<p>Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has informed the United States that he does not support the establishment of a state of Palestine after the end of the ongoing war in Gaza. Netanyahu's comments came amid the ongoing maritime confrontation between the US and Yemen-based Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, with the latter consistently ramping up&nbsp;attacks on international merchant ships in purported solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Netanyahu on Thursday (Jan 18) vowed in a press conference that the war in Gaza will continue "until complete victory", and added that it could take "many more months".</p>

<p>The establishment of a state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel has been a widely accepted solution to the territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians in West Asia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It forms an essential part of the two-state solution, the proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two states for two peoples: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he rejects creation of a Palestinian state</strong></p>

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<p>Israel's allies, such as the United States under President Joe Biden, have urged the revival of a "two-state solution" after the eruption of war in Gaza on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an offensive in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking&nbsp;some 240 hostages.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Houthis launch anti-ship ballistic missiles amid Netanyahu's denouncement of Palestine</strong></h2>

<p>With the Israel-Hamas war well beyond its 100th day, nearly 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, as per the Hamas-run health ministry.&nbsp;The tensions have spread well beyond the shores of the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels jumping into the conflict by attacking the international merchant ships in the Red Sea. The US is now directly attacking Houthi targets in Yemen and the maritime region around Bab-al Mandeb, a strategic chokepoint.</p>

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<p>On Friday (Jan 19), the United States said that Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-owned tanker ship that hit the water near the vessel but caused no injuries or damage.</p>

<p>An official readout said that two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched by Houthis on Jan 18 (at 9 PM, local time) at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged, US-owned and Greek-operated ship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship. There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship. The ship has continued underway."</p>

<p>On Thursday (Jan 18), Netanyahu also said that Israel must have security control over all land west of the River Jordan which is supposed to include the territory of a future Palestinian state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/red-sea-ship-attacks-inside-disrupted-shipping-route-over-west-asias-gate-of-tears-673216">Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears'</a></strong></p>

<p>"This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel's security," he said.</p>

<p>White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said his government would not stop working towards a two-state solution, adding there would be "no reoccupation of Gaza".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has informed the United States that he does not support the establishment of a state of Palestine after the end of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has informed the United States that he does not support the establishment of a state of Palestine after the end of the ongoing war in Gaza. Netanyahu's comments came amid the ongoing maritime confrontation between the US and Yemen-based Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, with the latter consistently ramping up attacks on international merchant ships in purported solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu on Thursday (Jan 18) vowed in a press conference that the war in Gaza will continue "until complete victory", and added that it could take "many more months". The establishment of a state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel has been a widely accepted solution to the territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians in West Asia. It forms an essential part of the two-state solution, the proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two states for two peoples: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people. Also watch | Israel-Hamas war: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he rejects creation of a Palestinian state × Israel's allies, such as the United States under President Joe Biden, have urged the revival of a "two-state solution" after the eruption of war in Gaza on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an offensive in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages. Houthis launch anti-ship ballistic missiles amid Netanyahu's denouncement of Palestine With the Israel-Hamas war well beyond its 100th day, nearly 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, as per the Hamas-run health ministry. The tensions have spread well beyond the shores of the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels jumping into the conflict by attacking the international merchant ships in the Red Sea. The US is now directly attacking Houthi targets in Yemen and the maritime region around Bab-al Mandeb, a strategic chokepoint. On Friday (Jan 19), the United States said that Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-owned tanker ship that hit the water near the vessel but caused no injuries or damage. An official readout said that two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched by Houthis on Jan 18 (at 9 PM, local time) at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged, US-owned and Greek-operated ship. "The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship. There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship. The ship has continued underway." On Thursday (Jan 18), Netanyahu also said that Israel must have security control over all land west of the River Jordan which is supposed to include the territory of a future Palestinian state. Also read | Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears' "This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel's security," he said. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said his government would not stop working towards a two-state solution, adding there would be "no reoccupation of Gaza". (With inputs from agencies)

Houthis go 'ballistic' in Red Sea after Netanyahu rejects Palestinian state

<p>Millions of acres of land in the United States are being bought by foreign buyers, most prominently by China-linked individuals and entities. The foreign ownership in the US farmland increased to about 40 million acres in 2021, up 40 per cent from 2016, according to data published by the US Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The foreign ownership of the US cropland has raised concern in Washington about possible national security risks. The US lawmakers have called for a crackdown on sales of farmland to China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this week, Montana Senator Jon Tester repeated his demand for the US to clamp down on farmland sales to China-linked entities or persons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;U.S. sounds alarm over Chinese buying land near military bases</strong></p>

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<p>"While we learn more about the specifics around this unfolding situation, it highlights the need for Congress to do more to protect American agricultural security," Tester said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lawmakers-enraged-after-ccp-billionaire-purchases-200000-acres-of-us-land-679847">Lawmakers enraged after Chinese Communist party member purchases 200,000 acres of US land</a></strong></p>

<p>Previously, Tester co-sponsored a bill that called for a ban on entities from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from buying US agricultural land or businesses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The legislation was added to the defence spending bill and passed the Senate by a wide margin but was stripped out of the final version by House Republicans.</p>

<h2><strong>Which Chinese person owns most US farmland?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report by private landownership magazine LandReport, Chinese billionaire Chen Tianqiao, a Communist Party member,&nbsp;is the 82nd-largest land owner and second-biggest foreign owner in the United States.</p>

<p>Chen, 50, who made his fortune from a company that made online video games, owns 198,000 acres (80,127 hectares) of Oregon timberland that he purchased in 2015.</p>

<p>Nearly 40 million acres of American agricultural land was owned by non-US interests as of 2021, according to the most recent Department of Agriculture data, with entities from China owning the equivalent of 0.03% of all US farmland.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Millions of acres of land in the United States are being bought by foreign buyers, most prominently by China-linked individuals and entities. The foreign ownership in the US farmland increased to about 40 million acres in 2021, up 40 per cent from 2016, according to data published by the US Department of Agriculture.

Millions of acres of land in the United States are being bought by foreign buyers, most prominently by China-linked individuals and entities. The foreign ownership in the US farmland increased to about 40 million acres in 2021, up 40 per cent from 2016, according to data published by the US Department of Agriculture. What does it mean? The foreign ownership of the US cropland has raised concern in Washington about possible national security risks. The US lawmakers have called for a crackdown on sales of farmland to China. Earlier this week, Montana Senator Jon Tester repeated his demand for the US to clamp down on farmland sales to China-linked entities or persons. Also watch | U.S. sounds alarm over Chinese buying land near military bases × "While we learn more about the specifics around this unfolding situation, it highlights the need for Congress to do more to protect American agricultural security," Tester said in a statement. Also read | Lawmakers enraged after Chinese Communist party member purchases 200,000 acres of US land Previously, Tester co-sponsored a bill that called for a ban on entities from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from buying US agricultural land or businesses. The legislation was added to the defence spending bill and passed the Senate by a wide margin but was stripped out of the final version by House Republicans. Which Chinese person owns most US farmland? According to a report by private landownership magazine LandReport, Chinese billionaire Chen Tianqiao, a Communist Party member, is the 82nd-largest land owner and second-biggest foreign owner in the United States. Chen, 50, who made his fortune from a company that made online video games, owns 198,000 acres (80,127 hectares) of Oregon timberland that he purchased in 2015. Nearly 40 million acres of American agricultural land was owned by non-US interests as of 2021, according to the most recent Department of Agriculture data, with entities from China owning the equivalent of 0.03% of all US farmland. (With inputs from agencies)

Millions of acres of American farmland become properties of China-linked people

Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: PM Modi Releases Commemorative Stamps


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Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Commemorative Postage Stamps on Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir and a book containing stamps on Lord Ram issued by various countries in the past few years.

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The components of the design include the Ram Mandir, the holy verse 'Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari', the Sun, the River Saryu, and sculptures around the world.

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There are 6 stamps which depict: Ram Temple, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Eagle King Jatayu, Kevatraj, and Ram devotee Shabri.

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The five physical elements, that is sky, air, fire, earth and water, known as 'Panchabhutas’ are reflected through various design elements of the stamp.

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The stamp book attempts to showcase the international appeal of Lord Ram to various societies. The 48-page book covers stamps issued by more than 20 countries, including the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and Cambodia.

As countdown for Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya enters its final lap, Indian PM Modi released a set of commemorative stamps

<p>The humble&nbsp;masala chai (not chai tea) is liked, loved, and obsessed about by people all across the Indian subcontinent. As a beverage, the reverence of Tea is spread all over the world. Some people love to let the tea simmer to get the depth of its signature flavour, while others like it quick and dicey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But often, masala chai is an emotion like happiness, intrigue, anger, or fear. The flavours of tea often exude a stressbuster sense of delectability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So, for the chai lovers, the flavours have been judged and the verdict is out. Sadly your chai has lost out on the pinnacle of the best non-alcoholic beverages in the world.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/trending/surprising-health-benefits-of-cinnamon-tea-1703499582067">Surprising Health Benefits of Cinnamon Tea</a></strong></p>

<p>Masala chai has been named the second-best non-alcoholic beverage in the world for 2023 by TasteAtlas, a popular food and travel guide of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants from around the world.</p>

<h2><strong>Which beverage Masala Chai lost&nbsp;out to?</strong></h2>

<p>Mexico’s Aguas Frescas, a drink "made with a combination of fruits, cucumbers, flowers, seeds, and cereals blended with sugar and water", was crowned the best non-alcoholic drink in the world.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Masala Chai?</strong></h2>

<p>Masala chai is a hot beverage made by boiling milk and tea with spices and sugar. It has the delectable ooze of cloves, black pepper, ginger, and cardamom. In India and the rest of the subcontinent in South Asia as well as among the people of diaspora, Masala Chai is an excellent drink for the cold winter months.</p>

<p>"Chai masala is an aromatic beverage originating from India. It is made with a combination of sweetened black tea and milk that is spiced with a masala mix-which typically includes cardamom, ground ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and black peppercorns," the food guide wrote on Instagram.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Chinese study: Milk tea causes depression and anxiety | Is China against mixing milk with tea?</strong></p>

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<p>"However, the choice and the exact proportion of spices often vary. Although there are several theories that claim otherwise, the origin of chai masala is mostly associated with the British tea trade."</p>

<p>"In the 19th century, the Chinese had a monopoly on the tea trade, and the British looked for other markets that would fulfill the high demand for black tea—which was a firm European favorite," TasteAtlas added.</p>

<p>It is believed that masala chai "first appeared during that period, but it only became a popular option in the 20th century when the Indian Tea Association promoted tea breaks as a much-needed refreshment for workers and when tea became more affordable."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The humble masala chai (not chai tea) is liked, loved, and obsessed about by people all across the Indian subcontinent. As a beverage, the reverence of Tea is spread all over the world.

The humble masala chai (not chai tea) is liked, loved, and obsessed about by people all across the Indian subcontinent. As a beverage, the reverence of Tea is spread all over the world. Some people love to let the tea simmer to get the depth of its signature flavour, while others like it quick and dicey. But often, masala chai is an emotion like happiness, intrigue, anger, or fear. The flavours of tea often exude a stressbuster sense of delectability. So, for the chai lovers, the flavours have been judged and the verdict is out. Sadly your chai has lost out on the pinnacle of the best non-alcoholic beverages in the world. Also read | Surprising Health Benefits of Cinnamon Tea Masala chai has been named the second-best non-alcoholic beverage in the world for 2023 by TasteAtlas, a popular food and travel guide of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants from around the world. Which beverage Masala Chai lost out to? Mexico’s Aguas Frescas, a drink "made with a combination of fruits, cucumbers, flowers, seeds, and cereals blended with sugar and water", was crowned the best non-alcoholic drink in the world. What is Masala Chai? Masala chai is a hot beverage made by boiling milk and tea with spices and sugar. It has the delectable ooze of cloves, black pepper, ginger, and cardamom. In India and the rest of the subcontinent in South Asia as well as among the people of diaspora, Masala Chai is an excellent drink for the cold winter months. "Chai masala is an aromatic beverage originating from India. It is made with a combination of sweetened black tea and milk that is spiced with a masala mix-which typically includes cardamom, ground ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and black peppercorns," the food guide wrote on Instagram. Also watch | Gravitas: Chinese study: Milk tea causes depression and anxiety | Is China against mixing milk with tea? × "However, the choice and the exact proportion of spices often vary. Although there are several theories that claim otherwise, the origin of chai masala is mostly associated with the British tea trade." "In the 19th century, the Chinese had a monopoly on the tea trade, and the British looked for other markets that would fulfill the high demand for black tea—which was a firm European favorite," TasteAtlas added. It is believed that masala chai "first appeared during that period, but it only became a popular option in the 20th century when the Indian Tea Association promoted tea breaks as a much-needed refreshment for workers and when tea became more affordable." (With inputs from agencies)

India's Masala Chai among world's best non-alcoholic beverages, second only to this drink

<p>Chinese researchers mapped the virus that causes COVID-19 in late December 2019, at least two weeks before the World Health Organization <a href="&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#coronavirus&lt;/a&gt; (2019-nCoV) identified in &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wuhan?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#Wuhan&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#China&lt;/a&gt;🇨🇳. &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/Fnl5P877VG&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1217043229427761152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;January 14, 2020&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;">downplayed</a> the danger posed by the contagion virus that snowballed into a pandemic shortly after. According to a probe by the US congressional investigators, the Chinese researchers isolated the virus on December 28, 2019.</p>

<p>The documents describing a new timeline were obtained by US House Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The findings imply that China knew of the pandemic during the crucial early days of the virus when it was potentially still limited to certain pockets in China. Days later, as people moved across China to celebrate the New Year, the virus spread.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Consequently, the virus spread across the world and became the most devastating global health threat in the twenty-first century so far.</p>

<p>The extra two weeks could have been crucial in helping the global medical community to ascertain the danger posed by COVID-19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists worldwide in the early days of the mysterious disease spread were racing to understand the disease that came to be named COVID-19. It killed millions across the world, infected tens of millions and pushed the global economy into turmoil.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does the Congressional investigators' report say?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese researcher in Beijing submitted a nearly complete sequence of the structure of the virus to a US government-run database on December 28, 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sequence was never published and was deleted from the database on Jan. 16, 2020, after the US National Institute of Health, following its protocols, asked the Chinese researcher for more technical details and she didn’t respond.</p>

<p>On Jan 12, NIH received and published a SARS-CoV-2 sequence from another source.</p>

<p>China shared the sequence of the Covid virus with the World Health Organization on January 11, 2020, according to the US government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | China working on Wuhan virus 2.0?</strong></p>

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<p>When the Chinese scientist submitted the Covid sequence, the officials in Wuhan were still describing the viral outbreak as pneumonia of "unknown cause". The Chinese had not even closed down the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, the site of one of the initial Covid outbreaks.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-urges-china-to-reveal-information-about-covid-19-origins-report-637102">WHO urges China to reveal information about COVID-19 origins</a></strong></p>

<p>The Chinese scientist who submitted the virus sequence to a US database&nbsp;was a researcher at the Beijing-based Institute of Pathogen Biology, part of the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the bottom line?</strong></h2>

<p>The latest information does not clarify if or not Covid emerged from an infected animal or a lab leak but it suggests that the world still does not exactly have a full understanding of the pandemic's origin.</p>


Chinese researchers mapped the virus that causes COVID-19 in late December 2019, at least two weeks before the World Health Organization downplayed the danger posed by the contagion virus that snowballed into a pandemic shortly after.

Chinese researchers mapped the virus that causes COVID-19 in late December 2019, at least two weeks before the World Health Organization downplayed the danger posed by the contagion virus that snowballed into a pandemic shortly after. According to a probe by the US congressional investigators, the Chinese researchers isolated the virus on December 28, 2019. The documents describing a new timeline were obtained by US House Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. What does it mean? The findings imply that China knew of the pandemic during the crucial early days of the virus when it was potentially still limited to certain pockets in China. Days later, as people moved across China to celebrate the New Year, the virus spread. Consequently, the virus spread across the world and became the most devastating global health threat in the twenty-first century so far. The extra two weeks could have been crucial in helping the global medical community to ascertain the danger posed by COVID-19. Scientists worldwide in the early days of the mysterious disease spread were racing to understand the disease that came to be named COVID-19. It killed millions across the world, infected tens of millions and pushed the global economy into turmoil. What does the Congressional investigators' report say? According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese researcher in Beijing submitted a nearly complete sequence of the structure of the virus to a US government-run database on December 28, 2019. The sequence was never published and was deleted from the database on Jan. 16, 2020, after the US National Institute of Health, following its protocols, asked the Chinese researcher for more technical details and she didn’t respond. On Jan 12, NIH received and published a SARS-CoV-2 sequence from another source. China shared the sequence of the Covid virus with the World Health Organization on January 11, 2020, according to the US government. Also watch | Gravitas | China working on Wuhan virus 2.0? × When the Chinese scientist submitted the Covid sequence, the officials in Wuhan were still describing the viral outbreak as pneumonia of "unknown cause". The Chinese had not even closed down the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, the site of one of the initial Covid outbreaks. Also read | WHO urges China to reveal information about COVID-19 origins The Chinese scientist who submitted the virus sequence to a US database was a researcher at the Beijing-based Institute of Pathogen Biology, part of the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. What is the bottom line? The latest information does not clarify if or not Covid emerged from an infected animal or a lab leak but it suggests that the world still does not exactly have a full understanding of the pandemic's origin.

China knew, but hid COVID-19 details weeks before it became pandemic, US documents show

<p>The tensions in Southwest Asia continue to escalate towards a crisis as Pakistan retaliated with multiple strikes in Iran a day after Tehran targeted a Sunni jihadist group based out of Balochistan. Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war's expansion into the Red Sea shipping route has become a major flashpoint in the region as the US launched a fourth wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.</p>

<p><strong>Click here to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-launches-attack-in-iran-day-after-deadly-balochistan-strike-report-681019"><strong>Pakistan retaliates with multiple strikes in Iran a day after deadly Balochistan attack</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/18/406408-untitled-design-2024-01-18t094347891.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
A day after Iran launched airstrikes to target a jihadist group based in Pakistan, Islamabad has retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran, WION can confirm.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-us-launches-fresh-wave-of-strikes-on-houthi-targets-in-yemen-681013"><strong>Middle East crisis updates: US launches fresh wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen</strong></a></p>

<p><strong><img alt="AFP image" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dc616ce6-bc61-4e43-94f0-93f633c05198" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-18T095044.562.png" /></strong></p>

<p>The United States has conducted another round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, as the situation in the Middle East continues to be volatile.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-mandir-consecration-live-updates-ram-lalla-idol-enters-ayodhya-temple-using-a-crane-681016"><strong>Ram Mandir consecration updates: Ram Lalla idol enters Ayodhya temple using a crane<img alt="Ram Mandir" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25f4b688-b358-4192-ac72-b8ac19344a98" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-18T095332.785.png" /></strong></a></p>

<p>Ram Lalla's idol was taken inside the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya using a crane in the late evening hours on January 17. Now, the idol will be placed inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-keeps-an-eye-for-100-billion-annual-fdi-boost-in-ambitious-growth-strategy-681045"><strong>India keeps an eye for $100 billion annual FDI boost: Report</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/18/406405-2spzcjao7bmq3bl7hzbeteb2wm.jpg?imwidth=3840" />India is setting its sights on attracting a whopping $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment (FDI) in the coming years, according to Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-charles-iii-to-receive-hospital-treatment-for-enlarged-prostate-buckingham-palace-680954"><strong>British monarch King Charles III to have treatment for enlarged prostate</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/17/406342-king-charles-iii.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
Buckingham Palace said Wednesday (Jan 17) that the British head of state&nbsp;King&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;III&nbsp;will be hospitalised next week for a corrective procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-beat-afghanistan-in-double-super-over-in-third-t20i-despite-posting-212-complete-3-0-whitewash-680979"><strong>India beat Afghanistan in double super over in third T20I despite posting 212; complete 3-0 whitewash</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/17/406353-untitled-design-2024-01-17t220326117.png?imwidth=3840" /><br />
India took two super overs to beat Afghanistan in the third T20I on Wednesday (January 17) in Bengaluru&nbsp;despite putting up a 200-plus total in the regular 20 overs. In the second super over, India batted first and scored 11 runs in five balls as they lost two wickets and wasted one ball. Defending 12 runs, Ravi Bishnoi gave only one run in three balls and took two wickets to help India win against Afghanistan.</p>


The tensions in Southwest Asia continue to escalate towards a crisis as Pakistan retaliated with multiple strikes in Iran a day after Tehran targeted a Sunni jihadist group based out of Balochistan.

The tensions in Southwest Asia continue to escalate towards a crisis as Pakistan retaliated with multiple strikes in Iran a day after Tehran targeted a Sunni jihadist group based out of Balochistan. Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war's expansion into the Red Sea shipping route has become a major flashpoint in the region as the US launched a fourth wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Click here to read more: Pakistan retaliates with multiple strikes in Iran a day after deadly Balochistan attack A day after Iran launched airstrikes to target a jihadist group based in Pakistan, Islamabad has retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran, WION can confirm. Middle East crisis updates: US launches fresh wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen The United States has conducted another round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, as the situation in the Middle East continues to be volatile. Ram Mandir consecration updates: Ram Lalla idol enters Ayodhya temple using a crane Ram Lalla's idol was taken inside the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya using a crane in the late evening hours on January 17. Now, the idol will be placed inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum. India keeps an eye for $100 billion annual FDI boost: Report India is setting its sights on attracting a whopping $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment (FDI) in the coming years, according to Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. British monarch King Charles III to have treatment for enlarged prostate Buckingham Palace said Wednesday (Jan 17) that the British head of state King Charles III will be hospitalised next week for a corrective procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. India beat Afghanistan in double super over in third T20I despite posting 212; complete 3-0 whitewash India took two super overs to beat Afghanistan in the third T20I on Wednesday (January 17) in Bengaluru despite putting up a 200-plus total in the regular 20 overs. In the second super over, India batted first and scored 11 runs in five balls as they lost two wickets and wasted one ball. Defending 12 runs, Ravi Bishnoi gave only one run in three balls and took two wickets to help India win against Afghanistan.

Morning brief: Pakistan retaliates with strikes inside Iran; Red Sea crisis escalates amid Gaza war

<p>A day after Iran launched airstrikes to target a jihadist group based in Pakistan, Islamabad has retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran, WION can confirm.</p>

<p>"Pakistan struck on Baloch terrorists in Iran through its airforce in the Saravan and Jalq areas deep inside Iran," a Pakistani military source claimed.</p>

<p>Several locations have been targeted by the Pakistani forces deep inside Iran, the source added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explained-why-did-iran-attack-pakistan-what-is-jaish-al-adl-680852">Explained | Why did Iran attack Pakistan? What is Jaish al-Adl group targeted by Tehran?</a></strong></p>

<p>Pakistan later stated it launched an operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar' to launch precision military strikes inside Iran.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pakistan confirms strikes in Iran under operation "Marg Bar Sarmachar". Pakistan MOFA Release: <a href="https://t.co/CIdz2OrneG">https://t.co/CIdz2OrneG</a> <a href="https://t.co/TSCoa2Omba">pic.twitter.com/TSCoa2Omba</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1747840407952855048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Wednesday, Pakistan's foreign ministry&nbsp;claimed that two children were killed and three others injured in an "illegal" airstrike by Iran. Pakistan subsequently responded by expelling the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad and recalled its envoy from Tehran.</p>

<p>Iranian state media said that Iran&nbsp;targeted two camps of the Jaish al-Adl terror group&nbsp;in Balochistan's Panjgur region. Tehran had previously linked the jihadist group with attacks on its security forces.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Pakistan hits militant targets in Iran day after missile strikes in Balochistan</strong></p>

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<p>While the US condemned the Iranian strike in Pakistan, in addition to Tehran's missile attacks in Iran and Syria, China urged both Tehran and Islamabad to exercise restraint.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India said that&nbsp;it understands the "actions that countries take in their self-defence".</p>

<p>The Iran-Pakistan tensions appear to escalate at a time when the crisis in the Red Sea over trade disruption&nbsp;continues to build up amid the rampant attacks by Yemen's Houthis on the shipping route.&nbsp;</p>


A day after Iran launched airstrikes to target a jihadist group based in Pakistan, Islamabad has retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran, WION can confirm.

A day after Iran launched airstrikes to target a jihadist group based in Pakistan, Islamabad has retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran, WION can confirm. "Pakistan struck on Baloch terrorists in Iran through its airforce in the Saravan and Jalq areas deep inside Iran," a Pakistani military source claimed. Several locations have been targeted by the Pakistani forces deep inside Iran, the source added. Also read | Explained | Why did Iran attack Pakistan? What is Jaish al-Adl group targeted by Tehran? Pakistan later stated it launched an operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar' to launch precision military strikes inside Iran. Pakistan confirms strikes in Iran under operation "Marg Bar Sarmachar". Pakistan MOFA Release: https://t.co/CIdz2OrneG pic.twitter.com/TSCoa2Omba — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 18, 2024 × On Wednesday, Pakistan's foreign ministry claimed that two children were killed and three others injured in an "illegal" airstrike by Iran. Pakistan subsequently responded by expelling the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad and recalled its envoy from Tehran. Iranian state media said that Iran targeted two camps of the Jaish al-Adl terror group in Balochistan's Panjgur region. Tehran had previously linked the jihadist group with attacks on its security forces. Also watch | Pakistan hits militant targets in Iran day after missile strikes in Balochistan × While the US condemned the Iranian strike in Pakistan, in addition to Tehran's missile attacks in Iran and Syria, China urged both Tehran and Islamabad to exercise restraint. India said that it understands the "actions that countries take in their self-defence". The Iran-Pakistan tensions appear to escalate at a time when the crisis in the Red Sea over trade disruption continues to build up amid the rampant attacks by Yemen's Houthis on the shipping route.

Pakistan retaliates with multiple strikes in Iran a day after deadly Balochistan attack

<p>The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group.&nbsp;The White House cited "unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden", one of the world's most crucial shipping routes for global trade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control most of the country's north as well as the strategically valuable Bab al-Mandeb Strait, vowed in November 2023 that they would target Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza.<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/25/401386-untitled-design-2023-12-25t002340471.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p>However, the United States claims that ships linked to 55 states worldwide have been attacked as of Jan 15, 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Situation in Yemen: Between January 2021 and April 2022</strong></h2>

<p>Originally known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), the US <a href="https://2017-2021.state.gov/terrorist-designation-of-ansarallah-in-yemen/">designated</a> Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on January 10, 2021, during the last few days of the Trump administration. The group had been in a years-long civil war with the internationally recognised Saudi-backed Yemeni government that led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/red-sea-ship-attacks-inside-disrupted-shipping-route-over-west-asias-gate-of-tears-673216"><strong>Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears'</strong></a></p>

<p>A little more than a month later in February 2021, the US State Department under President Joe Biden, citing the need to facilitate aid delivery into Yemen, <a href="https://www.state.gov/revocation-of-the-terrorist-designations-of-ansarallah/">removed</a> the SDGT designation and also de-listed Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) status for the Houthis.</p>

<p>Between February 2021 and April 2022, the Houthis continued to expand their territorial hold in Yemen amid failed efforts by the UN and US envoys to engineer a truce.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f9cc9c4-9564-4912-8604-306dbb5384d7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-18T071512.173.png" /></p>

<p><em>A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth</em></p>

<p>The de-listing of Houthis as "terrorists" in February 2021 occurred owing to the pressure the Biden administration faced as Houthis disallowed any aid from reaching Yemen's people, said Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme at Observer Research Foundation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This also helped Saudis, who are in open negotiations with the Houthis after being at war with them since 2015," Taneja added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In April 2022, the internationally-recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi ceded power to a presidential council, and a truce was agreed upon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This truce, although fragile, continues to hold to date amid signs of its sustenance with successful prisoner exchange&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;between the two warring sides.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel-Hamas war: Why Houthis have been re-listed as 'terrorists' by the US?</strong></h2>

<p>On January 17, 2024, the White House designated Houthis as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) entity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hours before the above development, Taneja described such occurrence as a "direct consequence of the campaign of Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea".</p>

<p>The attack by Houthis on merchant shipping vessels&nbsp;on the Red Sea shipping route&nbsp;— the passage to 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade&nbsp;— has increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent for the goods destined for Europe from Asia, according to Container xChange, an online container logistics platform for container trading and container leasing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Implications for the region</strong></h2>

<p>The truce brokered in April 2022 between warring parties in the Yemeni civil war was engineered following years of Saudi-led negotiations.</p>

<p>"The Houthis have been involved in substantive negotiations with Saudi Arabia, a US ally, over a Saudi withdrawal from Yemen, which the US supports. That wouldn't be a good time to make such a designation," said Joost R. Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at International Crisis Group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"From our perspective, such designations are counter-productive, also because there is no commonly accepted definition of 'terrorist organisation', a highly politicised term," Hiltermann added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Houthis have grown into the most powerful war machine in Yemen whose threat to the shipping lanes in the Red Sea has forced the United States to form a multinational naval task force to counter them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Biden administration had no intention of making such a designation lightly against any group, without a provocation,"&nbsp;Hiltermann said.</p>

<h2><strong>How powerful are Houthis: Challenges and Asymmetry</strong></h2>

<p>Weeks before the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that pushed the region to the worst state of war in decades, the Houthis on September 21 held a parade in Yemeni capital Sana'a. The parade showed weapon systems in the hands of an irregular army.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thread: 1/ Geolocation of the Houthis' SEP 21, 2023 military parade in As Sabain, Sanaa, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yemen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yemen</a>.<br />
Coords: 15.324805, 44.205419<br />
This thread will ID arms &amp; vehicles at the event &amp; discuss notable trends. <a href="https://t.co/j0luwfYWFt">pic.twitter.com/j0luwfYWFt</a></p>
— Joshua Koontz (@JoshuaKoontz__) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaKoontz__/status/1704842511473049769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>There were Mi-8 transportation helicopters as well as the Malah boats, often deployed to lay mines in the sea.</p>

<p>Houthis are now attacking these shipping lanes with the naval mines and airpower they have acquired over the years.</p>

<p>Some other weapons systems the Houthis have&nbsp;include the Fledermaus Radar, surface-to-air missiles, improvised armour, and T-55 tanks.</p>

<p>The Houthis also have Tochka ballistic missiles and F-5 supersonic light fighter aircraft. There also are Iranian-origin Hatem/Khaybar Shekan and Badr-4 ballistic missiles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also have passive infrared tracking systems, drones, loitering munitions, and Iran-origin Shahab 3/Ghadr missiles, besides an unspecified but large number of Raqeeb UAVs, which can have a range of up to 1,400 km.</p>

<p>Such vast expansion of Houthis' capacities, as shown by their arsenal,&nbsp;characterises&nbsp;Iran's support for the movement. Tehran looks at the Houthis, a revivalist Shia movement, as a wider part of its resistance against the US and Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Houthis have benefited from structural and institutional support from Iran. This has allowed them to gain capacities ranging from ballistic and anti-ship missiles to underwater weapons and drones. Without Iranian help, all this would not be possible," Taneja said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Note: The story has been updated to reflect the asymmetric security challenge posed by Houthis in West Asia.</em></p>


The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group.

The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group. The White House cited "unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden", one of the world's most crucial shipping routes for global trade. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control most of the country's north as well as the strategically valuable Bab al-Mandeb Strait, vowed in November 2023 that they would target Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza. However, the United States claims that ships linked to 55 states worldwide have been attacked as of Jan 15, 2024. Situation in Yemen: Between January 2021 and April 2022 Originally known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), the US designated Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on January 10, 2021, during the last few days of the Trump administration. The group had been in a years-long civil war with the internationally recognised Saudi-backed Yemeni government that led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region. Also read | Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears' A little more than a month later in February 2021, the US State Department under President Joe Biden, citing the need to facilitate aid delivery into Yemen, removed the SDGT designation and also de-listed Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) status for the Houthis. Between February 2021 and April 2022, the Houthis continued to expand their territorial hold in Yemen amid failed efforts by the UN and US envoys to engineer a truce. A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth The de-listing of Houthis as "terrorists" in February 2021 occurred owing to the pressure the Biden administration faced as Houthis disallowed any aid from reaching Yemen's people, said Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme at Observer Research Foundation. "This also helped Saudis, who are in open negotiations with the Houthis after being at war with them since 2015," Taneja added. In April 2022, the internationally-recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi ceded power to a presidential council, and a truce was agreed upon. This truce, although fragile, continues to hold to date amid signs of its sustenance with successful prisoner exchange efforts between the two warring sides. Israel-Hamas war: Why Houthis have been re-listed as 'terrorists' by the US? On January 17, 2024, the White House designated Houthis as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) entity. Hours before the above development, Taneja described such occurrence as a "direct consequence of the campaign of Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea". The attack by Houthis on merchant shipping vessels on the Red Sea shipping route — the passage to 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade — has increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent for the goods destined for Europe from Asia, according to Container xChange, an online container logistics platform for container trading and container leasing. Implications for the region The truce brokered in April 2022 between warring parties in the Yemeni civil war was engineered following years of Saudi-led negotiations. "The Houthis have been involved in substantive negotiations with Saudi Arabia, a US ally, over a Saudi withdrawal from Yemen, which the US supports. That wouldn't be a good time to make such a designation," said Joost R. Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at International Crisis Group. "From our perspective, such designations are counter-productive, also because there is no commonly accepted definition of 'terrorist organisation', a highly politicised term," Hiltermann added. Houthis have grown into the most powerful war machine in Yemen whose threat to the shipping lanes in the Red Sea has forced the United States to form a multinational naval task force to counter them. "The Biden administration had no intention of making such a designation lightly against any group, without a provocation," Hiltermann said. How powerful are Houthis: Challenges and Asymmetry Weeks before the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that pushed the region to the worst state of war in decades, the Houthis on September 21 held a parade in Yemeni capital Sana'a. The parade showed weapon systems in the hands of an irregular army. Thread: 1/ Geolocation of the Houthis' SEP 21, 2023 military parade in As Sabain, Sanaa, #Yemen. Coords: 15.324805, 44.205419 This thread will ID arms & vehicles at the event & discuss notable trends. pic.twitter.com/j0luwfYWFt — Joshua Koontz (@JoshuaKoontz__) September 21, 2023 × There were Mi-8 transportation helicopters as well as the Malah boats, often deployed to lay mines in the sea. Houthis are now attacking these shipping lanes with the naval mines and airpower they have acquired over the years. Some other weapons systems the Houthis have include the Fledermaus Radar, surface-to-air missiles, improvised armour, and T-55 tanks. The Houthis also have Tochka ballistic missiles and F-5 supersonic light fighter aircraft. There also are Iranian-origin Hatem/Khaybar Shekan and Badr-4 ballistic missiles. They also have passive infrared tracking systems, drones, loitering munitions, and Iran-origin Shahab 3/Ghadr missiles, besides an unspecified but large number of Raqeeb UAVs, which can have a range of up to 1,400 km. Such vast expansion of Houthis' capacities, as shown by their arsenal, characterises Iran's support for the movement. Tehran looks at the Houthis, a revivalist Shia movement, as a wider part of its resistance against the US and Israel. "Houthis have benefited from structural and institutional support from Iran. This has allowed them to gain capacities ranging from ballistic and anti-ship missiles to underwater weapons and drones. Without Iranian help, all this would not be possible," Taneja said. Note: The story has been updated to reflect the asymmetric security challenge posed by Houthis in West Asia.

Explained : How Yemen's Houthi rebels became America's 'terrorists' once again

<p>In a setback for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported.</p>

<p>The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier's nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies.</p>

<p>It reported that Imran's nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations.</p>

<p>Imran's nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency.</p>

<p>The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal's dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning Officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual.</p>

<p>The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment.</p>

<p>Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly.</p>

<p>During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported.</p>

<p>He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions.</p>

<p>Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner's conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.</p>


In a setback for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported.

In a setback for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported. The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier's nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies. It reported that Imran's nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations. Imran's nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency. The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction. Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal's dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning Officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday. Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual. The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment. Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly. During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported. He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions. Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner's conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.

Pakistan elections: Imran Khan's hopes to contest polls get another setback

<p>Former US President Donald Trump continues to dominate the race for the Republican presidential nomination. In New Hampshire, Trump is enjoying a 16-point lead over former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, according to a new poll by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe and NBC News.</p>

<h2><strong>Trump's lead over Nikki Haley: How much is it?</strong></h2>

<p>The poll found Trump leading with 50 per cent cumulative support in New Hampshire against 34 per cent for Haley. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, who edged out Haley for second in Iowa earlier this week, was a distant third at 5 per cent.</p>

<h2><strong>New Hampshire primaries: Who holds the key?</strong></h2>

<p>In New Hampshire state, the undeclared voters too can take part in the presidential primaries. Observers cited in the US media say that such voters will leave a crucial impact on the Republican primary this year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Trump and Haley: Who are their respective supporters?</strong></h2>

<p>In the newly released poll, Trump dominated among registered Republicans and voters who called themselves conservatives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haley was popular among moderates and independents.</p>

<p>David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, told the Globe: "Haley has had a tough week: underperforming in Iowa, trying to answer Trump’s attacks on her positions on social security and immigration, and the recent [Vivek] Ramaswamy endorsement of Trump helping him with younger GOP voters."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-trumps-potential-white-house-return-impacts-india-and-global-dynamics-680567">Explained | How Trump’s potential White House return impacts India and global dynamics</a></strong></p>

<p>For Haley, Paleologos said, there remains time "to at least close the gap with undecided voters or even with some Trump voters, and pull Trump below 50".</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US Elections 2024: DeSantis &amp; Haley seek to be alternative to Donald Trump</strong></p>

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<p>Haley has tried to position herself opposite Trump, stating that she would not take part in New Hampshire debates planned for Thursday (to be hosted by ABC) and Sunday (to be broadcast on CNN).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump has skipped all debates so far, which left DeSantis the only contender willing to appear.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former US President Donald Trump continues to dominate the race for the Republican presidential nomination. In New Hampshire, Trump is enjoying a 16-point lead over former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, according to a new poll by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe and NBC News.

Former US President Donald Trump continues to dominate the race for the Republican presidential nomination. In New Hampshire, Trump is enjoying a 16-point lead over former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, according to a new poll by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe and NBC News. Trump's lead over Nikki Haley: How much is it? The poll found Trump leading with 50 per cent cumulative support in New Hampshire against 34 per cent for Haley. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, who edged out Haley for second in Iowa earlier this week, was a distant third at 5 per cent. New Hampshire primaries: Who holds the key? In New Hampshire state, the undeclared voters too can take part in the presidential primaries. Observers cited in the US media say that such voters will leave a crucial impact on the Republican primary this year. Trump and Haley: Who are their respective supporters? In the newly released poll, Trump dominated among registered Republicans and voters who called themselves conservatives. Haley was popular among moderates and independents. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, told the Globe: "Haley has had a tough week: underperforming in Iowa, trying to answer Trump’s attacks on her positions on social security and immigration, and the recent [Vivek] Ramaswamy endorsement of Trump helping him with younger GOP voters." Also read | Explained | How Trump’s potential White House return impacts India and global dynamics For Haley, Paleologos said, there remains time "to at least close the gap with undecided voters or even with some Trump voters, and pull Trump below 50". Also watch | US Elections 2024: DeSantis & Haley seek to be alternative to Donald Trump × Haley has tried to position herself opposite Trump, stating that she would not take part in New Hampshire debates planned for Thursday (to be hosted by ABC) and Sunday (to be broadcast on CNN). Trump has skipped all debates so far, which left DeSantis the only contender willing to appear. (With inputs from agencies)

Can Nikki Haley outrun Donald Trump in New Hampshire? Here's what a poll says

<p>Pakistan on Thursday (Jan 18) struck inside Iran's&nbsp;Sistan and Baluchestan province a day after Iranian strikes targeted a jihadist group based in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The strikes killed seven people, including three women, Iranian state media reported.</p>

<p>The death toll subsequently&nbsp;rose to nine, up from seven earlier. "Two men were also killed in the missile attack this morning in one of the border villages of Saravan, bringing the death toll to nine," the official IRNA news agency said quoting Alireza Marhamati, deputy provincial governor of Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province.</p>

<p>According to a statement by Pakistan's&nbsp;Foreign Office (FO), a series of "highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes" were conducted that&nbsp;killed several terrorists during the&nbsp;operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar'.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“This morning Pakistan undertook precision strikes inside Sistan Balochistan in Iran. A number of terrorists were killed. The operation was codenamed as Operation Margbar Sarmachar”, says spox @FoeignOfficePk in her weekly briefing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanStrikesBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanStrikesBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ny08HqMVyf">pic.twitter.com/Ny08HqMVyf</a></p>
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1747870069538066586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>A security source cited by Iran's Mehr News agency had earlier said that a total of seven people were killed in the missile attack launched by Pakistan on a border village. All seven people were described as 'foreign nationals'. They reportedly included three women and four&nbsp;children.</p>

<p>Iran on Tuesday (Jan 17) laun­ched attacks in Pakistan targeting the bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan which prompted the downgrading of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Tehran.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-launches-attack-in-iran-day-after-deadly-balochistan-strike-report-681019"><strong>Pakistan retaliates with multiple strikes in Iran a day after deadly Balochistan attack</strong></a></p>

<p>The Foreign Office statement on Thursday morning said: "Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran. Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Pakistan hits militant targets in Iran day after missile strikes in Balochistan</strong></p>

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<p>"However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars."</p>

<p>The statement stressed that Pakistan "fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran", adding "the sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised".</p>

<p>"Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. We have always emphasised dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions," it concluded.</p>


Pakistan on Thursday (Jan 18) struck inside Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province a day after Iranian strikes targeted a jihadist group based in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Pakistan on Thursday (Jan 18) struck inside Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province a day after Iranian strikes targeted a jihadist group based in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The strikes killed seven people, including three women, Iranian state media reported. The death toll subsequently rose to nine, up from seven earlier. "Two men were also killed in the missile attack this morning in one of the border villages of Saravan, bringing the death toll to nine," the official IRNA news agency said quoting Alireza Marhamati, deputy provincial governor of Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province. According to a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO), a series of "highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes" were conducted that killed several terrorists during the operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar'. “This morning Pakistan undertook precision strikes inside Sistan Balochistan in Iran. A number of terrorists were killed. The operation was codenamed as Operation Margbar Sarmachar”, says spox @FoeignOfficePk in her weekly briefing. #Pakistan #Iran #PakistanStrikesBack pic.twitter.com/Ny08HqMVyf — Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) January 18, 2024 × A security source cited by Iran's Mehr News agency had earlier said that a total of seven people were killed in the missile attack launched by Pakistan on a border village. All seven people were described as 'foreign nationals'. They reportedly included three women and four children. Iran on Tuesday (Jan 17) launched attacks in Pakistan targeting the bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan which prompted the downgrading of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Tehran. Also read | Pakistan retaliates with multiple strikes in Iran a day after deadly Balochistan attack The Foreign Office statement on Thursday morning said: "Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran. Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists." Also watch | Pakistan hits militant targets in Iran day after missile strikes in Balochistan × "However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars." The statement stressed that Pakistan "fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran", adding "the sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised". "Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. We have always emphasised dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions," it concluded.

Pakistan calls Iran a 'brotherly neighbour' hours after launching airstrikes that killed 9

These Are Top Green Flags For People In Your Life

You could be angry, sad, or just down to the dust, their presence is calming enough to give away the dopamine you so need when you are not at your best.


Respecting the differences of opinion is integrally embedded in their sense of being.


They do not make it all about themselves. When you go with your trauma, they lend an ear you so need.

They may or may not be conventionally funny. But they sync their vibe to the point that a burst of laughter becomes an act of spontaneity.

They just won't let you be. But instead, they will make an effort to ensure that you attain a sense of balance in whatever you're going through.



Looking for the signs of green flags in people around you. Here are the traits you can observe in people around you

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