<p>BuzzFeed News, the digital news website that took the internet by storm right at the cusp of social media's revolutionary turn in the 2010s, will soon shutter itself down. But once upon a time, BuzzFeed let go of a half-a-billion-dollar buyout offer and kept on riding the digital media wave until it finally drowned under the weight of its own success in April 2023.</p>

<h2><strong>BuzzFeed-Disney unsuccessful buyout deal: What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>According to former BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, about a decade ago, BuzzFeed President Jon Steinberg reportedly got on his knees to beg its founder, Jonah Peretti, to accept a $650 million buyout deal from Disney.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Buzzfeed news to shut down</strong></p>

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<p>In an excerpt shared with Vanity Fair from his upcoming book <em>Traffic</em>, Smith says that in the early 2010s, Disney was searching for a way to break into the&nbsp;media landscape with social media engagement as a defining Unique Selling Point (USP).&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the same time, BuzzFeed emerged as the heralding-in-chief of digital media, with up to 130 million unique visitors a month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-next-in-line-for-layoffs-to-cut-7000-jobs-in-cost-saving-efforts-560164">Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts</a></strong></p>

<p>Smith writes how BuzzFeed founder Peretti began negotiations with Disney. Peretti listed what he would want for the deal to go through, which included an asking price of $600 million.</p>

<p>A meeting between top Disney and BuzzFeed executives took place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BuzzFeed president pushed his company's founder to take the buyout deal.</p>

<p>In a classic 'Godfather' way, Disney came up with an offer they thought BuzzFeed would not refuse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Disney’s official offer came through later, Smith writes, to buy the business for $450 million with the potential for an additional $200 million.</p>

<p>"It became clear that this was an offer that Peretti, almost, couldn’t refuse," Smith writes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>BuzzFeed-Disney unsuccessful buyout deal: So what went wrong?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Ben Smith, Peretti was invited to speak at Disney's management retreat in front of 250 members of the staff. After the event, the BuzzFeed founder was supposed to meet Disney CEO Ben Iger privately.</p>

<p>Smith writes that "Iger had staged Peretti’s speech in a marquee slot to welcome him to the [Disney] family," and the internet entrepreneur "delivered one of his standard, edgy monologues."</p>

<p>The speech, Smith writes, did not go down very well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An HR executive for Disney observed that BuzzFeed founder's comments about Mormons and Jews made him a "problem," according to Smith.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Peretti had never gotten fewer laughs in his life," Smith wrote.</p>

<p>Peretti came off-stage and told Iger he couldn’t take the deal, Smith writes.</p>

<p>According to Smith, the BuzzFeed president was convinced that his news outlet would taste Facebook-like success. The Disney CEO thought otherwise.</p>

<p>The Disney CEO Ben Iger reportedly told an aide: "F**k him, he loses. That company will never be worth what it would have been worth with us."</p>

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BuzzFeed News, the digital news website that took the internet by storm right at the cusp of social media's revolutionary turn in the 2010s, will soon shutter itself down.

BuzzFeed News, the digital news website that took the internet by storm right at the cusp of social media's revolutionary turn in the 2010s, will soon shutter itself down. But once upon a time, BuzzFeed let go of a half-a-billion-dollar buyout offer and kept on riding the digital media wave until it finally drowned under the weight of its own success in April 2023. BuzzFeed-Disney unsuccessful buyout deal: What happened? According to former BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, about a decade ago, BuzzFeed President Jon Steinberg reportedly got on his knees to beg its founder, Jonah Peretti, to accept a $650 million buyout deal from Disney. ALSO WATCH | Buzzfeed news to shut down × In an excerpt shared with Vanity Fair from his upcoming book Traffic, Smith says that in the early 2010s, Disney was searching for a way to break into the media landscape with social media engagement as a defining Unique Selling Point (USP). At the same time, BuzzFeed emerged as the heralding-in-chief of digital media, with up to 130 million unique visitors a month. ALSO READ | Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts Smith writes how BuzzFeed founder Peretti began negotiations with Disney. Peretti listed what he would want for the deal to go through, which included an asking price of $600 million. A meeting between top Disney and BuzzFeed executives took place. The BuzzFeed president pushed his company's founder to take the buyout deal. In a classic 'Godfather' way, Disney came up with an offer they thought BuzzFeed would not refuse. Disney’s official offer came through later, Smith writes, to buy the business for $450 million with the potential for an additional $200 million. "It became clear that this was an offer that Peretti, almost, couldn’t refuse," Smith writes. BuzzFeed-Disney unsuccessful buyout deal: So what went wrong? According to Ben Smith, Peretti was invited to speak at Disney's management retreat in front of 250 members of the staff. After the event, the BuzzFeed founder was supposed to meet Disney CEO Ben Iger privately. Smith writes that "Iger had staged Peretti’s speech in a marquee slot to welcome him to the [Disney] family," and the internet entrepreneur "delivered one of his standard, edgy monologues." The speech, Smith writes, did not go down very well. An HR executive for Disney observed that BuzzFeed founder's comments about Mormons and Jews made him a "problem," according to Smith. "Peretti had never gotten fewer laughs in his life," Smith wrote. Peretti came off-stage and told Iger he couldn’t take the deal, Smith writes. According to Smith, the BuzzFeed president was convinced that his news outlet would taste Facebook-like success. The Disney CEO thought otherwise. The Disney CEO Ben Iger reportedly told an aide: "F**k him, he loses. That company will never be worth what it would have been worth with us." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How BuzzFeed missed Disney's whopping $650 million buyout deal

<p>The Biden administration in the United States is considering pulling off a Donald Trump move on illegal immigration. The Biden administration is considering sending 1,500 troops to the southern borders in the immediate future, Fox News reported citing sources. The move is in consideration amid concerns that tens of thousands of migrants may travel within the US borders once Title 42 is lifted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Title 42 refers to the Covid-related restrictions under which the US authorities send away hundreds of thousands of migrants, including families, back to Mexico citing the contagious nature of COVID-19.</p>

<p>Earlier, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had warned the migrants that illegal entry into the United States "will result in removal."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/americas-immigration-system-is-broken-beyond-repair-554287">America’s immigration system is broken beyond repair</a></strong></p>

<p>The US has rolled out the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) One smartphone application. By using the CBP One app, migrants can schedule appointments at the designated points of entry where the asylum claims can be processed.</p>

<p><b>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | Massive hike in U.S. Visa fees expected</b></p>

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<p>People who are not deported are placed into immigration removal proceedings and released into the US pending their hearings. These hearings can take years. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows deportations have plummeted under President Biden, Fox News reported.</p>

<h2><strong>But not all migrants are sent away</strong></h2>

<p>According to the US Customs and Border Protection, only about 46 per cent of migrant encounters at the border resulted in a Title 42 expulsion. Last month, the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the Senate in Washington D.C. that of nearly 1.3 million migrant entries in the Finance Year 2022, only about 360,000 were deported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was not revealed how many of the aforementioned 1.3 million migrant entries were illegal.</p>

<p>The United States, under former President Donald Trump's administration, in November 2018, had sent more than 5,000 active-duty troops at the southern borders. It was deemed a show of force against the caravans of Central American migrants that Trump had characterised as an "invasion" of the United States.</p>

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The Biden administration in the United States is considering pulling off a Donald Trump move on illegal immigration. The Biden administration is considering sending 1,500 troops to the southern borders in the immediate future, Fox News reported citing sources.

The Biden administration in the United States is considering pulling off a Donald Trump move on illegal immigration. The Biden administration is considering sending 1,500 troops to the southern borders in the immediate future, Fox News reported citing sources. The move is in consideration amid concerns that tens of thousands of migrants may travel within the US borders once Title 42 is lifted. Title 42 refers to the Covid-related restrictions under which the US authorities send away hundreds of thousands of migrants, including families, back to Mexico citing the contagious nature of COVID-19. Earlier, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had warned the migrants that illegal entry into the United States "will result in removal." ALSO READ | America’s immigration system is broken beyond repair The US has rolled out the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) One smartphone application. By using the CBP One app, migrants can schedule appointments at the designated points of entry where the asylum claims can be processed. ALSO WATCH | WION Fineprint | Massive hike in U.S. Visa fees expected × People who are not deported are placed into immigration removal proceedings and released into the US pending their hearings. These hearings can take years. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows deportations have plummeted under President Biden, Fox News reported. But not all migrants are sent away According to the US Customs and Border Protection, only about 46 per cent of migrant encounters at the border resulted in a Title 42 expulsion. Last month, the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the Senate in Washington D.C. that of nearly 1.3 million migrant entries in the Finance Year 2022, only about 360,000 were deported. It was not revealed how many of the aforementioned 1.3 million migrant entries were illegal. The United States, under former President Donald Trump's administration, in November 2018, had sent more than 5,000 active-duty troops at the southern borders. It was deemed a show of force against the caravans of Central American migrants that Trump had characterised as an "invasion" of the United States. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Joe Biden to pull off a Donald Trump? US may soon send armed troops to Mexico border

<p>India's Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan continues to be the highlight of New Delhi's effective cross-country evacuation flair. The Indian Air Force on Monday said that it has evacuated almost 1,400 Indians over the past few days.</p>

<p>The Indian Air Force wrote in a tweet, "With almost 1400 Indians evacuated in IAF aircraft over the past few days, two C-130 J aircraft have evacuated 260 personnel including elders who were above 90 years of age &amp; one above 102 years of age."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a> Update.<br />
<br />
With almost 1400 Indians evacuated in IAF aircraft over the past few days, two C-130 J aircraft have evacuated 260 personnel including elders who were above 90 years of age &amp; one above 102 years of age.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarKaamDeshKeNaam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarKaamDeshKeNaam</a> <a href="https://t.co/Chuo1DBCtu">pic.twitter.com/Chuo1DBCtu</a></p>
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<p>On Monday, a total of 186 Indians from Sudan arrived in southern India's Kochi city in Kerala state.</p>

<p>"OperationKaveri continues to bring Indians back home. Flight carrying 186 passengers touches down in Kochi," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Monday.</p>

<p>Earlier on Sunday, India's Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said that nearly 2,300 evacuee Indians have reached India.</p>

<p>"A C-130 Indian Air Force flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2,300 people have reached India," Jaishankar tweeted.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-whats-happening-in-sudan-what-caused-the-clashes-583043">Explained: What's happening in Sudan? What caused the army-paramilitary clashes?</a></strong></p>

<p>The Indian government is working to evacuate nearly 3,000 Indians from conflict-ridden Sudan, of which so far more than 2,500 have been successfully moved out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, three more flights carried 229, 288 and 135 Indian citizens from Sudan.</p>

<h2><strong>Sudan conflict: What is happening?</strong></h2>

<p>Sudan's army and its paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) are battling out intense armed combat across the Sub-Saharan nation.</p>

<p>The two sides were jointly running the country since October 2021 after deposing President Omar al-Bashir. The two banded together a Sovereign Council, led by Army Chief General Abdel al-Burgan and co-led by the RSF Chief General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Nations rush high-risk Sudan evacuation, evacuees narrate their ordeal | WION Fineprint</strong></p>

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<p>The RSF led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), and army soldiers loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan engaged in combat for the first time on April 15, 2023. The conflict between the two sides continues to rage ever since with both sides accusing each other of not honouring the ceasefire they agreed upon three times since April 15.</p>

<p>On Monday, the people of Sudan braced for more bloodshed after rival military forces accused each other of fresh violations of a ceasefire on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both sides said a formal ceasefire agreement which was due to expire at midnight would be extended for a further 72 hours, in a move the RSF said was "in response to international, regional and local calls".</p>

<p>Reports of prison breaks amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, neither side has gained control of the capital Khartoum.</p>

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India's Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan continues to be the highlight of New Delhi's effective cross-country evacuation flair.

India's Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan continues to be the highlight of New Delhi's effective cross-country evacuation flair. The Indian Air Force on Monday said that it has evacuated almost 1,400 Indians over the past few days. The Indian Air Force wrote in a tweet, "With almost 1400 Indians evacuated in IAF aircraft over the past few days, two C-130 J aircraft have evacuated 260 personnel including elders who were above 90 years of age & one above 102 years of age." #OperationKaveri Update. With almost 1400 Indians evacuated in IAF aircraft over the past few days, two C-130 J aircraft have evacuated 260 personnel including elders who were above 90 years of age & one above 102 years of age.#HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/Chuo1DBCtu — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 1, 2023 × On Monday, a total of 186 Indians from Sudan arrived in southern India's Kochi city in Kerala state. "OperationKaveri continues to bring Indians back home. Flight carrying 186 passengers touches down in Kochi," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, India's Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said that nearly 2,300 evacuee Indians have reached India. "A C-130 Indian Air Force flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2,300 people have reached India," Jaishankar tweeted. ALSO READ | Explained: What's happening in Sudan? What caused the army-paramilitary clashes? The Indian government is working to evacuate nearly 3,000 Indians from conflict-ridden Sudan, of which so far more than 2,500 have been successfully moved out. On Monday, three more flights carried 229, 288 and 135 Indian citizens from Sudan. Sudan conflict: What is happening? Sudan's army and its paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) are battling out intense armed combat across the Sub-Saharan nation. The two sides were jointly running the country since October 2021 after deposing President Omar al-Bashir. The two banded together a Sovereign Council, led by Army Chief General Abdel al-Burgan and co-led by the RSF Chief General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. ALSO WATCH | Nations rush high-risk Sudan evacuation, evacuees narrate their ordeal | WION Fineprint × The RSF led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), and army soldiers loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan engaged in combat for the first time on April 15, 2023. The conflict between the two sides continues to rage ever since with both sides accusing each other of not honouring the ceasefire they agreed upon three times since April 15. On Monday, the people of Sudan braced for more bloodshed after rival military forces accused each other of fresh violations of a ceasefire on Sunday. Both sides said a formal ceasefire agreement which was due to expire at midnight would be extended for a further 72 hours, in a move the RSF said was "in response to international, regional and local calls". Reports of prison breaks amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement. So far, neither side has gained control of the capital Khartoum. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Operation Kaveri: Indian Air Force evacuates 1,400, including senior citizen aged 102 from Sudan

<p>HSBC gained $1.5bn boost (₹1226.16 Crore) from the purchase of the UK business of collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB UK), the London-headquartered banking giant, Europe's biggest, said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>HSBC Bank posted a pre-tax profit of $12.9bn for the first quarter of 2023, that is, for the&nbsp;three months to the end of March. This pre-tax profit is over three times the amount it made during the same time last year.&nbsp;The profit included a "provisional gain of $1.5bn on the acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited," the bank said.</p>

<p>In March 2023, the HSBC bought SVB UK for a nominal £1 ($1.25) price, in a deal led by the government and the Bank of England.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/first-republic-bank-nearing-collapse-shares-tank-amid-dim-hopes-of-survival-587131">First Republic Bank nears collapse as US regulator prepares for takeover</a></strong></p>

<p>"We remain focused on continuing to improve our performance and maintaining tight cost discipline, but we also saw an opportunity to invest in SVB UK to accelerate our growth plans," group chief executive Noel Quinn said.</p>

<p>The bank also reportedly got a boost after it scrapped its plan to write-off $2.1billion due to the sale of its French business. This is because it is now widely held that the&nbsp;deal may no longer be completed.</p>

<h2><strong>HSBC's proposed sell-off in Canada</strong></h2>

<p>The London-headquartered HSBC Bank&nbsp;announced its first quarterly payout to shareholders for the first time&nbsp;since 2019. The bank&nbsp;said that it would buy back $2bn of its shares.</p>

<p>The bank also said the completion of the sale of its business in Canada is likely to be delayed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: World Bank fears a global recession in 2023</strong></p>

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<p>The proposed deal is part of bank's strategy to move away from the Western markets, which have been&nbsp; facing a period of slow growth.</p>

<p>The planned $10 billion sale, which was originally expected to be completed by the end of this year, is now likely to go through early next year.</p>

<h2><strong>HSBC's period of growth amid&nbsp;banking crisis in the United States</strong></h2>

<p>HSBC's strong performance comes amid the rapidly growing number of failed banks in the United States and parts of Europe. The&nbsp;global banking sector was thrown off the grid in March&nbsp;by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and the&nbsp;buyout of Credit Suisse.</p>

<p>On Monday, US regulators seized First Republic Bank and sold its assets to Wall Street giant JPMorgan Chase.</p>

<p>HSBC is run from its headquarters in London. The bank makes the majority of its profits in Asia with Chinese insurance giant Ping An being&nbsp;its biggest shareholder.&nbsp;</p>

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HSBC gained $1.5bn boost (₹1226.16 Crore) from the purchase of the UK business of collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB UK), the London-headquartered banking giant, Europe's biggest, said on Tuesday.

HSBC gained $1.5bn boost (₹1226.16 Crore) from the purchase of the UK business of collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB UK), the London-headquartered banking giant, Europe's biggest, said on Tuesday. HSBC Bank posted a pre-tax profit of $12.9bn for the first quarter of 2023, that is, for the three months to the end of March. This pre-tax profit is over three times the amount it made during the same time last year. The profit included a "provisional gain of $1.5bn on the acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited," the bank said. In March 2023, the HSBC bought SVB UK for a nominal £1 ($1.25) price, in a deal led by the government and the Bank of England. ALSO READ | First Republic Bank nears collapse as US regulator prepares for takeover "We remain focused on continuing to improve our performance and maintaining tight cost discipline, but we also saw an opportunity to invest in SVB UK to accelerate our growth plans," group chief executive Noel Quinn said. The bank also reportedly got a boost after it scrapped its plan to write-off $2.1billion due to the sale of its French business. This is because it is now widely held that the deal may no longer be completed. HSBC's proposed sell-off in Canada The London-headquartered HSBC Bank announced its first quarterly payout to shareholders for the first time since 2019. The bank said that it would buy back $2bn of its shares. The bank also said the completion of the sale of its business in Canada is likely to be delayed. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: World Bank fears a global recession in 2023 × The proposed deal is part of bank's strategy to move away from the Western markets, which have been facing a period of slow growth. The planned $10 billion sale, which was originally expected to be completed by the end of this year, is now likely to go through early next year. HSBC's period of growth amid banking crisis in the United States HSBC's strong performance comes amid the rapidly growing number of failed banks in the United States and parts of Europe. The global banking sector was thrown off the grid in March by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and the buyout of Credit Suisse. On Monday, US regulators seized First Republic Bank and sold its assets to Wall Street giant JPMorgan Chase. HSBC is run from its headquarters in London. The bank makes the majority of its profits in Asia with Chinese insurance giant Ping An being its biggest shareholder. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

HSBC strikes over a billion dollars in profit from Silicon Valley Bank's collapse

<p>China under Xi Jinping has been preventing millions of people from leaving the country, according to a new report by Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders. Speaking to WION after the release of the report, the NGO said the so-called exit bans are preventing Tibetans from getting passports to visit the Dalai Lama in India.</p>

<p>The exit bans are often deployed to target persecuted ethnic minorities such as Uyghur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists, the Safeguard Defenders report suggests.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-china-targets-dissidents-in-53-countries-with-its-overseas-police-stations-583846">Explained | How China targets dissidents in 53 countries with its overseas 'police stations'</a></strong></p>

<p>"Acquiring a passport if you are Tibetan or Uyghur is almost impossible and has been difficult for many years," Dinah Gardner, Research Director at the Taiwan Office of Safeguard Defenders told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The passport control on Tibetans</strong></h2>

<p>"From at least since 2012, China has actively tried to prevent Tibetans inside China from visiting the Dalai Lama in India," Gardner told WION.</p>

<p>"Tibetans who follow the Dalai Lama are seen as a risk to the Chinese Communist Party's monopoly on power," Gardner added while referring to Beijing's territorial assertion about Tibet being part of China.</p>

<p>For centuries, Tibet was India’s actual neighbour, as India’s contested boundaries with China along the 3500 km Line of Actual Control is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states. Four years after China completed the territorial takeover of Tibet, in 1954, New Delhi signed an agreement with Peking (now Beijing), agreeing to recognise Tibet as "Tibet region of China".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;China has over 100 secret police stations in 53 countries | Explained</strong></p>

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<p>In 1959, following the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many of his followers fled to India.</p>

<p>A Tibetan government in-exile functions from Dharamsala in India's Himachal Pradesh state.</p>

<h2><strong>What the Safeguard Defenders report says on exit bans</strong></h2>

<p>The exit bans are usually enforced by Beijing "through passport denial and confiscation," Gardner said while referring to Beijing's deployment of ethnicity-based controls.</p>

<p>The group estimates that "tens of thousands" of Chinese are banned from exit at any one time. It also cites a 2022 academic paper by Chris Carr and Jack Wroldsen that found 128 cases of foreigners being exit-banned between 1995 and 2019, including 29 Americans and 44 Canadians.</p>

<p>The report cites estimates by human rights groups that said that at least 14 million people were affected by exit bans in China in 2015.</p>

<h2><strong>How China prevents ethnic groups from exiting the country</strong></h2>

<p>China has a two-track system for issuing passport since 2002.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fast-track system for issuing passports is predominantly deployed in the Han-majority areas and is tasked with handling passport applications and renewals within 15 days of application.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the so-called autonomous regions, such as Buddhist-populated Tibet and Uyghur-populated Xinjiang, a much-slower system that involves at least seven levels of gatekeeping is deployed for issuing passports.</p>

<p>"In this much more cumbersome system, passport applications could take years, that is if they are approved at all," Safeguard Defenders report said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why does China prevent Tibetans, Uyghurs from leaving the country?</strong></h2>

<p>The Safeguard Defenders report said that the discriminatory policy was partly designed to prevent travel for religious reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"For example, stopping Tibetan Buddhists from attending teachings of the Dalai Lama in India and Muslims, such as Uyghurs and Hui, from making pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia," the report said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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China under Xi Jinping has been preventing millions of people from leaving the country, according to a new report by Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders.

China under Xi Jinping has been preventing millions of people from leaving the country, according to a new report by Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders. Speaking to WION after the release of the report, the NGO said the so-called exit bans are preventing Tibetans from getting passports to visit the Dalai Lama in India. The exit bans are often deployed to target persecuted ethnic minorities such as Uyghur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists, the Safeguard Defenders report suggests. ALSO READ | Explained | How China targets dissidents in 53 countries with its overseas 'police stations' "Acquiring a passport if you are Tibetan or Uyghur is almost impossible and has been difficult for many years," Dinah Gardner, Research Director at the Taiwan Office of Safeguard Defenders told WION. The passport control on Tibetans "From at least since 2012, China has actively tried to prevent Tibetans inside China from visiting the Dalai Lama in India," Gardner told WION. "Tibetans who follow the Dalai Lama are seen as a risk to the Chinese Communist Party's monopoly on power," Gardner added while referring to Beijing's territorial assertion about Tibet being part of China. For centuries, Tibet was India’s actual neighbour, as India’s contested boundaries with China along the 3500 km Line of Actual Control is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states. Four years after China completed the territorial takeover of Tibet, in 1954, New Delhi signed an agreement with Peking (now Beijing), agreeing to recognise Tibet as "Tibet region of China". ALSO WATCH | China has over 100 secret police stations in 53 countries | Explained × In 1959, following the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many of his followers fled to India. A Tibetan government in-exile functions from Dharamsala in India's Himachal Pradesh state. What the Safeguard Defenders report says on exit bans The exit bans are usually enforced by Beijing "through passport denial and confiscation," Gardner said while referring to Beijing's deployment of ethnicity-based controls. The group estimates that "tens of thousands" of Chinese are banned from exit at any one time. It also cites a 2022 academic paper by Chris Carr and Jack Wroldsen that found 128 cases of foreigners being exit-banned between 1995 and 2019, including 29 Americans and 44 Canadians. The report cites estimates by human rights groups that said that at least 14 million people were affected by exit bans in China in 2015. How China prevents ethnic groups from exiting the country China has a two-track system for issuing passport since 2002. The fast-track system for issuing passports is predominantly deployed in the Han-majority areas and is tasked with handling passport applications and renewals within 15 days of application. In the so-called autonomous regions, such as Buddhist-populated Tibet and Uyghur-populated Xinjiang, a much-slower system that involves at least seven levels of gatekeeping is deployed for issuing passports. "In this much more cumbersome system, passport applications could take years, that is if they are approved at all," Safeguard Defenders report said. Why does China prevent Tibetans, Uyghurs from leaving the country? The Safeguard Defenders report said that the discriminatory policy was partly designed to prevent travel for religious reasons. "For example, stopping Tibetan Buddhists from attending teachings of the Dalai Lama in India and Muslims, such as Uyghurs and Hui, from making pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia," the report said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Exclusive: China's exit bans prevent Tibetans from visiting Dalai Lama in India - Safeguard Defenders to WION

<p>India's telecom regulator implemented the new rules to tackle the issue of unwanted spam calls and messages in over a billion phone handsets across the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has brought in new regulations for telecom operators, which were implemented starting May 1, 2023.</p>

<h2><strong>India's new rules against spam calls and messages: What are they?</strong></h2>

<p>Under the new regulations, all telecom operations across India will deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) spam filters in their call and message services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has instructed telecom companies to stop the transmission of promotional calls to mobile numbers with ten digits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, the telecom regulatory body has asked the telecom operators to integrate a Call ID function which will show the caller's identity and image on the mobile phone display, following which the customers will be able to decipher the caller.</p>

<h2><strong>India's new rules against spam calls and messages: What they mean?</strong></h2>

<p>These Artificial Intelligence (AI) filters are meant to restrict the incessant flow of spam calls and messages that millions of handset owners in India receive for the lack of regulatory rules on it.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-pressing-mobile-manufacturers-to-release-5g-updates-524464">Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates</a></strong></p>

<p>With these Artificial Intelligence (AI) filters in place, the handset will detect and prevent fraudulent communications from a number of sources.</p>

<p>The telecom operators were reportedly hesitant to implement AI filters. This was because of the privacy issues that kept the regulatory mechanism on the sidelines.</p>

<h2><strong>Which telecom operators have announced the implementation of new rules?</strong></h2>

<p>Bharti Airtel announced the implementation of AI filters into its services. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio is said to be working on deploying the filters and is expected to roll out the services in the immediate future.</p>

<p>Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are India's top two telecom operators.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India@75: Story of India’s telecom revolution</strong></p>

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<p>The communication from Vodafone Idea (VI), and MTNL on the implementation of new telecom regulatory rules is yet to come.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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India's telecom regulator implemented the new rules to tackle the issue of unwanted spam calls and messages in over a billion phone handsets across the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has brought in new regulations for telecom operators, which were implemented starting May 1, 2023.

India's telecom regulator implemented the new rules to tackle the issue of unwanted spam calls and messages in over a billion phone handsets across the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has brought in new regulations for telecom operators, which were implemented starting May 1, 2023. India's new rules against spam calls and messages: What are they? Under the new regulations, all telecom operations across India will deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) spam filters in their call and message services. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has instructed telecom companies to stop the transmission of promotional calls to mobile numbers with ten digits. Furthermore, the telecom regulatory body has asked the telecom operators to integrate a Call ID function which will show the caller's identity and image on the mobile phone display, following which the customers will be able to decipher the caller. India's new rules against spam calls and messages: What they mean? These Artificial Intelligence (AI) filters are meant to restrict the incessant flow of spam calls and messages that millions of handset owners in India receive for the lack of regulatory rules on it. ALSO READ | Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates With these Artificial Intelligence (AI) filters in place, the handset will detect and prevent fraudulent communications from a number of sources. The telecom operators were reportedly hesitant to implement AI filters. This was because of the privacy issues that kept the regulatory mechanism on the sidelines. Which telecom operators have announced the implementation of new rules? Bharti Airtel announced the implementation of AI filters into its services. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio is said to be working on deploying the filters and is expected to roll out the services in the immediate future. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are India's top two telecom operators. ALSO WATCH | India@75: Story of India’s telecom revolution × The communication from Vodafone Idea (VI), and MTNL on the implementation of new telecom regulatory rules is yet to come. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India's telecom operators to deploy AI to fight spam calls and messages

<p>The Indian Supreme Court in New Delhi held that it could grant divorce on the grounds of "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage by invoking its special powers under Article 32 of Indian constitution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Article 32 of Indian constitution deals with "remedies for enforcement of rights."</p>

<p>A constitution bench of Supreme Court, which is meant to assess case[s] involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution, gave the landmark judgement on Monday. The Constitution Bench comprised of Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, AS Oka, Vikram Nath, and JK Maheshwari.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/man-forced-to-separate-from-parents-by-wife-amounts-to-mental-cruelty-is-grounds-for-divorce-indian-court-581280">Forcing husband to leave parents is mental cruelty, ground for divorce: Indian court</a></strong></p>

<p>The bench concluded that such an exercise of power "will not contravene the principles of public policy."</p>

<p>The Indian top court also held that it reserves the right to waive the six-month waiting period, the period after which a couple seeking divorce by mutual consent can currently approach the court to proceed towards legal cessation of marriage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The landmark legal development comes after a two-judge Supreme Court bench in New Delhi held that irretrievable breakdown of a marriage can be read as amounting to cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. This, the court had held, can be a ground for divorce.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;</strong><strong>Nobody to blame! What is the new no-fault divorce?</strong></p>

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<p>The court held that "a marriage, which has broken down irretrievably, in our opinion, spells cruelty to both the parties, as in such a relationship, each party is treating the other with cruelty. It is therefore a ground for dissolution of marriage under Section 13 (1) (a) of the Act."</p>

<p>It said that though "irretrievable breakdown of a marriage may not be a ground for dissolution of marriage, under the Hindu Marriage Act, but cruelty is".</p>

<p>"A marriage can be dissolved by a decree of divorce, inter alia, on the ground when the other party has, after the solemnisation of the marriage, treated the petitioner with cruelty. In our considered opinion, a marital relationship, which has only become more bitter and acrimonious over the years, does nothing but inflicts cruelty on both the sides. To keep the façade of this broken marriage alive would be doing injustice to both the parties," the Supreme Court said in its April 27 ruling.</p>

<p>India is considered to have the lowest divorce rate globally, estimated to be around 1.1 per cent.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The Indian Supreme Court in New Delhi held that it could grant divorce on the grounds of "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage by invoking its special powers under Article 32 of Indian constitution.

The Indian Supreme Court in New Delhi held that it could grant divorce on the grounds of "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage by invoking its special powers under Article 32 of Indian constitution. Article 32 of Indian constitution deals with "remedies for enforcement of rights." A constitution bench of Supreme Court, which is meant to assess case[s] involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution, gave the landmark judgement on Monday. The Constitution Bench comprised of Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, AS Oka, Vikram Nath, and JK Maheshwari. ALSO READ | Forcing husband to leave parents is mental cruelty, ground for divorce: Indian court The bench concluded that such an exercise of power "will not contravene the principles of public policy." The Indian top court also held that it reserves the right to waive the six-month waiting period, the period after which a couple seeking divorce by mutual consent can currently approach the court to proceed towards legal cessation of marriage. The landmark legal development comes after a two-judge Supreme Court bench in New Delhi held that irretrievable breakdown of a marriage can be read as amounting to cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. This, the court had held, can be a ground for divorce. ALSO WATCH | Nobody to blame! What is the new no-fault divorce? × The court held that "a marriage, which has broken down irretrievably, in our opinion, spells cruelty to both the parties, as in such a relationship, each party is treating the other with cruelty. It is therefore a ground for dissolution of marriage under Section 13 (1) (a) of the Act." It said that though "irretrievable breakdown of a marriage may not be a ground for dissolution of marriage, under the Hindu Marriage Act, but cruelty is". "A marriage can be dissolved by a decree of divorce, inter alia, on the ground when the other party has, after the solemnisation of the marriage, treated the petitioner with cruelty. In our considered opinion, a marital relationship, which has only become more bitter and acrimonious over the years, does nothing but inflicts cruelty on both the sides. To keep the façade of this broken marriage alive would be doing injustice to both the parties," the Supreme Court said in its April 27 ruling. India is considered to have the lowest divorce rate globally, estimated to be around 1.1 per cent. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian top court's landmark divorce judgement spotlights marriage's 'irretrievable breakdown'

<p>Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world.</p>

<p>In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium.</p>

<p><img alt="Sakshi Malik" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8efcfffc-e7e8-4363-8537-bf49ef2ff2df" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2866%29.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter</em></p>

<p>This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation.</p>

<p><img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93494279-d08c-417c-bbb0-e9542e8f3b70" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2867%29_2.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI</em></p>

<p>Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week.</p>

<h2><strong>Khartoum, Sudan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Sudan conflict" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aae3f924-6521-4c96-800c-6211a05503d6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2859%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP</em></p>

<p>The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Washington D.C., United States of America</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-Yeol" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ee30318-7408-46aa-bbe2-33d4157851e1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2860%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden</em></p>

<p>US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States.</p>

<p>Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty.</p>

<p>Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.'</p>

<p>South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-i-had-no-damn-idea-you-could-biden-stunned-as-s-korean-prez-sings-american-pie-at-white-house-586628">rendition</a> of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Asunción, Paraguay</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Paraguay Elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b7df2c0-3bcb-4931-bcc5-a8d8b1971c38" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2861%29_1.png" /></p>

<p><em>A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP</em></p>

<p>Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own.</p>

<p>Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing.</p>

<p>Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort."</p>

<h2><strong>Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Armenia-Azerbaijan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c42eb3f0-ff45-4b11-98bb-f0ffbdbadffa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2862%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP</em></p>

<p>French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations."</p>

<p>Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.</p>

<p>The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire.</p>

<h2><strong>Tokyo, Japan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="ispace mission" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b126a95-73b1-4d88-addd-5697eabf30b2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2863%29_1.png" /></p>

<p><em>Employees of 'ispace'&nbsp;bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters</em></p>

<p>World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket.</p>

<p>Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry.</p>

<h2><strong>New Delhi, India</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="697c0b6c-dd32-4c4b-88f9-c81d69bf595d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2865%29.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters</em></p>

<p>In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law.</p>

<p>Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation.</p>

<p>The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation.</p>

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Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium. Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation. Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week. Khartoum, Sudan An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement. So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum. Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far. Washington D.C., United States of America US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024. But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week. Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States. Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula. With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.' South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own rendition of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media. Asunción, Paraguay A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets. But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own. Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing. Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena. Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. "Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP. "Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort." Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations." Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire. Tokyo, Japan Employees of 'ispace' bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket. Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander. The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry. New Delhi, India Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years. After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place. The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks. While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law. Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation. The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The Capitals: Sudan's capital on boil, Washington's 'American Pie' for Seoul, and more

<p>Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max may come with a new "action button" that could allow users to activate personalised functions. With the "action button" on the upcoming Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, a user can reportedly activate functions like the camera, the torch or do not disturb, a number of leaks from within the production of yet-to-be-released iPhones have suggested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple is reportedly adding this new button to the side of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/the-true-cost-of-upgrading-your-phone-422619">The true cost of upgrading your phone</a></strong></p>

<p>The button will replace the mute switch that currently sits at the top of the iPhone’s side, The Independent reported.</p>

<h2><strong>Apple iPhone 15 developments: 'Action button' feature similar to one in Apple Watch Ultra</strong></h2>

<p>Apple rolled out a similar action button in its Apple Watch Ultra, late last year. With that, users can choose a specific function, such as starting a workout.</p>

<p>The new button will reportedly be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, according to 9to5Mac.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple has made efforts in the past to differentiate the Pro versions of the iPhone from their more affordable counterparts with distinct hardware and software features.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Tim Cook opens India's first retail Apple store in Mumbai</strong></p>

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<p>The upcoming iPhones’ buttons have been the subject of intense speculation. Various other reports have claimed that Apple could be moving towards "solid state" buttons for the volume clickers on the side of the phone.</p>

<p>A report in The Independent says that such solid state buttons do not press down, like the conventional ones. Instead, they use small vibrations sensors to give the feeling that they are.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple uses similar technology in the trackpads on its Macbooks.</p>

<p>It is not yet clear if the "solid state" buttons will be available in the iPhone 15. Due to technical issues reportedly encountered during the production of the upcoming iPhone, the release of this feature in iPhone 15 may have to wait for succession until the time of an iPhone 16 dawns for the world.&nbsp;</p>

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Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max may come with a new "action button" that could allow users to activate personalised functions. With the "action button" on the upcoming Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, a user can reportedly activate functions like the camera, the torch or do not disturb, a number of leaks from within the production of yet-to-be-released iPhones have suggested.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max may come with a new "action button" that could allow users to activate personalised functions. With the "action button" on the upcoming Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, a user can reportedly activate functions like the camera, the torch or do not disturb, a number of leaks from within the production of yet-to-be-released iPhones have suggested. Apple is reportedly adding this new button to the side of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. ALSO READ | The true cost of upgrading your phone The button will replace the mute switch that currently sits at the top of the iPhone’s side, The Independent reported. Apple iPhone 15 developments: 'Action button' feature similar to one in Apple Watch Ultra Apple rolled out a similar action button in its Apple Watch Ultra, late last year. With that, users can choose a specific function, such as starting a workout. The new button will reportedly be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, according to 9to5Mac. Apple has made efforts in the past to differentiate the Pro versions of the iPhone from their more affordable counterparts with distinct hardware and software features. ALSO WATCH | Tim Cook opens India's first retail Apple store in Mumbai × The upcoming iPhones’ buttons have been the subject of intense speculation. Various other reports have claimed that Apple could be moving towards "solid state" buttons for the volume clickers on the side of the phone. A report in The Independent says that such solid state buttons do not press down, like the conventional ones. Instead, they use small vibrations sensors to give the feeling that they are. Apple uses similar technology in the trackpads on its Macbooks. It is not yet clear if the "solid state" buttons will be available in the iPhone 15. Due to technical issues reportedly encountered during the production of the upcoming iPhone, the release of this feature in iPhone 15 may have to wait for succession until the time of an iPhone 16 dawns for the world. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple iPhone 15 may come with an 'action button', reports suggest

<p>A court in the Netherlands has ordered a man to stop donating his semen after a lawsuit accused him of fathering more than 550 children since 2007. The fertility scandal, which shocked the Netherlands and larger European region, came under spotlight after a foundation and a mother of one of the children filed a lawsuit in The Hague after suspecting incestual interlinks between the hundreds of children allegedly fathered by the man identified as Jonathan M.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court also flagged the "huge kinship network", helmed over by&nbsp;Jonathan, "with hundreds of half-siblings" in many countries.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-man-has-fathered-more-than-500-kids-he-is-being-sued-now-577424">This man has fathered more than 500 kids. He is being sued now</a></strong></p>

<p>The clinical guidelines in The Netherlands say a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 families. However, the judges found that the man had helped produce between 550 and 600 children since he began donating sperm in 2007.</p>

<p>The court has "prohibit[ed] the defendant from donating his semen to new prospective parents", judge Thera Hesselink said on Friday.</p>

<p>Jonathan M has also been ordered not to contact any prospective parents "with the wish that he was willing to donate semen... advertise his services to prospective parents or join any organisation that establishes contact between prospective parents," Hesselink said in a written judgment.</p>

<p>The court warned Jonathan that if he continues with donating his semen, he would face a fine of €100,000 [over ₹90 Crores], for each future donation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;WION Wideangle: The Custody Clash: Culture vs Country</strong></p>

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<p>The mother of one of the children said she was thankful to the court for stopping the man from "mass donations that have spread like wildfire to other countries."</p>

<p>"I'm asking the donor to respect our interests and to accept the verdict, because our children deserve to be left alone," she said in an official statement.</p>

<p>According to a report in The Guardian, over 100 children fathered by Jonathan M were born in The Netherlands. But a clinic also dispatched his semen to other private addresses in various countries.</p>

<p>"The donor deliberately misinformed prospective parents about the number of children he had already fathered in the past," the district court in The Hague reportedly said.</p>

<p>"All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose," it added.</p>

<p>The case is the latest among a host of fertility scandals to hit the Netherlands.</p>

<p>In 2020, a gynaecologist was accused of fathering at least 17 children with women who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A court in the Netherlands has ordered a man to stop donating his semen after a lawsuit accused him of fathering more than 550 children since 2007. The fertility scandal, which shocked the Netherlands and larger European region, came under spotlight after a foundation and a mother of one of the children filed a lawsuit in The Hague after suspecting incestual interlinks between the hundreds of children allegedly fathered by the man identified as Jonathan M.

A court in the Netherlands has ordered a man to stop donating his semen after a lawsuit accused him of fathering more than 550 children since 2007. The fertility scandal, which shocked the Netherlands and larger European region, came under spotlight after a foundation and a mother of one of the children filed a lawsuit in The Hague after suspecting incestual interlinks between the hundreds of children allegedly fathered by the man identified as Jonathan M. The court also flagged the "huge kinship network", helmed over by Jonathan, "with hundreds of half-siblings" in many countries. ALSO READ | This man has fathered more than 500 kids. He is being sued now The clinical guidelines in The Netherlands say a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 families. However, the judges found that the man had helped produce between 550 and 600 children since he began donating sperm in 2007. The court has "prohibit[ed] the defendant from donating his semen to new prospective parents", judge Thera Hesselink said on Friday. Jonathan M has also been ordered not to contact any prospective parents "with the wish that he was willing to donate semen... advertise his services to prospective parents or join any organisation that establishes contact between prospective parents," Hesselink said in a written judgment. The court warned Jonathan that if he continues with donating his semen, he would face a fine of €100,000 [over ₹90 Crores], for each future donation. ALSO WATCH | WION Wideangle: The Custody Clash: Culture vs Country × The mother of one of the children said she was thankful to the court for stopping the man from "mass donations that have spread like wildfire to other countries." "I'm asking the donor to respect our interests and to accept the verdict, because our children deserve to be left alone," she said in an official statement. According to a report in The Guardian, over 100 children fathered by Jonathan M were born in The Netherlands. But a clinic also dispatched his semen to other private addresses in various countries. "The donor deliberately misinformed prospective parents about the number of children he had already fathered in the past," the district court in The Hague reportedly said. "All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose," it added. The case is the latest among a host of fertility scandals to hit the Netherlands. In 2020, a gynaecologist was accused of fathering at least 17 children with women who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Man who fathered over 550 children globally ordered by Dutch court to stop

<p>Throat cancer cases in the West since the start of the twenty-first century have rapidly increased. The spike in throat cancer cases is significant enough that in the recent past, experts have called it "an epidemic".</p>

<p>The large rise in a type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils and back of the throat) has even alarmed medical experts. This type of cancer is majorly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. Individuals with multiple sexual partners, who also practice oral sex, remain at the risk of acquiring this type of throat cancer during their lifetime, according to professor Hisham Mehanna at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/historic-hpv-vaccine-lowers-cervical-cancer-rates-by-90-per-cent-says-uk-study-426638">'Historic': HPV vaccine lowers cervical cancer rates by 90 per cent, says UK study</a></strong></p>

<p>According to a 'case-control study of HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer' published in the New England Journal of Medicine, individuals with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice oral sex.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oropharyngeal cancer is now more common than cervical cancer in the United States and the United Kingdom.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Surge in sexually transmitted diseases in US</strong></p>

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<p>Professor Mehanna cited a study he and his colleagues at the University of Birmingham conducted. The study showed that oral sex is quite prevalent in some countries. In almost 1,000 people with non-cancer related tonsillectomy issues in the United Kingdom, 80 per cent of adults reported practicing oral sex at some point in their lives.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>HPV vaccination a preventive step</strong></h2>

<p>An article by professor Hisham Mehanna in The Conversation points out that HPV vaccination of young girls has been implemented in a number of countries to prevent cervical cancer. In the countries with up to 85 per cent vaccine coverage among girls, boy are protected by human papillomavirus (HPV) due to herd immunity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But still, internationally, the vaccination does not warrant individual protection in an age of hyperconnectivity where plenty of sexual contacts may occur where the either person comes from a country with low HPV vaccine coverage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in February 2023 announced plans to administer HPV vaccine to girls aged nine to 14 years in six states.</p>

<p>This first phase of the HPV vaccination campaign is expected to target 255 million girls in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh states respectively, Press Trust of India reported. India's health ministry plans to acquire 160.2 million doses of the vaccine by 2026 and is preparing to tender a global call for bids.</p>

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Throat cancer cases in the West since the start of the twenty-first century have rapidly increased. The spike in throat cancer cases is significant enough that in the recent past, experts have called it "an epidemic".

Throat cancer cases in the West since the start of the twenty-first century have rapidly increased. The spike in throat cancer cases is significant enough that in the recent past, experts have called it "an epidemic". The large rise in a type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils and back of the throat) has even alarmed medical experts. This type of cancer is majorly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. Individuals with multiple sexual partners, who also practice oral sex, remain at the risk of acquiring this type of throat cancer during their lifetime, according to professor Hisham Mehanna at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham. ALSO READ | 'Historic': HPV vaccine lowers cervical cancer rates by 90 per cent, says UK study According to a 'case-control study of HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer' published in the New England Journal of Medicine, individuals with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice oral sex. Oropharyngeal cancer is now more common than cervical cancer in the United States and the United Kingdom. ALSO WATCH | Surge in sexually transmitted diseases in US × Professor Mehanna cited a study he and his colleagues at the University of Birmingham conducted. The study showed that oral sex is quite prevalent in some countries. In almost 1,000 people with non-cancer related tonsillectomy issues in the United Kingdom, 80 per cent of adults reported practicing oral sex at some point in their lives. HPV vaccination a preventive step An article by professor Hisham Mehanna in The Conversation points out that HPV vaccination of young girls has been implemented in a number of countries to prevent cervical cancer. In the countries with up to 85 per cent vaccine coverage among girls, boy are protected by human papillomavirus (HPV) due to herd immunity. But still, internationally, the vaccination does not warrant individual protection in an age of hyperconnectivity where plenty of sexual contacts may occur where the either person comes from a country with low HPV vaccine coverage. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in February 2023 announced plans to administer HPV vaccine to girls aged nine to 14 years in six states. This first phase of the HPV vaccination campaign is expected to target 255 million girls in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh states respectively, Press Trust of India reported. India's health ministry plans to acquire 160.2 million doses of the vaccine by 2026 and is preparing to tender a global call for bids. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Oral sex emerges as major risk factor for throat cancer, claims study

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">First Republic Bank’s shares plunged nearly 40 per cent on Friday as the California-based bank closed on to yet another week of the loss of the financial heft it once bossed over.&nbsp;</span>After the latest plunge, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is preparing to place First Republic under receivership imminently, a person familiar with the matter was quoted as saying by Reuters&nbsp;on Friday.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">The US banking regulator has decided that the troubled regional lender's position has deteriorated and there is no more time to pursue a rescue through the private sector, a source cited by Reuters states.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">According to the people briefed on the matter, the First Republic Bank and its advisers were preparing to launch a private-sector solution amid the likelihood of the bank being taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC].&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">But the First Republic's proposal reportedly fell short of winning over both the private-sector US banks and the officials in Biden administration, Financial Times reported. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">The bank is now "engaged in discussions with multiple parties about [its] strategic options while continuing to serve [its] clients."<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">Will Biden administration take over the First Republic Bank?</span></strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">Earlier, reports said that the Biden administration was looking to avoid another FDIC takeover, weeks after it took over Silicon Valley Bank. This is because frequent takeovers of crisis-ridden banks may lead to a chain reaction of crises within the financial institutions with unhinged balance sheets.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">But the latest developments suggest otherwise. After Friday's fall at the Wall Street, the First Republic Bank may soon get taken over by the FDIC.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong></o:p><o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/first-republic-bank-to-cut-up-to-25-workforce-as-deposits-tumble-585828"><strong>First Republic Bank to cut up to 25% workforce as deposits tumble</strong></a></o:p><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">Some 11 of the largest US lenders have pumped about $30 billion into First Republic Bank in an effort to stabilise it. But the bank could not attain stability despite tens of billions pumped to revive its financial health.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">First Republic Bank crisis: How bad is the situation?</span></strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">The First Republic Bank’s shares have fallen 97 per cent this year. Earlier this week, on Monday, the bank revealed that it went through more than $100bn in deposit outflows in the first quarter of 2023.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;</strong></o:p><o:p><strong>First Republic Bank loses $100 billion in deposits</strong></o:p></span></p>

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<p>A report in the Financial Times said&nbsp;that the bank may face more hits to its prospects of profitability due to rising interest rates that have hammered the paper value of its mortgage book.</p>

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">First Republic Bank crisis: The options forward</span></strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">First Republic's&nbsp;takeover by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC] now appears to be imminent.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">The Financial Times reported that one proposal floated for the First Republic’s stabilisation was for a group of banks to buy some of First Republic’s older assets at prices above their market value. That would have cleared some of its losses while the buyers could hold assets to maturity while&nbsp;avoiding to take a hit themselves.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p>But the latest developments suggest that the window for implementation of such proposals has closed as the First Republic may soon get&nbsp;taken over by the&nbsp;</o:p></span>Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.<span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

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First Republic Bank’s shares plunged nearly 40 per cent on Friday as the California-based bank closed on to yet another week of the loss of the financial heft it once bossed over.

First Republic Bank’s shares plunged nearly 40 per cent on Friday as the California-based bank closed on to yet another week of the loss of the financial heft it once bossed over. After the latest plunge, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is preparing to place First Republic under receivership imminently, a person familiar with the matter was quoted as saying by Reuters on Friday. The US banking regulator has decided that the troubled regional lender's position has deteriorated and there is no more time to pursue a rescue through the private sector, a source cited by Reuters states. According to the people briefed on the matter, the First Republic Bank and its advisers were preparing to launch a private-sector solution amid the likelihood of the bank being taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC]. But the First Republic's proposal reportedly fell short of winning over both the private-sector US banks and the officials in Biden administration, Financial Times reported. The bank is now "engaged in discussions with multiple parties about [its] strategic options while continuing to serve [its] clients." Will Biden administration take over the First Republic Bank? Earlier, reports said that the Biden administration was looking to avoid another FDIC takeover, weeks after it took over Silicon Valley Bank. This is because frequent takeovers of crisis-ridden banks may lead to a chain reaction of crises within the financial institutions with unhinged balance sheets. But the latest developments suggest otherwise. After Friday's fall at the Wall Street, the First Republic Bank may soon get taken over by the FDIC. ALSO READ | First Republic Bank to cut up to 25% workforce as deposits tumble Some 11 of the largest US lenders have pumped about $30 billion into First Republic Bank in an effort to stabilise it. But the bank could not attain stability despite tens of billions pumped to revive its financial health. First Republic Bank crisis: How bad is the situation? The First Republic Bank’s shares have fallen 97 per cent this year. Earlier this week, on Monday, the bank revealed that it went through more than $100bn in deposit outflows in the first quarter of 2023. ALSO WATCH | First Republic Bank loses $100 billion in deposits × A report in the Financial Times said that the bank may face more hits to its prospects of profitability due to rising interest rates that have hammered the paper value of its mortgage book. First Republic Bank crisis: The options forward First Republic's takeover by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC] now appears to be imminent. The Financial Times reported that one proposal floated for the First Republic’s stabilisation was for a group of banks to buy some of First Republic’s older assets at prices above their market value. That would have cleared some of its losses while the buyers could hold assets to maturity while avoiding to take a hit themselves. But the latest developments suggest that the window for implementation of such proposals has closed as the First Republic may soon get taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

First Republic Bank nears collapse as US regulator prepares for takeover

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