Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticizes Rahul Gandhi, stating he lives in a "la-la world" for accusing BJP of politicizing the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration. Chandrasekhar emphasizes the deep emotional connection of Hindus to the Ram temple. Rahul Gandhi claimed the BJP turned the ceremony into a political event. The BJP leader dismisses Gandhi's remarks, highlighting India's awareness of the truth. Chandrasekhar defends Modi's pro-poor policies, contrasting them with Congress's alleged misleading slogans. The exchange intensifies as the political discourse heats up surrounding the Ram temple event and economic policies.            

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for constitutional changes designating South Korea as the "number one hostile state," signaling the end of the regime's commitment to Korean peninsula unification. In a speech to North Korea's parliament, Kim accused the South of seeking regime change and unification by stealth. The announcement led to the closure of three agencies overseeing inter-Korean relations. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned North Korea's stance, labeling it "anti-national." The shift marks a departure from decades of reconciliation efforts, raising concerns about heightened tensions and potential use of nuclear weapons.

Amid ongoing pregnancy speculations, a new picture of power couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma has surfaced online as they receive an invitation for the Ram Temple's Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The image provides a sneak peek into their lavish Mumbai home. Anushka, dressed in a white salwar-suit, and Virat, in a blue shirt and white pyjamas, are seen with the invitation. The couple celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary in December 2023 and welcomed their daughter Vamika in January 2021. Anushka's upcoming film, "Chakda Xpress," a biopic on cricketer Jhulan Goswami, is yet to receive a release date.          

The Met Office has extended snow and ice warnings across the UK as an Arctic blast plunges the country into freezing conditions. Over 100 schools are forced to close, with yellow warnings for snow and ice until Thursday causing travel disruption and power cut concerns. Temperatures are predicted to plummet to as low as -15C in some regions. Rail operators, including South Western Railway and ScotRail, warn of service disruptions. London Fire Brigade issues a hypothermia risk warning. Residents in Cheshire and northern England wake to snow, and the freezing weather is expected to persist throughout the week.

Home Secretary James Cleverly announces the ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir, labeling the Islamist group as "antisemitic" and accusing it of actively promoting terrorism. The decision, under UK terrorism laws, follows allegations of chanting "jihad" at a pro-Gaza rally. Hizb ut-Tahrir denies the accusations, vowing to challenge the ban legally. The ban, effective this Friday, criminalizes association with, support for, or display of material endorsing the group. The organization, founded in 1953, advocates a single Islamic government globally. The move is met with support from some quarters, while Hizb ut-Tahrir contends it's being silenced for its political stance.

Maj Gen Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, warns that the current US-led airstrikes against Houthi rebels won't secure Red Sea navigation. He calls on the West for arms, training, and intelligence to complement air campaigns, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach. Recent Houthi attacks near Hodeidah and on a US-owned cargo ship highlight the urgency. Zoubaidi dismisses Houthi claims, linking attacks to Israel, stating they serve Iran's agenda. The plea for ground support coincides with stalled peace talks and the revelation that the de facto ceasefire is nonexistent, with daily Houthi drone activity.

Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, classified documents accessed by Germany's Bild newspaper reveal alarming preparations for an armed conflict with Russia. The report suggests Germany anticipates Russia expanding its aggression to NATO ally countries, potentially sparking World War 3. The "Alliance Defence 2024" scenario outlines a spring offensive by Russian forces against Ukraine, leading to heightened clashes by September. Tens of thousands of German soldiers are reportedly poised for deployment. While Russian officials label the report as "fake," the documents indicate a strategic response by NATO, including measures for credible deterrence by May 2025.            

In addition to Standard Operating Procedures issued to airlines by the DGCA, Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, "war rooms" will be set up at six metro airports to address "passenger inconvenience with immediacy". Sharing details on X, Scindia said: "In addition to these SOPs, we have sought incidence reporting thrice daily for all the 6 metro airports." The government will ensure "sufficient" CISF manpower availability at airports round-the-clock, he assured. Allowing airlines to cancel flights that are likely to be delayed beyond three hours, the DGCA SOP yesterday stated: "Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights, and delays in flights." Fog-induced disruptions to domestic and international commercial flight operations resulted in passenger fury as IndiGo and other airlines battled poor communications in the last few days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the Veerbhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Lepakshi, a site of significance in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Lepakshi is believed to be where the giant eagle Jatayu tried to protect Goddess Sita after her abduction by Ravan. Dying Jatayu conveyed information about Sita's captivity and was granted 'Moksha' by Lord Ram. Modi's spiritual journey comes just before the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, which lakhs of pilgrims are expected to attend. The Prime Minister is on a two-day trip launching development projects in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, including a ship repair facility. On Wednesday, PM Modi will offer prayers at the Guruvayur and Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami temples in Kerala.

Abu Dhabi's MBZUAI researchers unveil AI system mimicking handwriting with just a few paragraphs. Using a transformer model, they earned a US patent for the innovative technology. While it raises potential benefits like aiding those unable to write, concerns about misuse and forgeries linger. The team emphasizes the need for careful deployment, suggesting public awareness and anti-forgery tools. Despite uncertainties, the researchers aim to apply the technology to real-world uses soon, seeking commercial partnerships. Applications range from decoding doctors' handwriting to enhancing AI models' processing of handwritten data. Challenges remain, particularly in adapting the tech to Arabic.