INTERNATIONAL

A cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, brokered through US and French mediation, came into force on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT). The conflict, deeply rooted in Hezbollah's pro-Palestinian stance and Lebanon's solidarity with Palestine, intensified after Hamas launched its cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah's subsequent missile, rocket, and drone attacks targeted Israeli positions, escalating violence along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah stated that its actions were intended to pressure Israel into halting its military operations in Gaza. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion in the southern regions. The clashes resulted in heavy losses for Israeli forces, parti...

The Adani Group and several Indian states, including Jammu Kashmir, are under investigation following a U.S. indictment accusing the conglomerate of bribing Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power contracts, India Today reported. The indictment claims that the Adani Group funneled $265 million in bribes, a substantial portion of which was allegedly directed towards officials in Andhra Pradesh. According to the report, these payments were made to facilitate deals with state-run electricity distribution companies between 2021 and 2023. States named in the indictment include Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh. The latter was governed by Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress during the alleged bribery period. At the heart of the case is a contract ...

A devastating ambush on a convoy traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar claimed the lives of at least 49 people, including seven women and a nine-year-old girl, and left 28 others injured. Officials fear the death toll could rise as the injured receive treatment, Dawn News reported. The attack occurred on Thursday in Mandori Charkhel, a region plagued by sectarian tensions and land disputes. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood reported that the convoy of approximately 200 vehicles came under heavy gunfire, with attackers targeting from both sides of the road. Survivor Ajmeer Hussain recounted the horror, describing a sudden burst of gunfire that killed passengers beside him instantly. "I thought these were my last moments," he said, recovering in a local hospital. The shootin...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. In a statement, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber accused Netanyahu and Gallant of committing “crimes against humanity and war crimes” between at least October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, the date when the prosecution submitted the arrest warrant applications, Xinhua news agency reported. The ICC said that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “each bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators” for committing war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The court...

Turkey has denied Israeli President Isaac Herzog's request to fly through its airspace on his way to the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Israeli government had sought approval for Herzog's plane to pass through Turkish airspace to attend the climate summit, which began on November 11. However, Turkish authorities rejected the request, citing an anonymous official source, as reported by Anadolu Agency. As a result of this denial, Herzog canceled his trip to Azerbaijan on Saturday, citing "security considerations," according to the Times of Israel. Tensions between Turkey and Israel have been ongoing since 2010, primarily due to the Palestinian issue. Although diplomatic relations had been improving in recent years, the current conflict in Gaza ...

Renowned Kashmir-based novelist Mirza Waheed has distanced himself from the screening of the film adaptation of his critically acclaimed novel The Collaborator at the Tamuz Shomron Film Festival (TSFF) in the Israeli settlement of Ariel, located in the occupied West Bank. This decision comes after Waheed signed a global cultural boycott pledge, joining over 5,000 writers and publishers in opposing Israeli cultural institutions that, according to him, contribute to the “overwhelming oppression of Palestinians.” Mirza has compared this cultural boycott to the historic movement against apartheid South Africa, emphasizing that it aims to condemn Israeli cultural organisations for their complicity in the ongoing injustices faced by Palestinians. He expressed his disapproval of the film...

Over 10,000 Israelis have migrated to Canada this year, as rising instability and ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon drive significant changes in the region. According to a recent Haaretz report, 7,850 Israelis were granted work visas in Canada between December 2023 and September 2024, marking a fivefold increase compared to 2023. The emigration surge comes as Israel grapples with escalating violence, governance challenges, and mounting social unrest. Data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics indicates that this trend of relocation began even before the current Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023. The conflict has caused widespread devastation, with over 43,000 fatalities reported in Gaza and more than 3,300 in Lebanon. Additionally, over 70,000 Israeli settlers ha...

The Israeli military has withdrawn several brigades from southern Lebanon in anticipation of a potential ceasefire, according to Israeli media reports on Tuesday. The move follows assessments by officials involved in ceasefire negotiations, who believe a deal could be reached within one to two weeks, Anadolu Agency reported. The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth stated that the brigades were pulled back for refresher training, but did not specify the number of brigades involved. The newspaper noted that while ground operations are expected to continue for a few more weeks, the Israeli army is waiting for a decision from the country's political leadership regarding the future of the operation. The report also indicated progress on a supplementary document to the ceasefire agreement...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a breakdown in trust between the two during the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu announced Gallant’s firing in a brief video statement, explaining that while their collaboration was initially productive, disagreements over the war’s management and actions taken by Gallant that contradicted cabinet decisions had led to a crisis of faith. Netanyahu also accused Gallant’s actions of indirectly benefiting Israel’s enemies. Gallant’s replacement will be Foreign Minister Israel Katz, with Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa’ar stepping into Katz’s role as Foreign Minister. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Gallant was informed of his termination in a meeting at 8 p.m. and given 48 hours...

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly ordered a retaliatory strike against Israel in response to Israel's October 26 airstrikes on Iran. The Iranian military’s cryptic tweet, stating "See you very soon" in Hebrew, intensified concerns of a wider conflict. Khamenei’s directive came after reviewing damage assessments, which Iranian officials described as minimal. He stressed that any lack of retaliation would signal weakness, a stance Iran is unwilling to accept. Targeted Israeli sites could include oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean, such as Noa-1, Mari-B, Tamar, Leviathan, Karish, Tapin, and Dolphin, all of which are critical to Israel’s energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of Israel’s expanded operatio...