IN A SHIFT, US DOESN’T BLOCK UN RESOLUTION ON GAZA AID PAUSES

The UN Security Council's resolution on humanitarian pauses in the Gaza conflict passed with the noteworthy move of the United States abstaining. This departure marks the first instance where the U.S. refrained from blocking a resolution that doesn't concurrently condemn the Hamas attack. The resolution's objective is to establish breaks in the conflict, facilitating the delivery of aid to civilians. Russia and Britain also abstained from the vote. President Biden reiterated support for Israel's actions against Hamas while condemning a recent attack. Israel's UN ambassador criticized the resolution as disconnected from reality, underscoring Israel's adherence to international law. Biden, commending Israeli actions, also emphasized the overarching goal of a Palestinian state coexisting with Israel. He noted ongoing negotiations with Arab nations but refrained from providing specific details. Biden expressed uncertainty about advising Israel to halt its Gaza operations, linking the end to Hamas no longer posing a threat to Israelis.

US-CHINA MILITARY COMMUNICATION RESUMES: BIDEN-XI SUMMIT OUTCOMES

In a four-hour meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to reinstate high-level military-to-military communication and collaborate on counter-narcotics efforts. The leaders emphasized the necessity of addressing the risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems and enhancing AI safety through bilateral government talks. Biden acknowledged their historical differences but stressed the value of candid and straightforward discussions to ensure mutual understanding between the two nations. The meeting aimed to establish a working relationship amid China's assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

OPPN LEADER SAYS TIME TO REPLACE BIBI

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Thursday it was time to replace PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and that there would be broad support to form a unity government led by Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party. Centrist Lapid, who served briefly as PM last year, said he believed over 90 members of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset, or parliament, would sign on to such a coalition. Lapid refused to join Netanyahu’s war cabinet at the start of the war. “I hear those saying this is not the time. We waited 40 days, there is no more time. What we need now is a government that will deal with nothing other than security and economy,” Lapid wrote on X.

GAZA GRAPPLES WITH COMMUNICATION BLACKOUT AND DIRE HOSPITAL CONDITIONS AMID ONGOING ISRAELI OFFENSIVE

Gaza is in the midst of a severe communication blackout due to collapsing internet and phone services caused by fuel shortages. Israeli forces intensify their search for alleged hidden weapons at Al-Shifa Hospital in the north, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in southern Gaza, where scarce essential resources struggle to meet the needs of the population. The majority of Gaza's residents, having evacuated to the south, face uncertainty about their destination, as Egypt restricts mass transfers. The blackout, fueled by a lack of fuel supplies barred by Israel, adds to the challenges faced by Palestinians during the ongoing conflict.

Additionally, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital reports dire conditions, with a lack of oxygen and water, leaving patients in distress. Israeli troops continue their operation inside the hospital, surrounding the facility with tanks, drones overhead, and shooting reported. The IDF claims a methodical and thorough approach in their operation against Hamas, releasing images of alleged weapons found in the hospital. However, reports from inside the hospital paint a grim picture of destruction and limited communication. The conflict's toll on Gaza's health infrastructure and civilian population remains a growing concern.

WITH MAPPING ROBOTS & BLAST GEL, ISRAEL WAGES WAR ON HAMAS TUNNELS

Israel employs innovative methods, including mapping robots and blast gel, in its military campaign against Hamas tunnels. The army uses explosives to clear tunnels, utilizing exploding gel in significant quantities for each few hundred meters. The strategy involves remote-operated tracker robots to navigate and map the intricate underground network. In Beit Hanoun, where operations are ongoing, the army avoids direct confrontations in the narrow, under-ventilated, and potentially rigged tunnels. Destruction of tunnel entrances is challenging, as they can be rebuilt, and the officer estimates that it might take months to eliminate the entire Gaza tunnel network. The approach prioritizes avoiding harm to hostages, with care taken in target selection. While captive Palestinian gunmen provide limited intelligence, the officer acknowledges the complexity of the task, comparing it to the New York City subway.

CHINA PREZ INVITES BIDEN TO JOIN BRI

Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited his US counterpart Joe Biden to take part in his pet global initiative the BRI and expressed his readiness to take part in the Washington-backed multilateral cooperate initiatives. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiated by Xi in 2015 in which China is reported to have invested over a USD trillion has been widely criticised by the US, India and other countries as several countries including Sri Lanka and Pakistan, its biggest beneficiaries, reeled under mounting debt burden. The US, India and many of the EU countries are not part of the BRI.

BANGLADESH OPPOSITION CALLS 48-HR STRIKE AGAINST POLLS

Dhaka : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) declares a 48-hour nationwide strike, opposing the January 7 general elections and alleging the government's intention to secure a fourth consecutive term for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. The strike, announced after the election commission released the poll schedule, is led by BNP's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and commences at 6 am on Sunday. Despite law enforcement agencies intensifying security measures, BNP allies, including Jamaat-e-Islami, express support for the strike. The opposition, led by former premier Khaleda Zia, rejects the election schedule and continues protests, demanding a neutral government for the polls.

CAMERON IN KYIV ON 1ST VISIT ABROAD AS UK FOREIGN SECY

Kyiv : Britain’s foreign secretary David Cameron, on his first trip abroad in his new role, met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and also travelled to the port city of Odesa, a regular target of Russian air strikes.

Cameron, a former British PM who was appointed foreign minister Monday, stressed London’s continued support for Ukraine, now in its 21st month of war with Russia.

“What I want to say by being here is that we will continue to give you the moral support, the diplomatic support... but above all the military support that you need not just this year and next year, but however long it takes,” he said.

Zelensky thanked Cameron for his visit, which comes amid a conflict in the Middle East that the Ukrainian leader said had drawn global atten tion away from his country.

In Odesa, the country’s major Black Sea port, Cameron said, “In the last three months, they (Ukraine’s forces) have pushed Russia back in the Black Sea and are opening vital sea trade routes for the Ukrainian economy and global food supplies.”

ESCAPE AND EVASION: THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN MEN DODGE DRAFT AMIDST WA

Nearly 20,000 men have evaded Ukraine's draft, swimming dangerous rivers or leaving under the cover of darkness since the war's onset, according to BBC findings. Although Russia's invasion prompted a ban on men aged 18-60 leaving, daily data reveals dozens still manage to escape. Among those who fled, some sought to join family abroad, pursue education, or secure employment. The BBC, through data on illegal border crossings, identified 19,740 men entering neighbouring countries between February 2022 and August 31, 2023. Of the 21,113 caught trying to flee, 14,313 walked or swam across borders, while 6,800 used fraudulently obtained paperwork citing fake exemptions. Excluded individuals encompass those with medical issues, caregiving responsibilities, and fathers to three or more children.

PEDRO SANCHEZ REELECTED SPANISH PM

Madrid : Spain’s acting Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, was reelected by a majority of legislators in a parliamentary vote Thursday, allowing him to form a new minority leftist coalition government.

Sanchez was backed by 179 lawmakers in the 350-seat lower house. Only right-wing opposition deputies voted against him.

The vote came after nearly two days of debate among leaders on a highly controversial amnesty deal for Catalonia’s separatists that Sanchez agreed to in return for support to get reelected. The speaker will now convey the result to King Felipe VI. Once published in the State Gazette, Sánchez will be sworn in before the king, most likely on Friday.

S KOREA HALTS FLIGHTS TO LIMIT DISTRACTION FOR STUDENTS AS THEY SIT FOR UNIV ENTRANCE

More than half a million students in South Korea are sitting for the crucial national university entrance exam on Thursday, with authorities set to take extraordinary measures to minimise distraction. The nine-hour test, which is being taken by 504,588 pupils, is crucial for securing spots in top universities. The importance of the test was reflected by the aggressive measures authorities were taking to prevent any disturbance. To reduce noise disruption during the listening portion of the English test, Seoul’s transportation ministry has announced a nationwide ban on all aircraft takeoffs and landings outside of emergency situations. The ban will be in effect for 35 minutes. More than 90 flights had to be rescheduled due to the exam. Public offices and major businesses were requested to adjust their opening hours to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure students arrived on time. The stock market also opened an hour later.

SNAILS DELAY TRAM ROUTE CONSTRUCTION IN FRENCH CITY

They are small, protected, and in absolutely no hurry to move. The presence of the rare Quimper Snail, whose habitat is restricted to areas of northwest France and northern Spain, has caused a major headache for developers seeking to lay down a new tram route in the French city of Brest. Conservation workers are now picking through undergrowth to individually remove protected snails blocking the planned tram route — one by one. Workers have set up tarps to prevent the snails from inching back onto the construction site. As well as the snails, planners have had to contend with 75 other protected species.