Israeli military recovers body of Thai hostage held in Gaza since October 7 attack
The Israeli military has retrieved the body of Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, who had been held in Gaza since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday.Pinta's body was held by a Palestinian militant group called the Mujahedeen Brigades, and was retrieved from the area of Rafah in southern Gaza, Katz said. His family in Thailand has been notified.advertisementPinta, an agricultural worker, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the border, where one in four people was killed or taken hostage during the Hamas-led 2023 attack that triggered the devastating war in Gaza.
The Israeli military said Pinta had been abducted alive and killed by his captors, who had also killed and taken to Gaza the bodies of two more Israeli-American hostages that were retrieved this week.There was no immediate comment from the militant group.Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in the 2023 attack, Israel's deadliest day, and took 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza. Twenty hostages are believed to still be alive, according to Israeli authorities.Israel responded to the Hamas attacks with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities in the Hamas-run strip, and left much of the enclave in ruins, with a population of more than 2 million people largely displaced.Must Watch
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Sanjeev Arora replaced ‘dabangai' with devp-oriented governance'
Ludhiana: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president Aman Arora on Saturday said that the party's candidate from Ludhiana (West) Assembly constituency, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, had ushered in a new era by replacing "Dabangai kind of politics" with development-centric governance. Addressing an election meeting at Sarabha Nagar, Aman Arora described Saneev Arora as a refined, honest, and soft-spoken politician. "His campaign is being conducted in a smooth, positive, and people-friendly manner. I am confident that the results will be in his favour," he said, commending Sanjeev for executing significant development works over the last three years. Highlighting the "pro-people" and "pro-industry" approach of the AAP-led Punjab government, Aman Arora said, "Our govt is ensuring the welfare of all sections of society. The policies are entirely people and industry-centric, and the positive outcomes are clearly visible." Urging citizens to exercise their franchise on June 19, he said, "Every vote cast will strengthen Ludhiana's development journey. I also appeal to residents to plan their vacations either before or after polling day to fulfil their civic responsibility." MP Sanjeev Arora said that he had learned a lot from AAP, which was working for his campaign as one family. He acknowledged the dedicated efforts of MPs, MLAs, councillors, and volunteers in his campaign. "Such unity is not only commendable but should also be reflected within our families," he said. Arora reiterated his commitment to public welfare, saying that he had worked "happily" over the last three years and would work with even more responsibility if elected. "Every vote matters. Your support will be a mark of your trust and a symbol of our unity," he said. Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, Sunil Modi and Arun Sharma were also present at the meeting. Sanjeev Arora also visited Sikh kirtan singer Bhai Harjinder Singh in BRS Nagar and congratulated him on being awarded the Padma Shri. Arora was accompanied by his wife, Sandhya and son, Kavya. MSID:: 121694205 413 |
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Thousands of demonstrators march through Rome, calling for immediate end to war in Gaza
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday (June 7, 2025) against the war in Gaza in a protest called by Italy's main opposition parties, who accuse the right-wing government of being too silent. Protesters held a banner reading 'Stop the massacre, stop complicity!' at the start of the march, which moved peacefully through the center of Rome amid a massive display of rainbow, Palestinian and political party flags. The protest attracted a diverse crowd from across the country, including many families with children. According to organisers, up to 300,000 people participated in the rally organized by the leftist opposition to ask the government for a clear position on the conflict in Gaza. Also Read | Netanyahu says Israel has 'activated' some Palestinian clans opposed to Hamas 'This is an an enormous popular response to say enough to the massacre of Palestinians and the crimes of (Israeli leader Benjamin) Netanyahu's government,' the leader of Italy's center-left Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, told reporters at the march. 'There is another Italy that doesn't remain silent as the Meloni government does,' she said, referring to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni was recently pushed by the opposition to publicly condemn Mr Netanyahu's offensive in Gaza, but many observers considered her criticism too timid. Also Read | Recognising Palestinian state now would send 'wrong signal': Germany '(The Italian government) is not reacting despite an abnormal massacre, despite an absolutely cruel and inappropriate reaction. The (Italian) government remains silent,' said Nadin Unali, a Tunisian demonstrator at the march. Earlier this week, the Italian premier urged Israel to immediately halt its military campaign in Gaza, saying its attacks had grown disproportionately and should be brought to an end to protect civilians. Israel faces mounting international criticism for its offensive and pressure to let aid into Gaza during a humanitarian crisis. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, with experts warning that many of its 2 million residents are at high risk of famine. The war broke out on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages. They are still holding 56 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive. Since then, Israel has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians in its military campaign, primarily women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Delhi Hardlook: Six months, weekend camps— How scheme to grant ownership in city's unauthorised colonies turned around
'It is a very lengthy process. Log chakkar laga laga ke thak jaate hai (people get tired going again and again to the centres),' says Rajinder Bhola, a resident of Khirki Extension in South Delhi. Bhola was referring to the Centre's ambitious plan to grant property ownership rights in unauthorised colonies, like Khirki, in Delhi. Six years after its launch, the plan had largely flown under the radar, drawing only lukewarm interest. The last six months, however, have sparked new momentum — there has been a surge in the number of applications finally getting the green light. As many as 5,372 residents of unauthorised colonies have got ownership rights to their residences between November 30, 2024, and March 30, 2025, under the PM-UDAY (Pradhan Mantri-Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana); this is out of 5,441 applications received by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) during this period, according to officials in the Lieutenant Governor's office. The DDA had set up single-window camps, where residents could access the registration process at a single location, with officials to assist them. The Indian Express looks at the status of the scheme and what's been holding it back. Tackling unplanned housing Unauthorised colonies are unplanned settlements that have come up in the national capital as a response to a lack of affordable housing and a burgeoning population. These settlements sprout by encroaching on government land or land earmarked for purposes other than residential. Residents of these colonies, thus, don't own the land on which they live. 'These colonies suffer from other inherent problems of haphazard growth, lack of public amenities and social infrastructure, unsafe structures and unhygienic conditions,' according to the DDA. The solution to this was regularisation, which would lead to better provisioning of utilities in unauthorised colonies. Conferring ownership rights on residents will also enable them to transfer and take bank loans against their properties. While Delhi has seen several waves of regularisation of unauthorised colonies since 1961, the process had been halted since 1993. For at least two decades, it has been a long-standing political issue with all political parties promising regularisation. Ahead of the 2020 Delhi elections, the central government announced the launch of PM-UDAY to regularise 1,731 unauthorised colonies; DDA was the nodal agency to implement the scheme. This was different from past attempts at regularisation under which the Delhi government was to coordinate the whole process. The Aam Aadmi Party was in power in Delhi when the BJP-led central government launched PM-UDAY. While details on the exact number of unauthorised colonies and their residents are unavailable, about 50 lakh people stood to benefit from the regularisation of 1,731 colonies. 'Further, conferment of rights opens up a huge possibility of redevelopment,' the DDA said, explaining that it will come out with relaxed development norms in these areas, which will allow builders more built-up area (increase FAR), leading to new development like parks and roads. 'A vision to give ownership rights and ensure that residents of the unauthorised colonies live a life of dignity. A dream to own, a dream for quality life with parks, playgrounds and community facilities. A dream for development,' the DDA website promised to residents. Six years after the scheme was launched in 2019, as of May 24, only 33,299 people have obtained legal ownership rights out of the 1.31 lakh who applied for it, according to a portal on DDA's website. What is behind the slow response? Many have cited the lengthy and complex application procedure as one of the major hurdles. The digital divide is another reason, officials from the L-G office noted. 'The online application process has posed challenges for low-income residents with limited digital literacy or inadequate access to the internet,' an official said. Hiccups & solutions Most owners of houses in unauthorised colonies have a General Power of Attorney (GPA), which is no longer considered a legal ownership document after the Supreme Court in 2019 held that GPAs are not valid modes of property transfer. To get legal ownership of their homes under the PM-UDAY, residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi first need to: – Register on the DDA portal or app and enter details about themselves and their property. – Next, they must contact a listed agency to conduct a GIS survey (a digital measurement of their property) and collect important documents like old sale agreements, electricity bills, Aadhaar card, etc. – They also have to fill out and notarise two legal forms, called indemnity bonds, and a declaration confirming ownership. – After submitting all documents online, DDA officials visit the home to verify claims. – If the application is approved, the resident pays a fee and then signs a final document called a Conveyance Deed (if the land is private) or an Authorisation Slip (if the land is government-owned). – This document, once registered at the local sub-registrar's office, legally proves that the resident owns the property. Sukrit Nagpal, a consultant at the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) who has studied the scheme extensively through fieldwork, says, 'PM-UDAY is a fairly progressive scheme. But DDA should take into account who the scheme is for: the target population comes from extremely heterogeneous backgrounds and has differential capabilities of navigating complex online systems.' Out of the 1.31 lakh who have applied since 2019, around 54,916 applications are pending, indicating that applicants may not have the technological know-how to receive and act on the deficiency memos sent by the DDA. 'The process of applying is very difficult: it's nearly impossible for an average resident to complete the process on their own. Even if they manage to apply, the DDA might respond by notifying them of errors. These notifications are difficult to address and are usually sent via email and SMS, which people often lack the capacity to respond to,' says Nagpal. 'This is where private players enter.' Ranging from property dealers to cyber cafe owners, these private players act as brokers and fixers, helping residents through the online process of registering and applying for conveyance deeds or authorisation slips. 'But these middlemen often disclose additional costs to the residents as the process unfolds and, therefore, end up charging much more than what was initially suggested…,' adds Nagpal. The L-G Office official also notes that the perceived cost burden is yet another reason behind the low response. The cost to regularise a property in unauthorised colonies depends on several factors: the size, whether it's built-up or vacant, the type of land (public or private), and the prevailing circle rate (the government's minimum property valuation). 'Besides, the absence of a fixed timeline or sunset clause for submitting replies to deficiencies has resulted in a lack of urgency among residents of unauthorised colonies to secure ownership rights,' according to L-G Office officials. One more reason is also the perceived tenure security of some residents. Over time, many of these colonies have seen a generational shift. Newer buyers and tenants are often unaware of the history of efforts by first-generation residents for ownership rights, hence, the fear of eviction in many of these settlements is relatively low, notes Nagpal, in his research with Smriti Singh and Sonal Sharma. 'Over the years, residents have begun to feel that the government won't take any action due to the large number of people living in these colonies,' officials have previously told The Indian Express. Lack of awareness among residents about the scheme's benefits is also one of the reasons behind the dismal numbers. 'Delhi has seen several waves of regularisation, but not much has changed in those colonies. That is also one reason why people may not be enthusiastic about the scheme,' says Nagpal. 'You need to now sell this as a bundle of plans that are time-bound: people will have to be told what will realistically change in their lives due to this scheme, such as layout approvals, basic services, and infrastructure,' he adds. Khirki resident Bhola agrees. 'The solution to all this is that the government says that at a single location, we take the responsibility to help you with applications.' And that is exactly what happened over the last six months. From November last year, L-G V K Saxena, who is also the DDA Chairperson, directed the Authority to hold camps in unauthorised colonies over weekends to fast-track registration and disposal of applications. These camps, which had a single-window clearance mode with facilitation for documentation, uploading documentation, scrutiny, notarisation, and other ancillary activities, were held between November and March. As many as 45,591 people attended the camps, and 5,441 applications were received during this period, out of which 5,372 conveyance deeds or authorisation slips were issued. 'The PM-UDAY single-window camps have effectively addressed many of the key concerns — playing a significant role in driving the scheme's positive outcomes,' an official from the L-G Office says. 'The L-G personally monitored the camps every week. Considering the positive response, we are going to restart these camps,' he adds. Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
