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Israel rejects new Gaza ceasefire deal proposed by US mediators

Jerusalem, May 26 (IANS) Israel has rejected a new proposal aimed at halting its offensive in Gaza and securing the release of 10 more hostages, Israel’s state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday.

A senior Israeli official from the country’s negotiation team told Kan TV that US mediators presented the proposal overnight. It included the release of five living hostages and five deceased, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a 70-day ceasefire, and negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire, according to the official.

The official said Israel rejected the deal, describing it as a “surrender to Hamas.”

Israel has insisted on the so-called Witkoff framework, a deal proposal presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in early March, which calls for the release of additional Israeli hostages in return for a 50-day truce, and a promise to engage in talks on a longer truce. It doesn’t mention a withdrawal of Israeli forces or the release of Palestinian prisoners, two of Hamas’s key demands.

Another round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas — aimed at ending Israel’s 19-month-long military campaign and securing the release of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza — ended on Thursday after Netanyahu recalled the delegation, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel ended a three-phase ceasefire agreement in March, following two months of truce during which Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages. It refused to proceed to the second phase and resumed its assault on Gaza.

Last week, Philip Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), called for a “meaningful and uninterrupted” flow of aid into the Gaza Strip.

Israel has long argued that much of the international aid to Gazans was diverted by Hamas, the armed de facto authority in the strip with tacit approval by the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees. The United Nations strongly denied the allegation.

–IANS

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US President launches ‘Trump Accounts’ for children

Washington, July 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Monday officially launched the “Trump Accounts”, a new investment programme aimed at giving American children an early financial stake in the country’s economy, describing it as one of the most significant initiatives of his presidency.

Speaking at the White House during what organisers described as the first joint opening bell ceremony involving the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, Trump said the accounts would allow children to accumulate wealth from an early age through investments linked to the stock market.

“Trump accounts are about giving every American child a stake in America’s future and getting some of the upside,” Trump said. “Nobody’s seen anything like it.”

The President said his administration had already deposited one-time seed contributions of 1,000 dollars into more than 500,000 accounts and encouraged parents to enrol their children through the programme’s website. He said millions more children would receive contributions from private donors and companies.

“People come into the world with essentially no money and end up at a very young age being very rich,” Trump said. “This is something that we’ve wanted to do… for 25 years.”

Trump credited the recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill” with making the programme possible and said the legislation’s supporters had decided to name the accounts after him.

“I did not ask for it,” Trump said. “They think it would sell better if your name’s on it.”

The event brought together senior administration officials, financial market leaders and philanthropists, including Michael and Susan Dell, who announced a commitment of 6.25 billion dollars for eligible American children born between 2016 and 2024.

Michael Dell said every eligible child would begin life with an investment in “America’s greatest companies” and urged other business leaders to participate.

“Our founders… pledged their fortunes to an idea. Today we’re pledging our fortune to the next generation of children,” Dell said.

Susan Dell said the accounts represented “a statement of belief in our nation’s young people”, adding that “every child deserves” greater financial opportunity.

Leaders of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq also endorsed the initiative, saying the programme would broaden participation in US capital markets and help more families benefit from economic growth.

Investor Brad Gerstner, who said he had worked on the proposal for several years, called the initiative “a transformative platform” rather than simply another government programme. He said supporters hoped to raise more than 100 billion dollars for children’s accounts over the next year and eventually reach all American children.

Trump said the initiative would encourage financial literacy and entrepreneurship among young Americans.

“I think this will be one of the top” achievements of his administration, he said. “It’s going to teach children to be entrepreneurial.”

During a question-and-answer session, Trump also addressed a range of issues beyond the programme, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, the FIFA Club World Cup and ongoing work at the White House, before returning to what he called the central purpose of the event.

“It’s the American dream,” he said. “It’s a big part of the American dream.”

–IANS

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First time in India, ex-CJIs, CMs, Speakers appear before JPC on ONOE: PP Chaudhary (IANS Interview)

Jaipur, July 14 (IANS) For the first time in independent India, senior constitutional authorities, including former Chief Justices of India, Supreme Court judges, Chief Ministers, and Assembly Speakers, are participating in deliberations on the One Nation One Election (ONOE) proposal before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), BJP MP and JPC Chairperson P.P. Chaudhary has said.

Calling the moment “historic and unprecedented,” Chaudhary underlined the scale and seriousness of the consultations.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, he said, “For the first time since independence, former Chief Justices of India, former Supreme Court judges, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and Assembly Speakers are appearing before a parliamentary committee to share their views. This has never happened before in independent India.”

Chaudhary emphasised that this isn’t about political alignment but national interest. “In Mumbai, the BJP is in power, and the CM appeared. In Himachal, where the Congress is in power, their CM also appeared and gave valuable inputs. That shows the seriousness with which this issue is being viewed across party lines,” he said.

The committee, during its visits across the country, has observed a remarkable shift in public sentiment.

Chaudhary noted, “Earlier, we saw political parties opposing each other on ONOE. But now, the real divide is between the political class and the people. The public wants this reform.”

He recalled an interaction in Punjab where academics, vice chancellors, and even national awardees — many of whom were AAP or Congress supporters — voiced strong support for ONOE.

“They told us they don’t vote for the BJP but believe this reform is needed. Too many elections disrupt student education, especially in government schools attended by poor students. Teachers get busy with poll duties and learning suffers,” he told IANS while recalling the incident.

In Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister and his team actively participated in the consultation, Chaudhary said.

He said, “Our ideology may differ, but this is a national issue. This will remain even after we are gone,” Chaudhary said.

To maintain credibility, the committee has deliberately involved neutral experts and legal minds. “We want to avoid any political lens. That’s why we’re speaking to former Chief Justices and legal experts,” he said.

Recently, former Chief Justices of India, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.S. Khehar, attended the JPC meeting and made detailed presentations. “They gave insightful views that enriched our understanding. We’re not pushing a political agenda, we’re listening,” he added.

Further, he quoted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, recounting a journalist’s question on its implementation: “How can ONOE be implemented without a clear majority in the House?” Shah replied: “That’s like asking Mahatma Gandhi in 1945 how he could free India when the British still ruled. In the coming years, there will be a scenario where those parties opposing ONOE will face major loss.”

Chaudhary added, “An environment is emerging where even those opposing ONOE will start facing public resistance. The people see merit in the idea. While a few political parties are witnessing their loss or gains, the public is looking into it as a major and important reform, he told IANS.

Addressing the implementation timeline, Chaudhary said: “While the final decision lies with Parliament, hypothetically, if we submit our report by 2027/2028 and the law is enacted that year in 2028, the next Lok Sabha elections in 2029 could be held under this new framework. Now, within five years, State Assembly elections will be synchronized by 2034.”

He also referred to a separate bill under discussion: “Once passed, it will mandate that all panchayat and municipal elections be conducted within 100 days of state assembly polls being held in 2034. But this, too, will come after another bill is passed.”

Chaudhary further shared the significant feedback he received from former CJI Khehar in a recent meeting two days back, “This is a golden opportunity you have received from God to serve your country and to change the political scenario in the country. Don’t miss it and deliver it in a way that coming generations will remember you.”

–IANS

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