US halts UNRWA funding over alleged involvement in Hamas attack on Israel

The US has temporarily paused additional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in light of recent allegations that the agency`s employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Secretary of State Antony J Blinken spoke with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on January 25 to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter, the US State Department said in a statement.

Notably, on October 7, more than 3,000 women, children and men, ranging from the age of 9 months to 80 years in Israel were attacked by the terror group Hamas. Many women were brutally raped and killed. Around 1,405 people lost their lives, and over 200 were taken as hostages.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.”

He said the State Department has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA “while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”

Miller said the US welcomes the UN`s decision to investigate the matter.

“We welcome the decision to conduct such an investigation and Secretary General Guterres` pledge to take decisive action to respond, should the allegations prove accurate. We also welcome the UN`s announcement of a `comprehensive and independent` review of UNRWA. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7,” the US State Department spokesperson said.

Miller said UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support. “Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures.”

The US has meanwhile reached out to the Israel government to seek more information about these allegations, and “we have briefed Members of Congress. We will remain in close contact with the United Nations and Israeli government regarding this matter,” he added.

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Yemen Houthi rebels fire a missile at a US warship, escalating worst Mideast sea

Yemen`s Houthi rebels launched a missile Friday at a US warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden, forcing it to shoot down the projectile, the US military said Friday. The attack on the destroyer USS Carney marked a further escalation in the biggest confrontation at sea the US Navy has seen in the Middle East in decades, as Houthi missile fire set another commercial vessel ablaze Friday night. The Carney attack represents the first time the Houthis directly targeted a U.S. warship since the rebels began their assaults on shipping in October, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity because no authorization had been given to discuss the incident. That contradicted a statement by the US military`s Central Command, which said the Houthis fired “toward” the Carney. As it has in previous strikes, the Pentagon said it was difficult to determine what exactly the Houthis were trying to hit. Ever since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, the U.S. has tried to temper its descriptions of the strikes targeting its bases and warships to try to prevent the conflict from becoming a wider regional war.

Acknowledging Friday`s assault as a direct attack on a US warship is important, said Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “They`re now finally calling a spade a spade, and saying that, yeah, they`re trying to attack our forces, they`re trying to kill us,” he said. Tempering the language, while aimed at preventing a wider war, has had the opposite effect of further enabling the Houthis, he said. In Friday`s attack, an anti-ship ballistic missile came near the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer that`s been involved in American operations to try and stop the Houthi campaign since November, Central Command said. “The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney,” it said.

“There were no injuries or damage reported.” The attack was the latest assault by the rebels in their campaign against ships traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waters, which has disrupted global trade amid Israel`s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree did not acknowledge the Carney attack, but claimed a missile attack on a commercial vessel that set it ablaze. He identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda. The Associated Press could not immediately reach the ship`s British managers. The British military`s United Kingdom Maritime Operations, which oversees Mideast waterways, acknowledged a vessel had been struck by a missile and was on fire in the Gulf of Aden. It wasn`t immediately clear if anyone had been hurt. The U.S. and Britain have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes since the Houthi attacks began targeting Houthi missile depots and launcher sites in Yemen, a country that`s been wrecked by conflict since the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel`s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe. Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say they`ll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down. The US Navy`s top Mideast commander told the AP on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran, and also saw the U.S. Navy accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people in 1988.

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US top court urged to rule Trump ineligible to be prez again due to Capitol riot

The Supreme Court should declare that Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again because he spearheaded the violent attack on the US Capitol in an effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, lawyers leading the fight to keep him off the ballot told the justices on Friday. In a filing filled with vivid descriptions of the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol, the lawyers urged the justices not to flinch from doing their constitutional duty and to uphold a first-of-its-kind Colorado court decision to kick the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner off the state`s primary ballot.

“Nobody, not even a former President, is above the law,” the lawyers wrote. The court will hear arguments in less than two weeks in a historic case that has the potential to disrupt the 2024 presidential election. The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. In their plea to the court, the lawyers said, “Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him¿ after he lost the election to Democrat Joe Biden. They called for a decision that makes clear that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection, for which Trump bears responsibility. The president is covered by the constitutional provision at issue, and Congress doesn`t need to take action before states can apply it, the lawyers wrote. The written filing includes extensive details of Trump`s actions leading up to Jan. 6, including his tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, in which he informed his followers of the planned protest on the day Congress would count the electoral votes and wrote, “Be there, will be wild.”

Then in his speech to supporters on Jan. 6, the lawyers wrote, “Trump lit the fuse.” The brief reproduces photographs of the mayhem from that day, including one of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Daniel Hodges pinned in a doorway during the attack. Trump`s lawyers have argued that efforts to keep him off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and … promise to unleash chaos and bedlam” if other states follow Colorado`s lead. The Colorado Supreme Court`s 4-3 ruling should be reversed for any of several reasons, Trump`s lawyers wrote, including that Trump did not engage in insurrection and that the presidency is not covered by the amendment. They also contend that Congress would have to enact legislation before states could invoke the provision to keep candidates off the ballot. The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8. Trump already has won the first two GOP presidential contests: the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is Trump`s sole remaining significant GOP opponent. Still, both sides have said the court needs to act quickly so that voters know whether Trump is eligible to hold the presidency.

The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates in a day is up for grabs, including in Colorado. A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then ¿engaged in insurrection¿ against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful. Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maine`s Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state`s ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state`s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

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India, France agree to deepen integration in defence industrial sectors

India and France have agreed to further deepen the integration between the two countries` defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development and co-production.

“In a reflection of the deep mutual trust and confidence between the two countries, and drawing strength from their decades-old cooperation in advanced technologies, President Macron and Prime Minister Modi reiterated their commitment to further deepening the integration between the two countries` respective defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development, co-production with the objective of not only fulfilling the defence needs of the Indian armed forces, but also of providing a viable and reliable source of defence supplies to other friendly countries,” as per India-France joint statement following French President Emmanuel Macron`s State visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations.

During the visit, PM Modi, French President Macron noted that defence industrial collaboration, especially from the design stage, not only creates quality jobs for the youth and advances the Prime Minister`s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, but also supports a broader progress in scientific, technological, digital and material sciences fields to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat for 2047. Towards this end, the two leaders welcomed the adoption of an ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap.

In the broader context of the ambitious collaboration, and as more detailed in the industrial roadmap, they welcomed the progress in the establishment of the MRO for LEAP engines in India by Safran and the plans to add MRO for Rafale engines, a comprehensive helicopter partnership with a Joint Venture for IMRH engine between HAL and Safran, and the Scorpene submarines constructed in India, including indigenisation, as per the India-France joint statement.

They also welcomed the discussions between India`s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA), and intend to conclude an Arrangement MoU in an early timeframe.

PM Modi, French President Macron lauded the all-round progress in the defence and security partnership, which is a principal pillar of the partnership and a source of strengthening their countries` sovereignty and strategic autonomy, and for advancing peace in the region.

It extends from intelligence and information exchange to exercises and equipment and across all domains from the seabed to space. They welcomed the outcomes and the directions set by the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue chaired by the two Defence Ministers, and the Maritime Cooperation Dialogue held in October 2023, as per the joint statement.

They expressed satisfaction with the increasing complexity and interoperability of India-France joint defence exercises across air, sea and land and agreed to consider a distinct joint tri-services exercise. They also discussed actively increasing capacities, particularly in the maritime domain, by joining hands with other like-minded countries.

source https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/india-france-agree-to-deepen-integration-in-defence-industrial-sectors-23332020

Odisha: 3 killed, 13 injured in road accident in Koraput

At least three people including two women have been killed and 13 others were injured in a road accident involving two bikes, one autorickshaw, one tractor and an SUV in the Borigumma area in Koraput district, police said.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each for the kin of the three deceased in the road accident on Friday.

Expressing his deep condolences to the bereaved families, CM Patnaik has directed for proper medical treatment of the injured and wished them a speedy recovery, according to a statement from the Chief Minister`s Office.

The police informed that the condition of four out of the 13 injured is stated to be critical and they have been shifted to the Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital at Koraput. The other injured have been admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Borigumma.

Giving details of the accident, the police said that it involved two bikes, one autorickshaw, one tractor and an SUV.

In the CCTV footage, it can be seen that an SUV and an auto-rickshaw were coming from the same direction, and a tractor was coming from the opposite direction. The SUV was travelling at a high speed and was attempting to overtake the auto-rickshaw. At the same time, a speeding bike coming from the opposite direction while trying to overtake the tractor rammed into the SUV, the police said.

The SUV driver lost control and hit the auto-rickshaw. As a result of the collision, the auto-rickshaw turned upside down and some of the 15 passengers travelling in it fell on the road. Two of them died on the spot, they added.

The police further said that as the SUV hit the auto-rickshaw, another bike coming from the opposite direction hit the SUV in which the person on the bike died on the spot.

source https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/odisha-3-killed-13-injured-in-road-accident-in-koraput-cm-patnaik-announces-ex-gratia-of-rs-3-lakh-23332019

Biden meets Egyptian, Qatari leaders ahead of CIA chief`s meet on new Gaza deal

President Joe Biden spoke on Friday with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts ahead of a trip by his CIA director meant to press toward a deal to secure the release of more hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a pause to fighting with Israel in Gaza. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar`s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. He added that while talks have been constructive, “We should not expect any imminent developments.”

“We continue to do everything we can to facilitate another hostage deal, just as we did in November,” Kirby added. CIA Director Bill Burns is slated to soon meet in Europe with David Barnea, the head of Israel`s Mossad intelligence agency, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, according to three people familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks. The meeting will focus on the release of hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. The Biden administration`s hope is that an agreement could lead to an extended cease-fire that could eventually bring an end to the conflict, according to a US official.

The CIA and the White House National Security Council declined to comment on the meeting. Burns` trip comes after a visit to the Mideast by White House senior envoy Brett McGurk this week focused on winning the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. McGurk has also been laying the groundwork for another trip to the region by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who next week could make his fifth trip to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. Some 1,200 people were killed and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people during their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Around 130 remain captive, but some have since been confirmed dead. Hamas has said it will free more captives only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

source https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/us-prez-biden-meets-egyptian-qatari-leaders-ahead-of-cia-chiefs-meet-pushing-for-new-gaza-hostage-deal-23332004

PM Modi expresses gratitude to world leaders for Republic Day wishes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes to India.

Thanking Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for his Republic Day wishes to India, PM Modi on Friday said India cherishes the longstanding friendship with Nepal.

“Thank you @PM_nepal_ for your Republic Day wishes. India cherishes the longstanding friendship with Nepal,” PM Modi wrote on `X`.

The Nepal PM had said: “On the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India, I extend my best wishes to PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the government and friendly people of India for good health, peace and prosperity. I am confident that the ties of friendship between our countries will continue to grow further.”

In reply to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth`s wishes, PM Modi said he looks forward to the continued strengthening of the India-Mauritius bilateral partnership.

“Thank you Prime Minister @KumarJugnauth for your warm wishes. Looking forward to the continued strengthening of our robust bilateral partnership, this year and always,” PM Modi said.

The Mauritian PM had said: “Warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Modi Ji @narendramodi and our Indian sisters and brothers on the glorious occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India.”

The PM also thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for joining India`s Republic Day celebrations.

“Thank you to the President @EmmanuelMacron for joining our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great impetus to Indo-French relations,” the PM said.

The French President had said: “My dear friend @NarendraModi, Indian people, My warmest wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you. Let`s celebrate!”

PM Modi earlier said: “Thank you President @EmmanuelMacron for being a part of our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great momentum to India-France ties.”

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also expressed his gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes.

The EAM thanked Tanzania`s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Makamba, Iran`s Foreign Minister H.Amirabdollahian, and Singapore`s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan among others.

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Nine-month-old among four killed as fire breaks out in house in Delhi`s Shahdara

Four people, including a nine-month-old, died of suffocation and two were injured when a major fire broke out in a house on the ground floor of a multi-storey building in Delhi`s Shahdara area on Friday, police said. A call was received at 5:22 pm about a blaze in a house in the Shahdara area, fire officials said. “Five fire tenders were pressed into service and the blaze was doused by 6:55 pm. Rubber material like wipers and a rubber-cutting machine kept in a house on the ground floor of the building had caught fire,” said Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg. Police and fire officials rescued six people from the building and rushed them to GTB Hospital, he said.

A senior police officer said after receiving information about the fire in the building, police personnel rushed to the spot and managed to rescue three people with the help of locals. They were taken to the hospital in a PCR van, he said. After fire officials reached the spot, they rescued three more people, including a child. Those who were rescued were in a semi-conscious state and were rushed to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared four of them dead on arrival, he added. Two women, aged 28 and 40, a nine-month-old girl and a 17-year-old boy died of suffocation. A 16-year-old girl and a 70-year-old woman are undergoing treatment, according to police. “The building has four floors with a single staircase. Legal action has been initiated against the building owner, Bharat Singh. He had kept the ground and first floor for himself and had given the remaining two floors on rent.

Further investigation into the matter is underway,” the officer said. The police said multiple teams have been formed to investigate the case. Forensics experts were also called to the incident spot to collect samples to ascertain the actual cause of the fire. “Teams of forensic science visited the spot after the incident. They will visit again on Saturday,” Said the officer. Only a week ago, six people, including four women, were killed in a fire that broke out in a multi-storey building in northwest Delhi`s Pitampura. Those killed in the incident, which took place on January 18, were from three different families.

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Delhi Police issues traffic advisory for Beating Retreat ceremony

The Delhi Police has made elaborate traffic arrangements for the Beating Retreat ceremony to be held at Vijay Chowk on Monday, officials said. The Beating Retreat ceremony marks the formal end of the Republic Day celebrations. In an advisory issued on Friday, the police said traffic restrictions will be put in place from 2 pm to 9.30 pm on Monday and Vijay Chowk will remain closed to traffic.

Traffic will not be allowed on Rafi Marg between Sunehri Masjid roundabout and Krishi Bhawan roundabout, Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan roundabout towards Vijay Chowk, beyond Dara Shikoh roundabout, Krishna Menon Marg roundabout and Sunehri Masjid towards Vijay Chowk, the advisory said. Traffic will be restricted on Kartavya Path between Vijay Chowk and `C` hexagon, it said. The commuters are advised to take alternative routes like Ring Road, Ridge Road, Aurobindo Marg, Madrasa T-Point, Lodhi Road, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, and Minto Road, it said.

The buses will be diverted from their normal routes from 2 pm to 9.30 pm on Monday to facilitate the vehicles of invitees and spectators and to avoid traffic congestion on roads around the venues of the ceremony and India Gate, the advisory said. Parking will be available for those coming to see the illumination at Vijay Chowk between Rafi Marg and `C` Hexagon after 7 pm, it said. The general public and motorists are advised to be patient, observe traffic rules and road discipline, and follow directions of traffic personnel deployed at all intersections, it said. People are also requested to plan their journey in advance to avoid any inconvenience and stay updated through the traffic police`s Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram handles, it added.

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Seventy nine IPS, 45 BAS officers transferred amid RJD, JD (U) split

Amid anticipation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may rejoin the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Bihar administration has carried out a massive bureaucratic restructure. On Friday, amid Bihar political turmoil, 79 Indian Police Service (IPS) and 45 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers were relocated across the state, according to an ANI report.

According to a statement from the state government, IPS Sushil Mansingh Khopde, who was previously the Special Task Force`s Additional Director General (Operations), has been appointed ADG (Prohibition). IPS Amrit Raj, who formerly served as ADG (Prohibition), has been posted as ADG (Operations). In addition, IPS officer Deepak Ranjan, who is now the Superintendent of Police in Jehanabad, has been appointed commandant of the Bihar Special Armed Police, Bodh Gaya, the report added.

According to the reports, the political situation in Bihar is heated, with speculations that Nitish Kumar is considering rejoining the NDA. This speculation follows his departure from the alliance in 2022 to form the `Mahagathbandhan.` Leaders such as Jitan Ram Manjhi have hinted at a potential rupture of the current alliance.

Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP politician, during the ongoing Bihar political turmoil, has stated that doors in politics are not forever closed, allowing for the possibility of resuming ties with Nitish Kumar`s JDU.

“We are keeping an eye on all the developments and if needed an appropriate decision will be taken. No door is permanently closed in politics and the door can be opened if needed…” Sushil Modi told ANI.

According to the report, Nitish Kumar`s political manoeuvring began in 2022 when he launched efforts to bring opposition forces together against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party. However, recent words and occurrences point to a probable shift in alliances.

The situation worsened when RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav`s daughter, Rohini Acharya, criticised the JDU, causing friction within the ruling alliance. If Nitish Kumar decides to swap parties, it will be the fourth time he does so, the report added.

The RJD has 79 MLAs in the current Bihar Assembly, which has 243 seats. The BJP comes in second with 78. The JD(U) has 45 seats, Congress has 19, the CPI (M-L) has 12, and the CPI(M) and CPI have two apiece. In addition, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has four seats, the AIMIM one, and one Independent legislator.

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