Meta, X And TikTok CEOs To Face US Senate Questioning Over Child Safety

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the chief executives of X, TikTok, Discord and Snap face a grilling by US lawmakers on Wednesday over the dangers that social media platforms bring to children and teens.

The tech chieftains have been convened by the US Senate Judiciary Committee where they will be asked about the effects of social media in a session titled "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis."

The hearing promises to be grueling for the executives who are facing political anger for not doing enough to thwart online dangers for children, including from sexual predators.

"These CEOs have serious questions to answer about their shameful track records on child safety, and their attempts to keep these failures from public view for so many years," said Imran Ahmed, CEO and founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Testifying to senators will be Mark Zuckerberg, X's Linda Yaccarino, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, Evan Spiegel of Snap and Discord's Jason Citron.

"I'm proud of the work our teams have done to improve online child safety, not just on our services but across the entire internet," Meta's Zuckerberg will tell the committee, according to his prepared testimony made available to AFP.

No liability 

Under US law, web platforms are largely shielded from any legal liability in relation to content that is shared on their site.

While lawmakers would like to set up more rules to increase online safety, new laws have been stymied by a politically divided Washington and intense lobbying by big tech.

One existing proposal is the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, which aims to protect children from algorithms that might trigger anxiety or depression.

Another idea would require social media platforms to verify the age of account holders and completely bar children under the age of 13 from signing up.

Ahead of their testimony, Meta and X, formerly Twitter, announced new measures to satisfy any political pushback.

Meta, which owns the world's leading platforms Facebook and Instagram, said it would block direct messages sent to young teens by strangers.

By default, teens under age 16 can now only be messaged or added to group chats by people they already follow or are connected to.

Meta also tightened content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook making it harder for them to view posts that discuss suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders.

Zuckerberg will tell lawmakers that around 40,000 Meta employees work on online safety and that $20 billion has been invested since 2016 to keep the platform safer.

He will also back legislation that delivers age verification and clear parental control.

'Center of excellence' 

X also announced last week, ahead of the hearing, that it was setting up a content moderation team in Austin Texas.

The initial goal of the "Trust and Safety center of excellence" in Austin will be to recruit 100 content moderators, focusing on weeding out child sexual exploitation content and other violations of the platform's rules.

Prior to the tech executives' Capitol Hill appearance, X's Yaccarino was in Washington to meet with lawmakers from both parties on topics including child protection.

X currently has more than 2,000 content moderators, both full-time employees and contractors, the company said.

But when Elon Musk first took over Twitter in late 2022, he imposed huge staff cuts that saw the company's trust and safety teams decimated.

Musk, a self-declared "free speech absolutist," also vowed to remove content restrictions, with numerous banned figures able to return.

For now the only American curbs to the online giants are through lawsuits brought by US states, with about 40 states jointly suing Meta over alleged failures with kids.

Those lawsuits contend Meta knowingly allows users younger than 13 on its Instagram platform, only disabling a fraction of those accounts.

The suits also accuse Meta of concealing internal studies showing user harm on Instagram and Facebook.

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US Threatens To Reimpose Sanctions On Venezuelan Oil Sector

The United States warned Tuesday it was ready to snap back sanctions on Venezuela's vital oil industry unless opponents of President Nicolas Maduro are allowed to run against him, as the leftist government vowed to hit back through migration.

The sharp exchanges came just two months after the adversaries took tentative steps to improve relations following a deal between Maduro and the opposition.

But that deal has since collapsed with the barring of credible rivals from competing in this year's presidential elections.

The United States announced it was immediately winding down a license that allowed operations by the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company, Minerven.

The State Department said it was also ready to reimpose sanctions on dealings with the oil and gas sector, Venezuela's key money-maker, but gave a deadline of April 18 for progress between Maduro and the opposition.

"There is still time for the Maduro regime to change course. There is still time for them to allow a free and fair election," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We are hopeful that that's what they'll do, but if they don't, we're prepared to implement our sanctions," he said.

Miller said that Maduro needed to abide by the agreement with the opposition, reached in October in Barbados, and allow other candidates to "freely participate" in the election.

Venezuela's Supreme Court, loyal to Maduro, on Friday upheld a 15-year ban on holding public office against the president's main opponent in elections due this year, Maria Corina Machado.

The court also confirmed the ineligibility of a possible opposition stand-in -- two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

Machado, after the court decision, accused Maduro and his "criminal system" of seeking "fraudulent elections."

- Threat on migration -

Venezuelan authorities responded by threatening to hit Biden in a sensitive area ahead of his own bid for reelection -- migration.

More than seven million Venezuelans have fled over the past decade as the economy implodes, and a growing number have sought to enter the United States.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez warned that Venezuela on February 13 will cancel repatriation flights for its nationals -- which started in October in an initial deal between the Maduro and Biden administrations -- if the United States goes ahead with "intensifying the economic aggression."

"All of Venezuela rejects the rude and improper blackmail and ultimatum expressed by the US government," Rodriguez wrote on X.

In early 2019, the United States declared Maduro to be illegitimate after concerns about a previous election, with most Western and Latin American countries switching recognition to then opposition leader Juan Guaido.

But years of sanctions and other pressure failed to dislodge Maduro, who enjoys support from a political patronage system, the military and Cuba, Russia and China.

The Biden administration, after initially keeping the sanctions approach of his predecessor Donald Trump, shifted gears.

In November Washington gave a green light to Chevron to operate in Venezuela and, just before Christmas, Venezuela freed 10 detained Americans in a swap with the United States which released a Maduro confidante.

Asked whether the Biden approach had failed, Miller pointed to the Americans' release, saying the United States had already achieved "a very important goal."

US officials have privately acknowledged that they saw limited prospects for Maduro to allow a vote in which he could lose power, but believed it was worth trying.

Maduro last week made claims of plans to assassinate him and said the Barbados agreements are "mortally wounded."

Trump's Republican Party has attacked Biden's dealings with Maduro, but leading members of the president's Democratic Party also called for a return of sanctions after the disqualification of candidates.

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15 Killed After Rebel Attacks In Pakistan's Balochistan

A separatist militant attack in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan region late on Monday left at least 15 people dead, including two civilians and four law enforcement agents, the Pakistani military said in a statement.

Militants, including suicide bombers, attacked Mach and Kolpur complexes in the southwestern province of Balochistan, the Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations agency (ISPR) said. At least nine militants including three suicide bombers were killed, it said.

"Security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilised who are carrying out ensuing operation," ISPR said.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of several separatist groups in the southwestern province of Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group aims to achieve independence for mountainous and mineral-rich Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by territory but the smallest in terms of population, which has seen a decades-long insurgency.

Balochistan borders Afghanistan to the north, Iran to the west and has a long coastline on the Arabian Sea. It has Pakistan's largest natural gas field and is believed to hold many more undiscovered reserves. It is also rich in precious metals including gold, the production of which has grown over recent years.

Balochistan is a key location in China's huge multi-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of President Xi Jinping's massive Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

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Only Waved "Piece Of Paper" In Rally Not State Secret: Imran Khan To Court

Jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a special court on Tuesday for leaking state secrets, has reportedly stated that he had only waved a "piece of paper" during his party rally to expose a conspiracy against his government.

"The plan was to give (General Qamar Javed) Bajwa - retired army chief - the message that the entire plan will be exposed if the government is conspired against," Khan was quoted as saying in the statement he submitted to the court by the Express Tribune newspaper.

The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician also said the responsibility of protecting the cipher (secret diplomatic communication) was not his. "One of my ADCs (Aide-de-Camp) stole the cypher on Bajwa's directives," he said, adding that he was never in possession of the actual cypher.

"The responsibility for the PMO's security rested with the military secretary, principal secretary and secretary protocol during my three-and-a-half years," he said.

During the trial, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf founder submitted a mandatory statement in the special court, stating that he only waved a paper during the rally to merely express his fear of a conspiracy without naming any country, the report said.

The cipher controversy first emerged on March 27, 2022, when Khan - less than a month before his ouster in April 2022 - while addressing a public rally waved a letter before the crowd, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation that had conspired with his political rivals to have his government overthrown.

Khan did not reveal the contents of the letter nor did he mention the name of the nation it came from. But a few days later, he accused the US of conspiring against him and alleged that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal.

The cipher was about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Asad Majeed's meeting with Lu.

The case was filed against Khan and Qureshi on August 15 last year by the Federal Investigation Agency, which accused both of violating the secrecy laws while handling the cable sent by the Pakistan embassy in Washington in March 2022.

The verdict comes nine days before the February 8 general elections, which the PTI is contesting amid a state crackdown and without an electoral symbol.

In his statement, Khan said: "This is the only document that has gone missing from the Prime Minister's Office. If the cipher is missing then the military secretary should be asked to conduct an inquiry." The former premier said that this was the only time when he even got angry with the military secretary. "One of my ADCs stole the cypher on Gen Bajwa's order," Khan repeated his allegations.

He also said his government was toppled due to a conspiracy. "General Bajwa and US Secretary of State Donald Lu were involved in the conspiracy".

"The conspiracy to overthrow my government took place in October 2021 when General Bajwa replaced ISI chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed," the PTI founder stated.

Khan said that "all this happened with the connivance of Gen Bajwa, [PML-N leaders] Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, because they promised Gen Bajwa to extend his tenure".

"[Former ambassador to the US] Hussain Haqqani was hired to lobby in the US on behalf of Gen Bajwa, for which the former was paid $35,000. In April, Hussain Haqqani tweeted that Imran Khan was anti-US while Gen Bajwa was pro-US," the former premier maintained in his statement.

Khan claimed that the former army chief used the ISI to convince the PTI's political allies to withdraw their support for the government and also forced party members to leave, insisting that their "future lay with the PML-N".

"I asked Gen Bajwa regarding the conspiracy when I met him, but he claimed nothing of the sort was taking place. Despite several meetings with him, the ISI kept working against my government.

"During the first week of March, I had an official trip to Russia and the foreign ministry agreed with the visit. Before leaving for Russia, I also talked with Gen Bajwa and he too agreed that I should undertake the visit. A few days after I returned, Shah Mahmood Qureshi informed me that Asad Majeed had sent a cypher message from Washington." "It was a shocking cipher which was not meant for the prime minister or foreign minister to see. Qureshi then called Asad Majeed (ambassador to US) for information regarding the cypher and I was left surprised after reading it," Khan said.

He said there was no precedent for a diplomat being threatened by the US officials during a meeting. "They threatened that if the prime minister is not removed, there would be consequences." "Asad Majeed informed Donald Lu that all stakeholders had agreed on the official visit to Russia. Asad Majeed recommended issuing a demarche to the US, while our allies were sending us messages that they were being pressurised by the ISI to leave the alliance." Khan claimed that the US Embassy in Pakistan was also active. "They were calling people to the embassy and during this time, several meetings were also held with Gen Bajwa. They were told that if the government is ousted the economy would be destroyed, and the economic plan of Shehbaz Sharif will not be able to stabilise the economy." He further claimed that the "cypher sent by Donald Lu was addressed to Gen Bajwa as he had the power to topple the government". 

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Brazil Police Probe Bolsonaro Son Over Illegal Spying

Police in Brazil raided the home and offices of former president Jair Bolsonaro's son Carlos Monday over accusations of involvement in illegal spying during his father's presidency.

Federal police said they had carried out nine search and seizure warrants in the latest phase of an ongoing investigation into a "criminal organization set up in the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) to illegally monitor public officials and others."

A police source told AFP that Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councilor and the second of Bolsonaro's four sons, was among the targets.

The investigation, which involves accusations Abin illegally tracked the geolocation data of hundreds of Bolsonaro's perceived opponents during his presidency (2019-2022), has closed in on the far-right ex-president's inner circle.

Last Thursday, police also raided the home and offices of Bolsonaro's former intelligence chief, ex-Abin director Alexandre Ramagem, who is now a federal lawmaker for the former president's Liberal Party.

Police said they were now moving on the alleged domestic spying ring's "political core," identifying "the main recipients and beneficiaries of the information produced illegally within Abin via clandestine operations."

Carlos Bolsonaro's home and his offices at Rio city hall were searched in the raids, Brazilian media reports said.

Police said they had also targeted addresses in the capital, Brasilia, and the resort town of Angra dos Reis, 150 kilometers (95 miles) west of Rio.

Globo News TV showed the former president, 68, and Carlos Bolsonaro, 41, outside a house in Angra dos Reis as federal officers departed.

Investigators allege Abin used Israeli-made surveillance software known as FirstMile, which tracks cell phone geolocation data, to spy on figures including supreme court justices, the former lower-house speaker and others.

The leader of Bolsonaro's party, Valdemar Costa Neto has called the investigation "persecution."

Bolsonaro has faced mounting legal trouble since losing a divisive election to veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022.

Two of Bolsonaro's other sons have also been mentioned in court documents on the illegal espionage case.

Investigators allege the spying aimed to help Bolsonaro's son Flavio, a senator, fight off a corruption investigation, and help another son, Jair Renan, in an influence-peddling probe.

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S Jaishankar, Israeli Counterpart Discuss Ongoing Situation In West Asia

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held a meeting with Israeli counterpart Israel Katz on Monday and discussed the ongoing situation in West Asia.

During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders talked about India's views, assessments and interests in that regard. S Jaishankar and Israel Katz agreed to remain in touch.

In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar stated, "Good to talk to Israeli FM @Israel_katz. Discussed the ongoing situation in West Asia. Spoke about India's views, assessments and interests in that regard. Agreed to stay in touch."

Good to talk to Israeli FM @Israel_katz.

Discussed the ongoing situation in West Asia. Spoke about India's views, assessments and interests in that regard.

Agreed to stay in touch.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 29, 2024

The war in Gaza continues after Israel launched a counter-offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first global leaders to condemn the horrific terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. 

However, India has also continued with its weight behind the 'two-state solution' to the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict.

India also sent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza as part of its commitment. Earlier in December, India released the second tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Thursday. With this, India also fulfilled its annual contribution of USD 5 million for 2023-24, the Indian Embassy in Palestine said in a statement.

On January 19, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the pressing issue of the conflict in Gaza while emphasising the need for a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis.

Delivering India's National Statement at the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Mr Jaishankar asserted that "terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable." He underscored the importance of respecting international humanitarian law by all states involved.

"Right now, the conflict in Gaza is understandably uppermost in our minds. This humanitarian crisis requires a sustainable solution that gives immediate relief to those most affected," said the EAM.

"We must also be clear that terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable. At the same time, international humanitarian law must always be respected by all states," he also said.

Speaking on the Gaza conflict, Jaishankar added that it is also "imperative that conflict does not spread within or beyond the region."

Reiterating India's long-standing stance on a two-state solution, the External Affairs Minister said, "But in the final analysis, we must seek a two-state solution where the Palestinian people can live within secure borders. Our collective endeavours should focus on making this realisable."

Mr Jaishankar emphasised that collective efforts should focus on realising this solution and promoting peace and stability. He also highlighted the interconnectedness of global issues, noting that growth and progress depend on peace and stability.

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New Mahatma Gandhi Statue Unveiled Outside US Temple After 2022 Vandalism

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar unveiled a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a temple in Queens here, replacing a previous sculpture that was vandalised twice more than a year ago.

"Last year, the statue of Gandhi that stood in South Richmond Hill was destroyed. But our solidarity and spirit to rebuild was not. Today, we stood with the community to say in one voice: Hate has no place in our city," Mr Adams said in a post on X.

Last year, the statue of Gandhi that stood in South Richmond Hill was destroyed. But our solidarity and spirit to rebuild was not.

Today, we stood with the community to say in one voice: Hate has no place in our city.

We embody the values of justice for which Gandhi gave his… pic.twitter.com/tPUOSzpguj

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 21, 2024

"We embody the values of justice for which Gandhi gave his life," he said after the new statue outside the Shri Tulsi Mandir in South Richmond Hill was unveiled last week.

Rajkumar, Adams, and community leaders unveiled the brand new Mahatma statue, which replaced the one that was "infamously destroyed" in a hate crime in August 2022, Rajkumar's office said.

"The unveiling of the new statue sends the message that love will always triumph over hate," her office added.

In August 2022, unidentified persons destroyed the handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a sledgehammer at the Hindu temple. The same Gandhi statue was vandalised two weeks before the August 2022 incident, investigating officials had said.

In a post on X, Ms Rajkumar termed the unveiling as a "historic moment for our Richmond Hill community as we came together to show that our love will conquer all hate." "A year ago, I led the Richmond Hill community in an international movement for peace after vandals destroyed our Mahatma Gandhi Statue in a hate crime. Today was a historic moment as @NYCMayor and I unveiled a brand new Gandhi statue at the site. Love will always conquer hate," she said.

The Consulate General of India in New York had strongly condemned the vandalisation and had taken up the matter with US authorities to ensure those responsible for the "despicable action" are held accountable.

NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman said in a post on X that in 2022, a hate crime was "committed not once, but twice, against the Hindu community" in Richmond Hill, with the destruction of the Gandhi statue in front of the Shri Tulsi Mandir.

"Many, including @JeniferRajkumar, @DavidWeprin and myself stood in solidarity against this hatred," she said, adding that she was proud to join with the community to unveil the new Gandhi statue.

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Spain Police Bust Alleged Corpse-Selling Racket

Spanish police on Monday said they had busted the owners of a funeral parlour in Valencia for allegedly selling dead bodies to university research departments for 1,200 euros per corpse.

The four suspects, two owners and two employees, also helped the universities dispose of the bodies after they had been studied by incinerating them or disposing of their dismembered parts in other coffins slated for cremation.

Most of the bodies were of people without any family.

The suspects "falsified documentation to get the bodies from hospitals and retirement homes in order to later sell them to universities for research for 1,200 ($1,300) per corpse," a police statement said.

The suspects had sold at least 11 bodies, it added.

In some cases, they even billed the universities for cremations which never happened.

"They billed one university 5,040 euros for incinerating 11 bodies after being studied, which were not accounted for in the invoices of any of the crematoriums in the city," police said.

Police began investigating in early 2023 after discovering that two funeral parlour employees had taken a body from a hospital morgue using false documents and brought it to university researchers rather than burying it.

The body belonged to a man who was to be buried in his home town in an interment paid for by the local council, but instead was sold for study without anyone's consent.

The suspects "looked for people who had died without any living relatives, preferably foreigners," police said.

In another case, the suspects allegedly managed to persuade an elderly man with impaired mental faculties to agree to donate his body to science.

"That donor form said the body should be sent to a certain medical facility, but in the end it was taken to another" which "paid more money", the police statement said.

The suspects are facing charges of fraud and the falsification of documents.

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Jinping's 'Break New Ground' Note To France Days After Macron's India Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to the China-France ties, days after French President Emmanuel Macron's high-profile visit to India during which the two countries unveiled an ambitious defence roadmap besides intensifying cooperation in the strategic Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region.

Macron's visit to India also coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

In his message on the occasion, Xi said "As today's world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development."

Xi said China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties and he stands ready to work with Macron to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an "opportunity to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic," the official media reported.

China has offered to step up French imports to the country, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

"We will continue to unleash consumer and investment market demand, continue to expand the import of high-quality products and services from France", he said and hoped that France too will provide Chinese companies with a fair, just and predictable business environment.

China prioritises ties with France as Macron is pushing Europe to become a third bloc, a balancing force between the US and China.

Hailing China-France ties, Chinese official media has called for stepping up cooperation in high-tech areas.

"Scientific and technological cooperation between France and China has been a cornerstone of their relationship. From aerospace and the nuclear industry to renewable energy, the two countries have made significant strides in joint research and development", state-run China Daily said in its editorial.

President Macron was the sixth leader from France to be the chief guest at India's 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26.

Beijing kept a wary watch on Macron's visit to India as Paris is emerging as a key defence partner to New Delhi amid efforts by the US and European Union to court India as a counterweight to counter China.

After Macron's talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries unveiled an ambitious defence industrial roadmap to co-develop critical military hardware besides firming up cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, a key area of concern for China.

"Defence and security partnership has been the cornerstone of India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region", the joint statement issued after Macron's visit to India said.

"They also agreed to intensify their cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean, building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022", it said.

The intensification of India-France cooperation in the Indian Ocean concerns China as it tries to make forays in India's backyard.

The US, India and several other world powers have been discussing the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the resource-rich region. 

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3 American Soldiers Killed In Drone Attack In Syria

Jordan said Sunday a drone attack that killed three US troops did not occur on its territory as Washington reported earlier but at an army base in Syria near the border.

Government spokesman Muhannad Mubaidin said the "attack that targeted the American forces did not happen in Jordan... It targeted Al-Tanf base in Syria", where US forces are deployed as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition.

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King Charles Recovering After Surgery, No Royal Duties For A Month: Report

Britain's King Charles III will not carry out any royal duties for up to one month as he recovers from a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate, media reports said on Sunday.

The 75-year-old King was treated for an enlarged prostate, after being admitted to the hospital on Friday morning and is "doing well".

He underwent the procedure at The London Clinic and remains in hospital.

Queen Camilla visited her husband again on Sunday as he continues to rest at The London Clinic following the treatment on Friday.

She has shared that the King is “doing well” and it has also been reported that the monarch visited his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales.

Princess Catherine is also recovering at the same central London hospital after her abdominal surgery last week.

Sky's royal correspondent Laura Bundock says there will now be a "period of recuperation" for the King.

He will be available for state matters while in hospital and can attend to red boxes with government papers when he is discharged, she added.

The King had last carried out duties in private on Thursday, ahead of arriving in London from Norfolk to prepare for the procedure.

King Charles, who only acceded to the throne 16 months ago, had to cancel engagements ahead of the surgery as his doctors urged him to rest, though the exact nature of his treatment is not known.

The King had been staying at the royal Sandringham estate and completing some tasks there ahead of journeying down to London for the medical procedure on Friday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished King Charles the "very best" for his treatment and a "speedy recovery" afterward, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

The King was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 while staying at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.

He is said to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.

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"Shocking": UN After Countries Pause Funds For Palestinian Agency

Six European countries paused funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza, after the allegations by Israel.

"Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment," Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, said on X. "This stains all of us."

The agency said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with those people.

Encouraging more donor suspensions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said UNRWA should be replaced once fighting in the enclave dies down and accused it of ties to Islamist militants in Gaza.

"In Gaza's rebuilding, @UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development," he added on X.

Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq, asked about Katz's remarks, said: "We are not responding to rhetoric. UNRWA overall had had a strong record, which we have repeatedly underscored."

Lazzarini said the decision by the nine countries threatened its humanitarian work across the region, especially in Gaza.

"It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation," he said in a statement.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and Hamas condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy".

UNRWA was set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel's founding and provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the war that Israel launched to eliminate Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks.

Announcing the investigation, Lazzarini said on Friday that he had decided to terminate the contracts of some staff members to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.

Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that "any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror" would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

During weeks of Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave, UNRWA has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the Palestinians' umbrella political body the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said cutting support to the agency brought major political and relief risks.

"We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X.

The Foreign Ministry in Germany, a major donor to UNRWA, welcomed UNRWA's investigation, saying it was deeply concerned about the allegations raised against agency employees.

"We expect Lazzarini to make it clear within UNRWA's workforce that all forms of hatred and violence are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated," it said on X.

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US Begins Talks With Iraq On Withdrawing Foreign Troops

Iraq and the United States on Saturday held a first round of talks on the future of American and other foreign troops in the country, with Baghdad expecting discussions to lead to a timeline for reducing their presence.

Roughly 2,500 US troops are still deployed in Iraq as part of the anti-Islamic State group international coalition formed in 2014 -- the year the jihadist group overran swathes of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

But after the Israel-Hamas war began in October US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have faced frequent attacks by Iran-aligned groups, leading to US retaliatory strikes and Iraqi complaints of American "aggression" against its territory.

The volatile situation has pushed Iraq's prime minister -- whose government relies on the support of Iran-aligned parties -- to call for the coalition to leave, although talks had been planned since an initial meeting in Washington in August.

On Saturday a "one-way drone attack" targeted the Ain al-Assad base, where coalition troops are stationed in Iraq's western Anbar province, a US military official told AFP.

An Iraqi security official confirmed the drone attack, with the US official saying it was not immediately clear whether it had led to any casualties or damage.

Earlier the office of Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani issued a photograph of him with top-ranking officials from both the Iraqi armed forces and the US-led coalition.

Their joint commission "started its work today, in Baghdad, to review the mission of the Global Coalition against Daesh," Sudani's office said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS.  

"Military experts will oversee ending the military mission of the Global Coalition against Daesh, a decade after its initiation and after its successful achievement of its mission in partnership with Iraqi security and military forces."

Sudani's foreign affairs adviser, Farhad Alaaldin, told AFP that the talks "and whatever progress made will determine the length of these negotiations. 

"Iraq is engaging the other countries taking part in the international coalition for bilateral agreements that serves the best interest of Iraq and these countries," Alaaldin said.

The US-led coalition said in a statement that Saturday's meeting was part of the process to "assess progress in the coalition's primary Defeat-Daesh mission, as well as discuss future adjustments to the coalition's mission and presence in Iraq".

The joint military commission "will work to set the conditions to transition the mission in Iraq", it added.

On Thursday, Washington had said it agreed with Baghdad on the launch of "expert working groups of military and defence professionals" as part of the joint commission set up in agreement with Baghdad.

The three working groups would examine "the level of threat posed by ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and strengthening the growing capabilities of the Iraqi security forces," Sudani's office said. 

US Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh had acknowledged that the US military footprint in Iraq "will certainly be part of the conversations as it goes forward".

Iraq's foreign ministry sees the eventual formulation of "a specific and clear timeline... and to begin the gradual reduction of its (the coalition's) advisers on Iraqi soil".

There have been more than 150 attacks targeting coalition troops since mid-October, many of them claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-linked groups that oppose US support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

In 2014, IS declared a "caliphate" which they ruled with brutality before their defeat in Iraq in late 2017 by Iraqi forces backed by the US-led coalition. However, jihadist cells still stage sporadic attacks on the army and police.

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India Has Become Incredibly Dynamic Philanthropic Market: Gates Foundation

CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Mark Suzman has said that India has become an incredible exception in economic growth and dynamic philanthropic market.

In an exclusive interview with the news agency ANI, CEO Suzman said, "We have a range of other partners in India as well, and India has become an incredibly dynamic philanthropic market. It's another area that's seen growth. I think the annual growth in philanthropic giving outpaces overall economic growth, which is great to see. We hope that can happen at an even greater scale, because we think it is an incredible model to the world, and it's been very encouraging."

He said that this time, the investment will be twofold.

He said, "The focus is twofold. One is essentially announcing our new budget of $8.6 billion, but announcing it in the context of the big, growing global needs. India these days is an exception in terms of the economic growth and dynamism that is underway and the significant improvements we've been seeing in healthcare and poverty reduction. In fact, many other parts of the world are getting poorer, and have not yet recovered their per capita income to their pre-COVID levels."

"A big part of my letter is a call to action to increase the spending and resources on interventions, health interventions, AI interventions, and agricultural interventions. It's specifically a call not just on governments, but also on philanthropists because one group of people that have done comparatively well over the last decade are the world's billionaires," Mark Suzman added.

According to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation website, it works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives, guided by the belief that every life has equal value.

In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.

Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.

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On Camera, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Thrashes Student With Shoe, Then Clarifies

Iconic Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan today sought to play down a viral video that purportedly showed him mercilessly thrashing a man with his shoe, who he claimed was his disciple.

The video shows the popular Qawwali singer repeatedly hitting and slapping him while enquiring about a "bottle". The man is seen pleading with the singer, saying he has no idea about it. In another scene, some people were seen trying to pull the singer away to save the student.

Samaa TV, a Pakistani broadcaster, identified the man as his employee and said such violent behaviour among singers is a worrying trend.

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali khan was caught abusing his servant. Later, he gave an explanation. pic.twitter.com/PC0DawSEsq

— Брат (@B5001001101) January 27, 2024

Mr Khan, nephew of legendary Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, later clarified that it was a personal matter between an "ustad and his shagird (teacher and disciple)". He posted a video featuring the man who was seen being beaten up, as well as his father, to clarify his actions.

"This is about a personal issue between an ustad and shagird. He is like my son. This is how the relation is between a teacher and his disciple. If a disciple does something good, I shower my love on him. If he does something wrong, he is punished," he said in the video.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said he had also apologised to him after the incident.

In the clarification video, the man who was beaten admitted he had misplaced a bottle containing holy water - which led to the incident, but clarified there was no ill-intention behind his actions. "He's like my father. He loves us a lot. Whoever spread this video is trying to defame my ustad," he added.

His father also supported Mr Khan, highlighting the relation between the 'ustad and shagird' in the field of Qawwali.

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Yemen's Houthis Claim Attack On British Oil Tanker In Gulf Of Aden

Yemen's Huthis claimed Friday a missile strike on a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden that set the vessel on fire, the latest attack on international shipping by the Iran-backed rebels.

It came the same day the US military said one of its warships shot down a missile fired at it by the group, which is acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

US and British forces have launched two rounds of joint strikes aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea maritime trade route.

Washington has also carried out a series of unilateral air raids, but the Huthis have vowed to continue their attacks.

The British oil tanker, the Marlin Luanda, was hit by missiles fired by Yemeni naval forces, said the group's military spokesman Yahya Saree.

"The strike was direct, and resulted (in) the burning of the vessel," he added.

Risk monitor Ambrey said a missile strike southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden set a merchant ship on fire.

"At the time of writing, the crew were reported safe," it added.

In the incident involving the US Navy vessel, the Huthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen towards the destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden, said US Central Command.

"The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney. There were no injuries or damage reported," CENTCOM said.

- Global trade disruption -

Ambrey said earlier a Panama-flagged oil tanker "reported seeing two blasts" in the Gulf of Aden, a report that was corroborated by the British navy's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. No damage was reported.

The security firm said the missiles exploded about a mile from the India-affiliated oil tanker and 200-300 metres (650-1,000 feet) above the waterline. UKMTO said they detonated in the water.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

They have since declared US and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

In addition to strikes targeting the Huthis, the United States is leading a coalition to protect Red Sea shipping -- an effort the Pentagon has likened to a highway patrol for the waterway.

Washington is also seeking to put diplomatic and financial pressure on the Huthis, redesignating them as a terrorist organisation last week after previously dropping that label soon after President Joe Biden took office.

The attacks by the rebels -- who are part of the anti-Israel, anti-West alliance of Iranian proxies and allies -- have disrupted trade in the Red Sea, which carries around 12 percent of international maritime traffic.

Several shipping firms have diverted from the Red Sea, instead taking the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

This new pressure follows difficult years for the industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, when freight rates reached unprecedented levels due to disruptions to supply chains.

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"Victory For Humanity": Qatar Hails World Court's Ruling On Gaza

Qatar on Friday hailed a ruling by the UN's top court that Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid into the territory.

The Qatari foreign ministry "welcomed the provisional measures" ordered by the International Court of Justice, hailing them in a statement as a "victory for humanity... and international justice".

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UN Agency Sacks Staff Over Alleged Role In October 7 Israel Attacks

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas's October 7 attack, prompting the United States to suspend critical funding.

The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, vowed to hold "accountable, including through criminal prosecution" any UNRWA employee found to have taken part in acts of terror.

In response to the firings, UN chief Antonio Guterres pledged to conduct an "urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The US State Department said it had "temporarily paused additional funding" to the agency while it reviewed the claims as well as the UN's plan to address concerns.

Twelve employees "may have been involved", it added.

Israel's foreign ministry said Friday it was "expecting an urgent investigation of UNRWA on the involvement of its employees in the terror attack of October 7."

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said the sackings proved long-standing claims that "UNRWA employees are collaborators of the terrorist organization Hamas".

Relations between Israel and UNRWA deteriorated further in recent days, when the UN agency said tank shelling hit a shelter for displaced people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.

The agency said tens of thousands of displaced people had been registered at the shelter and Wednesday tank shelling killed 13 people.

Asked about the incident, the Israeli army said "a thorough review of the operations of the forces in the vicinity is underway", adding it was examining the possibility that the strike was a "result of Hamas fire".

Lazzarini slammed Wednesday's bombardment as a "blatant disregard of basic rules of war", with the compound clearly marked as a UN facility and its coordinates shared with Israeli authorities.

The Israeli army is the only force known to have tanks operating in the Gaza Strip.

An UNRWA spokeswoman confirmed testimony from displaced people in the shelter who said the army gave them until 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Friday to flee.

AFP was not able to confirm the situation on Friday at the shelter.

- Funding woes -

UNRWA has struggled to meet funding requirements in recent years.

The agency's chronic budget shortfalls worsened dramatically in 2018 when former US president Donald Trump cut support to the agency.

The Trump administration branded UNRWA "irredeemably flawed", siding with Israeli criticisms of the agency founded in 1949, a year after Israel's creation.

But US President Joe Biden's administration has fully restored support, providing $340 million in 2022, making it the agency's largest donor.

The unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

At least 26,083 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since then, according to the Hamas government's health ministry.

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"Allegations Unfounded": US After UN Court Ruling In Israel Genocide Case

The United States on Friday reiterated its position that allegations Israel has committed genocide in Gaza are "unfounded," after the UN's top court ruled Israel must do more to prevent civilian deaths.

"We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a ceasefire in its ruling," a US State Department spokesman said after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do everything to "prevent the commission of all acts within the scope" of the Genocide Convention.

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Birthright Citizenship Scrapped From New French immigration Law: Court

Parts of a contested new French immigration law go against the constitution and must be scrapped, France's Constitutional Council said on Thursday.

The court, a body that validates the constitutionality of laws, struck down nearly three dozen measures contained in the bill, including the lion's share of clauses introduced by opposition rightwing lawmakers during a turbulent parliamentary process.

Measures including toughening conditions for the family reunification of migrants, birthright citizenship and access to state welfare, were scrapped, mostly for procedural reasons.

The ruling will offer some relief to President Emmanuel Macron, who had made the bill a key plank of his second term. While he had defended its passage through parliament, Macron, who lacks a working majority in parliament, was embarrassed by the support it drew from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party as conservative lawmakers hardened its content.

Macron had referred the legislation to the Council, along with three other groups.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin welcomed the ruling, saying it had validated the government's initial proposals.

"Never has a bill included more measures to expel delinquents or introduced stricter requirements for the integration of foreigners," Darmanin added.

Far-right opposition leader Jordan Bardella slammed the court's annullment of several of the bill's toughest anti-immigration measures.

"The Constitutional Council has censured those measures that were most approved by the French people. The immigration law is dead in the water. The only solution is a referendum on immigration," Bardella wrote on X.

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NATO's Largest Exercise Since Cold War Kicks Off

The US Navy dock landing ship Gunston Hall left port on Wednesday to mark the first movement for the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, officials said.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

Some 90,000 troops from the United States and fellow NATO allied nations are due to join the Steadfast Defender 2024 drills that will run through May.

More than 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers will take part, as well as more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles.

The drills will rehearse NATO's execution of its regional plans, the first defence plans the alliance has drawn up in decades, detailing how it would respond to a Russian attack.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

NATO did not mention Russia by name in its announcement. But its top strategic document identifies Russia as the most significant and direct threat to NATO members' security.

The exercise comes at an important moment after Russia's invasion of Ukraine started the deadliest war on European soil in more than 70 years.

KEY QUOTES

"#NATO today launched its biggest military exercise since 1988 with 90,000 personnel taking part in drills across the North Atlantic and Europe," Matthias Eichenlaub, a NATO spokesperson, said on Twitter.

"The departure of the @USNavy's Gunston Hall from Norfolk marked the (official) start of #SteadfastDefender24."

RUSSIAN RESPONSE

The scale of NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises mark an "irrevocable return" of the alliance to Cold War schemes, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the state RIA news agency in remarks published on Sunday.

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Yemen's Houthi Rebels Launched Missiles At Ships In Red Sea: White House

Yemen's Huthi rebels launched missiles at ships in the Red Sea on Wednesday, but two were intercepted and the third missed, the White House said.

US and British forces carried out two rounds of joint strikes aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability to target shipping, while Washington has also launched a series of unilateral air raids on missiles that were ready to fire -- but the Iran-backed rebels have vowed to continue their attacks.

"There were three Huthi missiles fired at two merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea, one missile missed ... and the other two were shot down by a US Navy destroyer," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

"It obviously underscores that the Huthis still intend to conduct these attacks, which means we're obviously still going to have to do what we have to do to protect that shipping."

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the missiles were fired "toward the US-flagged, owned, and operated container ship M/V Maersk Detroit," but did not mention a second vessel being targeted.

"There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship," CENTCOM said in a statement.

The Huthis began striking Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

The Yemeni rebels have since declared US and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said Tuesday that it had been several days since the last Huthi attack, but noted that "they do maintain some capability" and that "it's not out of the question that there could be additional strikes."

In addition to military action, Washington is seeking to put diplomatic and financial pressure on the Huthis, redesignating them as a terrorist organization last week after previously having dropped that label soon after President Joe Biden took office.

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Sri Lankan Parliament Approves Controversial Online Safety Bill

Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday approved with amendments the controversial Online Safety Bill that seeks to regulate online content amid criticism from the opposition that claimed it will stifle freedom of speech.

As many as 108 parliamentarians voted for it while 62 voted against the bill that was passed after a two-day debate.

The new legislation would lead to the establishment of the Online Safety Commission which is empowered to make punitive rulings on offenses.

A false statement on line would be liable, if convicted, to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand Sri Lankan rupees.

At the committee stage proceedings, the government went ahead presenting the amendments, which had come from the Supreme Court that checked its constitutionality.

The apex court had ruled to amend at least 31 of the full 57 clauses of the bill.

The main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa's assertion to speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to postpone the committee stage claiming the action was unconstitutional was ignored by the chair.

Earlier, the bill was severely criticised as one which impinged the freedom of expression. The opposition argued, citing the Asian Internet Coalition (AIC), that the bill would hamper efforts to invite foreign investment.

The opposition also vowed to repeal it when in power.

The AIC had said, “The proposed legislation, in its present form, poses significant challenges that, if not addressed comprehensively, could undermine the potential growth of Sri Lanka's digital economy.” During the day one of the debate on Tuesday, the opposition urged the Speaker to postpone the two day debate accusing the government of rushing through with it. They cited insufficient public consultation.

The Speaker had called for a vote to decide if the two-day debate should proceed. Out of 225 legislators, 83 voted in favour of holding the debate while 50 voted against it.

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"There Wasn't A Moment...": Freed Hostages In Testimony On Hamas Captivity

Two freed Israeli women hostages on Tuesday gave testimony to a parliamentary hearing on sexual violence on the abuse they experienced while being held captive by Hamas militants in Gaza.

"I was there 51 days and there wasn't a moment that we didn't go through abuse of any kind," said Aviva Siegel, who was taken hostage on October 7.

Siegel, 62, told the hearing on sexual violence during the Israel-Hamas conflict that militants had turned both women and men hostages into "dolls on a string that they can do with them what they please, whenever they please".

"I saw it with my own eyes. I didn't just see, I felt the women as if they were my daughters," she said.

Siegel said male hostages were suffering equally in captivity.

"The men are also going through what the women are experiencing... They are also dolls on a string," she said.

Chen Goldstein-Almog, another freed hostage, said she had seen fellow female hostages miss periods during their captivity.

She said this may have been due to "the difficult conditions in captivity", but added that she feared that "heaven forbid they get pregnant".

The biggest fear the captives had was of being abandoned by the Israeli authorities, added Goldstein-Almog, 48.

"The feeling there is that you're forgotten, that they've given up on you," she told the meeting via video link.

Both women were freed during a seven-day humanitarian pause in late November that led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for aid deliveries into Gaza and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, carried out an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

During the attack Palestinian militants also seized about 250 hostages. Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli data.

Fourteen women hostages are still being held in Gaza, according to an AFP tally.

Accounts of sexual violence emerged from the October 7 attack but a scarcity of survivor testimonies and forensic evidence made it difficult to assess their scale.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met a group of freed hostages last month, saying after the meeting that he had been told "about cases of sexual abuse and cruel rapes".

In response to the attack, Israel has launched a relentless offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 25,490 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll issued Tuesday by Gaza's health ministry.

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Pak Court Restores Imran Khan's Bail In 7 Cases Related To May 9 Violence

A Pakistani court on Tuesday restored the bail of former prime minister Imran Khan in seven cases against him in connection with the May 9 violence on military installations.

However, the order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) may not bring any relief to the 71-year-old founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf ahead of the February 8 general polls in the country.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on January 13 stripped the PTI of its iconic cricket 'bat' election symbol, a move after which those contesting in elections from the party will have to fight as independent candidates. The election commission of Pakistan has already rejected the nomination papers of Imran Khan and several of his party colleagues.

LHC's two-judge bench comprising Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Farooq Haider heard Imran Khan's petition challenging a decision of Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) regarding the dismissal of his pre-arrest bail petitions in the May 9 cases after his arrest and conviction in Toshakhana (national treasury gifts) case.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Imran Khan's counsel Barrister Salman Safdar told the court that the trial court dismissed the bail petitions of his client "in violation of the law." He argued that the petitioner could not appear before the trial court to pursue his bail hearings because he was in jail.

"Imran Khan was in jail when the trial court dismissed the bail petitions for non-prosecution. The trial court should have summoned him from jail before deciding his bail petitions," he contented.

Mr Safdar requested the court to set aside the trial court's order and direct it to decide the bail petition on merits.

Law officer Farhad Ali Shah opposed the petition and argued that the trial court rightly dismissed the bail of Imran Khan.

However, the bench announced the verdict restoring the pre-arrest bail petitions of Imran Khan.

The LHC also directed the trial court to mark the attendance of the petitioner on a video link from jail and decide his bail petitions on merits.

The ATC on August 11, 2023, had dismissed the pre-arrest bail of Imran Khan in seven cases in connection to the May 9 riots for his non-appearance. These cases included attacks on the Lahore Corps Commander's House.

On May 9 last year, PTI workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), Mianwali Airbase, and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time.

However, Imran Khan has maintained that his party was being targeted over May 9 violence and that the violent protests targeting the Corps Commander House and the GHQ of the Pakistan Army were a part of the 'London agreement,' in which, he alleges, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is being favoured by the powerful Pakistan Army. 

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6 Indian Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lankan Navy For Cross-Border Fishing

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested six fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam while they were fishing in the high seas near Neduntheevu.

The fishermen were charged with allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan waters and taken to the Kranji Navy camp on Monday.

The arrested fishermen have been identified as Thangachimadam A. Ishak (47), A. Caesarian (43), S. Samadhana Babu (38), and S. Easter Arogyadas (43), M. Nishanthan (34) and Murugesan of Rameswaram.

The six fishermen along with their two boats were fishing in Palk Strait.

According to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, "The two boats from Rameswaram fishing harbour had got fishing permits and went to the sea for fishing near Delft island in Palk Strait."

The boats were identified as IND TN 10 MM 769 owned by A. Isak of Susaiyapar Pattinam, Thangachimadam, and IND TN 10 MM 750 owned by S. Easter Arogya Das of Thangachimadam Anthonyyarpuram.

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested them for cross-border fishing and is interrogating them at the Jaffna Kangesandurai Naval Camp.

Earlier on January 16, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 18 Indian fishermen and seized two Indian poaching trawlers in Lankan waters.

The arrested Indian fishermen and the trawlers were brought to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar and were later handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action, the Navy added.

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Will Keep Degrading Houthis' Ability To Carry Out Attacks: UK Minister

After carrying out another round of strikes against Houthis, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Britain will continue to degrade the ability of Houthis to conduct attacks, CNN reported.

Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday, David Cameron noted that Houthis have carried out more than 12 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since the UK last took action 10 days ago and called these attacks "illegal and unacceptable."

David Cameron said, "Since we last took action 10 days ago there have been over 12 attacks on shipping by the Houthis in the Red Sea. These attacks are illegal, are unacceptable, and what we've done, again, is send the clearest possible message that we will continue to degrade their ability to carry out these attacks whilst sending the clearest possible message that we back our words and our warnings with action," CNN reported.

David Cameron stated that the UK alongside the latest air strikes will use a "whole set of measures," including the Royal Navy in the Red Sea and sanctions, to put further pressure on the Houthis.

On Monday, four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a pair of Voyager tankers, joined US forces in carrying out strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, according to a UK Ministry of Defence press release, CNN reported.

It marked the eighth round of attacks by the US military in the past 10 days, CNN reported, citing a joint statement. It was a smaller number than the first joint operation on January 11 which hit more than 30 Houthi targets.

The joint Statement From Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States released by US Department of Defence said, "Today, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, at the direction of their respective governments with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 8 Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea."

According to the statement, these precision strikes were intended to "disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners." The nations said that the attack was carried out in response to a series of "illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions."

The joint statement reads, "These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since our coalition strikes on January 11, including anti-ship ballistic missile and unmanned aerial system attacks that struck two US-owned merchant vessels."

According to the statement, the strikes carried out on Monday targeted a Houthi underground storage site and locations associated with the Houthis' missile and air surveillance capabilities. It noted that Houthis have carried out over 30 attacks on international and commercial vessels since mid-November and called it "an international challenge."

The statement reads, "Recognizing the broad consensus of the international community, we again acted as part of a coalition of like-minded countries committed to upholding the rules-based order, protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce, and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on mariners and commercial shipping."

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UN Panel To Question Russia On Fate Of Thousands Of Ukrainian Children

Moscow will be asked to explain at the UN on Monday what has happened to thousands of Ukrainian children believed to have been forcibly sent to Russia since its 2022 invasion.

Kyiv estimates that 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023 on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child -- a panel of 18 independent experts -- is set over two days to examine Russia's record, as part of a regular review.

They want to know how many children have been "evacuated" to Russia or within Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

They also want to know what Moscow has done to protect "the right of such children to preserve their identity, including nationality, name and family relations".

Their lengthy list of concerns was sent to Moscow in the first half of 2023.

Return mechanism idea 

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and says it wants to protect these children from the fighting.

Only around 400 children have so far been repatriated.

Such placements are arranged at the children's "request and with their consent," Russia said in a written response sent in October and shown to media by the UN on Friday.

It does not specify the total number of children affected, but said they "included children from national residential institutions for orphans and children without parental care (about 2,000 in total)" and children with Ukrainian citizenship.

It also said that in the second quarter of 2023, some 46,886 Ukrainian children acquired Russian citizenship.

Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert with the Regional Center for Human Rights, a Ukrainian NGO, hopes the UN committee will call for an "international legal mechanism" to identify and return the children.

"The international community is ready to do something but there is a need to do it faster," she told AFP.

At the current rate, "we need another 90 years in order to repatriate only already-identified Ukrainian children".

The ICC has also levelled similar charges to Putin's against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights.

Russia, which is not a member of the ICC, insists the warrant against Putin is "void".

Broader crackdown context 

The UN will also seek answers on what Moscow is doing to remove obstacles to children exercising their right to freedom of association and assembly, and to ensure that children are not punished for taking part in demonstrations, particularly against the war in Ukraine.

Russian lawyer Olga Sadovskaya, who heads the Crew Against Torture human rights organisation, said Russia had seen an increase in violence "in every part of life", which therefore affects children.

She noted a sharp increase in domestic violence and the severity of brutality when people are arrested.

In a report sent to the UN committee, the NGO Human Rights Watch said it was concerned about children's freedom of expression, their right to freedom of information, and discrimination linked to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Rachel Denber, deputy director of HRW's Europe and Central Asia division, told AFP this demonstrated how the "broader crackdown on rights in Russia has an impact on children's rights as well", noting how youngsters had faced "retaliation" for voicing critical opinions on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The UN committee also wants to discuss the illegal or arbitrary detention of children, corporal punishment, and measures taken to preserve the cultural and linguistic identity of indigenous children.

The experts want to know what Moscow is doing to combat certain "harmful practices" in the North Caucasus, such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, abductions for forced marriages and polygamy.

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Car Rallies, Billboards, Live-Streaming: World Gears Up For Ayodhya Event

As the much-anticipated 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya draws near, people of the Hindu community across the globe are gearing up for grand celebrations, showcasing their unbridled enthusiasm and reverence for this historic occasion.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony is not merely an Indian event but a global celebration that resonates with the hearts of millions around the world.

From car rallies scheduled to billboards erected and cultural events on the cards, the diverse celebrations reflect the unity and reverence shared by Hindus worldwide.

Here's a look at the series of celebrations of people of the Hindu community across the world ahead of the Pran Pratishtha event on January 22.

United States

The excitement for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 has transcended borders, with almost a dozen events planned across the United States to celebrate the historic occasion.

Car ? ? ? rally for Sri Ram Chandra ??in Bay Area in California

?? #AyodhaRamMandir #PranPratishthaRamMandir #WorldInAyodhya

pic.twitter.com/oSrLwGqyMw

— Shantanu Gupta (@shantanug_) January 21, 2024

Almost a dozen events across the United States will be held, where they will be celebrating the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Temple all the way from New York Times Square to Boston. There are events lined up in Washington, DC, LA and San Francisco that will happen at the same time as the ceremony in India happens.

The billboards have gone up in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among other states. Additionally, Arizona and the State of Missouri are set to join this visual celebration, which began on January 15, according to the VHP, American chapter.

Congratulations on the auspicious occasion of Shri Ram Mandir Pran Prathista on Jan 21st 2024. May this sacred event bring peace, prosperity, and harmony to all. Jai Shri Ram! Billboard @ Milpitas Bay Area. pic.twitter.com/sWsZy87Z8F

— Ritesh Tandon US Congressional Candidate, CA 17 (@tandon4congress) January 20, 2024

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), US chapter, in association with Hindus from across the US, has put up more than 40 billboards in 10 states and more, displaying the message around the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the birthplace of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.
To commemorate the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Hindu American community across the US has organised several car rallies and has planned many more events in the run-up to the 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya.

Mauritius

In Mauritius, the Indian diaspora is uniting in celebration, lighting 'Diyas' in all temples and reciting 'Ramayan Path.'

The people of this island nation are standing united in celebration of the spiritual milestone unfolding in Ayodhya. They are preparing to light a 'Diya' each in all temples of Mauritius and the verses of the 'Ramayan Path' will echo through the corridors of these temples, creating an atmosphere of devotion and cultural celebration.

The symbolic gesture aims to create a luminous tapestry across the island nation, reflecting shared reverence for Lord Ram.

In a show of global significance, the Mauritian government announced a two-hour special break for Hindu public officers on January 22. This gesture aims to enable them to participate in local events marking the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is also witnessing vibrant celebrations as Hindu temples gear up for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

Slough Hindu Temple, located thousands of miles away from Ayodhya in the heart of England, is brimming with enthusiasm as it is set to celebrate the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

#WATCH | UK: Slough Hindu Temple, England is all set to celebrate the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. Laddoos are being prepared by the members of the Indian diaspora and brought to the temple to distribute amongst the devotees on the day of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

The… pic.twitter.com/BqOqy4kLe9

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

The 'Mangal Kalash' from Ayodhya that is touring the UK will reach the Slough Hindu Temple on Sunday, January 21, a day before the big day and shall be placed in this temple on January 22.

The excitement around the ceremony is palpable in the UK. There are about 250 Hindu temples in the UK and all of them are gearing up for the celebration on January 22.

From community events to car rallies, and from special 'aarti' to 'Akhanda Ramayan' recitation, the Hindu communities and temples in the UK are celebrating the occasion as "2nd Diwali" to mark the 'return' of Lord Rama to his rightful abode.

The Indian community in the United Kingdom also organised a car rally in London. The rally was attended by the Hindu diaspora, who turned out in huge numbers and over 325 cars participated in the car rally.

During the rally, the participants chanted slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' and played songs in praise of Lord Rama.

Later in the evening, the India-UK community also organised a Maha-Aarti to mark the occasion.

Scores of volunteers from the Indian Diaspora in the UK (IDUK) organisation are working day in and day out to decorate the temple for the big day when the temple is deemed to receive around 4000-4500 visitors to celebrate the day.

Meanwhile, a UK declaration, signed by over 200 temples, community organisations, and associations nationwide on Thursday, will be presented to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

The powerful statement from Dharmic communities in the UK highlights shared joy and solidarity with the 1.5 billion global celebrants, warmly embracing the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya.

A special 'puja' and bhajan will also be organised on January 22.

Australia

Amid the growing excitement and anticipation over the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, a series of events have been planned across hundreds of temples in Australia in the next two days.

#WATCH | Indian diaspora in Sydney, Australia gather to celebrate the upcoming pranpratishtha of Ayodhya Ram Temple. More than 100 cars participated in the rally and 5000 people attended the celebrations. pic.twitter.com/mQtPMCgk7g

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

Just a day before the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian community in Sydney celebrated the occasion by organising a car rally on Saturday.

In the event, more than 100 cars participated, attracting hundreds of 'Ram Bhakts' and passersby in the neighbourhood.

In the visuals captured by ANI, cars were seen lined up on the roads and people were dancing and holding flags inscribed with images of Lord Ram.

People celebrated the occasion with fireworks and waving 'Shree Ram' flags.

Amid the growing excitement and anticipation over the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, more celebrations have been planned across hundreds of temples in Australia in the next two days.

Nepal

As the countdown for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir has begun, along with Ayodhya, the Janakpurdham in Nepal, the maternal home of Goddess Sita is now brimming with happiness and enthusiasm, waiting for the occasion with high fanfare and gaiety, organising a slew of events.

Hymns of Lord Ram and Sita are echoing in the city around the clock. The Janaki Temple is decked up with lights, and enthusiasm can be seen on the faces of every Janakpurdham resident.

From Nepal's Janakpur, the Chief Mahanth and the Chotte Mahanth have been invited to the ceremony and have already set off for Ayodhya. Earlier, Janakpur sent offerings locally called "Bhaar" to Ayodhya as a part of the ritual, which included ornaments, cuisines, clothes and other daily essentials.

Scores of devotees have continued to take part and throng to various Astajaam's being held in Janakpur. Those taking part in these mass religious sermons and chanting ceremonies now wait for the railway link to be established between the two cities to facilitate their travel.

Taiwan

Adding to the spirit of unity, the Indian Association of Taiwan will organise a live stream of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. This initiative will allow members of the community to participate remotely, ensuring a broader reach and involvement in the auspicious proceedings.

On the eve of the highly anticipated Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian community in Taiwan came together in a joyous celebration, embracing the significant occasion.
The festivities, held on January 21, witnessed two distinct events organised by the vibrant Indian community in Taiwan, as well as the dedicated efforts of ISKON Taiwan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"We Are Going To Respond": White House On US Military Base Attack In Iraq

The United States is taking the attack by Iran-backed operatives on a base hosting US forces in Iraq over the weekend "extremely seriously," the White House said Sunday.

"Multiple ballistic missiles and rockets" were fired by Iranian-backed operatives at Al-Assad Airbase in western Iraq late Saturday, the US military said, leading to one Iraqi and possible American casualties.

"It was a very serious attack, using a capability of ballistic missiles that posed a genuine threat," White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said Sunday.

"We are going to respond... to establish deterrence in these situations, and to hold these groups accountable that continue to attack us," Finer added during his appearance on ABC's This Week.

"You can be assured that we are taking this extremely seriously."

Most of the projectiles fired at the base were intercepted by air defense systems, Finer and the Pentagon said.

Since mid-October, there have been dozens of attacks on the approximately 2,500 US troops in Iraq and the around 900 in Syria, deployed there with other coalition forces to fight jihadists of the Islamic State group.

Most incidents, including Saturday's attack, have been claimed by "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

The use of ballistic missiles marks an escalation in the attacks, which had previously been carried out with lower-tech rockets and drones.

Saturday's air base attack comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.

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Watch: 100+ Teslas Put Up Light Show In Houston Ahead Of Ram Temple Event

Barely hours away from the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, enthusiastic devotees in Houston arranged an awe-inspiring and innovative Tesla car light show dedicated to Lord Ram.

Over 100 Tesla car owners, calling themselves "Ramji ki Gilahariyan of Greater Houston", gathered at Shri Guruvayurappan Krishna Temple for the light show on Friday evening, attracting hundreds of Ram Bhakts and passersby in the neighbourhood.

The Tesla show at Houston, America#JaiShreeRam #AyodhaRamMandir pic.twitter.com/REPmQSBZ1q

— SINGH___Jee (@BADALSINGH20450) January 20, 2024

The cars had a giant-sized Ram Rath in the backdrop, with a life-size temple oil painting, and loud music of "Jai Sri Ram" giving the place a divine look and feel of being at the temple.

Tesla Car drivers use a key feature wherein the headlights can be programmed to off and on at the same time.

Soon after the beautiful light show, they assembled at the temple for aarti, joined by other bhakts who sang resounding bhajans dedicated to Lord Rama and Krishna and distributed Prasad amongst the devotees.

According to the organisers of the Tesla Light Show, participating car owners had to register for the event in advance.

"We requested all the Ram Bhakts to register for the show, acknowledge and sign the waiver form, to provide vehicle plate numbers for security reasons. Everybody who registered got a magnetic decal or sticker for their car along with a screen-printed T-shirt of Ayodhya temple." The cars were lined up in such a way that when drones took pictures, an unusual letter of "RAM" in red illuminated the surroundings.

"Despite chilly weather and long workday, it was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm amongst hundreds of participants as well as attendees at the temple for this show," said Achalesh Amar from Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), one of the organisers of the event.

"Throughout the USA, we noticed unprecedented enthusiasm for these events. Since mid-January we (VHP) organised 51 massive car rallies in 21 states and 41 cities around the US and participation has been at its peak," he said.

"The Tesla light shows in Houston, DC and San Francisco, or rallies and rath yatras are a small gesture of love for the beginning of the celebration of the Ram Temple inauguration in India as the Hindu community has waited for over 25 generations (495 years) for this moment," said Umang Mehta, one of the active volunteers.

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Iran Says 'Reserves Right' To Avenge Deadly Israeli Strike On Damascus

Iran on Saturday blamed Israel for a strike on Damascus, saying it "reserves the right to respond" after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed four of its members had died.

Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani decried "frequent violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and an escalation in aggressive and provocative attacks" by Tehran's arch-foe Israel.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to respond... at the appropriate time and place" to the latest strike on the Syrian capital, Kanani said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said 10 people were killed in the Israeli strike on the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus.

The Guards' Sepah news agency said the "evil and criminal Zionist regime (Israel)" killed four of its military advisers, while Iran's Mehr news agency reported one of them was the force's spy chief for Syria.

In recent weeks, Israel has been accused of intensifying strikes on senior Iranian and allied figures in Syria and Lebanon -- backers of the Palestinian group Hamas -- raising fears the Gaza conflict could expand further throughout the region.

Military actions across the region attributed to Israel "reflect the weakness and desperation" of its forces on the battlefield, Kanani charged.

He called the latest strike "a desperate attempt to spread instability and insecurity in the region".

The raid on Mazzeh came four days after the Revolutionary Guard said it attacked "an Israeli intelligence headquarters" in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous province of Kurdistan.

Iraqi authorities said the attack killed four civilians and wounded six others.

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"Still Believe In Two-State Solution": Biden Tells Netanyahu

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call Friday that he still backs future statehood for the Palestinians, the White House said, amid tensions between the two leaders over the issue.

"The president still believes in the promise and the possibility of a two-state solution. He recognizes that it's going to take a lot of hard work," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

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Biden Announces $5 Billion Debt Cancellation For Over 74,000 Students

US President Joe Biden on Friday announced cancellation of USD 5 billion in debt for more than 74,000 students, many of whom are Indian Americans.

Cancelling student debt was one of the key poll promises of Biden in the 2020 elections.

"Today, my administration approved debt cancellation for another 74,000 student loan borrowers across the country, bringing the total number of people who have gotten their debt cancelled under my administration to over 3.7 million Americans through various actions," Biden said.

Of the 74,000 borrowers approved for relief on Friday, nearly 44,000 of them are teachers, nurses, firefighters and other individuals who earned forgiveness after 10 years of public service, and close to 30,000 of them are people who have been in repayment for at least 20 years but never got the relief they earned through income-driven repayment plans, he said.

While the list is not maintained based on ethnicity, officials said a large number of them are Indian Americans.

"My administration is able to deliver relief to these borrowers - and millions more - because of fixes we made to broken student loan programmes that were preventing borrowers from getting relief they were entitled to under the law," Biden said.

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"Historic Moment": Hindu Outfits In UK Welcome Ram Temple Consecration

More than 200 Hindu outfits based in the United Kingdom on Thursday welcomed the January 22 consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, saying the "historic moment" would mark the culmination of nearly five centuries of "dedicated efforts by countless devotees".

In a joint statement, the outfits said they hoped households in the UK would celebrate the "homecoming" of Lord Ram to Ayodhya on January 22 like Diwali.

"We, the representatives of the Dharmic (religious) communities in the United Kingdom, are delighted to welcome the inauguration ceremony of the temple of Sri Ram (Ram Mandir) in Ayodhya, India, on 22nd January 2024," the statement read.

It said Lord Ram is revered as the "embodiment of Dharmic traditions across the globe" and is an enduring symbol of "Hindu/Indic civilisation".

"The consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the sacred birthplace of Sri Ram, is a historic moment which marks the culmination of nearly five centuries of dedicated efforts by countless devotees," the organisations said.

"As we approach this auspicious occasion, we hope households in the United Kingdom will celebrate this home-coming of Sri Ram to Ayodhya as a festival of Diwali," they said, adding, "May this Mandir serve as a luminous beacon of hope, and peaceful co-existence to echo the ideals of 'Ram Rajya', amongst the communities across the wider world."

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