Morning Digest: Israel’s Cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire deal, Kolkata court likely to pronounce verdict in R.G. Kar Hospital rape-murder case today, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day

Israel’s Cabinet approves deal for ceasefire in Gaza and release of dozens of hostages

Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early on Saturday (January 18, 2025) for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks. The deal brings Israel and Hamas a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. Mediators Qatar and the U.S. announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group.

Kolkata court likely to pronounce R.G. Kar Hospital rape, murder case verdict on January 18

A court in Kolkata is likely to deliver on Saturday (January 18) the verdict in the rape and murder of a doctor at the city-based R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In five years, Lokpal ordered probe in 24 cases, granted prosecution sanction in six

Twelve years since the Lokpal Act was passed and five years after Lokpal– the country’s first anti-corruption body – started to function, it ordered investigation in just 24 cases and granted prosecution sanction in six cases, data show. The Lokpal, which has the powers to investigate complaints against public functionaries, received three complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October and December last year.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Bihar; NDA takes dig at Opposition unity

In his first visit to Bihar after becoming the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will address the ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ (Save Constitution Conclave) at Bapu Sabahagaar in Patna on Saturday (January 18, 2024). He will also inaugurate the newly constructed staff quarters and a refurbished auditorium at the Congress State headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, during his day-long visit to the city.

Senior lawyers urge CJI to direct CBI to lodge FIR against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav

Senior advocates have written to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Friday (January 17, 2024) to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav after taking suo motu notice of communal comments reported to have been made by him during a speech at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on December 8.

Centre uses drones to survey 67,000 sq km land in 3 lakh villages

The Union government has completed a survey of 67,000 sq km of rural land worth ₹132 lakh crore, the Panchayati Raj Department said, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to distribute property cards to 65 lakh land owners spread across ten States. The Panchayati Raj Department started the survey using drones which have an accuracy up to five centimetres, as part of its SVAMITVA programme. So far, 92% of the drone mapping has been completed, covering around 3.17 lakh villages. The scheme’s target, to cover more than 3.44 lakh villages, is likely to be achieved by 2026, the Department said.

Donald Trump swearing-in will move inside Capitol Rotunda due to intense cold

President-elect Donald Trump may take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday (January 20, 2025) due to forecasts of intense cold weather. “The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”

U.S. Supreme Court upholds law banning TikTok

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to rescue TikTok on Friday (January 17, 2025) from a law that required the popular short-video app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance or banned on Sunday (January 19, 2025) in the United States on national security grounds — a major blow to a platform used by nearly half of all Americans.

Israel’s security Cabinet recommends approval of ceasefire in Gaza; awaits full Cabinet’s decision

Israel’s security Cabinet recommended approval on Friday (January 17, 2025) of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there. Mediators Qatar and the U.S. announced the ceasefire on Wednesday (January 15, 2025), but the deal hung in limbo for more than a day as Mr. Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute snags he blamed on Hamas.

NCP enters Delhi poll fray on last day of filing nominations

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a ruling Mahayuti alliance partner in Maharashtra, fielded 30 candidates in the national capital on Friday, the final day of filing nominations for the February 5 70-member Delhi Assembly election. The NCP will take on the BJP, fighting in 68 constituencies, and its allies — Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Janata Dal (United) — contesting on a seat each, as well as the INDIA bloc partners Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, which are fighting the poll separately.

Future of Bangladesh depends on Trump’s attitude towards Yunus-led interim government: former Awami League Minister

Bangladesh must not become a new home for Islamic extremists from across the world, said one of the key exiled members of the Sheikh Hasina government that was deposed last August in a student-people uprising in Dhaka. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel who was the Education Minister of the Awami League government and handled negotiation with the leaders of the July-August uprising, said the future of the interim government in Bangladesh in the coming months will depend on the attitude of the incoming Donald Trump administration in the U.S. and reminded that the security situation of Bangladesh should not be viewed in isolation from developments in other conflict zones especially in West Asia.

Rajouri death toll touches 16; unexplained deaths deeply troubling, says Omar

Mysterious deaths continued in the Pir Panjal valley’s Rajouri on Friday (January 17, 2025) as the death toll touched 16 with three more deaths reported in the past three days. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to address the “alarming situation”. The latest victim, Jatti Begum, 60, wife of Mohammad Yousuf, succumbed within 12 hours of admission at the Government Medical College, Rajouri. Since December 7 last year, three major waves of deaths struck Badhal village and left 16 dead and at least 28 affected by unknown causes. All the deaths were reported within three families. Among the deceased were 11 children and a pregnant woman.

Junior doctors in Midnapore Medical College halt plans for complete cease work

Junior doctors of Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal on Friday (January 17, 2025) have decided to not completely cease work for the time being. They are set to take decision after meeting other stakeholders of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF). On Thursday (January 16, 2025), they decided to go on strike in solidarity with their suspended colleagues in the expired saline administration case.

Ex-Chhattisgarh Minister was receiving ₹2 crore per month from the proceeds of excise scam, says ED

In a statement released on Friday (January 17, 2025), the ED stated that Mr. Lakhma, who was arrested on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) in connection with the alleged scam valued at ₹2,161 crore, was aware of the complete operations of the Excise Department, including the liquor scam, yet he did nothing to stop the illegal and unauthorised activities. In a media interaction last month, Mr. Lakhma had denied these charges, claiming that he was an illiterate person and did not know which papers he signed. 

Satwik-Chirag duo storms into semifinals of India Open

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stayed on course to go one better on their runner-up finish last year with a comprehensive 21-10, 21-17 win against Korea’s Yong Jin and Kang Min Hyuk to enter the men’s doubles semifinals at the India Open on Friday. The seventh-seeds will next face third-seeds Sze Fei Goh and Nur Izzuddin of Indonesia for a spot in their second consecutive final.

WazirX freezes first tranche of stolen funds worth $3 million

Cryptocurrency exchange WazirX on Friday (January 17, 2025) said it has frozen the first tranche of assets which were stolen during last year’s cyberattack worth $3 million. In a statement announcing the freezing of about $3 million in stolen assets (USDT), Founder Nischal Shetty said WazirX is fully committed to recovering the stolen funds “leaving no stone unturned to maximise recoveries under a scheme”.

Published - January 18, 2025 06:16 am IST