H.H. The Aga Khan celebrated his 80th birthday with his family on 13th December 2016. On 16th December, the LIF invited Mowlana Hazar Imam to a birthday party in Aiglemont. members of the Noorani family also attended: Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa, Prince Irfan, Princess Zahra.and Prince Hussain were in attendance. A short video of the Concert and the Imam cutting the cake, was shown to the world Jamat . On that occasion, Mowlana Hazar Imam said: Members of My family, members of the Jamat, this is a uniquely happy occasion in My life. And as you can tell I am a little emotional. But then who isn't when you reach the revered age of eighty. So I am there, but I feel I as though I am 40. Thanks to you. . This has been a very, very happy occasion for Me and I would like to thank everyone who has participated in making this event happen. I would like to thank our musicians for their wonderful performance and I would like to hope that each of you will retain this evening as a moment of special happiness in your lives. That is certainly going to be in My case and for all the members of My family who are here. As I think about the past, I reflect where the Jamat has come from, and where it is today and where we it is going in the decades ahead. And I think we can conclude, that today the Jamat is a strong community, it is a global community, it is a community with strong institutions, with strong ethics and it is respected around the world. What more could I wish for as the Imam of the Time? You could not give Me a greater gift than the ability and the right to say the things I have just said So to all the Jamat leaders past and present, I say first of all on My behalf as Imam of the Time, thank you (applause) As we look ahead the Jamat is likely to become, more and more, a global community. But the essence of the Jamat, the ethics of our faith, the principles which we believe in and which we seek to practice in our lives are the essence of how our community will stay united, even though it becomes more and more globalised over the years So I say to the leaders of the Jamat who are here this evening that My wish for the decades ahead is that you stand firmly by the principles and the ethics of our faith, wherever you are, whatever age you are, whatever you are doing in your lives, it is essentially important to Me that the principles of our faith should be respected every day of your lives. This is My hope and this is my prayer I say to you this evening that I have had a especially happy 80th Birthday. And if had known it was going to be so wonderful, I would have tried to bring it forward you know, and I would have tried to multiply it. (Laughter) But in any event, I am there now and I want to thank you again for a most wonderful evening and for a particularly beautiful 80th birthday present I hope that in the decades ahead you will remember this occasion as one of special happiness, as I do, and I wish you happiness, long life, good health and unity in your lives, in your families Thank you H.H. The Aga Khan celebrated his 80th birthday with his family on 13th December 2016. Later on 16th December, the LIF invited Mowlana Hazar Imam to a birthday party in Aiglemont. members of the Noorani family also attended: Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa, Prince Irfan, Princess Zahra... A short video of the Concert and the Imam cutting the cake, was shown to the world Jamat . VIDEO: http://ismaili.net/timeline/2016/vid-20161218-wa0001.mp4

US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke Saturday of the need for the world to stand firm against authoritarian populism and for the rule of law as he received France's highest decoration. At the onset of his remarks, Secretary Kerry paid tribute to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan for being an influential champion for peace around the world. John-kerry-hugging-aga-khan“Your Highness, thank you so much. My friend, the Aga Khan, I am deeply appreciative for our friendship and for your efforts for peace around the world.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault presented Kerry with the insignia of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor at a ceremony in Paris in which he recalled Kerry's family connections with France and praised his diplomatic endeavors. Accepting the award, Kerry said he was "humbled" and that it reflected the special relationship between France and the United States, their long history and shared values. He also spoke about the achievements the two countries had jointly realized during his time as secretary of state, including helping to negotiate a deal to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Kerry: 'Dangerous currents' Kerry, whose mother was born in France, said he accepted the award as a reminder of the duty to keep working for their common ideals, shared aspirations and the rule of law. "We have a lot of work to do in that regard because there are dangerous currents of authoritarian populism, and no part of the world remembers better what happens when difficult economies mix with sectarian exploitation, with nationalism and fear," he said. "We really need to be careful going forward and think hard about the choices that we face. ... We are pursuing diplomacy because the world needs the values that have been espoused by the United States and France since our inception." Kerry also warned against isolationism, saying: "In this day and age, folks, we cannot confuse national pride with national self-sufficiency or think that exclusionary policies are somehow going to solve the problems that we face. ... In the 21st century, every country needs partners in order to prosper. None of us can move alone." At the same time, though, Kerry said he was optimistic about the future and that great social progress was being made around the world. Ayrault said Kerry had stood by France through a series of recent terror attacks, had engaged in tireless global diplomacy and was an important ally in the fight against extremism. Kerry, a French speaker and lover of France, shared the values held dear by his country, Ayrault said, and was "certainly the most French" of senior US figures today. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon Bonaparte and is France's highest military and civilian decoration. www.cnn.com