Australian Deputy High Commissioner allowed to meet Bengal govt. officials at ‘appropriate level’

In Cairo, an Israeli strike on a post office in Gaza killed 30 Palestinians and wounded 50, with the Israeli military targeting an Islamic Jihad member. The strike, which occurred in the Nuseirat camp, led to a total death toll of 66 in the enclave and sparked accusations of the group using civilians as shields. The camp, originally for Palestinian refugees, is now densely populated with displaced people from the region. Full Article

India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1 sees Australia's openers, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney, forming a solid partnership while frustrating the Indian bowlers. India won the toss and chose to field, with both teams aiming to break the 1-1 series tie. Despite some close chances, Australia's openers are holding strong, with India's bowlers eager for breakthroughs. Full Article

The US country report on terrorism for 2023 highlighted the impact of terrorist groups like ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. The report praised India's efforts in combating terrorism, but did not address Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism. Despite Pakistan's steps to counter terrorism financing, the report noted a significant increase in terrorist attacks in the country. Full Article

The Lok Sabha witnessed intense exchanges between the ruling party and opposition during the Parliament Winter Session's Constitution Debate, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accusing Congress of prioritizing power over the Constitution, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticizing the BJP for undermining constitutional protections. The session, commemorating the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution, will continue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to reply in Lok Sabha and Home Minister...

External affairs minister S Jaishankar confirmed that Indian security forces will patrol all points in Depsang and the eastward limit in Ladakh, historically India's patrolling boundary. He highlighted the final disengagement agreements with China related to Depsang and Demchok, expressed hope for a stable Indo-Bangladesh relationship, and emphasized the importance of safeguarding minorities in Bangladesh. Jaishankar also mentioned India's desire for positive relations with Pakistan and addressed trade disruptions caused by decisions made by Pakistan...

The Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi announced ₹1,000 monthly for women under the Mahila Samman Yojana, with a promise to increase it to ₹2,100 if re-elected, sparking discussion on a similar unfulfilled pledge in Punjab. Despite financial constraints, Punjab faces challenges fulfilling the promise due to soaring power subsidy bills and revenue shortfall from sand mining, impacting budget allocations and causing delays in other commitments. While AAP defends its track record, the unmet promise of...