Karnataka govt has taken away our powers; can’t hold ZP-TP polls as per SC order: Election Commission tells HC

Israeli settlers shielded by the occupation troops have stormed several villages in the West Bank, setting Palestinian homes, farms and vehicles on fire.

Palestinian media reported that the violent settler attacks took place on Monday night in the villages of Turmus Ayya, Tuqu', Hajjah, Fara'ata, al-Funduq and Immatain.

Prior to the raids, far-right Israeli social media groups had posted messages calling on members to join in on rampages against Palestinian villages.

The attacks took place although Israeli rights groups had demanded preventative actions by the regime's authorities.

“Once again, the army is doing nothing to prevent settler violence. This time, too, the writing was on the wall, and notices calling for riots in the villages were distributed publicly among settlers,” the Yesh Din right group said.

Settler violence has escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, when Israel unleashed a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 45,854 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 109,139 others, in its brutal Gaza onslaught. 

Israel confiscates more Palestinian land

Separately on Monday, the Wafa news agency reported that Israeli authorities had seized 262,000 square meters of Palestinian land in Jaba’, al-Ram, Kafr 'Aqab, and Mukhmas, all situated in the al-Quds governorate.

Israeli human rights organization Ir Amim said that the occupying regime is seeking to annex the confiscated area to the illegal Geva Binyamin settlement.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

While all Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, Israel keeps expanding them in blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Bengaluru: An eight-month old baby has been detected with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a Bengaluru hospital on Monday, with reports going viral online. This is likely the first reported case of HMPV in the country after the recent spike in China.

The baby is reportedly undergoing treatment in a private hospital in northern Bengaluru.

The Karnataka state health department has maintained that there is no cause for concern.

"We don't know what strain of virus is spreading in China. Without knowing that, we cannot say that this reported case is concerning. We have been reviewing all influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) from December to check for any strain that is concerning. There is no such concerning spike across the state or country," said a well-placed source in the state health department.

The HMPV is a known virus (first discovered in 2001) that causes respiratory symptoms similar to that of a common cold, largely affecting children below the age of five. It is not a new virus.

Cases have been reported in the past, especially in the winter season, note experts and health department officials, making it not an immediate concern, unless an unusual spike is observed.

In December 2024, 714 suspected cases of HMPV were tested in 16 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) across the country, of which only nine were confirmed positive.

Bengaluru, Jan 6: Most wanted Maoists operating in deep jungles of Western Ghats, hilly and coastal region of Karnataka have decided to lay down their arms and join the mainstream following the appeal by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Congress government.

According to sources, the Maoists have taken the decision following the encounter of Vikram Gowda and the continuous combing operations in the Western Ghat region by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) and the Karnataka Police.

Sources said that top leaders Mundagaru Latha who leads the Tunga Naxal Wing in the state; Sundari, Vanajakshi, Jeesha, the most wanted Maoists of south India; K. Vasantha from Andhra Pradesh and Mareppa Aroli have decided to surrender and lay down their arms.

Maoist leader Sundari’s brother Anand, who was also a Naxal and returned to the mainstream, stated, “They will welcome her home if she decides to lay down arms. Let her and associates stop the struggle and live like common people. It’s 17 years since she had gone away from home. We will be happy if she comes back to us.”

“Sundari, surrender before the government and come back home,” he appealed in Kutlur of Mangaluru district.

The surrender procedure will happen in two to three days, sources confirmed.

The sources also revealed that the Maoists had written a letter in this regard to the Citizen’s Forum, a progressive organisation and the members of the forum have discussed the matter already with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

CM Siddaramaiah welcomed the proposal and gave the green signal for authorities to start the surrender procedures.

The Maoists have demanded that the surrender process should take place in a dignified manner and that their self-respect should not be harmed. They have also demanded that they should not be prevented from exercising their rights under a democratic system.

The Maoists have also demanded that they should not be made to languish in prisons. The 'false' cases against them should be closed and cooperation has to be extended for them after surrender to obtain bail. It has also been demanded that all cases must be brought under one court and trial has to be expedited.

They have also demanded financial support from the government to shape their lives. The package has to be applied to other surrendered Maoists who are presently in prison. They have also sought clarification on whether Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala states will take one stand on the matter.

The Maoists have also demanded a judicial investigation of the Vikram Gowda encounter.