Houston hosts major Muharram haleem feast

Indian political commentator and social activist T.G. Mohandas has been detained by police over controversial remarks about students taking part in a protest. Police reportedly took Mohandas into custody from his residence on Sunday evening. A cybercrime police team reached his home with local police officers. He was present when the team arrived. Authorities are investigating remarks made by Mohandas in a video shared on his YouTube channel. Police also collected information about his YouTube account and digital devices allegedly used to record and upload the video. A complaint has reportedly been registered against him. The complaint alleges that the videos published on his channel were capable of disturbing public order. It also accused him of creating fear and unrest through his statements. The controversy began after Mohandas commented on a student protest in Delhi linked to an alleged examination paper leak. In the video, he made offensive remarks about female protesters and claimed that the demonstrations could lead to incidents of sexual violence. He further made a derogatory statement about women participating in the protest. His comments triggered criticism because they appeared to blame or demean potential victims of sexual violence. Mohandas also spoke about how authorities should respond to the demonstrations. He said that if he were in government, he would impose a curfew to disperse the protesters. He further suggested that force could be used if demonstrators refused to leave. His remarks included references to people potentially being killed or permanently injured during a violent crackdown. The comments have drawn attention from law enforcement authorities. Police are now examining the video and other digital material connected to the case. Officials are also questioning Mohandas as part of the investigation. The authorities are expected to determine whether his statements and online content violated laws relating to public order and the spread of fear or unrest. The case has sparked wider discussion over the limits of political commentary and responsibility for statements made on social media. The investigation is continuing, while further details about the allegations and possible legal action are awaited.

LONDON: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, has called for closer engagement with Pakistani media in the UK to strengthen outreach to the Pakistani diaspora and ensure the community remains informed about initiatives and reforms aimed at facilitating overseas Pakistanis. The High Commissioner made the remarks during an introductory meeting with representatives of Pakistani media houses working in London. Tipu Usman appreciated the positive role played by Pakistani media in the UK during Marka-e-Haq, particularly its contribution to keeping the Pakistani diaspora informed about important national developments and issues affecting the community. He said the Pakistan High Commission in London remained committed to working closely with Pakistani media representatives to enhance outreach and effectively communicate initiatives and reforms that would facilitate members of the Pakistani diaspora across the UK. The High Commissioner stressed the importance of effective communication and engagement with the Pakistani community, saying the media could play an important role in ensuring that information about government initiatives and services reaches overseas Pakistanis in a timely and effective manner. The representatives of Pakistani media houses welcomed Tipu Usman on assuming his responsibilities as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK and conveyed their best wishes for his tenure. During the interactive session, media representatives shared various suggestions aimed at improving the High Commission’s outreach to the Pakistani diaspora and strengthening efforts for the welfare of the Pakistani community residing across the United Kingdom. The participants discussed the importance of maintaining regular engagement between the High Commission and Pakistani media to improve communication with the community and provide greater awareness of initiatives, services and reforms relevant to overseas Pakistanis. The meeting provided an opportunity for an open exchange of views on ways to further strengthen coordination between the Pakistan High Commission, Pakistani media and the wider Pakistani diaspora in the UK. The High Commissioner welcomed the suggestions put forward by the media representatives and reaffirmed the High Commission’s readiness to work collaboratively with the media for more effective engagement with the Pakistani community across Britain.

Houthi missile and drone strikes killed at least 38 Yemeni government soldiers and injured 29 others on Thursday in one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, according to medical sources. The assaults targeted military camps in Marib and Hadramawt provinces, including positions near the Saudi Arabian border. Security officials said one of the missiles struck troops during their morning assembly at a military camp in Marib, causing heavy casualties. Military sources said the attacks hit camps in the Al-Ruwaik area of Marib as well as Al-Abr and Al-Wadiah in Hadramawt. The strikes left dozens of soldiers dead or wounded, with officials warning that the casualty toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition. The latest violence comes as Yemen’s long-running conflict has intensified following recent regional tensions. Last month, the Iran-backed Houthi movement expanded its military actions after renewed hostilities involving Iran and the United States. The group resumed attacks after a period of relative calm, including strikes on government forces and maritime targets. In a separate incident last month, Houthi fighters killed 16 government-aligned soldiers during an attack south of the strategic port city of Hodeidah. Yemen has been devastated by conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate. The rebels continue to control much of northern Yemen, while government forces hold large parts of the south. Although a UN-brokered truce reached in 2022 significantly reduced large-scale fighting, the agreement eventually expired, and sporadic clashes have continued. The latest attacks highlight the fragile security situation and raise fears of further escalation in a war that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominees for two positions on the federal labour law enforcement agency on Friday. The move provides Republicans with the necessary votes to overturn several key decisions that previously supported union organising. The Republican-led Senate approved a block of over 70 federal government nominees in a 51–47 vote. Among those confirmed were James Macy and David Prouty to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. James Macy, a Republican, held several roles at the US Department of Labour after spending four decades representing employers in labour disputes. David Prouty, a former union lawyer serving as the board’s sole Democrat, was confirmed for a second term. The five-member board already held a 2–1 Republican majority prior to the confirmation vote. By tradition, the panel maintains two Democrats, two Republicans, and a chair designated by the president. The NLRB investigates complaints from private-sector workers and unions whilst overseeing workplace elections. Formal complaints filed by the general counsel are heard by administrative judges before reaching the full board, whose rulings can be appealed in federal court. This internal process faces ongoing legal challenges from companies such as Amazon and SpaceX, which argue that the framework violates the US Constitution. Under long-standing tradition, the board requires three affirmative votes to overturn established precedent. Existing Republican appointees Scott Mayer and Chairman James Murphy had previously stated they would not break with that practice without a third vote. Trump’s appointees are expected to target policies favoured by trade unions that contributed to a recent surge in organising efforts. Murphy and Mayer have already revived a rule making it harder to hold companies accountable as joint employers of contract workers, whilst relinquishing jurisdiction over a SpaceX case to another federal agency. The board previously lost its quorum and was unable to process cases last year after Trump took the unprecedented step of removing Democratic member Gwynne Wilcox. Her dismissal left hundreds of cases unresolved for nearly a year. Wilcox sued and brief reinstatement was granted before a federal appeals court paused and reversed the decision. In June, the US Supreme Court upheld Trump’s removal of a Democratic Federal Trade Commission member, ruling that statutory protections against removal without cause were invalid. Wilcox’s petition for Supreme Court review regarding an identical protection remains pending.