Reuters: World

Ayodhya: Religious spectacle to mark Modi's opening of Ram temple A grand temple to Hindu god Lord Ram opens on Monday on a site in India millions believe is his birthplace, in a religious spectacle led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi months before he seeks a rare third term in elections. The construction of the temple is a 35-year-old, central promise of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a contentious political issue that helped catapult the party to prominence and power. Hindu groups are portraying the inauguration ceremony in the northern city of Ayodhya as the peak of Hindu awakening after centuries of subjugation by Muslim and colonial powers. read more

Fire erupts at Russia's Novatek Baltic Sea terminal after suspected Ukrainian drone attack A fire broke out at a Baltic Sea terminal belonging to Novatek (NVTK.MM), opens new tab, Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producer, after a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, forcing the company to suspend some operations there. The Ust-Luga complex, located on the Gulf of Finland about 170 km (110 miles) west of St. Petersburg, processes stable gas condensate into light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, fuel oil and gasoil, according to Novatek's website. The port is used to ship processed products to international markets. read more

Atlas Air's Boeing cargo plane makes emergency landing after engine malfunction An Atlas Air Boeing 747-8 (BA.N), opens new tab cargo plane with five crew members made an emergency landing at Miami International Airport (MIA) late Thursday after facing an engine malfunction shortly after departure. Unverified videos on social media platform X showed flames shooting out of the left wing of the aircraft while in flight. No injuries were reported, the airport told Reuters. "The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA," the air-freight company said, adding that it would conduct an inspection to find the cause. read more

Indian Navy rescues crew after attack on ship off coast of Yemen The Indian Navy said on Thursday it had rescued the crew of a U.S.-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Yemen's Houthi movement as tensions in the region's sea lanes disrupted global trade. Following the attack on the U.S. Genco Picardy late on Wednesday, the U.S. military said its forces had conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region". read more

Pakistan launches strikes inside Iran against militant targets Pakistan conducted strikes inside Iran on Thursday, targeting separatist Balochi militants, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, two days after Tehran said it attacked the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. The neighbours have had rocky ties in the past, but the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion in recent years, for which Tehran has demanded an explanation, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said. read more

Iowa caucus 2024: Trump wins, DeSantis comes in distant second Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in the first 2024 Republican presidential contest in Iowa on Monday, asserting his dominance over the party despite a litany of legal troubles as he seeks a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finished well behind in second place, Edison Research projected, edging out former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as they battle to emerge as the chief alternative to Trump. read more

Hamas airs video of Israeli hostages, says it will disclose their fate Hamas aired video on Sunday showing three Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza in which they urged their government to stop the offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group and bring about their release, as both sides marked the 100th day of the war. The undated 37-second video of Noa Argamani, 26, Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, ended with the chyron: "Tomorrow we will inform you of their fate." read more

Denmark's King Frederik X takes the throne as his mother steps down Denmark's King Frederik X ascended the throne on Sunday, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, with big crowds gathered in the capital to witness history. Margrethe, 83, stunned the nation on New Year's Eve when she announced she planned to become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. The succession was formalized the moment Margrethe signed the declaration of her abdication during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament, the royal palace said. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation. read more

U.S. does not support Taiwan independence, Biden says U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, after Taiwanese voters rebuffed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term. Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te came to power, strongly rejecting Chinese pressure to spurn him, and pledged both to stand up to Beijing and seek talks. read more

Japan ANA Boeing 737-800 flight turns back due to cockpit window crack A domestic flight of Japan's All Nippon Airways (9202.T) returned to its departure airport on Saturday after a crack was found on the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft midair, a spokesperson for the airline said. Flight 1182 was en route to Toyama airport but headed back to the Sapporo-New Chitose airport after the crack was found on the outermost of four layers of windows surrounding the cockpit, the spokesperson said, adding there were no injuries reported among the 59 passengers and six crew. read more

US, Britain carry out strikes across Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines struck across Yemen overnight in retaliation against Iran-backed Houthi forces for attacks on Red Sea shipping, a widening of regional conflict triggered by Israel's war in Gaza. Witnesses confirmed explosions throughout Yemen, saying raids targeted a military base adjacent to Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah and military sites in Hajjah governorate. read more

UK, US expected to launch strikes against Houthis 'within hours' -Times Britain is expected to join the United States in conducting air strikes on military positions belonging to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen "within hours", the political editor for the Times newspaper reported on Thursday. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Downing Street office did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment, while the Pentagon and the White House each declined to comment on the report. read more