Morning Digest: Israel’s Cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire deal, Kolkata court likely to pronounce verdict in R.G. Kar Hospital rape-murder case today, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on January 18, 2025

Israel’s Cabinet approves deal for ceasefire in Gaza and release of dozens of hostages

Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early on Saturday (January 18, 2025) for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks. The deal brings Israel and Hamas a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. Mediators Qatar and the U.S. announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group.

Kolkata court likely to pronounce R.G. Kar Hospital rape, murder case verdict on January 18

A court in Kolkata is likely to deliver on Saturday (January 18) the verdict in the rape and murder of a doctor at the city-based R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In five years, Lokpal ordered probe in 24 cases, granted prosecution sanction in six

Twelve years since the Lokpal Act was passed and five years after Lokpal– the country’s first anti-corruption body – started to function, it ordered investigation in just 24 cases and granted prosecution sanction in six cases, data show. The Lokpal, which has the powers to investigate complaints against public functionaries, received three complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October and December last year.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Bihar; NDA takes dig at Opposition unity