The New York Times analysis indicates Israel dropped at least two 2,000-pound bombs in a strike on Jabaliya, northern Gaza that killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. Israel said it targeted a Hamas commander, fighters, and tunnel networks for weapons and militants. Using such large bombs in the densely populated area raised proportionality questions on whether the military objective justified civilian casualties. Impact craters match the underground explosions these bombs produced. They may have had delayed fuses for greater destruction depth. Israel claimed it struck an underground bunker, but without site access, it's unconfirmed if tunnels existed. Israel defends the strike, but the heavy civilian toll furthers international criticism of its Gaza bombing tactics.

The Israeli military conducted a limited overnight operation in southern Gaza to map sites and clear explosives, encountering and killing a Hamas tunnel cell. Meanwhile, the ground offensive focused on northern Gaza continued Friday with troops surrounding Gaza City and clashing with Hamas, killing many militants. Conquering densely populated Gaza City poses risks of ambushes and explosives for Israel. In a sign of hostilities, Israel confirmed an airstrike on an ambulance used by a Hamas cell in northern Gaza. Overall, Israel's defense minister said troops are advancing as planned to oust Hamas and rescue over 200 Israelis held hostage since Hamas' October 7 attack. But after 15 years of rule, Hamas is entrenched in Gaza and prepared to defend its grip fiercely.

Heavily armed terrorists attacked an Air Force training base in Pakistan's Punjab province early Saturday, damaging three aircrafts before being killed or cornered by soldiers, the Pakistan army said. The statement said troops foiled the attack by killing three attackers entering the base and isolating the remaining three. Some damage occurred to the aircrafts and a fuel tanker amid the assault. A clearance operation is in the final stages to fully secure the area. The attack follows hours after terror strikes killed at least 17 soldiers in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan's forces remain committed to eliminating terrorism despite the persistent threat, the army emphasized while condemning the air base assault.

Israel rejected Blinken's proposal for a Gaza humanitarian pause in Tel Aviv talks with Netanyahu, who vowed to continue full force without a truce or hostage releases. This came as Israel encircled Gaza City amid intense urban fighting after Hamas's October 7 attack killed 1,400 Israelis and seized over 200. Israel's strikes have killed 9,200+ in Gaza per officials. Visiting Israel, Blinken sought assurances on protecting civilians but Netanyahu refused any halt without prisoners freed. Blinken said allowing more aid could connect to truce and hostage releases. But Netanyahu adamantly rejected the ceasefire and fuel resumption without hostage release. Blinken reiterated US support for Israel while advising minimizing civilian deaths.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah did not declare all-out war on Israel in his highly anticipated speech, knowing neither Lebanon nor Hezbollah currently seeks another war. But he left the door open for escalation based on Israel's Gaza actions, saying "this will not be sufficient." Nasrallah claimed Hamas acted on October 7 without Hezbollah or Iran's help. He justified Hezbollah's significant but measured border fighting role so far. For now, Hezbollah appears focused on supporting Hamas from the sidelines unless it nears defeat. But that calculus could swiftly change if Israel routs Hamas in Gaza, spurring a Hezbollah-Israel war. Nasrallah threads the line between not provoking war-wary Lebanon into one, but threatening a northern front if Hamas is vanquished.

Himalayan seismologists had warned that a major earthquake was overdue in high-risk western Nepal. This could release the built-up tectonic tension since no mega quake has occurred in the region for over 600 years. Friday's estimated 6-magnitude quake near Jajarkot was not as big as the 8+ predicted. But it shook towns 500km away in India and Tibet. At least 128 deaths are reported so far with hundreds injured, numbers still rising. Though this quake may have released some tension in the seismic gap, it could presage a larger one as the Indian Plate steadily converges with Eurasia's at 25mm/year. The lack of huge historical quakes means massive accumulated energy still awaits discharging.

Air quality remains at dangerous 'severe' levels in parts of Delhi, prompting emergency government action. On Saturday the citywide AQI was 413 in the severe range, as per pollution control data. This follows an average AQI of 468 Friday, plunged from 392 the previous day due to northwesterly winds bringing stubble fire smoke, calmer winds, and dipping temperatures. An AQI above 400 is severe. Delhi's lieutenant governor convened an urgent meeting on the crisis, directing doubled use of water sprinklers and anti-smog guns. People are urged to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and use public transport to cut emissions and dust. RK Puram and Okhla Phase 2 were identified as the worst hot spots as air quality hit high severity unmatched since November 2021.

A devastating attack on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza resulted in 20 casualties and numerous injuries, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Tank mortar shells directly hit the facility, which was housing displaced people. The incident raises the Palestinian death toll to 9,227 in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, more than 140 Palestinians have lost their lives in the occupied West Bank due to violence and Israeli raids, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region. The situation remains tense and volatile as violence continues to escalate.

A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck northwestern districts of Nepal, leaving at least 128 dead and over 100 injured. The tremors reached as far as New Delhi, India, over 800 kilometers away. Rukum West and Jajarkot districts were severely affected, with homes collapsing and communication disrupted. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. The earthquake, originating in Jajarkot's Lamidanda, occurred at midnight, causing widespread devastation. Nepal faces a daunting challenge as it grapples with the aftermath of this tragic seismic event. [ photos from Twitter]

Nepal was jolted by a powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake on Friday night, causing tremors in North India, including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Bihar. While the epicenter was in Nepal at a depth of 10 km, residents in Delhi-NCR felt strong tremors, prompting them to rush out of their homes. This marks the third significant earthquake to hit Nepal in a month. Earlier, on October 15, Delhi and nearby areas experienced tremors with an estimated magnitude of 3.1. No immediate reports of injuries or serious damage have been received from the affected regions.