International News
Israeli PM Fires Defense Minister Amid National Security Crisis, Sparking Protests
In a significant political shift amid ongoing conflicts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a “crisis of trust.”
The decision, announced Tuesday, was met with immediate criticism, with opponents accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing political considerations over national security, especially as Israel braces for potential Iranian retaliation after its October 26 airstrikes on Iran.
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Replacing Gallant is Israel Katz, a close ally of Netanyahu, who now takes charge of Israel’s military strategy in Gaza and Lebanon.
Shortly after Gallant’s dismissal, protesters blocked highways and ignited bonfires, signaling public unrest.
In a further reshuffle, Netanyahu appointed Gideon Saar as the new foreign minister, succeeding Katz in this role.
The friction between Netanyahu and Gallant, both members of the right-wing Likud party, reportedly intensified over the strategic objectives of Israel’s year-long campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The timing of Gallant’s firing, during U.S. presidential elections, took many by surprise.
Gallant had reportedly issued draft notices to ultra-Orthodox Haredi men, angering factions in Netanyahu’s government who oppose conscription, which some experts believe was a tipping point.
Katz, who vowed to secure the return of Israeli hostages and defeat Hamas and Hezbollah, took to social media platform X to express his commitment.
His tenure as foreign minister had already seen him take a strong stance, including barring U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from Israel for allegedly failing to condemn recent Iranian missile strikes.
The response to Gallant’s dismissal was polarized, with Itamar Ben-Gvir, a right-wing coalition member, praising the move, while opposition leader Yair Lapid called it an “act of madness.”
In the United States, a White House spokesperson noted Gallant’s valued partnership with the U.S. and expressed intentions to work with Katz going forward.
Escalation in Gaza and Northern Airstrikes
As Israel reshuffled its leadership, tensions in Gaza and Lebanon escalated further.
Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza intensified on Tuesday, killing at least 35 people since Monday night, according to Palestinian medics.
The strikes targeted various regions, including Beit Lahiya, where 20 civilians reportedly died.
New evacuation orders were issued in Gaza, with Israeli planes dropping leaflets instructing residents to relocate south.
Israel has stated that these evacuations aim to protect civilians from conflict zones as its forces engage with Hamas fighters. Critics, however, claim the intent is to create buffer zones around Israeli-controlled areas.
Since the start of the conflict, health authorities in Gaza report over 43,300 Palestinian deaths, with the violence intensifying after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and capturing 251 hostages.
International News
Turkish Model Arrested Over Plan To Sleep With 100 Men In 24 Hours
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Ezra Vandan, also known as Azranur AV, has been detained in Istanbul for publicly announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
The announcement, made on social media, sparked outrage and led to her arrest by the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau.
Vandan had shared her intentions on January 14, 2025, posting a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption: “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours.”
She reportedly planned to live-stream the event, which was widely criticised as “obscene” and “damaging to societal morals.”
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According to reports, the post drew the attention of authorities, who initiated an investigation and apprehended her while she awaited a cosmetic surgery operation in Atasehir. Footage captured her being escorted down the stairs of a hospital by female officers, her wrists bound behind her.
In a controversial twist, Vandan allegedly uploaded a revealing image taken during her arrest by a police officer, captioning it, “I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t object much.”
Her husband, Pedram Behdar Vandan, 25, was also briefly detained but later released.
The Istanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has charged Vandan with obscenity, resisting an officer on duty, and slander, stating that her actions and posts were “damaging to moral values” and “provocative to society.”
Defending herself in court, Vandan argued that her posts were personal and did not harm anyone. “I do not deserve to be judged,” she said.
The case has reignited debates in Turkey about personal freedom and societal values.
International News
Train Accident In Maharashtra Claims 11 Lives After Panic Over Fire Alarm
Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.
The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.
Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.
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According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.
India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.
In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.
India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.
International News
WHO Expresses Regret Over US’ Withdrawal
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed regret on Tuesday over the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to withdraw the United States from the global health body.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed the media, stating, “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the organisation.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
The move comes after Trump, on his first day back in the White House, signed an executive order initiating the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement necessary reforms.
He also criticized the alleged political influence over the WHO. “That’s a big one,” Trump said, referring to his previous attempt to exit the organization in 2020, which was blocked by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Public health experts have sharply criticized the decision. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, called the move a “strategic error,” warning that it could potentially increase China’s influence in global health matters.
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Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University, labeled the decision as “a cataclysmic presidential decision,” adding that it undermines both world health efforts and U.S. leadership on the global stage.
In response, China reiterated its support for the WHO.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, emphasized, “The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened. China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities… and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity.”