Following the massive success of 'Project Tiger' in India which has seen an exponential rise in the numbers of big cats, the Centre is mulling translocating a few of these majestic animals to Cambodia where it has become extinct.

Following the massive success of 'Project Tiger' in India which has seen an exponential rise in the numbers of big cats, the Centre is mulling translocating a few of these majestic animals to Cambodia where it has become extinct. Cambodia last reported the sighting of a tiger in 2007 when it was caught on a jungle camera trap. After India successfully translocated a batch of African cheetahs last September, a memorandum of understanding was also signed with Cambodia in November to assist with the reintroduction of tigers in the Southeast Asian nation. “The translocation of our tigers to Cambodia is under consideration. This has never been done in India before, although we have been translocating tigers within the country as and when it has been required," said S P Yadav, member secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, referring to the translocation of tigers from Corbett (Uttarakhand) to Rajaji National Park. “We’ve sent a delegation there [Cambodia], they’ve sent a delegation here. We are examining the situation in Cambodia to see if tiger translocation can be done." The officer added that in order to make the translocation possible, the authorities are studying if the factors that led to the extinction of tigers in the first place were resolved or not. Next month will mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger which began in 1973 at the Corbett national park. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend a conference in Mysore and laud the efforts of wildlife conservation activists and officials involved whilst releasing tiger census data for 2022. WATCH | Gravitas: How India is saving the tigers × Considering the six per cent annual growth observed in the population of tigers in the last few years, some experts say that it cannot be ruled out that the numbers may have swelled past 3,500, according to 2022 Tiger census findings. ALSO READ | This Indian state is opening up another sanctuary for Asiatic lions as numbers grow exponentially After India reached an alarming level of only 1,411 big cats in 2006, following the vanishing of tigers in the Sariska reserve in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, successive governments stepped up the protection programmes, Since then, a significant improvement has been observed and currently, India harbours 70 per cent of the global population of tigers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India considering translocating few tigers to Cambodia

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has courted another controversy by urging the international community to recognise the Taliban. Khan said the terror outfit currently ruling over Afghanistan will not respect human rights as well as women's right to education until the international community accepts it.&nbsp;

“If you isolate them [Taliban], what influence are you going to have on them? If you mainstream and let them have a state, then talk about human rights. Right now, you push them into isolation; their money is frozen, so why would they listen to anyone?" Khan was quoted as saying by Khaama Press.&nbsp;

“My advice is to get them involved, give them a stake in the international community so that when you tell them to have girls educated, they will listen to you; right now, they are not.”

Ever since Taliban gained control over Afghanistan, the human rights in the country have gone for a toss. The women students have been barred from attending schools and universities and it looks highly unlikely if they will be allowed back anytime soon.&nbsp;

Notably, this is not the first instance where Khan has come across as a Taliban apologist. As the PM, speaking at the 17th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2021, Khan said the Taliban's culture is comparable to that of Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where parents were paid stipends to send their daughters to school, but they were not sent to school.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-imran-khan-defends-taliban-on-womens-rights-438499">WATCH |&nbsp;Afghanistan: Imran Khan defends Taliban on women's rights</a>

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He also said the Taliban operatives&nbsp;were largely Pakhtuns and it was primarily the reason why there were unwilling to comply with international demands for human and women's rights

During one of his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech, Khan took a similar line and acted in favour of the Taliban.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We must strengthen the present government, stabilise it for the sake of the people of Afghanistan. What have the Taliban promised? They will respect human rights, they will have an inclusive government, they will not allow the soil to be used by terrorists and they have given amnesty. If the world community incentivises them, encourages them to walk the talk, it will be a win-win situation for everyone," said Khan at the time.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/decoding-taliban-apologist-imran-khans-speech-at-unga-a-rant-mixed-with-lies-and-fiction-415951">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Decoding Taliban apologist Imran Khan's speech at UNGA: A rant mixed with lies and fiction</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has courted another controversy by urging the international community to recognise the Taliban. Khan said the terror outfit currently ruling over Afghanistan will not respect human rights as well as women's right to education until the international community accepts it.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has courted another controversy by urging the international community to recognise the Taliban. Khan said the terror outfit currently ruling over Afghanistan will not respect human rights as well as women's right to education until the international community accepts it. “If you isolate them [Taliban], what influence are you going to have on them? If you mainstream and let them have a state, then talk about human rights. Right now, you push them into isolation; their money is frozen, so why would they listen to anyone?" Khan was quoted as saying by Khaama Press. “My advice is to get them involved, give them a stake in the international community so that when you tell them to have girls educated, they will listen to you; right now, they are not.” Ever since Taliban gained control over Afghanistan, the human rights in the country have gone for a toss. The women students have been barred from attending schools and universities and it looks highly unlikely if they will be allowed back anytime soon. Notably, this is not the first instance where Khan has come across as a Taliban apologist. As the PM, speaking at the 17th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2021, Khan said the Taliban's culture is comparable to that of Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where parents were paid stipends to send their daughters to school, but they were not sent to school. WATCH | Afghanistan: Imran Khan defends Taliban on women's rights × He also said the Taliban operatives were largely Pakhtuns and it was primarily the reason why there were unwilling to comply with international demands for human and women's rights During one of his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech, Khan took a similar line and acted in favour of the Taliban. "We must strengthen the present government, stabilise it for the sake of the people of Afghanistan. What have the Taliban promised? They will respect human rights, they will have an inclusive government, they will not allow the soil to be used by terrorists and they have given amnesty. If the world community incentivises them, encourages them to walk the talk, it will be a win-win situation for everyone," said Khan at the time. ALSO READ | Decoding Taliban apologist Imran Khan's speech at UNGA: A rant mixed with lies and fiction (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Taliban apologist Imran Khan urges international community to recognise the terror outfit

In the latest string of missile launches, North Korea on Monday fired two short-range missiles towards the East Sea, informed the South Korean military. The launch of the missiles comes in the backdrop of Seoul and Washington having wrapped their largest combined military exercise while carrying out a joint amphibious landing exercise currently.

In the latest string of missile launches, North Korea on Monday fired two short-range missiles towards the East Sea, informed the South Korean military. The launch of the missiles comes in the backdrop of Seoul and Washington having wrapped their largest combined military exercise while carrying out a joint amphibious landing exercise currently. "Our military detected two short-range ballistic missiles fired from around Junghwa area in North Hwanghae province from 07:47 AM (2247 GMT) towards the East Sea," said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). It added that the South Korean military had upped its surveillance and vigilance against the hostile neighbour while maintaining close cooperation with its ally, the USA. Japan's defence ministry corroborated the claims made and added that the two missiles took an irregular trajectory after the firing and landed just outside the country's exclusive economic zone. ALSO WATCH | North Korean missile could hit US in 33 mins, says study; find gaps in US missile defence US and S Korea kicked off the biggest military drill in the past five years on March 13. The drill lasted 10 days and concluded last Thursday. However, a miffed N Korea managed to conduct multiple missile launches throughout, including the launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. N Korea's leader Kim Jong Un said the country should be ready to launch nuclear attacks at any time to deter war. He went on to slam the US and South Korea for expanding military ties involving American nuclear assets. ALSO READ | Kim Jong Un's daughter wears Christian Dior's $2,800 jacket at missile launch, claims S Korean media Last year, the 'Hermit kingdom' fired a record number of ballistic missiles, comfortably overtaking its combined tally of four and eight missiles tested in 2020 and 2021 respectively. N Korea even broke all records when it fired as many as 23 missiles in a single day. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

North Korea fires two short-range missiles, antagonised by US-South Korea military drills

Both houses of the Indian parliament were adjourned on Monday after the opposition lodged strong protests over the expulsion of Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi. Speaker Om Birla, presiding over the lower house Lok Sabha said he wanted to run the House with dignity and adjourned the proceedings.&nbsp;

Before the commencement of the morning session, opposition MPs&nbsp;participated in a meeting held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha and Congres chief&nbsp;Mallikarjun Kharge.&nbsp;

"I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well. We welcome anyone who comes forward to protect democracy and Constitution and safeguard the people. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the people who support us," Kharge told reporters after the meeting.&nbsp;

Last week, a city court in Surat&nbsp;convicted Rahul Gandhi&nbsp;in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged 'Modi surname' remarks.&nbsp;The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail while imposing a fine of Rs 15,000 ($183), under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-gandhi-will-continue-to-raise-questions-over-tycoon-adani-575706">WATCH |&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi: Will continue to raise questions over tycoon Adani</a>

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Gandhi&nbsp;made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names,” remarked the Congress leader.&nbsp;

After an appeal, his sentence was suspended and bail granted to move an appeal against the conviction in under 30 days. However, the very next day, the&nbsp;Indian parliament disqualified the Indian MP from Wayanad - a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-rahul-gandhi-convicted-in-2019-modi-surname-defamation-case-gets-two-year-jail-term-574899">ALSO READ |&nbsp;India: Rahul Gandhi convicted in 2019 'Modi surname' defamation case, gets two-year jail term</a>

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of the Lok Sabha constituency representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction, i.e. March 23, 2023," read the statement released by&nbsp;Lok Sabha Secretariat.&nbsp;

Following his disqualification, Gandhi is not eligible able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Notably, the Wayanad MP is the scion of India's most famous political family -&nbsp;the Gandhi family. Despite coming from a privileged background, Gandhi has not been able to compete against the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government. His disqualification ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections may hurt INC's chances of staging a comeback.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Both houses of the Indian parliament were adjourned on Monday after the opposition lodged strong protests over the expulsion of Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi.

Both houses of the Indian parliament were adjourned on Monday after the opposition lodged strong protests over the expulsion of Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi. Speaker Om Birla, presiding over the lower house Lok Sabha said he wanted to run the House with dignity and adjourned the proceedings. Before the commencement of the morning session, opposition MPs participated in a meeting held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha and Congres chief Mallikarjun Kharge. "I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well. We welcome anyone who comes forward to protect democracy and Constitution and safeguard the people. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the people who support us," Kharge told reporters after the meeting. Last week, a city court in Surat convicted Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged 'Modi surname' remarks. The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail while imposing a fine of Rs 15,000 ($183), under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation). WATCH | Rahul Gandhi: Will continue to raise questions over tycoon Adani × Gandhi made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names,” remarked the Congress leader. After an appeal, his sentence was suspended and bail granted to move an appeal against the conviction in under 30 days. However, the very next day, the Indian parliament disqualified the Indian MP from Wayanad - a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala. ALSO READ | India: Rahul Gandhi convicted in 2019 'Modi surname' defamation case, gets two-year jail term "Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of the Lok Sabha constituency representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction, i.e. March 23, 2023," read the statement released by Lok Sabha Secretariat. Following his disqualification, Gandhi is not eligible able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. Notably, the Wayanad MP is the scion of India's most famous political family - the Gandhi family. Despite coming from a privileged background, Gandhi has not been able to compete against the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government. His disqualification ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections may hurt INC's chances of staging a comeback. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian parliament adjourned after raucous protests by opposition over Rahul Gandhi's expulsion

IN PICS | Israel protests: Thousands take to streets against Netanyahu and his judicial overhaul legislation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sacked Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, sparking angry protests across the country.&nbsp;Gallant had requested&nbsp;Netanyahu to roll back his controversial judicial reform plan. In other news,&nbsp;travellers in Germany may have to brace for a major transport strike as&nbsp;two major unions called for a one-day strike.&nbsp;

Click on&nbsp; headlines to read more:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/angry-protesters-throng-israeli-streets-after-netanyahu-sacks-defence-minister-576039">Angry protesters throng Israeli streets after Netanyahu sacks defence minister</a>

Protesters swarmed the streets of Tel Aviv late Sunday night after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his cabinet's defence minister after he opposed his proposed judicial overhaul. People chanted "democratice" and blocked streets and bridges.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/27/341215-untitled-design-2023-03-27t074924504.png?imwidth=1920" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-braces-for-mega-strike-bus-railways-airports-to-come-to-grinding-halt-on-monday-576058">Germany braces for ‘mega strike’: Bus, railways, airports to come to grinding halt on Monday</a>

Travellers in Germany are bracing for major transport chaos as the country’s two major unions have called for a major one-day strike seeking higher wages to cope up with the high cost of living.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/27/341225-berlin.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/n-korea-fires-two-short-range-missiles-antagonised-by-us-south-korea-military-drills-576047">North Korea fires two short-range missiles, antagonised by US-South Korea military drills</a>

In the latest string of missile launches, North Korea on Monday fired two short-range missiles towards the East Sea, informed South Korean military.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/17/339223-north-korea.png?imwidth=1920" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mississippi-governor-warns-about-more-storms-after-devastating-tornado-576041">Mississippi braces for more storms after being routed by devastating tornado</a>

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves warned that more storms and severe weather ahead after the devastating tornadoes killed 26 people. Governor Reeves said that many parts of the state are facing significant risks.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/27/341216-untitled-design-2023-03-27t080142189.png?imwidth=1920" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/daylight-saving-clocks-forwarded-by-an-hour-for-added-sunlight-lebanon-576024">WATCH |&nbsp;Daylight Saving: Clocks forwarded by an hour for added sunlight | Lebanon</a>

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&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sacked Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, sparking angry protests across the country. Gallant had requested Netanyahu to roll back his controversial judicial reform plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sacked Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, sparking angry protests across the country. Gallant had requested Netanyahu to roll back his controversial judicial reform plan. In other news, travellers in Germany may have to brace for a major transport strike as two major unions called for a one-day strike. Click on headlines to read more: Angry protesters throng Israeli streets after Netanyahu sacks defence minister Protesters swarmed the streets of Tel Aviv late Sunday night after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his cabinet's defence minister after he opposed his proposed judicial overhaul. People chanted "democratice" and blocked streets and bridges. Germany braces for ‘mega strike’: Bus, railways, airports to come to grinding halt on Monday Travellers in Germany are bracing for major transport chaos as the country’s two major unions have called for a major one-day strike seeking higher wages to cope up with the high cost of living. North Korea fires two short-range missiles, antagonised by US-South Korea military drills In the latest string of missile launches, North Korea on Monday fired two short-range missiles towards the East Sea, informed South Korean military. Mississippi braces for more storms after being routed by devastating tornado Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves warned that more storms and severe weather ahead after the devastating tornadoes killed 26 people. Governor Reeves said that many parts of the state are facing significant risks. WATCH | Daylight Saving: Clocks forwarded by an hour for added sunlight | Lebanon ×

Morning news brief: Germany braces for 'mega strike', Netanyahu sacks defence minister and more

A man in the US aboard a Delta Air Lines passenger plane was arrested after opening one of the aircraft's doors and sliding down the emergency exit slide. The incident transpired on Saturday when Delta Flight 1714 was preparing for takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Seattle, according to the local authorities.

A man in the US aboard a Delta Air Lines passenger plane was arrested after opening one of the aircraft's doors and sliding down the emergency exit slide. The incident transpired on Saturday when Delta Flight 1714 was preparing for takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Seattle, according to the local authorities. Los Angeles Airport Police in its report stated that an unidentified passenger wearing a striped sweater and black pants rushed to the flight attendant as the plane was pushing towards the runway. Taking a brief halt, the passenger asked the flight attendant, "what do I do now?" When told to go back and sit on the seat, the passenger ran from the attendant and went straight to the plane's emergency exit doors. Before any of the attendants could stop him, the passenger opened the emergency gate by turning the latch, activating the plane's emergency slide in the process. The plane was immediately stopped by the pilots as the man jumped onto the back of a baggage cart. The Delta staff initially nabbed the passenger before handing him over to the LAX Police. ALSO READ | Lufthansa flight makes emergency landing after lightning strike, several injured post severe turbulence "Delta flight 1714 operating from Los Angeles to Seattle returned to the gate due to an unruly passenger. The aircraft was holding to taxi for takeoff when the passenger exited the aircraft and was initially detained by Delta staff ahead of being arrested by local law enforcement," read a statement released by the airline. According to reports the passenger has been taken to a local hospital for a mental evaluation while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was notified about the accident. "Airport Police responded and detained the passenger for further investigation. Due to the circumstances, FBI was notified," LAX Police was quoted as saying by Fox News. WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft × The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement and apologised for the inconvenience whilst adding that the rest of the passengers were escorted and moved to a new plane. “Customers are being re-accommodated on a new aircraft and we apologise for the inconvenience and delay in their travel plans," read the statement. In the end, the flight was delayed more than three hours due to the incident. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delta Airlines passenger arrested for opening emergency door, deploying exit slide at LAX airport

Amid heightened tensions between US-China, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing last week and praised the country for its innovation and long ties with the US. This was Cook's first visit to China since 2019.

Amid heightened tensions between US-China, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing last week and praised the country for its innovation and long ties with the US. This was Cook's first visit to China since 2019. However, given the frosty relations between US and China, the visit's timing has raised a few eyebrows. The Apple boss was in the country to register his presence at the government-organised China Development Forum. "Innovation is developing rapidly in China and I believe it will further accelerate," Cook was quoted as saying by Chinese state media. “We have a very large supply chain in China. We also have a thriving App Store,” he added. Prior to attending the forum, Cook posted a picture of himself with the customers and staff at the Apple store in the shopping district of Sanlitun on Weibo - China's Twitter-like social media platform. With China Unicom, the country's third-largest wireless network operator announcing it expects to launch 6G technology by 2025, some experts are of the view that Apple is aiming to appease Beijing through Cook's visit and his words of appreciation. China is home to the world's largest internet user population and has been the biggest smartphone market for ages. Thus, despite the bitterness in US-China relations, Cook & Co. cannot afford to lose favour from Xi Jinping's authoritarian regime. ALSO WATCH | TikTok denies transferring data to China, CEO says 'never shared users' data' Moreover, Cook's visit came a day after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled before a Congressional committee in Washington. The US lawmakers have been staunchly against the short-video platform, accusing it of being associated closely with the CHinese Communist Party (CCP). Citing TikTok as a 'high risk' security concern, the Joe Biden administration has demanded that the Chinese owner of the app sell their stake or risk getting banned. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED | Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations The ByteDance-owned platform has been approached by Committee on Foreign Investment in the US or CFIUS and asked for divestment over national security concerns. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Appeasement much? Apple CEO Tim Cook visits Beijing amid heightened US-China tensions

Pakistan is going through an unreal economic ordeal. Fresh readings issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) show that yearly short-term inflation rose by 46.

Pakistan is going through an unreal economic ordeal. Fresh readings issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) show that yearly short-term inflation rose by 46.65 per cent during the week that ended on March 22 — the highest recorded in the country's history. Rising food prices contributed immensely to the record rise in numbers, the agency reported. The yearly short-term inflation stood at 45.64 per cent last week but the increase in the price of 26 essential items led to the recent spike. Wheat flour, tomatoes, potatoes, tea, sugar, pulses, bananas and jaggery were some of the food items that witnessed a major uptick in prices. Despite the price of items such as cooking oil, and LPG declining, it had a negligible effect on the overall inflation figures. Those having monthly income of more than PKR 44,176 were the hardest hit as the yearly inflation rate for them stood at 48.35 per cent, the statistics showed. ALSO READ: Moody's downgrades Pakistan's credit rating to the lowest in three decades If the food and gas prices continue to increase, Pakistan's import-based economy may not be able to handle the devaluation of its local currency. The country is already on the verge of defaulting on $80 billion of international loan repayments while having only $3 billion in forex exchange reserves. WATCH | Is Pakistan's economic crisis getting worse? × Earlier this month, global credit rating agency Moody's downgraded Pakistan's local and foreign currency credit ratings from Caa1 to Caa3. The rating is expected to hurt the position of the Pakistani government which is currently involved in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure a $1 billion bailout package. To secure IMF funding, the Pakistani government has implemented new tax measures as suggested by the global body. However, citizens are wary that conceding to all demands of the IMF may lead to a further spurt in prices which the public will not be able to afford anymore. Islamabad's problems have been compounded by the fact that Saudi Arabia, one of its biggest benefactors has decided to not provide easy financial bailout or interest-free loans. ALSO READ | Saudi Arabia refuses to provide interest-free loans to Pakistan, demands reforms The decision by the kingdom has left the Pakistani government in shock which is in dire need of US dollar inflows. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Yearly inflation breaks all-time record in Pakistan, stands at 46.65%

A new report has shown that the number of attempts to ban books at US schools and public libraries reached a record high in 2022. The American Library Association (ALA) released the damning report on Thursday stating more than 1,200 challenges were raised to ban books which was nearly double the figure achieved in 2021.

A new report has shown that the number of attempts to ban books at US schools and public libraries reached a record high in 2022. The American Library Association (ALA) released the damning report on Thursday stating more than 1,200 challenges were raised to ban books which was nearly double the figure achieved in 2021. The outrage regarding the political discourse had translated into books and literature feeling the heat of it. ALA, which started record keeping of the challenges 20 years ago stated that while most requests earlier used to be raised by parents and community members to remove a particular book, the trend had changed significantly. The report noted that influential conservative groups were batting for the removal of multiple books nowadays. Most books containing LGBTQIA themes or racial undertones were targetted in the censorship drive. WATCH | Gravitas: Critics slam alterations to Roald Dahl books × "Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA community and people of colour. Overwhelmingly, we're seeing these challenges come from organised censorship groups that target local library board meetings to demand removal of a long list of books they share on social media," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom In total, 2,500 books were objected and requested to be banned in 2022 while the number stood at 1,858 in 2021. ALSO READ | Bible, Anne Frank's diary, and several other books pulled from the shelves in Texas The NGO added that the vast majority (86 per cent) of books targetted were children's books while 58 per cent were books taught or available at schools. Earlier this month, Florida’s Martin County school district removed as many as 100 books from the school shelves which included popular titles such as Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Beloved” and James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” thrillers. According to experts, the banning of books reflects a growing challenge in the US where the divide between Red and Blue ideologies has spilled over to academia as well as school education. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Record number of book ban attempts registered in the US in 2022: Report

A digital artwork published on a billboard in Hong Kong has been taken down after it was revealed it had secret references to dissidents that are being tried by the city's court under the harsh National Security Law (NSL).

A digital artwork published on a billboard in Hong Kong has been taken down after it was revealed it had secret references to dissidents that are being tried by the city's court under the harsh National Security Law (NSL). US-based artist Patrick Amadon developed the art piece titled 'No Rioters' wherein he inserted names of the jailed activists in flashing text that naked human eyes cannot perceive. It is unclear if the Hong Kong authorities played a part in taking down the artwork or if the spooked department store owner took the action on own. After the piece was taken down, Amadon said he had achieved the objective he had set out when producing the art. "A few years ago, this art would have been a free and legal expression. For the government to take it down now objectively demonstrates how Hong Kong has changed and completes the art work," he was quoted as saying by BBC. The silent compliance of the art world in Hong Kong during "Art Week" is deafening. Money shouldn't be able to buy absolution. — Patrick Amadon (@patrickamadon) March 24, 2023 × WATCH | Gravitas: How democracy died in Hong Kong × The removal of the digital art comes days after the screening of "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" was shelved for 'technical' reasons. In popular culture, Chinese President Xi Jinping has often been compared to the cartoon character with memes flooding the internet regarding the same. ALSO READ | Screening of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey cancelled in Hong Kong Notably, this is not the first instance when artists have used clever outlets to show their support to the dissidents in Hong Kong. Last year, eagle-eyed fans of the popular adult cartoon series 'Rick and Morty' spotted a message from the show's creators that pointed toward the city's democracy movement that took place in 2020 and showed solidarity with the protesters. ALSO READ | Rick and Morty fans spot Hong Kong pro-democracy protest codes in new episode Currently, 47 prominent pro-democracy figures are facing a trial in Hong Kong for alleged 'subversion' under the highly-controversial national security law. The group, which included activists, politicians and community workers have been accused of holding pre-election primaries. The primaries were held to give options to the public, other than the pro-Beijing establishment parties provided. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Digital artwork secretly honouring Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists removed

Alphabet-owned Google has suspended hundreds of loan apps in Kenya providing unsecured personal or business loans. The apps had been taken down after failing to comply with Google's new policy requiring digital lenders to submit proof of licence, according to a TechCrunch report.

Alphabet-owned Google has suspended hundreds of loan apps in Kenya providing unsecured personal or business loans. The apps had been taken down after failing to comply with Google's new policy requiring digital lenders to submit proof of licence, according to a TechCrunch report. It is unclear how many apps have been booted out but expert estimates suggest that the ballpark figure could be around 500 with popular apps like MoKash and Okash receiving the axe. Up until last month, over 600 apps were active on the Play Store but that number has come down to under 200 as of Friday (March 24). After Kenya's central bank issued regulations for Digital Credit Providers (DCPs) last year, the US-based tech giant also published its new policy in January, requiring credit-providing applications to obtain licences from the top bank. According to reports, only 22 digital creditors such as Tala, Pezesha and Jumo had managed to get the licence from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) till January. ALSO READ | $100 bn wiped off Alphabet's shares after Google AI chatbot 'Bard' flubs answer The regulations state that any digital lender that is yet to get a licence from CBK can receive an interim approval for Google which is only valid for 45 days. Once the period lapses, the company should either have received the approval or file a declaration that its permit was still pending. However, if the company failed to do so, its interim approval will be rescinded and it will be removed from the app store. WATCH | Tech giants compete for best in AI × The unregulated loan app business has been booming across most countries. However, the exorbitant interest rates and predatory practices employed by the companies to exact the loan amount has tarnished the reputation of the particular digital sector. Google has been steadily moving to curb the menace of digital loan apps. It banned over 2,000 loan apps in India last year by citing violation of norms, misrepresentation of information and questionable offline behaviour as the reason. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Google cracks down on loan apps, removes hundreds from Play Store in Kenya

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