Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh’s Women Workforce


According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the participation of the country’s women in the workforce increased to 42.68 per cent up from 36.3 per cent five years ago.

Where All Bangladeshi Women Are Employed?

The women are mostly employed in the garment manufacturing units. With state welfare programmes aimed at bringing women into workplaces, Bangladesh’s economic growth is intricately linked with the role of women in the workforce.


This is because more than half of Bangladesh’s rural women are part of the country’s workforce and are the driving force for prosperity in contrast to the previously famine-prone population. Rural participation of women in work is 50.89 per cent and 22.59 per cent in urban areas, according to official figures.

Prime Minister Hasina’s administration in 2011 launched a progressive Women Development Policy. A total of 30 per cent of seats are earmarked for women in local government bodies, while special provisions for enhancing women’s representation in the public service.

PM Sheikh Hasina has pledged to increase women’s participation in the workforce to 50-50 by 2041.

Bangladesh's economic rise in recent years is often attributed to increase in women's participation in formal workforce.

<p>Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways and an accused in the ₹538 crore (over $64.6mn) fraud case at Canara Bank, pleading before a special court on Saturday&nbsp;stated that he has "lost every hope of life".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Goyal, currently in judicial custody at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, requested the court with "folded hands" that it would be "better if he dies in jail" than endure his present condition.</p>

<p>The septuagenarian, visibly emotional during the proceedings, highlighted the deteriorating health of his wife, Anita, who reportedly has an advanced stage of cancer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Goyal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 1 last year in connection with the alleged bank fraud, moved a bail application before special judge M G Desphande.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Jet airways founder, Naresh Goyal arrested</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jet-airways-founder-naresh-goyal-arrested-631630/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>During the hearing, Goyal,&nbsp;his body trembling, informed the court about his precarious health, swollen and painful knees, and difficulty in standing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He urged the court not to send him to J J Hospital, citing the troublesome and tedious journey from Arthur Road jail, impacting his health further.</p>

<h2><strong>'I have lost every hope of life'</strong></h2>

<p>"I have lost every hope of life, and it's better I should die rather than be alive in such a situation," Goyal told the court, tearfully requesting not to be sent to the hospital and instead allowing him to pass away in jail.</p>

<p>Turning 75 soon, Goyal claimed that his health prevented him from personally attending court hearings. The judge then assured Goyal that his mental and physical health would be taken care of and directed his lawyers to address the concerns.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jet-airways-and-go-fist-lose-their-airlines-codes-after-being-non-operational-report-632062">Jet Airways and Go Fist lose their airlines codes after being non-operational</a></strong></p>

<p>In his bail plea, Goyal cited multiple health issues and maintained his innocence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next hearing is scheduled for January 16.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from a CBI FIR against Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita, and former company executives, alleging fraud of ₹538 crore (over $64.6mn) at Canara Bank.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways and an accused in the ₹538 crore (over $64.6mn) fraud case at Canara Bank, pleading before a special court on Saturday stated that he has "lost every hope of life".

Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways and an accused in the ₹538 crore (over $64.6mn) fraud case at Canara Bank, pleading before a special court on Saturday stated that he has "lost every hope of life". Goyal, currently in judicial custody at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, requested the court with "folded hands" that it would be "better if he dies in jail" than endure his present condition. The septuagenarian, visibly emotional during the proceedings, highlighted the deteriorating health of his wife, Anita, who reportedly has an advanced stage of cancer. Goyal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 1 last year in connection with the alleged bank fraud, moved a bail application before special judge M G Desphande. Also watch | Jet airways founder, Naresh Goyal arrested × During the hearing, Goyal, his body trembling, informed the court about his precarious health, swollen and painful knees, and difficulty in standing. He urged the court not to send him to J J Hospital, citing the troublesome and tedious journey from Arthur Road jail, impacting his health further. 'I have lost every hope of life' "I have lost every hope of life, and it's better I should die rather than be alive in such a situation," Goyal told the court, tearfully requesting not to be sent to the hospital and instead allowing him to pass away in jail. Turning 75 soon, Goyal claimed that his health prevented him from personally attending court hearings. The judge then assured Goyal that his mental and physical health would be taken care of and directed his lawyers to address the concerns. Also read | Jet Airways and Go Fist lose their airlines codes after being non-operational In his bail plea, Goyal cited multiple health issues and maintained his innocence. The next hearing is scheduled for January 16. The ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from a CBI FIR against Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita, and former company executives, alleging fraud of ₹538 crore (over $64.6mn) at Canara Bank. (With inputs from agencies)

Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal breaks down in court, says, ‘better I should die’

<p>Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign.</p>

<p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from the war into Lebanon, the West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have vowed to keep up attacks until Israel halts its campaign in the Palestinian enclave.</p>

<p>"We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading," said Blinken, who was in Jordan on Sunday and will also travel to Israel, the West Bank, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his fourth trip to the region.</p>

<p>Jordan's King Abdullah urged Blinken to use Washington's influence over Israel to press it for an immediate ceasefire, a palace statement said, warning him of the "catastrophic repercussions" of Israel's continued military campaign.</p>

<p>Despite global concern over the death and destruction in Gaza and international pressure for a ceasefire, Israeli public opinion remains firmly behind the operation aimed at wiping out the Hamas group that rules Gaza, although there has been a big drop in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p>

<p>He has not taken responsibility for the security failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel on Oct. 7. But he has vowed to press on with the retaliatory action.</p>

<p>"The war must not be stopped until we achieve all the goals - the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. I say this to both our enemies and our friends," Netanyahu said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.</p>

<p>Some 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. For Israelis, the deadliest day in the country's history and the accounts of atrocities that later emerged left a sense that the survival of the country is at stake.</p>

<p>Israel's offensive has so far killed 22,835 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials on Sunday. Some 113 Palestinians were killed and 250 others were wounded in separate Israeli strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said.</p>

<p>An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there.</p>

<p>The fighting has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine.</p>

<p>“We hope that ... Blinken looks at us with an eye of mercy, ends the war, ends the misery we are living in. We are a people that must live a free and dignified life," said one woman, Um Mohamad Al-Arqan, standing by the tent where she is living.</p>

<p>Blinken, who visited Turkey and Greece at the start of his trip, will aim to press hesitant Muslim nations in the region to prepare to play a role in the reconstruction, governance and security of Gaza if and when Israel achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas, said a senior State Department official.</p>

<h2><strong>Focus on Central, Southern Gaza</strong></h2>

<p>Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari summarised the offensive on Saturday, saying Israeli forces had completely&nbsp;dismantled Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza and had killed around 8,000 militants in that area.</p>

<p>"We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip," he said in an online briefing.</p>

<p>Palestinian health ministry casualty figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, but the ministry claims that 70% of Gaza's dead are women and people under 18.</p>

<p>Gun battles intensified in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis as well as in districts in the centre of the densely populated Palestinian enclave.</p>

<p>Smoke rose from the sites of Israeli bombing on Sunday morning east and north of Khan Younis. Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis killed 50 people, health officials in Nasser Hospital said on Sunday.</p>

<p>Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip killed gunmen loading weapons into a vehicle and dismantled a launch site that fired rockets towards Israel, the Israeli military said.</p>

<p>Hamas' armed wing said its fighters destroyed a troop carrier in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>Outside Gaza, there was fresh violence in the occupied West Bank. Israeli aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the West Bank, the military said, and Palestinian health officials said seven Palestinians were killed in the strike.</p>

<p>An Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in the West Bank city of Jenin, the military and police said.</p>

<p>The West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the Gaza war, and confrontations have since risen sharply. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past weeks in the West Bank and security forces have made thousands of arrests.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign.

Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from the war into Lebanon, the West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have vowed to keep up attacks until Israel halts its campaign in the Palestinian enclave. "We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading," said Blinken, who was in Jordan on Sunday and will also travel to Israel, the West Bank, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his fourth trip to the region. Jordan's King Abdullah urged Blinken to use Washington's influence over Israel to press it for an immediate ceasefire, a palace statement said, warning him of the "catastrophic repercussions" of Israel's continued military campaign. Despite global concern over the death and destruction in Gaza and international pressure for a ceasefire, Israeli public opinion remains firmly behind the operation aimed at wiping out the Hamas group that rules Gaza, although there has been a big drop in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has not taken responsibility for the security failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel on Oct. 7. But he has vowed to press on with the retaliatory action. "The war must not be stopped until we achieve all the goals - the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. I say this to both our enemies and our friends," Netanyahu said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. Some 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. For Israelis, the deadliest day in the country's history and the accounts of atrocities that later emerged left a sense that the survival of the country is at stake. Israel's offensive has so far killed 22,835 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials on Sunday. Some 113 Palestinians were killed and 250 others were wounded in separate Israeli strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said. An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there. The fighting has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine. “We hope that ... Blinken looks at us with an eye of mercy, ends the war, ends the misery we are living in. We are a people that must live a free and dignified life," said one woman, Um Mohamad Al-Arqan, standing by the tent where she is living. Blinken, who visited Turkey and Greece at the start of his trip, will aim to press hesitant Muslim nations in the region to prepare to play a role in the reconstruction, governance and security of Gaza if and when Israel achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas, said a senior State Department official. Focus on Central, Southern Gaza Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari summarised the offensive on Saturday, saying Israeli forces had completely dismantled Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza and had killed around 8,000 militants in that area. "We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip," he said in an online briefing. Palestinian health ministry casualty figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, but the ministry claims that 70% of Gaza's dead are women and people under 18. Gun battles intensified in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis as well as in districts in the centre of the densely populated Palestinian enclave. Smoke rose from the sites of Israeli bombing on Sunday morning east and north of Khan Younis. Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis killed 50 people, health officials in Nasser Hospital said on Sunday. Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip killed gunmen loading weapons into a vehicle and dismantled a launch site that fired rockets towards Israel, the Israeli military said. Hamas' armed wing said its fighters destroyed a troop carrier in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Outside Gaza, there was fresh violence in the occupied West Bank. Israeli aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the West Bank, the military said, and Palestinian health officials said seven Palestinians were killed in the strike. An Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in the West Bank city of Jenin, the military and police said. The West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the Gaza war, and confrontations have since risen sharply. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past weeks in the West Bank and security forces have made thousands of arrests. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Western diplomats aim to prevent Gaza spillover after three months of conflict

<p>For the latest tenure of Dhaka's Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh's supreme legislative body, while the numbers are not entirely in, the verdict is already out. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) party looks set to win the country's twelfth parliamentary polls after the conclusion of the voting process on Sunday (Jan 7).</p>

<p>This will be Hasina's fourth term in a row and fifth prime ministerial term in total, following a national&nbsp;election boycotted by the principal opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and reports of voter suppression, and vote-rigging tactics by Hasina's&nbsp;ruling party. In boycotting elections, Hasina's party has accused the BNP of adopting fundamentalist tactics.</p>

<p><img alt="Bangladesh held its 12th parliamentary election on Sunday, Jan 7, 2023" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1225f151-569d-4402-89ed-fa6bf26d445d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-07T134714.120.png" /></p>

<p><em>Bangladesh held its 12th parliamentary election on Sunday, Jan 7, 2023 | Agencies</em></p>

<p>On the voting day, the website of a newspaper critical of the Hasina government was blocked for several hours. A prominent daily from Dhaka reported on alleged obstruction to the voting process by using indirect euphemisms: 'Three Boat supporters jailed for obstructing voters', the publication reported with the boat being the election symbol of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While&nbsp;Kazi Habibul Awal, the Chief Election Commissioner in Dhaka requested the media to highlight the purported transparency in the voting process, he ended up pointing out that he could see only Awami League's polling agents in the voting centres he visited in the Bangladesh capital. Note that a total of '<a href="https://x.com/albd1971/status/1743880385237491979?s=20">28 registered parties</a>' were in the fray with some 1,900 candidates vying for 300 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Foreign observers from various capitals of the world, including New Delhi, Canberra, Oslo, and Washington DC, will report on their assessment of the credibility of the elections. But until then, a 40 per cent voter turnout&nbsp;speaks a story on its own.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why does Sheikh&nbsp;Hasina matter for New Delhi and Beijing?</strong></h2>

<p>But Hasina's return to power is expected&nbsp;to keep the semblance of geoeconomic stability in the region. The question of who serves from Dhaka's Prime Minister's Office has had several ambitions to play out in recent times. From New Delhi's buffer state priorities to Beijing's Belt &amp; Road vision, as well as the strategic interests of Washington and Moscow's bid to partner with Dhaka in Bangladesh's infrastructure revamp projects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fifty-two years after Bangladesh&nbsp;came into being following a bloodied war for independence from present-day Pakistan, the country remains at an inflection point.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Its $400 billion economy&nbsp;grew at 7.1 per cent&nbsp;in 2022.</p>

<p>Hasina in power in Dhaka has been seen as pivotal to&nbsp;Bangladesh's growth and stability by New Delhi and Beijing, who see her&nbsp;as crucial to advancing their strategic interests in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.</p>

<p>Since coming to power in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's&nbsp;approach towards New Delhi and Beijing reflects a strategy to assort Bangladesh's&nbsp;national interests over zero-sum strategic affairs.</p>

<p>While pursuing an ambitious goal to achieve developed nation status for Bangladesh by 2041, Sheikh Hasina&nbsp;has strategically harnessed&nbsp;the strengths of both India and China with visits to New Delhi and Beijing aimed at&nbsp;balancing ties.</p>

<p>Dhaka is pursuing a modernisation project for Mongla port under Beijing's ambitious&nbsp;Belt and Road Initiative.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New Delhi's&nbsp;Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor (BCIM) initiative too is another stride in the country's&nbsp;regional connectivity goals.&nbsp;<br />
<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/11/01/390573-modi-23.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p><em>File photo of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi | Reuters</em></p>

<p>The continuity of investments by both New Delhi and Beijing depends on Hasina's return to power.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinpings-2023-when-chinas-bri-dream-faced-an-italian-reality-check-674821">Xi Jinping's 2023: When China's BRI dream faced an Italian 'reality check'</a></strong></p>

<p>The fundamentalism in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul&nbsp;has already challenged New Delhi's investments in Afghanistan. While Beijing's ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has also come under attack by Pakistani fundamentalists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bangladesh's economic success story under Hasina has given the region a semblance of stability. Both Beijing and New Delhi, therefore, view Sheikh Hasina's return as a sign of continued stability in the region.&nbsp;</p>


For the latest tenure of Dhaka's Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh's supreme legislative body, while the numbers are not entirely in, the verdict is already out. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) party looks set to win the country's twelfth parliamentary polls after the conclusion of the voting process on Sunday (Jan 7).

For the latest tenure of Dhaka's Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh's supreme legislative body, while the numbers are not entirely in, the verdict is already out. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) party looks set to win the country's twelfth parliamentary polls after the conclusion of the voting process on Sunday (Jan 7). This will be Hasina's fourth term in a row and fifth prime ministerial term in total, following a national election boycotted by the principal opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and reports of voter suppression, and vote-rigging tactics by Hasina's ruling party. In boycotting elections, Hasina's party has accused the BNP of adopting fundamentalist tactics. Bangladesh held its 12th parliamentary election on Sunday, Jan 7, 2023 | Agencies On the voting day, the website of a newspaper critical of the Hasina government was blocked for several hours. A prominent daily from Dhaka reported on alleged obstruction to the voting process by using indirect euphemisms: 'Three Boat supporters jailed for obstructing voters', the publication reported with the boat being the election symbol of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) Party. While Kazi Habibul Awal, the Chief Election Commissioner in Dhaka requested the media to highlight the purported transparency in the voting process, he ended up pointing out that he could see only Awami League's polling agents in the voting centres he visited in the Bangladesh capital. Note that a total of '28 registered parties' were in the fray with some 1,900 candidates vying for 300 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad. Foreign observers from various capitals of the world, including New Delhi, Canberra, Oslo, and Washington DC, will report on their assessment of the credibility of the elections. But until then, a 40 per cent voter turnout speaks a story on its own. Why does Sheikh Hasina matter for New Delhi and Beijing? But Hasina's return to power is expected to keep the semblance of geoeconomic stability in the region. The question of who serves from Dhaka's Prime Minister's Office has had several ambitions to play out in recent times. From New Delhi's buffer state priorities to Beijing's Belt & Road vision, as well as the strategic interests of Washington and Moscow's bid to partner with Dhaka in Bangladesh's infrastructure revamp projects. Fifty-two years after Bangladesh came into being following a bloodied war for independence from present-day Pakistan, the country remains at an inflection point. Its $400 billion economy grew at 7.1 per cent in 2022. Hasina in power in Dhaka has been seen as pivotal to Bangladesh's growth and stability by New Delhi and Beijing, who see her as crucial to advancing their strategic interests in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. Since coming to power in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's approach towards New Delhi and Beijing reflects a strategy to assort Bangladesh's national interests over zero-sum strategic affairs. While pursuing an ambitious goal to achieve developed nation status for Bangladesh by 2041, Sheikh Hasina has strategically harnessed the strengths of both India and China with visits to New Delhi and Beijing aimed at balancing ties. Dhaka is pursuing a modernisation project for Mongla port under Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. New Delhi's Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor (BCIM) initiative too is another stride in the country's regional connectivity goals. File photo of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi | Reuters The continuity of investments by both New Delhi and Beijing depends on Hasina's return to power. Also read | Xi Jinping's 2023: When China's BRI dream faced an Italian 'reality check' The fundamentalism in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul has already challenged New Delhi's investments in Afghanistan. While Beijing's ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has also come under attack by Pakistani fundamentalists. Bangladesh's economic success story under Hasina has given the region a semblance of stability. Both Beijing and New Delhi, therefore, view Sheikh Hasina's return as a sign of continued stability in the region.

The Capitals: Dhaka's tryst with PM Sheikh Hasina-styled democracy

<p>An Indian student from eastern India's Jharkhand state reportedly died in Italy due to reasons that could not be immediately ascertained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report in India Today, Ram Raut from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, about 1500 km east of New Delhi, died on January 2, 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ram Raut's death in Italy: What do we know?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a police statement cited by India Today, Raut was enrolled in a University in Italy for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) course.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India-Italy move forward in ‘Melodi’ era with approval of key migration and mobility pact</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-italy-move-forward-in-melodi-era-with-approval-of-key-migration-and-mobility-pact-674259/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The incident reportedly came to light when Raut's parents called him to extend greetings on New Year's on January 1. Raut reportedly did not pick up the call. When the West Singhbhum-based parents&nbsp;contacted the owner of their son's rented accommodation, they were informed that Ram had been found dead in the washroom of another house.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong></h2>

<p>Ram Raut's family has approached senior government officials in Jharkhand to bring their son's body back to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The India Today report cited West Singhbhum's Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal as saying that he had received information about Ram Raut's death. The Home Department as well as the Migration cell of Jharkhand for necessary action.</p>

<p>The developments in the case are currently being monitored by Jharkhand's state authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to government data, a total of 5,897 Indian students were present in Italy in 2022 on study visas.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-bittersweet-melodi-in-india-italy-ties-during-swaraj-jaishankar-years-667672">Explained: The bittersweet 'melodi' in India-Italy ties during Swaraj-Jaishankar years</a></strong></p>

<p>As per an agreement signed between the governments of Italy and India, the Indian students hoping to stay in Italy after the completion of their degrees will now be allowed to stay in the country for an additional 12 months. The India-Italy ties stand elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Indian student from eastern India's Jharkhand state reportedly died in Italy due to reasons that could not be immediately ascertained. According to a report in India Today, Ram Raut from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, about 1500 km east of New Delhi, died on January 2, 2024.

An Indian student from eastern India's Jharkhand state reportedly died in Italy due to reasons that could not be immediately ascertained. According to a report in India Today, Ram Raut from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, about 1500 km east of New Delhi, died on January 2, 2024. Ram Raut's death in Italy: What do we know? According to a police statement cited by India Today, Raut was enrolled in a University in Italy for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) course. Also watch | India-Italy move forward in ‘Melodi’ era with approval of key migration and mobility pact × The incident reportedly came to light when Raut's parents called him to extend greetings on New Year's on January 1. Raut reportedly did not pick up the call. When the West Singhbhum-based parents contacted the owner of their son's rented accommodation, they were informed that Ram had been found dead in the washroom of another house. What next? Ram Raut's family has approached senior government officials in Jharkhand to bring their son's body back to India. The India Today report cited West Singhbhum's Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal as saying that he had received information about Ram Raut's death. The Home Department as well as the Migration cell of Jharkhand for necessary action. The developments in the case are currently being monitored by Jharkhand's state authorities. According to government data, a total of 5,897 Indian students were present in Italy in 2022 on study visas. Also read | Explained: The bittersweet 'melodi' in India-Italy ties during Swaraj-Jaishankar years As per an agreement signed between the governments of Italy and India, the Indian students hoping to stay in Italy after the completion of their degrees will now be allowed to stay in the country for an additional 12 months. The India-Italy ties stand elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian student found dead in Italy, parents seek govt help to bring body back home

<p>A fire erupted in parts of a densely populated Rohingya refugee camp in south-eastern Bangladesh, leaving over 4,000&nbsp;people without shelter, according to officials.</p>

<p>The blaze, which ignited in Cox&nbsp;Bazar camp 5, consumed approximately 500 makeshift shelters, with firefighters working tirelessly for over three hours to bring it under control, reported Officer Mohammad Iqbal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far there are no casualties, according to reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-nothing-but-a-lucrative-business-a-rohingya-refugees-life-amid-chaos-667156">'We are nothing but a lucrative business,' a Rohingya refugee's life amid chaos</a></strong></p>

<p>The United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Bangladesh in a post on X said that it is providing support to those affected by the tragedy.</p>

<p>Bangladesh has been a host to over 1 million Rohingya Muslims dispersed across 34 camps in Cox&nbsp;Bazar, having fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar. A significant portion of this population, nearly 750,000 individuals, crossed the border in the wake of Myanmar's military offensive launched in August 2017.</p>

<p>Myanmar's military campaign has been described as ethnic cleansing and possible genocide by the United Nations.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;WION Wideangle: Rohingya crisis: A ground report from Bangladesh</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-rohingya-crisis-a-ground-report-from-bangladesh-339877/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The recent fire adds to the challenges faced by this vulnerable community amid the consistent need for continued humanitarian aid and assistance.</p>

<p>The Rohingya refugee camps are prone to fires due to&nbsp;lack of facilities, overcrowding, and the fragile nature of wooden, bamboo, and plastic huts that are spread over the entire area.</p>

<h2>Rohingya&nbsp;<strong>refugee camp prone to fires</strong></h2>

<p>In March last year, a major camp fire in Cox Bazar destroyed over 3,000 shelters, 155 facilities, including hospitals and educational centers, and reportedly displaced over 32,000 refugees.</p>

<p>The fire was later found to be an act of sabotage in a subsequent investigation by Bangladesh authorities.</p>

<p>A total of 222 incidents of fire occurred in Rohingya camps between January 2021 and December 2022, according to Bangladesh Defense Ministry.</p>

<p>Ninety-nine were accidents, 60 were arson, and the cause of 63 fire incidents was undetermined.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A fire erupted in parts of a densely populated Rohingya refugee camp in south-eastern Bangladesh, leaving over 4,000 people without shelter, according to officials.

A fire erupted in parts of a densely populated Rohingya refugee camp in south-eastern Bangladesh, leaving over 4,000 people without shelter, according to officials. The blaze, which ignited in Cox Bazar camp 5, consumed approximately 500 makeshift shelters, with firefighters working tirelessly for over three hours to bring it under control, reported Officer Mohammad Iqbal. So far there are no casualties, according to reports. Also read | 'We are nothing but a lucrative business,' a Rohingya refugee's life amid chaos The United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Bangladesh in a post on X said that it is providing support to those affected by the tragedy. Bangladesh has been a host to over 1 million Rohingya Muslims dispersed across 34 camps in Cox Bazar, having fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar. A significant portion of this population, nearly 750,000 individuals, crossed the border in the wake of Myanmar's military offensive launched in August 2017. Myanmar's military campaign has been described as ethnic cleansing and possible genocide by the United Nations. Also watch | WION Wideangle: Rohingya crisis: A ground report from Bangladesh × The recent fire adds to the challenges faced by this vulnerable community amid the consistent need for continued humanitarian aid and assistance. The Rohingya refugee camps are prone to fires due to lack of facilities, overcrowding, and the fragile nature of wooden, bamboo, and plastic huts that are spread over the entire area. Rohingya refugee camp prone to fires In March last year, a major camp fire in Cox Bazar destroyed over 3,000 shelters, 155 facilities, including hospitals and educational centers, and reportedly displaced over 32,000 refugees. The fire was later found to be an act of sabotage in a subsequent investigation by Bangladesh authorities. A total of 222 incidents of fire occurred in Rohingya camps between January 2021 and December 2022, according to Bangladesh Defense Ministry. Ninety-nine were accidents, 60 were arson, and the cause of 63 fire incidents was undetermined. (With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh: Fire tragedy at Rohingya refugee camp leaves thousands without shelter

<p>The Awami League politician Anowara Islam Rani, a transgender individual from Bangladesh's northern region, has etched her name in history by becoming the first candidate of their gender to enter electoral politics. This significant stride towards inclusivity is unfolding in the Rangpur-3 constituency of the country's northern region, in a significant moment of change amid accusations of polls being disputed — a claim denounced by PM Sheikh Hasina's cabinet colleagues in their exclusive interviews with WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/elections-will-be-free-fair-transparent-and-credible-bangladesh-fm-momen-tells-wion-677140">Elections will be free, fair, transparent and credible, Bangladesh FM Momen tells WION</a></strong></p>

<p>If elected, Rani could be South Asia's first transgender Member of Parliament. There have been transgender members of state legislative assemblies in India but not members of parliament so far in the subcontinent.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Bangladesh Election 2024: Does this election matter?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-election-2024-does-this-election-matter-677339/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Rani's candidacy, first reported by BNN Breaking, an independent news network in Bangladesh, is being recognised as a symbol of resilience and transformation.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean amid BNP's boycott?</strong></h2>

<p>With a notable 849 registered transgender voters, Rani's presence in the Rangpur-3 constituency reflects the evolving political landscape of Bangladesh where the main opposition party,&nbsp;Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has boycotted the polls.</p>

<p>The party has initiated a 48-hour nationwide strike against what they deem an "illegal government."</p>

<p>The BNP's primary demand for an interim non-party neutral government to oversee the election was rejected by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who also serves as the chairman of the ruling Awami League.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-capitals-can-sheikh-hasina-sail-through-stormy-season-of-dhaka-politics-655462">The Capitals: Can Sheikh Hasina sail through stormy season of Dhaka politics?</a></strong><img alt="Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina | Reuters" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2860%29_1.png" /><br />
<em>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina | Reuters</em><br />
<br />
To maintain peace and order during the electoral process, over 800,000 law enforcement personnel, including army troops, have been deployed. Additionally, 3,000 executive and judicial magistrates are working concurrently to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladeshs-ib-minister-mahmud-concerns-over-violence-yet-festive-election-atmosphere-677254">Bangladesh’s I&amp;B Minister Mahmud to WION: Concerns over violence, yet festive election atmosphere</a></strong></p>

<p>More than 119 million registered voters are deciding the fate of over 2,000 candidates in the fray for the 12th Jatiya Sangsad election. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bangladesh's first transgender candidate: What is the bottom line?</strong></h2>

<p>Since its formation in 1971, Anowara Islam Rani's candidacy stands as a testament to Bangladesh's&nbsp;ongoing evolution of the country's democratic process, having overcome&nbsp;decades of coups, countercoups, and assassinations.</p>


The Awami League politician Anowara Islam Rani, a transgender individual from Bangladesh's northern region, has etched her name in history by becoming the first candidate of their gender to enter electoral politics.

The Awami League politician Anowara Islam Rani, a transgender individual from Bangladesh's northern region, has etched her name in history by becoming the first candidate of their gender to enter electoral politics. This significant stride towards inclusivity is unfolding in the Rangpur-3 constituency of the country's northern region, in a significant moment of change amid accusations of polls being disputed — a claim denounced by PM Sheikh Hasina's cabinet colleagues in their exclusive interviews with WION. Also read | Elections will be free, fair, transparent and credible, Bangladesh FM Momen tells WION If elected, Rani could be South Asia's first transgender Member of Parliament. There have been transgender members of state legislative assemblies in India but not members of parliament so far in the subcontinent. Also watch | Bangladesh Election 2024: Does this election matter? × Rani's candidacy, first reported by BNN Breaking, an independent news network in Bangladesh, is being recognised as a symbol of resilience and transformation. What does it mean amid BNP's boycott? With a notable 849 registered transgender voters, Rani's presence in the Rangpur-3 constituency reflects the evolving political landscape of Bangladesh where the main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has boycotted the polls. The party has initiated a 48-hour nationwide strike against what they deem an "illegal government." The BNP's primary demand for an interim non-party neutral government to oversee the election was rejected by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who also serves as the chairman of the ruling Awami League. Also read | The Capitals: Can Sheikh Hasina sail through stormy season of Dhaka politics? Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina | Reuters To maintain peace and order during the electoral process, over 800,000 law enforcement personnel, including army troops, have been deployed. Additionally, 3,000 executive and judicial magistrates are working concurrently to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. Also read | Bangladesh’s I&B Minister Mahmud to WION: Concerns over violence, yet festive election atmosphere More than 119 million registered voters are deciding the fate of over 2,000 candidates in the fray for the 12th Jatiya Sangsad election. Bangladesh's first transgender candidate: What is the bottom line? Since its formation in 1971, Anowara Islam Rani's candidacy stands as a testament to Bangladesh's ongoing evolution of the country's democratic process, having overcome decades of coups, countercoups, and assassinations.

In Anowara Islam Rani, Bangladesh could elect South Asia's first-ever transgender Member of Parliament

<p>North Korea on Friday (Jan 5) said that it had carried out naval artillery live-fire exercises as a "natural response and countermeasure" to South Korean drills, condemning Seoul's claim that it had threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula, state media reported.</p>

<p>Pyongyang's drills did "not even have any indirect impact on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island", where residents were told to evacuate by local authorities, according to KCNA's report.</p>

<p>South Korea had on Friday told civilians on Yeonpyeong Island, located about 115km east of Seoul in terms of aerial distance,&nbsp;to evacuate after North Korea fired around 200 artillery shells off its west coast.</p>

<p>"About 200 shots were fired by North Korea (near) Yeonpyeong Island," a defence ministry official said at a briefing.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-us-conduct-week-long-wargames-near-north-korea-border-676450">South Korea, US conduct week-long wargames near North Korea border</a></strong></p>

<p>Yeonpyeong local officials told news agency AFP that civilians had been asked to evacuate.</p>

<p>Hours later, South Korean defence ministry described it as a&nbsp;"provocative act" and urged North to stop, warning Seoul would take "appropriate measures" in response.</p>

<p>The shells reportedly splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between both Koreas in the Yellow Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;North Korea: Allies pushing region into brink of Nuclear War</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korea-allies-pushing-region-into-brink-of-nuclear-war-676538/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The buffer zone was set under an inter-Korean military accord signed on Sept&nbsp;19, 2018, to reduce border tensions.</p>

<p>"We gravely warn that the entire responsibility of such crisis-escalating situations lies with North Korea and strongly urge for its immediate halt," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a press conference.</p>

<p>"Under close coordination between South Korea and the United States, our military is tracking and monitoring related activity, and will conduct corresponding measures to North Korea's provocations."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-us-conduct-week-long-wargames-near-north-korea-border-676450">South Korea, US conduct week-long wargames near North Korea border</a></p>

<h2><strong>South Korea stages live-fire drills on border island</strong></h2>

<p>South Korean marines on the border island of Yeonpyeong conducted live-fire artillery drills on Friday (Jan 5), as per the Yonhap news agency reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This came hours after North Korea staged an artillery barrage in the area.</p>

<p>The troops held "live-fire artillery drills with K9 self-propelled howitzers," Yonhap said, the first such drills in the area since both countries dropped a military accord in November.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


North Korea on Friday (Jan 5) said that it had carried out naval artillery live-fire exercises as a "natural response and countermeasure" to South Korean drills, condemning Seoul's claim that it had threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula, state media reported.

North Korea on Friday (Jan 5) said that it had carried out naval artillery live-fire exercises as a "natural response and countermeasure" to South Korean drills, condemning Seoul's claim that it had threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula, state media reported. Pyongyang's drills did "not even have any indirect impact on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island", where residents were told to evacuate by local authorities, according to KCNA's report. South Korea had on Friday told civilians on Yeonpyeong Island, located about 115km east of Seoul in terms of aerial distance, to evacuate after North Korea fired around 200 artillery shells off its west coast. "About 200 shots were fired by North Korea (near) Yeonpyeong Island," a defence ministry official said at a briefing. Also read | South Korea, US conduct week-long wargames near North Korea border Yeonpyeong local officials told news agency AFP that civilians had been asked to evacuate. Hours later, South Korean defence ministry described it as a "provocative act" and urged North to stop, warning Seoul would take "appropriate measures" in response. The shells reportedly splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between both Koreas in the Yellow Sea. Also watch | North Korea: Allies pushing region into brink of Nuclear War × The buffer zone was set under an inter-Korean military accord signed on Sept 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions. "We gravely warn that the entire responsibility of such crisis-escalating situations lies with North Korea and strongly urge for its immediate halt," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a press conference. "Under close coordination between South Korea and the United States, our military is tracking and monitoring related activity, and will conduct corresponding measures to North Korea's provocations." Also read: South Korea, US conduct week-long wargames near North Korea border South Korea stages live-fire drills on border island South Korean marines on the border island of Yeonpyeong conducted live-fire artillery drills on Friday (Jan 5), as per the Yonhap news agency reports. This came hours after North Korea staged an artillery barrage in the area. The troops held "live-fire artillery drills with K9 self-propelled howitzers," Yonhap said, the first such drills in the area since both countries dropped a military accord in November. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea says live-fire drills 'natural response' to South Korea threats

<p>The first video of the rescued Indian crew on-board the previously hijacked Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk is out. The Indian personnel narrated the ordeal and expressed relief following the rescue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We were stuck inside for 24 hours," an Indian personnel said while referring to the duration the vessel was stuck amid piracy attempts off the coast of Somalia. "Now we are relieved."</p>

<p>"Indian Navy. I am proud of the Indian Navy," said another rescued personnel.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watch: Indian crew of MV Lila Norfolk chant Bharat Mata ki Jai after being rescued as Indian Navy thwarted the hijacking. The Philippines crew can also be seen. The vessel had 21 crew members, of which 15 are Indians. <a href="https://t.co/kNDw3vf043">https://t.co/kNDw3vf043</a> <a href="https://t.co/H5F1m4wyGj">pic.twitter.com/H5F1m4wyGj</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1743503672313806991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The personnel sang praises to Mother India in jubilation, with 'Bharat Mata ki jai' (Victory to Mother India) slogans.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navys-ins-chennai-reaches-hijacked-vessel-off-somalia-coast-676932">Arabian Sea hijack: All crew, including 15 Indians onboard ship secured, evacuated by Indian Navy</a></strong></p>

<p>All 21 crew personnel, including 15 Indian citizens onboard the MV Lila Norfolk vessel, which was hijacked on Thursday (Jan 4) off the coast of Somalia have been secured and evacuated by the Indian Navy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Indian Navy swiftly responded to the hijacking incident onboard Liberian flagged Bulk Carrier MV Lila Norfolk deploying considerable strength of assets (both ships and aircraft) and an aggressive intent to counter-attack by pirates," the naval forces said in an official statement on January 6.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In a new statement, the Indian Navy details how it thwarted the hijacking of MV Lila Norfolk. Says, 'Indian Naval forces are investigating the suspected vessels in the area' <a href="https://t.co/kNDw3vf043">https://t.co/kNDw3vf043</a> <a href="https://t.co/LW0znQrHPb">pic.twitter.com/LW0znQrHPb</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1743501969590026502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The Indian Navy has increased its surveillance in the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, data from the navy's Information Fusion Centre said that the Indian Ocean Region showed at least three hijacking cases in Dec 2023.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
A total of three major maritime security incidents have been reported between Dec 28, 2023, and Jan 3, 2024, according to the Indian Navy's Information fusion centre for the Indian Ocean region. These include attacks by anti-ship ballistic missile attacks and an attack on the MV Maersk Hangzhou ship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hijacking of commercial ships and attempted hijackings by suspected pirates near the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea regions resumed in December after a six-year lull. &nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/25/401386-untitled-design-2023-12-25t002340471.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p><em>The armed attacks on the&nbsp;ships passing through the strategically important maritime region&nbsp;have disrupted one of the busiest global shipping lanes | WION</em></p>

<p>This is partly due to the repositioning of the US Navy to protect its assets in the region in the wake of Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea region.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navys-ins-chennai-reaches-hijacked-vessel-off-somalia-coast-676932">Arabian Sea hijack: All crew, including 15 Indians onboard ship secured, evacuated by Indian Navy</a></strong></p>

<p>The Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthi militia have launched sustained attacks on the merchant ships passing through the crucial maritime region in purported support of Palestinians in the wake of Israel's retaliatory state of war in Gaza that began on October 7 last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The first video of the rescued Indian crew on-board the previously hijacked Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk is out. The Indian personnel narrated the ordeal and expressed relief following the rescue.

The first video of the rescued Indian crew on-board the previously hijacked Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk is out. The Indian personnel narrated the ordeal and expressed relief following the rescue. "We were stuck inside for 24 hours," an Indian personnel said while referring to the duration the vessel was stuck amid piracy attempts off the coast of Somalia. "Now we are relieved." "Indian Navy. I am proud of the Indian Navy," said another rescued personnel. Watch: Indian crew of MV Lila Norfolk chant Bharat Mata ki Jai after being rescued as Indian Navy thwarted the hijacking. The Philippines crew can also be seen. The vessel had 21 crew members, of which 15 are Indians. https://t.co/kNDw3vf043 pic.twitter.com/H5F1m4wyGj — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 6, 2024 × The personnel sang praises to Mother India in jubilation, with 'Bharat Mata ki jai' (Victory to Mother India) slogans. Also read | Arabian Sea hijack: All crew, including 15 Indians onboard ship secured, evacuated by Indian Navy All 21 crew personnel, including 15 Indian citizens onboard the MV Lila Norfolk vessel, which was hijacked on Thursday (Jan 4) off the coast of Somalia have been secured and evacuated by the Indian Navy. "Indian Navy swiftly responded to the hijacking incident onboard Liberian flagged Bulk Carrier MV Lila Norfolk deploying considerable strength of assets (both ships and aircraft) and an aggressive intent to counter-attack by pirates," the naval forces said in an official statement on January 6. In a new statement, the Indian Navy details how it thwarted the hijacking of MV Lila Norfolk. Says, 'Indian Naval forces are investigating the suspected vessels in the area' https://t.co/kNDw3vf043 pic.twitter.com/LW0znQrHPb — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 6, 2024 × The Indian Navy has increased its surveillance in the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, data from the navy's Information Fusion Centre said that the Indian Ocean Region showed at least three hijacking cases in Dec 2023. A total of three major maritime security incidents have been reported between Dec 28, 2023, and Jan 3, 2024, according to the Indian Navy's Information fusion centre for the Indian Ocean region. These include attacks by anti-ship ballistic missile attacks and an attack on the MV Maersk Hangzhou ship. The hijacking of commercial ships and attempted hijackings by suspected pirates near the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea regions resumed in December after a six-year lull. The armed attacks on the ships passing through the strategically important maritime region have disrupted one of the busiest global shipping lanes | WION This is partly due to the repositioning of the US Navy to protect its assets in the region in the wake of Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea region. Also read | Arabian Sea hijack: All crew, including 15 Indians onboard ship secured, evacuated by Indian Navy The Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthi militia have launched sustained attacks on the merchant ships passing through the crucial maritime region in purported support of Palestinians in the wake of Israel's retaliatory state of war in Gaza that began on October 7 last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Rescued crew hails Indian Navy after end of hijacking ordeal off Somalia coast

<p>Pakistan's senate passed a resolution on Friday (Jan 5) to delay the South Asian country's national elections slated for February 8. While the resolution is non-binding since the senate forms just one&nbsp;of the organs of the Pakistani parliament, the spotlight is back on the attempts to delay the elections that should have been held months back. Pakistan's last national elections were held in 2018 when the Members of the National Assembly (MNA) were elected for a five-year tenure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The resolution came days after Pakistan's only World Cup-winning former cricket captain-turned-politician Imran&nbsp;Khan's&nbsp;Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost cricket bat&nbsp;as its election symbol after Pakistan's election commission deemed its&nbsp;intra-party polls 'unconstitutional'.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-imran-khans-party-says-loss-of-election-symbol-part-of-london-plan-672811">Pakistan: Imran Khan’s party says loss of election symbol part of 'London plan'</a></strong></p>

<p>Pakistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in South Asia, with some of Imran Khan's strongholds in the predominantly tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province particularly backward in terms of Human Development Indicators. Voters in these tribal areas identify Khan's party primarily with its bat symbol.</p>

<p>Given Khan's acclaimed record as one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has ever produced, his party had been identified with the cricket bat across Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-imran-khans-election-nomination-rejected-from-two-constituencies-675068">Pakistan: Imran Khan’s election nomination rejected from two constituencies</a></strong></p>

<p>At the end of 2023, Khan's nomination was rejected from the two National Assembly constituencies in Mianwali and Lahore. His fate on a third national assembly seat currently remains inconclusive.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-election-commission-spells-endgame-for-imran-khan-till-2028-623623">Endgame for Imran Khan as Pakistan's election commission bars him from politics till 2028</a></strong></p>

<p>But even if Khan can contest elections, he remains&nbsp;formally disqualified from holding public office until 2028.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Between 2018 and 2024: Who held Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office</strong></h2>

<p>In July 2018, Imran Khan's PTI&nbsp;won the most seats in Pakistan's National Assembly. Khan managed to forge an alliance that kept him in power until April 2022, when he&nbsp;lost a&nbsp;vote of no confidence in the parliament. The PTI leader&nbsp;blamed the military and the United States for plotting to remove him.</p>

<p>After Imran Khan's ouster from power, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was chosen as leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance chiefly consisting of the PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party. Shehbaz Sharif served as Pakistani prime minister between April 2022 and August 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In between, the ousted Pakistani leader&nbsp;Imran Khan called for snap elections as he deemed his ouster 'illegal'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In January 2023, Khan got the provincial&nbsp;assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces&nbsp;dissolved in a bid to force nationwide snap elections. This coincided with a devastating economic crisis that Pakistan faced amid attempts by Shehbaz Sharif's administration to secure a loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).&nbsp;</p>

<p>A dozen&nbsp;cases and an assassination attempt later, in May 2023,&nbsp;hours after Imran Khan was&nbsp;arrested&nbsp;from a courtroom in the capital Islamabad, his supporters pushed through the gates of army headquarters in Rawalpindi. The violent attack in Rawalpindi,&nbsp;long deemed the real nucleus of power in Pakistan behind the semblance of democracy that exists in the capital Islamabad, expanded the political instability in the nation. Khan's supporters continued to call for early elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Imran Khan was sentenced to three years&nbsp;in prison in August 2023&nbsp;after being convicted of selling state gifts when he was prime minister.</p>

<p>In August 2023,&nbsp;Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar, a teacher-turned-politician from Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan, became&nbsp;Pakistan's caretaker prime minister after the National Assembly was dissolved.</p>

<p>Kakar, Pakistan's 24th&nbsp;prime minister since the country's existence in 1947, heads the Balochistan Awami Party formed in 2018. According to Pakistani law, the elections should have been held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly. The elections by that timeline should have been held in October 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But in October 2023, Nawaz Sharif returned from his self-imposed exile in London after four years, and secured bail on corruption cases he was facing convictions in. Sharif, a four-time prime minister of Pakistan, will now reportedly contest the February elections.</p>

<p>The elections now stand&nbsp;postponed to February due to the re-demarcation of constituencies following a new census.</p>

<p>Amidst fears from political analysts that an extended period without an elected government could lead to military consolidation, the continued attempts to postpone Pakistani elections raise concerns about the balance of power in a nation where the military has remained the real power behind Pakistan's Prime Minister Office.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan Elections 2024: Election panel faces flak ahead of polls</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-elections-2024-election-panel-faces-flak-ahead-of-polls-675807/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>For the elections slated in February, Imran Khan's Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), assassinated former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) are the top contenders.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Pakistan's senate passed a resolution on Friday (Jan 5) to delay the South Asian country's national elections slated for February 8. While the resolution is non-binding since the senate forms just one of the organs of the Pakistani parliament, the spotlight is back on the attempts to delay the elections that should have been held months back.

Pakistan's senate passed a resolution on Friday (Jan 5) to delay the South Asian country's national elections slated for February 8. While the resolution is non-binding since the senate forms just one of the organs of the Pakistani parliament, the spotlight is back on the attempts to delay the elections that should have been held months back. Pakistan's last national elections were held in 2018 when the Members of the National Assembly (MNA) were elected for a five-year tenure. The resolution came days after Pakistan's only World Cup-winning former cricket captain-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost cricket bat as its election symbol after Pakistan's election commission deemed its intra-party polls 'unconstitutional'. Also read | Pakistan: Imran Khan’s party says loss of election symbol part of 'London plan' Pakistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in South Asia, with some of Imran Khan's strongholds in the predominantly tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province particularly backward in terms of Human Development Indicators. Voters in these tribal areas identify Khan's party primarily with its bat symbol. Given Khan's acclaimed record as one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has ever produced, his party had been identified with the cricket bat across Pakistan. Also read | Pakistan: Imran Khan’s election nomination rejected from two constituencies At the end of 2023, Khan's nomination was rejected from the two National Assembly constituencies in Mianwali and Lahore. His fate on a third national assembly seat currently remains inconclusive. Also read | Endgame for Imran Khan as Pakistan's election commission bars him from politics till 2028 But even if Khan can contest elections, he remains formally disqualified from holding public office until 2028. Between 2018 and 2024: Who held Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office In July 2018, Imran Khan's PTI won the most seats in Pakistan's National Assembly. Khan managed to forge an alliance that kept him in power until April 2022, when he lost a vote of no confidence in the parliament. The PTI leader blamed the military and the United States for plotting to remove him. After Imran Khan's ouster from power, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was chosen as leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance chiefly consisting of the PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party. Shehbaz Sharif served as Pakistani prime minister between April 2022 and August 2023. In between, the ousted Pakistani leader Imran Khan called for snap elections as he deemed his ouster 'illegal'. In January 2023, Khan got the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces dissolved in a bid to force nationwide snap elections. This coincided with a devastating economic crisis that Pakistan faced amid attempts by Shehbaz Sharif's administration to secure a loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A dozen cases and an assassination attempt later, in May 2023, hours after Imran Khan was arrested from a courtroom in the capital Islamabad, his supporters pushed through the gates of army headquarters in Rawalpindi. The violent attack in Rawalpindi, long deemed the real nucleus of power in Pakistan behind the semblance of democracy that exists in the capital Islamabad, expanded the political instability in the nation. Khan's supporters continued to call for early elections. Imran Khan was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2023 after being convicted of selling state gifts when he was prime minister. In August 2023, Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar, a teacher-turned-politician from Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan, became Pakistan's caretaker prime minister after the National Assembly was dissolved. Kakar, Pakistan's 24th prime minister since the country's existence in 1947, heads the Balochistan Awami Party formed in 2018. According to Pakistani law, the elections should have been held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly. The elections by that timeline should have been held in October 2023. But in October 2023, Nawaz Sharif returned from his self-imposed exile in London after four years, and secured bail on corruption cases he was facing convictions in. Sharif, a four-time prime minister of Pakistan, will now reportedly contest the February elections. The elections now stand postponed to February due to the re-demarcation of constituencies following a new census. Amidst fears from political analysts that an extended period without an elected government could lead to military consolidation, the continued attempts to postpone Pakistani elections raise concerns about the balance of power in a nation where the military has remained the real power behind Pakistan's Prime Minister Office. Watch | Pakistan Elections 2024: Election panel faces flak ahead of polls × For the elections slated in February, Imran Khan's Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), assassinated former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) are the top contenders. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Why Pakistan’s national elections remain a delayed affair

<p>A road transport secretary in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, Anurag Jain, found himself at the receiving end of speed violation challans on a particular stretch in New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jain, according to a report in The Times of India, missed the speed limit sign that were reportedly "almost" concealed&nbsp;behind a tree.</p>

<p>The issue of inadequate placement of road signs, often obscured by trees and poles along Delhi roads, has resulted in what Jain describes as "challan surprises" for unsuspecting vehicle owners.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/12-dead-30-injured-in-head-on-collision-between-bus-and-truck-in-assam-pm-modi-announces-relief-for-victims-676129">12 dead, 30 injured in head-on collision between bus and truck in Assam; PM Modi announces relief</a></strong></p>

<p>Jain said he fell victim to the flawed signage system. Believing the speed limit was 60 kilometres per hour&nbsp;on that stretch, he was perplexed when his vehicle, slightly exceeding 61 kmph, led to the violations.</p>

<p>"The system does not recognise who the owner is and I've paid challan thrice for speeding. But my problem was different. I took up with police the point that the speed signs should be visible to me. I thought the speed limit was 60 kmph on that stretch and my vehicle was at 61 kmph. Usually, this should not have been the reason for getting a challan," Jain was quoted as saying by The Times of India.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Delhi tragedy: Road crash victim succumbs to injuries, robbed</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-delhi-tragedy-road-crash-victim-succumbs-to-injuries-robbed-654477/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Addressing the importance of proper sign placement, Jain stressed, "Technology treats all commuters equally." He highlighted the necessity to position road signs "at the right spot" to ensure visibility for all drivers and prevent such unintentional violations.</p>

<p>According to a study conducted by the Institute of Road Traffic Education in 2017, over 70 per cent of road signs in Delhi did not adhere to prescribed norms. Out of 1,514 examined road signs across 14 major stretches, 1,098 failed to meet the standards, in a staggering reflection to concerning state of road safety in the Indian capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A road transport secretary in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, Anurag Jain, found himself at the receiving end of speed violation challans on a particular stretch in New Delhi.

A road transport secretary in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, Anurag Jain, found himself at the receiving end of speed violation challans on a particular stretch in New Delhi. Jain, according to a report in The Times of India, missed the speed limit sign that were reportedly "almost" concealed behind a tree. The issue of inadequate placement of road signs, often obscured by trees and poles along Delhi roads, has resulted in what Jain describes as "challan surprises" for unsuspecting vehicle owners. Also read | 12 dead, 30 injured in head-on collision between bus and truck in Assam; PM Modi announces relief Jain said he fell victim to the flawed signage system. Believing the speed limit was 60 kilometres per hour on that stretch, he was perplexed when his vehicle, slightly exceeding 61 kmph, led to the violations. "The system does not recognise who the owner is and I've paid challan thrice for speeding. But my problem was different. I took up with police the point that the speed signs should be visible to me. I thought the speed limit was 60 kmph on that stretch and my vehicle was at 61 kmph. Usually, this should not have been the reason for getting a challan," Jain was quoted as saying by The Times of India. Also watch | Gravitas: Delhi tragedy: Road crash victim succumbs to injuries, robbed × Addressing the importance of proper sign placement, Jain stressed, "Technology treats all commuters equally." He highlighted the necessity to position road signs "at the right spot" to ensure visibility for all drivers and prevent such unintentional violations. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Road Traffic Education in 2017, over 70 per cent of road signs in Delhi did not adhere to prescribed norms. Out of 1,514 examined road signs across 14 major stretches, 1,098 failed to meet the standards, in a staggering reflection to concerning state of road safety in the Indian capital. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian official says concealed speed limit signs in Delhi got him ‘challan surprises’

<p>Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-donkey-flights-what-it-means-and-the-modus-operandi-behind-risky-border-crossings-674766">Explained | 'Donkey flights': What it means and the modus operandi behind risky border crossings</a></strong></p>

<p>Obrador said during a briefing with journalists on Friday (Jan 5) that he requested US authorities to deploy the $20 billion in funds as part of a cooperative plan to help other countries in Latin America to combat the migrant crisis.</p>

<p>Additionally, Obrador appealed to the US to grant visas to at least 10 million Hispanic migrants with over a decade of work experience in the country, a point reportedly raised during his recent meeting with President Joe Biden in Mexico City.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US: Republican Senators visit Texas border over migration crisis</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-republican-senators-visit-texas-border-over-migration-crisis-676424/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>On December 31, 2023, armed individuals kidnapped 32 Venezuelan and Honduran migrants from a bus. The perpetrators aimed to extort money from the victims and their families in the United States.</p>

<h2><strong>Need for enhanced law enforcement in focus</strong></h2>

<p>A phone conversation between Presidents Biden and Obrador on December 21 called for the need for enhanced enforcement at key ports of entry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall were subsequently sent to Mexico to address the pressing situation.</p>

<p>Notably in May 2023, President Obrador criticised the Biden administration for lifting the Title 42 immigration policy, arguing that it incentivised smugglers to exploit the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-title-42-covid-19-restricting-law-biden-administration-plans-to-lift-590561">What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx</a></strong></p>

<p>Title 42, initially implemented during the Covid pandemic, expired on May 11, coinciding with the conclusion of the health emergency.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration. Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration. Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December. Also read | Explained | 'Donkey flights': What it means and the modus operandi behind risky border crossings Obrador said during a briefing with journalists on Friday (Jan 5) that he requested US authorities to deploy the $20 billion in funds as part of a cooperative plan to help other countries in Latin America to combat the migrant crisis. Additionally, Obrador appealed to the US to grant visas to at least 10 million Hispanic migrants with over a decade of work experience in the country, a point reportedly raised during his recent meeting with President Joe Biden in Mexico City. Also watch | US: Republican Senators visit Texas border over migration crisis × On December 31, 2023, armed individuals kidnapped 32 Venezuelan and Honduran migrants from a bus. The perpetrators aimed to extort money from the victims and their families in the United States. Need for enhanced law enforcement in focus A phone conversation between Presidents Biden and Obrador on December 21 called for the need for enhanced enforcement at key ports of entry. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall were subsequently sent to Mexico to address the pressing situation. Notably in May 2023, President Obrador criticised the Biden administration for lifting the Title 42 immigration policy, arguing that it incentivised smugglers to exploit the situation. Also read | What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx Title 42, initially implemented during the Covid pandemic, expired on May 11, coinciding with the conclusion of the health emergency. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexican president seeks billions in funding from US to combat illegal migration

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Mukul Sharma

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

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