Israel Hamas war: Why a Gaza Strip cease-fire is so elusive

Two retired Israeli intelligence agents revealed new details about a covert operation targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria, involving exploding pagers and walkie talkies. The operation, which began 10 years ago, used walkie-talkies filled with hidden explosives sold to Hezbollah unknowingly. The agents, speaking on CBS "60 Minutes" with masked faces and altered voices, shared insights into the elaborate mission, which culminated in detonations in September. Full Article

The government has scrapped the 'no-detention policy' for classes 5 and 8, allowing schools to fail students who do not meet required standards. States can now hold regular exams for these classes and hold back students who fail, with 16 states and two Union Territories already implementing this change. Students failing the exams will receive additional instruction and have the opportunity to retake the exam, ultimately being required to repeat the grade if they still...

Over 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia's war with Ukraine, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pyongyang has sent troops to reinforce the Russian military, with around 1,100 casualties reported. North Korea is also preparing for additional soldier deployments and providing military assistance to Russia, including drones and artillery. Full Article

Delhi's tableau for the Republic Day parade was reportedly excluded, leading to a political spat between AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva. The selection process for the tableaux involves evaluating proposals based on theme, design, and visual impact by an expert committee. The controversy arises due to limited spots available and often leads to accusations of political bias. Full Article

The Philippine military plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system to protect its maritime interests, particularly against regional power China. The system was deployed in the northern Philippines for joint military exercises and will be acquired for archipelagic defense implementation. The total number to be acquired will depend on economic factors. Full Article

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait, both countries unequivocally condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and called for disrupting terror financing networks and safe havens. They discussed enhancing cooperation on counter-terrorism operations, cybersecurity, and prevention of radicalization, emphasizing the importance of information sharing, capacity building, and law enforcement. India praised Kuwait's efforts in hosting a conference on combating terrorism and building resilient border security mechanisms. Full Article