According to a media source, the Maldives has deported 186 foreign nationals, including 43 Indians, after accusing them of drug charges and visa infractions. Immigration Controller Shamaan Waheed released the list that contains 83 Bangladeshis, 25 Sri Lankans and 8 Nepalis. The move comes after Maldivian Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan informed a press briefing recently that the Ministry was planning to shut down several illegal businesses operating in the country under various names.
India is reportedly set to strengthen its ties with the Philippines, with an Indian company likely to be granted a contract to develop the Manila Airport. India’s GMR Group has emerged as the leading contender among four private bidders to revamp the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), currently ranked among the poorest-performing airports globally. India had earlier signed a $375 million deal with the Philippines to provide three batteries of the BrahMos missiles to the country.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has urged top Biden administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, to consider imposing sanctions on Chinese biotech firm WuXi AppTec and its affiliate WuXi Biologics. The lawmakers argue that the companies’ ties to China’s Communist Party and military pose a threat to US national security.
South Korea’s military reported that North Korea launched several cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday. The missiles were fired around 9 a.m. Wednesday from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The JCS stated that it was “cooperating closely with the United States and closely monitoring additional signs and activities from North Korea.”
President Joe Biden signed a memorandum directing the deferral of removal of Palestinians from the US for the next 18 months, the White House announced on Wednesday. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden’s move would provide Palestinians in the US “a temporary safe haven.” “Those convicted of felonies or who are otherwise deemed to pose a public safety threat are not eligible for deferred enforced departure,” Sullivan stated. Anyone who voluntarily returns to the Palestinian territories would lose their protections, he added.
A barrage of gunfire broke out Wednesday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, amid an outdoor celebration of the NFL champion Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, killing at least one person and injuring 21 others. Police Chief Stacey Graves said in a press conference that three people were detained “and under investigation” in connection with the shooting. Graves stated that investigators had no known motive for the gun violence. According to reports, eleven of those injured by gunfire or the violence that ensued were children as young as six.