Ghislaine Maxwell, the embattled associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has put her former London home up for sale after selling it to support her defense in her sexual trafficking trial. The property is located in the prestigious Belgravia neighborhood and was allegedly the site of a now-infamous photo of Prince Andrew with a young Epstein accuser. The revamped home is now listed for a hefty price of almost $4 million, featuring a renovated kitchen and luxurious bedroom terrace. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Bill Clinton has denied visiting Epstein's private island in his new memoir, admitting he wishes he had never met the disgraced financier.
A new US law banning TikTok has been officially enacted, leaving its millions of American users without access to the popular video-sharing app. The ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, is a result of concerns over the app's ties to the Chinese government. Despite previous discussions of a potential sale, no action was taken before the January 2021 deadline, prompting the ban to take effect. However, President Joe Biden has stated that he may give TikTok a 90-day reprieve once he takes office, potentially offering a glimmer of hope for fans of the app.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to mark the 35th anniversary of the coordinated attacks on the minority Hindu population of Kashmir valley. The motion condemns the atrocities committed against the Kashmiri Pandit community and calls on the UK and Indian governments to recognize and acknowledge the genocide. It also urges the UK government to commemorate January 19 as Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Day. The motion has no supporting signatures as of now, making the first six MPs supporting the motion its sponsors.
The makers of the upcoming romantic comedy ‘Dragon’ have announced that they are pushing the release of the film from February 14 to February 21 due to other major releases in the Tamil film industry. The decision comes after the makers of another film, ‘Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam’, also announced a similar move. ‘Dragon’ features an impressive cast, including Pradeep Ranganathan, K S Ravi Kumar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin and VJ Siddhu, among others. This extra time will not only help improve the product but also give the makers more time to promote the film.
The United States President-elect, Donald Trump, has reignited his interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark, prompting backlash from both Danish and Greenlandic officials. This offer is not new, as Trump had previously expressed interest in buying Greenland during his first term in office. However, his recent insistence on the acquisition has sparked conversations and concerns about the role of the US in international relations, as well as the island's strategic value for the US.
Organisers in India are using artificial intelligence to manage the world's largest human gathering, the Kumbh Mela, in order to prevent deadly stampedes from occurring. With an estimated 400 million pilgrims expected to attend the festival, authorities are hoping that this technology will help improve their record of crowd management. By gathering accurate estimates of crowd sizes, they can be better prepared for potential trouble and ensure that every pilgrim can fulfill their spiritual duties safely.
The 45-day long Kumbh Mela festival, known as the largest religious gathering in the world, has begun in the Indian city of Prayagraj. The festival, held once every 12 years, has attracted an estimated 400 million attendees this year due to a rare astronomical alignment. With millions taking a holy dip on the first day, the festival has garnered international attention and can even be seen from space.
Indian leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi took to social media to pay their respects to the soldiers who lost their lives in a tragic mishap in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. The accident occurred due to inclement weather and poor visibility, further worsening the tensions in the conflict-ridden region. The injured soldiers were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for medical care, with three succumbing to their injuries. This unfortunate incident highlights the dangers faced by Army personnel in their line of duty in J&K.
Following a long-awaited ceasefire deal, Israel postponed the Cabinet vote due to a last-minute dispute with Hamas. While this drew criticism from world leaders, Netanyahu's government coalition raised concerns about the implementation of the deal. Amidst the tension, Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty urged both parties to implement the agreement without any further delay. Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the deal, but the militant group denied this claim. Amidst the political jostling, Israel's hardline national security minister threatened to quit the government if it approves the ceasefire.
At a press briefing in the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was repeatedly interrupted by hecklers, who denounced U.S. policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The interruptions occurred as Blinken discussed a recent ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. This display highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and the challenges facing the Biden administration in navigating this complex issue.