Israeli fire in Gaza killed at least 17 Palestinians, most of them women and children, hospital officials said Wednesday, while Israel said militant gunfire had injured an Israeli soldier. They were the latest Palestinian deaths since a ceasefire, which has been punctuated by deadly Israeli strikes, came into effect on Oct. 10, 2025. More than 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the deal took effect, according to Gaza's health ministry. The attacks and the escalating death toll have rocked the U.S.-backed truce and caused Palestinians in the strip to say it does not feel like the war has ended. "The genocidal war against our people in the Gaza Strip continues," said Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, in a Facebook post. "Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?" Mediators have condemned the attacks and Hamas has called them violations of the deal, but Israel's military says it is responding to Hamas violations or militant attacks on its soldiers. At least three soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took hold. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
04 February,2026 03:16 PM IST | Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip) | APRussia fired around 450 long-range drones and 70 missiles of various types at Ukraine in a major attack overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday. The barrage came a day before the two countries were due to attend US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on ending the all-out war, which Russia launched nearly four years ago. The bombardment of at least five regions of Ukraine specifically took aim at the power grid, Zelenskyy said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 11:00 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) committed to expand "bilateral and multilateral cooperation" through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) during their meeting ahead of the Critical Minerals Ministerial and welcomed the recently announced India-US trade deal, in which Washington reduced the tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent. According to a readout from the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, EAM Jaishankar and Secretary Rubio discussed formalising cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing and also emphasised the importance of the two democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals. "The Secretary and External Affairs Minister discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing. Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders emphasized the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals," the readout stated. Both leaders also called for a "prosperous Indo-Pacific region", crucial for promoting shared interests. "Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar concluded their meeting by expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests," the readout added. The Quad comprises the United States, Australia, Japan, and India as partner countries. EAM Jaishankar met with Rubio as part of an ongoing three-day visit to the United States, during which he is participating in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4. The United States is set to host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC, bringing together delegations from over 50 countries to advance collaboration on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains, according to a prior notice issued by the Office of the Spokesperson of the US State Department. Following his meeting, EAM Jaishankar, in a post on X, said that he was "delighted" to meet with Rubio, stating that both sides held conversations that covered the India-US "bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues". "Delighted to meet US Secretary Rubio this afternoon. A wide-ranging conversation covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues. Facets of India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Agreed on early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests," EAM said in his post. Secretary Rubio also shared on X, stating, "Met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar to discuss our bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration and work together to unlock new economic opportunities between our two countries. We also commended the trade deal between the United States and India." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 10:10 AM IST | Washington | ANISweden-based Candela says its electric hydrofoiling ferry, the P-12, completed the longest electric sea journey by a passenger vessel, travelling 160 nautical miles from Gothenburg to Oslo. Electric ferries are expanding rapidly. But most remain constrained by high energy consumption and short ranges, forcing operators to rely on fixed routes and costly battery-swapping systems. To address this, the P-12 —the world’s first serial-production electric hydrofoil ferry — is designed to lift its hull above the water using computer-controlled submerged wings. Once airborne, drag drops sharply, cutting energy consumption by about 80 per cent compared with conventional vessels. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:39 AM IST | Stockholm | AgenciesFrench prosecutors searched the offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Tuesday as part of a preliminary investigation into a range of alleged offences, including spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. The investigation was opened in January 2025 by the Paris prosecutors’ cybercrime unit, into alleged “complicity” in possession and spreading of pornographic images of minors, sexually explicit deepfakes, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of an automated data processing system as part of an organised group, among other charges. Prosecutors also asked for Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino — CEO of X from 2023 to 2025 — to be present for “voluntary interviews” on April 20. Employees of X have also been summoned the same week. The investigation was first opened following reports by a French lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms on X were likely to have distorted the functioning of an automated data processing system. It was later expanded after X’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok generated posts that allegedly denied the Holocaust and spread sexually explicit deepfakes. Holocaust denial is a crime in France. Grok wrote in French that gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were designed for “disinfection” rather than for mass murder — language long associated with Holocaust denial. In later posts, the chatbot acknowledged that its earlier reply was wrong, said it had been deleted and pointed to historical evidence that Zyklon B in Auschwitz gas chambers was used to kill more than 1 million people. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:36 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesThree Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home. Harjot Singh, 21, Taranveer Singh, 19, and Dayajeet Singh Billing, 21, face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said. The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported. On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street. The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:33 AM IST | Ottawa | AgenciesA 13-year-old boy, Austin Appelbee, swam 4 km to shore after his family was swept out to sea in Geographe Bay while kayaking and paddleboarding. Austin attempted to kayak back for help but swam when his kayak capsized, taking approximately four hours to reach land. The family was rescued 14 km offshore by marine rescue volunteers after the boy provided a detailed description of their equipment. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:31 AM IST | Sydney | AgenciesA bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was cut and stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, triggering a police investigation. The police believe it was stolen by three unknown offenders from the charity premises on Kingsley Close, Rowville. According to The Australia Today, the statue was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi and was inaugurated on November 12, 2021 by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The incident has drawn strong criticism from New Delhi, with India formally taking up the matter and urging Australian authorities to act. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:29 AM IST | Melbourne | AgenciesRussia has not heard any statements from India about stopping Russian oil purchases, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. His comments came a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela." "We haven't heard any statements from New Delhi on this matter yet," Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman also said that Russia intends to continue to develop its relations with India in every possible way, according to Russian media reports. Sources in Russia's energy ministry said they have not received any notice from Indian refiners to cancel contracts. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, who spoke with PM Modi on Monday, announced that India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington will charge a reduced reciprocal tariff on Delhi, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. Trump last year imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, among the highest in the world, including 25 per cent levies for its purchases of Russian energy. India buys about 88 per cent of its crude oil, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel, from overseas. Russian oil made up hardly 0.2 per cent of all crude oil that India imported till 2021. India, the world's third-largest oil importer, became the largest buyer of discounted Russian crude after Western countries shunned Moscow following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. India's import of Russian crude oil dropped to around 1.1 million barrels per day in the first three weeks of January, from an average of 1.21 million bpd in the previous month and over 2 million bpd imports in mid-2025, according to data from real-time analytics company Kpler. Iraq is now supplying almost the same volumes as Russia, up from an average of 9,04,000 bpd in December 2025, according to Kpler. Volumes from Saudi Arabia too have risen to 9,24,000 bpd in January, from 7,10,000 bpd in December and lows of 5,39,000 bpd in April 2025. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
03 February,2026 05:27 PM IST | Moscow, Russia | PTIExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in New York for a three-day official visit to the United States and is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday as part of talks focused on cooperation in critical minerals. The meeting comes a day after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the call, the president announced a trade deal with India. The announcement has added momentum to high-level engagements between the two sides. Jaishankar’s visit from February 2 to February 4 includes participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Rubio, according to an official announcement. The ministerial will bring together partner countries to discuss supply chain resilience and strategic cooperation. The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to travel from New York to Washington during the visit. He is likely to hold bilateral talks with Rubio on Tuesday, followed by participation in the ministerial on Wednesday. US Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the conference. The bilateral talks are expected to review a wide range of issues, including regional and global matters. These include developments related to the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as economic and strategic cooperation. In a social media post on X, EAM Jaishankar welcomed the announcements on bilateral trade following the conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. “This will create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies. It will strengthen ‘Make in India’ endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties. The opportunities in our economic engagement are truly vast and we are confident of realizing them,” he said. “A robust economic relationship is the strongest foundation for our strategic partnership,” the EiAM wrote. On Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar would attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial. The Critical Minerals Ministerial will focus on supply chain resilience, clean energy transitions, and strategic cooperation in the critical minerals sector. These materials are essential for advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies, and emerging industries. In addition to the ministerial, Jaishankar will meet senior members of the US administration. Details of those meetings were not disclosed. India and the United States have increased engagement in recent years on issues linked to economic security. Critical minerals have become a central element of that dialogue, with both countries seeking to ensure reliable and diversified supply chains. The US State Department said on February 4 that the United States will welcome delegations to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains. “This historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security,” the State Department said. Jaishankar’s Washington engagements are part of regular high-level exchanges between New Delhi and Washington. The two sides maintain frequent dialogue on diplomacy, trade, technology, and security. Critical minerals have gained importance globally in recent years. They are widely used in clean energy systems, batteries, and other strategic sectors, with demand rising as countries expand renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
03 February,2026 12:59 PM IST | Washington | IANSUS President Donald Trump lashed out at the “pathetic” and “talentless” Trevor Noah, who hosted this year’s Grammy Awards, describing the ceremony as “the worst” and “virtually unwatchable.” During Sunday night’s Grammys, host Trevor Noah took a swipe at Trump and his one-time friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. “The Grammy Awards are the worst, virtually unwatchable! CBS is lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer. The host, Trevor Noah, whoever he may be, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Ratings Academy Awards,” POTUS said on the social media network Truth Social. After Billie Eilish won the ‘Song of the Year’ Grammy, Noah transitioned for a moment with a joke at Trump’s expense. “There you have it, song of the year! Congratulations, Billie Eilish. Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton. I told you, it’s my last year! What are you going to do about it?,” Variety cited Noah’s remarks from the award ceremony. US President Donald Trump Trump took to Truth Social platform to hit back, “Noah said, incorrectly about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. Wrong! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory, statement, have never been accused being there, not even by the fake news media.” Calling the host a “total loser”, the US President wrote, “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$. Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and others, how that all worked out. Also ask CBS! Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you! President DJT” This year marks Noah’s last time hosting the Grammys. He first took on the role while he was still hosting The Daily Show and continued even after leaving the show in 2022. He is also serving as an executive producer for this year’s ceremony. Dalai Lama wins Grammy Award The 68th annual Grammy Awards took place on and the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling recording in ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’. “I am not the Dalai Lama,” musician Rufus Wainwright, who accepted the award on the Dalai Lama’s behalf, joked in an acceptance speech. “It was a privilege to participate on this project.” China deplored award, saying it opposes the Tibetan leader using the recognition to carry out “anti-China activities”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 February,2026 10:13 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1770198144561_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "A relative of 6-month-old Mira al-Khabbaz, killed in the Israeli strike earlier in the day, mourns over her body. Pic/AFP")
-1770119468564_d.png "India is the world's third-largest oil importer. Representational Image")
