Name: Explosion near Rafah crossing border between Egypt and Gaza Strip: Reuters
Uploaded: 2023-10-22T20:08:08.000+05:30
Duration: T00M24S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Palestinians have been under massive bombing ever since a conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out on October 7.

The 4-day truce between Gaza and Hamas has been extended by two days

Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza extended by 2 days

Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza extended by 2 days
The initial 4-day ceasefire was to end on Monday
Israeli hostage and Palestinian prisoners released

The 4-day truce between Gaza and Hamas has been extended by two days

A humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas will extend by two days, mediator Qatar said Monday as an initial four-day truce in Gaza was set to expire.
"The State of Qatar announces that, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on X, formerly Twitter.
Over the course of the humanitarian pause and in weeks prior, Qatar, with the support of the United States and Egypt, has been engaged in intense negotiations to establish and prolong the truce in Gaza, which mediators had said was designed to be broadened and expanded.
Over the course of the initial truce a total of 50 civilian hostages, women and children, were expected to be freed by Hamas.
In exchange, 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel were to be released and humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza.
During its first three days, 39 Israeli hostages were freed by the militant group in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails as part of the deal between the two sides.
As a result of parallel negotiations led by the Gulf state, 17 Thais, one Filipino and one dual Russian-Israeli national have also been released by the Palestinian militants.
The figure set for release is by far the largest since Hamas gunmen stormed across Gaza's militarised border on October 7 and staged the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
Israel says the attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 240 more were taken hostage, among them elderly people and children.
In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which the Hamas government says has killed 15,000 people, thousands of them children.

Danielle Aloni along with her 5-year-old daughter Emilia were released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, she penned a letter before leaving Gaza and it is going viral on the internet

 'Forever be a prisoner of gratitude...:' Israeli mother's heartfelt letter to Hamas

Danielle Aloni along with her 5-year-old daughter Emilia were released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, she penned a letter before leaving Gaza and it is going viral on the internet

A heartfelt letter by an Israeli mother to Hamas is doing rounds on the internet. The letter was shared by Danielle Aloni, who along with her 5-year-old daughter Emilia, were held hostage by Hamas for 49 days in Gaza.&nbsp;
On November 24, the Israeli mother and daughter were released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. As Danielle Aloni was about to leave with her daughter Emilia, she penned a heartfelt letter for Hamas, in which she wrote that she thanked the generals who accompanied her in recent weeks.&nbsp;
In her letter, she also wrote, "You were like parents to her, inviting her into your rooms whenever she desired. She acknowledges feeling like all of you are her friends, not just friends, but truly beloved and good."
Her letter further read, "Children should not be in captivity, but thanks to you and other kind people we met along the way, my daughter felt like a queen in Gaza..."
She concluded her letter by saying, "I will forever be a prisoner of gratitude because she did not leave here with a lifelong psychological trauma. I will remember your kind behaviour, granted here despite the difficult situation you were dealing with yourselves and the severe losses you suffered here in Gaza. I wish in this world we could truly be good friends. "
Also watch:<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/israel-hamas-truce-in-gaza-extended-by-2-days-1701102455909"> Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza extended by 2 days</a>

Depreciating 20% this year, the Pakistan Rupee is Asia's worst performing currency. As economic challenges persist, analysts expect 2024 to be another turbulent year for the currency. 
 


Pakistan's rupee braces for tough year after 20% fall in 2023

<h2>Depreciating 20% this year, the Pakistan Rupee is Asia's worst-performing currency. As economic challenges persist, analysts expect 2024 to be another turbulent year for the currency.&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>&nbsp; </h2>

Asia&rsquo;s weakest currency, the Pakistani rupee, faces another challenging year ahead after it is set to close this year with significant losses. It's down around 20% against the US dollar in 2023, and analysts anticipate further declines into 2024. Predictions range from BMI's estimate of a drop to 350 Pakistani rupees by the year's end to Topline Securities Ltd.'s projection of 324 rupees; it closed at 285.64 rupees on Monday.
High inflation and a substantial trade deficit are among the key factors pressuring the rupee, according to John Ashbourne, a global economist at BMI. Pakistan's struggle with high debt payments and an external funding gap also weighs heavily on its currency. The country narrowly avoided default this year, but concerns linger about its economic challenges, potentially necessitating more foreign aid in 2024. Also read/watch - <a title="Maruti Suzuki, M&amp;M, and Audi India to hike prices for Jan 2024" href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/markets/maruti-suzuki-m-m-and-audi-india-to-hike-prices-for-jan-2024-1701153101036">Maruti Suzuki, M&amp;M, and Audi India to hike prices for Jan 2024</a>
An IMF payout of $700 million helped stave off immediate default risks, but the nation's reliance on foreign aid persists due to subdued remittances and dwindling investments. A potential dollar shortage might lead to the resurgence of parallel currency markets that emerged last year. These markets gained traction as the government tightened access to foreign currency, aiming to preserve reserves.
Despite efforts to stabilize the rupee, such as crackdowns on illegal currency exchanges, sustained control seems challenging. Goldman Sachs highlights the market's demand for a rupee premium due to escalating interest costs and temporary external balance support arrangements.
As Pakistan gears up for national polls in February, analysts anticipate a new government to ink a long-term program with the IMF, potentially offering relief to the currency. Yet, Topline Securities emphasizes that the nation's external vulnerabilities necessitate a substantial IMF program for effective resolution.

'Moye Moye' music is trending on the internet. It is worth noting that this is a Serbian tune and is being widely shared on various social media platforms, know more about it

'Moye Moye' reels are everywhere, know all about this trend

'Moye Moye' music is trending on the internet. It is worth noting that this is a Serbian tune and is being widely shared on various social media platforms, know more about it

If you are on Instagram then there is a high chance of you coming across a reel with 'Moye Moye' music. &nbsp;This Serbian tune is trending on the internet with several people sharing their own videos featuring snippets of the melody.&nbsp;
This trend first began on TikTok and then immediately went viral on other social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, among others.&nbsp;
It is worth noting that the actual pronunciation of Moye Moye is "Moye More." The song's name is Dzanum and it is sung by Serbian singer-songwriter Teya Dora. She collaborated with Serbian rapper Slobodan Velkovic Coby on the lyrics, and Loka Jovanovic created the viral 'Moye Moye' melody.&nbsp;
The meaning of "Moye Moye" is a nightmare. The song is about the anguish of unfulfilled aspirations and a drive to build a brighter future despite despair.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/mahua-moitra-cash-for-query-row-who-is-henry-and-why-freehenry-is-trending-1697794998126">Mahua Moitra cash-for-query row: who is Henry and why #FreeHenry is trending?</a>

Mysterious pneumonia: China says surge in respiratory illnesses caused by flu & other known pathogens

China has asked people to wear masks and called on local authorities to focus on preventing the spread of illnesses in crowded places such as schools and nursing homes.

A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organisation is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country's health ministry said Sunday.
Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza virus, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the adenovirus as well as bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a common culprit for respiratory tract infections, a National Health Commission spokesperson said.
The ministry called on local authorities to open more fever clinics and promote vaccinations among children and the elderly as the country grapples with a wave of respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since the removal of COVID-19 restrictions.
&ldquo;Efforts should be made to increase the opening of relevant clinics and treatment areas, extend service hours and increase the supply of medicines,&rdquo; said ministry spokesman Mi Feng.
He advised people to wear masks and called on local authorities to focus on preventing the spread of illnesses in crowded places such as schools and nursing homes.
The WHO earlier this week formally requested that China provide information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children, as mentioned by several media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service.
The emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. Both SARS and COVID-19 were first reported as unusual types of pneumonia.
Chinese authorities earlier this month blamed the increase in respiratory diseases on the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Other countries also saw a jump in respiratory diseases such as RSV when pandemic restrictions ended.
The WHO said Chinese health officials on Thursday provided the data it requested during a teleconference. Those showed an increase in hospital admissions of children due to diseases including bacterial infection, RSV, influenza and common cold viruses since October.
Chinese officials maintained the spike in patients had not overloaded the country's hospitals, according to the WHO.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/who-seeks-info-after-china-reports-spike-in-respiratory-illnesses-pneumonia-in-kids-1700794363692">WHO seeks info after China reports spike in respiratory illnesses, pneumonia in kids</a>
It is rare for the UN health agency to publicly ask for more detailed information from countries, as such requests are typically made internally. WHO said it requested further data from China via an international legal mechanism.
According to internal accounts in China, the outbreaks have swamped some hospitals in northern China, including in Beijing, and health authorities have asked the public to take children with less severe symptoms to clinics and other facilities.
WHO said that there was too little information at the moment to properly assess the risk of these reported cases of respiratory illness in children.
Both Chinese authorities and WHO have been accused of a lack of transparency in their initial reports on the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

Israeli-linked oil tanker seized off the coast of Aden: report

The US Navy's 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast, did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

An oil tanker linked to Israel has been seized off the coast of Aden, Yemen, by an unknown force, a private security firm said Sunday.
The Central Park, managed and owned by Zodiac Maritime, was seized in the Gulf of Aden, private intelligence firm Ambrey said.
It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the attack. Aden is held by forces allied to Yemen's internationally recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition that has battled Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels for years.
The US Navy's 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast, did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. Ambrey said that it appeared that &ldquo;US naval forces are engaged in the situation and have asked vessels to stay clear of the area&rdquo;.
The Central Park seizure comes after a container ship, CMA CGM Symi, owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack Friday by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not allowed to discuss intelligence matters.
The attacks come as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict &mdash; even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/hamas-militant-chief-for-north-gaza-ahmed-al-ghandour-killed-in-war-with-israel-1701003351178">Hamas: militant chief for north Gaza Ahmed al-Ghandour killed in war with Israel</a>
In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants' Oct 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen.&nbsp;

War on Gaza: 'Indian nationals' part of crew of Israel-linked tanker seized of Yemen

War on Gaza: 'Indian nationals' part of crew of Israel-linked tanker seized off Yemen

It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the attack. Nearby Aden is held by forces allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition

Attackers seized a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, authorities said. While no group immediately claimed responsibility, it comes as at least two other maritime attacks in recent days have been linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
&ldquo;The Turkish-captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals. The vessel is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid,&rdquo; the ship operator, Zodiac Maritime, said.
The attackers seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden, the company and private intelligence firm Ambrey said. An American defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, also confirmed to The Associated Press that the attack took place.
Zodiac called the seizure &ldquo;a suspected piracy incident&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard,&rdquo; Zodiac said in a statement.
Zodiac described the vessel as being owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc, though other records directly linked Zodiac as the owner. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group. British corporate records listed two men with the last name Ofer as current and former director of Clumvez Shipping, including Daniel Guy Ofer, who is also a director at Zodiac Maritime.
It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the attack. Nearby Aden is held by forces allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition that has battled Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels for years. That part of the Gulf of Aden in theory is under the control of those forces and is fairly distant from Houthi-controlled territory in the country. Somali pirates also are not known to operate in that area.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/israeli-linked-oil-tanker-seized-off-the-coast-of-aden-report-1701006848757">Israeli-linked oil tanker seized off the coast of Aden: report</a>
The US defence official said it appeared &ldquo;an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals&rdquo; seized the ship.
&ldquo;US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation," the official said.
Ambrey said it appeared that &ldquo;US naval forces are engaged in the situation and have asked vessels to stay clear of the area&rdquo;.
Zodiac Maritime has been targeted previously amid a wider yearslong shadow war between Iran and Israel. In 2021, a drone attack assessed by the US and other Western nations to have been carried out by Iran killed two crew members aboard Zodiac's oil tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, had earlier issued a warning to sailors that &ldquo;two black-and-white craft carrying eight persons in military-style clothing&rdquo; had been seen in the area. It issued another warning saying that radio traffic suggested a possible attack had occurred before acknowledging the seizure.
The UKMTO put the ship's location over 60 km (35 miles) south of Yemen's coast, some 80 km (50 miles) east of Djibouti and around 110 km (70 miles) northeast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping route.
The Central Park seizure comes after a container ship, CMA CGM Symi, owned by another Israeli billionaire came under attack Friday by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean. Iran has not acknowledged carrying out the attack, nor did it respond to questions from the AP about that assault.
Both the Symi and the Central Park had been behaving as if they faced a threat in recent days.
The ships had switched off their Automatic Identification System trackers, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analysed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. In the Central Park's case, the vessel had last transmitted four days ago after it left the Suez Canal heading south into the Red Sea.
The attacks come as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict &mdash; even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
With the Israel-Hamas war &mdash; which began with the militant Palestinian group's Oct 7 attack &mdash; raging on, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the seizure of the Central Park.&nbsp;

Israel Hamas war: Netanyahu enters Gaza as prisoners, captives are freed

Israel said PM Netanyahu received security briefings from commanders and visited one of the tunnels that has been revealed.

&nbsp;In clear signs of Israeli control over parts of Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his senior colleagues, entered the Islamist Hamas-ruled coastal Strip on Sunday to meet Israeli soldiers to boost their morale and vowed to carry on the fight "until the end".
Netanyahu received security briefings from commanders and soldiers and visited one of the tunnels that has been revealed, an official press statement said.
"We are here in the Gaza Strip with our heroic soldiers. We are making every effort to return our hostages, and in the end, we will return them all. We have three goals in this war: eliminate Hamas, return all of our hostages and ensure that Gaza will not go back to being a threat to the State of Israel," Netanyahu told the soldiers on the ground.
"I am here to tell the soldiers, who all tell me the same thing, and I repeat it to you, citizens of Israel: We are continuing until the end &ndash; until victory. Nothing will stop us, and we are convinced that we have the force, the strength, the will and the determination to achieve all of our goals for the war, and this is what we will do," he asserted.
The Israeli prime minister was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Tzachi Braverman, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, his Military Secretary Maj-Gen Avi Gil, and Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj-Gen Amir Baram.
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other senior Israeli officials have visited the northern part of the Strip during the ongoing war in a clear indication that Israel now has control over the ground in a big chunk of the territory.
Israel and Hamas are at the moment exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners in a temporary four-day "pause" mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States which will also see humanitarian aid, including fuel, entering into the Gaza Strip.
The four-day ceasefire, when 50 Israeli hostages are likely to be released against 150 Palestinian prisoners, may get extended with Israel agreeing to one-day of extension for every 10 hostages being released.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/watch-israeli-girls-reunited-with-family-members-after-release-by-hamas-1700986038462">Watch: Israeli girls reunited with family members after release by Hamas</a>

The students of Palestinian origin were shot and injured in US by a white man in a suspected hate crime.

3 Palestinian origin students shot in US in suspected hate crime

The students of Palestinian origin were shot and injured in the US by a white man in a suspected hate crime.

Three young men of Palestinian descent who were in Burlington for a Thanksgiving holiday gathering were shot and injured &mdash; one seriously &mdash; near the University of Vermont, police said. Authorities said the attack may have been a hate crime.
The shootings occurred at about 6:25 pm Saturday near the UVM campus, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. He said police are searching for the shooter.
Two of the men are in stable condition and the other suffered "much more serious injuries", Murad said in a news release Sunday. The three, all aged 20, were visiting the home of one of the victim's relatives and were walking when they were confronted by a white man with a handgun.
"Without speaking, he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled," Murad said in a news release. "All three victims were struck, two in their torsos and one in the lower extremities." Murad said all three men are of Palestinian descent. Two are US citizens and one is a legal resident. Two of the men were wearing black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.
Murad said there is no additional information to suggest the suspect's motive.
"My deepest condolences go out to the victims and their families," Murad said in the news release. "In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime. And I have already been in touch with federal investigatory and prosecutorial partners to prepare for that if it's proven." He added, "The fact is that we don't yet know as much as we want to right now. But I urge the public to avoid making conclusions based on statements from uninvolved parties who know even less." Before Murad issued his news release, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee released a statement Sunday saying that the victims were Palestinian American college students and that there is "reason to believe this shooting occurred because the victims are Arab".
The ADC said a man shouted and harassed the victims, who were conversing in Arabic, then proceeded to shoot them.
The FBI said it is aware of the shootings.
"If, in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate," Sarah Ruane, an FBI spokesperson based in Albany, New York, said in a statement.
The White House said that President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and will continue to receive updates as law enforcement gathers more information.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has offered a USD 10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction of the person or people responsible for the shootings, the organization said in a statement.
The Insitute for Middle East Understanding provided a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it described as being from the families of the victims.
"We are extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of our children," it said. "We call on law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation, including treating this as a hate crime. We will not be comfortable until the shooter is brought to justice." Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent, denounced the attack.
"It is shocking and deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT. Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation," Sanders said in a statement. "My thoughts are with them and their families." Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said that any indication that the shooting could have been motivated by hate is "chilling". Gov. Phil Scott called it a tragedy.
"I urge Vermonters to unite to help the community heal, and not let this incident incite more hate or divisiveness," Scott said. "We must come together in these difficult times &mdash; it is the only way to put a stop to the violence we're seeing." Demonstrations have been widespread and tensions are escalating in the United States as the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war. A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the militants freed more hostages in a third set of releases under a four-day cease-fire deal.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/israel-hamas-war-no-hostage-release-ceasefire-before-friday-say-reports-1700712066977">Israel-Hamas war: no hostage release, ceasefire before Friday, say reports</a>

Hamas released 17 more hostages, including a four-year-old American girl and a Russian, the first male to be freed.

Hamas releases third group of hostages, 4-yr-old US girl among 17 freed

Hamas released 17 more hostages, including a four-year-old American girl and a Russian, the first male to be freed.

The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the militants freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third set of releases under a four-day truce that the US said it hoped would be extended.
Some hostages were handed over directly to Israel, while others left through Egypt. Israel's army said one was airlifted to a hospital. US President Joe Biden said the elderly woman was &ldquo;very sick and was in need of immediate medical help".
Hundreds of Israelis draped in flags cheered and sang as freed hostages, waving, arrived at an air force base. They were being flown to hospitals.
The hostages ranged in age from 4 to 84 and included Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack that started the war on Oct 7.
&ldquo;What she endured was unthinkable,&rdquo; Biden said of the first American freed under the truce. He did not know her condition. He did not have updates on other American hostages and said his goal was to extend the cease-fire deal as long as possible.
In all, nine children ages 17 and younger were on the list, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Separately, Hamas said it released a Russian hostage &ldquo;in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin". The Russian-Israeli citizen was the first male hostage to be freed.
Israel's prison service later said it had begun the process of releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners. A convoy of vehicles was seen leaving Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank.
A fourth exchange is expected on Monday - the last day of the cease-fire during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. All are women and minors.
International mediators led by the US, Egypt and Qatar are trying to extend the cease-fire that began Friday.
Ahead of the latest release, Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip, where he spoke with troops. &ldquo;We are making every effort to return our hostages, and at the end of the day we will return every one,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;we are continuing until the end, until victory. Nothing will stop us.&rdquo; It was not immediately clear where he went inside Gaza.
A BREAK IN THE FIGHTING The cease-fire agreement has brought the first significant pause in seven weeks of war, marked by the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades and vast destruction and displacement across the Gaza Strip.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, roughly two thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The war has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed by Hamas in the initial attack.
Hamas and other militant groups seized around 240 people during the incursion into southern Israel that ignited the war. Fifty-eight have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza.
Families from the southern Israeli town of Kfar Aza embraced, cried, and applauded at the news that hostages from their town had arrived in Israel. More than 70 members of the kibbutz of around 700 people were killed and 18 were kidnapped.
Pressure from hostages' families has sharpened the dilemma facing Israel's leaders, who seek to eliminate Hamas as a military and governing power while returning all the captives.
Israel has said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive once it ends. The US said it is working with all sides on the possibility that the deal gets extended to additional hostages.
HAMAS COMMANDER KILLED Hamas announced the death of Ahmed al-Ghandour, who was in charge of northern Gaza and a member of its top military council. He is the highest-ranking militant known to have been killed in the fighting. Israel's military confirmed the death.
Al-Ghandour, believed to have been around 56 years old, had survived at least three Israeli attempts on his life and was involved in a cross-border attack in 2006 in which Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier, according to the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group based in Washington.
Hamas said he was killed along with three other senior militants, including Ayman Siam, who Israel says was in charge of Hamas' rocket-firing unit. The Israeli military mentioned both men in a Nov 16 statement, saying it had targeted an underground complex where Hamas leaders were hiding.
The Israeli military claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence, including several mid-ranking commanders it has identified by name.
AID AND RESPITE IN GAZA The pause has given some respite to Gaza's 2.3 million people, still reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel also went silent.
War-weary Palestinians in northern Gaza, where the offensive has focused, returned to the streets. Entire city blocks in and around Gaza City have been gutted by airstrikes.
Hundreds of thousands of people from the north have sought refuge in the south. Palestinians who have tried to return to the north to see if their homes are intact have been turned back by Israeli troops.
&ldquo;They open fire on anyone approaching from the south,&rdquo; said Rami Hazarein, who fled from Gaza City last month.
The Israeli military has ordered Palestinians not to return to the north or approach within a kilometre (around a half-mile) of the border fence. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said Israeli forces opened fire Sunday on two farmers in central Gaza, killing one and wounding the other. An Israeli military spokesperson said they weren't aware of the incident.
The United Nations said the truce has made it possible to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the start of the war, though it still hasn't reached prewar levels. It was able to deliver fuel for the first time since the war began, and to reach areas in the north for the first time in a month.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said 50 Egyptian aid trucks crossed through checkpoints to reach Gaza City and northern areas Sunday.
HOSTAGES FOR PRISONERS The freed hostages have mostly stayed out of the public eye. Hospitals said their physical condition has largely been good. Little is publicly known about the conditions of their captivity.
Eyal Nouri, the nephew of Adina Moshe, 72, who was freed on Friday, said his aunt &ldquo;had to adjust to the sunlight&rdquo; because she had been in darkness for weeks.
Many Palestinians view prisoners held by Israel, including those implicated in attacks, as heroes resisting occupation.
The war has been accompanied by a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinian health authorities said Sunday that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin that began the day before. The toll in the West Bank is now 239 since the war began.
The Israeli army has conducted frequent military raids and arrested hundreds of Palestinians since the start of the war, mostly people it suspects of being Hamas members.
Concerns remain over a wider conflict. Syrian state media reported that Israeli missile strikes put Damascus International Airport out of service. It said other positions around Syria's capital were hit but made no mention of casualties.
Israel has attacked airports in Damascus and Aleppo several times since the beginning of the war with Hamas. It does not usually acknowledge its airstrikes on Syria, but when it does, it says it is targeting Iranian-backed groups.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/israeli-linked-oil-tanker-seized-off-the-coast-of-aden-report-1701006848757">Israeli-linked oil tanker seized off the coast of Aden: report</a>

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#Israel-HamasWar

#UttarakhandTunnelRescue

Palestinians have been under massive bombing ever since a conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out on October 7. 

Explosion near Rafah crossing border between Egypt and Gaza Strip: Reuters 

Explosion&nbsp;near Rafah crossing border:&nbsp;Reuters 
Blast&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;aid&nbsp;entered&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;from&nbsp;Egypt
More&nbsp;details&nbsp;awaited
&nbsp;

Palestinians have been under massive bombing ever since a conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out on October 7.&nbsp;

Shortly after key aid wheeled into the besieged Gaza, an explosion and the sound of ambulances were heard near the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.
However, the news outlet could not verify the cause and the exact location of the blast.&nbsp;
17 trucks carrying a second lot of aid in the last two days were allowed to enter the war-torn Gaza strip.&nbsp;
Palestinians have been under massive bombing ever since a conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out on October 7.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Woman claiming to be Prabhakaran's daughter posts video, expresses desire to continue LTTE's fight for freedom.

Woman claims to be LTTE chief Prabhakaran's daughter, video viral

Woman claiming to be Prabhakaran's daughter posts video, expresses desire to continue LTTE's fight for freedom.

A woman, clamining to be the daughter of former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Prabhakaran, has posted a video on social media expressing her desire to reveal her identity.&nbsp;
According to an India Today reports, the woman indentified herself as Dwaraka Prabhakaran and said she has managed to post the video after numerous difficulties and betrayals. She also said that she wants to visit Sri Lanka and serve her people.&nbsp;
The video surfaced on "Maveerar Naal", a day of remembrance for Sri Lankan Tamils to honour the sacrifice of LTTE cadres.
Speaking in Sri Lanka Tamil, the woman on spoke about continuing the LTTE's fight for freedom.&nbsp;
India Today reported quoting sources that Sri Lankan govt had received information hinting at use of artificial Intelligence to generate the video.&nbsp;
ALso watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/all-41-workers-successfully-rescued-from-uttarakhand-tunnel-1701185701774">All 41 workers successfully rescued from Uttarakhand tunnel</a>

Ukraine's intelligence agency has said that the wife of its chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning

Ukraine spy chief's wife ill after suspected metal poisoning: report

Ukraine's intelligence agency has said that the wife of its chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning

The wife of Ukraine's intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in a hospital, a spokesperson for the agency said on Tuesday.
Marianna Budanova is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency known by its local acronym GUR. Her poisoning was confirmed to The Associated Press by Andrii Yusov, the agency's spokesman.
He did not provide more details about the alleged poisoning, nor did he say who might be behind it.
Earlier this year, Yusov told Ukrainian media that Budanov had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the FSB, the Russian state security service.
Previously, Budanov had also told local media that his wife lives with him in his office, which could suggest he was the intended target for the poisoning.
There was no immediate comment from Russia on the claim. Russia media and commentators picked up the Ukrainian reports, with some speculating that it could be part of infighting in Ukraine.
Local media, quoting their sources in GUR, say Budanova is currently hospitalized in Kyiv.
The exact nature of the heavy metals that caused the poisoning has not been made public. However, local media said the metals were not used domestically or in military equipment, so the GUR representatives presume the poisoning was carried out intentionally, possibly through food or drink.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/forever-be-a-prisoner-of-gratitude-israeli-mother-s-heartfelt-letter-to-hamas-1701148233220">'Forever be a prisoner of gratitude...:' Israeli mother's heartfelt letter to Hamas</a>
Apart from Budanova, several GUR personnel were also diagnosed with the same poisoning. An official statement with more details is to be released by GUR.&nbsp;

Thailand police said a groom, who appeared to be intoxicated, killed his wife and three others at his own wedding.

Thailand: ‘Intoxicated’ groom kills 4, including wife, at his wedding

Thailand police said a groom, who appeared to be intoxicated, killed his wife and three others at his own wedding.

A groom in Thailand inflicted carnage at his own wedding, shooting at least four people and then killing himself. The victims included his wife, the bride&rsquo;s mother and sister.
While it is unclear why Chaturong Suksuk, the groom, went on a killing spree, law enforcement officials told BBC that he appeared to be &lsquo;quite intoxicated at the time&rsquo; of the incident.
&ldquo;They had an argument on private matters and Chaturong walked to his car and picked up a gun before shooting,&rdquo; a police officer told Bangkok Post.&nbsp;
The groom was a former Thai soldier who lost his right leg in the line of duty. He then took up swimming and reportedly won two silver medals in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia and Cambodia.
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Elon Musk along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a settlement destroyed by Hamas' attack on October 7

Watch: Elon Musk visits war-affected Israeli area with Benjamin Netanyahu

Elon Musk along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a settlement destroyed by Hamas' attack on October 7

Tesla boss Elon Musk visited the war-affected Israeli kibbutz or settlement of &nbsp;Kfar Aza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.&nbsp;
A group of Israeli soldiers accompanied Musk and Netanyahu as they inspected the damaged and destroyed houses of the area.&nbsp;
A video of his visit shows him visiting houses with bullet-riddled ceilings.&nbsp;
He was also seen inspecting a crib lying in the ruins.&nbsp;
Kfar Aza bore the brunt of Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel
Musk, owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, has come under fire over what critics say is a proliferation of hate speech on the social media site since his takeover.
He has also been accused by the White House of "abhorrent promotion" of anti-Semitism after endorsing a conspiracy theory seen as accusing Jews of trying to weaken white majorities.
In September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Musk to combat anti-Semitism on X, calling on him to find "the ability to stop not only anti-Semitism, or rolling it back as best you can, but any collective hatred".
Musk, the world's richest person, said while his website could not stop all hate speech before it was posted, he was "generally against attacking any group, no matter who it is".
(with AFP inputs)

New Zealand's new prime minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the country will not be implementing anti-smoking laws.

New Zealand to scrap world-leading anti-smoking laws

New Zealand's new prime minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the country will not be implementing anti-smoking laws.

New Zealand's plans for world-leading anti-smoking laws will be revoked, Christopher Luxon confirmed Monday after being sworn in as prime minister, in a move described as a "huge win for the tobacco industry".
Former airline boss Luxon took over six weeks after his conservative National Party won national elections, ending a six-year Labour Party reign ushered in by Jacinda Ardern.
Luxon, 53, was sworn in as head of a new coalition government by New Zealand's governor-general in a ceremony in the capital Wellington.
"It is an honour and an awesome responsibility," Luxon told reporters.
The conservative said he would prioritise taming inflation and bringing down interest rates and also confirmed he would scrap a so-called "generational smoking ban" adopted last year that stops sales of tobacco to anyone born after 2008.
Luxon said the tax revenue from ongoing cigarette sales would generate welcome income for the government but also voiced concern that the ban would create a flourishing -- and untaxed -- black market.
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- 'Major loss' - &nbsp;
The move was criticised by anti-smoking groups as a step back for the country.
"This is a major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry, whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives," the Health Coalition Aotearoa -- the Maori name for New Zealand -- said in a statement.
The anti-smoking legislation, scheduled to start later this year, was designed to almost immediately reduce the number of people using tobacco products.
While the number of adults smoking in New Zealand is relatively low at just eight percent, the previous government had envisioned a future where the country was completely smoke-free.
As well as the steadily increasing age limit, the new law would have slashed the number of retailers able to sell tobacco products to a maximum of just 600 nationwide, a massive drop from the current figure of 6,000.
Originally unveiled by then-PM Ardern and praised by public health experts and anti-smoking advocates, a suite of near-identical measures were recently announced in the United Kingdom.

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