Hamas frees 8 more hostages; Israel releases Palestinian prisoners after delay

TEL AVIV, Jan 30: Israel began releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday after eight hostages in the Gaza Strip were freed by militants earlier in the day in a sometimes chaotic process that briefly called the exchange into question and underscored the fragility of a ceasefire that began this month.

The prisoners released include 30 serving life sentences for deadly attacks against Israelis. Some are allowed to return to the occupied West Bank, while those convicted of more serious crimes are being transferred to Egypt before further deportation.

Their releases began late Thursday after militants in Gaza freed three Israelis and five Thai nationals, who were working on farms in southern Israel when taken hostage more than 15 months ago.

The releases are part of a ceasefire aimed at ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, and securing the release of dozens more hostages abducted in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that ignited the war.

8 Hostages Due For Release In 1st Phase Of Truce Deal Are Dead: Israel

JERUSALEM, Jan 28: Eight of the hostages due for release in the first phase of a truce deal between Israel and Hamas are dead, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Monday.

"The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives," Mencer told reporters, without providing the names of the victims.

That means that of the 26 hostages yet to be freed under the first phase of the agreement, only 18 are still alive.

The truce deal, announced earlier in January after months of fruitless negotiations, took effect on January 19, bringing to a halt more than 15 months of war sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

Under the first phase of the agreement, 33 hostages held by militants in Gaza are to be released in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinians held by Israel.

Seven Israeli women have been released since the start of the truce, as have 290 Palestinian prisoners.

India, China Decide To Resume Direct Flights, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: India and China held a two-day foreign secretary-level talks in which it was decided to resume Kailash-Mansarovar yatra in the summer. The relevant mechanism will discuss the modalities for doing so as per existing agreements, the foreign ministry said in a statement. There was also an in-principle agreement for resumption of direct flights between the two nations.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had visited Beijing for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between India and China today.

As agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their meeting in Kazan in October, the two sides reviewed the state of India-China bilateral relations and agreed to take certain people-centric steps to stabilize and rebuild ties.

The resumption of the yatra is seen as a big step in this direction.
The yatra-- which involves a visit to mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake in Tibet -- has been suspended since the Covid outbreak of 2020.

Post-Covid, there was no renewal of arrangements by the Chinese side amid prickly relations between Beijing and New Delhi. The situation escalated after the Galwan clash.

The meet also agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries; the relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date.

An early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism will also be held to discuss resumption of provision of hydrological data and other cooperation pertaining to trans-border rivers.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary called on Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Director of the Office of Central Commission of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao, the ministry said.

200,000 return to north Gaza in first two hours of crossing opening

GAZA, Jan 27: Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are returning to north Gaza after Israel opened routes through the Netzarim Corridor

Drone footage showed masses of people walking north along the coastal route - but people travelling in cars face days-long waits at checkpoints

Palestinians had been due to return north on Saturday, but they were held up by a row over an Israeli hostage, Arbel Yehud

One man returned to Gaza City today to find his house burned down and his business looted, our Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf writes. Another woman found her husband living in a tent

Analysis of satellite images suggests northern Gaza is the most damaged part of the Strip - with 74% of buildings damaged or destroyed in Gaza City

On Saturday, President Trump suggested a "clean out" of Gaza, with Palestinians resettled in Jordan and Egypt - the idea was quickly rejected by both countries, plus others in the region

Trump resumes US shipment of deadly 2,000 pound bombs to Israel

WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump has resumed shipments of 2000 pound bombs to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. The development came mere days after a six-week ceasefire went into effect — with the POTUS also floating a plan to 'clean out' Gaza.

Delivery of these deadly bombs had been halted under the previous Joe Biden administration in a bid to reduce civilian casualties.

“A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!” Trump explained via Truth Social on Saturday.

The Republican leader confirmed their release on Saturday during an interaction with reporters. Trump said that the deadly weapons had been in ‘storage’ under the previous administration — despite Israel paying for them and ‘waiting for a long time’.

The Biden administration had also delivered thousands of these powerful 2000 pound bombs in the early days of the war — before shipments were halted due to concerns about civilian casualties.

The Mark 84 is a 2,000-pound (around 900 kg) aircraft bomb that can have a massive impact — ripping through concrete and metal to create a wide blast radius. It can reportedly kill people 360 metres away from the point of detonation and cause severe injury and damage building infrastructure 800 metres away.

According to a report from June 2024, the Biden administration transferred at least 14,000 of these heavy-duty 2,000-pound bombs within the first few months of war. Other munitions supplied during this time included 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs and 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs.

Washington has announced assistance worth billions of dollars for Israel since the war began in October 2023. Military funding for the country will continue during the Trump administration — even as nearly all foreign aid is frozen under the America First policy.

The POTUS recently urged neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt to increase their acceptance of Palestinian refugees — potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate. Washington had said last year that it opposed the forcible displacement of Palestinians.

India, Indonesia agree to hold early dialogue on defence, maritime, cyber security

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: Underlining the importance of “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto “agreed to an early establishment of bilateral maritime dialogue and cyber security dialogue”, according to a joint statement issued Sunday.

Subianto, the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade, was hosted by President Droupadi Murmu later in the day for the At Home function at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

As the two countries had adopted the “Shared Vision of India-Indonesia on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific” in 2018, they agreed to hold the next Defence Ministers’ Dialogue at an early date.

According to the joint statement issued at the end of the three-day visit of the Indonesian President, the two leaders reaffirmed that India and Indonesia are “maritime neighbours and strategic partners” and emphasised the importance of regularly convening bilateral dialogue mechanisms at the leaders level, ministerial level, and senior officials level.

These include the India-Indonesia Security Dialogue, Consular Dialogue and Policy Planning Dialogue, which are the key platforms for advancing mutual understanding and cooperation.

The two leaders welcomed the ratification of the Defence Agreement Cooperation (DCA) and expressed confidence that this would lead to further deepening of defence ties. They underscored the importance of regular engagements between Defence Ministers of both countries to effectively implement the DCA.

Modi and Subianto discussed the “strategic and operational interaction between the defence forces” of both countries, comprising more than two decades of continuous biannual India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol, conduct of periodic bilateral Army (Garuda Shakti) and Naval (Samudra Shakti) exercises. They welcomed the interest to have “cadet exchanges between the Naval Academies and the National Defence University/ Academy”, the joint statement said.

Recognising the importance of building “domestic defence manufacturing capabilities”, President Subianto appreciated India’s advancements and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in this sector.

“India agreed to support the ongoing defence modernization programmes of Indonesia through experience and expertise sharing. Both countries affirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in the defence industry by utilizing the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee,” the joint statement said.

The Indonesian President “welcomed India’s interest in enhancing cooperation on maritime security, including its engagement with regional mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of sea lanes of communication.

Both leaders also acknowledged the significance of collaborative efforts to achieve safe and secure sea lanes in the region. In this regard, they agreed that there needs to be constant communication to discuss enhancement of maritime safety”, the statement said.

It said that both also welcomed the ongoing discussions on the White Shipping Information Exchange agreement. They agreed to position an International Liaison Officer from Indonesia at Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) Gurugram. They agreed to continue discussions to identify mutually beneficial areas of cooperation in maritime security.

The statement said the leaders welcomed the “renewal of the MoU on Maritime Safety and Security Cooperation which signifies commitment to continue cooperating in preventing and responding to acts of crime at sea, coordinating search and rescue operation upon request, and capacity building activities”.

On South China Sea, the joint statement said, “Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, and other lawful uses of the seas, including unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and to promote peaceful resolutions of disputes, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and the relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).”

“In this regard, they supported the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety and look forward to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.”

On counter-terrorism, the joint statement said both leaders “strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in combating this threat through bilateral and multilateral initiatives”.

“They underscored the importance of strengthening global efforts to combat terrorism, including eliminating terror financing and preventing the recruitment of terrorists, without any double standards. Both leaders emphasized the need for all countries to work collectively to deny safe havens and support networks to terrorist groups, in accordance with international obligations and commitments,” the statement said.

It said that they “called upon all countries to take concerted action against UN-proscribed terrorist organizations and their affiliates. Recognizing the evolving nature of security challenges, the two leaders agreed to work together in preventing the spread of online radicalization and strengthening mechanisms to counter extremist ideologies”.

On food security, President Subianto expressed appreciation for “India’s support in Indonesia’s new mid-day meal scheme through the sharing of knowledge and experience, as well as facilitating the visits of Indonesian officials to various relevant Indian institutions”.

Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the initiative and invited more Indonesian officials to benefit from the expertise of the Food Corporation of India in managing the Public Distribution System, it said.

Ceasefires in Lebanon, Gaza fragile: 22 dead as Israeli forces open fire on protesters demanding withdrawal of troops

JERUSALEM, Jan 26: At least 22 people, including six women and a Lebanese soldier, were killed, and 124 others injured as Israeli forces opened fire on protesters in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanese health officials.

Demonstrators gathered to demand Israel’s withdrawal from the region, as stipulated by a ceasefire agreement following the Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Protests were reported in nearly 20 villages along the border.

The Israeli military justified its extended presence, citing the Lebanese army’s inability to fully deploy to the area and prevent Hezbollah’s return. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army claimed it could not deploy until Israel withdraws, creating a tense standoff. Protesters, many waving Hezbollah flags, attempted to re-enter border villages, sparking violent clashes.

The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of inciting Sunday’s protests. In a statement, the military said its troops fired warning shots to "neutralize threats" in areas where suspects were approaching, and several individuals were detained for questioning.

This development comes as Israel prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, alleging that Hamas violated the fragile ceasefire by altering the sequence of hostage releases.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasised Lebanon’s sovereignty, declaring it non-negotiable. He assured southern Lebanon's residents that he was actively addressing the issue at the highest levels to protect their rights and dignity. Aoun called for self-restraint and trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces. The army, in turn, assured that it was escorting civilians to certain towns along the border and urged residents to follow military guidance to ensure their safety.

Aoun condemned the violence, reaffirming Lebanon's sovereignty and urging residents to remain calm. Speaker Nabih Berri called on the international community to pressure Israel into withdrawing from Lebanese territories. The UN urged both sides to meet their ceasefire obligations, warning that ongoing violence threatens regional stability.

The UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL reiterated the need for Israel’s withdrawal, the removal of unauthorized weapons south of the Litani River, and the redeployment of the Lebanese army to ensure safe civilian returns. UNIFIL also stressed that failure to meet ceasefire timelines is exacerbating tensions and hindering stability.

Displaced Lebanese families revisiting their homes found widespread destruction. In Aita al Shaab, Hussein Bajouk vowed to rebuild despite the devastation. On the Israeli side, residents expressed shared grief, noting the tragic human cost for both sides.

Trump poposes relocating over one million Palestinians

JERUSALEM, Jan 26: US President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the idea that Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel's military actions have killed tens of thousands and created a dire humanitarian situation.

The idea was welcomed by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, but Palestinian groups including Islamic Jihad and Hamas vowed to oppose it.

On Saturday, Trump said he had spoken to Jordan's King Abdullah II about moving Palestinians out of Gaza. "I'd like Egypt to take people. And I'd like Jordan to take people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after his call with Jordan's King Abdullah.

"It (Gaza) is literally a demolition site, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there, so I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change," Trump said, adding that he expected to talk to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a strong opponent of stopping the war in Gaza, welcomed Trump's proposal. "The idea of helping them find other places to start a better life is a great idea. After years of glorifying terrorism, they will be able to establish new and good lives in other places," Smotrich said in a statement.

"Only out-of-the-box thinking with new solutions will bring a solution of peace and security. I will, with God's help, work with the prime minister and the cabinet to ensure there is an operational plan to implement this as soon as possible," he added.

Most Gazans are Palestinian refugees or their descendants. Any attempt to move them from Gaza could evoke dark historical memories of what the Arab world calls the "Nakba" or catastrophe -- the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel's creation in 1948.

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad on Sunday condemned Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan, calling it an encouragement of "war crimes".

Describing Trump's idea as "deplorable," the group, which fought a deadly war with Israel in Gaza alongside Hamas until a January 19 ceasefire, stated: "This proposal falls within the framework of encouraging war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcing our people to leave their land."

A senior Hamas official also said that it would oppose Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan.

"As they have foiled every plan for displacement and alternative homelands over the decades, our people will also foil such projects," said Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau.

4 Israeli Women Hostages In Military Outfit Freed By Hamas In 2nd Swap

TEL AVIV, Jan 25: Four female Israeli soldiers were released by Hamas today. They were brought in military uniform and made to stand on a podium and wave. They were handed over to Red Cross members and the vehicle has now left Gaza with the hostages.

The soldiers have reunited with their families in Israel, with crowds shedding tears of joy as they gathered to watch the release at a Hostage Square, a plaza in Tel Aviv.

Hamas had mentioned on Friday that they would release the four Israeli women soldiers who had been held hostage since October 7, 2023. This is the second exchange under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza.

All four were taken captive from Nahal Oz military base, about a kilometre away from the Gaza border.

Naama Levy, 20

Her video circulated on social media right after abduction. It showed her bruised and cut, her trousers stained with blood, with her hands tied. She was being pushed into a vehicle by a gunman.

She was wounded during the attack on October 7th, and appeared limping during the capture. In a video released by Hamas last year, she appealed angrily to the government to work for her release.

Liri Albag, 19

She was taken hostage just a day and a half after beginning her military service. Hamas had released her video as well, reading a message and appealing for her release.

Karina Ariev, 20

She could only speak briefly with her parents before being taken away. Soon after, a video of was released by the Hamas which showed her with a bandaged head with blood stains.

Per the plan, post the release of the four Israeli women soldiers, Israel should free a group of 200 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails.

This fragile deal is set to build the foundation for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

According to the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages Israel believes are still alive should be returned in exchange for 1900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

A more permanent end to the war is expected in the next phase of the war, and the last phase should see the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the bodies of dead hostages.

Putin says 'ready' for talks with Trump on Ukraine

MOSCOW, Jan 24: Fuelling expectations of contact with his US counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that he was ready for talks with US President Donald Trump on the Ukraine conflict

"As for the issue of negotiations.we have always said, and I want to emphasise this once again, that we are ready for these negotiations on Ukrainian issues," Putin told a reporter from Russian state TV.

Vladimir Putin also praised Donald Trump as "pragmatic" and "smart", saying he did not believe the US president would force global oil prices lower in a bid to damage Moscow.

"He is not only a smart person, but a pragmatic person," Putin told state media. He said oil prices that were either "too high or "too low" were bad for both the Russian and American economies, adding: "I have a hard time imagining there will be decisions taken that are detrimental to the American economy."

Vladimir Putin also said that the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" -- a reference to Moscow's full-scale military offensive -- might have been averted had Donald Trump been US president at the time.

"I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president -- if his victory hadn't been stolen in 2020 -- then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that emerged in 2022," Putin told a state TV reporter.

Kyiv on Friday warned against negotiations on the war in Ukraine between the US and Russia without including it and Europe, after Russian leader Vladimir Putin said he was ready for talks with Donald Trump.

"He (Putin) wants to negotiate the fate of Europe -- without Europe. And he wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine," the head of Ukraine's presidential office Andriy Yermak said on Telegram.

"This is not going to happen. Putin needs to come back to reality, or he will be brought back. This is not how it works in the modern world."

India to ‘take back’ those ‘overstaying’ in US: MEA

NEW DELHI, Jan 24: The ministry of external affairs on Friday said that India is against illegal immigration, especially because it is connected to organised crime.

“For Indian nationals, whether in the United States or elsewhere, if they are overstaying or residing in a country without proper documentation, we will bring them back, provided the necessary documents to verify their nationality are shared with us,” said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

During a briefing, when asked about the number of people being taken back from the United States, Jaiswal responded, “Any discussion about numbers is premature.”

He was also asked about the ongoing discussions regarding the return of illegal immigrants from the US and the plans to send them back, and whether this would impact India's commerce and industrial ties.

“Illegal migration and trade are two separate issues. Our approach, policy, and stance on illegal migration are very clear. We are against illegal migration, and the reason for this is that it is linked to organized crime,” said Jaiswal.

Speaking on the upcoming visit of foreign secretary Vikram Misri to China, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “This visit is going to happen on January 26 and 27. The foreign secretary will be meeting his counterpart, the vice minister in China, where all issues of bilateral interest will be discussed,”

“This meeting flows from the understanding that the leaders reached in Kazan, and subsequent to that, we've had meetings at the special representatives level, and we've had foreign minister-level meetings as well. We will get a readout of what was discussed once the discussions happen. But all issues of mutual interest will be discussed,” Jaiswal added.

Centre On UK Protests Over 'Emergency' Movie

NEW DELHI, Jan 24: The External Affairs Ministry is in touch with United Kingdom authorities over reports that screenings of actor Kangana Ranaut's new film 'Emergency' - based on the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 - in that country are being obstructed.

"We have seen reports on how the film 'Emergency', being screened in several halls, was being obstructed. We consistently raise concerns with the UK regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements... freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively."

"Those obstructing it (the film screening) must be held accountable," the ministry said.

"We hope the UK will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our High Commission in London remains in touch with our community members for their safety..." it added.

The reference was to reports that people in northwest London had been threatened by "masked Khalistani terrorists", who burst into a theatre showing Ms Ranaut's new film.

Bob Blackman, a MP for the Conservative Party, said, "On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for a screening of 'Emergency' in the Harrow Vue cinema. After about 30 or 40 minutes, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened audience members and forced the screening to end."

Similar disruptions of the "very controversial" film were reported from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Manchester, prompting at least two movie theatre chains to pull the film.

"The film is very controversial, and I am not commenting on its quality or content... but I defend the right of my constituents, and other members' constituents, to be able to view it and make a decision on it. It covers the period when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India," he said.

According to reports, some British Sikh groups, such as the Sikh Press Association, had organised protests against what they said was an "anti-Sikh" movie, and that these had resulted in disrupted shows in the towns named above.

Ms Ranaut's 'Emergency' faced a torrid time getting past the censors in India after Sikh organisations objected to its release. They accused the film's makers - Ms Ranaut is one of the producers - of misrepresenting the Sikh community and twisting historical facts.

Responding to these concerns, government sources acknowledged the fact "there is some sensitive content" and that religious sentiments could not be hurt.

After months of back-and-forth between the Censor Board and the courts, the film was cleared mid-November - after making three cuts and providing sources for certain controversial dialogues - and slotted for a January 17 release.

Top Hezbollah commander Sheikh Hammadi shot dead outside his home in Lebanon

LEBANON, Jan 22: Senior Hezbollah commander Sheikh Muhammad Ali Hammadi, who was on the FBI's most-wanted list, was shot dead in front of his house in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday night, reports Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. The report says Hammadi, who served as the commander of Hezbollah's western al-Baqaa region, was gunned down by attackers arriving in two vehicles.

Despite being rushed to the hospital, Hammadi was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.

The motive behind Hammadi's killing remains unclear. While local reports have speculated that the murder may have stemmed from a longstanding family feud, no official statement has confirmed this theory. No group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hammadi, who had been a fugitive on the FBI's most-wanted list for decades, was notorious for his involvement in a high-profile terrorist attack. In 1985, he hijacked a West German airliner, Lufthansa Flight 847, which was carrying 153 passengers, including several Americans. During the hijacking, an American national was tortured and killed. Hammadi's involvement in this and other acts of violence against Western targets earned him a prominent spot on the US law enforcement agency's list of wanted criminals.

The killing of Hammadi comes amid a turbulent period for Hezbollah, which has been locked in conflict with Israel. The group was involved in the 2023 war with Israel, alongside Hamas, which saw the death of at least seven top Hezbollah commanders. Tensions escalated when Israel launched attacks that targeted Hezbollah’s supply chain, including detonating communication equipment across Syria and Israel.

This latest attack on a senior Hezbollah leader comes as the region continues to grapple with ongoing violence, including a major Israeli military operation in the West Bank. Israeli authorities reported at least nine Palestinians dead in a raid on the city of Jenin, with dozens more wounded. This military action occurred amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah-backed groups in southern Lebanon.

Gaza Ceasefire Comes Into Force After Delay; Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostages

JERUSALEM, Jan 19: In the first phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group released first three Israeli hostages: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher – all women. The ceasefire kicked in at 11:15 am Gaza time, nearly three hours after it was scheduled to come into effect.

An hour before the deadline, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the ceasefire in Gaza would not begin unless Hamas provided his government with a list of hostages it would release under phase one of the agreement. Hamas said it remains committed to implementing phase one of the ceasefire deal and said the delay was due to “technical and field reasons”.

Israel's military, meanwhile, continued its attacks across Gaza, where eight people died and 25 were injured in a fresh assault. The Israeli Army spokesperson said the military “continues to attack Gaza” and is “fully ready” to respond if the terms of the deal are “broken” by Hamas.

Earlier on Sunday, IDF forces began withdrawing from Gaza's Rafah to the Philadelphi corridor along the border between Egypt and Gaza.

The withdrawal is part of the three-phase ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to bring an end to the 15-month-long war that has killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians, according to data from the Gaza health ministry.

The ceasefire deal could help usher in an end to the Gaza war, which began after Hamas, which controls the tiny coastal territory, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people. Israel's response has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians.

The war also set off a confrontation throughout the Middle East between Israel and its arch-foe Iran, which backs Hamas and other anti-Israeli and anti-American paramilitary forces like Hezbollah.

The truce came after a three-phase deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of negotiations, and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration as US president.

Its first stage will last six weeks, during which 33 of the remaining 98 hostages - women, children, men over 50, the ill and wounded - will be released in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

They include 737 male, female and teenage prisoners, some of whom are members of militant groups convicted of attacks that killed dozens of Israelis, as well as hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza in detention since the start of the war.

The Israeli government also released the list of 33 hostages that Hamas will release in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

Those on the list are likely to be handed over by Hamas fighters to Israeli troops over a period of 42 days. The hostages include women, children, elderly individuals and the infirm.

The schedule for the release will be such that three hostages will be returned on the first day after the deal is implemented, followed by four more returned on the seventh day.

Subsequently, for a period of the next four weeks, three hostages will be returned every week. The remaining 14 hostages will be released in the final, sixth week of phase one, according to a report by The Times of Israel.

Israel's list included the names of Kfir Bibas, who was taken alongside his now four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother and father, Shiri and Yarden. Kfir, who was abducted when he was just 9 months old, became a symbol of the suffering of the hostages.

The list also include Liri Albag (19), Itzhik Elgarat (69), Karina Ariev (20), Ohad Ben-Ami (55), Agam Berger (20), Romi Gonen (24), Danielle Gilboa (20), Emily Damari (28), Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), Yair Horn (46), Omer Wenkert (23), Sasha Troufanov (29), Arbel Yehoud (29), Ohad Yahalomi (50), Eliya Cohen (27), Or Levy (24), Naama Levy (20), Oded Lifshitz (83), Gadi Moshe Mozes (80), Avera Mengisto (37), Shlomo Mantzur (86), Keith Siegel (65), Tsahi Idan (50), Ofer Calderon (53), Tal Shoham (39), Doron Steinbrecher (31), Omer Shem-Tov (22), Hisham Al Sayed (35), and Eli Sharabi (55).

Two hardline Iranian clerics shot dead at Supreme Court complex in capital Tehran

TEHRAN, Jan 19: Two prominent Iranian hardline clerics were shot dead by a man in Tehran on Saturday, who later died by suicide by shooting himself dead. One of the bodyguards of the clerics was also injured in the attack at the Palace of Justice in the capital city.

The attacker was allegedly armed with a handgun. Iran's state media, IRNA, reported that the deceased, clerics Mohammad Mogheiseh and Ali Razini, served in the country's Supreme Court.

No group has claimed responsibility for the high-profile attack.

Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, said that the shooter had been an “infiltrator,” suggesting he had worked at the courthouse complex where the killings took place.

“In this regard, some individuals were identified, summoned or arrested, and investigations of them have begun,” he added.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a message, offered his condolences for the “martyrdom” of both judges.

The deceased allegedly took part in the 1988 mass execution of dissidents in 1998. The killings mark a rare attack on the country's high-profile judicial figures amid a shadow war with Israel and economic struggles inflicted by Western sanctions.

Netanyahu's Office Says 'Deal To Release Hostages' Reached

JERUSALEM, Jan 17: The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that a "deal to release the hostages" had been reached and that he had ordered the political-security cabinet to convene later in the day.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages," his office said in a statement.

His office had accused Hamas on Thursday of reneging on key parts of the agreement to extort last-minute concessions -- an allegation Hamas denied.

"The Prime Minister ordered the political-security cabinet to convene tomorrow (Friday). The government will then convene to approve the deal," Netanyahu's office said.

It added that the families of the hostages had been informed and that preparations were being made to receive them upon their return.

If approved by Israel's cabinet, the truce agreement would begin on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.

It was announced by mediators Qatar and the United States on Wednesday.

Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Release Deal

JERUSALEM, Jan 17: The Israeli security cabinet approved a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal on Friday, recommending that the wider government give its final green light, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"After reviewing all the political, security and humanitarian aspects, and understanding that the proposed deal supports achieving the objectives of the war, (the security cabinet) has recommended that the government approve the proposed framework," the office said in a statement. The full cabinet will convene later Friday to decide on the deal.

12 Indians Fighting For Russian Army In Ukraine Killed, 16 Missing: Centre

NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Twelve Indian nationals, among a total of 126, who were misled into settling in Russia have died fighting for the Russian Army in Ukraine, and sixteen others are currently "missing", the Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed today.

We have been in constant touch with Russian authorities for the release and repatriation of all Indian nationals currently trapped in Russia and fighting in the war, the foreign ministry added.

"As of today, of all the known cases that have come to us of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army - we have a total of 126 such cases - 96 people have already returned to India. They have been discharged from the Russian armed forces. 18 Indian nationals still remain in combat. Of these 18, the whereabouts of 16 individuals are not known. The Russian authorities have categorised them as 'missing persons'. So far, 12 Indian nationals have died in combat," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministry had said that it has strongly taken up the issue with the Russian government. They said this on January 14 - a day after reports emerged of an Indian national from Kerala having died fighting on the Russian frontlines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of the early discharge of Indians trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July last year. He reiterated it when the two leaders met again during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.

After their meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured PM Modi that Russia will discharge any and all Indians who had been misled and falsely inducted in the Russian Army and subsequently forced to go the battlefields in Ukraine.

Imran Khan Handed 14-Year Jail Sentence In Corruption Case

ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: A Pakistani court handed former Prime Minister Imran Khan a prison sentence after finding him guilty of misusing power while in office.

An anti—graft court ordered Khan to 14 years in jail for accepting land illegally from a real estate tycoon, according to Samaa TV. The National Accountability Bureau had accused Khan of obtaining land from property developer Malik Riaz in return for legalizing equivalent to $239 million funds that were retrieved from the UK’s National Crime Agency.

This is Khan’s fifth sentence since his ouster from power in a 2022 parliamentary vote. He is in prison since 2023 after he was found guilty in four different cases from corruption to misuse of power and violating the Islamic wedding rules. Khan has denied charges in each case. In the past year, higher courts have overturned three of his earlier convictions, while suspending a fourth one. Khan remains in jail as trials are underway in several other cases.

The former cricket star faces more than 150 cases, from corruption to inciting violence.

In the latest conviction, Khan was accused of using the money meant for Pakistan’s treasury to pay fines for businessman Riaz in another court case. In return, Riaz gave land to Khan and his wife.

Since removed from power, Khan’s political party has led several protest movements, without success, demanding his release from jail and new elections. The candidates loyal to Khan won the most seats in national election in February but failed to form a government as rivals including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cobbled up a coalition government.

‘Last minute crisis’ with Hamas delaying Israel approval of truce deal: Netanyahu

TEL AVIV, Jan 16: Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that a "last minute crisis" with Hamas was delaying Tel Aviv's approval of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu's office said that his Cabinet will not meet to approve the truce deal, to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages, until Hamas steps back. Israel has accused the militant group of pulling out of parts of the agreement in a bid to achieve further modifications.

Izzat al-Rashq, a senior Hamas official, said that the outfit "is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators".

Key mediator Qatar, along with US President Joe Biden, on Wednesday announced the truce deal, which is aimed at achieving the release of the hostages being held captive in Gaza and bringing a pause to the 15-month war in the Middle East region.

Earlier, Netanyahu's office had accused Hamas of backtracking on a previous understanding that it said would give Israel a veto over which murder convicts would be released from prisons in exchange for the hostages.

However, senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri denied Israel's backtracking allegations and said that there was "no basis" to them.

"There is no basis to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's claims about the movement backtracking from terms in the ceasefire agreement," said Abu Zuhri.

At Least 70 Killed In Gaza Airstrikes After Ceasefire Deal Announcement

TEL AVIV, Jan 17: After news of a ceasefire agreement sparked mass rejoicing in Gaza, residents woke up Thursday to columns of smoke, rubble and more deaths following new Israeli air strikes.

"We were waiting for the truce and were happy. It was the happiest night since October 7," said Gaza resident Saeed Alloush, referring to the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war in 2023.

"Suddenly... we received the news of the martyrdom of 40 people," including his uncle, Alloush said.

"The whole area's joy turned to sadness, as if an earthquake struck."

The latest strikes came after Qatar and the United States announced a fragile ceasefire deal that should take effect on Sunday.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, said on Thursday that at least 73 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes since the announcement on Wednesday.

Among them were 20 children and 25 women, he said, with around 200 others wounded.

As day broke, crowds gathered to inspect and clear the remains of a building reduced to rubble, where chunks of concrete lay interspersed with rebar and personal items scattered across the site.

The scenes mirrored those in other parts of the densely populated territory of 2.4 million people, most of whom have been displaced at least once since war broke out in October 2023.

Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire, Hostage Agreement To End Gaza War

TEL AVIV, Jan 15: Israel and Hamas have reached a landmark agreement to cease hostilities in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. This breakthrough comes after months of intense negotiations facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the support of the United States.

The deal is particularly significant, given its timing, just ahead of the January 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been devastating, with Israeli troops invading Gaza after Hamas-led gunmen breached security barriers, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians, and abducting over 250 hostages. The humanitarian toll has been staggering, with more than 46,000 people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, struggling to survive in makeshift shelters.

The agreement is seen as a crucial step towards ending the 15-month war that has ravaged the Middle East. President-elect Trump had been vocal about his desire for a swift resolution, warning of severe consequences if the hostages were not released. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, worked closely with President Joe Biden's team to facilitate the deal.

In Israel, the return of the hostages is expected to ease public anger against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, who have faced criticism for the October 7 security failure that led to the deadliest single day in Israel's history. The conflict has also had far-reaching consequences, with Iran-backed proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The deal marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict, coming after Israel's successful assassinations of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. As the region awaits the implementation of the agreement, hopes are high that this breakthrough will pave the way for a lasting peace.

US President-elect Donald Trump also posted on Truth Social remarking that a deal had been reached to release hostages.

"We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!" he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Hamas has accepted draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages: Officials

TEL AVIV, Jan 14: Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said on Tuesday.

Mediator Qatar said the negotiations were at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal.

An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalized. The plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval.

All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end the 15-month war and secure the release dozens of hostages captured in Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack that triggered it.

Some 100 Israelis are still captive inside Gaza, and the military believes at least a third them are dead.

Officials have expressed mounting optimism that they can conclude an agreement ahead of the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, whose Mideast envoy has joined the negotiations.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a weekly briefing Tuesday that the ongoing negotiations are positive and productive, while declining to get into the details of the sensitive talks.

“Today, we are at the closest point ever to having a deal,” he said.

Hamas, meanwhile, said in a statement that the ongoing negotiations had reached their “final stage".

The offensive has reduced large areas of the territory to rubble and displaced around 90 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million, with hundreds of thousands packed into tent camps along the coast where hunger is widespread.

Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight and into Tuesday killed at least 18 Palestinians, including two women and four children, while Yemen's Houthi rebels fired two missiles at Israel, setting off sirens and sending people racing into shelters. No one was wounded by the projectiles.

A three-phase agreement — based on a framework laid out by US President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council — would begin with the gradual release of 33 hostages over a six-week period, including women, children, older adults and wounded civilians in exchange for potentially hundreds of Palestinian women and children imprisoned by Israel.

Among the 33 would be five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted militants who are serving life sentences. By the end of the first phase, all civilian captives — living or dead — will have been released.

During this first, 42-day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population centers, Palestinians would be allowed to start returning to their homes in northern Gaza and there would be a surge of humanitarian aid, with some 600 trucks entering each day.

Details of the second phase still must be negotiated during the first. Those details remain difficult to resolve — and the deal does not include written guarantees that the ceasefire will continue until a deal is reached. That leaves the potential for Israel to resume its military campaign after the first phase ends.

The three mediators, however, have given Hamas verbal guarantees that negotiations will continue as planned and that they will press for a deal to implement the second and third phases before the end of the first, the Egyptian official said.

The deal would allow Israel throughout the first phase to remain in control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the band of territory along Gaza's border with Egypt, which Hamas had initially demanded Israel withdraw from. But Israel would pull out from the Netzarim Corridor, a belt across central Gaza where it had sought a mechanism for searching Palestinians for arms when they return to the territory's north.

In the second phase, Hamas would release the remaining living captives, mainly male soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners and the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza, according to the draft agreement. But Hamas has said it will not free the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in the past vowed to resume fighting unless Hamas's military and governing capabilities are eliminated.

Unless an alternative government for Gaza is worked out in those talks, it could leave Hamas in charge of the territory.

In a third phase, the bodies of remaining hostages would be returned in exchange for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan to be carried out in Gaza under international supervision.

Growing pressure ahead of Trump's inauguration Israel and Hamas have come under renewed pressure to halt the conflict in the lead-up to Trump's inauguration next week. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently joined US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators in the Gulf country's capital, Doha.

Trump said late Monday that a ceasefire was “very close”.

“I understand … there's been a handshake and they are getting it finished — and maybe by the end of the week,” he told the American cable channel Newsmax.

Ex-Justin Trudeau Ally Jagmeet Singh's Big Warning To Trump

TORONTO, Jan 13: Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and once an ally of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has warned US President-elect Donald Trump sternly over his plans to annex Canada.

In a video posted on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) said, "I have a message for Donald Trump. Our country (Canada) is not for sale. Not now, not ever."

Singh said that Canadians are proud people, they are proud of their country and ready to "fight like hell to defend it."

The NDP leader boasted about being a good neighbour and extending support to the US amid the Los Angeles fire that has killed at least 24 people so far. "Right now, with the forest fires ravaging homes, Canadian firefighters showed up. That is who we are. And we show up and support our neighbours."

Singh vowed retaliation if the US imposes tariffs on Canada. He said, "If Donald Trump thinks, if you think you can pick a fight with us, there will be a price to pay. I have committed that if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on us, we should respond with retaliatory tariffs in kind. I think that anyone running as Prime Minister should do the same."

Trump has been vocal about his plans to take charge of Canada and make it the 51st US state. "Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State," Trump posted on his social media platform 'Truth Social' earlier in December.

On Christmas, he listed the benefits of Canada becoming a part of the US. "Their taxes would be cut by more than 60 per cent, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other country anywhere in the World."

Earlier this month, following Justin Trudeau's resignation, Trump once again floated the idea of an acquisition cum merger and said, "If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!"

Justin Trudeau quickly hit back at Trump saying, "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States."

"Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other's biggest trading and security partner," he added.

Netanyahu Sends Mossad Chief To Qatar For Gaza Hostage Deal Talks

TEL AVIV, Jan 12: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation of senior officials to Qatar for negotiations on a hostage release and Gaza ceasefire deal, his office said Saturday.

Netanyahu held a meeting in Jerusalem with US President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, a representative of current US President Joe Biden and senior Israeli officials, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Following the meeting, Netanyahu instructed the heads of the Mossad spy agency and Shin Bet security agency as well as General Nitzan Alon and foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk "to depart for Doha in order to continue advancing a deal to release our hostages", the statement said.

The United States has for more than a year been mediating talks alongside Qatar and Egypt for an end to the war in Gaza alongside the release of hostages.

The announcement was welcomed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group for those held in Gaza, which called it "a historic opportunity to secure the release of all our loved ones".

"Leave no stone unturned and return with an agreement that ensures the return of all hostages, down to the last one," it said in a statement.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas resumed last weekend in Qatar.

The discussions are currently focused on the immediate freeing of hostages taken by the Islamist group during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Biden, who will leave office on January 20, said on Thursday there had been "real progress" in the talks.

Trump, who will replace Biden, promised "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released by his inauguration.

The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

During the attack, Palestinian militants took 251 people hostage, of whom 94 remain in the Gaza Strip, including 34 the Israeli military has declared dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 46,537 people, the majority civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory considered reliable by the United Nations.

126 killed, over 200 injured as earthquake hits Tibet, Tremors felt in Nepal, India

TIBET, Jan 7: A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the northern foothills of the Himalayas near one of Tibet's Xigaze city on Tuesday. The quake resulted in at least 126 fatalities and injured over 200 people causing buildings to shake across neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India.

According to regional disaster relief headquarters, the quake jolted Dingri County in Xigaze in Tibet Autonomous Region in China at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time). The quake had a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), as reported by the China Earthquake Networks Centre, Reuters reported.

National television broadcaster CCTV reported that at least 95 people were killed on the Tibetan side.

Tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR and several North Indian areas, including parts of Bihar as well.

Here are the top updates on earthquake:

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Nepal sent tremors through Delhi-NCR and various parts of North India.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 6.35 am, 93 km northeast of Lobuche, near the Nepal-Tibet border.

The epicentre was located where the India and Eurasia plates clash and cause uplifts in the Himalayan mountains strong enough to change the heights of some of the world’s tallest peaks.

The quake struck Dingri County with a magnitude of 6.8 near the border with Nepal at 9:05 am (0105 GMT), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

China said that at least 126 people in Tibet were killed in the quake, while 188 others were injured on the Chinese side of the border.

CCTV said there were a handful of communities within 5 kilometres (3 miles) of the epicentre, which was 380 kilometres (240 miles) from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

At least half a dozen tremors with magnitude ranging from 4 to 5 were also recorded within a time span of an hour around 7 am, according to the USGS report.

Today's earthquake was the most powerful one recorded within a 200-kilometre radius in the last five years.

In 2015, nearly 9,000 people died and more than 22,000 were injured when a 7.8-magnitude quake struck Nepal, destroying more than half a million homes.

Nepal lies on a major geological faultline where the Indian tectonic plate pushes up into the Eurasian plate.

Indonesia joins BRICS group of emerging economies

JAKARTA, Jan 7: Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS group, a bloc of emerging economies featuring Russia, China and others that is viewed as a counterweight to the West.

Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the group, declared on Monday that Indonesia was set to join as a full member. Indonesia said on Tuesday that it “welcomes” the announcement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta said in a statement that BRICS membership is “a strategic step to improve the collaborations and cooperation with other developing nations, based on the principle of equality, mutual respect, and sustainable development”.

It also expressed “gratitude to Russia,” the 2024 BRICS chair, “for its support and leadership in facilitating Indonesia’s joining”.

The foreign ministry in Brazil said earlier that Southeast Asia’s most populous country “shares with the other members the will to reform the institutions of global governance and contribute positively to cooperation within the Global South”.

It noted that Indonesia’s bid to join the bloc was approved during a summit in 2023 in Johannesburg.

Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation As PM

OTTAWA, Jan 6: Justin Trudeau resigned today as the leader of his Liberal Party of Canada effectively ending his nine-year tenure as Canada's Prime Minister too. The move comes amid rising dissent against him within his party. He held a press conference today outside his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.

"I have informed my party and the Governor that I intend to resign as leader of the party as well as prime minister of Canada, and will do so as soon as the my successor is appointed through a robust nationwide competitive process," Trudeau said.

Trudeau, 53, went on to say that although he is a "fighter", the parliament under his leadership is completely "paralysed".

"I hereby prorogue the Parliament until March 24 in order to initiate the process of finding a new leader to lead the party and Canada until elections scheduled for later this year," he added.

He further stated that "A new prime minister and leader of the party will carry its values and ideals into the next election, and I am excited to see that process unfold."

According to Canada's legislature, in such a case, the ruling party gets 90 days from the date of resignation of its leader to find a replacement.

Speaking about his regrets, Justin Tudeau said "If I have one regret... I do wish that we'd been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country", adding that "Voters should be allowed to pick their second and third choices on the voting ballot itself, instead of the current system, which is set up to play to the advantage of those who want to polarise the situation and play Canadians against each other."

In his resignation speech, Trudeau didn't miss an opportunity to target the leader of Canada's opposition Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre. "Stopping the fight against climate change does not make sense and backing off on the values and strengths on diversity is not the right path," he said, adding that "Pierre Poilievre's vision for Canada is not the right one."

"We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that," Trudeau claimed.

Justin Trudeau has been facing immense pressure from his party colleagues as latest opinion polls show an overwhelming surge in support for the opposition Conservative Party. Canada will go to polls later this year and must have a new government in place before October 20.

Trudeau is likely to continue as PM temporarily till a successor is chosen. This could take as little as a few days and may even extend to a few months. Canada's internal politics as well as the country's geopolitical standing has taken a severe and damaging blow under Trudeau's leadership.

A few months ago, Justin Trudeau lost the support of his key ally leading to a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister in Parliament. Somehow managing to garner the fragile support of other small parties to form a coalition, Trudeau's government survived, but the prime minister came under increased pressure after his finance minister quit in December over a policy clash.

The Canadian dollar, which had been on a downward spiral since September and was at a new-low, has appreciated since Trudeau decided to step down as leader of the Liberal party and in-turn the prime minister.

Canada's economy, which is already facing problems like slowing growth, high inflation, a stagnant GDP, and crumbling trade policies, is now also facing an existential crisis with Donald Trump threatening massive tariffs.

Israeli military claims 100 ‘terror targets’ struck in Gaza in two days

TEL AVIV, Jan 5: The Israeli military said Sunday that it had struck more than 100 "terror targets" in the Gaza Strip over the past two days, while rescuers in the Palestinian territory reported dozens of people killed in Israeli strikes.

Several of the strikes targeted sites from which Palestinian militants had been firing projectiles into Israel in recent days, the military said.

"The IAF (air force) struck over 100 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, and eliminated dozens of Hamas terrorists" in the past two days, a military statement said.

Gaza's civil defence agency reported that on Saturday more than 30 people were killed in Israeli strikes.

Last week, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned of intensified Israeli strikes if the incoming rocket fire continued.

The renewed fire from Gaza has triggered air raid sirens in Israeli communities that were largely destroyed during Hamas's October 2023 attack.

Though less frequent than in the early days of the nearly 15-month-long war, there has been a recent spate of launches by militants in the devastated Palestinian territory.

How 120 Elite Israeli Forces Raided Syria, Destroyed Missile Plant In 3 Hours

TEL AVIV, Jan 3: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Thursday declassified details of a high-stakes operation in which 120 Israeli commandos raided and destroyed an alleged underground Iran-funded missile manufacturing facility in Syria. The mission, codenamed "Operation Many Ways," was carried out on September 8 in 2024.

The facility, known as "Deep Layer," was allegedly located near the Masyaf area in western Syria, a region considered a stronghold of Syrian air defences. Israeli officials claimed that the site, a flagship project of Iran's missile production program, was intended to supply precision missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to the Assad regime in Syria. The operation was carried out without injuries to the Israeli forces, the officials claim.

According to the IAF, Iran's construction of the Deep Layer facility began in late 2017, following an earlier Israeli airstrike on an aboveground rocket engine manufacturing site at the Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS) in Jamraya, southern Syria.

This attack led Iran to shift its operations underground, aiming to safeguard its missile production capabilities from future airstrikes. By 2021, the underground facility, buried 70 to 130 metres into a mountain, had become operational, with missile production capabilities nearing full scale.

The horseshoe-shaped structure featured three primary entrances: one for raw materials, another for completed missiles, and a third for logistics and office access. Sixteen production rooms lined the facility, including mixers for rocket fuel, missile body construction areas, and paint rooms.

The IDF estimated the facility's annual output could have ranged between 100 and 300 missiles, capable of reaching targets up to 300 kilometres away.

Strategically located just 200 km north of the Israeli border and 45 km from Syria's western coastline, the Deep Layer facility offered Iran a means of circumventing Israeli strikes on overland weapons convoys to Hezbollah. The underground site would have enabled Hezbollah to receive missiles directly from Syria's border.

The IDF's decision to raid the facility came after years of monitoring and intelligence gathering. While initial plans were formulated years prior, the operation gained urgency amid the multifront war that began in October 2023, involving Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other Iran-backed militias.

The elite Shaldag unit, known for long-range penetration operations, and Unit 669, specialising in combat search and rescue, were selected for the mission. Over two months of intensive training included simulations and backup scenarios to mitigate risks during the high-stakes operation.

The mission date was chosen for its favourable weather conditions. Extensive intelligence efforts mapped the facility's layout, identified Syrian air defence capabilities, and analysed potential threats on the ground.

The operation began with 100 Shaldag commandos and 20 Unit 669 medics boarding four CH-53 "Yasur" heavy transport helicopters. Escorted by AH-64 attack helicopters, 21 fighter jets, five drones, and 14 reconnaissance planes, the convoy departed from Israel, flying over the Mediterranean to avoid Syrian radar detection.

Upon reaching Syrian airspace, the helicopters flew exceptionally low to evade one of the country's densest air defence zones, second only to Damascus. To mask the commandos' approach, IAF aircraft launched diversionary strikes on other Syrian targets, drawing attention away from the Masyaf region.

The helicopters landed near the facility's entrances, deploying troops while maintaining a defensive perimeter. Unit 669 personnel remained on standby aboard the aircraft, prepared to evacuate or treat casualties if necessary. A surveillance drone launched by the commandos monitored the area.

Commandos secured the perimeter and breached the facility's heavily fortified entrances using equipment on-site, including forklifts. Some soldiers had undergone forklift training in preparation for this specific task. Inside, the team planted approximately 660 pounds of explosives along the production line, targeting critical machinery such as planetary mixers.

After ensuring all charges were in place, the team exited the facility and detonated the explosives remotely. The resulting blast, equivalent to one ton of explosives, caused a "mini earthquake" with soldiers reportedly saying that the "ground trembled".

The commandos completed their mission in under three hours, departing aboard the same helicopters that had delivered them. The IDF reported killing approximately 30 Syrian guards and soldiers during the operation, while Syrian media claimed 14 fatalities and 43 injuries.

‘Safe zone’ among areas targeted as Israeli airstrikes kill at least 43 in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 43 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, including 11 people in the sprawling al-Mawasi tent encampment designated as a humanitarian safe zone for civilians.

Among those killed in the al-Mawasi strike was the director general of Gaza’s police department, Mahmoud Salah, and his deputy, Hussam Shahwan, according to the Hamas-run Gaza interior ministry.

“By committing the crime of assassinating the director general of police in the Gaza Strip, the occupation is insisting on spreading chaos … and deepening the human suffering of citizens,” Hamas added in a statement.

The Israeli military said it had conducted the strike on the al-Mawasi encampment, just west of the city of Khan Younis, and eliminated Shahwan, calling him the head of Hamas security forces in southern Gaza, but made no mention of Salah’s death.

Medics said the 11 people killed included women and children.

The latest strikes in Israel’s 15-month war in Gaza, which has led to more than 45,500 Palestinian deaths, came as negotiations for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal appeared to have stalled again, despite pressure to conclude an agreement before Donald Trump is sworn in as US president on 20 January. The war was triggered by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and another 251 taken hostage.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad said in a video message on Thursday that an Israeli hostage had tried to take his own life, without giving further details on the hostage’s identity or current condition. In a statement by the group on the Telegram messaging service, a spokesperson for al-Quds Brigades, the group’s armed wing, said one of the group’s medical teams had intervened and prevented him from dying.

Other Israeli airstrikes killed at least 26 Palestinians, including six in the interior ministry headquarters in Khan Younis and others in north Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp, the al-Shati beach camp and central Gaza’s Maghazi camp.

Bangladesh Court Denies Bail To Jailed Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das

DHAKA, Jan 2: A Bangladesh court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition.

Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam refused to grant bail to Das, the former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk, following a 30-minute hearing, held with heightened security.

A team of 11 lawyers participated in his bail hearing, according to the Bangladeshi publication The Daily Star.

His bail petition stated that Das - a monk who is suffering from various diseases including diabetes and respiratory problems - has been arrested in a false and fabricated case.

Calling the development "sad", Radha Raman Das, Vice President of the ISCKON Kolkata urged the Bangladesh government to ensure that the Hindu monk gets justice.

"It's very sad news. We know that the entire world was keeping an eye on this. Everyone was expecting Chinmoy Prabhu will get freedom in the new year - but even after 42 days, his bail was rejected in a hearing today... Bangladesh government should ensure that he gets justice," he said.

Ukraine halts supply of Russian gas to Europe

KYIV/LONDON, Jan 1: Ukraine has made good on its promise to halt the transport of Russian gas to Europe through its territory after a key deal with Moscow expired on Wednesday.

Ukraine’s refusal to renew the transit deal was an expected but symbolic move after nearly three years of its full-scale war with Russia, and comes after Europe has already drastically cut Moscow’s share of its gas imports. Ukraine’s energy ministry said it ended the deal “in the interests of national security.”

“We have stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that its gas transportation infrastructure had been prepared in advance of the expiration.

Last year, Kremlin-owned gas giant Gazprom, which signed the transit deal with Ukraine’s Naftogaz in 2019, recorded a $6.9 billion loss, its first in more than 20 years, due to diminished sales to Europe. That’s despite its efforts to boost exports to new buyer China.

Ukraine now faces the loss of some $800 million a year in transit fees from Russia, while Gazprom will lose close to $5 billion in gas sales, according to a news agency. Several European countries still purchasing Russian gas had previously arranged alternative supply routes, it reported.

The lapsed deal had represented about 5% of the European Union’s total gas imports, according to Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, and supplied mainly Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Now, after its expiry, Europe receives pipeline gas from Russia via a single route: The Turkstream pipeline, which runs through Turkey and on to Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, says Bruegel.