'Hamas must leave Gaza, Oct 7 attack on Israel reprehensible': Palestinian Authority Prez Abbas
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Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Netanyahu in 'profound shock' after Hamas video of Israeli hostage digging own grave
As the war in Gaza rages on, Palestinian militant group Hamas has released a video of the remaining hostages in its captivity. The new hostage video has reportedly left Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 'profound shock.' In one of the videos, Israeli hostage Evyatar David tells the camera that he is 'digging his own grave.'(AFP/Reuters) In a statement from Netanyahu's office, the Israeli PM stated he had spoken to the families of the two hostages - Rom Braslavski and Evyatar Davi - shown in the video. The Israeli PM "told the families that the efforts to return all our hostages are ongoing", the statement from his office added. Over the past few days, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have released three videos showing two hostages, who were captured during the October 7, 2023. attack on Israel. In the videos, hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David are seen as Hamas leaders continue to hold them in captivity in underground tunnels. The videos have also fuelled renewed calls to reach a truce and hostage release deal without delay. Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people had rallied in the coastal hub of Tel Aviv to urge Netanyahu's government to secure the release of the remaining captives. 'Time if running out' In the clips shared by the Palestinian Islamist groups, 21-year-old Braslavski, a German-Israeli dual national, and 24-year-old David both appear weak and malnourished. In one of the videos, Israeli hostage Evyatar David tells the camera that he is 'digging his own grave.' "What I'm doing now is digging my own grave. Every day my body becomes weaker and weaker. I'm walking directly to my grave. There is the grave where I am going to be buried in. Time is running out to be released and be able to sleep in my bed with my family." David is heard saying in the video released by Hamas as the 24-year-old breaks down at the end of the statement. "The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. He is being starved purely to serve Hamas's propaganda," read a statement issued by David's family as protests took over Israel over the Netanyahu government's delayed response to a hostage deal. The images and videos of the hostages made the frontpages of Israeli newspapers. Maariv showcased the "hell in Gaza" and Yedioth Ahronoth showing a "malnourished, emaciated and desperate" David. Left-leaning Haaretz declared that "Netanyahu is in no rush" to rescue the captives, echoing claims by critics and protestors across the state that the war has been prolonged for Bibi's political agenda. France, EU condemn videos The videos released by Hamas have drawn global criticism towards the treatment of the hostages as well as the ongoing famine situation in the Gaza Strip. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the images "are appalling and expose the barbarity of Hamas", calling for the release of "all hostages... immediately and unconditionally". In the same post on X, Kallas said that "Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza." France, which earned backlash for its move to recognise Palestine, has also condemned the videos. "Despicable, unbearable images of the Israeli hostages held for 666 days in Gaza by Hamas. They must be freed, without conditions," wrote French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Sunday, adding that 'Hamas must be disarmed and excluded from ruling Gaza.' 60,000 killed in Gaza The Hamas attack of 2023 in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people. Following the attack, Hamas attackers took around 250 hostages. Of these, 49 hostages are still being held in Gaza. However, as per the Israeli military, 27 are feared dead. Around 100 to 150 hostages were released during the truce pauses in November 2024 and earlier this year. Meanwhile, Israel's onslaught across the Gaza Strip has killed around 60,000 Palestinians. Of this, a majority of the death toll has been attributed to women and children.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elite colleges under pressure: Trump wields federal funding to redefine academic autonomy
US President Donald Trump In an unprecedented reconfiguration of the relationship between higher education and the federal government, several of the United States' most prestigious universities have capitulated, some quietly, others under public scrutiny—to the hardball tactics of President Donald Trump's administration. Under threat of losing billions in federal research funding, elite institutions have agreed to sweeping concessions, financial penalties, and ideological alignment with a White House intent on recasting academia in its own image. At the heart of the confrontation is the administration's aggressive use of funding as leverage. Research dollars—historically doled out based on academic merit—are now weaponized to coerce ideological compliance. In a departure from past presidential norms, Trump has fused his political agenda with federal purse strings, tying grants to reforms in campus speech, gender definitions, diversity policy, and even interpretations of antisemitism. The Columbia precedent Columbia University was the first to yield. On July 23, the Ivy League institution agreed to pay a staggering $200 million fine to the U.S. Treasury in exchange for reinstatement of suspended research grants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Susan Boyle Is Now so Thin and Looks Beautiful! Undo Over $400 million in federal funding had been pulled earlier in the year, largely due to the administration's claim that Columbia failed to adequately address antisemitic incidents during the Israel-Hamas war. In its agreement, Columbia consented to overhauls of its student disciplinary protocols and formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a controversial benchmark critics say conflates political criticism of Israel with hate speech. Additionally, the university committed $21 million to a compensation fund for faculty and staff who alleged discrimination. Yet, even in compromise, Columbia drew a line in the sand: the deal includes language asserting that the federal government cannot dictate its hiring, admissions, or academic speech. For Trump officials, however, the Columbia deal serves as a 'road map' for future enforcement, a blueprint of how universities might 'come to heel.' Brown and Penn : Ideological bargains Brown University followed with a $50 million payment directed not to federal coffers but to Rhode Island's workforce development programs—an unusual stipulation reflecting the administration's local economic messaging. In exchange, the government lifted funding freezes and ended probes into alleged antisemitism and racial bias in admissions. As part of the settlement, Brown agreed to remove race as a consideration in admissions and adopt the administration's binary definitions of gender. The University of Pennsylvania reached its own compromise, agreeing to retroactively disqualify swimming records set by transgender athlete Lia Thomas and issue a formal apology to female swimmers the administration argued had been disadvantaged. The Education Department had linked this civil rights case to a broader effort to ban transgender athletes from women's sports, resulting in a $175 million freeze in Penn's research funding prior to the agreement. Like Columbia's and Brown's, Penn's agreement included a clause preserving curricular independence, but the impact of the federal intrusion had already left its mark. The Holdouts: Harvard , Cornell , and beyond Not all institutions have acquiesced. Harvard University, long a symbolic adversary of Trump's populist conservatism, faces the largest penalty yet: a freeze on more than $2.6 billion in federal research support. The administration has accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism and enabling ideological extremism—charges the university disputes through multiple lawsuits. Negotiations continue, but administration officials have reportedly demanded a penalty surpassing Columbia's. For Harvard, the stakes are not only financial but existential: ceding to such terms may compromise the academic autonomy it has zealously guarded for nearly four centuries. Cornell University, Northwestern, and Duke have likewise seen vast sums—ranging from $108 million at Duke to over $1 billion at Cornell—frozen amid allegations of civil rights violations, racial preferences in hiring, and insufficient protection for Jewish students. In Princeton's case, dozens of federal research grants were suspended without any explicit reasoning—underscoring the unpredictability and opacity of the administration's tactics. A presidency reshaping academia Trump's strategic targeting of elite universities reflects a broader ideological crusade. He has painted Ivy League institutions as bastions of liberal dogma, harboring what his administration sees as anti-American, antisemitic, and discriminatory practices. Unlike any of his predecessors, Trump is using federal funding as both cudgel and carrot—punishing noncompliance while rewarding universities that align with his ideological framework. Critics argue this is a dangerous politicization of education, undermining the intellectual independence and open inquiry that universities are meant to protect. Supporters counter that it's long overdue corrective action against institutions they view as detached from public values. What is undeniable is the chilling effect: colleges across the country now operate under the specter of federal scrutiny, where the cost of defiance is measured not only in dollars but in compromised autonomy. Autonomy at a price These developments mark a watershed moment in American higher education. The Trump administration's wielding of federal research dollars as a means of ideological enforcement has redrawn the contours of university-government relations. Institutions once thought untouchable now find themselves making fraught calculations, balancing their principles against existential financial risk. For elite colleges, the question is no longer just about academic excellence—it is about whether independence can survive in an era where funding is contingent upon political fealty. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
F-35, Su-57 Or AMCA: Which Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft Will Help India Fly Higher & Better?
The Indian Air Force currently operates a variety of fighter jets, including the Russian-origin Su-30MKI, French Rafale, indigenous Tejas, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar India's need for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft has sparked ongoing speculation for several months as the nation weighs its options amid a complex geopolitical landscape. With its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) still years away from operational readiness, expectations are turning toward potential acquisitions from foreign manufacturers. Only two viable contenders are practically available: the American F-35 Lightning II and Russia's Su-57 Felon. Yet, despite the buzz, neither the Indian government nor defence analysts have signalled a clear preference, leaving the future of this critical procurement uncertain. Given recent developments in trade between India and the US, reports suggest India has conveyed decision on the F-35 to the US. However, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, recently clarified in Parliament that 'no formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue" concerning the F-35. He referred to the India-US Joint Statement from February 2025, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Trump, in which the US agreed to 'undertake a review of its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighters (such as the F-35) and undersea systems to India." However, this was only a policy review, and no proposal or negotiation has been initiated between the two nations. The offer from the United States to potentially supply F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters has been a headline-grabbing development since its inception, but an analysis of India's defence ecosystem, technical realities, and indigenous ambitions shows why this deal is unlikely to materialize soon. Speaking on the current scenario, Dinakar Peri, Fellow, Security Studies at Carnegie India says, 'While the lack of a fifth generation fighter jet is going to be a glaring gap in the IAF for the near term, the choice of importing a FGFA in small numbers is a hard one to make. The indigenous AMCA is just taking off in development terms and is about a decade away. Another interim buy may take resources and time away from the crucial programme." Why Not F35? The Indian Air Force currently operates a variety of fighter jets, including the Russian-origin Su-30MKI, French Rafale, indigenous Tejas, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar. Over the past few years, India has created an ecosystem supporting these fighters, with advantages in desired integration, interoperability, availability of expert crew, and maintenance facilities. 'When selecting an aircraft, it's not just about acquiring a platform that can fly. You must consider its compatibility with your operational needs—whether it can integrate with existing systems, communicate effectively with other platforms, and support your current weapons and infrastructure. The F-35 introduces a completely new ecosystem with predominantly American systems, which may limit flexibility and pose challenges for existing systems," said a senior Indian Air Force fighter pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity. Dinakar Peri says, 'The F-35 is the cutting edge of stealth and military aviation. However, that necessarily doesn't mean it is the best bet for India for a variety of reasons. India doesn't have the US fighter ecosystem and going through the curve will be a long curve." 'A more pertinent aspect is how much the US wants the F35 to be integrated into India's military ecosystem which has high-end Russian systems like SU-30MKIs, S-400 air defence systems in addition to French and Israeli system among others. Without seamless integration, the F35 cannot become an effective platform that it's envisaged to be, nor can the aircraft itself be fully exploited to its full potential," he added. Su-57 As An Option Many consider the Russian Su-57 a viable option given the circumstances surrounding the F-35. However, this option comes with its own challenges. Along with the fear of sanctions and political pressure, there are sufficient reasons to believe that deliveries will be delayed, and the jet may not fully serve its intended purpose. While the Su-57 offers benefits like technology transfer and easier integration given India's existing Russian aircraft ecosystem, its issues—delayed production, sanctions risks, past technological concerns, payment hurdles, and alignment complexities— bring challenges. Wait For AMCA Following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's approval, public and private sector companies can collaborate to execute India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. While development is progressing rapidly, the prototype is not expected before 2027-28. DRDO officials have indicated that the aircraft's induction will likely occur no earlier than 2036. This timeline exacerbates the existing shortage of fighter jets in the Indian Air Force. Consequently, experts suggest inducting 4th Generation Plus (4Gen+) aircraft to bridge the gap until the AMCA is operational. top videos View all Dinkar Peri, talking on the way out, says 'The real crisis in the IAF today is shortage of fighters, 4th gen plus, and the numbers are set to go down further. The primary focus should be on ramping up the LCA production and the MRFA that are meant to address this." Indian Air Force currently operates 30-31 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. While there were expectations that the LCA Mk1A and Mk2 would help bridge this gap, delays in their delivery have hindered progress. With adversaries like China and Pakistan accelerating their aircraft production and inductions, the geopolitical scenario pushes the urgency to address this shortfall which experts believe is very important to focus on. About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fighter jets India Air Force news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 03, 2025, 15:53 IST News india F-35, Su-57 Or AMCA: Which Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft Will Help India Fly Higher & Better? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
