Netanyahu criticizes extremist settlers in West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take action against a violent “handful of extremists” among Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, following clashes and another attack on Monday.

On Monday evening, homes and vehicles in a Palestinian village were set on fire, just hours after members of the so-called Hilltop Youth clashed with security forces who were dismantling an illegal settler outpost.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.

In recent weeks, attacks attributed to Israeli settlers—particularly those living in outposts—have increased, targeting Palestinians and sometimes even Israeli soldiers.

“I view with great severity the violent riots and the attempt by a handful of extremists to take the law into their own hands,” Netanyahu said, calling the perpetrators “a group that does not represent” settlers in the Palestinian territories.

He added, “I call on law enforcement authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law.

I intend to address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible to confront this serious issue.”

Earlier on Monday, Israeli security forces deployed hundreds of personnel to evacuate and demolish the illegal Tzur Misgavi outpost in the Gush Etzion area, near the Palestinian town of Sair.

Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades during clashes with extremist settlers, who were trying to evict Palestinian residents and establish settlements without government approval.

Some demonstrators climbed onto a digger and stood atop structures as bulldozers demolished them.

At least 10 prefabricated homes were destroyed, leaving women with young children sitting amid the rubble.

Village attacked

Hours later, the Israeli military said it had been dispatched alongside police to the nearby Palestinian village of Jab'a, around 30 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem, following reports of "dozens of Israeli civilians who set fire to and vandalised homes and vehicles".

"Israeli security forces at the scene are conducting searches to locate involved individuals. The incident is still ongoing," it said in a statement.

"These violent incidents divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from their primary mission of defence and counter-terrorism."

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said: "The riot of the Hilltop Youth in the village of Jab'a is another stage in the escalating violence."

The United Nations said October had been the worst month for West Bank settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.

Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.

Shaming Judaism

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the "Jewish rioters" in the West Bank were harming Israel, "shaming Judaism and causing damage to the settlement enterprise".

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the government would "continue to develop and grow settlements" while upholding the law "and the stability of the region, as he condemned the "criminal anarchists".

Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir last week pledged to halt settler violence in the West Bank, following a wave of attacks targeting Palestinians.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis now live there in settlements, alongside some three million Palestinians.

While all Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal under international law, outposts are also prohibited under Israeli law.

However, many end up being legalised by the Israeli authorities.

At least 1,006 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.

UN Security Council approves US-backed resolution supporting Trump’s Gaza proposal

The UN Security Council on Monday approved a US-drafted resolution backing President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and authorizing the deployment of an international stabilization force in the Palestinian territory.

Israel and Hamas last month endorsed the first phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza proposal — a cease-fire in their two-year conflict and a hostage-release agreement — but UN approval is viewed as essential for legitimizing a transitional governing body and assuring countries considering contributing troops.

According to the text, UN member states may participate in the Trump-chaired Board of Peace, envisioned as an interim authority tasked with overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction and economic revival.

The resolution also authorizes the establishment of an international stabilization force responsible for demilitarizing Gaza, including dismantling weapons and eliminating militant infrastructure.

Hamas, however, reiterated in a statement that it will not give up its arms, asserting that its struggle against Israel constitutes legitimate resistance — a position that could set the group on a collision course with the newly mandated force.

“The resolution imposes an international guardianship over the Gaza Strip, something our people and factions reject,” Hamas said in its statement following the vote.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the measure — which includes Trump’s full 20-point plan as an annex — “lays out a viable path toward Palestinian self-determination … where rockets are replaced by olive branches and a political horizon can finally emerge.”

“It breaks Hamas’ hold, and it ensures Gaza can rise free from the shadow of terror — more stable, more prosperous, and more secure,” Waltz told the Security Council ahead of the vote.

Russia, which had earlier hinted it might veto the resolution, ultimately abstained, allowing it to pass. China also abstained, with both delegations criticizing the limited role envisioned for the UN in Gaza’s future.

“Essentially, the council is giving its blessing to a US initiative based solely on Washington’s assurances, handing full control of the Gaza Strip to the Board of Peace and the ISF, whose modalities we still know nothing about,” Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said after the vote.

The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, welcomed the resolution and said it is prepared to help implement it. Diplomats noted that the PA’s endorsement last week played a crucial role in preventing a Russian veto.

Trump hailed the vote as “a moment of truly historic proportion” in a social-media post, adding that the names of Board members — along with “many more exciting announcements” — would be unveiled in the coming weeks.

'Pathway' to statehood

The resolution has proven controversial in Israel because it references a future possibility of statehood for the Palestinians.

The resolution's text says that "conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood" once the Palestinian Authority has carried out a reform program and Gaza's redevelopment has advanced.

"The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence," it says.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from right-wing members of his government, said on Sunday that Israel remained opposed to a Palestinian state and pledged to demilitarise Gaza "the easy way or the hard way."

Bangladesh’s former PM Hasina sentenced to death over student crackdown

A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal on Monday handed down a death sentence to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, wrapping up a months-long trial that held her responsible for ordering a lethal crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

The verdict marks one of the most consequential legal actions against a former Bangladeshi premier in decades and comes just months before national elections expected in early February.

With Hasina’s Awami League already barred from contesting, fears are mounting that the ruling could ignite renewed unrest ahead of the polls.

The International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh’s domestic war crimes court based in Dhaka, announced the judgment under stringent security measures and in Hasina’s absence, as she fled to India in August 2024.

Hasina received a life sentence for crimes against humanity and the death penalty for the killings that occurred during the uprising. The courtroom erupted in cheers and applause as the death sentence was read out.

The former premier retains the right to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court. However, Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, told Reuters a day before the ruling that they would not pursue an appeal unless a democratically elected government—one including the Awami League—takes office.

During the trial, prosecutors claimed they had obtained evidence proving Hasina ordered security forces to use deadly force to crush the student movement that swept the country in July and August 2024.

A United Nations assessment estimated that as many as 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 5, 2024, with thousands more injured—many from gunfire by security forces.

Hasina was defended by a state-appointed lawyer, who insisted the charges were fabricated and urged the court to acquit her.

The former premier, however, had repeatedly dismissed the proceedings as politically motivated, calling the outcome “predetermined.”

Tension had been rising nationwide in the days leading up to the verdict, with at least 30 crude bomb blasts and 26 vehicles torched across different cities. No casualties were reported.

Hasina, 78, who has remained in India since she was overthrown in August 2024, challenged the legitimacy of the Tribunal in an email interview with Reuters last month.

"These proceedings are a politically motivated charade," she said. "They have been brought by kangaroo courts, with guilty verdicts a foregone conclusion. They are presided over by an unelected government which consists of my political opponents."

She also said she was denied adequate notice of the hearings and any meaningful opportunity to mount a defence, adding that she was not personally involved in the use of lethal force or other alleged crimes.

The Muslim-majority South Asian country of 170 million people has been governed by an interim administration headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus since Hasina fled. Although the country has been largely peaceful since, political stability is yet to return.

In the Reuters interview, Hasina warned of growing anger among supporters of the Awami League and said that millions of party loyalists would boycott the parliamentary elections in February.

On Monday, security remained tight across Dhaka and other major cities, with paramilitary forces deployed around key government buildings and the tribunal complex.

Saudi Arabia restricts Hajj 2026 for seriously ill pilgrims

The Saudi government has announced strict restrictions for seriously ill individuals wishing to perform Hajj 2026. Under a new policy, seriously ill pilgrims may be deported back to their home countries, with the cost of travel to be borne by the pilgrims themselves.

Sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs added that action will be taken against doctors who issue fitness certificates to individuals who do not meet the health requirements.

According to directives from the Saudi Ministry of Health regarding medical conditions for Hajj 2026, patients with kidney diseases or those undergoing dialysis will not be permitted to perform the pilgrimage.

Similarly, individuals with heart conditions that limit physical activity, advanced lung or liver diseases, and severe neurological or psychiatric illnesses—including memory impairment, dementia, or severe disabilities—will also be restricted.

Additionally, elderly individuals with serious age-related health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease or epilepsy, will be barred from performing Hajj.

Pregnant women, as well as patients suffering from contagious diseases such as whooping cough, tuberculosis, or viral hemorrhagic fevers, will likewise not be allowed to participate in Hajj 2026.

Cancer patients have also been declared ineligible for Hajj. Medical officers will be authorised to prevent such individuals from travelling before departure.

Monitoring teams deployed by Saudi authorities will assess and verify the authenticity of each pilgrim’s fitness certificate.

iPhone Air 2 and 20th-anniversary iPhone rumored for 2027 launch

Apple is preparing for a busy 2027, planning to launch a second-generation iPhone Air in the spring and a special 20th-anniversary iPhone in the fall, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reported that the iPhone Air 2 is expected around March 2027, likely alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower-end iPhone 18e.

Later in September, Apple is set to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary with a new device, which may feature a curved glass display and a front camera hidden beneath the screen.

The spring launch of the iPhone Air 2 could include several upgrades, such as a larger battery, a lighter design, and a cooling system similar to that in the iPhone 17 Pro models. Some engineers are reportedly considering adding a second rear camera.

While an ultra-wide camera is technically feasible, it may be an unusual choice given the device’s already packed feature set.

Nevertheless, these enhancements are expected to make the Air model more appealing and boost demand.

The iPhone Air 2 is also rumored to feature a 2nm chip, promising faster performance and improved battery life.

Gurman emphasized that the release of the iPhone Air 2 was always intended for 2027, rather than being a delay.

Apple initially marketed the iPhone Air as a niche device, representing only six to eight percent of total iPhone sales.

While it’s unclear whether the first model met expectations, the company appears ready to continue the line with the second generation.

Alongside the Air model, Apple is also expected to release its usual fall lineup in 2026, including the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone. The spring 2027 releases would then expand the line with the iPhone 18, 18e, and the anticipated iPhone Air 2.

With these plans, Apple seems set to blend tradition with experimentation, offering fans both its standard flagship devices and new innovations marking the iPhone’s two-decade milestone.

Palestinian shot dead during Israeli army operation in West Bank

The Israeli military said Sunday that it had killed one person overnight during an operation in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, while the Palestinian health ministry reported that a teenager had been shot dead.

According to the Israeli military, “Overnight (Sunday), IDF reserve soldiers conducted an operational activity in the Nablus area during which a person hurled an explosive device at the soldiers.

The soldiers responded with fire and neutralized the individual. No IDF injuries were reported.”

The Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry identified the deceased as 19-year-old Hassan Ahmed Jamil Moussa, saying he was shot in the Askar refugee camp in eastern Nablus.

Majed Abu Kishk, head of the Askar services committee, stated that the teenager was shot around midnight during a raid on the camp. He was later handed over to Palestinian ambulance services, but was already dead.

The Askar camp is located at the eastern end of Nablus in the northern West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

Violence in the Palestinian territory has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.

At least 1,006 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.

Iran Launches Cloud Seeding Efforts Amid Worsening Drought

Iranian authorities have begun cloud seeding operations in a bid to bring rainfall amid the country’s most severe drought in decades, according to state media.

“Today, a cloud seeding flight was conducted over the Urmia Lake basin for the first time in the current water year,” which began in September, the official IRNA news agency reported late Saturday.

Urmia, in northwest Iran, is the country’s largest lake but has largely dried up, leaving behind a vast salt bed due to prolonged drought.

IRNA noted that additional cloud seeding efforts are planned for the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan.

Cloud seeding involves dispersing particles like silver iodide or salt into clouds from aircraft to stimulate rainfall.

Iran claimed last year that it had developed its own technology for the process.

Meanwhile, rainfall has been recorded in Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Lorestan, and West Azerbaijan provinces.

The country’s meteorological organization reported that rainfall this year has dropped by roughly 89 percent compared to long-term averages.

“We are currently experiencing the driest autumn in 50 years,” the agency said.

State media also shared footage of snow covering Tochal mountain and its ski resort near Tehran in the Alborz range, marking the first snowfall of the season.

Iran, a largely arid country, has for years suffered chronic dry spells and heat waves expected to worsen with climate change.

Rainfall in the capital Tehran has been at its lowest level in a century, according to local officials, and half of Iran's provinces have not seen a drop of rain in months.

Water levels at reservoirs supplying many provinces have fallen to record lows.

Earlier this month, President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that without rain before winter, Tehran could face evacuation, though he did not elaborate.

Other countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, have also used cloud seeding to artificially produce rain.