Here Nora Fatehi was dancing, on the other side Ishaan-Arshdeep were doing this act, Surya’s wife caught him

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Suryakumar Yadav’s wife was also present in the inauguration ceremony. Nora Fatehi’s dance performance was taking place in the inauguration of the match, when while recording Nora’s dance, the camera was turned towards the players. At that time Suryakumar, Ishaan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh were present and watching the dance. Fans on social media are saying that Suryakumar’s wife captured it in 4K video. It can be seen in the video that the reactions of Suryakumar, Ishaan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh were very funny and cheeky. This video is becoming increasingly viral on social media and fans are having a lot of fun watching it.

Man Utd co-owner Ratcliffe’s anti-immigrant rhetoric sparks outrage in UK | Football News

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Fan fury grows, with Man U supporters accusing tycoon of echoing ‘far-right narratives’ that have ‘real-world’ impact.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is facing a growing backlash after claiming this week that the United Kingdom had been “colonised by immigrants”, stoking an already toxic atmosphere in Britain, pushed by those on the right of the political spectrum.

Politicians, campaigners and fan groups condemned the billionaire’s remarks made in an interview with Sky News broadcast on Wednesday, which saw him suggest “huge levels of immigration” had damaged the economy.

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“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to demand on X that he apologise for his “offensive and wrong” comments.

Posting on X on Thursday, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, a member of Starmer’s Labour Party, said Ratcliffe should withdraw his “inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory” depiction of immigrants as “a hostile invading force”.

Burnham noted that footballers who had come from all over the world to play in Manchester and people working in the National Health Service (NHS) and other essential services had “enhanced the life of our city-region”, suggesting that Monaco-based Ratcliffe had “spent years siphoning wealth” out of the club while making “little contribution” to local life.

Justice minister Jake Richards told the BBC’s breakfast programme that he viewed the tax exile’s comments as “absurd”. “Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save 4-billion-pound [$5.5bn] worth of tax in this country. One might question whether he is the patriot we need to comment on this issue,” he said.

Recent protests against the club’s ownership will now likely expand.

Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club expressed outrage at Ratcliffe’s use of the word “colonised”, with its echoing of “far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats”.

“Such rhetoric has real-world consequences,” said the group, pointing to a recent rise in race-motivated hostility that has coincided with surging support for the Reform UK party.

Rhetoric around immigration has hardened in recent years, with a wave of protests last summer outside hotels housing asylum seekers and widespread rioting in 2024, prompted by misinformation that a teenager who killed three young girls was a Muslim immigrant.

Other fan clubs piled on more condemnation of Ratcliffe, with the Rainbow Devils club for LGBTQ supporters expressing fears that his words could cause “real damage” to “minority communities in general, including many loyal Manchester United fans who are immigrants”.

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust pointed out that the club’s leadership “should make inclusion easier, not harder”.

Ratcliffe, who founded chemical giant Ineos in 1998, bought a minority share in Manchester United in late 2023, subsequently leading to anger among fans over soaring ticket prices.



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Beloved destination imposes fees to prevent overcrowding

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Dubbed the “Hawaii of Europe,” the island of Madeira — about 600 miles from mainland Portugal — is known for its volcanic cliffs, stunning waterfalls and picturesque hiking trails. 

But anyone looking to explore the destination’s famous walking paths will be slapped with new fees this year.

With locals fuming over what they call overcrowding and potential environmental damage, fees have now been imposed on non-residents who want to enjoy some of the most popular hiking trails. 

MAN DRIVES 5,600 MILES, SPENDS OVER $12K CHASING LIFELONG DREAM OF EXTREME JOURNEY

The stunning archipelago has become a beloved cruise ship destination. The Port of Funchal reached 700,000 cruise passengers in 2025.

“This significant milestone highlights the growing interest of the cruise industry in the region,” reported MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports.

Madeira is now charging non-residents fees to hike popular trails

In a move to combat mass tourism, the island of Madeira is charging fees for access to its popular hiking trails. (iStock)

All hikers now need to book a 30-minute time slot in advance through the SIMplifica platform. 

Non-residents will need to pay about $5.30 for the use of standard trails — and those trails used via a registered tour operator will carry a reduced $3.60 fee, according to numerous travel sites, including the “Hiking Madeira” blog. 

POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATION TO CHARGE ‘TOURIST TAX’ UPWARDS OF $65 PER NIGHT

Residents of Madeira and children under age 12 remain exempt from the fees — but must still register. 

The PR 1, Madeira’s most famous day hiking trail, takes visitors between some of the highest mountains on the island. After renovations to it, access to its trail starting in April will cost about $12.50 for members of the public and $8.30 for those who use the guided tours, according to “Hiking Madeira.”

A view from Cabo Girao, in Madeira

Cabo Girão in Madeira is one of the world’s highest sea cliffs. (iStock)

“I definitely get where these destinations are coming from. When it gets overcrowded it drives up costs for locals, and it kind of makes life difficult,” J.Q. Louise, a Boston-based travel influencer and writer, told Fox News Digital.

In 2023, Madeira welcomed 279 ship calls, with a record-breaking number of passengers. 

Business was booming — yet the trails were harder to enjoy.

Madeira has had a surge in popularity the last 5 years

Locals in Madeira have been fuming that their stunning trails have become overcrowded. (iStock)

“The question really becomes, is a fee effective for managing the crowds — or is it purely a tourist tax, which sometimes does more harm than good,” Louise added.

No longer hidden away

“Madeira five years ago was totally off the map,” she added. “Now it’s on all the top lists of must-see islands in Europe.”

HAWAII’S ‘CLIMATE’ CASH GRAB HITS WALL AS COURT BLOCKS HEFTY NEW TOURIST TAX

The influencer visited Madeira in 2019. At the time, it was considered a hidden gem.

Some stunning spots include the Levada das 25 Fontes, which features waterfalls, tunnels and lush scenery. 

Madeira is known for sweeping views

Influencers have flocked to Madeira for views such as the one shown here. (iStock)

The Cabo Girão Skywalk, a glass platform above the Atlantic, is also a favorite.

“The Instagram effect is very real, and now the TikTok effect,” she said. 

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“I went there before the rush,” she recalled. “There were so many beautiful trails. It was still undiscovered by tourists.”

The Funchal cable car and Botanical Gardens are bucket-list items, according to many — with visitors claiming the natural volcanic pools of Porto Moniz are breathtaking.

View of Funchal in Portugal

A panoramic view of the capital of Madeira, Funchal, is shown above. (iStock)

Locals and tourists remain divided. 

“For years, locals struggled with a slower economy and fewer job opportunities,” a commenter on the r/Madeira Reddit said. 

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“Now, as tourism has surged, bringing more visitors than ever before, new concerns have emerged.”

One Facebook poster wrote recently, “We were in Madeira, and I must be honest: The crowds, the lack of parking, closed attractions without warning, put a damper on our vacation. Maybe we should’ve gone before all the cruise ships crowded this island.”

Debate rages on

There’s been an increase in housing prices, a strain on resources and a new sense of commercialization, a commenter argued.

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“Many are frustrated that the island’s natural beauty is at risk, and the tranquil, close-knit community life they cherish is shifting toward something more chaotic and crowded,” the commenter added.

Capturing photos in Madeira

“People need to learn to be more responsible and respectful toward nature, other people and infrastructure,” one man said on social media. (iStock)

Another commenter said, “Regarding the new city tax in Funchal — it solves nothing. … The money will be used to restore pavements and gardens.”

Travelers on Facebook had varied opinions. 

“I support this! People need to learn to be more responsible and respectful toward nature, other people and infrastructure,” one man said.

Madeira's Incredible View

Funchal bay in Madeira provides an incredible view. (iStock)

Another man chimed in, “So sad to see the wonderful mountain trails … turned into a barrage of red tape.”

Imposing fees on tourists in an effort to decrease crowds is not a new concept. 

As of Feb. 2, tourists need to pay to stand by the Trevi Fountain in Rome. 

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“I think tourists were shocked by the fact that the city of Rome is only asking for 2 euros for a site of this level,” Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s assessor of tourism, told The Associated Press recently. 

“I believe that if the Trevi Fountain were in New York, they would have charged at least $100.”



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Bangladesh Election Results 2026 Live: Trends revealed for 4 seats in Bangladesh, BNP ahead on 3, Jamaat’s account also opened

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Voting for the general elections in Bangladesh ended at 4:30 pm on 12 February 2026 and now the counting of votes is going on. Not only this, election results will also start coming from 8 pm tonight. About 47.91% voting took place at 36 thousand voting centers in the country. However, clashes also took place at some places during voting. A leader of Tariq Rehman’s BNP was killed, while several workers were injured. For the first time in Bangladesh, a referendum was conducted along with parliamentary elections and for the first time, arrangements for voting by postal mail were made. The main contest in Bangladesh is between BNP’s Tariq Rahman and Jamaat’s Shafiqur Rahman.

Demand to declare election results soon

BNP President Tariq Rehman demanded early declaration of election results and said that people should know the results of their casted votes soon. Tariq Rehman said that the Election Commission should take such steps so that the voters can quickly know what was the result of the person they voted for. He says that if there is a delay in declaring the results, confusion may spread among the people. If voting is fair then the results will be valid. But if there is any irregularities or tampering during the voting then such results will not be accepted.

US election observer praised Bangladeshi elections

International Republican Institute (IRI) election observer and former US MP David Dreier has described the election as free, fair and festive. David Dreyer is currently leading IRI’s election observation mission. On Thursday, he visited the polling stations of Manarat International School and College located in Gulshan area of ​​Dhaka and took stock of the situation there. After visiting the polling stations, David Dreyer said while talking to the media that there was an orderly and peaceful atmosphere during the voting. He said, ‘People reached the polling centers in large numbers and there was a lot of enthusiasm.’

Dreyer has called it a special day in the history of Bangladesh. He said, ‘Today is a very special day in the history of this beautiful country. This is my first visit to Bangladesh and I see enthusiasm, happiness and a festive atmosphere among the people here. He further said that the voting process appeared transparent and orderly, in which no major irregularities were seen.

Clashes in many areas during elections

There was a clash in Shyamankhola of Bagerhat district of Bangladesh, in which 6 workers of Jamaat-e-Islami were injured. He was admitted to Shyamankhola Upazila Health Complex. Jamaat-e-Islami candidate from Bagerhat-4 seat, Principal Abdul Aleem confirmed the incident. He said that his workers were attacked in the morning amidst tension in the election atmosphere. Meanwhile, BNP leader Mohibuzzaman Kochi has died. However, BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that voting was being conducted in a fair and peaceful manner across the country.

Bangladesh election results live: Polls close in race between BNP, Jamaat | Bangladesh Election 2026 News

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Sen Josh Hawley calls for federal mifepristone crackdown and oversight

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is calling for a crackdown on the abortion pill Mifepristone, saying it is time for Congress to increase oversight of the drug and reinstate what he describes as basic safety guardrails.

“The issue is that there are more abortions in the United States now than there were when Roe was still… law,” Hawley told Fox News Digital Tuesday in an interview. 

“I mean, think about it, it is extraordinary,” Hawley said. “Abortions are going up every single year. What’s driving that is Mifepristone. You know, it’s the chemical abortion drug that is getting mailed into every state in the country. Doesn’t matter what the state laws are. It doesn’t matter if your state restricts abortion, bans abortion, or bans Mifepristone, it doesn’t matter.” 

“It’s getting mailed into every single state without a doctor visit, many times, really without even a doctor’s prescription,” he continued. “No follow-up. It’s unbelievable.”

REPUBLICAN SENATORS BLAST FDA FOR EXPANDING ABORTION PILL ACCESS

Sen. Hawley in Senate hearing

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., speaking. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mifepristone, the abortion pill originally made by Danco Laboratories, blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to sustain pregnancy, and is followed by Misoprostol to complete the process.

A study of 875,000 insurance claims on Mifepristone is that it has an 11% adverse health event rate,” Hawley said. “This means 11% of women who use it end up in the emergency room or with a very serious health condition. And yet, that’s not what’s on the label of the drug.”

The study, conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, was authored by Ryan T. Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Jamie Bryan Hall, its director of data analysis.

It reviewed a claims’ database that included 865,727 prescribed Mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023.

PRO-LIFE GROUP FINDS BIDEN-ERA FDA POLICY IS DRIVING 500 ABORTIONS PER DAY, SAYS TRUMP HAS POWER TO END IT

Closeup of a mifepristone tablets box

Mifepristone tablets are seen in a Planned Parenthood clinic, July 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

The report found that 10.93% of women, nearly 11%, “experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a Mifepristone abortion.” 

In October, Hawley accused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of endangering women’s health, saying the agency approved the chemical abortion drug Mifepristone without the thorough safety review it had promised.

“The FDA, the commissioner, Marty Makary, promised me he would do a study,” Hawley told Fox News Digital. “And I just think that that study is nowhere close to being done. I don’t know if it’ll ever be done. So I just, I have concluded that that’s a dead end, but I think Congress is gonna have to approach this in a different way.”

FDA CHIEF HAS NO ‘PLANS’ FOR ABORTION PILL POLICY CHANGES BUT CONTINUES SAFETY REVIEW

Boxes of Mifepristone

A container holding boxes of Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, is prepared for patients at Alamo Women’s Clinic in Carbondale, Ill., April 20, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

The Missouri senator said he would at least like to see what he called “minimal” safeguards, including in-person doctor visits before prescriptions are issued and screening for ectopic pregnancies.

I mean, we’re talking about really minimal things,” Hawley said. “I mean number one, a in-person doctor visit with a doctor actually making the prescription. There needs to be the screening for ectopic pregnancies as part of that because if you take Mifoprestone with an ectopic pregnancy, it could lead to fatal hemorrhaging. There needs to be a follow-up doctor visit.”

“And I believe there needs to be in-person administration of the drug,” he continued. “You know, a doctor actually needs to be there to administer the drug in case there are any side effects. And these are very minor regulations that were in place in President Trump’s first term. President Biden removed them. But really – that’s just the very, that’s the bare, bare minimum.” 

Hawley said that he thinks Congress must “do more” in its oversight of the drug. 

“I think we’re gonna have to do more,” he said. “And, you know, I hope to have more to say about that in the coming weeks. It’s becoming clear to me that this safety review that I hoped would catalyze action at the FDA is just not happening.”

“I mean, it doesn’t look to me like it has any timeframe on it,” Hawley said. “You know, listen, the FDA made a commitment to do that study a year ago, and they are nowhere on it, as near as I could tell. Just nowhere at all. So that to me looks like a complete dead end. And I just think Congress is going to have to step in.”

capitol at dusk

Congress must “do more” in its oversight of the drug, Sen. Hawley said. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Makary and the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

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Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report. 



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Sensex tumbles 558 points on sell-off in IT shares

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Benchmark BSE Sensex fell 558 points on Thursday amid heavy selling in IT shares, as concerns over AI-led disruptions and waning hopes of a Fed rate cut after firm US economic data weighed on investor sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 558.72 points, or 0.66 per cent, to settle at 83,674.92. During the day, it tanked 716.97 points, or 0.85 per cent, to hit an intraday low of 83,516.67.

The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 146.65 points, or 0.57 per cent, to end at 25,807.20.

Technology stocks led the slide, with Tech Mahindra, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) tumbling nearly 6 per cent each to emerge as major laggards on the Sensex.

HCL Technologies, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries, Eternal, HDFC Bank, IndiGo, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Adani Ports also ended in the red.

On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics Ltd, State Bank of India, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel and Tata Steel were among the gainers.

BSE MidCap Select Index fell 0.48 per cent, while SmallCap Select Index slipped 0.28 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, Focussed IT slumped the most by 5.40 per cent, followed by IT by 5.29 per cent.

“A nosedive correction in the IT index triggered by mounting concerns over AI-led disruptions, along with low expectations of a US Fed rate cut due to strong US job data and unemployment rates, dampened investor sentiment,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd, said.

He added that in the global markets, AI is reshaping markets by compressing margins in service-intensive sectors and increasing concentration-led volatility.

“In India, this technology shift is likely to structurally transform IT services by accelerating delivery timelines and automating volume-driven tasks, thereby challenging the traditional headcount-based outsourcing model.

“A weak sentiment in the IT sector, along with lingering geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, may influence investors to take a cautious approach in the near term,” Nair said.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi closed over 3 percent higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index also ended on a positive note, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng benchmark finished in the negative territory.

European markets are trading higher in mid-session deals. US equities ended lower on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 943.81 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors were the net sellers of stocks worth Rs 125.36 crore, according to exchange data.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.27 per cent to USD 69.21 per barrel.

On Wednesday, the 30-share BSE Sensex slipped 40.28 points to close at 84,233.64, while the NSE Nifty inched up 18.70 points to settle at 25,953.85.

Published on February 12, 2026

UK unveils telecoms charter to curb mid-contract bill shocks • The Register

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The UK government claims a new Telecoms Consumer Charter will stop customers being hit by unexpected bill increases and offer clearer pricing when signing up to deals.

Britain’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) says major telco providers – BT, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), the newly conjoined VodafoneThree, Sky, and TalkTalk – have signed up to new commitments under the charter.

The charter, however, appears to be nothing more than a voluntary code of conduct with no legal enforcement.

The providers attended a Wednesday roundtable hosted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. The move follows a November letter from the pair asking telcos to confirm “customers under contract will not face price rises beyond those that they signed up to.”

The government claims customers will know exactly what they’ll be paying when they sign up for mobile or broadband deal, with no unexpected price hikes midway through a contract. Note: not no price rises – just no unexpected ones. The charter requires providers give clear upfront information about future price changes.

The text of the Telecoms Consumer Charter is available here, so Reg readers can see what it says for themselves, but we’ve included a taster.

Crucially, customers should always receive clear and easily understandable information about their telecoms services and prices, and any changes, so they know exactly what they are paying for and why.

All providers commit that “where a contract includes a mid‑contract price increase, the core subscription price (monthly payment) for their service that customers sign up to is the price that they will pay. Any exception to this is limited strictly to unforeseeable and externally driven events that materially affect the cost of providing services.”

This follows O2’s decision last year to lift prices beyond original contract expectations, which prompted scrutiny from Ofcom. The regulator previously banned mid-contract price rises unless providers let customers leave penalty-free – O2 simply told customers they knew where the door was if they didn’t like it.

The charter states that for customers still on legacy inflation-linked T&Cs, April 2026 will be the final increase expressed this way, after which all contracts are to move to the clearer pounds-and-pence system.

Signatories also commit to easier switching by through One Touch Switching, Text‑to‑Switch, and related processes remain “quick, simple, and seamless.”

However, the relatively short text in the charter doesn’t appear to carry any legal weight, making it simply a voluntary code with no penalties for breaking its terms.

“We remain skeptical about how the Telecoms Consumer Charter will protect customers who have been hit by mid-contract price rises. This appears to be a belated and weak response to providers testing how far they can push price increases during fixed-term deals,” said Alex Tofts, broadband expert at comparison site Broadband Genie.

Paddy Paddison, CEO of the Independent Networks Cooperative Association, took the opposite stance: “INCA welcomes this engagement between government, Ofcom and industry through the Telecoms Consumer Charter.”

“Customers should be able to understand, in plain pounds and pence, what they are signing up to and what they can expect to pay. It is important these commitments are practical and maintain the conditions for continued investment and network competition, because that is what delivers better coverage, service quality and value over time.” ®



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At least 21 dead in ferry sinking in northern Sudan’s River Nile State | Sudan war News

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At least six people have been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to locate about a dozen people still missing, officials say.

At least 21 people have drowned, while others remain missing, after a passenger ferry sank on the Nile in northern Sudan’s River Nile State, civil defence officials have said, in the war-ravaged nation.

The Sudanese Sovereignty Council issued a press statement mourning the deaths of 21 people, including women and children.

Police Major General Qurashi Hussein, Sudan’s assistant director general of civil defence, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that six or seven people had been rescued, while efforts were continuing to recover about a dozen people believed missing.

The wooden passenger ferry had been carrying 30-35 passengers, including women, elderly people and children, when it sank on Wednesday evening while travelling between the villages of Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai in River Nile State, Hussein said.

Teams sent from capital

Hussein added that teams had been sent from Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, to assist with the operation, with all civil defence teams in River Nile State being mobilised to search for the missing.

“Our teams are still searching for bodies of those who drowned in the Nile,” he said.

The Sudan Doctors Network, an association of Sudanese medical professionals, said in a post on X that the tragedy highlighted “the fragility of river transport” in the country and “the absence of basic safety requirements”.

It also claimed that a slow response from local authorities and civil defence teams in the critical initial hours following the sinking had “exacerbated the scale of the disaster”.

The group said it demanded that authorities respond with “immediate measures to ensure the safety of river transport and prevent the recurrence of such disasters that claim the lives of the innocent”.

Wednesday’s sinking is not the first tragedy on the river in the northern Sudanese state. In 2018, at least 23 people, most of them children, drowned when their boat sank in the Nile while they were being taken to school.



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An era-defining election for Bangladesh, where Gen Z toppled an autocrat | World News

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After years of authoritarian rule, there is hope that this election in Bangladesh will put the country on a path to democracy.

It is the first time people will be able to have their say since a mass student uprising in 2024 led to the ouster of the country’s longest-serving prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

Read more: Bangladesh votes in first general election since bloody ousting of Sheikh Hasina

It was a day the world saw Gen Z topple an autocrat.

Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka in 2014. Pic: AP
Image: Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka in 2014. Pic: AP

Once an icon of democracy and economic progress, Hasina is now in self-imposed exile in India, convicted and sentenced to death for ordering a brutal crackdown against protestors.

The UN estimates 1,400 people were killed in less than two months.

Her party, the once-dominant Awami League, is banned from this election, challenging claims from the caretaker government that this will be an entirely free and fair election.

A nun casts her vote in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pic: AP
Image: A nun casts her vote in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pic: AP

But it is, at very least and for the first time in a very long time, an election where it’s hard to predict the outcome.

Many will be seeing it as a test to assess the strength and impact of the youth vote and student movements in other parts of the world, like Nepal.

A woman shows her thumb with an ink mark after casting a vote during Bangladesh's general election. Pic: Reuters
Image: A woman shows her thumb with an ink mark after casting a vote during Bangladesh’s general election. Pic: Reuters

In both countries, frustration over a lack of jobs and endemic corruption exploded, unseating long-established leaderships.

But the truth is, it’s the old guard looming large in this vote on the surface.

Voters stand in the queue to cast their vote at a polling station in Dhaka. Pic: Reuters
Image: Voters stand in the queue to cast their vote at a polling station in Dhaka. Pic: Reuters

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is the frontrunner, the largest party, led by Tarique Rahman, son of the former PM Khaleda Zia.

He is part of a well-established dynasty.

Read more:
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister dies
India walks tightrope harbouring deposed Bangladeshi PM

Then there’s Jamaat-e-Islami, banned under Hasina and dedicated to running the country under Islamic law.

In December, the student-led National Citizens Party (NCP) made the controversial choice to ally with the much older party.

A woman shows her thumb with an ink mark after casting a vote during Bangladesh's general election. Pic: Reuters
Image: A woman shows her thumb with an ink mark after casting a vote during Bangladesh’s general election. Pic: Reuters

The split within the youth vote could limit the political impact and influence of young voters.

But there are a lot of them, about 45% of the 128 million registered voters are between the ages of 18 and 33, according to the Election Commission.

Nobody yet knows what they will do, or the many Awami League voters unable to back their party. So far, there are some early indications of low voter turnout in Awami strongholds.

In full: Wednesday’s The World

But more broadly, there is also a lot of hope and optimism in the air in Bangladesh.

There’s a sense of excitement, people speaking freely about their hopes and that openness hasn’t been on show in previous elections.

Many believe this could be an era-defining vote after years of autocracy and a chance to experience a real contest that doesn’t feel fixed.

One trend to watch for is the role of rising anti-India sentiment.

After years of good neighbourly relations, many voters, particularly young people, accuse Delhi of being overbearing and of supporting Hasina’s regime at the expense of democracy.



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