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Jinnah’s leadership in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy His leadership, vision, and pragmatism were instrumental in setting direction of Pakistan's foreign relations Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah played a pivotal role in shaping the early foreign policy of Pakistan, establishing its relationships with the outside world. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Jinnah faced the monumental task of navigating the newly-formed nation through a complex international landscape. His leadership, vision, and pragmatism were instrumental in setting the direction of Pakistan's foreign relations during its formative years. Jinnah's foreign policy vision was based on justice, equality, and respect for international law. He sought to position Pakistan as a sovereign, dignified state that would be respected in the global arena. This commitment to fairness and mutual cooperation was central to his approach, emphasising that Pakistan's relations would be built on equality and the rule of law rather than exploitation. Jinnah’s foremost initiative was to ensure that Pakistan would not be dependent on any foreign power for its strategic or political interests. This was particularly important in the context of the Cold War era, which saw the world divided into two ideological blocs led by the United States and the Soviet Union. Jinnah was determined that Pakistan would not become part of either bloc or be drawn into global power struggles. One of Jinnah’s early priorities was securing diplomatic recognition of Pakistan from the international community. He understood the importance of being acknowledged as a sovereign state. Just months after its creation, Pakistan became a member of the United Nations in September 1947, marking a significant milestone in its foreign policy. This membership symbolised Pakistan’s commitment to global peace and cooperation. Additionally, Jinnah began establishing Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad, sending ambassadors and high commissioners to key capitals, strengthening bilateral relations, and securing economic and political support. The Kashmir conflict with India was one of the most pressing foreign policy challenges Jinnah faced. The region of Jammu and Kashmir, with its Muslim-majority population, was claimed by both India and Pakistan. Jinnah believed that Kashmir rightfully belonged to Pakistan and sought to address this issue diplomatically. He brought the matter before the United Nations, advocating for a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their own future. This diplomatic initiative underscored Jinnah’s commitment to securing Pakistan’s territorial integrity and his belief in peaceful conflict resolution. While Jinnah was determined to maintain Pakistan’s independence, he also recognised the importance of strategic relationships with major global powers. He sought good relations with the United States and the United Kingdom, primarily for economic and military support, but was careful not to align Pakistan too closely with either power. Jinnah maintained that Pakistan’s foreign policy should remain independent, avoiding undue influence from any superpower. This approach allowed Pakistan to establish diplomatic relations with the West without compromising its autonomy. Jinnah also recognised Pakistan’s unique position in the Muslim world and sought to build strong ties with other Muslim-majority countries. As the newly-formed Islamic state, Pakistan had a responsibility to promote unity and cooperation among Muslim nations. Jinnah worked to establish diplomatic relations with key countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt, and advocated for Pakistan’s support for causes such as the Palestinian issue. This diplomatic initiative laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s eventual leadership role in organizations like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was formed in 1969. Jinnah understood the importance of economic relations in strengthening Pakistan’s foreign policy. In the aftermath of partition, Pakistan faced severe economic challenges, and Jinnah sought to establish trade relations with key countries to ensure the nation’s economic stability. He worked to secure trade agreements with the United States, the United Kingdom, and neighbouring countries, aiming to boost Pakistan’s economy through foreign trade, aid, and investment, while also focusing on self-sufficiency. Jinnah’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with India, despite the tensions over Kashmir, was another cornerstone of his foreign policy. While he was firm in his stance on Kashmir, he hoped for cordial relations with India. Jinnah’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and international mediation were early examples of Pakistan’s assertive role on the global stage. Jinnah envisioned a peaceful South Asia, where Pakistan could maintain good relations with neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and China. He advocated for diplomatic engagement rather than military confrontation in resolving regional disputes. His careful approach to Afghanistan, particularly regarding border issues, reflected his broader goal of fostering regional cooperation and security. Jinnah’s vision of an independent, non-aligned foreign policy continues to resonate in Pakistan’s current diplomatic approach, particularly in the context of shifting global dynamics. While the geopolitical context has evolved, the core principles of sovereignty, neutrality, and strategic independence remain central to Pakistan’s foreign policy. For example, Pakistan's active participation in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and its leadership role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) align with Jinnah's vision of global cooperation. In recent years, Pakistan has maintained strong ties with China, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion infrastructure and development project, which serves as a cornerstone of bilateral relations and Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China. At the same time, Pakistan has sought balanced relations with the United States and the European Union, notably through trade agreements and cooperation on security matters, without fully aligning with either. In 2023, Pakistan signed a $1.5 billion trade deal with the United States, reaffirming its pursuit of economic cooperation without compromising its autonomy. Additionally, Pakistan’s continued diplomatic engagement in peacekeeping and conflict resolution reflects Jinnah’s legacy. In recent years, Pakistan has played a pivotal role in the peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, facilitating the 2020 Doha Agreement, which aimed to bring stability to Afghanistan. This initiative underscores Pakistan's commitment to diplomacy and regional stability, further exemplifying Jinnah’s ideal of peaceful coexistence. In this way, Pakistan’s foreign policy remains firmly rooted in Jinnah’s principles of neutrality, sovereignty, and global cooperation, reflecting his enduring vision.Britain has a housing crisis. That much, everybody knows. We hear it time and time again: we don’t have enough homes. We must build and build and build. More and more parts of the country must be concreted over. In many parts of the UK this is true : supply has not kept up with demand. But – and this may surprise you – this country actually has more homes than it has households. In fact, according the 2021 census, there were 1.4 million more dwellings in England than there were households – in other words, there are more than enough properties to go round. This is true in every region. Even in London, where demand is highest, there were 250,000 more homes than households. What is going on? First, the housing crisis is one of affordability, not just availability. Just because there are lots of properties in a particular area, that does not mean they are priced within the reach of people on average (or even above average) incomes. Second, many people own more than one home: buy-to-let landlords, for example, may have dozens on their books. There is another problem that does not get the attention it needs: too many family-sized homes are being lived in by older people who, bluntly, do not need them. It is now quite normal to find younger people crammed into homes too small for their needs (in London, for example, one in six rented homes is now officially classed as overcrowded) while, at the same time and on the very same streets, others are living in large houses with many empty rooms. It is a woeful way of making the best use of the limited housing stock we have, yet politicians are too scared to talk about it. And so the situation goes on: the bedrooms that could be used to house the families desperately in need of them are instead being left empty: doors closed, heating off, moths their only inhabitants. This problem of what the experts call “under-occupancy” is particularly pronounced in homes owned by the elderly. Eighty per cent of over-65s own their own homes and, in general, they are not short on space. The average size of a property owned by someone in this age group is a spacious 110 square metres , according to experts at the London School of Economics. Yet half of them live alone. No surprise, then, that two thirds of over-65s say they have at least two spare bedrooms. As a result, 86 per cent of homes occupied by people of that age are classed as “under-occupied” – much higher than for other age groups. The fact that family-sized homes are being monopolised by older generations is one reason why we have a shortage of them. As a result, parents with children are too often having to settle for less room than they require. And this, of course, has a huge impact on their ability to have more children: a lack of space, and the unaffordability of housing, is one reason why the UK’s birth rate has plummeted to concerning levels. The market is not solving the problem, either: despite a shortage of three- and four-bedroom houses, developers make more profit cramming one and two-bedroom flats into their developments, meaning the supply of family-sized homes is failing match the demand. None of this, it should go without saying, is the fault of pensioners. They may have benefited from a housing market that is broken, but it wasn’t them that broke it. However, that does not hide the hard truth that Britain isn’t just failing to build enough new homes where they are needed – we are also not making effective use of the ones we already have. So what to do? It is a sensitive question, because nobody wants older people to feel forced to move out. And yet, if the system worked better, everybody would benefit from pensioners downsizing more often than they currently are. This is not about charity: we cannot expect over-65s to vacate the homes they have lived in, on average, for 25 years just because it might benefit somebody else. Instead, the Government needs to find ways to make sure that downsizing is works for them too. A carrot-and-stick approach is needed. First, councils need to do a better job of making sure that there are attractive homes available for older people to move into. Retirement communities, which are much more common in other parts of Europe, should be a bigger part of local plans. This could also help with the loneliness epidemic afflicting Britain’s pensioners. One in five over-65s say they frequently feel lonely – a situation not helped by so many living alone in large, mostly empty homes. Read Next Welcome to Hastings, the hidden homelessness capital of the UK Older people should also be given financial incentives to help them downsize. While some experts have called for a stamp-duty exemption for people downsizing, that would be fundamentally unfair. Why should wealthier homeowners cashing in on the house price boom have to pay less tax than first-time buyers who have sacrificed so much to scrabble together a deposit? A better option would be to give older people the option of delaying stamp duty payments so that the sum comes out of their estate when they die, rather than having to be paid when they move home. Once the incentives and help to downsize are in place, the Government should ask those not making good use of their homes to contribute more in council tax. If that seems controversial, it shouldn’t be: homes that are left empty for more than a year are already charged council tax at a premium rate – sometimes as much as four times the normal levy. There is no reason why a similar rule could not be applied to homes that are mostly empty. To avoid having to pay the tax, those living in heavily under-occupied homes could rent out rooms to people looking for somewhere to live. Older people who – very understandably – might not want to start sharing their home with strangers could be helped to look into downsizing. At the very least, the single-person discount on council tax should be abolished for those in under-occupied properties. This is not about punishing people in big homes or trying to force them to move. Nor is it about asking pensioners to make sacrifices for the benefit of young people. This is simply a case of using the tax system to encourage older people to take decisions that would benefit them too. By moving to a smaller property almost certain to cost less than the one they are selling, they will free up some of their wealth to enable them to make the most of their later years, rather than having to skimp or suffer because all their money is tied up in bricks and mortar. This, in turn, has further benefits for the welfare state, which currently spends eye-watering amounts supporting wealthy but cash-poor pensioners, via policies like the triple lock . Ultimately, wealth is wealth . The state should not have to continue subsidising those with wealth far above the average amount just so they can continue to avoid needing to bank their profits. This is a difficult and sensitive issue, which is why it has largely been ignored. But it is in everybody’s interests for Britain to begin a new conversation about downsizing. Yes, we need to build new homes far quicker than we currently are, but our housing crisis cannot be solved just by concreting over more and more of the country. We also need to look at who owns the homes we already have, and whether they are making good use of them. Too often, the answer is no. And, as politically sensitive as it may be, that needs to start to change. Ben Kentish presents his LBC show from Monday to Friday at 10pm, and is former Westminster editorgame video game 。

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MAHOMET — Minutes before she and two family members were fatally shot Wednesday night, a Mahomet woman described the man thought to be the killer in a social-media post. On am X (formerly Twitter) account where she shared occasional selfies, life updates and memes, Sara Mason, 26, posted about a man in a motorcycle helmet being outside her home the night of Wednesday, Dec. 18, less than 20 minutes before police were called to the scene. "Trying not to be scared suburban white woman about the dude waiting outside of my house for a .... While now? Wanting to speak to my brother while wearing a motorcycle helmet (drive in a car)," she posted at 9:22 p.m. Within a minute, she added, "He like left but will probably be back. Anyway." Mahomet police were called at 9:41 p.m. to the residence on Riverside Court, where they discovered Mason, who was pronounced dead at the scene; and her mother, 61-year-old Janis Mason, and brother, 23-year-old Caleb Mason, who both died a little later after being taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. It does not appear that Sara Mason recognized John R. Lyons, 24, the man police suspect in the triple homicide. Lyons fled to suburban Chicago, where he was killed in a confrontation with police in Berwyn. Champaign County court records indicate that in June, Lyons filed a lawsuit alleging Caleb Mason had harmed him in some way and requesting compensation in an amount between $15,000 and $50,000. Mahomet police Chief Mike Metzler said Lyons knew one of the victims. Police reports thus far have not included details about whether Lyons was wearing a motorcycle helmet. However, on Thursday, Dec. 19, far-right political pundit and streamer Nicholas Fuentes posted that an armed individual who arrived at his house late Wednesday night wearing a motorcycle helmet had "committed a triple homicide in southern Illinois." "Last night an armed killer made an attempt on my life at my home, which was recently doxed on this platform," Fuentes wrote. He said the killer broke into his neighbor's home in Berwyn, where police said Lyons broke in and killed two dogs while attempting to evade arrest. Fuentes posted multiple clips of footage from Ring security cameras that show a man in brown pants, a blue coat and a white motorcycle helmet who is carrying a firearm and crossbow. In the footage, the man gets out of a car while wearing a motorcycle helmet and appears to ring the doorbell and knock on the front door, then attempt to gain access through multiple entry points. The only audio in any of the clips is while the man is at the front door and apparently says "Yo, Nick." Timestamps on footage Fuentes posted indicate the events around his home in Berwyn beginning at 11:29 p.m., about one hour and 50 minutes after police were called to the home in Mahomet. About 10 minutes later, at 11:38 p.m., Berwyn police responded to a report of a man with a gun. "It is to the freedom of the people of Illinois that we are addressing this law," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said May 10, referring to the state's semiautomatic weapons ban, "their freedom to be at the Highland Park parade without getting shot and killed." Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

Orthobiologics Market Insights: CAGR of 5.7% Projected from 2023 to 2031, Reaching Over USD 10.3 Bn 12-19-2024 08:27 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: Transparency Market Research Orthobiologics Market Orthobiologics are a rapidly advancing sector within the field of medical sciences, specifically tailored to enhance the repair and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. These biological products are typically derived from natural substances found in the body and are utilized in orthopedics to accelerate the healing of injuries involving bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. With increasing advancements in biotechnology and a growing focus on personalized medicine, the orthobiologics market is experiencing robust growth. This blog post delves into the market's dynamics, segmentation, and future outlook. The orthobiologics market has grown significantly in recent years due to technological advancements and an increasing focus on regenerative medicine. These products, including demineralized bone matrix, hydroxyapatite, and growth factors, are playing a crucial role in orthopedic surgeries, sports medicine, and trauma recovery. This growth is fueled by a rising incidence of orthopedic disorders, coupled with the growing adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Unlock crucial data and key findings from our Report in this sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1747&utm_source=OpenPR_Ajay&utm_medium=OpenPR Additionally, the aging global population and the rise in sports-related injuries are significant drivers of market expansion. Orthobiologics are becoming a preferred choice among healthcare providers due to their ability to enhance recovery time and improve patient outcomes, making them indispensable in modern medicine. Competitive Landscape The orthobiologics market is characterized by intense competition among leading players, including Medtronic, DePuy Synthes, Stryker Corporation, Zimmer Biomet, and Bioventus. These companies are leveraging strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and product innovation to gain a competitive edge. Moreover, the emergence of new market entrants focusing on niche applications and innovative products is intensifying competition. Investment in research and development and expansion into emerging markets are also key strategies employed by companies to solidify their market position. Emerging Trends Advancements in biomaterials and the growing integration of technology in orthobiologics are shaping the future of the market. For instance, the use of 3D printing in creating customized implants and grafts is gaining momentum, offering improved precision and patient-specific solutions. Another noteworthy trend is the increasing focus on personalized medicine. Orthobiologics tailored to individual genetic profiles are expected to revolutionize patient care by enhancing treatment efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. Market Dynamics The orthobiologics market is influenced by several factors, including increasing healthcare expenditure, rising awareness about regenerative therapies, and advancements in biotechnology. These dynamics have created a favorable environment for the adoption of orthobiologics in orthopedic procedures. However, high costs associated with orthobiologic products and stringent regulatory requirements pose challenges to market growth. Addressing these barriers through cost-effective solutions and streamlined regulatory pathways will be critical for sustained market expansion. Opportunities and Challenges The growing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and an aging population present significant opportunities for the orthobiologics market. Emerging economies, with their expanding healthcare infrastructure, offer untapped potential for market players. On the flip side, challenges such as high product costs, limited reimbursement policies, and potential risks associated with certain orthobiologic products need to be addressed. Continued innovation and strategic collaborations will be essential to overcoming these challenges and capitalizing on market opportunities. Future Outlook The future of the orthobiologics market looks promising, with a projected CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2031. Innovations in regenerative medicine, coupled with advancements in biotechnology, are expected to drive market growth and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics into product development and treatment planning is likely to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of orthobiologics, further bolstering market growth. Review our report to gain deeper insights and understanding - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/orthobiologics-market.html Consumer Behavior Consumers are increasingly seeking minimally invasive and efficient treatment options, driving the demand for orthobiologics. The growing awareness of regenerative therapies and their benefits is influencing patient preferences and healthcare decisions. Furthermore, the shift towards value-based healthcare models emphasizes patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes, making orthobiologics a preferred choice for both patients and healthcare providers. Regional Analysis North America remains the largest market for orthobiologics, supported by a well-established healthcare infrastructure, high adoption of advanced technologies, and significant investments in research and development. The United States, in particular, leads the market due to its robust orthopedic care facilities. The Asia Pacific region, on the other hand, is emerging as a lucrative market, driven by a large patient pool, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing awareness about advanced orthopedic treatments. Countries like China and India are expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. Explore Latest Research Reports by Transparency Market Research: Surgical Staplers Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-staplers-market.html Spinal Implants Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/spinal-implants-market.html Pediatric Medical Devices Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pediatric-medical-devices-market.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact: Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn| Twitter| Blog | YouTube This release was published on openPR.

Unlock Superior Visibility With 5′′ Side Shooter Light Pods: The Ultimate Guide To Automotive LightingAt least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank around the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including three people it said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a second somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Tuesday. The ministry reported three of the dead were killed by airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. An Associated Press photojournalist captured images of Israeli forces detonating an explosive device planted by Palestinian militants during a raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Israel has carried out several large-scale raids in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. While airstrikes were once rare in the West Bank, they have grown more common since the outbreak of war as Israeli forces clamp down, saying they aim to prevent attacks on their citizens. Israeli fire has killed at least 800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, Palestinian health officials say. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. SAYDNAYA, Syria — A large crowd of Syrians gathered near a historic monastery in Saydnaya on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights. Tuesday's celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and an infamous prison , where tens of thousands were held. Families and friends stood beneath the illuminated tree — some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops — while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky “This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee. Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed hope for unity across all sects and religions in Syria, dismissing recent Christmas tree vandalism as “isolated incidents.” Earlier in the afternoon, pilgrims visited the historic Our Lady of Saydnaya Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, believed to be built in the sixth century. In Homs, a similarly grand Christmas tree was illuminated as security officers patrolled the area to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering, according to Syria’s state media. UNITED NATIONS -- Recent attacks on hospitals in North Gaza, where Israel is carrying out an offensive, are having a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians still in the area, the U.N. humanitarian office says. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern at reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital on Tuesday, forcing its evacuation. The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, also expressed deep concern at attacks reported in recent days in and around the two other hospitals in North Gaza that are minimally functioning – Al Awda and Kamal Adwan. OCHA said the Israeli siege on Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and parts of Jaballiya in North Gaza continued for a 79th day on Tuesday, and while the U.N. and its partners have made 52 attempts to coordinate humanitarian access to besieged areas in December 48 were rejected by Israel. While four missions were approved, OCHA said the U.N. and its partners faced impediments as a result of Israeli military operations and “none of the U.N.-coordinated attempts to access the area have been fully facilitated.” Throughout the Gaza Strip, OCHA said that Israeli authorities facilitated just 40% of requests for humanitarian movements requiring their approval in December. WASHINGTON — A leading global food crisis monitor says deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in north Gaza as soon as next month. The U.S.-created Famine Early Warning System Network says that’s because of a near-total Israeli blockade of food and other aid in that part of Gaza. The finding, however, appears to have exposed a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputes part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calls the intensified famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn recent missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and to condemn the group's Iranian allies for allegedly providing the group with weapons. Gideon Saar said in a letter Tuesday to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council presidency this month, that the Houthis are violating international law and council resolutions. “This Iranian-backed terrorist group continues to endanger Israel’s and other nations’ security, as well as the freedom of maritime navigation, in flagrant violation of international law,” Saar said. “All of this malign activity is done as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.” The U.S. Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to an email asking when the council meeting will be held. The Houthis have said they launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – and on Israel -- with the aim of ending Israel’s devastating air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war in Gaza followed Hamas’ deadly October 2023 attacks in southern Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military investigation has concluded that the presence of troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths of six hostages killed by their Hamas captors in Gaza. The hostages' bodies were discovered in a tunnel in late August, an event that shook Israel and sparked some of the largest anti-war protests since the war began. The investigation found that the six hostages were killed by multiple gunshots from their captors after surviving for nearly 330 days. The Israeli military’s “ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists’ decision to murder the six hostages,” the report found. According to the investigation, the Israeli military began operating in the area where the hostages were being held in southern Gaza about two weeks before their discovery, under the assumption that the chances of hostages in the area was medium to low. On August 27, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was found alone in a tunnel , causing the Israeli military to halt operations for 24 hours to determine if there could be other hostages in the area. The military discovered the opening leading to the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were located on August 30. A pathological report estimated the six hostages were killed on August 29. The six hostages killed were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin , whose American-Israeli parents became some of the most recognized spokespeople pleading for the hostages’ release, including addressing the Democratic National Convention days before their son’s killing. “The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal,” the Hostages Families Forum said in response to the investigation. “Every passing moment puts the hostages’ lives in immediate danger.” JERUSALEM — The Israeli negotiating team working on a ceasefire returned from Qatar to Israel on Tuesday, the prime minister’s office said, after what it called “a significant week” of talks. After months of deadlock, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to reach a deal. According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the proposed agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages, over one-third of whom are believed to be dead. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “some progress” in efforts to reach a deal, but added he did not know how long it would take. CAIRO — Israeli soldiers took control of a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday. Some of the patients had to walk to another hospital while others were driven by paramedics, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi. He did not specify how many patients had evacuated. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. The army later said its soldiers had left the hospital. The military said it had assisted with evacuating the patients and had not ordered the hospital closed. However, al-Wahidi said only one doctor and maintenance person were left behind. The Indonesian Hospital is one of three hospitals left largely inaccessible in the northernmost part of Gaza because Israel has imposed a tight siege there since launching an offensive in early October. The Israeli army said Tuesday’s operation at the Indonesian Hospital came after militants carried out attacks from the hospital for the past month, including launching anti-tank missiles and planting explosive devices in the surrounding area. The Health Ministry accused Israel of “besieging and directly targeting” the three hospitals in northern Gaza. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said Israeli drones detonated explosives near the hospital and that 20 people were wounded, including five medical staff. The Israeli military declined to comment on the operation around the hospital. DAMASCUS — Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. Many of the insurgents who now rule Syria are jihadis, although Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and spent years depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. It remains unclear who set the Christmas tree on fire Monday, which was condemned by a representative of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community. “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations," the HTS representative said in a video widely shared on social media. "The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.” On Tuesday, protesters marched through the streets of Bab Touma in Damascus, shouting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses. “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country,” said Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church as he addressed the crowd in a church courtyard, assuring them of Christians’ rights in Syria. Since HTS led a swift offensive that overthrew President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Syria’s minority communities have been on edge, uncertain of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government. “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation,” another protester said. “We stand united — Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.” DOHA — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza were ongoing in Doha in cooperation with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators. “We will not leave any door unopened in pursuit of reaching an agreement,” said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. Al Ansari added that rumors the ceasefire would be reached before Christmas are “speculation.” The ceasefire negotiations come at a time when winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. Families of the approximately 100 hostages who have been held for 445 days in Gaza are also worried their loved ones will not survive another winter. In a press conference, al-Ansari also called on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria as quickly as possible on Tuesday. “The reason was the crimes of the previous regime, and that regime, with all of its authority, is no longer in place, therefor the causes for these sanctions no longer exist today,” he said. DAMASCUS, Syria — American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group. Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead. Zakka told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive. Zakka said he believes Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating. Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip. Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, although he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. TEL AVIV, Israel — Hannah Katzir, an Israeli woman who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and freed in a brief ceasefire last year, has died. She was 78. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families of people taken captive, confirmed the death Tuesday but did not disclose the cause. Her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement that her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since Oct. 7.” Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the attack by militants who raided their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son Elad was also kidnapped and his body was recovered in April by the Israeli military, who said he had been killed in captivity. She spent 49 days in captivity and was freed in late November 2023. Shortly after Katzir was freed, her daughter told Israeli media that she had been hospitalized with heart issues attributed to “difficult conditions and starvation” while she was held captive. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said the projectile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, but it set off air raid sirens overnight in the country's populous central area, sending residents looking for cover. Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said a 60-year-old woman was seriously wounded after being hurt on her way to a protected space. There was no immediate comment from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third time in a week that fire from Yemen set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile slammed into a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16, after Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept it. Earlier last week, Israeli jets struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city, killing nine. Israel said the strikes were in response to previous Houthi attacks.

Middle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 PalestiniansKyle Fellers, one of the Bow parents suing the school district over its handling of a silent protest against transgender girls in sports, described gender inclusion policies that infringe on female protections in educational settings as an effort to “appease a mentally ill cult.” “A cult in my mind is a group of individuals who quash any type of dissent on their beliefs,” Fellers said in court on Thursday. “I have the right to believe they are biological males.” His comments came during testimony in federal court in Concord Thursday in a case that centers on First Amendment rights to free speech and expression. Fellers, along with Anthony and Nicole Foote, and Eldon Rash, a family member of Fellers, filed the lawsuit after a protest at a Bow High School girls’ soccer game against Plymouth Regional High School on Sept 17. During the game, the group wore pink armbands marked with “XX,” a reference to the chromosomes associated with biological females, to signal their opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports. A transgender girl was playing for the Plymouth team that day. Bow police confronted the demonstrators and after the game, Fellers and Foote were issued no trespass orders, accusing them of violating district policies against bullying and harassment. Fellers in court said his concerns are limited to transgender participation in sports and do not extend to broader issues involving transgender individuals. Brian Cullen, the school district’s attorney, presented emails in court to argue that wearing the pink armbands was not just about supporting women’s sports but also carried an anti-transgender message. “No one other than the United States transgender mob supports boys playing on girls’ sports teams,” Foote wrote in another email, dated Aug. 23, to Jay Vogt, the Bow girls’ varsity soccer coach. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess While the no-trespass orders have been lifted, the group of Bow parents said they want to be able to wear the pink armbands at all school and athletic events — not just girls’ soccer games — to show support for women’s sports, without facing penalties from the Bow School District. The Bow School District maintains that wearing those armbands violates its policy and is considered harassment of transgender students, including transgender girls who participate in girls’ sports. “Wearing XX wristbands, we believe it violates school policy and doesn’t comply with Title IX,” said Cullen, an attorney for the school district. “The school’s position is if they come to games with the bands, we will ask them to take off.” Del Kolde, an attorney from the Institute of Free Speech Attorneys representing the parents pushed back. “They call what my clients did as harassment,” said Kolde “We don’t call it harassment. We call this legal passive speech.”

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No compromise on nuclear programme: PM Pakistan believes in constructive and productive dialogue to promote principles of democracy, says FO ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, terming the imposition of US sanctions on the National Defence Complex (NDC) and other entities as unjustified, on Tuesday maintained that there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Addressing the federal cabinet, the prime minister maintained that there was no justification for imposition of sanctions on the NDC and other entities as Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country. He said that Pakistan has no intentions for aggressive use of the nuclear programme rather it is deterrence, and meant for defence of the country and nothing else. “This is only for defence of the country if God forbids there is any aggression against Pakistan,” he said. He also made it clear that not only he himself and the federal cabinet owns the nuclear programme but it also belongs to 240 million people of the country which is dearer to them and close to their heart. “The whole nation is focused and united on country’s nuclear programme,” the prime minister reiterated. Meanwhile, Foreign Office stated in very clear terms that it is fully committed to fulfilling all its international human rights obligations and explained that the recent military court verdicts have been made under a law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan and in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Foreign Office was reacting to comments from the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States who in their reactions had criticised the military courts trials and verdicts, as ones which lacked transparency and were inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). “Pakistan’s legal system is consistent with international human rights law including provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It has remedies of judicial review by the superior courts and guarantees promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” explained the Foreign Office. Last Saturday the DG ISPR had announced the sentencing of 25 civilians by military courts to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with attacks on military facilities on May 9, 2023. It had called the verdicts a milestone in dispensation of justice to the nation. The reaction of the Foreign Office was mainly directed at the European Union which under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), offers “special trade incentives and grants Pakistan zero-rated or preferential tariffs on nearly 665 of tariffs lines, enhancing the country’s ability to export to EU markets”. Reaching out to the EU, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan believes in constructive and productive dialogue to promote principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. “We remain fully committed to implementing our commitments under the GSP Plus Scheme and core international human rights conventions,” it added. The EU in reaction to the military trials and verdicts of civilians had reminded Pakistan that said “in line with Article 14 of ICCPR every person is entitled to a fair and public trial in a court that is independent, impartial and competent, and has the right to adequate and effective legal representation”. It reminded Pakistan that the EU’s GSP+ beneficiary countries, including Pakistan, have voluntarily agreed to implement effectively 27 international core conventions - including the ICCPR - in order to continue benefiting from GSP+ status. The Foreign Office also stated that it was reaching out to its other international partners including the EU and assured to uphold the international human rights law, without any discrimination and double standards.