Is Israel in breach of the ruling by the International Court of Justice?
The military offensive in Gaza has persisted despite a United Nations court order to end plausible acts of genocide. The United Nations’ top court has ordered Israel to prevent and punish actions that could lead to or incite genocide in Gaza. But in the weeks that followed this ruling, Israeli forces have continued the devastating assault on Gaza. Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening a possible ground offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population has fled to seek shelter. Palestinians are trapped, with nowhere to go. So, what can be done to end the Israeli assault? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Yousef Hammash – advocacy officer for the Norwegian Refugee Council Mouin Rabbani – Co-editor of Jadaliyya, an online news website, and non-resident fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies Neve Gordon – Professor of international law and human rights at Queen Mary University of London Adblock test (Why?)
Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce at Super Bowl
The 14-time Grammy-winner completed the Japan leg of her Eras Tour on Saturday before returning to the US on a private jet. Global pop sensation Taylor Swift has made it to the Super Bowl to cheer on her boyfriend Travis Kelce after days of breathless speculation about whether she would attend the biggest event in the United States’s sporting calendar. Swift arrived at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas more than an hour before kickoff to watch Kelce kit out for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. After the game got under way, Swift, wearing a gold necklace bearing Travis Kelce’s number, 87, could be seen watching the action from a luxury suite accompanied by Blake Lively and rapper Ice Spice. Some San Francisco 49ers fans jeered after Swift was flashed on the big screens in the stadium during the first half of the game, prompting the pop star to grab a drink and chug it down. The 14-time Grammy winner on Saturday wrapped up the Japan leg of her Eras Tour with a sold-out show in Tokyo, before dashing back to the US on a private jet to attend the game. Swift, who began dating Kelce last year, has attended 12 American football games to watch the Kansas City Chiefs tight end play. Swift’s relationship with Kelce has been at the centre of a media and pop culture frenzy for months, with NFL officials crediting her presence at the games with driving a sudden surge in the popularity of the sport among young women. “Obviously, it creates a buzz, it creates another group of young fans, particularly young women, that are interested in seeing, ‘Why is she going to this game? Why is she interested in this game?’” National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters earlier this week. “Besides Travis, she’s a football fan and I think that’s great for us.” Kelce joked earlier this week that he feels under pressure to win after Swift on Sunday picked up a record fourth Grammy for album of the year for Midnights. “She’s rewriting the history books herself,” Kelce said at a news conference on Monday. “I told her I would have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with some hardware, too.” Swift’s appearance at the 58th edition Super Bowl, which regularly attracts more than 100 million viewers, could help drive the audience for the NFL showcase to new heights. The defending champion Chiefs are taking on the San Francisco 49ers in the 58th edition of the NFL’s title game at Allegiant Stadium. The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions, and a win on Sunday would deliver their third title in five years. The San Francisco 49ers, who were leading 10-3 at halftime, are vying for their first title since 1994 for a record-tying sixth Super Bowl win. Adblock test (Why?)
‘Strict action to be taken; issue should not be politicised’: MoS Ajay Bhatt on Haldwani violence
As many as 30 people have been arrested, including 25 in the last 24 hours, in connection with Thursday’s violence in the Haldwani city of Nainital.
White House shakes up communications, promotes Kirby to expanded role
The White House’s top national security spokesperson, John Kirby, is being promoted to an expanded role that puts him in charge of coordinating communications across several agencies. Reuters reported that a U.S. official said Kirby’s new title will be White House national security advisor, elevating him from deputy assistant, up to assistant to the president. In the new role, Kirby will direct a team from the National Security Council’s press office, headed by chief spokesperson Adrienne Watson. KIRBY APOLOGIZES FOR BIDEN ADMIN’S CLAIM ABOUT WARNING IRAQI GOVERNMENT AHEAD OF STRIKES He will also be in charge of coordinating communications for national security for several agencies. Kirby’s frequent presence at the podium during White House press briefings with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ever since Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7 has made him one of the most visible faces of the Biden administration. Despite the new role, he will continue to make appearances in the briefing room at times when national security is the dominant theme of the day, the official told the news publication. KIRBY CLASHES WITH AL JAZEERA REPORTER OVER BIDEN’S MIDDLE EAST ACTIONS: ‘LET ME STOP YOU RIGHT THERE’ White House officials did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital on the matter. The retired U.S. Navy admiral became the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications in 2022, after being brought over from the Pentagon, where he served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs starting in January 2021. Kirby served in uniform for over 28 years before retiring in 2015 as a Rear Admiral in the Navy. After retiring, he served at the Department of State as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs from December 2015 to January 2017, as well as the State Department’s spokesperson from May 2015 to January 2017. Reuters contributed to this report.
Rozgar Mela: PM Modi to distribute over 1 lakh appointment letters to recruits today
The Rozgar Mela will be held at 47 locations across the country and the recruitments are taking place across central government departments, and state and Union Territory governments are supporting this initiative.
Meet Indian man who has won Rs 33 crore in lottery by using a unique method, he will spend the money by…
Originally belonging to Kerala, Rajeev currently works in an architectural company as a draftsman with his wife and kids, aged five and eight.
Woman who opened fire at Joel Osteen’s megachurch killed by police
The shooter wore a trench coat and was armed with a rifle, police said. She was accompanied by a young child who was shot and is in critical condition.
Senate clears hurdle to passing aid package for Ukraine, Israel as more GOP lawmakers sign on
In a rare Super Bowl Sunday vote, the Senate voted to push forward an aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. allies, clearing a key hurdle as 18 GOP lawmakers have signed on. The package would provide $60 billion for Ukraine, mostly to purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say it desperately needs as Russia batters the country. It includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. It would also provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Senate leaders argued that the money was crucial to pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin and maintaining America’s global standing. NETANYAHU DECLARES ‘VICTORY IS WITHIN REACH’ AS HAMAS REDUCED TO ‘LAST REMAINING BASTION’ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky warned about the consequences of abandoning longtime U.S. allies in Europe. McConnell said in his opening remarks that “American leadership matters, and it is in question.” Schumer said Putin is “all too likely to succeed” if America doesn’t assist Ukraine. The 67-27 test vote Sunday on the $95.3 billion foreign aid package comes as former President Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, is trying to kill the assistance and has escalated his attacks on the NATO military alliance. The day before the vote, Trump said at a campaign rally in South Carolina that Russia should be able to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO members who do not meet their defense spending targets. MODERATE DEMS SILENT AS BIDEN SKIRTS SENATE CONFIRMATION FOR JOHN KERRY’S REPLACEMENT While McConnell has made Ukraine a top issue, an increasing number of members in his GOP conference have followed Trump’s lead in opposing the aid. The Senate is pushing through several procedural votes on the slimmed-down package after an attempt to pair it with legislation to stem migration at the U.S. border collapsed. Objections from Republicans adamantly opposed to the aid have delayed quick action, forcing the weekend votes as negotiations continue over potential amendments to the legislation. Schumer has said he is open to amendments -– most of which would be likely to fail -– but he forced senators to stay in session through the weekend to try and speed up the process. “I can’t remember the last time the Senate was in session on Super Bowl Sunday,” Schumer said as he opened the session. “But as I’ve said all week long, we’re going to keep working on this bill until the job is done.” In a key vote last week, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill and 31 voted against it, giving McConnell and other Republican supporters of the aid new hope that it could pass. But even if the Senate does pass the package, its future is deeply uncertain in the House, where a large majority of GOP lawmakers are firmly allied with Trump.
Defense Sec. Austin back in hospital ahead of busy travel week: Pentagon officials
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back in the hospital at Walter Reed for an “emergent bladder issue,” according to Pentagon officials. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder confirmed Austin was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, adding that the deputy defense secretary, joint chiefs of staff, White House and Congress have all been notified. In a statement, Ryder said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed at about 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, adding that he is retaining the functions and duties of his office. “The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense, if required,” the statement read. “Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.” HOUSE LAWMAKERS TO GRILL DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN ON SECRET HOSPITALIZATION Austin was expected to leave Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday morning to travel to Brussels for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday and the NATO Defense Ministerial on Thursday. It is too soon to tell if Austin will be able to travel, a senior U.S. defense official said, adding his doctors are assessing the secretary’s condition. In December, Austin was admitted to Walter Reed and underwent prostate cancer surgery. He developed an infection a week later and was readmitted to the hospital. DEFENSE SEC. AUSTIN APOLOGIZED DIRECTLY TO BIDEN OVER HOSPITALIZATION CONTROVERSY: ‘DID NOT HANDLE THIS RIGHT’ President Biden and other senior administration officials were not told for days about his hospitalization or his cancer. Despite being admitted to Walter Reed on Jan.1, the Pentagon didn’t inform the public, press or Congress until Jan. 5. WHITE HOUSE ESTABLISHES GUIDELINES FOR CABINET NOTIFICATIONS FOLLOWING AUSTIN’S HOSPITALIZATION CONTROVERSY Officials also acknowledged that the White House had not been informed about Austin’s hospitalization until Jan. 4. On Feb. 1, Austin said he apologized directly to President Biden for not giving advance notice about his hospitalization for prostate cancer treatment. “I want to be crystal clear. We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right,” Austin said during a press briefing on Feb. 1, regarding his previous hospitalization. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”
Mayorkas ducks responsibility on border crisis, migrant figures: ‘Congress is the only one who can fix this’
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who narrowly escaped impeachment last week, said Sunday that the Biden administration doesn’t “bear responsibility for a broken system,” demanding Congress enact legislation to mitigate what has become an illegal migration crisis during this election year. “No doubt there is gridlock in Congress. But do you bear responsibility for what is happening at the border with the president himself? It’s called a crisis,” NBC host Kristen Welker asked during an interview with Mayorkas on “Meet the Press.” “It certainly is a crisis. And we don’t bear responsibility for a broken system. And we’re doing a tremendous amount within that broken system. But fundamentally … Congress is the only one who can fix it,” Mayorkas said. “There is no question that we have a broken system,” he added. “There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border. And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it. And we’re doing everything we can within that broken system, short of legislation to address what is a not just a challenge for the United States but one throughout our region.” HOUSE FAILS TO IMPEACH DHS SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS IN MAJOR BLOW TO GOP Since Mayorkas took the helm at the Department of Homeland Security three years ago, Welker noted, the asylum case backlog has more than tripled since 2019 and more migrants have crossed the border illegally in 2023 than ever before. She pointed to how Mayorkas himself has said that more than 85% of migrants crossing the border illegally are being released into the U.S. as they await their court dates. “Let’s just put impeachment aside for a minute. Why do you deserve to keep your job, Mr. Secretary?” she asked. “The data that you cite is a powerful example of why we need legislation to fix what everyone agrees is a broken immigration system,” Mayorkas said. “Before the last three years, that case backlog, which is about 3 million cases, has been growing year over year over year. The time between when we encounter an individual at the border and the time of final adjudication of an asylum claim case has been years, five to seven years, for years and years.” “I remember when I entered the Department of Homeland Security in 2009, we were wrestling with these very same issues. The system has not been fixed for 30 years. A bipartisan group of senators have now presented us with the tools and resources we need – bipartisan group. And yet, Congress killed it before even reading it,” he said. Mayorkas was referring to how the U.S. Senate on Wednesday failed to pass a $118 billion supplemental spending agreement that included aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as an ambitious border security and immigration package that drew widespread opposition from conservative Republicans in both chambers since its release just days earlier. Wednesday’s vote was 50-49. It needed 60 votes to pass. The vote went mostly along party lines, except for five Democrat no votes and four Republicans voting yes. Welker pressed Mayorkas on why President Biden would not shut down the border immediately – as Republicans have called on him to do – and “just let the courts try to stop him.” SENATE TANKS IMMIGRATION, FOREIGN AID SPENDING PACKAGE AFTER GOP BACKLASH AGAINST BORDER PROVISIONS “We have taken executive actions already. We continuously review what options are available to us, but those are always challenged in the courts, and whether or not they see the light of day and actually are able to be operationalized is an open question,” Mayorkas said. “That is why the bipartisan group of senators actually prepared and presented a piece of legislation that would … base it in statute, the ability to close the border for a limited period of time, an extreme measure, and would it would be immune from court challenge because it is statutorily based.” “If it were done legislatively, no doubt you wouldn’t have these these legal challenges, but isn’t trying to do something better than doing nothing at all? Why doesn’t President Biden try to shut down the border? Are you encouraging him to do that?” Welker insisted. “Well, we have already taken important steps. We certainly haven’t done nothing. I will tell you, we issued a regulation that circumvention of lawful pathways that increased, that actually created a rebuttable presumption of ineligibility for asylum seekers if they did not avail themselves of the lawful pathways that we built. And so we’ve done a tremendous amount. It’s very important to remember we have removed, returned or expelled more individuals in the past three years than the prior administration did in all four.” Asked if he was considering reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy on Sunday, Mayorkas told Welker, “First of all, it depends upon Mexico’s agreement. And Mexico has articulated publicly that it will not allow the re-implementation of Remain in Mexico, number one. Number two, it’s been challenged in the courts. And number three, remember something, that Remain in Mexico was implemented in January of 2019. In 2019, there was almost a 100% increase in the number of encounters at our southwest border over 2018.” The Republican-led House of Representatives on Tuesday failed to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the crisis at the southern border. It was considered a crushing defeat for the Republican majority, which held hearings throughout 2023 on Mayorkas’ apparent “dereliction of duty” and additional hearings on the impeachment articles themselves this year. Lawmakers accused Mayorkas of disregarding federal law with “open border policies” that have made the ongoing crisis at the southern border worse. They have pointed to the rolling back of Trump-era policies, like border wall construction and Remain in Mexico, and reducing interior enforcement and expanding “catch-and-release.” They say it has fueled record numbers at the southern border, breaching the 300,000 mark in December. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.