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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Reporter

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar is a news reporter with The Independent, largely covering Asia with a focus on human rights, gender, politics and minorities. She has previously worked as the India correspondent with Sputnik News and as a multimedia journalist with the New Indian Express. In the past, she has also written for websites such as Newslaundry, Firstpost and India Today.

<p>Narendra Modi greets supporters during a roadshow in Bhopal</p>
India

Modi’s ‘hate speech’ investigated by India’s election commission

<p>An Indian polling officer carries an Electronic Voting Machine</p>
India

India’s top court rules out counting process changes over EVM concerns

LiveMiddle East

UN calls for preservation of evidence of Gaza mass graves - live

<p>People from will vote over a six-week election period </p>
India

India general elections: All you need to know about 2024 polls

<p>A man drinks cold water at noon during a heatwave in Dhaka, Bangladesh </p>
South Asia

Schools shut for 33 million children as heatwave sweeps Bangladesh

Airlines that boast about low prices can be more expensive than their rivals when extra costs are added to headline fares, according to a new study (Chris Radburn/PA)
News & Advice

Ryanair cancels 300 flights across Europe amid strike in France

<p>Senior Parish Priest Fr Isaac Royel and Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during the 2023 Holy Resurrection Feast services</p>
Australasia

Australian police charge five teenagers over Sydney bishop’s stabbing

<p>Supporters of Aam Aadmi Party hold placards and posters featuring their leader and Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal </p>
India

Indian court extends detention of jailed Modi rival Arvind Kejriwal

Southeast Asia

Ten killed after naval helicopters collide during training in Malaysia

<p>File: A logo is displayed at the PEN America Literary Awards</p>
Americas

PEN America cancels annual award ceremony after boycott by writers

<p>File: Journalists gather at the courtyard of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi</p>
India

Top court allows 14-year-old rape survivor to abort at 30 weeks

<p>Lloyd Martin</p>
Sport

Teen with Down syndrome makes history at London Marathon

<p>Marjorie Taylor Greene </p>
US politics

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for Mike Johnson to quit over Ukraine aid

US politics

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for Mike Johnson to quit over Ukraine aid

<p>Marjorie Taylor Greene </p>
<p>A woman lays flowers at a tribute for the victims of knife attack near a crime scene at Bondi Junction in Sydney</p>
Australasia

Baby injured in stabbing attack in Sydney mall released from hospital

<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un </p>
East Asia

North Korea debuts song praising ‘friendly father’ Kim Jong-un

<p>File: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai poses during an interview in 2020</p>
China

Jimmy Lai plotted mainland China’s collapse, says witness

<p>Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen</p>
South Asia

Maldives court overturns former president’s 11-year prison sentence

<p>Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen</p>
South Asia

Maldives court overturns former president’s 11-year prison sentence

<p>File: An Iranian military truck carries parts of a Sayad 4-B missile past a portrait of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei </p>
Middle East

Iran’s nuclear sites unharmed, says UN watchdog after explosions heard

<p>Hanging and vertical gardens at Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru </p>
News & Advice

Indian YouTuber held for falsely claiming he spent day inside airport

<p>A woman touches a bus carrying prisoners being released from Insein prison for the Buddhist New Year</p>
South Asia

Myanmar military releases over 3,000 prisoners under amnesty

<p>A woman walks past flowers at a tribute for the victims of Saturday's knife attack near a crime scene at Bondi Junction in Sydney</p>
Australasia

Sydney’s Westfield mall reopens for tributes after fatal stabbings

<p>Mount Ruang spewing hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi</p>
Southeast Asia

Tsunami alert in Indonesia as Mount Ruang volcano erupts

<p>A handout photo made available by Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation shows smoke an lava erupting from Mount Ruang</p>
Southeast Asia

Hundreds evacuated as Indonesia’s Ruang volcano spews lave

LiveAustralasia

Baby injured in Sydney mall stabbing out of ICU

<p>Representational: A person walks past a mural painted in solidarity with the people of Palestine, in east London, Britain</p>
India

Austrian nationals booked for defacing Palestinian mural in India

<p>A handout photo made available by Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation shows smoke an lava erupting from Mount Ruang</p>
Southeast Asia

Hundreds evacuated as Indonesia’s Ruang volcano spews lave

LiveAustralasia

Baby injured in Sydney mall stabbing out of ICU

<p>Representational: A person walks past a mural painted in solidarity with the people of Palestine, in east London, Britain</p>
India

Austrian nationals booked for defacing Palestinian mural in India

<p>A person looks at floral tributes for victims of the attack left at the entrance to Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney</p>
Australasia

Sydney stabbing attack: Bondi Junction mall to reopen on Friday

Australasia

Sydney stabbing attack: Bondi Junction mall to reopen on Friday

<p>A person looks at floral tributes for victims of the attack left at the entrance to Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney</p>
<p>US national security adviser Jake Sullivan</p>
US politics

Jake Sullivan postpones India visit over Middle East tensions

<p>Bruce Lehrmann was ‘hellbent’ on having sex with Brittany Higgins, the judge found </p>
Australasia

Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, judge finds

<p>A person holds a sign during a protest against Hong Kong's new national security law outside the Chinese embassy in Los Angeles </p>
China

China tells Hong Kong to hold national security ‘tightly’

<p>Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith briefs media</p>
US Crime News

Shooting in Washington DC kills man and injures five others

<p>Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith briefs media</p>
US Crime News

Shooting in Washington DC kills man and injures five others

East Asia

Landslide win for opposition in South Korea parliamentary vote

<p>Creator of ‘Ladies Lounge’ Kirsha Kaechele at the Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art</p>
Australasia

Australian museum ordered to allow men into women-only art exhibit

<p>Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a press conference </p>
Australasia

Australia suggests it could recognise Palestinian statehood

<p>A police officer stands at the entrance of the office building where Indian tax authorities raided BBC’s office in New Delhi</p>
India

BBC splits in two in India to meet foreign investment rules

<p>A general view shows the Enel hydroelectric power plant after a fatal explosion and fire, in Bargi, Italy</p>
Europe

At least 4 dead in explosion at hydroelectric plant in Italy’s Bologna

<p>Tesla boss Elon Musk </p>
Tech

Elon Musk calls for Brazil Supreme Court judge’s resignation

<p>Donald Trump </p>
US politics

Trump’s abortion policy to include exceptions for rape and incest

<p>Social activist protesting crime against women in India</p>
India

Gang-rape survivor stopped from taking exams by school in India

<p>People look on as work is carried out on a partially-collapsed building following the earthquake </p>
East Asia

Taiwan rushes to rescue 18 trapped as 400 aftershocks rock island

<p>File: A woman holds a sign reading “Strasbourg stronger than hate” as she attends a gathering around a makeshift memorial at Place Kleber in Strasbourg </p>
Europe

Strasbourg terror attack: Security guard gets 30 years in prison

<p>An elephant herd in Okavango Delta, Botswana</p>
Africa

Botswana threatens to flood Germany with 20,000 elephants

Africa

Botswana threatens to flood Germany with 20,000 elephants

<p>An elephant herd in Okavango Delta, Botswana</p>
<p>People looking at a damaged building in Hualien, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan’s east</p>
East Asia

Taiwan rocked by biggest earthquake in 25 years

<p>Australian aid worker’s killing in Israeli airstrike sparks protests in Melbourne</p>
Middle East

UAE and charities pause Gaza relief until Israel can guarantee safety

<h2></h2>
Americas

Last USS Arizona survivor of Pearl Harbor attack dies at 102

<p>Wreckage from collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge rests on cargo ship Dali </p>
Americas

Crew ‘worried what world would think’ after Baltimore bridge collapse

<p>Wreckage from collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge rests on cargo ship Dali </p>
Americas

Crew ‘worried what world would think’ after Baltimore bridge collapse

<p>Hundreds homeless as violent storm hits West Bengal, India</p>
India

Five killed as ‘mini tornado’ and sudden rain lash eastern India

<p>Cheistha Kochhar, 33, was killed in Clerkenwell crash</p>
India

Family and friends mourn Indian student killed by bin lorry in London

<p>The Chinese flag flies at the Chinese Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand</p>
Australasia

New Zealand follows UK in accusing China of hacking its parliament

<p>People stand in a grocery store in Shanghai, China</p>
China

Chinese job advert seeking workers under 30 triggers ageism backlash

<p>The 72-year-old Briton died at a beach in the popular tourist destination of Goa in India </p>
India

British tourist, 72, swept to death on beach in India in front of wife

<p>Japan’s Kishida (right) has previously said a summit with Kim Jong-un is essential to improve relations in the region </p>
Japan

Japanese PM requests summit with Kim Jong-un, says North Korea

<p>Women put coloured powder on each other as they celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, in Kolkata, India</p>
India

In pictures: India celebrates Holi festival of colour

<p>Kate’s video message has been met with an outpouring of public sympathy</p>
Home News

Kate conspiracy theories ‘being fuelled by China, Russia and Iran’

US politics

Trump claims he plans to spend $454m fine amount on his campaign

<p>Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested on 21 March 2024 </p>
India

Modi accused of ‘dirty politics’ as Indian opposition member arrested

<p>Relatives attend the funeral of an Afghan man who was killed in a suicide attack at Kabul bank, in Kandahar</p>
South Asia

Isis claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Kandahar

South Asia

Isis claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Kandahar

<p>Relatives attend the funeral of an Afghan man who was killed in a suicide attack at Kabul bank, in Kandahar</p>
<p>Vietnam’s president Vo Van Thuong looks on during a meeting </p>
Southeast Asia

Vietnam’s leader forced out of office over ‘shortcomings’

<p>Jared Kushner speaks at an event in 2022 </p>
Middle East

Jared Kushner tells Israel to make use of Gaza’s ‘waterfront property’

<p>Journalists and plainclothes officers gather in front of the home of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon on Wednesday </p>
Southeast Asia

Myanmar junta fails to sell off Aung San Suu Kyi’s historic £120m home

<p>Lionel Messi sat out an entire Inter Miami match with Hong Kong in February 2024 </p>
China

Hong Kong football fans to get partial refunds after Messi no-show

<p>Lionel Messi sat out an entire Inter Miami match with Hong Kong in February 2024 </p>
China

Hong Kong football fans to get partial refunds after Messi no-show

<p>Russian president Vladimir Putin meets with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2022</p>
Europe

Why India continues to support Putin after sham election victory

<p>Indian navy saves 17 crew members of MV Ruen from Somali pirates</p>
India

Indian Navy rescues crew members and recaptures Somali pirate ship

<p>Indian election official (R) demonstrates the use of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail </p>
India

India sets stage for world’s biggest democratic election

<p>Cumbria police have arrested four boys in relation to a hate crime</p>
Crime

Shocking ‘racial abuse’ captured on camera as Black teenager beaten up

<p>Security personnel and volunteers standing near the wreckage of burned passenger bus and oil tanker on the Herat-Kandahar highway in Grishk district of Helmand province</p>
South Asia

More than 20 killed in Afghanistan traffic collision

<p>File. Hundreds of teaching staff are looking at losing their jobs</p>
Home News

Universities consider firing staff as foreign student enrolments drop

<p>Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong enters the West Kowloon court in Hong Kong</p>
China

Twelve sentenced to jail for storming Hong Kong legislature in 2019

<p> North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspecting a training exercise of the Korean People’s Army at an undisclosed location</p>
East Asia

Kim Jong-un urges ‘realistic’ combat preparations for soldiers

<p>People walk in the rain over London Bridge in central London</p>
Weather

Dozens of flood warnings in place as Britons brace for more showers

<p>Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk </p>
Europe

Poland orders mass recall of ambassadors

<p>Leonid Volkov, a Putin critic, was attacked outside his house in Lithuania </p>
Europe

Navalny ally vows to keep fighting Putin after hammer attack at home

<p>Chili powder adulterated with ‘Sudan Red’ has flooded the markets of Taiwan</p>
China

Taiwan opens investigation into cancer-causing Chinese food colouring

<p>An alligator populates the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Florida</p>
Americas

Florida man has hand bitten off by 9ft alligator as he reels in fish

<p>British national Liam Trimmer died in Australia</p>
Australasia

British man dies during own engagement party in Australia

<p>Jimmy Lai is facing prospect of life in prison </p>
China

Jimmy Lai’s colleague reveals text messages during court trial

<p>File: Former US president Donald Trump shakes hands with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban</p>
US politics

Trump will not ‘give a penny to Ukraine’, says Hungary PM Orban

<p>British national Liam Trimmer died in Australia</p>
Australasia

British man dies during own engagement party in Australia

<p>Jimmy Lai is facing prospect of life in prison </p>
China

Jimmy Lai’s colleague reveals text messages during court trial

<p>File: Former US president Donald Trump shakes hands with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban</p>
US politics

Trump will not ‘give a penny to Ukraine’, says Hungary PM Orban

<p>File: People protest against citizenship law </p>
India

India to enforce migration laws that exclude Muslims

<p>MMA fighter Chungreng Koren appeals to PM Narendra Modi to visit conflict-torn Manipur</p>
India

MMA champion appeals to Indian PM to visit his crisis-hit state

<p>Victoria police are treating the death of young mother as suspicious</p>
Australasia

Tributes paid to ‘caring mother’ after body found in Australia

<p>A helicopter heads towards the Matterhorn </p>
Europe

Family of skiers found dead in Alps storm with one still missing

<p>Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, center, waves to delegates after the opening session of the National People's Congress </p>
China

Hong Kong’s new security law unveiled: Here’s what it means

<p>Representational image: Police in Bangladesh have arrested a professor for shooting a student</p>
South Asia

Professor suspended for shooting student in Bangladesh classroom

<p>Australian woman Samantha Murphy was last seen on 4 February</p>
Australasia

Man charged in case of missing Australian woman

<p>India prime minister Narendra Modi takes a metro rail ride in Kolkata with school students</p>
India

India gets its first underwater metro

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