Hamas Says "Ready For Ceasefire", Urges Trump To "Pressure" Israel

A senior Hamas official on Friday said the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza, urging US President-elect Donald Trump to "pressure" Israel as it continued to pound the Palestinian territory.

It comes nearly a week after Qatar, which hosts much of the Palestinian group's political bureau, announced it was suspending its role as a mediator in the war and urging all parties to show "seriousness".

"Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected" by Israel, Doha-based Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP.

"We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression."

On Saturday, Qatar announced it was suspending its role as a mediator in indirect talks towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza war that has ground on for more than a year.

"Qatar would resume those efforts... when the parties show their willingness and seriousness," Doha's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a statement.

Friday's announcement by Hamas came as Israel continued to strike Gaza, with residents of the central city of Deir el-Balah searching through the rubble of their destroyed homes after overnight strikes.

"I woke up to the bombing at 2:30 am and was surprised by the rubble and glass falling on me and my children," said Mohamed Baraka, one of the residents, adding that the strike "resulted in three martyrs and 15 injuries".

"Put an end to this war... because there are innocent people who are losing defenceless children who have nothing to do with this," he said.

Hostage video

The war erupted with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 43,764 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

Militants also kidnapped 251 hostages during the attack, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military says are dead.

Earlier Friday, the Hamas-allied militant group Islamic Jihad released a new clip of Israeli hostage Sasha Trupanov, after issuing a first video earlier this week.

Trupanov, 29, is a dual Russian-Israeli citizen who was abducted with his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, from the Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called for the release of Trupanov and another hostage, Maxim Herkin, in comments made before the release of the latest clip.

Fears surged over the fate of the hostages after Qatar announced its withdrawal from mediating talks -- the latest blow in a protracted negotiation process that has hit repeated impasses.

Lebanon strikes

Israel on Friday also continued to strike Lebanon, where it intensified in September its air offensive and later sent in ground troops following a year of low-intensity cross-border exchanges with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

A building in Beirut's southern suburbs collapsed in a gigantic cloud of smoke and dust, an AFP photographer reported, as two strikes attributed to Israel hit the Hezbollah bastion.

A series of images from the strike captures a falling projectile slamming into the lower floors of the building, which erupt in a huge fireball, causing the structure to collapse.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported a "heavy raid carried out by aircraft of the Israeli enemy" in the Ghobeiri area of southern Beirut.

It said the raid had been preceded by two missile strikes on the same target by an Israeli drone.

The strikes followed a call by the Israeli military to evacuate the area. The evacuation call posted on X by Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee told residents to leave, warning of imminent strikes.

"All residents in the southern suburbs, specifically ... in the Ghobeiri area, you are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah," Adraee said in an Arabic-language post on X.

"For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately."

Later in the morning, a second strike hit the Bourj al-Barajneh area of the southern suburbs, an AFP journalist reported.

NNA said two missiles had been fired by an "enemy aircraft".

Lebanese authorities say more than 3,380 people have been killed since October last year, when Hezbollah and Israel began trading fire.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"No Back...": Pakistan Foreign Office's Clear Take On India's CT Refusal

Pakistan on Thursday said that no back channel diplomacy was going on with India after the neighbouring country refused to send its cricket team for the Champions Trophy to be held in February-March next year. The spokesperson of Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, was asked questions at the weekly press briefing regarding the status of the cricket tournament scheduled to be held in Pakistan early next year. “There is no back channel with India to specifically discuss the Champions Trophy and bilateral Cricket between Pakistan and India,” she said.

She added that further details with regards to the holding of Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the participation of the various teams was available with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which can share any further details.

Baloch went on to say that sports events should not be mixed with politics. “Pakistan has always said that sports should not be politicised,” she said.

Asked whether Pakistan plans to go ahead with the Champions Trophy if India persisted with its refusal to send its team, she said that the PCB was in contact with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss the arrangements, including participation of different teams in the tournament.

“We would refer you to the Pakistan Cricket Board for any comments or clarification with regards to this issue,” she said.

The BCCI has informed the ICC about its inability to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The world body, in turn, has sought a response from the PCB on hosting the tournament in a hybrid model.

A hybrid model was followed during the Asia Cup last year, when India's matches were held in Sri Lanka while other matches were played in Pakistan. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Key Bangladesh Official Proposes Removing 'Secularism' From Constitution

Bangladesh's top legal official has proposed to remove the words "secularism" and "socialism" from the Constitution apart from a provision prescribing capital punishment for regime change through extra-constitutional means.

In his statement in the High Court during a hearing on a writ petition filed by a group of citizens, Attorney General Mohammad Asazzaman on Wednesday sought to remove "secularism" and "socialism" as two of the four principles of the Constitution alongside the designation of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the undisputed leader of Bangladesh but the Awami League politicised him in the party's interest, he said, referring to the founding leader of Bangladesh who is popularly known as Bangabandhu.

The writ petition challenged the validity of the Constitution's 15th amendment made by the now-ousted Awami League regime of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2011 while a two-judge High Court bench issued a rule asking the interim government to come up with its stance on the matter.

"As a whole, we do not want that (HC) rule to be scrapped," the attorney general said, clarifying the government's stance on the writ petition while talking to newsmen at his office.

Several people, mostly lawyers, emerged as interveners in the writ petition, some supporting the plea and some opposing it.

The 15th amendment was passed in parliament with the strength of a brute majority of the Awami League, restoring, inserting and scrapping several provisions in the Constitution.

The amendments included the restoration of secularism as a state principle, the scrapping of the caretaker government system for election oversight, assuming state power through extra-constitutional means and the designating of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.

In his concluding arguments, Asaduzzaman told the court that the interim government wanted to declare the 15th amendment to the Constitution largely unconstitutional, retaining only select provisions.

He particularly demanded the restoration of the caretaker government system and the provision of the referendum in the Constitution.

The Awami League regime was toppled on August 5 in the face of a mass upsurge originating from a quota reform campaign by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement. Three days later Nobel laureate Muhammad assumed office as the chief adviser of the interim government.

The attorney general criticised Article 7A inserted under the 15th amendment that criminalises any attempt to repeal, suspend, or subvert the Constitution through force or unconstitutional means, calling such acts as sedition, which are punishable with the death penalty.

He argued that this restriction limits democratic change and disregards the recent mass uprising that deposed the Awami League government and demanded the restoration of the caretaker government system.

"The (provisions of the 15th) amendment betrays the sacrifices of martyrs like Abu Sayed and Mugdho," said Asaduzzaman, referring to two students who were shot dead during the July-August mass protests.

Asaduzzaman was appointed as the attorney general days after the ouster of the past regime and the resignation of his predecessor.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Welcome Back": Biden Congratulates President-Elect Trump At White House

Joe Biden welcomed Donald Trump back to the White House on Wednesday, in a show of civility to a bitter rival who failed to extend him the same courtesy four years ago.

The US president and president-elect shook hands in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office as they pledged a smooth transition -- a stark contrast to Trump's refusal to recognize his 2020 defeat.

"Welcome back," Biden, 81, said as he congratulated the 78-year-old Trump and offered brief opening remarks to the man he has repeatedly slammed as a threat to democracy.

Biden, who dropped out of the election in July but saw his successor Kamala Harris lose to Trump last week, said he was "looking forward to having a smooth transition" and pledged to do "everything we can to make sure you're accommodated."

As the two presidents with a combined age of 159 years shook hands, Biden appeared to look down while Trump leaned forward and looked him in the eyes.

Trump riled up a mob that attacked the US Capitol in 2021 and ran a brutal and divisive election campaign this year -- but sought to strike a gracious tone on his return visit to the White House.

"Politics is tough, and in many cases it's not a very nice world. It is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much," Trump said.

Trump added that the transfer of power would be "smooth as you can get" -- despite the fact that his transition team has not yet signed some key legal documents ahead of his inauguration as president on January 20.

No Melania

Absent from the occasion was incoming first lady Melania Trump, who was a shadowy presence on the campaign trail and spent much of Trump's first term away from the White House.

Outgoing First Lady Jill Biden joined Biden in welcoming Trump and "gave Mr. Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for Mrs Trump," the White House said.

The only other people in the room for talks after the handshake were Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients and Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles, the White House said.

Biden was expected to push during the meeting for Trump to continue US support for Ukraine's fight against Russia, which the Republican has called into question.

Biden's Oval Office invitation restored a presidential transition tradition that Trump tore up when he lost the 2020 election, refusing to sit down with Biden or even attend the inauguration.

But by the time Trump took his last flight from the White House lawn on January 20, 2021, he had also been repudiated by many in his own party for having stoked the assault on the Capitol.

That period of disgrace soon evaporated, however, as Republicans returned to Trump's side, recognizing the billionaire's unique electoral power at the head of his right-wing movement.

Third term?

Trump enters his second term with a near total grip on his party and is expected to take both chambers of Congress -- while the Democrats are in disarray.

Ahead of the White House visit, Trump addressed Republicans from the House of Representatives at a Washington hotel.

An ebullient Trump suggested that he could even be open to a third term in office -- which would violate the US constitution.

"I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's good, we got to figure something else,'" he said, drawing some laughter.

Former reality TV star Trump, who has promised to be a "dictator on day one," is moving quickly to fill out his administration, picking a host of ultra-loyalists.

He was accompanied at the meeting with Republicans by the world's richest man Elon Musk, whom he named on Tuesday as head of a new group aimed at slashing government spending.

He also nominated Fox News host and army veteran Pete Hegseth as his incoming defense secretary. An opponent of so-called "woke" ideology in the armed forces, Hegseth has little experience similar to managing the world's most powerful military.

Trump named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem -- an ally who famously wrote about shooting her dog because it did not respond to training -- as head of the Department of Homeland Security.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Smog Blanket Over North India, Air Quality Drops To "Severe" Level

There has been an early onset of toxic cover across Delhi and north India this year owing to stubble burning across the north Indian states. What is also shocking is the scale of the smog cover, as well as the level of pollutants present in it.

Satellite images show the white blanket stretching across practically the whole of north India -- all the way down to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In the east, it stretches well beyond Central Uttar Pradesh.

The smog blanket, while registering its presence just around Diwali, settles down in earnest towards the end of December and continues throughout January.

What makes this doubly clear is a satellite image from last year. Here is a comparison of both images from the Korean Geo Kompsat 2A satellite.

The smog cover over Delhi was thick and significantly dropped air quality to the 'Severe' category. The Air Quality Index had crossed the 400 mark -- when the approved mark is around 60.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pollution board CAQM said: "Today, Delhi's daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM."

Today, Delhi's daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM.
Cont. (1/5)

— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) November 13, 2024

The low visibility sevrely hampered flight operations. The smog caused zero visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 8.30 am. The Runway Visual Range varied between 125 and 500 metres, the met department said.

The pollution board said they expect the situation to improve by tomorrow morning, "owing to stronger winds".

The Air Quality Index is also expected to move back to the 'Very Poor' category tomorrow.

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Exclusive: Rupali's Lawyer Breaks Down The Rs 50 Crore Compensation Demand

Rupali Ganguly recently issued a defamation notice to her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, demanding a compensation of Rs 50 crore for allegedly "maligning" her character and personal life. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, the actress' lawyer Sana Raees Khan explained that the Rs 50 crore figure is not arbitrary. It represents the wide-reaching impact these false allegations have had on Rupali's personal dignity, public image and career, which she has worked years to build.

She said, "The Rs 50 Crore amount specified in the defamation notice represents the serious damage caused to Ms Rupali Ganguly's personal and professional reputation due to baseless and defamatory statements made against her. This amount reflects not only the emotional and reputational harm but also the impact on her career, which she has dedicated years to building. Ms. Ganguly believes that such false allegations should have significant consequences and discourage similar actions in the future. The demand underscores our commitment to holding individuals accountable for malicious actions that can harm one's dignity and livelihood."

In the same interview with NDTV, Sana Raees Khan spoke about Esha's reaction to the legal notice. "She has not responded to the notice. She has deleted her Twitter account and removed all her defamatory posts. The deletion of defamatory posts following our notice reinforces the principle that false statements carry consequences and highlights the importance of safeguarding an individual's reputation from baseless attacks. Her stepdaughter has taken down the defamatory posts following our legal notice which we see as a meaningful step toward justice. This outcome reflects our victory for truth and accountability, reaffirming that reckless and harmful statements have no place in the public sphere. This definitely sets a strong precedent on the importance of responsible communication, especially when it concerns the reputation and dignity of others."

Sana Raees Khan revealed that the notice mentions that Rupali Ganguly endured mental trauma due to these statements, requiring medical treatment, and faced humiliation on set, which also led to the loss of professional opportunities. The notice explains that while the actress initially chose to remain silent out of dignity, she was forced to take legal action after she and her husband Ashwin Verma's 11-year-old son was dragged into the matter.

ICYDK, it all started after Esha Verma made serious allegations against her father Ashwin Verma and Rupali Ganguly. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, the 26-year-old accused Rupali of physically assaulting her mother in Mumbai, stating, "Rupali physically hit my mother in person in Mumbai." Esha also accused Ashwin of being "a very abusive man physically and emotionally." She went on to say, "I was devastated, crying in high school because of the women who deliberately came into our lives, who broke my parent's marriage, who physically hit my mother in person in Mumbai in my grandparent's house. To see her win, that's the most devastating thing which I have gone through. I'm not pinpointing just Rupali here; I have also gathered the strength to say that it is my father's fault. He was also a very abusive man physically and emotionally so it's a two-party street."

Esha further claimed that when the news of her allegations first went viral, she was terrified and pressured by her father to delete her post. She also recounted an unsettling experience when Rupali travelled to their home in New Jersey and allegedly slept in the bed shared by Esha's parents. "It was Rupali who told my father to give my mother the divorce papers," Esha revealed. She expressed her disbelief over Ashwin's recent comments on social media, where he denied Rupali's involvement. Esha countered, saying, "I don't know what Rupali and Ashwin will say further about these allegations and comments. I know my father has said something on Twitter now X. He said that Rupali was not involved, and that is the biggest lie because Rupali was the one who came to my house in New Jersey and slept on my mother's bed-the bed that my father and mother shared. She has done so much, physically, mentally, verbally, and emotionally, abusing me and my mom. I feel like that was a lot of trauma I had to deal with and suffer with and my mom did too. We suffered a lot, and we don't have that exposure as she does."

Esha, now 26, is the daughter of Ashwin and Sapna Verma and currently resides in the United States. Ashwin and Sapna married in 1997 and separated in 2008. Ashwin married Rupali in 2013, and are parents to a son named Rudransh.

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A Look At Nisha Madhulika's Journey, One Of India's Richest Female YouTubers

Nisha Madhulika is known for her delicious, home-style recipes. From starting as a teacher to emerging as one of India's richest female content creators on YouTube, the 65-year-old's success story is an inspiration for one and all, proving the popular phrase - "age is just a number" - correct.

Who is Nisha Madhulika?

For many of her followers, Ms Madhulika's name is synonymous with home-style Indian cuisine. She currently enjoys a huge following across multiple social media platforms, showcasing her unique ability to connect with the masses even at this age in life.

Nisha Madhulika started her journey on YouTube in 2009. She has posted over 2,300 videos on the platform. Her channel is subscribed by 14.5 million people.

According to a report in The Times of India, she started as a way to combat loneliness after her children had left home.

"My mission is to bring joy and togetherness to every home through wholesome and healthy recipes," read her YouTube profile.

Apart from YouTube, Ms Madhulika has 5.7 million followers on Facebook and 3.41 lakh followers on Instagram.

Early life and family

Nisha Madhulika was born on August 25, 1959, into a middle-class family in Uttar Pradesh.

After completing her schooling and graduation, she went on to pursue a career in teaching. Following her marriage, she shifted to Noida and raised her two children there.

After developing her passion for cooking at an early age, Nisha Madhulika started to experiment with different types of recipes over some time.

While her professional life was moving forward well, Ms Madhulika later decided to take the challenging decision of embarking on a new venture at an age when many people look forward to slowing down in life.

YouTube journey

After consistently uploading food-related videos on social media, Nisha Madhulika became famous as the country's top chef on YouTube in 2014.

A few years later, she even got major recognition in November 2017, bagging the Top YouTube Cooking Content Creator honour at the Social Media Summit & Awards.

Net worth

Through her culinary skills, Nisha Madhulika has emerged as a renowned female content creator in the country and owns a popular food website as well. Through her hard work, she amassed a massive fortune, with a net worth of Rs 43 crore.

Beyond her culinary influence, she is also known for supporting several other endeavours, including the Project Druv of Tata Trusts which seeks to provide internet access to rural areas in the country.

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