhead area said it will only accommodate the plans if full engagement is guaranteed by the local council. Moreover, a leading maritime company has also conducted a feasibility study into housing migrants on abandoned oil rigs, according to the publication. However, the government is unlikely to give a nod to the proposal due to safety and logistical difficulties. WATCH | UK announces law to stop illegal immigrants × We will detain you: Sunak to illegal migrants At the start of the year, Sunak, amid much pomp laid out five pledges for 2023, of which one was to stop migrants from entering the UK illegally. Afterwards, Home Secretary Suella Braverman tabled the Illegal Migration Bill before the House of Commons with the Tory leader simultaneously issuing an ultimatum to illegal migrants crossing the English Channel. "Stopping the boats is not just my priority, it's the people's priority. Our position is clear, if you arrive here illegally you will not be able to claim asylum," said Sunak. "People must know that if they come here illegally it will result in their detention and swift removal. Once this happens, and they know it will happen — they will not come, and the boats will stop." However, Sunak's enthusiasm appeared to take a hit last month when he said his plan to stop small boats crossing the Channel "won't happen overnight". He also pushed the timeline to achieve his goals beyond the general elections. ALSO READ | 'We will detain': UK PM Rishi Sunak defends new bill for crackdown on illegal immigrants Notably, former interior minister Priti Patel in April last year brought the "Rwanda Asylum Policy" under which immigrants arriving in the UK through "illegal" means would be sent to the African country of Rwanda to seek asylum. The immigration crisis reached a peak in 2022 when over 45,000 people entered the UK, breaking the previous year's record by more than 17,000. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK: Sunak administration to acquire disused cruise ships to house asylum seekers

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Abhinav Singh

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.