Southern Financial News

Japan and Vietnam have agreed to boost their security and economic ties in the face of China’s growing influence in the region

A shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has allowed a surge of aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza, but humanitarian groups and civilians in the enclave say the convoys aren’t nearly enough to address the needs of the strip’s two million people. Despite the pause in fighting, Palestinians in Gaza are burning door frames and piles of garbage to cook, sleeping crammed into school classrooms and strangers’ homes, and scrambling onto trucks bringing aid from Egypt in a desperate grab for supplies, residents say. The cease-fire has also allowed Gazans a chance to bury the dead and to take stock of entire neighborhoods that have been reduced to rubble during seven weeks of Israeli bombing.

AFP looks at 10 standout numbers: The number of people around the world displaced by conflict or humanitarian crises was already at a record high before the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, adding to the misery. By the end of September, 114 million people had been driven from their homes by wars in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo and a humanitarian crisis in Taliban-run Afghanistan, among other factors, according to UN refugee agency the UNHCR. They have since been joined by at least 1.7 million Gazans. One heat record after another tumbled in 2023, which is on course to be the hottest year on record, according to the European Union's climate monitor Copernicus. The northern hemisphere had its hottest summer ever and temperature records were also smashed in the southern winter, with the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires experiencing its warmest August 1 on record at 30 degrees Celsius. Defending champions South Africa won a nail-biting final 12-11 against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup, to claim a record fourth title and seal the growing role of rugby — once the sport of the white minority under apartheid — as a unifying force in multiracial South Africa. «People who are not from South Africa don't understand what it means for our country. It is not just about the game.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel, the West Bank, Belgium, North Macedonia and UAE this week. It is Blinken's third visit to Israel since Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Israel and Hamas in Gaza appeared set to continue for a fifth day on Tuesday, there are expectations that Hamas will release more hostages seized on October 7 in exchange for increased aid and the release of imprisoned Palestinians by Israel, Reuters reported. As per the report, following the release of 11 Israelis on Monday, Hamas has now freed 69 hostages out of approximately 240 taken during an incursion into southern Israel, resulting in about 1,200 casualties according to Israeli figures. Early on Tuesday, media affiliated with Hamas reported that Israel had released 30 Palestinian children and three women in the fourth exchange of the truce.

The Met Office states that snowfall is possible if a low pressure system that is predicted to «start moving in» during the next few days interacts with the colder air. Low pressure will slowly move southeastwards, allowing colder air to filter back in across the UK. Following the system, snow is expected in the many higher reaches of the central and southern parts of the United Kingdom, besides Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern parts of England may experience snowfall. The higher ground of Wales and northwest England are likely to receive up to 5 cm of snow. The Met office has also warned of continued risk of overnight frost and fog in many parts of the United Kingdom. On Friday night, Shap in Cumbria recorded -7.7C and parts of Scotland the temp was recorded at -5C. Meanwhile, several parts of northern England and Wales also experienced below zero conditions. Greg Dewhurst, Met Office meteorologist has warned of «a cold week to come» with snowfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Rain is expected in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The temperatures in the Far north of England and rural Scotland will hover around -2C to -5C and could plummet to -8C. There is a very likelihood that Dartmoor, the Pennines and parts of Scotland may also experience sleet or snow. According to the forecaster, the result of the cold condition over the weekend was a result of the Northern Lights or aurora borealis that was spotted across parts of Scotland, northeast England, Suffolk and Essex. Besides, moon halos were also seen in areas further south.

Although all federal states have some mechanisms for the transfer of resources from richer to poorer constituents, if the perception grows that the richer states are subsidizing profligacy or incentivising populist policies in the poorer states, the union could be politically destabilized. Such perceptions are gaining currency both in the Eurozone and in India.

four-day truce, announced by Israel and Hamas on November 24, was scheduled to expire. As part of the truce agreement, Hamas was to release 50 out of the around 240 hostages which are in its custody since October 7, whereas, the Israeli forces were to free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

diversify their businesses outside of China as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing. Also Read: 'Season of hot sales': Apple supplier Foxconn logs surprise jump in Q3 profit. Details here About half of Foxconn’s revenue comes from business with Apple Inc.

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Vinay Kwatra held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on Sunday. The talks focused on enhancing connectivity through the strategic Chabahar port and addressing the current situation in West Asia stemming from the conflict between Hamas and Israel. During his visit to Tehran, the foreign secretary also co-chaired a meeting of India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) alongside Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani.

Karthigai Deepam', a traditional festival which has immense significance in Hindu religion is held every year on the full moon day of the month of Karthikai. The festival is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya. People light clay lamps and pray for their family's wealth. In 2023, the 'Karthigai Festival' is going to be celebrated on Kartik Purnima on November 26, 2023. When does Karthigai Deepam start and end?

seven weeks of Hamas captivity, information about the conditions of their confinement has emerged. The 58 hostages freed under a cease-fire deal over the past three days have largely stayed out of the public eye, with most still in hospitals. Nearly two months after Hamas militants dragged them into Gaza during a bloody cross-border attack on Israel that also killed 1,200 people, most freed hostages appear to be in stable physical condition.

Israel after seven weeks of Hamas captivity, information about the conditions of their confinement has emerged. The 58 hostages freed under a cease-fire deal over the past three days have largely stayed out of the public eye, with most still in hospitals. Nearly two months after Hamas militants dragged them into Gaza during a bloody cross-border attack on Israel that also killed 1,200 people, most freed hostages appear to be in stable physical condition. Information about the conditions of their captivity has been tightly controlled, but family members of the released hostages have begun to share details about their loved ones' experiences.

Hamas released 17 hostages in Gaza, including a 4-year-old American girl, as part of a truce with Israel as Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners on the third day of the ceasefire. As reported by Reuters, the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the successful transfer of the hostages, consisting of 13 Israelis, three Thais, and one individual with Russian citizenship, according to Hamas. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the release of the hostages - part of a larger group captured when Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel on Oct.

Israeli hostages were released on November 24, followed by 13 more on November 25. Tel Aviv has also released 78 Palestinian prisoners so far. A fourth exchange is expected on Monday - the last day of the four-day cease-fire between the enemies.

By Emma Farge

The 1991 structural reforms, designed to transform India’s economic policy framework from a highly dirigiste system to a more liberalized, market-oriented system, mainly addressed the policy and regulatory framework at the national level. Much still remains to be done at that level. However, the next phase of reforms will have to be directed at reforms in the states.

Kwatra on Sunday discussed with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran ways to boost connectivity through strategic Chabahar port and the current situation in West Asia arising out of the Hamas-Israel conflict. The foreign secretary was in Tehran to co-chair a meeting of India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) along with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for political affairs Ali Bagheri Kani. On Kwatra's meeting with Amir-Abdollahian, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said both sides agreed to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation in various spheres.

By James Mackenzie

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said there was «reason to believe» a U.S. hostage would be released from captivity in Gaza on Sunday.