Palestinians react to Netanyahu joining Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
NewsFeed Palestinians in Gaza have expressed disbelief at the prospect of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining a US-backed “Board of Peace” aimed at rebuilding the Strip. Many say a leader they blame for the war cannot be a credible peacemaker. Published On 21 Jan 202621 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Who was Rifaat al-Assad, commander of Syria’s 1982 Hama massacre?
EXPLAINER ‘Butcher of Hama’ and former Syrian vice president, convicted of money laundering in France and accused of war crimes in Switzerland, has died at age 89. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 5 mins Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the former commander of the paramilitary “Defence Companies” (Saraya al-Difa), has died in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 89. The Reuters news agency cited two sources confirming his death on January 21, 2026. Rifaat had reportedly fled from Beirut to Dubai following the collapse of the Assad regime and the flight of his nephew to Russia in December 2024. Born in Qardaha, northwestern Syria, in 1937, Rifaat, a member of the country’s Alawite minority, was a central figure in the establishment of the Assad family’s rule in the 1970s. But he fell out with his brother, former President Hafez al-Assad, following a failed coup attempt in the early 1980s. Here is a brief timeline of the main events during the life and career of the man known as the “Butcher of Hama”. The Hama massacre Rifaat was notorious for his role in the 1982 crackdown on the city of Hama to suppress an uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood. Commanding the Defence Companies – a force of approximately 40,000 soldiers independent of the regular army – Rifaat led a siege on the city that lasted nearly a month. The operation involved heavy shelling and ground assaults. According to a 2022 report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the campaign resulted in approximately 40,000 deaths, and 17,000 people went missing. The assault destroyed entire neighbourhoods, including 79 mosques and three churches. In a 2011 televised interview, Rifaat denied responsibility for the events, claiming he “did not know Hama” and attributing the orders to his brother, Hafez. A photo taken in 1984 shows late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad (R) with his youngest brother, Rifaat, left, at a military ceremony in Damascus [AFP/HO] Rifaat’s rise to power – and a failed coup Advertisement Rifaat joined the Baath party in 1952 and rose through the military ranks. He played a key security role in the 1970 coup, which brought overthrew the former head of state, Salah Jadid, and brought Hafez al-Assad to power. In the late 1970s, as the regime faced internal opposition, Rifaat advocated for extreme measures. In a 1979 speech at a Baath party congress, he reportedly suggested “Stalinist” methods to purge opposition and proposed closing mosques to curb “sectarian ideology”. His influence peaked in the early 1980s, but tensions with his brother were mounting. In November 1983, while Hafez was ill, Rifaat attempted to seize control, deploying his own forces in Damascus. The confrontation ended in a standoff. By 1984, Hafez had regained control. Rifaat was stripped of his command, appointed to the ceremonial post of vice president and sent into exile. Reports at the time suggested he received $200m from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as part of a settlement to leave the country. Exile and legal troubles Rifaat spent the next 36 years primarily in Europe, where he faced multiple legal challenges over the source of his wealth. France: In 2020, a French court sentenced him to four years in prison for money laundering and misappropriation of Syrian public funds, confiscating real estate assets worth an estimated $100m. Switzerland: In August 2023, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Rifaat for his alleged role in war crimes committed in Hama in 1982. Assets Frozen: Authorities in the UK and Spain also froze family assets and investigated him for illicit financial activities. Return and death To avoid imprisonment in France, Rifaat returned to Syria in October 2021. Despite his previous calls in 2011 for Bashar al-Assad to step down, he appeared voting for his nephew in the May 2021 election at the Syrian embassy in Paris. Following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, Lebanese security officials reported that Rifaat had left Syria for Dubai, where he passed away in January 2026. Adblock test (Why?)
Canada detains Israeli ex-soldier and comedian over Gaza complaint
NewsFeed Israeli comedian and former combat soldier Guy Hochman was detained and questioned in Toronto after the Hind Rajab Foundation accused him of war crimes and incitement in Gaza, based on his own social media posts. Published On 21 Jan 202621 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Delhi-NCR’s air quality improves to ‘very poor’ category, GRAP-4 restricts revoked; Check area-wise pollution level
Delhi continued to reel under ‘very poor’ air quality on Wednesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 341 around 7 am, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
India takes tougher line on Bangladesh than Pakistan, classifies posting as ‘non-family’, ask spouses, children to return; here’s why
In a big move, India has categorized Bangladesh as a ‘non-family’ posting for diplomats, and has advised the families, dependents of Mission and Post officials to back to India, as security concerns and communal tensions arise in Dhaka. What does it means?
Indian Air Force aircraft crashes into pond in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, watch here
An Indian Air Force (IAF) microlight aircraft crashed in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Tuesday during a routine training sortie. Both pilots on board safe, no civilian casualty reported. .
CM Rekha Gupta government approves Rs 1471 crore double-decker flyover in South Delhi, to be developed in two phases, check details here
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led Delhi government has approved a six-lane double-decker flyover along Mehrauli-Badarpur (MB) Road in South Delhi in a Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) meeting.
Delhi govt set to launch free LPG cylinder scheme for EWS ration card holders ahead of Holi, cabinet approves Rs 300 crore budget, check details
The promise of free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali was a prominent feature of the BJP’s manifesto during the 2020 Assembly elections. After coming to power, the government prioritized this scheme, and it has now received the green light from the cabinet.
Love marriage ends in murder: Newlywed woman strangled in Kanpur, husband arrested
In Kanpur, a man allegedly killed his wife over a suspected affair and surrendered to police. The incident has shocked the community and a murder case is under investigation.
Noida Techie Car Crash: Key eyewitness takes big U-turn in statement on Noida Authorities ‘action’ to save 27-year-old Yuvraj, what’s the truth?
A 27-year old man Yuvraj Mehta lost his life after his car plunged into a deep water 70-feet ditch of an under-construction commercial complex in Greater Noida’s Sector 150 on Saturday. The key eyewitness of this case, Moninder Singh’s two opposite statements stirred a controversy.