India orders safety audit of tunnels after collapse in Himalayas - CNA

NHAI officials along with others from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will inspect ongoing tunnel projects and submit a report in seven days, it added.

These would include 12 tunnels in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, six in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and the rest in other states including Uttarakhand.

CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT

The collapsed tunnel is located on the Char Dham pilgrimage route, one of the most ambitious projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

It aims to connect four important Hindu pilgrimage sites of North India through 890km of a two-lane road being built at a cost of US$1.5 billion.

Environmentalists and residents have blamed rapid construction, including work on the Char Dham project, for land subsidence incidents in the region.

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2023-11-22 14:04:00Z
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Hamas, Israel agree to deal for release of 50 hostages in exchange for 4-day truce - The Straits Times

Qatar’s chief negotiator, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, told Reuters the truce meant there would be “no attack whatsoever. No military movements, no expansion, nothing”.

Qatar hopes the deal “will be a seed to a bigger agreement and a permanent cease of fire, and that’s our intention”, he said.

There was no let-up in fighting, pending the start of the truce.

As morning broke on Nov 22, smoke from explosions could be seen rising above northern Gaza in live Reuters video from across the fence.

Israel’s military released footage of soldiers shooting in narrow alleyways and said it had carried out air strikes. It said its “forces continue to operate within the Strip’s territory to destroy terrorist infrastructure, eliminate terrorists and locate weaponry”.

At least 14,000 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory action. About two-thirds of the coastal enclave’s 2.3 million people are homeless.

Both Israel and Hamas said the truce would not halt their broader missions.

“We are at war, and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals. To destroy Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said in a recorded message.

Hamas said in its statement: “As we announce the striking of a truce agreement, we affirm that our fingers remain on the trigger, and our victorious fighters will remain on the look-out to defend our people and defeat the occupation.”

Still, there was some hope of a step towards broader peace.

“We hope the truce will happen, and there will be good solutions, and we hope people will live peacefully, return to their homes and workplaces with stability,” said Mr Abu Jihad Shameya, who fled from northern Gaza and had taken refuge in the main southern city Khan Younis.

“May God not prolong this hardship,” he said.

Release to begin on Thursday

US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the deal.

“Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released,” he said in a statement.

Three Americans, including a three-year-old girl whose parents were among those killed during the Oct 7 attack, are expected to be among the hostages to be released, a senior US official said.

In addition to Israeli citizens, more than half the hostages hold foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries. These include Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina and Chile, Israel’s government has said.

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2023-11-22 11:35:29Z
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HK's 'rude' taxi drivers' threat to strike casts spotlight on city's ride-hailing policy - The Straits Times

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s taxi industry scrapped a plan for 1,000 of its drivers to go on strike on Nov 22, after the government pledged to crack down more severely on illegal ride-hailing services threatening the trade.

Industry leaders “temporarily called off the strike” following officials’ offer of “an olive branch”, Mr Wong Yu Ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, told local media late on Nov 21.

The strike had been aimed at drawing attention to the government’s inaction against app-based services like Uber, Mr Wong said.

It was also to express cabbies’ unhappiness over a government-proposed demerit-point system to penalise them for refusing hires, overcharging passengers and other forms of misconduct, he added.

The difficulties faced by the taxi trade have received little public sympathy. Instead, reports of the planned – and now scrapped – strike drew a barrage of criticism over Hong Kong cabbies’ service standards.

Mr Alex Liu, managing partner of Hong Kong law firm Boase Cohen & Collins and a panel chairman of the city’s transport tribunal, said: “Unfortunately, the taxi service in Hong Kong has a poor reputation.

“Many customers have first-hand experience of drivers being rude, overcharging, cherry-picking passengers, or taking circuitous routes. There are also concerns over safety, given widely reported accidents involving elderly drivers. Hence, the lack of public sympathy and rising number of complaints.”

Online, Internet users echoed Mr Liu’s views.

“It’s a bit challenging to feel overly sympathetic to taxi drivers when they refuse to adopt electronic payments, there’s an insufficient number of taxis during peak periods, and their HK Taxi app allows them to pick and choose fares, and clients have to resort to bribes,” netizen Josh Lynch wrote on social media platform X.

On Reddit, one user advised cabbies to “examine your own poor service before criticising Uber for stealing your job”.

“Perhaps if the taxi drivers… were polite, professional, and got you to your destination via the most efficient route safely, then ride-hailing services wouldn’t be an issue… It’s time the Hong Kong taxi industry stepped up, and if it can’t, it should step aside,” reader Leslie B. wrote in response to a South China Morning Post report online.

And upon hearing news on the night of Nov 21 that the planned strike had been called off, another X user quipped: “But the taxi association did a great job of uniting Hong Kongers in their shared frustration of the taxi industry. All was not lost.”

Cabs losing out to Uber

Hong Kong’s cabbies have long been notorious for their poor service attitudes. A 2023 survey found that rudeness topped the list of complaints against the city’s taxi drivers.

It is common for them to refuse rides if the requested destination is not to their liking. They have also been known to demand exorbitant fares from unsuspecting tourists or during inclement weather.

They are also falling into obsolescence, as most taxis in Hong Kong accept only cash. Lawmakers’ calls in recent years to get the vehicles outfitted with digital payment systems have been met with strong resistance, as the cabbies seek to avoid taxes and their industry leaders demand that the installation charges be passed on to passengers.

Taxi drivers, especially elderly ones, have also been criticised for being a road safety hazard. Taxis were involved in one out of six traffic accidents in the first eight months of 2023 – the most of any form of public transport – according to government data.

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2023-11-22 07:55:00Z
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Hamas, Israel agree to deal for release of 50 hostages in exchange for 4-day truce - The Straits Times

Release to begin on Thursday

Three Americans, including a 3-year-old girl whose parents were among those killed during the Oct 7 attack, are expected to be among the hostages to be released, a senior US official said.

In addition to Israeli citizens, more than half the hostages hold foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries. These include Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina and Chile, Israel’s government has said.

Israeli media said the first release of hostages is expected on Nov 23.

Implementing the deal must wait for 24 hours to give Israeli citizens the chance to ask the Supreme Court to block the release of Palestinian prisoners, reports said.

Ms Kamelia Hoter Ishay, the grandmother of 13-year-old Gali Tarshansky, who is believed to be held in Gaza, said she would not believe reports of a deal until she gets a call that the teenager was freed.

“And then I’ll know that it’s really over and I can breathe a sigh of relief and say that’s it, it’s over,” she said.

Mr Qadura Fares, head of the Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs in the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, told Reuters that among more than 7,800 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel were about 85 women and 350 minors.

Most were detained without charges or for incidents such as hurling rocks at Israeli soldiers, not for launching militant attacks, he said.

Qatar’s chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, told Reuters that the International Committee of the Red Cross would be working inside Gaza to facilitate the hostages’ release.

He said the truce means there would be “no attack whatsoever. No military movements, no expansion, nothing”.

Mr Al-Khulaifi added that Qatar hopes the deal “will be a seed to a bigger agreement and a permanent cease of fire. And that’s our intention”.

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2023-11-22 05:20:00Z
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Israeli government meets to decide on deal for Hamas to free some hostages - CNA

Kamelia Hoter Ishay, the grandmother of 13-year-old Gali Tarshansky, who is believed to be held in Gaza, said she was trying not to follow all the deal reports because she was afraid of being disappointed.

"The only thing I am waiting for is the phone call from my daughter, Reuma, who will say, 'Gali is coming back'. And then I'll know that it's really over and I can breathe a sigh of relief and say that's it, it's over," she said.

Tarshansky was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Beeri, one of the communities worst hit by Hamas.

Zvika Itzhaki, a relative of Israeli hostage Omer Wenkert, 22, said although the family was happy for the release of women and children, he hoped for the release also of those who are chronically sick.

"He has colitis, a severe intestinal disease. He has to take his daily pill. We don't know what medical state he's in," Itzhaki said.

Qadura Fares, head of the Commission for Prisoners' Affairs in the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, told Reuters earlier on Tuesday that he had not seen the list of Palestinian prisoners included in the pending deal.

He said among more than 7,800 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel are about 85 women and 350 minors. Most were detained without charges or for incidents such as hurling rocks at Israeli soldiers, not for launching militant attacks, he said.

"Talk of an exchange deal is what has brought attention to the issue of the arbitrary detention of Palestinian children who are being tried in military courts," he said.

"The world must know that Israel detains children and systematically targets them, and that their release from prison will surely be a comfort for their families."

An Israel Prison Service spokesperson said they were not aware of a deal to release Palestinian prisoners. They said they did not have information on how many Palestinian women and children were in its custody and details on the kinds of offences they were sentenced for.

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2023-11-21 21:43:00Z
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China says it would be a 'serious mistake' if Argentina cuts ties - CNA

BEIJING: China said on Tuesday (Nov 21) that it would be a "serious mistake" if Argentina were to cut ties, after the weekend presidential election victory in the South American country of a right-wing libertarian who has said he will not deal with communists.

Argentinian President-elect Javier Milei has criticised China as well as Brazil, which are among his country's most important trading partners.

A few months ago, Milei likened the Chinese government to an "assassin" and said that the people of China were "not free".

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news briefing that the development of bilateral relations with Argentina had been showing good momentum, and it would be a "serious mistake" for Argentina to cut ties with countries such as China and Brazil.

Diana Mondino, an economist tipped to become foreign minister in the Milei administration, said that Argentina would not join the BRICS grouping, which includes China and Russia, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited her as saying.

Argentina was among six countries invited to become new members of the BRICS, a bloc whose members also include Brazil, India and South Africa.

Mondino told RIA Novosti that Argentina would "stop interacting" with the governments of China and Brazil, when asked whether Argentina would encourage exports and imports with those countries.

Mao, asked by reporters about Mondino's remarks, said: "The two sides have strong economic complementarity and huge potential for cooperation.

"China is willing to continue to work together with Argentina to promote the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations."

Milei's tough talk on China stands in sharp contrast with a vow of cooperation by the outgoing president, Alberto Fernandez, who visited Beijing last month and hailed China as a "true friend" of Argentina.

Fernandez also pledged coordination with China under frameworks like the Group of Twenty and BRICS.

Milei has also said that climate change is a "lie of socialism" and that Pope Francis is on the side of "bloody dictatorships".

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2023-11-21 08:34:00Z
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Hamas chief says it is close to truce agreement with Israel - CNA

GAZA: The chief of Hamas told Reuters on Tuesday (Nov 21) that the Palestinian militant group was near a truce agreement with Israel, even as the deadly assault on Gaza continued and rockets were being fired into Israel.

Hamas officials are "close to reaching a truce agreement" with Israel and the group has delivered its response to Qatari mediators, Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement sent to Reuters by his aide.

The statement gave no more details, but a Hamas official told Al Jazeera TV that negotiations were centered on how long the truce would last, arrangements for delivery of aid into Gaza, and the exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Both sides would free women and children and details will be announced by Qatar, which is mediating in the negotiations, said the official, Issat el Reshiq.

Israel has generally avoided giving commentary on the status of the Qatar-led talks. Israel's Channel 12 television quoted an unidentified senior government source saying "they are close" but giving no further details.

Hamas took about 240 hostages during its Oct 7 rampage into Israel that killed 1,200 people.

Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), met Haniyeh in Qatar on Monday to "advance humanitarian issues" related to the conflict, the Geneva-based ICRC said in a statement. She also met separately with Qatari authorities.

The ICRC said it was not part of negotiations aimed at releasing the hostages, but as a neutral intermediary it was ready "to facilitate any future release that the parties agree to."

Talk of an imminent hostage deal has swirled for days. Reuters reported last week that Qatari mediators were seeking a deal for Hamas and Israel to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire that would boost emergency aid shipments to Gaza civilians, citing an official briefed on the talks.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog said on ABC's This Week on Sunday that he hoped for an agreement "in the coming days" while Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that the remaining sticking points were "very minor".

US President Joe Biden and other US officials said on Monday a deal was near, but an agreement has appeared close before.

"Sensitive negotiations like this can fall apart at the last minute," White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told NBC's Meet the Press program on Sunday. "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

Hamas' raid on Oct 7, the deadliest day in Israel's 75-year-old history, prompted Israel to invade the Palestinian territory to target Hamas.

Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run government says at least 13,300 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, including at least 5,600 children, by Israeli bombardment that has turned much of Gaza, especially its northern half, into wasteland.

Around two-thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been made homeless, with thousands a day still trekking south on foot with belongings and children in their arms. The central and southern parts of the enclave, where Israel has told them to go, have also regularly come under attack.

Hamas said on its Telegram account on Monday that it had launched a barrage of missiles towards Tel Aviv. Witnesses also reported rockets being fired at central Israel.

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2023-11-21 09:08:03Z
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