Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 42-day ceasefire starting January 19, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US. The deal includes the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly, and 737 Palestinian detainees. Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas but maintain an 800-meter buffer zone inside Gaza. Hostages will undergo medical evaluations before being transported to Israeli hospitals. Negotiations for a second phase of the truce will begin on the 16th day, aiming for a permanent end to the conflict. Outgoing US President Joe Biden praised the agreement as a crucial step toward peace.

A new CCTV image reveals the attacker of Saif Ali Khan in a yellow t-shirt, different from previous visuals. Police suspect the individual boarded a train from Bandra to evade capture. The 54-year-old actor was stabbed six times at his Bandra home while intervening in an intruder’s attack. Saif is now stable and recovering after spinal surgery at Lilavati Hospital. Two house helps also sustained injuries. Mumbai Police has formed 35 teams to track the suspect, identified as a 35-40-year-old man. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis assured that significant leads will result in an arrest soon.

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to join India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, pending fitness confirmation. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will finalize the squad on January 18 in Mumbai. Bumrah, recovering from a back injury, might play in the ODI series against England for fitness assessment. Despite stellar form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Karun Nair has been excluded due to lack of recent international exposure. Sanju Samson, part of the T20I squad, also misses out, reportedly for skipping domestic tournaments. India aims to finalize its lineup for the crucial tournament.

Sealdah court in Kolkata will deliver its verdict today in the RG Kar rape-murder case, where 31-year-old trainee doctor was killed inside the medical college. The CBI seeks the death penalty for accused Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, arrested via CCTV evidence. The case, transferred from Kolkata police to the CBI, highlighted lapses in initial investigations. Nationwide protests demanded stronger safety measures for medical professionals, prompting the Supreme Court to form a National Task Force for their protection. The victim's family alleges more culprits remain uncharged, citing DNA evidence, and has approached the high court for further action.

TikTok warned it will shut down in the US on January 19 unless President Joe Biden assures Apple and Google of non-enforcement. This follows the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to uphold a law banning TikTok unless its Chinese owner ByteDance divests. The ban affects 170M American users and raises national security concerns.   Donald Trump, returning as president, plans to "save" TikTok but hasn't outlined specific actions. ByteDance remains unwilling to sell, while users are shifting to other platforms. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.   Experts see Beijing leveraging TikTok in the ongoing US-China tensions.

Dense fog in Delhi disrupted train and flight operations on Saturday, with the minimum temperature settling at 7°C and maximum at 19°C, the IMD reported. The fog is expected to persist for three days before rain and thunderstorms arrive on January 22-23. Delhi’s AQI improved to 248 after recent rains, moving to the "Very Poor" category. Cold wave conditions gripped North India, impacting Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, with Himachal witnessing snowfall. Visibility in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh remained low due to dense fog. IMD predicts no significant temperature change in the next 48 hours.

Israel's government has approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas, starting January 19, 2025. The agreement ensures the release of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza, exchanged for 95 Palestinian prisoners. The six-week truce allows displaced Palestinians to return, facilitates aid delivery, and mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza’s densely populated areas. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the deal aligns with war objectives. Despite internal political opposition, the agreement aims to ensure "sustainable calm" and Gaza reconstruction. Mediators include Qatar, Egypt, and the US. Egypt confirmed 600 daily aid trucks entering Gaza. The conflict has caused over 46,870 deaths in Gaza.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, recovering at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital after a knife attack, faced another setback as his health insurance details were leaked online. The document revealed a claim of ₹35.95 lakh, with ₹25 lakh already approved by Niva Bupa Health Insurance. Sensitive details such as diagnosis, member ID, and discharge date (January 21) were exposed, sparking outrage over privacy concerns. Niva Bupa condemned the breach and assured full policy compliance. Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis confirmed police are closing in on the suspect responsible for the violent assault at Saif’s Bandra residence. The actor remains under observation.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, 54, was stabbed six times by an intruder at his Bandra home on Wednesday night. New visuals show the suspect near Bandra station the next morning, wearing a blue shirt, contrasting with the black attire captured during the attack. The attacker, who demanded ₹1 crore, reportedly entered through fire escape stairs and targeted the actor’s son’s room before the scuffle. Saif sustained injuries to his neck, back, and hand. Police have formed 35 teams to apprehend the suspect, described as a slim man, 5’5”, with dark complexion. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis assured swift action.

The Israeli security cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal for Gaza and the release of hostages, recommending that the full government give its final approval. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that after reviewing political, security, and humanitarian factors, the security cabinet believes the proposed deal supports the war’s objectives. The full cabinet is set to meet later to make the final decision. The deal could be a significant step towards easing tensions in Gaza and ensuring the safety of hostages caught in the ongoing conflict. Further updates are expected after the full cabinet meeting.