<p>Pakistan was rocked by deadly twin explosions on Monday late evening, which claimed the lives of 17 people, including six cops, while 29 others are reportedly injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The blasts targeted an anti-terrorism police station at Kabal, Swat valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,&nbsp;about 228km north of Islamabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Imdad Khan, a Pakistani police official injured in the explosion&nbsp;told media that the explosions occurred at around 8:20pm (local time) inside the police station premises in Kabal which also housed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and a mosque.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The injured were taken to Saidu Hospital in Swat. Immediately after receiving the injured, reports in Pakistani media cited the hospital calling upon the locals to donate blood for the wounded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some local media reports claimed it was a&nbsp;suicide attack, but there's no official confirmation yet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Swat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Swat</a> Kabal blast in CTD police station.<br />
Swat again under attack 🥺💔 <a href="https://t.co/zoHG4NwwQO">pic.twitter.com/zoHG4NwwQO</a></p>
— Inam Azal Afridi (@Azalafridi10) <a href="https://twitter.com/Azalafridi10/status/1650534582133964802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pakistan's KPK Police say 3 killed, multiple injured in 'suicide attack' on Swat police station. District Police Officer Shafi Ullah Gandapur confirmed that as a result of the suspected suicide blast, the police station building had collapsed. <a href="https://t.co/bTWx68MYkb">https://t.co/bTWx68MYkb</a> <a href="https://t.co/hIydqMNy4B">pic.twitter.com/hIydqMNy4B</a></p>
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) <a href="https://twitter.com/ghulamabbasshah/status/1650539007858683908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Pakistan Swat Valley blasts: Reactions</strong></h2>

<p>There appeared to be a top-level lack of coordination as both the prime minister and interior minister separately sought reports from the concerned authorities about the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the lives lost, the South Asian nation's state broadcaster&nbsp;<em>Radio Pakistan</em>&nbsp;reported. Sharif prayed for those who died and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The prime minister also directed the authorities to provide the wounded with medical assistance and sought a report of the incident from the relevant authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident.</p>

<p>"We will never forget the sacrifices of the martyrs for the security of the country and the nation,"&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;The interior minister also sought a report on the incident.</p>

<p>The caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also condemned the blast and directed the relevant authorities to pace up relief operations,&nbsp;<em>Radio Pakistan&nbsp;</em>reported.</p>

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Pakistan was rocked by deadly twin explosions on Monday late evening, which claimed the lives of 17 people, including six cops, while 29 others are reportedly injured.

Pakistan was rocked by deadly twin explosions on Monday late evening, which claimed the lives of 17 people, including six cops, while 29 others are reportedly injured. The blasts targeted an anti-terrorism police station at Kabal, Swat valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 228km north of Islamabad. Imdad Khan, a Pakistani police official injured in the explosion told media that the explosions occurred at around 8:20pm (local time) inside the police station premises in Kabal which also housed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and a mosque. The injured were taken to Saidu Hospital in Swat. Immediately after receiving the injured, reports in Pakistani media cited the hospital calling upon the locals to donate blood for the wounded. Some local media reports claimed it was a suicide attack, but there's no official confirmation yet. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. #Swat Kabal blast in CTD police station. Swat again under attack 🥺💔 pic.twitter.com/zoHG4NwwQO — Inam Azal Afridi (@Azalafridi10) April 24, 2023 × Pakistan's KPK Police say 3 killed, multiple injured in 'suicide attack' on Swat police station. District Police Officer Shafi Ullah Gandapur confirmed that as a result of the suspected suicide blast, the police station building had collapsed. https://t.co/bTWx68MYkb pic.twitter.com/hIydqMNy4B — Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) April 24, 2023 × Pakistan Swat Valley blasts: Reactions There appeared to be a top-level lack of coordination as both the prime minister and interior minister separately sought reports from the concerned authorities about the incident. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the lives lost, the South Asian nation's state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. Sharif prayed for those who died and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. The prime minister also directed the authorities to provide the wounded with medical assistance and sought a report of the incident from the relevant authorities. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident. "We will never forget the sacrifices of the martyrs for the security of the country and the nation," he said. The interior minister also sought a report on the incident. The caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also condemned the blast and directed the relevant authorities to pace up relief operations, Radio Pakistan reported. 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.

Pakistan: Deadly explosions in Swat valley kill 17

<p>The two warring sides in Sudan, the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire from Tuesday, 10:00 PM GMT (Wednesday, 3:30 AM, IST), according to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.</p>

<p>Blinken said an agreement was reached between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after 48 hours of negotiations.</p>

<p>An impending observance of ceasefire by the two sides is expected to leave a window for the evacuation of foreign nationals stuck in the conflict-zone. But in the initial hours,&nbsp;a wider sense of skepticism has been expressed over the latest ceasefire announcement&nbsp;since two of the&nbsp;previously announced ceasefires were not respected by either side.</p>

<p>At least 400 people have been killed since fighting erupted on April 15.</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>UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned the clashes in Sudan may cause a "catastrophic conflagration" of violence that may amplify deep into Africa in the immediate future.</p>

<p>The RSF said they affirmed their "commitment to a complete ceasefire during the truce period". The army did not immediately comment on the development.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Sudan Conflict: Diplomats and foreign nationals evacuated</strong></p>

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<p>The locals and the foreigners living in the capital Khartoum have been told to stay indoors. The food and water supplies continue to run low as the continuous explosions from the conflict have hit key infrastructure such as water pipes.</p>

<p>A host of countries are struggling&nbsp;to evacuate their diplomats and civilians as fighting continues&nbsp;in the&nbsp;densely populated parts of the capital Khartoum.</p>

<p>Earlier on Monday, Blinken said that some convoys trying to move people out were faced with "robbery and looting".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Exclusive: Sudan Ambassador to India speaks to WION about the current situation in his country</strong></p>

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<p>The US, Blinken added, was looking at potentially resuming its diplomatic presence in Sudan. However, the conditions in the country are&nbsp;"very challenging".</p>

<p>Sudan is suffering an "internet blackout" with connectivity at 2 per cent&nbsp;of ordinary levels, monitoring group NetBlocks was quoted as saying by the BBC.</p>

<p>In Khartoum, the internet has been down since Sunday night.</p>

<p>So far, thousands of people, including the Sudanese citizens have fled the country since the onset of the conflict.</p>

<h2><strong>Sudan conflict</strong></h2>

<p>The Sudanese army and the RSF were jointly running the country since October 2021 after deposing President Omar al-Bashir.</p>

<p>They banded together a Sovereign Council, led by Army Chief General Abdel al-Burhan and co-led by RSF Chief General Mohamed Hamdan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Sudanese army proposed RSF's integration into itself within a timeline of two years, a move RSF wanted to delay for 10 years.</p>

<p>The army also supports the transfer of power to a civilian government, another point of contention between the two erstwhile Sovereign Council members.</p>

<p>The RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo claims to have seized most of the official sites in the capital Khartoum. So far, the RSF appears to be calling the diplomatic shots as one seen to be purportedly in control of Africa's third largest nation.</p>

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The two warring sides in Sudan, the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire from Tuesday, 10:00 PM GMT (Wednesday, 3:30 AM, IST), according to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The two warring sides in Sudan, the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire from Tuesday, 10:00 PM GMT (Wednesday, 3:30 AM, IST), according to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken said an agreement was reached between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after 48 hours of negotiations. An impending observance of ceasefire by the two sides is expected to leave a window for the evacuation of foreign nationals stuck in the conflict-zone. But in the initial hours, a wider sense of skepticism has been expressed over the latest ceasefire announcement since two of the previously announced ceasefires were not respected by either side. At least 400 people have been killed since fighting erupted on April 15. ALSO READ | Explained: What's happening in Sudan? What caused the army-paramilitary clashes? UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned the clashes in Sudan may cause a "catastrophic conflagration" of violence that may amplify deep into Africa in the immediate future. The RSF said they affirmed their "commitment to a complete ceasefire during the truce period". The army did not immediately comment on the development. ALSO WATCH | Sudan Conflict: Diplomats and foreign nationals evacuated × The locals and the foreigners living in the capital Khartoum have been told to stay indoors. The food and water supplies continue to run low as the continuous explosions from the conflict have hit key infrastructure such as water pipes. A host of countries are struggling to evacuate their diplomats and civilians as fighting continues in the densely populated parts of the capital Khartoum. Earlier on Monday, Blinken said that some convoys trying to move people out were faced with "robbery and looting". ALSO WATCH | Exclusive: Sudan Ambassador to India speaks to WION about the current situation in his country × The US, Blinken added, was looking at potentially resuming its diplomatic presence in Sudan. However, the conditions in the country are "very challenging". Sudan is suffering an "internet blackout" with connectivity at 2 per cent of ordinary levels, monitoring group NetBlocks was quoted as saying by the BBC. In Khartoum, the internet has been down since Sunday night. So far, thousands of people, including the Sudanese citizens have fled the country since the onset of the conflict. Sudan conflict The Sudanese army and the RSF were jointly running the country since October 2021 after deposing President Omar al-Bashir. They banded together a Sovereign Council, led by Army Chief General Abdel al-Burhan and co-led by RSF Chief General Mohamed Hamdan. The Sudanese army proposed RSF's integration into itself within a timeline of two years, a move RSF wanted to delay for 10 years. The army also supports the transfer of power to a civilian government, another point of contention between the two erstwhile Sovereign Council members. The RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo claims to have seized most of the official sites in the capital Khartoum. So far, the RSF appears to be calling the diplomatic shots as one seen to be purportedly in control of Africa's third largest nation. 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.

Sudan's warring factions agree to 72-hour ceasefire

<p>One person was killed in a shooting incident at Rose State College in Oklahoma's Midwest City on April 24. The college,&nbsp;located in a suburb of Oklahoma City, has about 13,000 students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are currently experiencing an active shooter situation on campus. Please shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement officials. The shooter is in custody and police are on scene," Rose College wrote in a tweet.</p>

<p>Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the shooting appeared to be "domestic-related" but did not provide additional details about the incident or the suspect's possible motive, <em>Associated Press</em> reported.</p>

<p>The Midwest City Police Department previously told CBS News that officers were responding to reports of an active shooter at the college.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later in the day, the college said it had ended a campus-wide lockdown and urged the community to avoid the area south of the Humanities and Administration Building. The school said all activities and classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day.</p>

<p>As the situation calmed, police identified the suspect as Brandon Morrissette, 30. Morrissette faces&nbsp;a first-degree murder charge.</p>

<p>Police said that the dead victim and Morrissette's wife, who is also a student at Rose State College, were walking out of a building when they were confronted by the gunman.</p>

<p>The victim, who police did not immediately identify, was pronounced dead on the scene. Police did not provide any other details about what might have led to the shooting.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gun violence in US: At least 160 shooting incidents in 2023 as mass shootings on rise</strong></p>

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<p>Kevin McCormack, a student from the suburb of Choctaw told Associated Press that&nbsp;he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He said they looked over and saw a man hitting the ground, next to another man holding a gun and a woman who was trying to calm him down.</p>

<p>"Almost immediately, we said, 'Go, go, go!' and took off," McCormack said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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One person was killed in a shooting incident at Rose State College in Oklahoma's Midwest City on April 24. The college, located in a suburb of Oklahoma City, has about 13,000 students.

One person was killed in a shooting incident at Rose State College in Oklahoma's Midwest City on April 24. The college, located in a suburb of Oklahoma City, has about 13,000 students. "We are currently experiencing an active shooter situation on campus. Please shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement officials. The shooter is in custody and police are on scene," Rose College wrote in a tweet. Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the shooting appeared to be "domestic-related" but did not provide additional details about the incident or the suspect's possible motive, Associated Press reported. The Midwest City Police Department previously told CBS News that officers were responding to reports of an active shooter at the college. Later in the day, the college said it had ended a campus-wide lockdown and urged the community to avoid the area south of the Humanities and Administration Building. The school said all activities and classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day. As the situation calmed, police identified the suspect as Brandon Morrissette, 30. Morrissette faces a first-degree murder charge. Police said that the dead victim and Morrissette's wife, who is also a student at Rose State College, were walking out of a building when they were confronted by the gunman. The victim, who police did not immediately identify, was pronounced dead on the scene. Police did not provide any other details about what might have led to the shooting. ALSO WATCH | Gun violence in US: At least 160 shooting incidents in 2023 as mass shootings on rise × Kevin McCormack, a student from the suburb of Choctaw told Associated Press that he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He said they looked over and saw a man hitting the ground, next to another man holding a gun and a woman who was trying to calm him down. "Almost immediately, we said, 'Go, go, go!' and took off," McCormack said. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

US: Shooting incident kills one at Oklahoma's Rose College of 13,000 student-strength

<p>San Francisco-headquartered First Republic Bank is slashing its workforce by up to 25 per cent, reflecting wider after-effects of March's Silicon Valley Bank crisis&nbsp;in the United States. The customer deposits decreased by a whopping 41 per cent to $104.5 billion in the first quarter missing its $137 billion target, Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to the "unprecedented" outflow of deposits, the company, other than layoffs, is also weighing&nbsp;unspecified strategic options as it works to reinforce its dominant&nbsp;position in the United States.</p>

<p>Between the end of March and April 21, deposits slipped just 1.7 per cent. This, the company said, means that the&nbsp;customer activity has largely been stable.</p>

<p>"Though we faced challenges and uncertainties with the stabilization of our deposit base and the strength of our credit quality and capital position, we continue to take steps to strengthen our business,"&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer Mike Roffler is reported to have said on a conference call.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company has retained 90 per cent&nbsp;of its wealth professionals and remains "fully committed" to the business, Roffler added.</p>

<p>The company said that the&nbsp;uninsured deposits would remain a smaller part of its total deposit base. It also plans to moderate loan volumes and will now focus on originating loans that can be sold on the secondary market.</p>

<p>"We intend to retain servicing on these loans as we always have so that we remain the primary point of contact for our clients,"&nbsp;Roffler said on the call. "Through these actions we intend to reduce the size of our balance sheet, reduce our reliance on short-term borrowings and address the challenges we continue to face."</p>

<p>First Republic shares fell 12 per cent&nbsp;in late New York trading.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening at the First Republic Bank?</strong></h2>

<p>Last month,&nbsp;the United States government took the "receivership" of&nbsp;the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank,&nbsp;after a sale of available-for-sale securities stokes a massive outflow of the depositors.</p>

<p>The crisis put a spotlight on banks sitting on large piles of unrealised and often unreported&nbsp;losses on their balance sheets, First Republic Bank one amongst&nbsp;them.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Regulators help First Republic Bank get a $30 billion bailout</strong></p>

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<p>Bloomberg reported that the First Bank executives considered a sale of the entire bank. The large unrealised losses have caused some buyers to not consider a buyout of the bank at all, the report added.</p>

<p>Founded in 1985, First Republic has expanded its wealth-management services and related offerings for the ultra-rich over the decades.</p>

<p>But in recent weeks, a number of its&nbsp;advisers have left for the rivals, Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;</p>

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San Francisco-headquartered First Republic Bank is slashing its workforce by up to 25 per cent, reflecting wider after-effects of March's Silicon Valley Bank crisis in the United States.

San Francisco-headquartered First Republic Bank is slashing its workforce by up to 25 per cent, reflecting wider after-effects of March's Silicon Valley Bank crisis in the United States. The customer deposits decreased by a whopping 41 per cent to $104.5 billion in the first quarter missing its $137 billion target, Bloomberg reported. In response to the "unprecedented" outflow of deposits, the company, other than layoffs, is also weighing unspecified strategic options as it works to reinforce its dominant position in the United States. Between the end of March and April 21, deposits slipped just 1.7 per cent. This, the company said, means that the customer activity has largely been stable. "Though we faced challenges and uncertainties with the stabilization of our deposit base and the strength of our credit quality and capital position, we continue to take steps to strengthen our business," Chief Executive Officer Mike Roffler is reported to have said on a conference call. The company has retained 90 per cent of its wealth professionals and remains "fully committed" to the business, Roffler added. The company said that the uninsured deposits would remain a smaller part of its total deposit base. It also plans to moderate loan volumes and will now focus on originating loans that can be sold on the secondary market. "We intend to retain servicing on these loans as we always have so that we remain the primary point of contact for our clients," Roffler said on the call. "Through these actions we intend to reduce the size of our balance sheet, reduce our reliance on short-term borrowings and address the challenges we continue to face." First Republic shares fell 12 per cent in late New York trading. What is happening at the First Republic Bank? Last month, the United States government took the "receivership" of the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank, after a sale of available-for-sale securities stokes a massive outflow of the depositors. The crisis put a spotlight on banks sitting on large piles of unrealised and often unreported losses on their balance sheets, First Republic Bank one amongst them. ALSO WATCH | Regulators help First Republic Bank get a $30 billion bailout × Bloomberg reported that the First Bank executives considered a sale of the entire bank. The large unrealised losses have caused some buyers to not consider a buyout of the bank at all, the report added. Founded in 1985, First Republic has expanded its wealth-management services and related offerings for the ultra-rich over the decades. But in recent weeks, a number of its advisers have left for the rivals, Bloomberg reported. 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 to cut up to 25% workforce as deposits tumble

<p>Indonesia's earthquake-sensitive Sumatra Island was hit by an earthquake of a devastating scale on Monday, April 4. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning from Indonesia's geophysics agency.&nbsp;A number of aftershocks were detected later, and some registered about 4 magnitude, the data showed.</p>

<p>The epicenter was reported to be located off the western shore of Sumatra.&nbsp;Indonesia reports frequent earthquakes because of its geographical location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where different plates of the earth’s crust meet.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-magnitude-49-hits-indonesias-tanimbar-islands-report-581898">Earthquake of magnitude 4.9 hits Indonesia's Tanimbar Islands</a></strong></p>

<p>The tsunami warning urged local authorities to immediately ensure the evacuation of&nbsp;residents of the affected area away from the shore. Hours later, the tsunami&nbsp;warning has since been lifted.</p>

<p>The quake hit at about 3 am local time at a depth of 84km, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency&nbsp;Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG).</p>

<p>In West Sumatra's capital Padang, the quake was felt strongly. The locals were moved away from the beaches, according to BMKG spokesperson Abdul Muhari, who reportedly himself was in the area.</p>

<p>"People left their homes. Some were panicking but under control. Currently some of them are evacuating away from the sea,"&nbsp;he said.</p>

<p>The footage on Indonesian media channels posted on social media&nbsp;showed some Padang residents evacuating by motorbike and on foot to higher ground.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Indonesia Earthquake: Most of the injured suffer from fractures</strong></p>

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<p>"On the Siberut island, people had already been evacuated. They have been told to stay at the evacuation area until tsunami warning is lifted," a local official was quoted as saying TvOne.</p>

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Indonesia's earthquake-sensitive Sumatra Island was hit by an earthquake of a devastating scale on Monday, April 4. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning from Indonesia's geophysics agency.

Indonesia's earthquake-sensitive Sumatra Island was hit by an earthquake of a devastating scale on Monday, April 4. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning from Indonesia's geophysics agency. A number of aftershocks were detected later, and some registered about 4 magnitude, the data showed. The epicenter was reported to be located off the western shore of Sumatra. Indonesia reports frequent earthquakes because of its geographical location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where different plates of the earth’s crust meet. ALSO READ | Earthquake of magnitude 4.9 hits Indonesia's Tanimbar Islands The tsunami warning urged local authorities to immediately ensure the evacuation of residents of the affected area away from the shore. Hours later, the tsunami warning has since been lifted. The quake hit at about 3 am local time at a depth of 84km, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG). In West Sumatra's capital Padang, the quake was felt strongly. The locals were moved away from the beaches, according to BMKG spokesperson Abdul Muhari, who reportedly himself was in the area. "People left their homes. Some were panicking but under control. Currently some of them are evacuating away from the sea," he said. The footage on Indonesian media channels posted on social media showed some Padang residents evacuating by motorbike and on foot to higher ground. ALSO WATCH | Indonesia Earthquake: Most of the injured suffer from fractures × "On the Siberut island, people had already been evacuated. They have been told to stay at the evacuation area until tsunami warning is lifted," a local official was quoted as saying TvOne. 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.

Indonesia: Sumatra Island hit by 7.3 earthquake, tsunami warning issued

<p>Tucker Carlson, one of the most-watched TV news host famous for his provocative on-air outbursts, has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tucker-carlson-is-leaving-fox-news-585767">forced out</a> of Fox News, the network he helped build into a ratings juggernaut in the United States since 2013.</p>

<p>The development came just days after Fox News reached a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fox-news-dominion-avoid-trial-settle-lawsuit-over-on-air-2020-election-lies-583875">$787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems</a>—a defamation lawsuit that was expected to put Carlson on the stand. A report in Los Angeles Times citing unnamed sources claimed that the decision to boot Carlson out of Fox News came directly from&nbsp;Fox Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch.</p>

<p>Carlson was a veteran of the two other American media brands, CNN and MSNBC, before joining Fox in 2009 as a political analyst.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carlson was born to a world of insiders and story shapers. His father Dick Carlson was a reporter in Los Angeles and San Diego before the then-US&nbsp;President Ronald Reagan appointed him director of the Voice of America, and the son grew up with a generation of elite Washington journalists.</p>

<p>"I have always lived around people who are wielding authority, around the ruling class," Tucker Carlson said in a 2018 interview.</p>

<p>The 53-year-old has been described as a leading voice of "white grievance politics" and has been accused of circulating far-right ideas on race and immigration into mainstream political discourse of the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the polariser-in-chief of the American public sphere, Carlson often went off the line against the ones who did not agree with what went on on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight', his flagship primetime show on Fox News since 2013.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He once defined his own journalism fraternity as "cringing animals who are not worthy of respect", stoking widespread ire from media persons in the United States and beyond.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tucker Carlson: Donald Trump's top advocate, but really?</strong></h2>

<p>The disclosures in Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network showed that Carlson made comments privately saying that he "hated" the former US President Donald Trump, doubted his claims of 2020 presidential election fraud, and criticised Fox's management.</p>

<p>But during Trump's time in the White House (2016-2021), Carlson was seen as the highest-profile proponent of Trumpism, the power dynamics associated with Donald Trump and his Republican support base.</p>

<p>Carlson was often willing to criticise Trump when he saw the president deviating from his core ideology. But he remained a devout amplifier of Trumpism even at its lowest. On January 6, 2021, when Trump's supporters, after his presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, stormed the US Capitol building in Washington DC, Carlson's primetime fixation was described as by the publication Politico as "factually dismissive".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;January 6 panel recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump</strong></p>

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<p>Carlson suggested that the January 6 Capitol insurrection was, in fact, a provocation staged by the US intelligence agencies.</p>

<p>While none of the flagship magazines' 'Person of the Year' had Carlson on their cover, during the Trump years in White House, Carlson was nevertheless arguably the most influential person who also had the distinction of being part of Trump's inner-circle.</p>

<h2><strong>How Tucker Carlson influenced Donald Trump's presidential decisions</strong></h2>

<p>The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, in her 2022 book, <em>Confidence Man, The Making Of Donald Trump And The Breaking of America</em>, described how Carlson influenced Donald Trump's decisions at multiple moments of reckonings in the White House, sometimes almost at the cost of implicitly blackmailing top White House officials.</p>

<p>Haberman describes one such meeting between Tucker Carlson and Jared Kushner, then an adviser in the Trump administration, on commutation of the prison sentence of Roger Stone, a colourful Republican operative convicted of obstruction of justice and witness tampering.</p>

<p>"If Trump failed to deliver (in commuting Stone's sentence), Carlson made clear, he would press the issue publicly," Haberman writes. Carlson soon launched a months-long on-air campaign to commute Stone's sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"What has happened to Roger Stone should never happen to anyone in this country of any political party," Trump shared Carlson's Fox News segment on Twitter, as he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/most-infamous-and-shocking-presidential-pardons-in-the-history-of-us-312513">commuted</a> his sentence months later with a presidential pardon.</p>

<h2><strong>What made Tucker Carlson stand out?</strong></h2>

<p>Tucker Carlson’s on-air devotion to the Republican idea of the United States of America has given him admirers, critics and cynics in almost equal proportions. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a 2017 Netflix documentary <em>Get me Roger Stone</em>, Carlson comments on Stone’s ability to influence world events. "Is it more brilliant and impressive to influence world events or to stand on the periphery and yet get recorded as having influenced world events?... Maybe latter."</p>

<p>Carlson’s run on Fox News reflected his desire to get recorded as an individual who was influencing world events, every weeknight when he went on air during primetime, with provocation-for-polarisation becoming his sole currency to garner viewers. That made, as New York Times reported in June 2021, Carlson’s old friends wonder about what he really stands for, whether he is really a racist or whether he cynically plays one on TV.</p>

<p>Other crucial moments, when Carlson supposedly influenced some of Trump's decisions as president, include the cancellation of a widely-speculated military strike against Iran in 2019, and the firing of former US National Security adviser John Bolton.</p>

<p>Carlson was also seen as the individual from whom Trump sought approval at difficult political moments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender, in his 2022 book <em>Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost</em>, includes a moment in which Carlson sends Trump’s calls to voicemail after the first presidential debate in 2020. When Trump finally reached Carlson, the book describes an exchange between the two men that casts Carlson in a flattering light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Everyone says I did a good job," Trump tells Carlson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t know who told you that was good," Carlson says. "It was not good."</p>

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Tucker Carlson, one of the most-watched TV news host famous for his provocative on-air outbursts, has been forced out of Fox News, the network he helped build into a ratings juggernaut in the United States since 2013.

Tucker Carlson, one of the most-watched TV news host famous for his provocative on-air outbursts, has been forced out of Fox News, the network he helped build into a ratings juggernaut in the United States since 2013. The development came just days after Fox News reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems—a defamation lawsuit that was expected to put Carlson on the stand. A report in Los Angeles Times citing unnamed sources claimed that the decision to boot Carlson out of Fox News came directly from Fox Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch. Carlson was a veteran of the two other American media brands, CNN and MSNBC, before joining Fox in 2009 as a political analyst. Carlson was born to a world of insiders and story shapers. His father Dick Carlson was a reporter in Los Angeles and San Diego before the then-US President Ronald Reagan appointed him director of the Voice of America, and the son grew up with a generation of elite Washington journalists. "I have always lived around people who are wielding authority, around the ruling class," Tucker Carlson said in a 2018 interview. The 53-year-old has been described as a leading voice of "white grievance politics" and has been accused of circulating far-right ideas on race and immigration into mainstream political discourse of the United States. As the polariser-in-chief of the American public sphere, Carlson often went off the line against the ones who did not agree with what went on on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight', his flagship primetime show on Fox News since 2013. He once defined his own journalism fraternity as "cringing animals who are not worthy of respect", stoking widespread ire from media persons in the United States and beyond. Tucker Carlson: Donald Trump's top advocate, but really? The disclosures in Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network showed that Carlson made comments privately saying that he "hated" the former US President Donald Trump, doubted his claims of 2020 presidential election fraud, and criticised Fox's management. But during Trump's time in the White House (2016-2021), Carlson was seen as the highest-profile proponent of Trumpism, the power dynamics associated with Donald Trump and his Republican support base. Carlson was often willing to criticise Trump when he saw the president deviating from his core ideology. But he remained a devout amplifier of Trumpism even at its lowest. On January 6, 2021, when Trump's supporters, after his presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, stormed the US Capitol building in Washington DC, Carlson's primetime fixation was described as by the publication Politico as "factually dismissive". ALSO WATCH | January 6 panel recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump × Carlson suggested that the January 6 Capitol insurrection was, in fact, a provocation staged by the US intelligence agencies. While none of the flagship magazines' 'Person of the Year' had Carlson on their cover, during the Trump years in White House, Carlson was nevertheless arguably the most influential person who also had the distinction of being part of Trump's inner-circle. How Tucker Carlson influenced Donald Trump's presidential decisions The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, in her 2022 book, Confidence Man, The Making Of Donald Trump And The Breaking of America, described how Carlson influenced Donald Trump's decisions at multiple moments of reckonings in the White House, sometimes almost at the cost of implicitly blackmailing top White House officials. Haberman describes one such meeting between Tucker Carlson and Jared Kushner, then an adviser in the Trump administration, on commutation of the prison sentence of Roger Stone, a colourful Republican operative convicted of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. "If Trump failed to deliver (in commuting Stone's sentence), Carlson made clear, he would press the issue publicly," Haberman writes. Carlson soon launched a months-long on-air campaign to commute Stone's sentence. "What has happened to Roger Stone should never happen to anyone in this country of any political party," Trump shared Carlson's Fox News segment on Twitter, as he commuted his sentence months later with a presidential pardon. What made Tucker Carlson stand out? Tucker Carlson’s on-air devotion to the Republican idea of the United States of America has given him admirers, critics and cynics in almost equal proportions. In a 2017 Netflix documentary Get me Roger Stone, Carlson comments on Stone’s ability to influence world events. "Is it more brilliant and impressive to influence world events or to stand on the periphery and yet get recorded as having influenced world events?... Maybe latter." Carlson’s run on Fox News reflected his desire to get recorded as an individual who was influencing world events, every weeknight when he went on air during primetime, with provocation-for-polarisation becoming his sole currency to garner viewers. That made, as New York Times reported in June 2021, Carlson’s old friends wonder about what he really stands for, whether he is really a racist or whether he cynically plays one on TV. Other crucial moments, when Carlson supposedly influenced some of Trump's decisions as president, include the cancellation of a widely-speculated military strike against Iran in 2019, and the firing of former US National Security adviser John Bolton. Carlson was also seen as the individual from whom Trump sought approval at difficult political moments. The Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender, in his 2022 book Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost, includes a moment in which Carlson sends Trump’s calls to voicemail after the first presidential debate in 2020. When Trump finally reached Carlson, the book describes an exchange between the two men that casts Carlson in a flattering light. "Everyone says I did a good job," Trump tells Carlson. "I don’t know who told you that was good," Carlson says. "It was not good." 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.

Explained: How Tucker Carlson's years of controversies at Fox News ended in his ouster

<p>Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world.</p>

<p>This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals. The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tried to shore up support for Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine with his visits to four Latin American capitals.</p>

<p>In New Delhi, India tried to leverage its legacy as birthplace of Buddhism as country organised the maiden Global Buddhist Summit.</p>

<p>Here’s what all happened in the capitals this week:</p>

<h2><strong>Khartoum, Sudan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Saudi Arabia rescue from Khartoum" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e11383fd-2512-4d53-97dd-11e617a5061a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2853%29_4.jpg" /></p>

<p><em>Members of the armed forces passing out chocolates and flowers to Saudi citizens and other nationals upon their arrival in Jeddah, following their rescue from Sudan | AFP</em></p>

<p>Riyadh’s naval operations led the first successful evacuation of foreign nationals from the conflict-hit Sudan, where since nearly two weeks, the battle for control over the country between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The main airport in the Sudanese capital Khartoum continues to be the site of heavy fighting, and that has left only one route left for the evacuation: the sea route.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Riyadh carried out the evacuation from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 850 km east of Khartoum. It announced the “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 countries: Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, the Philipines, Canada and Burkina Faso.</p>

<p>The United States could extract fewer than 100 people. Several thousand US citizens including dual nationals are stranded in the conflict-ridden country. France, Britain, Turkey, European Union, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia continue to be on standby to extract their citizens at the earliest.</p>

<h2><strong>Havana (Cuba), Caracas (Venezuela), Brasilia (Brazil), Managua (Nicaragua)</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Lavrov in Brazil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9c4532e-9d6d-469e-8711-1c37e7d7feb4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2823%29_1.png" /></p>

<p>Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, left, talks with Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 17, 2023. | <em>AP Photo</em></p>

<p>Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this week concluded his five-day trip to the countries in Latin America, most of whom were perceived to be the allies of earstwhile Soviet Union during cold war. While the host capitals called for a peaceful political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov repeatedly emphasised Russian opposition to “foreign interference in national affairs and unilateral sanctions”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rio ended up as the most significant of all geopolitical pitstops that Lavrov took in Latin America this week. In Rio, Russia managed to extract a crucial assertion against American support to the Ukrainian war-effort.</p>

<p>President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the United States and European allies should stop supplying arms to Ukraine, arguing that they were prolonging the war. "If you are not making peace, you are contributing to war," Lula said.</p>

<h2><strong>London, United Kingdom</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Dominic Raab" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb065ec-e816-4d50-832d-f328337bd931" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2854%29_5.jpg" /></p>

<p><em>Former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab was forced to resign from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet this week | Reuters</em></p>

<p>London’s Downing Street had a politically significant moment with a yet another scandelous exit. The deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet soon after an inquiry revealed that Raab bullied civil servants at multiple ministries in recent past. Raab has been replaced by Oliver Dowden as the UK deputy prime minister. Raab’s exit comes just weeks before local pay will test Rishi Sunak’s political leadership as a Conservative Party headman in Britain.</p>

<h2><strong>New Delhi, India</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Global Buddhist Summit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2c8c13-fc28-43ac-85de-af5412d210c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2824%29_1.png" /></p>

<p><em>Delegates at Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi | @sidhant/Twitter | WION</em></p>

<p>India hosted first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi that saw delegates from about 30 countries participating in the event, including Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader living in-exile in India since 1959. The Tibetan leader spoke of “compassion, wisdom and meditation” during the event. India intends to leverage its legacy as the birthplace of Buddhism by amplying its calls to promote peace amid raging conflicts worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Lima, Peru</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Peru former president" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ded39af1-9327-40b9-b9f4-80d88e830d1c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2825%29_3.png" /></p>

<p><em>Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo walks with others after his arrival at the airport following his extradition to Peru, in Callao, Peru | Reuters</em></p>

<p>Peru’s former President Alejandro Toledo arrived in Lima in what his detractors called “to face the law”. Toledo, who was Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006, surrendered to the US authorities on Friday, ending a yearslong legal battle against his extradition which started in 2019 when he was first arrested in California.&nbsp;<br />
Peru’s former president will serve 18 months of preventative detention while an investigation will probe his alleged role in a bribery scandal. Toledo is accused of taking at least $20 million in bribes and kickbacks from a Brazilian construction company that has previously admitted to have bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tunis, Tunisia</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Tunisia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0fe0b32-aa37-49d8-a115-48888bd54a02" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2826%29_2.png" /></p>

<p><em>Rached Ghannouchi | Reuters image</em></p>

<p>The first bud of Arab Spring, which unleashed a bloom of democratic transitions in West Asia and parts of Africa, continues its struggle towards a democratic blossom.</p>

<p>This week, country’s top opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi was arrested, on charges of incitement against state authorities led by President Kaid Saied.</p>

<p>The 81-year-old leader’s arrest marks a week of dramatic developments in the capital Tunis which saw nearly 100 policemen&nbsp;raiding the house of Ennahdha party leader while he was reportedly breaking his Ramadan fast. Hours later, the headquarters of Ghannouchi’s party, ‘Ennahdha’, a self-styled “Muslim democrat” party, were closed. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The arrest of Ghannouchi has drawn global condemnation, with the United States saying that the rise in arrests of Tunis opposition figures ‘represent a troubling escalation by the Tunisian government against perceived opponents’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That's all from The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.</p>

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Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals. The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tried to shore up support for Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine with his visits to four Latin American capitals. In New Delhi, India tried to leverage its legacy as birthplace of Buddhism as country organised the maiden Global Buddhist Summit. Here’s what all happened in the capitals this week: Khartoum, Sudan Members of the armed forces passing out chocolates and flowers to Saudi citizens and other nationals upon their arrival in Jeddah, following their rescue from Sudan | AFP Riyadh’s naval operations led the first successful evacuation of foreign nationals from the conflict-hit Sudan, where since nearly two weeks, the battle for control over the country between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded. The main airport in the Sudanese capital Khartoum continues to be the site of heavy fighting, and that has left only one route left for the evacuation: the sea route. Riyadh carried out the evacuation from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 850 km east of Khartoum. It announced the “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 countries: Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, the Philipines, Canada and Burkina Faso. The United States could extract fewer than 100 people. Several thousand US citizens including dual nationals are stranded in the conflict-ridden country. France, Britain, Turkey, European Union, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia continue to be on standby to extract their citizens at the earliest. Havana (Cuba), Caracas (Venezuela), Brasilia (Brazil), Managua (Nicaragua) Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, left, talks with Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 17, 2023. | AP Photo Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this week concluded his five-day trip to the countries in Latin America, most of whom were perceived to be the allies of earstwhile Soviet Union during cold war. While the host capitals called for a peaceful political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov repeatedly emphasised Russian opposition to “foreign interference in national affairs and unilateral sanctions”. Rio ended up as the most significant of all geopolitical pitstops that Lavrov took in Latin America this week. In Rio, Russia managed to extract a crucial assertion against American support to the Ukrainian war-effort. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the United States and European allies should stop supplying arms to Ukraine, arguing that they were prolonging the war. "If you are not making peace, you are contributing to war," Lula said. London, United Kingdom Former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab was forced to resign from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet this week | Reuters London’s Downing Street had a politically significant moment with a yet another scandelous exit. The deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet soon after an inquiry revealed that Raab bullied civil servants at multiple ministries in recent past. Raab has been replaced by Oliver Dowden as the UK deputy prime minister. Raab’s exit comes just weeks before local pay will test Rishi Sunak’s political leadership as a Conservative Party headman in Britain. New Delhi, India Delegates at Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi | @sidhant/Twitter | WION India hosted first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi that saw delegates from about 30 countries participating in the event, including Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader living in-exile in India since 1959. The Tibetan leader spoke of “compassion, wisdom and meditation” during the event. India intends to leverage its legacy as the birthplace of Buddhism by amplying its calls to promote peace amid raging conflicts worldwide. Lima, Peru Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo walks with others after his arrival at the airport following his extradition to Peru, in Callao, Peru | Reuters Peru’s former President Alejandro Toledo arrived in Lima in what his detractors called “to face the law”. Toledo, who was Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006, surrendered to the US authorities on Friday, ending a yearslong legal battle against his extradition which started in 2019 when he was first arrested in California. Peru’s former president will serve 18 months of preventative detention while an investigation will probe his alleged role in a bribery scandal. Toledo is accused of taking at least $20 million in bribes and kickbacks from a Brazilian construction company that has previously admitted to have bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America. Tunis, Tunisia Rached Ghannouchi | Reuters image The first bud of Arab Spring, which unleashed a bloom of democratic transitions in West Asia and parts of Africa, continues its struggle towards a democratic blossom. This week, country’s top opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi was arrested, on charges of incitement against state authorities led by President Kaid Saied. The 81-year-old leader’s arrest marks a week of dramatic developments in the capital Tunis which saw nearly 100 policemen raiding the house of Ennahdha party leader while he was reportedly breaking his Ramadan fast. Hours later, the headquarters of Ghannouchi’s party, ‘Ennahdha’, a self-styled “Muslim democrat” party, were closed. The arrest of Ghannouchi has drawn global condemnation, with the United States saying that the rise in arrests of Tunis opposition figures ‘represent a troubling escalation by the Tunisian government against perceived opponents’. That's all from The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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: Riyadh leads Sudan evacuation effort, Moscow’s Latin America outreach, and more

<p>Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai's pay package in 2023 soared to $226 million in 2022. This came as a triennial stock valued at $218 million was awarded to Pichai.</p>

<p>The Madurai-born business executive's pay package now dwarfs down the compensation of many other Silicon Valley technology magnates.</p>

<p>Sundar Pichai's salary was just $6.3 million in 2021 when he was not entitled to the stock award he last received last year. The information was revealed in a filing from the Alphabet Inc. on Friday. Pichai's salary remained at a steady $2 million during past three years.</p>

<h2><strong>Alphabet Inc. stock award: What is it?</strong></h2>

<p>Among the perks received by an Alphabet Inc. chief executive is a stock award from the company. It is awarded once in three years. Pichai received a similarly sized package in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, Pichai received $281 million pay package.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;'AI more profound than fire or electricity', says Google CEO Sunder Pichai</strong></p>

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<p>Pichai’s package put him well above other executives at Alphabet in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prabhakar Raghavan, the senior vice president of Google’s knowledge and information, and Philipp Schindler, chief business officer, both took in about $37 million. Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat’s compensation was $24.5 million. Their stock grants are given out on an annual basis, Bloomberg reported.</p>

<h2><strong>CEO stock awards: A matter of controversy in Silicon Valley</strong></h2>

<p>CEO compensation has been a matter of controversy in the Silicon Valley. This has become more pertinent after a wave of layoffs that began in the last quarter of 2023. Among the notables, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook slashed his 2023 pay after he was paid $100 million in 2022 and 2021.</p>

<p>Alphabet, too, has cut about 12,000 jobs, or 6 per cent of its global workforce, following months of other cost-cutting measures.</p>

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Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai's pay package in 2023 soared to $226 million in 2022. This came as a triennial stock valued at $218 million was awarded to Pichai.

Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai's pay package in 2023 soared to $226 million in 2022. This came as a triennial stock valued at $218 million was awarded to Pichai. The Madurai-born business executive's pay package now dwarfs down the compensation of many other Silicon Valley technology magnates. Sundar Pichai's salary was just $6.3 million in 2021 when he was not entitled to the stock award he last received last year. The information was revealed in a filing from the Alphabet Inc. on Friday. Pichai's salary remained at a steady $2 million during past three years. Alphabet Inc. stock award: What is it? Among the perks received by an Alphabet Inc. chief executive is a stock award from the company. It is awarded once in three years. Pichai received a similarly sized package in 2019. In 2019, Pichai received $281 million pay package. ALSO WATCH | 'AI more profound than fire or electricity', says Google CEO Sunder Pichai × Pichai’s package put him well above other executives at Alphabet in 2022. Prabhakar Raghavan, the senior vice president of Google’s knowledge and information, and Philipp Schindler, chief business officer, both took in about $37 million. Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat’s compensation was $24.5 million. Their stock grants are given out on an annual basis, Bloomberg reported. CEO stock awards: A matter of controversy in Silicon Valley CEO compensation has been a matter of controversy in the Silicon Valley. This has become more pertinent after a wave of layoffs that began in the last quarter of 2023. Among the notables, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook slashed his 2023 pay after he was paid $100 million in 2022 and 2021. Alphabet, too, has cut about 12,000 jobs, or 6 per cent of its global workforce, following months of other cost-cutting measures. 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.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai earned hundreds of millions in 2022

<p>Pakistan's economic crisis has forced millions across the country to settle for less during Eid. Retail sales in the country witnessed a sharp slump as compared to past few years in the run up to Eid al-Fitr, according to country's top retailers.</p>

<p>The country is facing one of the worst economic crises in the recent history. Neighbour to China and India, world's second and fifth largest economies respectively, Pakistan&nbsp;has less than a month's worth of foreign exchange reserves. Islamabad is awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that has been delayed since November last year due to Pakistan's inconsistencies with its fiscal policy adjustments necessitated as condition for such bailouts in the first place.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-economic-crisis-forces-closure-of-karachi-zoo-full-of-sick-underfed-animals-583506">Pakistan's economic crisis forces closure of Karachi zoo full of sick, underfed animals</a></strong></p>

<p>Consumer price inflation in Pakistan jumped to a record 35.37 per cent&nbsp;in March from a year earlier.&nbsp;At least 16 people have been&nbsp;killed in stampedes for food aid during Ramadan.</p>

<p>"There has been a 20 per cent&nbsp;reduction in sales across all categories except women’s clothing," Tariq Mehboob, chairman of the Chain Store Association Pakistan (CAP) and CEO of Royal Tag, a clothing brand for men, was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Reuters.</p>

<p>Pakistanis are going through a phase when their currency is&nbsp;depreciating, government subsidies are being rolled back, and higher tariffs are imposed by the government to secure a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Pakistan's Economic Crisis Explained</strong></p>

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<p>"Pakistanis have lost more than 50 per cent of their wealth in the last two years in the form of depreciation, so you’re now selling to people with 50 per cent less available funds, while the cost has gone up 100 per cent,"&nbsp;Asad Shafi, owner of female clothing brand Cross Stitch, was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p>"The expectation of fashion retailers is so low that even meeting breakeven or bare minimum sales just to stay alive is acceptable," he added.</p>

<p>Pakistan expects its economy to grow 2 per cent&nbsp;during the current fiscal year. But earlier this month,&nbsp;the World Bank slashed Pakistan's growth projections from 2 per cent to 0.4 per cent.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Pakistan's economic crisis has forced millions across the country to settle for less during Eid. Retail sales in the country witnessed a sharp slump as compared to past few years in the run up to Eid al-Fitr, according to country's top retailers.

Pakistan's economic crisis has forced millions across the country to settle for less during Eid. Retail sales in the country witnessed a sharp slump as compared to past few years in the run up to Eid al-Fitr, according to country's top retailers. The country is facing one of the worst economic crises in the recent history. Neighbour to China and India, world's second and fifth largest economies respectively, Pakistan has less than a month's worth of foreign exchange reserves. Islamabad is awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that has been delayed since November last year due to Pakistan's inconsistencies with its fiscal policy adjustments necessitated as condition for such bailouts in the first place. ALSO READ | Pakistan's economic crisis forces closure of Karachi zoo full of sick, underfed animals Consumer price inflation in Pakistan jumped to a record 35.37 per cent in March from a year earlier. At least 16 people have been killed in stampedes for food aid during Ramadan. "There has been a 20 per cent reduction in sales across all categories except women’s clothing," Tariq Mehboob, chairman of the Chain Store Association Pakistan (CAP) and CEO of Royal Tag, a clothing brand for men, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Pakistanis are going through a phase when their currency is depreciating, government subsidies are being rolled back, and higher tariffs are imposed by the government to secure a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Pakistan's Economic Crisis Explained × "Pakistanis have lost more than 50 per cent of their wealth in the last two years in the form of depreciation, so you’re now selling to people with 50 per cent less available funds, while the cost has gone up 100 per cent," Asad Shafi, owner of female clothing brand Cross Stitch, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "The expectation of fashion retailers is so low that even meeting breakeven or bare minimum sales just to stay alive is acceptable," he added. Pakistan expects its economy to grow 2 per cent during the current fiscal year. But earlier this month, the World Bank slashed Pakistan's growth projections from 2 per cent to 0.4 per cent. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Eid festivities in Pakistan hammered by worst economic crisis in decades

<p>The US Supreme Court on April 21, preserved the access to a commonly used abortion pill, marking a significant moment of respite for abortion rights in the country. The court has ruled that the drug can remain available until a different&nbsp;appealed case in the matter reaches its conclusion.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court blocked the restrictions on drug's use set by a&nbsp;judge in Texas in the latest fierce legal battle over abortion rights in the United States.</p>

<p>The justices, in a brief order, granted emergency requests by the Justice Department and the pill's manufacturer Danco Laboratories to put on hold an April 7 preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Abortion rights supporters protest in two US states</strong></p>

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<p>The judge's order would greatly limit the availability of mifepristone while litigation proceeds in a challenge by anti-abortion groups to its federal regulatory approval.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-temporarily-preserves-full-access-to-abortion-pill-582593">US Supreme Court temporarily preserves access to abortion pill mifepristone</a></strong></p>

<p>Biden said in a statement issued by the White House, "As a result of the Supreme Court's stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while we continue this fight in the courts."</p>

<p>"The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically driven attacks on women's health," Biden added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, two Justices Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissented from the decision.</p>

<p>Alito, in a brief opinion, wrote that the administration and Danco "are not entitled to a stay because they have not shown that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the interim."</p>

<p>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices, approved mifepristone in 2000. The current case could undercut federal regulatory authority over drug safety.</p>

<p>Biden's administration is seeking to defend mifepristone in the face of mounting abortion bans and restrictions enacted by Republican-led states since the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalised the procedure nationwide.</p>

<p>"I continue to stand by FDA's evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my administration will continue to defend FDA's independent, expert authority to review, approve and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs," Biden said.</p>

<p>Mifepristone is taken with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. The drug also has other uses, such as the management of miscarriages.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The US Supreme Court on April 21, preserved the access to a commonly used abortion pill, marking a significant moment of respite for abortion rights in the country.

The US Supreme Court on April 21, preserved the access to a commonly used abortion pill, marking a significant moment of respite for abortion rights in the country. The court has ruled that the drug can remain available until a different appealed case in the matter reaches its conclusion. The Supreme Court blocked the restrictions on drug's use set by a judge in Texas in the latest fierce legal battle over abortion rights in the United States. The justices, in a brief order, granted emergency requests by the Justice Department and the pill's manufacturer Danco Laboratories to put on hold an April 7 preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas. ALSO READ | Abortion rights supporters protest in two US states × The judge's order would greatly limit the availability of mifepristone while litigation proceeds in a challenge by anti-abortion groups to its federal regulatory approval. ALSO READ | US Supreme Court temporarily preserves access to abortion pill mifepristone Biden said in a statement issued by the White House, "As a result of the Supreme Court's stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while we continue this fight in the courts." "The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically driven attacks on women's health," Biden added. Meanwhile, two Justices Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissented from the decision. Alito, in a brief opinion, wrote that the administration and Danco "are not entitled to a stay because they have not shown that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the interim." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices, approved mifepristone in 2000. The current case could undercut federal regulatory authority over drug safety. Biden's administration is seeking to defend mifepristone in the face of mounting abortion bans and restrictions enacted by Republican-led states since the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalised the procedure nationwide. "I continue to stand by FDA's evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my administration will continue to defend FDA's independent, expert authority to review, approve and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs," Biden said. Mifepristone is taken with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. The drug also has other uses, such as the management of miscarriages. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

US Supreme Court preserves abortion drug access amid legal battle

<p>Deloitte became the second among the Big Four financial consulting giants to announce job cuts on Friday. The London-headquartered firm, which reported an annual revenue of $59.3 billion in 2022, reportedly told its staff that it will cut around 1,200 jobs in the United States.</p>

<p>Deloitte's job cuts come just four days after Ernst &amp; Young, another Big Four consulting giant, announced a similar measure, while citing "overcapacity" for laying off about 3,000 employees in the United States.</p>

<h2><strong>Deloitte layoffs: Who will be most affected?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report in the Financial Times, the job cuts would entail 3 per cent reduction of total workforce at Deloitte's Risk and Financial Advisory division.</p>

<h2><strong>Big Four layoffs: Who is laying off how many?</strong></h2>

<p>In cumulative terms, the 3,000 people losing their jobs at Deloitte translate into 1.5 per cent of the company's total workforce in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, the job cuts at Deloitte are less deep than at Ernst &amp; Young four days ago, and the ones at KPMG in February.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;KPMG to cut 2% staff in US, several financial firms slash jobs</strong></p>

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<p>While KPMG's job cuts in February affected close to 2 per cent of its total US workforce, about 5 per cent of Ernst &amp; Young's total workforce was affected as part of the job cuts announced by the company earlier this week.</p>

<h2><strong>Big Four layoffs: Post-pandemic hirings in spotlight</strong></h2>

<p>All Big Four financial advisory firms went on a hiring spree as the effect of Covid pandemic began receding. For instance, Deloitte's US headcount increased from 65,000 in 2021 to 80,000 by the end of last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/big-four-hiring-decline-ernst-young-blames-overcapacity-for-3000-job-cuts-583498">'Big Four' hiring decline: Ernst &amp; Young blames 'overcapacity' for 3,000 job cuts</a></strong></p>

<p>But layoffs are not just a Big Four-specific exercise in recent weeks.</p>

<p>Large-scale layoffs this week have rocked the corporate corners at Whole Foods, Meta and Opendoor.</p>

<p>Among others, San Francisco-based ride hailing platform Lyft Inc. also announced layoffs on April 21. While the company did not specify how many people will be affected, people familiar with the matter told Wall Street Journal that as many as 1,200 people will be affected in the layoff exercise.</p>

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Deloitte became the second among the Big Four financial consulting giants to announce job cuts on Friday. The London-headquartered firm, which reported an annual revenue of $59.

Deloitte became the second among the Big Four financial consulting giants to announce job cuts on Friday. The London-headquartered firm, which reported an annual revenue of $59.3 billion in 2022, reportedly told its staff that it will cut around 1,200 jobs in the United States. Deloitte's job cuts come just four days after Ernst & Young, another Big Four consulting giant, announced a similar measure, while citing "overcapacity" for laying off about 3,000 employees in the United States. Deloitte layoffs: Who will be most affected? According to a report in the Financial Times, the job cuts would entail 3 per cent reduction of total workforce at Deloitte's Risk and Financial Advisory division. Big Four layoffs: Who is laying off how many? In cumulative terms, the 3,000 people losing their jobs at Deloitte translate into 1.5 per cent of the company's total workforce in the United States. Therefore, the job cuts at Deloitte are less deep than at Ernst & Young four days ago, and the ones at KPMG in February. ALSO WATCH | KPMG to cut 2% staff in US, several financial firms slash jobs × While KPMG's job cuts in February affected close to 2 per cent of its total US workforce, about 5 per cent of Ernst & Young's total workforce was affected as part of the job cuts announced by the company earlier this week. Big Four layoffs: Post-pandemic hirings in spotlight All Big Four financial advisory firms went on a hiring spree as the effect of Covid pandemic began receding. For instance, Deloitte's US headcount increased from 65,000 in 2021 to 80,000 by the end of last year. ALSO READ | 'Big Four' hiring decline: Ernst & Young blames 'overcapacity' for 3,000 job cuts But layoffs are not just a Big Four-specific exercise in recent weeks. Large-scale layoffs this week have rocked the corporate corners at Whole Foods, Meta and Opendoor. Among others, San Francisco-based ride hailing platform Lyft Inc. also announced layoffs on April 21. While the company did not specify how many people will be affected, people familiar with the matter told Wall Street Journal that as many as 1,200 people will be affected in the layoff exercise. 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.

Thousands set to lose jobs as 'Big Four' announce job cuts one after another

<p>Chile will begin nationalising its lithium industry, President Gabriel Boric announced on Thursday. The country will create a state-owned company to produce the rare metal which forms a key component of electric vehicle batteries. President Boric said that the nationalisation of lithium production would entail stricter environmental rules.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lithium plan will require approval in congress in Santiago. The plan is likely to be debated in the second half of the year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a television address in which President Salvador Allende's 1971 nationalisation of copper was mentioned, Boric said "the state will participate in the whole [lithium] production cycle and create a National Lithium Company to do so."</p>

<p>President Boric also called for development of value-added lithium products in Chile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The South American country holds the world's largest lithium reserves and is the world's second-largest producer of lithium, also known as White Gold.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-discovers-huge-deposits-of-lithium-critical-for-electric-mobility-560432">India discovers huge deposits of Lithium critical for electric mobility</a></strong></p>

<p>Chile is the latest among a number of countries that have taken steps for greater control over mineral resource. Mexico, too, nationalised its lithium industry last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mining of lithium in Chile is a water-intensive process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chilean president said that future mining projects will move ahead after consultation with local communities in a way that water consumption for the mining process is minimal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These salt flats are not just lithium," he said. "They are people, they are communities, they are water in the desert, they are the home of cultures thousands of years old," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Chile's lithium reserves: What will happen to them now?</strong></h2>

<p>Two lithium miners, namely, Chile's SQM and the US company Albemarle mine country's lithium reserves and their contracts run to 2030 and 2043 respectively. President Boric said that duration of these contracts would be respected.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: India discovers 5.9 million tonnes of lithium deposits</strong></p>

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<p>Once the lithium plan is passed through congress, the two miners, however, will have to negotiate an unspecified state participation in their currently ongoing mining operations.</p>

<p>"This is the best chance we have at transitioning to a sustainable and developed economy," Boric said in his Thursday's address. "We cannot afford to waste it."</p>

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Chile will begin nationalising its lithium industry, President Gabriel Boric announced on Thursday. The country will create a state-owned company to produce the rare metal which forms a key component of electric vehicle batteries.

Chile will begin nationalising its lithium industry, President Gabriel Boric announced on Thursday. The country will create a state-owned company to produce the rare metal which forms a key component of electric vehicle batteries. President Boric said that the nationalisation of lithium production would entail stricter environmental rules. The lithium plan will require approval in congress in Santiago. The plan is likely to be debated in the second half of the year. In a television address in which President Salvador Allende's 1971 nationalisation of copper was mentioned, Boric said "the state will participate in the whole [lithium] production cycle and create a National Lithium Company to do so." President Boric also called for development of value-added lithium products in Chile. The South American country holds the world's largest lithium reserves and is the world's second-largest producer of lithium, also known as White Gold. ALSO READ | India discovers huge deposits of Lithium critical for electric mobility Chile is the latest among a number of countries that have taken steps for greater control over mineral resource. Mexico, too, nationalised its lithium industry last year. The mining of lithium in Chile is a water-intensive process. The Chilean president said that future mining projects will move ahead after consultation with local communities in a way that water consumption for the mining process is minimal. "These salt flats are not just lithium," he said. "They are people, they are communities, they are water in the desert, they are the home of cultures thousands of years old," he said. Chile's lithium reserves: What will happen to them now? Two lithium miners, namely, Chile's SQM and the US company Albemarle mine country's lithium reserves and their contracts run to 2030 and 2043 respectively. President Boric said that duration of these contracts would be respected. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: India discovers 5.9 million tonnes of lithium deposits × Once the lithium plan is passed through congress, the two miners, however, will have to negotiate an unspecified state participation in their currently ongoing mining operations. "This is the best chance we have at transitioning to a sustainable and developed economy," Boric said in his Thursday's address. "We cannot afford to waste it." 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.

Chile: President Boric unveils plan to nationalise lithium industry critical for electric mobility

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