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With the world having moved away to a large extent from broader concerns on COVID - it is something that is never really going away - it's also time to focus on new vaccines that can change the lives of any number of people around the world. The Serum Institute of India (SII) is a global leader in making vaccines.

Its CEO Adar Poonawalla spoke to NDTV on a range of issues, key among them the vaccine for malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.

"I just want to say I really hate mosquitoes. They kill more human beings than any other animal on the planet, with all the different mosquito-borne diseases from dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, malaria. So with that in mind, after COVID, I sort of focused our capex and partnerships with various companies to make vaccines for malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Those other vaccines are about two years away from launch," Mr Poonawalla told NDTV.

The Pune-based company's malaria vaccine has already been deployed in Africa. It has an efficacy of 77 per cent, "which is very good," he said.

"The malaria vaccine is already beginning to protect children in Africa. Right now with the Gavi replenishment, where they need to raise billions of dollars for various vaccine programmes in Africa, it is challenging to get enough funding to get the kind of vaccine coverage to scale up volumes to be delivered and procured," Mr Poonawala said, referring to the the vaccine alliance Gavi which works to increase equitable and sustainable use of vaccines globally.

On whether costing is an issue, Mr Poonawalla said that is an area where the Indian company played a huge role.

"This malaria vaccine by other manufacturers in the West was being offered at $10, $8 to $10. We brought down that price to $4," he told NDTV. "So that's more than a 50 per cent reduction, only with the objective of providing more access to more children who can now take it, with the budgets being strained and all of that."

Concerns Over No US Funding

Mr Poonawalla raised concerns over the withdrawal of US funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the new American President Donald Trump, and highlighted the importance of multilateral institutions such as WHO in maintaining global standards for medicines.

"I hope that's only temporary and they relook at it because multilateral organisations like the WHO play a very critical role in maintaining, sustaining global standards for medicines and vaccines," Mr Poonawalla said.

Even with American money for WHO, other countries can work together to bridge the gap which "is not a huge amount".

"We have been calling upon leaders and others here [Davos] to step up to bridge that gap; $500 million is not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things for others to pitch in and contribute. I'm sure that the WHO is already making plans to ensure all their critical programmes such as pre-qualifying vaccines and getting them approved and maintaining the standards for vaccines and other medicines are not affected," Mr Poonawalla said. "These are very critical aspects of what WHO does because all these other countries go by their quality standards and recommendations."

He said there could be some impact to vaccine and pharmaceutical companies if the funding gap is not looked into. "I am sure the WHO will be focusing on their key areas and priorities so that nothing takes a backstep. It's still early days to say, but I don't see any major impact as of now."

Vaccines In The Pipeline

Mr Poonawalla said the malaria vaccine works on the falciparum, a species of the parasite Plasmodium that causes malaria and is found in Africa. The vivax is another species of the parasite that is prevalent in India, but there is no vaccine for that at the moment, he said, adding a vaccine could be developed in a few years with some technological advances.

"In the meanwhile, we are going to have a chikungunya vaccine in a year and a half, which is, again, a serious issue in India. And also with climate change, we have seen a drastic increase in all these mosquito-borne viruses because when you have construction going on in development in this part of the world, you have these water bodies which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. You have got climate change, where even a few degrees difference can increase the breeding of some of these mosquito species," Mr Poonawalla told NDTV.

He said the dengue vaccine will come in a little over two years; it will be a one-shot vaccine, and multiple doses will not be needed.

"There aren't many manufacturers who make these vaccines because typically they are all sold at a very low price. So it's not commercially interesting to most pharmaceutical companies to make these vaccines. That's where we and the Serum Institute play a very key role," Mr Poonawalla said.

The five-day meeting at Davos that began on Monday is exploring how to relaunch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting is seeing participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

India's participation at Davos aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India sent five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.

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President Donald Trump's administration has removed Admiral Linda Fagan -- the first woman to lead a US military service -- as the head of the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Coast Guard, did not immediately respond to a request on Tuesday for comment on Fagan's dismissal.

Fox News cited a senior official saying reasons included her failure to address border security threats, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and an "erosion of trust" over the Coast Guard's investigation into sexual assault cases.

Trump and other Republicans have long railed against government programs aimed at fostering diversity, and border security is a key priority for the president, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on Monday, the first day of his new term.

"She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service to our nation," acting DHS secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message to the Coast Guard, which is one of the five US military branches.

Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.

She "served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way," according to an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday at an inauguration ceremony that has been scaled back due to a forecast of severe cold weather in the nation's capital.

WHAT EVENTS ARE EXPECTED?

Trump will take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address inside the US  Capitol, instead of outdoors in front of the building, as initially planned.

The traditional inaugural parade, which was set to include marching bands and other groups proceeding down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, has been moved to the Capital One Arena, a professional basketball and hockey venue in downtown Washington.

Trump also held a campaign-style "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at the arena on Sunday, putting the sometimes-maligned stadium at the center of events for two nights.

WHAT IS THE CAPITAL ONE ARENA?

The arena is home to the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team and the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals team. Built in 1997, it is located near the city's small Chinatown area, roughly equidistant from the Capitol building and the White House.

The stadium also hosts concerts and events like the Monster Jam monster truck rally.

WHO OWNS CAPITAL ONE ARENA?

The arena was owned for 14 years by sports mogul Ted Leonsis, founder and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and Capitals. The District of Columbia bought the arena for $88 million last year, after Leonsis planned to relocate the teams across the Potomac River to an arena in Virginia that is yet to be built.

When the relocation plan fell apart, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the district stepped in to keep the teams playing in D.C. The district is leasing the arena back to MSE and both are contributing towards a three-year, $800 million redevelopment project to modernize the arena.

Leonsis also owns a stake in aXiomatic, which has a controlling interest in Team Liquid, a global esports powerhouse with professional teams in 14 games.He has donated in the past to both Democrats and Republicans.

WHAT IS THE SEATING IN ARENA LIKE?

The arena has the capacity to hold around 20,000 people - a small fraction of the approximately 220,000 ticketed guests who had been due to watch from the US Capitol grounds.

WHAT WILL THE TRUMP PARADE LOOK LIKE?

It is unclear how the parade will be organized inside the sports venue, but Trump has said supporters will be able to view his swearing-in ceremony on screens inside the arena.

Monday morning, a desk was sent up in the center of the arena, which could be a spot for Trump to sign executive orders.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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The five-day meeting at Davos beginning Monday will explore how to re-launch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting will see participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

NDTV spoke to Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Bob Mumgaard, Abhishek Awadhiya of SimpliAI, and Avanti Fellows founder Akshay Saxena - people who have a real say about where it's all going.

It's been a year of real crisis around the world, whether it's conflict, concerns over sustainable development, and concerns over so many issues, not least of all the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and climate.

Nuclear Fusion Energy

Mr Mumgaard began by giving an overview of the future of nuclear plants in terms of fusion energy and safe operations.

"It's completely different from existing nuclear power. It's the opposite. In fusion, you're combining light elements to make heavier ones the same way the Sun works. That means that there's no meltdown, there's no connection to weapons, and there's no long-lived nuclear waste," said Mr Mumgaard, who is dealing with one of the most interesting aspects of clean energy.

"The issue right now is we still have to develop the technology and deploy it. We're building on the very first power plants right now. Right now, we're about halfway through building the first prototype outside of Boston," he told NDTV.

Mr Mumgaard said his company spun out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

"We started about three years ago building this machine. In about two years, we'll turn the machine on, and that'll be an important point in the world where we'll have, for the first time, industrial-scale fusion power being created by people," the Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO said.

On matters of cost, which will be a key factor in producing clean energy, Mr Mumgaard said the goal with all new sustainable energy is to produce energy in a way that the world can enable growth, which means it has to be low cost.

"And one of the great things about technologies like fusion is you're using all these other technologies that have come before, you're adding them up. And so you're getting the cost advantages that came from new ways to manufacture, you're getting cost advantages that come from simulation and the use of AI and fusion itself. And so we think that this could lead to a low-cost energy source. We need to still build this and have the receipts. And that's what we're working on now," he added.

AI And Workplace Disruptions

Abhishek Awadhiya of SimpliAI said he strongly believes that AI will work in conjunction with humanity and workforce to elevate productivity.

"A lot of our work is - while focused on automation at SimpliAI - we firmly believe that in the near term, all of these AI tools are going to elevate the productivity of workforces across functions and across roles. It's very important for all the players to really make that argument very clear, very succinct to the people at large, so that the fear factor around AI is actually replaced with positivity and hope," Mr Awadhiya said.

On jobs disappearing due to AI in the workplace, he said, "Well, as the report of World Economic Forum itself states that while there'll be about 90 odd million jobs which will be substituted by 2030, but 170 million more would be created. So in my mind, it's like what happened in the Industrial Revolution. Jobs will get substituted, the jobs which are repetitive, low value in nature, with high-value jobs being moved up the value chain to people. And to me, that is what is going to unlock productivity for humanity at large."

Future Of Education And AI

Avanti Fellows founder Akshay Saxena cautioned against going too fast with AI in the area of education.

"I think there's a couple of things to be really careful about, especially when you look at it in the context of a country like India, where we already have massive inequity that's growing. One is, like Abhishek said, that the nature of work will change, which means you'll have to almost work with an AI copilot alongside," Mr Saxena said.

"What are our schools doing to equip kids to do that? And how many kids even have exposure to this? Because the majority of kids in India don't even have cell phones of their own, or access to the internet in any meaningful way. And what does that mean for our colleges? Because India has amongst the largest engineering workforce that we produce, but also amongst the least employable engineering workforce," he said. "So how do we quickly remodel our engineering schools, technical schools to actually make graduates AI ready? And if you don't move quickly on these fronts, this could be quite catastrophic for India's youth."

At Davos, India's participation aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India is sending five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.

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Russia's war in Ukraine, which is approaching its grim third anniversary, has an unexpected connection with two districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Last year, nearly a dozen young men from Azamgarh and Mau districts travelled thousands of kilometres away from home in hopes of a good life for themselves and their families. While three of the 13 men who left for Russia died on the battlefield, two returned home after being injured in the war. Of the remaining eight, there is no news on their whereabouts so far.

They were offered jobs as security guards, helpers and cooks in Russia, promised Rs 2 lakh per month but were forcibly sent to the battlefield instead.

Kanhaiya Yadav of Azamgarh and Shyamsundar and Sunil Yadav of Mau have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war. Rakesh Yadav of Azamgarh and Brijesh Yadav of Mau got injured in the war and are home now. Meanwhile, the family members of eight men - Vinod Yadav, Yogendra Yadav, Arvind Yadav, Ramchandra, Azharuddin Khan, Humeshwar Prasad, Deepak and Dhirendra Kumar - are still waiting to hear some news on them.

'They Trapped My Brother'

In Azamgarh district's Khojapur village, Yogendra Yadav's mother, wife and children are beside themselves with grief.

"Vinod Yadav, an agent in Mau, trapped my brother. He told him the job was for the security guard position but he was sent to the Russian border instead," said Ashish Yadav, the younger brother of Yogendra Yadav.

He said that his brother left home on January 15, 2024, with three agents - Vinod, Sumit and Dushyant. "After reaching Russia, he was forcibly trained and recruited into the army," Mr Yadav said.

"We spoke to him last in May 2024. He had told us over the phone that he got injured in the war on May 9, 2024. Since then we haven't heard from them," he said appealing to the Indian government to intervene in the matter so that his brother could be found.

When asked about her son, Azharuddin Khan's mother Nasreen, who lives in Azamgarh's Gulami Ka Pura area, breaks down into tears and recalls an agent's bait of a high-salary job that took his son away from her. "I haven't spoken to him for the last ten months".

"He left with agent Vinod on January 26, 2024. He had offered Azharuddin a job as a security guard. He said he will get Rs 2 lakh per month," she said.

Azharuddin Khan - the primary earner in his family - was in regular touch with his family after he left. He told them he was being trained and sent to the battlefield.

On April 1, his father suffered a heart attack when he got to know that he had joined the Russian Army. Seven days later, on April 8, he died.

"My last conversation with my son was on April 27. He said to me, 'Amma, I will work here for six months and I will return home after that. I haven't heard from home since then," said a distraught Nasreen.

Waiting For News On 'Missing' Son

The Father of Humeshwar Prasad, a resident of Sathiyaon town, also has a similar story. Agent Vinod Yadav took his son away, promising a security guard job.

"They made him sign an agreement then he was recruited by the (Russian) army. He was given a 15-day training," said Indu Prakash.

"Everyone is worried at home," said Indu Prakash who last spoke with his son in March, last year," he said, tearing up.

When he contacted the Indian embassy, he was told his son was "missing".

Pawan, a resident of Harraiya, last spoke to his brother Deepak - who left for Russia early last year - on July 6, 2024.

All these families are demanding two things from the government - the return of the Indians stuck in Russia and action against agents who forced their loved ones onto the battlefield.

Kanhaiya Yadav - from Raunapur village of Azamgarh district - had gone to Russia for the job of a cook. But, he was recruited into the Russian Army and died on December 6, 2024, after being badly injured.

"I last spoke to my father on May 25, 2024. He told me he was badly injured in the war and was undergoing treatment. I didn't speak to him after that," said Kanhaiya Yadav's son, Ajay.

Months later, in December, the embassy informed him that his father had died.

Rakesh Yadav got injured in the war. But, he was among the very few Indians who could return home. "I went to Russia in January 2024. The agent told me about the job of a security guard and a monthly salary of Rs two lakh".

"When we reached Russia, we were made to sign an agreement paper, which was in Russian language. When we asked about the content of the document, we were told it describes the job that we would do in Russia," recalled Mr Yadav.

He reached Russia with Vinod Yadav, who is also currently stuck in Russia due to the war.

Soon after, he was given war training on how to fire rockets, throw bombs and use other weapons.

"When we protested, we were told that we were being given self-defence training," he said.

Twelve Indian nations have been killed while serving with the Russian military and another 16 listed by the country are missing, the Indian foreign ministry said on Friday.

"Out of the 126 known cases of Indian nationals serving in the Russian armed forces, 96 individuals have already returned. They have been discharged from the Russian armed forces. Of the remaining 18 Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, the whereabouts of 16 individuals are currently not known," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Russia has categorised the 16 Indians as "missing".

In August last year, the Russian embassy said that the country's ministry of defence stopped recruiting citizens from a number of foreign countries, including India, into the military service.

-With inputs from Ravi Singh.

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The first three Israeli hostages returning home under a long-awaited Gaza truce were transferred to the Red Cross on Sunday, a Hamas official and the Israeli military said.

The hostages, all women, "were officially handed over to the Red Cross" in Gaza City ahead of their return to Israel, the senior Hamas official told AFP.

It came hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in the morning, nearly three hours later than scheduled, after more than 15 months of war.

During the delay, Israel's military said it was continuing to operate, with the territory's civil defence agency reporting 19 people killed and 25 wounded in bombardments.

Minutes after the truce began, the United Nations said the first trucks carrying sorely needed humanitarian aid had entered the Palestinian territory, as displaced, war-weary Palestinians set off across the devastated Gaza Strip to return to their home areas.

Thousands of people carrying tents, clothes and their personal belongings were seen going home, after the war that displaced the vast majority of Gaza's population, in many cases more than once.

In the northern area of Jabalia, hundreds streamed down a sandy path, returning to an apocalyptic landscape piled with rubble and destroyed buildings. 

"We are finally in our home. There is no home left, just rubble, but it's our home," said Rana Mohsen, 43, back in Jabalia.

Another returning resident, Walid Abu Jiab, said he had found "massive, unprecedented destruction", with "nothing left" in Gaza's war-battered north, which has seen intense violence over the past months.

In the southern city of Rafah, Ahmad al-Balawi said that "as soon as I returned... I felt a shock."

"Entire areas have been completely wiped out", he told AFP, describing "decomposing bodies, rubble, and destruction everywhere".

'Massive' Aid Effort

Aid workers say northern Gaza is particularly hard-hit, lacking all essentials including food, shelter and water.

Jonathan Whittall, interim chief of the UN's OCHA humanitarian agency for the Palestinian territories, said on X that the first trucks started entering following the truce, after "a massive effort" to prepare for a surge of aid across the territory.

The truce had been scheduled to begin at 8:30 am (0630 GMT) but a last-minute dispute over the list of hostages to be freed on the first day led to the holdup.

Qatar, a mediator of the truce, later confirmed it had gone into effect.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified the three women set to be released later on Sunday as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.

The Israeli military said that "the Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way" to be taken by Israeli forces.

Hamas earlier said it was waiting for Israel to furnish "a list containing the names of 90 prisoners from the categories of women and children" also to be released on the first day.

A total of 33 Israeli hostages, 31 of whom taken by militants during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce, in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians in Israeli custody.

The truce is intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the war, but a second phase has yet to be finalised.

It follows a deal struck by Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of negotiations.

In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu called the first phase a "temporary ceasefire" and said Israel had US support to return to the war if necessary.

In Gaza City, well before the ceasefire went into effect, people were already celebrating, waving Palestinian flags in the street.

The Israeli army warned Gaza residents early Sunday not to approach its forces or "the buffer zone" near Israeli territory "for your safety".

In Israel, the ceasefire was met with guarded optimism.

"I don't trust our side or their side," said taxi driver David Gutterman. "Always at the last moment something, a problem, can pop up, but all in all I'm really happy."

Shai Zaik, an employee at Tel Aviv's art museum, said he had "mixed feelings" but was "full of hope" that the hostages would return after so many disappointments in the last year."  

Israel has prepared reception centres to provide medical treatment and counselling to the freed hostages before they return to their families. Health workers have warned of the psychological challenges the captives will face upon release.

600 Trucks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said 600 trucks a day would enter Gaza after the ceasefire took effect, including 50 carrying fuel.

The war's only previous truce, for one week in November 2023, also saw the release of hostages held by militants in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas's October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israel's history, resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Of the 251 people taken hostage, 94 are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has destroyed much of Gaza, killing at least 46,913 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

The truce took effect on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration for a second term as president of the United States.

Trump, who claimed credit for the ceasefire deal after months of effort by the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden, told US network NBC on Saturday that he had told Netanyahu the war "has to end".

"We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done," he said.

Under the deal, Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow displaced Palestinians to return "to their residences", Qatar's prime minister said in announcing the deal.

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US immigration authorities will carry out mass arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country on Tuesday, a top border official in the incoming administration of Donald Trump has said.

The move would be among the first by Republican Trump, who returns to the White House on Monday, to uphold a campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States.

The remarks on Friday by Trump's incoming "border czar" Tom Homan to Fox News came in response to reports in the Wall Street Journal and other US outlets that Trump's new administration planned to carry out an "immigration raid" in Chicago beginning Tuesday.

"There's going to be a big raid across the country. Chicago is just one of many places," said Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who oversaw a policy that separated migrant parents and children at the border under the first Trump administration.

"On Tuesday, ICE is finally going to go out and do their job. We're going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens," he said in the interview.

"What we're telling ICE, you're going to enforce the immigration law without apology. You're going to concentrate on the worst first, public safety threats first, but no one is off the table. If they're in the country illegally, they got a problem," Homan added.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the "large-scale immigration raid" in Chicago was expected to start on Tuesday, a day after Trump's inauguration, would "last all week" and would involve 100 to 200 ICE officers, citing four unnamed people familiar with the operation's planning.

Don Terry, a Chicago police spokesman, told the New York Times that the department would not "intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties."

But he said the department "does not document immigration status" and "will not share information with federal immigration authorities."

Midwestern Chicago is one of several Democrat-led US cities that have declared themselves "sanctuaries" for migrants -- meaning they will not be arrested solely for not having legal immigrant status.

A Trump representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Train passengers travelling without a ticket should be allowed to go scot-free with a "yellow card", rather than being handed fines or prosecuted for their actions, train companies in Britain have been urged, according to a BBC report. Rail watchdog Transport Focus suggested that the train companies introduce a novel system that "makes things fairer for everyone".

The suggestion comes in the backdrop of multiple cases where passengers were forced into lengthy legal proceedings over small amounts of money. Last year, 22-year-old Sam Williamson was threatened with prosecution by train operator, Northern Rail, after he mistakenly bought an invalid £3.65 (Rs 385.22) ticket using his 16-25 railcard. The full price of the ticket was £5.50 (Rs 580.46) - £1.85 (rs 195.25) more.

Mr Williamson's case prompted widespread criticism of Northern Rail which was forced to withdraw all live prosecutions against the passenger.

"Transport Focus has long been concerned about the complexity of rail fares and ticketing, particularly for passengers who find it hard to buy the right ticket for their journey," read a statement by Natasha Grice, director for rail at Transport Focus.

"We understand and support the principle that all users of rail should be paying for their ticket, but we want to make sure that passengers who make an innocent mistake aren't punished unfairly."

Also Read | Ancient Pagan Temple Linked To Jesus' Ancestors Found Under Jerusalem

Review underway

The Department for Transport (DfT) has already ordered the Office of Rail and Road to carry out an independent review of rail fare prosecutions and enforcement. 

"We've ordered a review of revenue protection practices which will look at what changes can be made, and in the meantime, have been clear with train operators that their policies on ticketing must be fair and easy to understand at all times," a DfT spokesman said.

Prior to the watchdog's suggestion for a nationwide implementation, rail companies such as Cross Country and Southeastern have already introduced yellow card systems. The Merseyside Rail is also looking to introduce the move later this year.

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Israeli far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened on Tuesday to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government if he agrees to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal being negotiated at talks in Qatar.

Ben-Gvir, whose departure would not bring down Netanyahu's government, urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a ceasefire deal, which he described as a dangerous capitulation to Hamas.

"This move is our only chance to prevent (the deal's) execution, and prevent Israel's surrender to Hamas, after more than a year of bloody war, in which more than 400 IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers fell in the Gaza Strip, and to ensure that their deaths are not in vain," Ben-Gvir said on X.

Smotrich said on Monday that he objects to the deal but did not threaten to bolt Netanyahu's coalition. A majority of ministers are expected to back the phased ceasefire deal, which details a halt to fighting and the release of hostages.

Ben-Gvir echoed remarks by Smotrich, who said on Monday Israel should keep up its military campaign in Gaza until the complete surrender of Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose Oct. 7 2023 attack caused the war.

About 1,200 people were killed in Hamas' 2023 assault on Israel and more than 250 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the enclave laid to waste and most its population displaced.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have been mediating a ceasefire deal and agreements could be imminent, officials have said.

Some hostage families oppose the deal because they fear that the phased deal taking shape will see only some of the remaining 98 hostages freed and others left behind.

Successive surveys have shown broad support among the Israeli public for such a deal.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday dismissed as bluster President-elect Donald Trump's threats to seize the Panama Canal, instead anticipating a more traditional strategy of diversifying supply chains.

"On the Panama Canal, we have a treaty, we have a settled policy of many years, and that's not going to change," Blinken said at a farewell news conference.

"I think it doesn't warrant spending a lot of time talking about it," he said of Trump's threats.

At a freewheeling news conference this month in Florida, Trump refused to rule out using force to seize the Panama Canal and even Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Trump has pointed to rising Chinese influence in the Panama Canal, inaugurated in 1914 and built by the United States, mostly with Afro-Caribbean labor.

Panama took full control of the canal at the end of 1999 under a deal shepherded by late president Jimmy Carter, who saw a moral responsibility to treat Panama more respectfully.

Alluding to concerns about China's clout in industry around the world, Blinken said that President Joe Biden's administration has made "extraordinary progress" in seeking "a greater diversity of supply chains."

"So that's where the focus should be, and that's where I expect the focus actually will be," Blinken said.

But Marco Rubio, tapped by Trump as the next secretary of state, said at his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday: "This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one."

He asked whether Chinese companies could take control of surrounding ports and, under orders of Beijing, decide to "shut it down or impede our transit."

"This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted," Rubio said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will not be running in the upcoming federal elections, scheduled for October this year. This decision comes after Trudeau stated last week that he would step down as Prime Minister as soon as his Liberal Party chooses a new leader. "In terms of my own decisions, I will not be running in the upcoming election," Trudeau said during a press conference in Ottawa.

Trudeau expressed uncertainty about his future after leaving politics, stating, "As to what I might be doing later, I honestly haven't had much time to think about that at all. I am entirely focused on doing the job that Canadians elected me to do in an extraordinarily pivotal time right now." He also met with Canada's premiers, the ambassador to the US, and some federal cabinet ministers to discuss how Canada would respond to Trump's tariff threats.

After serving as Prime Minister for over nine years, Trudeau faced pressure from the opposition and within his party to resign. This pressure intensified after the resignation of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. Trudeau announced, "I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process".

The process to replace Trudeau has not officially begun, but some well-known Liberal faces have started announcing their intentions to run. Interested candidates must notify the party and make an initial payment by January 23, and the party's new leader will be announced on March 9. Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland are expected to be leading contenders.

Trudeau will remain Prime Minister until the Liberal leadership election concludes in March and plans to serve as a member of Parliament until the next federal elections are held. However, he will cease to be an MP in the new Parliament if he does not contest and win in the election.
 

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OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, have killed my son in order to hide something they want nobody to know, said Poornima Rao, mother of whistleblower and former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji. He had documents against them and what they are up to, she said in her latest tirade against the tech giant.

In an explosive interview to American commentator Tucker Carlson, Ms Rao made some stunning claims and serious charges over her son's death and the opacity and secrecy in the world of Artificial Intelligence.

Suchir Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in November, shortly after he had turned a whistleblower against AI-giant OpenAI. He had publicly raised ethical concerns about the ChatGPT maker's practices before his death. After an initial investigation, authorities had concluded that his death was an act of suicide. However, his family has since called for an FBI investigation, highlighting several lapses and alleging that Balaji was murdered.

In the interview, Ms Rao recalled that the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had declared that her son died by suicide. However, when they asked her if she feels he could have killed himself and if he was depressed recently, she told them "My son celebrated his birthday a day before he died. What more do we need to give on account that he was in a happy mood?" She added that he had even received his birthday gift from his father the same day he was later found dead.

Making a grave allegation against OpenAI, Ms Rao said on record that "My son had documents against OpenAI. They attacked him and killed him," adding that "some documents were missing" after his death.

She further accused the ChatGPT maker of hushing up the investigation and any possible witnesses, saying "Everybody is suppressed, nobody is ready to come up and tell the truth. Even the attorneys have been made to say that it is a suicide."

Elon Musk shared Suchir Balaji's mother's interview with Tucker Carlson on his X handle, calling it "Extremely concerning".

Extremely concerning
pic.twitter.com/ze1mmlIMdD

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2025

Continuing her diatribe against OpenAI, Suchir Balaji's mother accused the authorities of an unconvincing response and a botched up investigation, saying "It took them (authorities) more than 14 minutes to determine the cause of death and tell me that it was a suicide."

She even slammed the police for holding on to information and not being transparent about it. "I knew that my son was dead was by looking at the white van," she said, adding that the cops kept making excuses to delay the information. "In the evening, they returned the keys to me and told me that I could pick up the body tomorrow," she said.

In an earlier post on social media platform X, the mother had said that Suchir Balaji's "apartment was ransacked" and there was apparently a "sign of struggle in the bathroom". She also claimed that there were bloodstains which were found. "Someone hit him in bathroom. There were blood spots," she said, concluding that "It was cold blooded murder declared by authorities as suicide."

Suchir Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years. He resigned in August, 2023 after expressing dissatisfaction with the company's shift to a for-profit model. According to his mother, this shift was a key factor in his decision to leave and turn whistleblower. He had even given an interview to the New York Times raising concerns over the ChatGpt maker.

The San Francisco Police Department has reportedly reopened the case as an "active investigation," but it has not shared further details. Meanwhile, Suchir Balaji's parents have said, "We demand the FBI step in to uncover the truth."
 

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Walmart's first logo update in 17 years is garnering significant online attention, though it may not be the kind the retail giant anticipated. The redesign, which the company describes as a modernisation grounded in tradition, includes a bolder font, a richer blue background, and a "more energised" yellow spark icon.

Speaking about the change, William White, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Walmart US, said in a press statement: "This update, rooted in the legacy of our founder, Sam Walton, demonstrates our evolving capabilities and longstanding commitment to serve our customers of today and tomorrow."

The internet, especially X (formerly Twitter), is awash with memes and jokes about the new logo

A user commented, "Some consulting firm fleeced them for $500M for this."

Some consulting firm fleeced them for $500M for this.

— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) January 13, 2025

Another user wrote, "Breaking: Walmart spends millions to shift their logo's shade by one hex code. Innovation at its finest."

Breaking: Walmart spends millions to shift their logo's shade by one hex code. Innovation at its finest. ??

— Kentucky Kernels Of Truth (@TrackDaddyKy) January 13, 2025

How much do you think they paid for this? $1M? $10M? $100M?

— Kody Nordquist (@KodyNordquist) January 13, 2025

The third user asked on X, "How much do you think they paid for this? $1M? $10M? $100M?"

The fourth user wrote, " Did Walmart release a new logo or a vision test? Just asking."

Did Walmart release a new logo or a vision test? ?

Just asking ? pic.twitter.com/L2iW10esvA

— ♥️?Mariel Schaab ?? ?? Coach4Expats (@MarieSchaab) January 14, 2025

Walmart just unveiled their new logo. It looks the fucking same. pic.twitter.com/UwoQDX4Ij9

— Tiffany Fong (@TiffanyFong_) January 13, 2025

The fifth user wrote, "Walmart just unveiled their new logo. It looks the f****** same."

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