Renowned Pakistani singer and humanitarian Hadiqa Kiani is set to embark on a six-city fundraising tour across the United Kingdom, aiming to raise money for widows and orphaned children affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The initiative, organised in partnership with AlKhidmat Foundation and Aghoush UK, will feature a series of charity dinners held in Manchester, London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Peterborough, and Bradford between January 23 and 27. Kiani announced the campaign through an Instagram post on Thursday, describing the tour as a humanitarian effort to mobilise support for families left vulnerable by years of violence in Gaza. The tour will kick off in Manchester on January 23, followed by London on January 24. Nottingham and Birmingham will host events on January 25, while Peterborough and Bradford will conclude the series on January 26 and 27, respectively. Organisers have clarified that the events are fundraising dinners rather than musical concerts, and Kiani will not be performing at any of the venues. Tickets are priced at £40 for general admission, while VIP access costs £150 per person or £1,000 for a table of 10. Children under the age of six may attend free of charge, and early-bird discounts are available for selected dates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hadiqa Kiani (@hadiqakianiofficial) Kiani’s involvement in humanitarian work has earned her widespread recognition. Through her non-profit initiative, Vaseela, she led the reconstruction of three villages destroyed by the 2022 floods in Balochistan. She also played a key role in coordinating relief operations during the 2025 floods in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Her sustained commitment to social causes was internationally acknowledged when she was named among the BBC 100 Women for 2024. Funds raised during the UK tour will be directed towards emergency relief and long-term support for Gaza’s most vulnerable families. Despite a ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in the region remains fragile, with continued violence and recent Israeli airstrikes reportedly claiming civilian lives, including journalists. Through the campaign, Kiani hopes to amplify global awareness of the humanitarian crisis and encourage collective action. She has repeatedly stressed that sustained international support is critical to easing the suffering of widows and children affected by conflict.
OpenAI Introduces Age Prediction to Limit Sensitive Content on ChatGPT
OpenAI is introducing a new safety system in ChatGPT that aims to identify underage users—not by asking them to self-report their age, but by predicting it through behaviour. According to TechCrunch, the company has deployed an “age prediction” feature that analyzes how an account is used to determine whether it likely belongs to someone under the age of 18. Accounts flagged as belonging to minors will automatically be placed under stricter safety controls to limit access to sensitive content. The system relies on what OpenAI describes as “behavioural and account-level signals.” These include factors such as the user’s stated age (if provided), how long the account has existed, usage patterns, and even the times of day the account is most active. If an account is identified as likely belonging to a minor, ChatGPT will automatically shift that user into a more restricted experience, applying additional safeguards around topics such as sex, violence, and other material deemed inappropriate for younger users. Why OpenAI Is Moving Now The rollout comes amid growing global pressure on technology companies to strengthen online protections for children and teenagers, especially as generative AI tools become increasingly embedded in classrooms, households, and everyday digital life. In a separate report, Reuters said OpenAI is deploying the age prediction system worldwide as part of broader plans to introduce an “adult mode” for verified users in early 2026. According to Reuters, users who are incorrectly flagged as under 18 will be able to restore full access by verifying their identity through a selfie-based check using Persona, a third-party identity verification service. OpenAI has been signaling this shift for months. In earlier policy updates, the company outlined a long-term strategy to tailor ChatGPT’s experience based on age, defaulting to stricter protections whenever a user’s age cannot be confidently determined. A Wider Industry Shift Toward Algorithmic Age Checks OpenAI’s move reflects a broader trend across the tech industry, where platforms are increasingly turning to algorithmic age estimation instead of relying on easily bypassed age checkboxes. Social media companies, in particular, have expanded similar systems in regions with tougher online safety regulations. The Guardian recently reported that TikTok has strengthened its age-verification efforts across the European Union by analysing profile information, posted content, and behavioural signals to detect younger users. For ChatGPT, the change marks an important shift in how consumer AI products manage safety. Rather than static settings, protections are increasingly being built into real-time, adaptive systems designed to respond to who is using the tool—and what they may be vulnerable to seeing.
Bangladesh–India Dispute: When and Where Did the Rift That Reached Cricket Begin?
A growing diplomatic chill between Bangladesh and India has now spilled into international cricket, after Bangladesh’s board sought to avoid playing its scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India—an escalation tied to a chain of events that began months earlier and later intensified around Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. The first spark: a killing and a surge of anger The deterioration in public sentiment accelerated after the death of a prominent Bangladeshi youth leader, which triggered unrest and violent protests in multiple cities. Reuters reported that the killing set off demonstrations and attacks on sites including media offices and political locations, as the government urged calm. In the aftermath, some political groups and activists in Bangladesh alleged Indian involvement, a claim that circulated widely in protests and online messaging, further worsening public emotions—though such allegations have been disputed and were not presented as established fact in credible reporting. Pressure builds: incidents and reactions across the border As unrest grew, bilateral tensions widened. Reuters later noted that the relationship was already strained due to other developments, including communal incidents and protests, and broader political complications involving Bangladesh’s former leader Sheikh Hasina being in India. This atmosphere, analysts say, created a new risk: that sport—usually kept separate—would become a public arena for anger and retaliation. The turning point: Mustafizur Rahman and Kolkata Knight Riders That risk became real when Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL participation turned into a controversy. Multiple outlets reported that the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from their IPL plans, linking the instruction to “recent developments” connected to the wider political situation. In Bangladesh, the decision was widely perceived as humiliating and politically driven. Some commentary framed it as the result of pressure from hardline groups and nationalist sentiment in India—though KKR and Indian cricket authorities publicly emphasized administrative and security considerations rather than street pressure narratives. The World Cup fallout: Bangladesh asks to move matches out of India Soon after, Bangladesh’s position hardened. Reuters reported Bangladesh would not play its scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns, and that the BCB formally asked the ICC to relocate matches to a neutral venue, with Sri Lanka named as a preferred option. The report linked the cricket decision to the Mustafizur episode and worsening bilateral climate, showing how quickly a franchise-league move can trigger international consequences when relations are already tense. Why this matters World Cups run on fixed logistics: venues, visas, broadcasting, and security planning. A relocation request forces the ICC into a sensitive space—balancing safety, fairness, and tournament integrity—while both countries face intense public scrutiny at home.
