Winged Guests of Delhi Winters That Charm Capital's Skies

Winter has come and so have the winged guests in the Indian capital's biodiversity hotspots. Here are the ones being spotted by bird watchers in the capital.

Eurasian Coot can be spotted swimming in a water body at Yamuna Biodiversity Park, in New Delhi

These guests from northern Europe can be spotted at Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake, and other Delhi wetlands during winters


The glorious flying creatures arrive at the Yamuna Ghat from the Himalayan lakes of Karakorum.

The guests from the Arctic region make the Indian capital's wetlands their home during winter.



Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram becomes home to the slender flying creatures.

WInter is here. So are the winged guests in the Indian capital

<p>Iran has carried out 'precision missile and drone strikes' targetting Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16). Confirming that&nbsp;its airspace was indeed violated, Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike.</p>

<p>The Israel-Hamas war continues to spiral across West Asia. While the deadly Israeli strikes continue to wreak havoc on Palestinians in Gaza, the targeted attacks on the shipping route by Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthi rebels continue to pose a challenge to the global economy.</p>

<p>In sports, Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva played "amazing" tennis to crush sixth seed Ons Jabeur in under an hour Wednesday, sending the Tunisian tumbling out of the Australian Open in the second round.</p>

<p><strong>Click here to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-says-two-dead-many-injured-in-iranian-airstrikes-inside-balochistan-680658"><strong>Pakistan says two dead after Iran struck 'terror group's bases in Balochistan'</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/17/406173-untitled-design-2024-01-17t074230283.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
Hours after Iran said that its "precision missile and drone strikes" targeted Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16), Islamabad confirmed that its airspace was indeed violated. Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike inside its borders and claimed that it killed two children.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-neutralises-4-houthi-anti-ship-missiles-malta-flagged-bulk-carrier-hit-680655">US neutralises 4 Houthi anti-ship missiles, Malta-flagged bulk carrier hit</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/15/405901-succession-2024-01-15t201957722.jpg?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US has claimed it destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired on Tuesday (Jan 16). The Houthis reportedly struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier during the skirmish, but it remained seaworthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-population-declines-for-2nd-straight-year-drops-by-275-million-to-1409-billion-in-2023-680663"><strong>China's population declines for 2nd straight year, drops by 2.75 million to 1.409 billion in 2023</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/11/16/311394-new-wion-11.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
China's population has declined for the second consecutive year with the total population decreasing by 2.75 million to 1.409 billion in 2023, media reports cited the country's National Bureau of Statistics. The population in 2023 shrank at an even faster rate than was the case in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-republican-debate-shelved-after-nikki-haley-pulls-out-saying-she-wants-donald-trump-on-stage-680660">Next Republican debate cancelled after Nikki Haley pulls out saying she wants Donald Trump on stage</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/24/401299-untitled-design.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
The next presidential debate has been cancelled after former UN ambassador Nikki Haley said she would not appear on stage unless Donald Trump participates, ABC News announced on Tuesday (Jan 16).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-minister-says-study-permits-to-students-from-india-drop-due-to-dispute-680699"><strong>Canada minister says study permits to students from India drop due to dispute</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/03/364202-untitled-design-2023-07-03t233609589.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
The number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told Reuters.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-reaches-qatar-brokered-deal-with-hamas-medicines-for-hostages-in-exchange-for-aid-to-gaza-680688"><strong>Israel reaches Qatar-brokered deal with Hamas, medicines for hostages in exchange for aid to Gaza</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/29/402334-yearender-2023.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p>Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the delivery of crucial medicine aid to hostages held captive by the militant group, a Qatar-brokered deal which is important given the families of the hostages have been calling for aid to their loved ones.&nbsp;This comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on January 12 said that the medicines will be delivered in the next few days.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-teenager-mirra-andreeva-thrashes-wimbledon-runner-up-ons-jabeur-in-second-round-680668"><strong>Australian Open: Teenager Mirra Andreeva thrashes Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in second round</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/17/406176-1-2024-01-17t083559607.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva played "amazing" tennis to crush sixth seed Ons Jabeur in under an hour Wednesday, sending the Tunisian tumbling out of the Australian Open in the second round.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-emmy-awards-2024-key-highlights-from-tvs-biggest-night-all-snubs-and-surprises-680396"><strong>Emmy Awards 2023: Key highlights from TV’s biggest night, all snubs and surprises</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/16/405991-horizons-2024-01-16t112120519.jpg?imwidth=3840" /><br />
The TV Academy delivered on its promise of acknowledging the best works on TV in the past year as&nbsp;<em>Succession</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>The Bear</em>&nbsp;won six awards each – from best drama/comedy to acting. Coming four months later than its scheduled date, the Emmys didn’t disappoint. We spotted the best of glam, the best of speeches, and caught some of the most memorable moments as makers and actors of shows that have wrapped up got a chance to thank their fans for the love and support they received.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Iran has carried out 'precision missile and drone strikes' targetting Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16).

Iran has carried out 'precision missile and drone strikes' targetting Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16). Confirming that its airspace was indeed violated, Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike. The Israel-Hamas war continues to spiral across West Asia. While the deadly Israeli strikes continue to wreak havoc on Palestinians in Gaza, the targeted attacks on the shipping route by Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthi rebels continue to pose a challenge to the global economy. In sports, Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva played "amazing" tennis to crush sixth seed Ons Jabeur in under an hour Wednesday, sending the Tunisian tumbling out of the Australian Open in the second round. Click here to read more: Pakistan says two dead after Iran struck 'terror group's bases in Balochistan' Hours after Iran said that its "precision missile and drone strikes" targeted Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16), Islamabad confirmed that its airspace was indeed violated. Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike inside its borders and claimed that it killed two children. US neutralises 4 Houthi anti-ship missiles, Malta-flagged bulk carrier hit The US has claimed it destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired on Tuesday (Jan 16). The Houthis reportedly struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier during the skirmish, but it remained seaworthy. China's population declines for 2nd straight year, drops by 2.75 million to 1.409 billion in 2023 China's population has declined for the second consecutive year with the total population decreasing by 2.75 million to 1.409 billion in 2023, media reports cited the country's National Bureau of Statistics. The population in 2023 shrank at an even faster rate than was the case in 2022. Next Republican debate cancelled after Nikki Haley pulls out saying she wants Donald Trump on stage The next presidential debate has been cancelled after former UN ambassador Nikki Haley said she would not appear on stage unless Donald Trump participates, ABC News announced on Tuesday (Jan 16). Canada minister says study permits to students from India drop due to dispute The number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told Reuters. Israel reaches Qatar-brokered deal with Hamas, medicines for hostages in exchange for aid to Gaza Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the delivery of crucial medicine aid to hostages held captive by the militant group, a Qatar-brokered deal which is important given the families of the hostages have been calling for aid to their loved ones. This comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on January 12 said that the medicines will be delivered in the next few days. Australian Open: Teenager Mirra Andreeva thrashes Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in second round Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva played "amazing" tennis to crush sixth seed Ons Jabeur in under an hour Wednesday, sending the Tunisian tumbling out of the Australian Open in the second round. Emmy Awards 2023: Key highlights from TV’s biggest night, all snubs and surprises The TV Academy delivered on its promise of acknowledging the best works on TV in the past year as Succession and The Bear won six awards each – from best drama/comedy to acting. Coming four months later than its scheduled date, the Emmys didn’t disappoint. We spotted the best of glam, the best of speeches, and caught some of the most memorable moments as makers and actors of shows that have wrapped up got a chance to thank their fans for the love and support they received.

Morning brief: Iran strikes 'terror' inside Pakistan; Russian teen stuns in Aus Open, and more

<p>Hours after Iran said that its "precision missile and drone strikes" targeted Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16), Islamabad confirmed that its airspace was indeed violated. Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike inside its borders and claimed that it killed two children.</p>

<p>The Iranian airstrikes inside Pakistan come weeks after Tehran accused Jaish al-Adl militants of storming a police station in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, which killed 11 Iranian police officers.</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday (Jan 16), Iranian media reported that the country's forces destroyed two strongholds of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, known in Iran as Jaish al-Dhulm, in the Kouh-Sabz (green mountain) area of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. Iranian media described the airstrikes as having targeted 'terror group's bases in Balochistan'.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/iran-claims-to-have-attacked-baluchi-militant-group-bases-in-pakistan-680625">Iran claims to have attacked Baluchi militant group bases in Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>The Jaish al-Adl militant group late on Tuesday reportedly said in a Telegram post that Iran's Revolutionary Guards had used six attack drones and several rockets to destroy two houses where the children and wives of its militants lived.</p>

<h2>Pakistan's response</h2>

<p>Pakistan described Iranian airstrikes as an "unprovoked violation of its airspace" and warned of retaliation.</p>

<p>Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that the attack on its territory killed "two innocent children while injuring three girls," and warned Iran of "serious consequences".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," the ministry said.</p>

<p>Pakistan also lodged a "strong protest" with a senior official in Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran and called on the Iranian charge d’affairs, saying the "responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;At least four Pakistani soldiers killed in terror attack along Iran border</strong></p>

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<p>The Iranian strikes in Pakistan came a day after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched ballistic missiles, targeting what it claimed was a spy base for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in Erbil, northern Iraq, a claim Iraq later denounced by stating there was no Mossad base in Iraq.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About Jaish al-Adl</strong></h2>

<p>Jaish al-Adl, or Army of Justice, is a separatist militant group that operates both in Iran and Pakistan and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Iranian targets. Its stated goal is the independence of overall Shia majority Iran’s only Sunni-majority Sistan and Baluchestan province.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hours after Iran said that its "precision missile and drone strikes" targeted Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16), Islamabad confirmed that its airspace was indeed violated.

Hours after Iran said that its "precision missile and drone strikes" targeted Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province late on Tuesday (Jan 16), Islamabad confirmed that its airspace was indeed violated. Pakistan condemned the Iranian airstrike inside its borders and claimed that it killed two children. The Iranian airstrikes inside Pakistan come weeks after Tehran accused Jaish al-Adl militants of storming a police station in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, which killed 11 Iranian police officers. Earlier on Tuesday (Jan 16), Iranian media reported that the country's forces destroyed two strongholds of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, known in Iran as Jaish al-Dhulm, in the Kouh-Sabz (green mountain) area of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. Iranian media described the airstrikes as having targeted 'terror group's bases in Balochistan'. Also read | Iran claims to have attacked Baluchi militant group bases in Pakistan The Jaish al-Adl militant group late on Tuesday reportedly said in a Telegram post that Iran's Revolutionary Guards had used six attack drones and several rockets to destroy two houses where the children and wives of its militants lived. Pakistan's response Pakistan described Iranian airstrikes as an "unprovoked violation of its airspace" and warned of retaliation. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that the attack on its territory killed "two innocent children while injuring three girls," and warned Iran of "serious consequences". "It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," the ministry said. Pakistan also lodged a "strong protest" with a senior official in Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran and called on the Iranian charge d’affairs, saying the "responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran." Also watch | At least four Pakistani soldiers killed in terror attack along Iran border × The Iranian strikes in Pakistan came a day after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched ballistic missiles, targeting what it claimed was a spy base for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in Erbil, northern Iraq, a claim Iraq later denounced by stating there was no Mossad base in Iraq. About Jaish al-Adl Jaish al-Adl, or Army of Justice, is a separatist militant group that operates both in Iran and Pakistan and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Iranian targets. Its stated goal is the independence of overall Shia majority Iran’s only Sunni-majority Sistan and Baluchestan province. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan says two children killed after Iran struck 'terror group's bases in Balochistan'

<p>The United States is preparing to name Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthis as a specially designated terrorist group, multiple Western media publications reported late on Tuesday (Jan 16) citing people familiar with the matter. This comes amid the group's continuous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea that have raised the shipping costs between Europe and Asia by up to three times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Houthis were designated&nbsp;a 'foreign terrorist organization' by the Trump administration when the Yemeni rebels were engaged in a years-long civil war with the internationally-recognised&nbsp;Saudi-backed Yemeni government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/red-sea-ship-attacks-inside-disrupted-shipping-route-over-west-asias-gate-of-tears-673216">Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears'</a></strong></p>

<p>In February 2021, the Biden administration revoked the foreign terrorist designation of the Houthis while arguing that it would make it difficult for the much-needed humanitarian aid to reach the civilians living in the Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthis.</p>

<p>A fragile truce has continued to hold ground since April 2022 between all the warring sides in Yemen.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>It must be noted that the global terrorisation classification is different from the foreign terrorist designation.</p>

<p>The specially designated global terrorist group label will allow Washington to block the assets of individuals and entities that provide support or assistance to the group as well as related subsidiaries, front organisations or associates.</p>

<p>The foreign terrorist organisation designation, unlike the specially designated global terrorist one, triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the organisation.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Houthis threaten to attack U.S. warships if 'provoked' | Red Sea crisis</strong></p>

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<p>On January 12, when US President Joe Biden was asked whether he was willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group, he responded: "I think they are."</p>

<p>Tensions between the US and allies and Houthis have escalated in recent days amid Washington's claim that it does not want to go to war with the Iran-backed rebels.</p>

<p>US military’s Central Command on Tuesday (Jan 16) said that its forces struck and destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthis had prepared to launch earlier in the day. The US has now struck the Houthis three times in less than a week.</p>

<p>The attacks on Red Sea vessels and those in the Gulf of Aden have forced ships to avoid the critical shipping route, instead taking a longer and costlier journey between Asia and Europe via the Cape of Good Hope.</p>

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<p>According to reports, the attacks by Houthis have increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent. Rates for shipping a 20 feet container to Europe and the US have risen from an average of $500 before the crisis to $2000 now, Times of India reported.&nbsp;</p>


The United States is preparing to name Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthis as a specially designated terrorist group, multiple Western media publications reported late on Tuesday (Jan 16) citing people familiar with the matter.

The United States is preparing to name Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthis as a specially designated terrorist group, multiple Western media publications reported late on Tuesday (Jan 16) citing people familiar with the matter. This comes amid the group's continuous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea that have raised the shipping costs between Europe and Asia by up to three times. The Houthis were designated a 'foreign terrorist organization' by the Trump administration when the Yemeni rebels were engaged in a years-long civil war with the internationally-recognised Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Also read | Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears' In February 2021, the Biden administration revoked the foreign terrorist designation of the Houthis while arguing that it would make it difficult for the much-needed humanitarian aid to reach the civilians living in the Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthis. A fragile truce has continued to hold ground since April 2022 between all the warring sides in Yemen. What does it mean? It must be noted that the global terrorisation classification is different from the foreign terrorist designation. The specially designated global terrorist group label will allow Washington to block the assets of individuals and entities that provide support or assistance to the group as well as related subsidiaries, front organisations or associates. The foreign terrorist organisation designation, unlike the specially designated global terrorist one, triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the organisation. Also watch | Gravitas: Houthis threaten to attack U.S. warships if 'provoked' | Red Sea crisis × On January 12, when US President Joe Biden was asked whether he was willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group, he responded: "I think they are." Tensions between the US and allies and Houthis have escalated in recent days amid Washington's claim that it does not want to go to war with the Iran-backed rebels. US military’s Central Command on Tuesday (Jan 16) said that its forces struck and destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthis had prepared to launch earlier in the day. The US has now struck the Houthis three times in less than a week. The attacks on Red Sea vessels and those in the Gulf of Aden have forced ships to avoid the critical shipping route, instead taking a longer and costlier journey between Asia and Europe via the Cape of Good Hope. According to reports, the attacks by Houthis have increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent. Rates for shipping a 20 feet container to Europe and the US have risen from an average of $500 before the crisis to $2000 now, Times of India reported.

Houthis set to become 'global terrorists' amid Red Sea attacks. Here's what it means

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is impossible for his administration to "abandon the territorial gains" made during nearly two years since February 2022. Putin on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's statehood could suffer an "irreparable and very serious blow" if the war continues and that peace with Kyiv could not be achieved because the then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson played a spoilsport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Putin made the remarks during a televised meeting with the heads of Russian municipalities. The Russian president who is seeking re-election during presidential elections in March, claimed that the country's forces were winning the war in Ukraine.</p>

<p>Putin's comments came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky virtually told the World Economic Forum in Davos that he was against a ceasefire in the war at this time, and called for a decisive win for his country to conclusively end the conflict.</p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine's counteroffensive has 'failed': Vladimir Putin</strong></h2>

<p>Putin said that Ukraine's much-watched and equally anticipated counteroffensive launched in June had "failed," and that "the initiative is in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces."</p>

<p>"If this continues, Ukraine's statehood may face an irreparable and very serious blow," Putin added.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Russia, Ukraine, to West Asia Crisis: Is this the beginning of World War III?</strong></p>

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<p>"The so-called 'peace formula' that's being talked about in the West and in Ukraine is a continuation of the decree of the Ukrainian president banning negotiations with Russia," Putin said, as per Sputnik. "As for the negotiating process, it's an attempt to encourage us to abandon the territorial gains we've achieved over the past 1 1/2 years. But this is impossible. Everyone understands that this is impossible."</p>

<h2><strong>Putin's big claim on peace deal with Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>Putin repeated the claim that Ukraine signed a peace treaty with Russia in the spring of 2022, then threw it into the 'garbage of history'.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-ukraine-signed-peace-treaty-with-russia-in-spring-of-2022-then-threw-it-into-garbage-of-history-605673">Putin says Ukraine signed peace treaty with Russia in spring of 2022, then threw it into 'garbage of history'</a></strong></p>

<p>Referring to the purported deal made in Turkey early on during the war, Putin said: "A day later, they threw all the agreements into the trash, and now they are saying publicly—including the head of the Ukrainian negotiating group—that 'Yes, we were ready, but we missed the chance because then-Prime Minister of Britain [Boris] Johnson came and persuaded us not to implement these agreements.'"</p>

<p>He continued: "Fools, are they not? They're admitting directly that if they had gone for it, everything could have been ended a long time ago, one and a half&nbsp;years ago."</p>

<p>Putin also denounced Kyiv for what he claimed were intentional hits on civilian infrastructure, a claim that Ukraine has made against his forces after Russian assaults.</p>

<p>"But instead of solving military tasks, they are acting in this barbaric way, striking peaceful settlements using indiscriminate weapons. Multiple launch rocket systems are simply used to hit wide areas," Putin said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is impossible for his administration to "abandon the territorial gains" made during nearly two years since February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is impossible for his administration to "abandon the territorial gains" made during nearly two years since February 2022. Putin on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's statehood could suffer an "irreparable and very serious blow" if the war continues and that peace with Kyiv could not be achieved because the then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson played a spoilsport. Putin made the remarks during a televised meeting with the heads of Russian municipalities. The Russian president who is seeking re-election during presidential elections in March, claimed that the country's forces were winning the war in Ukraine. Putin's comments came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky virtually told the World Economic Forum in Davos that he was against a ceasefire in the war at this time, and called for a decisive win for his country to conclusively end the conflict. Ukraine's counteroffensive has 'failed': Vladimir Putin Putin said that Ukraine's much-watched and equally anticipated counteroffensive launched in June had "failed," and that "the initiative is in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces." "If this continues, Ukraine's statehood may face an irreparable and very serious blow," Putin added. Also watch | Gravitas | Russia, Ukraine, to West Asia Crisis: Is this the beginning of World War III? × "The so-called 'peace formula' that's being talked about in the West and in Ukraine is a continuation of the decree of the Ukrainian president banning negotiations with Russia," Putin said, as per Sputnik. "As for the negotiating process, it's an attempt to encourage us to abandon the territorial gains we've achieved over the past 1 1/2 years. But this is impossible. Everyone understands that this is impossible." Putin's big claim on peace deal with Ukraine Putin repeated the claim that Ukraine signed a peace treaty with Russia in the spring of 2022, then threw it into the 'garbage of history'. Also read | Putin says Ukraine signed peace treaty with Russia in spring of 2022, then threw it into 'garbage of history' Referring to the purported deal made in Turkey early on during the war, Putin said: "A day later, they threw all the agreements into the trash, and now they are saying publicly—including the head of the Ukrainian negotiating group—that 'Yes, we were ready, but we missed the chance because then-Prime Minister of Britain [Boris] Johnson came and persuaded us not to implement these agreements.'" He continued: "Fools, are they not? They're admitting directly that if they had gone for it, everything could have been ended a long time ago, one and a half years ago." Putin also denounced Kyiv for what he claimed were intentional hits on civilian infrastructure, a claim that Ukraine has made against his forces after Russian assaults. "But instead of solving military tasks, they are acting in this barbaric way, striking peaceful settlements using indiscriminate weapons. Multiple launch rocket systems are simply used to hit wide areas," Putin said. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin says Boris Johnson played spoilsport as UK PM, derailed peace deal with Ukraine

<p>At least two previously undisclosed incidents of skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were brought into the public domain by the Indian Army's Western Command. The revelations were made during an investiture ceremony at Western Command's Chandimandir headquarters in northern India.</p>

<p>The citations for gallantry awards, which were read out during the ceremony last week, noted the resolute response of Indian troops to aggressive behaviour by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Indian Army's&nbsp;citations say?</strong></h2>

<p>Details provided in the citations revealed that these incidents occurred between September 2021 and November 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The investiture ceremony, which featured commentary on the gallantry awards, was initially shared on the Army's Western Command YouTube channel on January 13.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: India-China relations hit an all-time low. Here's why</strong></p>

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<p>The video showed the instances where Indian troops demonstrated firmness in the face of aggressive actions by the soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control. The Army has not yet formally commented on the matter.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>In the wake of the clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020, the Indian Army has maintained a heightened state of combat readiness along the 3,488 km-long undefined border demarcated as the Line of Actual Control.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The undisclosed incidents mark additional episodes in a series of skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops that have unfolded over the past three-and-a-half years.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-and-china-ramp-up-engagements-to-prevent-escalation-during-brutal-winters-657765">India and China ramp up engagements to prevent escalation during brutal winters</a></strong></p>

<p>Notably, the Chinese troops attempted transgressions in the Tawang sector of the LAC in northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh in December 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On December 9, 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo in the Yangtse area of the Tawang Sector.</p>

<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing Parliament four days after the incident, confirmed that Indian troops contested the Chinese attempt firmly and resolutely.</p>

<p>"The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts," Singh said on December 13 that year.</p>

<p>The scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides, he said.</p>

<p>"I would like to assure this House that our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it. I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort," Singh said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


At least two previously undisclosed incidents of skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were brought into the public domain by the Indian Army's Western Command.

At least two previously undisclosed incidents of skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were brought into the public domain by the Indian Army's Western Command. The revelations were made during an investiture ceremony at Western Command's Chandimandir headquarters in northern India. The citations for gallantry awards, which were read out during the ceremony last week, noted the resolute response of Indian troops to aggressive behaviour by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers. What did Indian Army's citations say? Details provided in the citations revealed that these incidents occurred between September 2021 and November 2022. The investiture ceremony, which featured commentary on the gallantry awards, was initially shared on the Army's Western Command YouTube channel on January 13. Also watch | Gravitas: India-China relations hit an all-time low. Here's why × The video showed the instances where Indian troops demonstrated firmness in the face of aggressive actions by the soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control. The Army has not yet formally commented on the matter. What does it mean? In the wake of the clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020, the Indian Army has maintained a heightened state of combat readiness along the 3,488 km-long undefined border demarcated as the Line of Actual Control. The undisclosed incidents mark additional episodes in a series of skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops that have unfolded over the past three-and-a-half years. Also read | India and China ramp up engagements to prevent escalation during brutal winters Notably, the Chinese troops attempted transgressions in the Tawang sector of the LAC in northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh in December 2022. On December 9, 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo in the Yangtse area of the Tawang Sector. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing Parliament four days after the incident, confirmed that Indian troops contested the Chinese attempt firmly and resolutely. "The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts," Singh said on December 13 that year. The scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides, he said. "I would like to assure this House that our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it. I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort," Singh said. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian, Chinese troops clashed twice near undefined border after Galwan incident: Report

<p>Nearly 900 km southwest of New Delhi, an excavation in Gujarat's Vadnagar unveiled evidence of cultural continuity in the Indian subcontinent since 800 BCE. Vadnagar is the hometown of Indian Prime Minister Modi. The findings thus imply that the "Dark Age" was a myth and that cultures continuously existed in the region without total annihilation during the last 5,500 years.</p>

<p>Conducted by a team of experts from IIT Kharagpur, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College, the study unearthed traces of a human settlement dating back to 800 BCE in the Gujarat town.</p>

<p>"From deep archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, a consortium of scientists from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College has now found evidence of a human settlement that is as old as 800 BCE contemporary to late-Vedic/pre-Buddhist Mahajanapadas or oligarchic republics," the institute said in a press release.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Gujarat: On remains of a 2800-year-old settlement found in PM Narendra Modi's village, Vadnagar, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur, Dr Anindya Sarkar says, "We have been working in Vadnagar with the ASI for the last 4-5 years... A very old Buddhist… <a href="https://t.co/ybPPEDwdYc">pic.twitter.com/ybPPEDwdYc</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1747274310149116237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The study also indicates that the rise and fall of different kingdoms during the 3,000-year period and recurrent invasions of India by central Asian warriors were driven by severe change in climate like rainfall or droughts. The findings [have been] just published in a paper titled 'Climate, human settlement, and migration in South Asia from early historic to medieval period: evidence from new archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, Western India' in the prestigious Elsevier journal Quaternary Science Reviews," it said.</p>

<h2><strong>Vadnagar and&nbsp;evidence of subcontinent's civilisational continuity</strong></h2>

<p>"Vadnagar was a multicultural and multireligious (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Islamic) settlement. Excavation in several deep trenches revealed the presence of seven cultural stages (periods) namely, Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian or Shaka-Kshatrapas (AKA ‘Satraps’, descendants of provincial governors of ancient Achaemenid Empires, Hindu-Solankis, Sultanate-Mughal (Islamic) to Gaekwad-British colonial rule and the city endures even today. One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries has been discovered during our excavation. We found characteristic archaeological artefacts, potteries, copper, gold, silver and iron objects and intricately designed bangles. We also found coin moulds of the Greek king Appollodatus during the Indo-Greek rule at Vadnagar," said ASI archaeologist Dr. Abhijit Ambekar, co-author of the paper, said in an official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the 'Dark Age'?</strong></h2>

<p>The period between the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilisation and the appearance of the Iron Age and cities such as Gandhar in present-day Afghanistan and Koshal in present-day Uttar Pradesh in India is known as the Dark Age.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/does-this-terracotta-tablet-from-around-1000-bce-depict-lord-krishna-and-arjuna-255931">Does this terracotta tablet from around 1000 BCE depict Lord Krishna and Arjuna ?</a></strong></p>

<p>“Archaeological records are rare, the earliest one being the rock-inscription of Emperor Ashoka during the Mauryan period (320-185 BCE) at Sudarsana Lake, Girnar hill, Gujarat. Our evidence makes Vadnagar the oldest living city within a single fortification unearthed so far in India... Some of our recent unpublished radiocarbon dates suggest that the settlement could be as old as 1400 BCE contemporary to very late phase of post-urban Harappan period. If true, then it suggests a cultural continuity in India for the last 5500 years and the so-called Dark Age may be a myth,” said Prof. Anindya Sarkar of IIT Kharagpur, who is the lead author of the paper.</p>

<p>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to the ancient relevance of his hometown in the past as well. In 2017, while addressing a gathering at Vadnagar, Modi said that his ancestral village had a special place in history and a unique connection with Chinese President Xi Jinping's hometown, Xian.</p>

<p>PM Modi said, "When President of China Xi Jinping visited Gujarat, he told me, your birthplace has a special connection with my birthplace in China."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;South Asia Diary | Mohenjo Daro: Historic site threatened by Pakistan floods</strong></p>

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<p>"Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed at Vadnagar during his India visit and when he returned to China, he stayed in Xian, the hometown of Jinping," Modi had said.</p>

<p>The study was reportedly funded by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (Government of Gujarat). According to the institute, the research at Vadnagar was also supported by “generous funding” from Sudha Murthy (former chairperson of Infosys Foundation) since 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nearly 900 km southwest of New Delhi, an excavation in Gujarat's Vadnagar unveiled evidence of cultural continuity in the Indian subcontinent since 800 BCE. Vadnagar is the hometown of Indian Prime Minister Modi.

Nearly 900 km southwest of New Delhi, an excavation in Gujarat's Vadnagar unveiled evidence of cultural continuity in the Indian subcontinent since 800 BCE. Vadnagar is the hometown of Indian Prime Minister Modi. The findings thus imply that the "Dark Age" was a myth and that cultures continuously existed in the region without total annihilation during the last 5,500 years. Conducted by a team of experts from IIT Kharagpur, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College, the study unearthed traces of a human settlement dating back to 800 BCE in the Gujarat town. "From deep archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, a consortium of scientists from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College has now found evidence of a human settlement that is as old as 800 BCE contemporary to late-Vedic/pre-Buddhist Mahajanapadas or oligarchic republics," the institute said in a press release. #WATCH | Gujarat: On remains of a 2800-year-old settlement found in PM Narendra Modi's village, Vadnagar, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur, Dr Anindya Sarkar says, "We have been working in Vadnagar with the ASI for the last 4-5 years... A very old Buddhist… pic.twitter.com/ybPPEDwdYc — ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2024 × "The study also indicates that the rise and fall of different kingdoms during the 3,000-year period and recurrent invasions of India by central Asian warriors were driven by severe change in climate like rainfall or droughts. The findings [have been] just published in a paper titled 'Climate, human settlement, and migration in South Asia from early historic to medieval period: evidence from new archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, Western India' in the prestigious Elsevier journal Quaternary Science Reviews," it said. Vadnagar and evidence of subcontinent's civilisational continuity "Vadnagar was a multicultural and multireligious (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Islamic) settlement. Excavation in several deep trenches revealed the presence of seven cultural stages (periods) namely, Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian or Shaka-Kshatrapas (AKA ‘Satraps’, descendants of provincial governors of ancient Achaemenid Empires, Hindu-Solankis, Sultanate-Mughal (Islamic) to Gaekwad-British colonial rule and the city endures even today. One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries has been discovered during our excavation. We found characteristic archaeological artefacts, potteries, copper, gold, silver and iron objects and intricately designed bangles. We also found coin moulds of the Greek king Appollodatus during the Indo-Greek rule at Vadnagar," said ASI archaeologist Dr. Abhijit Ambekar, co-author of the paper, said in an official statement. What is the 'Dark Age'? The period between the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilisation and the appearance of the Iron Age and cities such as Gandhar in present-day Afghanistan and Koshal in present-day Uttar Pradesh in India is known as the Dark Age. Also read | Does this terracotta tablet from around 1000 BCE depict Lord Krishna and Arjuna ? “Archaeological records are rare, the earliest one being the rock-inscription of Emperor Ashoka during the Mauryan period (320-185 BCE) at Sudarsana Lake, Girnar hill, Gujarat. Our evidence makes Vadnagar the oldest living city within a single fortification unearthed so far in India... Some of our recent unpublished radiocarbon dates suggest that the settlement could be as old as 1400 BCE contemporary to very late phase of post-urban Harappan period. If true, then it suggests a cultural continuity in India for the last 5500 years and the so-called Dark Age may be a myth,” said Prof. Anindya Sarkar of IIT Kharagpur, who is the lead author of the paper. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to the ancient relevance of his hometown in the past as well. In 2017, while addressing a gathering at Vadnagar, Modi said that his ancestral village had a special place in history and a unique connection with Chinese President Xi Jinping's hometown, Xian. PM Modi said, "When President of China Xi Jinping visited Gujarat, he told me, your birthplace has a special connection with my birthplace in China." Also watch | South Asia Diary | Mohenjo Daro: Historic site threatened by Pakistan floods × "Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed at Vadnagar during his India visit and when he returned to China, he stayed in Xian, the hometown of Jinping," Modi had said. The study was reportedly funded by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (Government of Gujarat). According to the institute, the research at Vadnagar was also supported by “generous funding” from Sudha Murthy (former chairperson of Infosys Foundation) since 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

No 'Dark Ages' in South Asia?  2800-year-old settlement discovered in PM Modi's hometown Vadnagar

<p>Bombardments in the Sudanese capital killed at least 33 civilians on Thursday, most of them in air strikes, pro-democracy lawyers said overnight Thursday-Friday.</p>

<p>The group had announced earlier Thursday that artillery fire killed 10 civilians in a residential area of Khartoum, where the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war since April.</p>


Bombardments in the Sudanese capital killed at least 33 civilians on Thursday, most of them in air strikes, pro-democracy lawyers said overnight Thursday-Friday.

Bombardments in the Sudanese capital killed at least 33 civilians on Thursday, most of them in air strikes, pro-democracy lawyers said overnight Thursday-Friday. The group had announced earlier Thursday that artillery fire killed 10 civilians in a residential area of Khartoum, where the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war since April.

Dozens of civilians killed in bombardments over Sudan capital: NGO

<p>In 1995, when&nbsp;Mayawati,&nbsp;the leader of India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)&nbsp;became Chief Minister of the country's politically significant Uttar Pradesh state for the first time, the corridors of power in New Delhi were left stunned. Given Mayawati's roots as a member of India's historically ostracised Dalit community, then-Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao termed her&nbsp;a 'miracle of democracy'.</p>

<p>Nearly three decades later, the rearranged corridors of power in Taipei City also bore witness to a miracle of democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The elections in Taiwan on January 13 handed the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party a historic third consecutive presidential victory. Lai Ching-te (63), a Harvard-educated&nbsp;physician, is scheduled to succeed his party colleague and Taiwan's two-term President Tsai Ing-wen in May 2024.</p>

<p>How exactly is Lai a 'miracle of democracy'? You will get to know by the end of The Capitals this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Taiwan Elections 2024: Lai Ching-Te wins Presidential election amid China threat</strong></p>

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<p>While DPP's Lai Ching-te secured over 40 per cent votes, the Kuomintang (KMT) party's Hou Yu-ih won about 33.5 per cent votes, followed by the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je who won&nbsp;26.5 per cent vote share.</p>

<h2><strong>Why does it matter who is in charge of Taiwan?</strong></h2>

<p>On January 8, 2024, just five days before Lai Ching-te was elected president of the 36,193 sq&nbsp;km&nbsp;territory of Taiwan, he stood beside his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim. Speaking with foreign media, Lai said that "peace is priceless and war has no winners".&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="Lai Ching-te" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9216849e-1ada-4a26-9080-bbb7454d9fd5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-14T204433.824.png" /></p>

<p><em>DPP running mates Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim</em><em> on Jan 8, 2024&nbsp;| X/@niccijsmith</em></p>

<p>China views Taiwan as its territory&nbsp;and has never renounced the use of force to take it one day. Separated from China by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait, Taiwan produces around&nbsp;90 per cent of the world's leading-edge semiconductors, necessary for Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lai said that he is open to dialogue with China on equal terms and stressed that Beijing also has a responsibility to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese leader Xi Jinping has dramatically increased the military activity around Taiwan in recent years and has threatened that the democratically-ruled island will "surely be reunified" with mainland China.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-taiwan-elections-2024-beyond-xi-jinpings-unification-threat-679049">Explained: How Taiwan is keeping up with democracy amid Xi Jinping's 'reunification' threat</a></strong></p>

<p>There is an essential link between Taiwan being a dominant semiconductor producer and the perpetual threat of war it faces from China.</p>

<p>Almost all electronic products – from refrigerators and microwaves to computers and smartphones – run on semiconductors. The national intelligence systems and military missiles all over the world are also essentially dependent on semiconductor chips.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moreover, there is a global stake in stability in the region.</p>

<p>According to Chris Miller's 'Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology', the entire world economy hinges on peace in Taiwan. &nbsp;</p>

<p>China too is a net importer of semiconductor chips and Taiwan is its primary exporter. Over $47 billion worth of semiconductor chips were imported by China in 2023 alone&nbsp;(The United States&nbsp;is a top semiconductor importer from Taiwan).</p>

<p>A disruption to semiconductor production could have dramatic effects on the world economy, perhaps much more than the Covid pandemic&nbsp;or the Ukraine war, according to Miller.&nbsp;This explains Washington's increased focus on Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait and frequent assertiveness over the maintenance of the status quo between Taipei and Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While China's claim over Taiwan predates the semiconductor boom by a few decades, analysts argue that China's reliance on chips manufactured in Taiwan is so huge that it makes a full-blown&nbsp;attack on the self-ruled island less likely.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-elections-2024-why-results-of-these-polls-are-crucial-for-global-economy-679479">Taiwan Elections 2024: Why results of these polls are crucial for global economy</a></strong></p>

<p>Whoever is in charge of Taiwan's state of affairs in Taipei City effectively helms over the 'new oil' of the technology age that semiconductors are now known as.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following the results of the January 13 elections, the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te will lead Taiwan, the self-ruled island critical to the global economy due to its dominance in chip production. The persistent threat of war from China, despite Beijing's unavoidable&nbsp;stake in peace,&nbsp;is likely to complicate Lai's presidential years.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Taiwan's Lai Ching-te: The&nbsp;president-elect&nbsp;who rose from ashes</strong></h2>

<p>When Lai was two, his father reportedly died in an accident. Lai, along with his five siblings, was raised by his mother. A little later,&nbsp;a passing typhoon blew the roof of his home in the small hamlet of Wanli in Taiwan's far north.</p>

<p>Instead of toys, Lai quite literally had trees to climb. He did not have privilege, and like all underdogs, he had to prove himself.</p>

<p>"One of the biggest assets my father left me was being impoverished," Lai, former mayor of Taiwan's southern city of Tainan, was quoted as saying by TIME magazine in October 2023.<br />
<br />
"Because in this environment, I worked harder, more vigorously on everything I did. It gave me a sense of determination."<br />
<br />
Branded a "troublemaker" by Beijing for his pro-sovereignty views, Lai said in October 2023 that he is prepared to "welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Taiwan and prepare Taiwanese delicacies for him to try."</p>

<p>There is something pertinent about democracies worldwide electing an underdog at different points in time in history: For instance,&nbsp;former US President Harry S Truman, son of a livestock dealer;&nbsp;Britain's former Prime Minister&nbsp;Margaret Thatcher, daughter of a grocery shop owner; India's Narendra Modi, son of a tea seller. All three have been hugely consequential not just for their respective countries but also for the rest of the world.</p>

<p>Over the weekend, Taiwan added Lai Ching-te to the list of self-made leaders — and thus a miracle of democracy — who turned the course of their lives to end up at the top of the leadership ladder.</p>

<p>While Lai credits his work ethic as having&nbsp;changed the course of his life, whether or not he will change of course of affairs vis-a-vis Taipei-Beijing ties, will be closely watched across the world during his presidential years.</p>


In 1995, when Mayawati, the leader of India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) became Chief Minister of the country's politically significant Uttar Pradesh state for the first time, the corridors of power in New Delhi were left stunned.

In 1995, when Mayawati, the leader of India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) became Chief Minister of the country's politically significant Uttar Pradesh state for the first time, the corridors of power in New Delhi were left stunned. Given Mayawati's roots as a member of India's historically ostracised Dalit community, then-Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao termed her a 'miracle of democracy'. Nearly three decades later, the rearranged corridors of power in Taipei City also bore witness to a miracle of democracy. The elections in Taiwan on January 13 handed the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party a historic third consecutive presidential victory. Lai Ching-te (63), a Harvard-educated physician, is scheduled to succeed his party colleague and Taiwan's two-term President Tsai Ing-wen in May 2024. How exactly is Lai a 'miracle of democracy'? You will get to know by the end of The Capitals this week. Also watch | Taiwan Elections 2024: Lai Ching-Te wins Presidential election amid China threat × While DPP's Lai Ching-te secured over 40 per cent votes, the Kuomintang (KMT) party's Hou Yu-ih won about 33.5 per cent votes, followed by the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je who won 26.5 per cent vote share. Why does it matter who is in charge of Taiwan? On January 8, 2024, just five days before Lai Ching-te was elected president of the 36,193 sq km territory of Taiwan, he stood beside his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim. Speaking with foreign media, Lai said that "peace is priceless and war has no winners". DPP running mates Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim on Jan 8, 2024 | X/@niccijsmith China views Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to take it one day. Separated from China by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait, Taiwan produces around 90 per cent of the world's leading-edge semiconductors, necessary for Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing. Lai said that he is open to dialogue with China on equal terms and stressed that Beijing also has a responsibility to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has dramatically increased the military activity around Taiwan in recent years and has threatened that the democratically-ruled island will "surely be reunified" with mainland China. Also read | Explained: How Taiwan is keeping up with democracy amid Xi Jinping's 'reunification' threat There is an essential link between Taiwan being a dominant semiconductor producer and the perpetual threat of war it faces from China. Almost all electronic products – from refrigerators and microwaves to computers and smartphones – run on semiconductors. The national intelligence systems and military missiles all over the world are also essentially dependent on semiconductor chips. Moreover, there is a global stake in stability in the region. According to Chris Miller's 'Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology', the entire world economy hinges on peace in Taiwan. China too is a net importer of semiconductor chips and Taiwan is its primary exporter. Over $47 billion worth of semiconductor chips were imported by China in 2023 alone (The United States is a top semiconductor importer from Taiwan). A disruption to semiconductor production could have dramatic effects on the world economy, perhaps much more than the Covid pandemic or the Ukraine war, according to Miller. This explains Washington's increased focus on Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait and frequent assertiveness over the maintenance of the status quo between Taipei and Beijing. While China's claim over Taiwan predates the semiconductor boom by a few decades, analysts argue that China's reliance on chips manufactured in Taiwan is so huge that it makes a full-blown attack on the self-ruled island less likely. Also read | Taiwan Elections 2024: Why results of these polls are crucial for global economy Whoever is in charge of Taiwan's state of affairs in Taipei City effectively helms over the 'new oil' of the technology age that semiconductors are now known as. Following the results of the January 13 elections, the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te will lead Taiwan, the self-ruled island critical to the global economy due to its dominance in chip production. The persistent threat of war from China, despite Beijing's unavoidable stake in peace, is likely to complicate Lai's presidential years. Taiwan's Lai Ching-te: The president-elect who rose from ashes When Lai was two, his father reportedly died in an accident. Lai, along with his five siblings, was raised by his mother. A little later, a passing typhoon blew the roof of his home in the small hamlet of Wanli in Taiwan's far north. Instead of toys, Lai quite literally had trees to climb. He did not have privilege, and like all underdogs, he had to prove himself. "One of the biggest assets my father left me was being impoverished," Lai, former mayor of Taiwan's southern city of Tainan, was quoted as saying by TIME magazine in October 2023. "Because in this environment, I worked harder, more vigorously on everything I did. It gave me a sense of determination." Branded a "troublemaker" by Beijing for his pro-sovereignty views, Lai said in October 2023 that he is prepared to "welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Taiwan and prepare Taiwanese delicacies for him to try." There is something pertinent about democracies worldwide electing an underdog at different points in time in history: For instance, former US President Harry S Truman, son of a livestock dealer; Britain's former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, daughter of a grocery shop owner; India's Narendra Modi, son of a tea seller. All three have been hugely consequential not just for their respective countries but also for the rest of the world. Over the weekend, Taiwan added Lai Ching-te to the list of self-made leaders — and thus a miracle of democracy — who turned the course of their lives to end up at the top of the leadership ladder. While Lai credits his work ethic as having changed the course of his life, whether or not he will change of course of affairs vis-a-vis Taipei-Beijing ties, will be closely watched across the world during his presidential years.

The Capitals: Taiwan’s corridors of power witness a ‘miracle of democracy’

<p>The Delhi High Court observed that the authenticity of "true love" among adolescents cannot be restrained by state intervention. The judgment came as the court dismissed a kidnapping and rape case against a man who eloped with a girl nine years ago when she was a minor.</p>

<h2><strong>What was the conflict?</strong></h2>

<p>The court acknowledged the complex dilemma faced when listening to the justifications of&nbsp;police action against an adolescent couple who chose to marry and build a peaceful life together while abiding by the law of the land.</p>

<p>Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma&nbsp;in the five-page order made public on Wednesday (January&nbsp;10) remarked, "This court has time and again reached a conclusion that true love between two individuals, one or both of whom may be minor or minors on the verge of majority, cannot be controlled through rigors of law or state action."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/adani-hindenburg-case-supreme-court-of-india-refuses-to-trasfer-probe-from-sebi-to-sit-676135">India Supreme Court rejects plea to transfer Adani-Hindenburg case probe to special investigation team</a></strong></p>

<p>The case involved the cancellation of a First Information Report (FIR)&nbsp;filed in 2015, accusing the man of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the girl. The court noted that sustaining the FIR would jeopardise the future of the couple's two daughters.</p>

<p>"The cases, as the present one, are those where the dilemma of the judge, which may be rare, has to take into account the delicate balance which the constitutional court or courts of law have to strike between the law and its strict application and the repercussion of its judgments and orders by application of such laws on the society as a whole and the individuals who are before it," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma added.</p>

<h2><strong>On balancing legal considerations on individuals vis-a-vis society</strong></h2>

<p>The couple, who had married according to Muslim rites after eloping, faced legal scrutiny when the girl's father lodged the FIR. The court observed that despite the legal challenges,&nbsp;the couple has been happily married for nine years and has two daughters.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India's Supreme Court on Delhi pollution</strong></p>

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<p>Highlighting the importance of balancing legal considerations with the impact on individuals and society, the court concluded, "While one side of the scale carries the law, the other side may carry the entire life, happiness, and future of toddlers, their parents, and family members. The application of law is meant for maintaining the rule of law, but it must also consider the pure happiness devoid of criminality."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Delhi High Court observed that the authenticity of "true love" among adolescents cannot be restrained by state intervention. The judgment came as the court dismissed a kidnapping and rape case against a man who eloped with a girl nine years ago when she was a minor.

The Delhi High Court observed that the authenticity of "true love" among adolescents cannot be restrained by state intervention. The judgment came as the court dismissed a kidnapping and rape case against a man who eloped with a girl nine years ago when she was a minor. What was the conflict? The court acknowledged the complex dilemma faced when listening to the justifications of police action against an adolescent couple who chose to marry and build a peaceful life together while abiding by the law of the land. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in the five-page order made public on Wednesday (January 10) remarked, "This court has time and again reached a conclusion that true love between two individuals, one or both of whom may be minor or minors on the verge of majority, cannot be controlled through rigors of law or state action." Also read | India Supreme Court rejects plea to transfer Adani-Hindenburg case probe to special investigation team The case involved the cancellation of a First Information Report (FIR) filed in 2015, accusing the man of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the girl. The court noted that sustaining the FIR would jeopardise the future of the couple's two daughters. "The cases, as the present one, are those where the dilemma of the judge, which may be rare, has to take into account the delicate balance which the constitutional court or courts of law have to strike between the law and its strict application and the repercussion of its judgments and orders by application of such laws on the society as a whole and the individuals who are before it," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma added. On balancing legal considerations on individuals vis-a-vis society The couple, who had married according to Muslim rites after eloping, faced legal scrutiny when the girl's father lodged the FIR. The court observed that despite the legal challenges, the couple has been happily married for nine years and has two daughters. Also watch | India's Supreme Court on Delhi pollution × Highlighting the importance of balancing legal considerations with the impact on individuals and society, the court concluded, "While one side of the scale carries the law, the other side may carry the entire life, happiness, and future of toddlers, their parents, and family members. The application of law is meant for maintaining the rule of law, but it must also consider the pure happiness devoid of criminality." (With inputs from agencies)

Indian court observes 'true love' between teens can't be controlled by state action

<p>The results of Taiwan's Jan 13 elections are crucial&nbsp;not just for its over 23 million people but for the entire world. Taiwan's indispensable economic significance to the global economy is underlined by the fact that the 36,193 sq km territory, which China claims as its own, produces around 90 per cent of the world's leading-edge semiconductors that are used for artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing applications.</p>

<p>According to TrendForce, Taiwan's share of global semiconductor foundry capacity stood at about 46 per cent as of 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-taiwan-elections-2024-beyond-xi-jinpings-unification-threat-679049">Explained: How Taiwan is keeping up with democracy amid Xi Jinping's 'reunification' threat</a></strong></p>

<p>The semiconductor chips have emerged as pivots of the global economy in modern times. Described as the 'new oil' of the technology age, they are required to access computing power from every piece of modern technology.</p>

<p>Almost all electronic products – from refrigerators and microwaves to computers and smartphones – run on semiconductors. Around one-quarter of all semiconductors produced today end up in smartphones. &nbsp;At the same time, national intelligence systems and military missiles also dependent on semiconductors.</p>

<p>The rearranged corridors of power in the Taiwanese capital will hold 'profound significance', among others, on the country's semiconductor industry as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Taiwan Presidential elections: China warns voters to make correct choice in elections</strong></p>

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<p>"The election outcomes will wield influence over the strategic and economic landscape, extending to cross-strait relations and the dynamics between the US and China," Sana Hashmi Postdoctoral Fellow at Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation in Taipei City, told WION while referring to the 180-kilometer (110-mile) strait that separates Taiwan from China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In recent years, the Taiwanese Strait has become an active geo-economic spot of aggression by Chinese armed forces. China's top leader Xi Jinping has asserted Beijing's claim over Taiwan&nbsp;by sending warplanes and ships to the skies and waters around Taiwan regularly.</p>

<p>While the Chinese belligerence over the Taiwanese strait has come to define Beijing's repetitive territorial assertiveness over Taiwan in recent years, they have had consequences for Taiwan's semiconductor industry as well. Most notably, when Berkshire Hathaway cited geopolitical concerns in February 2023 to divest its multi-billion dollar stake from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Global stake in stability, peace between China and Taiwan</strong></h2>

<p>According to Chris Miller's 'Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology', the entire world economy hinges on peace in Taiwan. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A disruption to semiconductor production could have dramatic effects on the world economy, perhaps much more than Covid-19 or the Ukraine war, according to Miller. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In recent years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. or TSMC, the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer that counts Apple and Nvidia among its biggest clients, has become central to the island nation's semiconductor dominance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides, China (which itself constitutes 26 per cent of the world's semiconductor foundry) is a buyer of Taiwan-made chips.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taiwan exported electronic integrated circuits, or chips, worth over $47 billion to China in 2023, according to preliminary trade data.</p>

<p>Some analysts argue that China's reliance on chips manufactured in Taiwan is so great that it makes an attack less likely, as destruction or inoperability of Taiwan’s foundries would devastate China's economy.</p>

<h2><strong>Taiwan Election Results 2024: Towards stability or confrontation path with China?</strong></h2>

<p>The election sees the pro-U.S. and anti-China Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te leading the polls against the Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih, who is seen as more accommodating towards Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the heart of the election is a stark choice presented to the Taiwanese people: one between peace or war that Kuomintang has campaigned on, and democracy or dictatorship, a choice propagated by the Democratic Progressive Party.</p>

<p>Lai is seen leading by a significant margin, suggesting a possible continuation of the Democratic Progressive Party’s rule.</p>

<p>If the Kuomintang, which adheres to a 'One China' principle, secures victory, Taipei-Beijing ties are expected to stabilise due to the party's accommodative stance towards Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The stabilisation may do away with the imminent threat of military conflict for the time being, keeping the world away from a D-day scenario of disrupted semiconductor supply chains.</p>

<p>A Kuomintang victory, however, would also be perceived as a win for China, possibly paving the way for closer ties with Taiwan.</p>

<p>Contrastingly, a win for the frontrunning Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates for Taiwan’s independence, may further put cross-strait relations in turmoil. For the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, while a Democratic Progressive Party win may appear hostile, it would also present Xi with an opportunity to propagate the idea of 'unification' with Taiwan more profoundly in his bid to consolidate power over Chinese Communist Party.</p>

<p>"The results of these elections will chart trajectories that could reverberate across the Indo-Pacific," Sana Hashmi said. With the US continuing to be the top weapon supplier to Taiwan at the face of Chinese belligerence, the outcomes of Jan 13 elections are set to "influence regional stability", while "shaping the US' and other countries' approaches to China and the region."</p>


The results of Taiwan's Jan 13 elections are crucial not just for its over 23 million people but for the entire world. Taiwan's indispensable economic significance to the global economy is underlined by the fact that the 36,193 sq km territory, which China claims as its own, produces around 90 per cent of the world's leading-edge semiconductors that are used for artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing applications.

The results of Taiwan's Jan 13 elections are crucial not just for its over 23 million people but for the entire world. Taiwan's indispensable economic significance to the global economy is underlined by the fact that the 36,193 sq km territory, which China claims as its own, produces around 90 per cent of the world's leading-edge semiconductors that are used for artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing applications. According to TrendForce, Taiwan's share of global semiconductor foundry capacity stood at about 46 per cent as of 2023. Also read | Explained: How Taiwan is keeping up with democracy amid Xi Jinping's 'reunification' threat The semiconductor chips have emerged as pivots of the global economy in modern times. Described as the 'new oil' of the technology age, they are required to access computing power from every piece of modern technology. Almost all electronic products – from refrigerators and microwaves to computers and smartphones – run on semiconductors. Around one-quarter of all semiconductors produced today end up in smartphones. At the same time, national intelligence systems and military missiles also dependent on semiconductors. The rearranged corridors of power in the Taiwanese capital will hold 'profound significance', among others, on the country's semiconductor industry as well. Also watch | Taiwan Presidential elections: China warns voters to make correct choice in elections × "The election outcomes will wield influence over the strategic and economic landscape, extending to cross-strait relations and the dynamics between the US and China," Sana Hashmi Postdoctoral Fellow at Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation in Taipei City, told WION while referring to the 180-kilometer (110-mile) strait that separates Taiwan from China. In recent years, the Taiwanese Strait has become an active geo-economic spot of aggression by Chinese armed forces. China's top leader Xi Jinping has asserted Beijing's claim over Taiwan by sending warplanes and ships to the skies and waters around Taiwan regularly. While the Chinese belligerence over the Taiwanese strait has come to define Beijing's repetitive territorial assertiveness over Taiwan in recent years, they have had consequences for Taiwan's semiconductor industry as well. Most notably, when Berkshire Hathaway cited geopolitical concerns in February 2023 to divest its multi-billion dollar stake from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Global stake in stability, peace between China and Taiwan According to Chris Miller's 'Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology', the entire world economy hinges on peace in Taiwan. A disruption to semiconductor production could have dramatic effects on the world economy, perhaps much more than Covid-19 or the Ukraine war, according to Miller. In recent years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. or TSMC, the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer that counts Apple and Nvidia among its biggest clients, has become central to the island nation's semiconductor dominance. Besides, China (which itself constitutes 26 per cent of the world's semiconductor foundry) is a buyer of Taiwan-made chips. Taiwan exported electronic integrated circuits, or chips, worth over $47 billion to China in 2023, according to preliminary trade data. Some analysts argue that China's reliance on chips manufactured in Taiwan is so great that it makes an attack less likely, as destruction or inoperability of Taiwan’s foundries would devastate China's economy. Taiwan Election Results 2024: Towards stability or confrontation path with China? The election sees the pro-U.S. and anti-China Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te leading the polls against the Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih, who is seen as more accommodating towards Beijing. At the heart of the election is a stark choice presented to the Taiwanese people: one between peace or war that Kuomintang has campaigned on, and democracy or dictatorship, a choice propagated by the Democratic Progressive Party. Lai is seen leading by a significant margin, suggesting a possible continuation of the Democratic Progressive Party’s rule. If the Kuomintang, which adheres to a 'One China' principle, secures victory, Taipei-Beijing ties are expected to stabilise due to the party's accommodative stance towards Beijing. The stabilisation may do away with the imminent threat of military conflict for the time being, keeping the world away from a D-day scenario of disrupted semiconductor supply chains. A Kuomintang victory, however, would also be perceived as a win for China, possibly paving the way for closer ties with Taiwan. Contrastingly, a win for the frontrunning Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates for Taiwan’s independence, may further put cross-strait relations in turmoil. For the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, while a Democratic Progressive Party win may appear hostile, it would also present Xi with an opportunity to propagate the idea of 'unification' with Taiwan more profoundly in his bid to consolidate power over Chinese Communist Party. "The results of these elections will chart trajectories that could reverberate across the Indo-Pacific," Sana Hashmi said. With the US continuing to be the top weapon supplier to Taiwan at the face of Chinese belligerence, the outcomes of Jan 13 elections are set to "influence regional stability", while "shaping the US' and other countries' approaches to China and the region."

Taiwan Elections 2024: Why results of these polls are crucial for global economy

<p>Thousands of people will lose jobs at Citigroup in 2024 as part of Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser's bid to boost the Wall Street giant's returns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The New York City-headquartered firm said that it expects to incur as much as $1bn in severance and reorganisation costs. These costs would be incurred as part of the company's process to eliminate 20,000 roles.</p>

<p>The job cuts were announced in a presentation released in connection with the lender's fourth-quarter results in which it reported a large loss.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What Citigroup will look like after job cuts?</strong></h2>

<p>The move will put the headcount at about 180,000 in the 2026 time period, down from 240,000 at the end of 2022.</p>

<p>"Last month we announced consequential changes that align our organizational structure with our strategy and changes how we run the bank," Citi Chief Executive Jane Fraser said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/citigroup-considers-significant-job-cuts-in-major-restructuring-report-656007">Citigroup Inc to pull out from Russia | Banking | WION Business News</a></strong></p>

<p>"When completed, we will have a simpler firm that can operate faster, better serve our clients and unlock value for our shareholders," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Citigroup's balance sheet</strong></h2>

<p>Overall, Citi reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.9 billion compared with profits of $2.5 billion in the 2022 period. Revenues fell three percent to $17.4 billion.</p>

<p>The results were weighed down by several cost items, including $780 million for severance and other costs expenses connected to the reorganisation.</p>

<h2><strong>How many job cuts will occur in immediate future?</strong></h2>

<p>Citi Chief Financial Officer Mark Mason said the fourth-quarter charge means&nbsp;7,000 job cuts over the next year.</p>

<p>Other one-time costs include a $1.7 billion special assessment to fill in a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) emergency fund after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Citigroup Inc to pull out from Russia</strong></p>

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<p>Citigroup also booked reserves of $1.3 billion associated with risks connected to Argentina and Russia, plus a hit of $880 million from the devaluation of the Argentine peso.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Thousands of people will lose jobs at Citigroup in 2024 as part of Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser's bid to boost the Wall Street giant's returns. The New York City-headquartered firm said that it expects to incur as much as $1bn in severance and reorganisation costs.

Thousands of people will lose jobs at Citigroup in 2024 as part of Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser's bid to boost the Wall Street giant's returns. The New York City-headquartered firm said that it expects to incur as much as $1bn in severance and reorganisation costs. These costs would be incurred as part of the company's process to eliminate 20,000 roles. The job cuts were announced in a presentation released in connection with the lender's fourth-quarter results in which it reported a large loss. What Citigroup will look like after job cuts? The move will put the headcount at about 180,000 in the 2026 time period, down from 240,000 at the end of 2022. "Last month we announced consequential changes that align our organizational structure with our strategy and changes how we run the bank," Citi Chief Executive Jane Fraser said. Also read | Citigroup Inc to pull out from Russia | Banking | WION Business News "When completed, we will have a simpler firm that can operate faster, better serve our clients and unlock value for our shareholders," he added. Citigroup's balance sheet Overall, Citi reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.9 billion compared with profits of $2.5 billion in the 2022 period. Revenues fell three percent to $17.4 billion. The results were weighed down by several cost items, including $780 million for severance and other costs expenses connected to the reorganisation. How many job cuts will occur in immediate future? Citi Chief Financial Officer Mark Mason said the fourth-quarter charge means 7,000 job cuts over the next year. Other one-time costs include a $1.7 billion special assessment to fill in a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) emergency fund after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Also watch | Citigroup Inc to pull out from Russia × Citigroup also booked reserves of $1.3 billion associated with risks connected to Argentina and Russia, plus a hit of $880 million from the devaluation of the Argentine peso. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands to lose jobs as US banking giant Citigroup announces job cuts

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