Sat Jan 18 00:46:11 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Ceasefire Agreed, India News Roundup, and Global Updates

**January 18, 2025** – A six-week ceasefire in Gaza has been approved by Israel’s cabinet, marking a potential turning point in the 15-month conflict with Hamas. The deal, brokered by Qatar and the U.S., includes the release of dozens of hostages. However, the agreement was delayed by last-minute complications, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, India saw several significant developments:

* **Kolkata Verdict:** A Kolkata court is expected to deliver its verdict today in the rape and murder case of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
* **Lokpal’s Performance:** Data reveals the Lokpal, India’s anti-corruption body, has ordered investigations into only 24 cases and granted prosecution sanction in six, five years after its establishment.
* **Rahul Gandhi in Bihar:** Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Bihar today, addressing a conclave and inaugurating facilities at the state Congress headquarters. The NDA has criticized this visit in the context of opposition unity.
* **High Court Judge Investigation:** Senior lawyers have urged the Chief Justice of India to order a CBI investigation into Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav over alleged communal comments.
* **Drone Survey:** The Union government completed a drone survey of 67,000 sq km of rural land as part of the SVAMITVA program, aiming to distribute property cards to 65 lakh landowners.
* **Mysterious Deaths in Rajouri:** The death toll from unexplained deaths in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, has reached 16, prompting a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
* **Chhattisgarh Excise Scam:** The ED alleges a former Chhattisgarh minister received ₹2 crore monthly from the proceeds of an excise scam.
* **India Open Badminton:** Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the men’s doubles semifinals at the India Open.
* **WazirX Recovers Funds:** Cryptocurrency exchange WazirX froze $3 million in assets stolen during a cyberattack.

**International News:**

* **Trump’s Inauguration:** President-elect Donald Trump may be sworn in inside the Capitol Rotunda due to predicted extreme cold weather.
* **TikTok Ban Upheld:** The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok to be sold or banned in the U.S., dealing a significant blow to the platform.
* **NCP Enters Delhi Polls:** The NCP has fielded 30 candidates in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
* **Bangladesh’s Future:** A former Awami League minister suggests Bangladesh’s future depends on the incoming Trump administration’s stance on the interim government.
* **Midnapore Doctors’ Strike:** Junior doctors at Midnapore Medical College decided against an immediate full cease-work following a suspension case.

This news summary provides a snapshot of the most significant events reported by The Hindu on January 18, 2025.

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