Israel accuses Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza of terror ties; network denies allegations
Tel Aviv/Doha: The Israeli military has alleged six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza as operatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, accusing them of actively supporting these groups. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) shared photographs and claimed it possessed documents, such as personnel lists and training records, linking the journalists to militant activities.
"The IDF has disclosed intelligence proving that these journalists are affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, involved in propaganda efforts for these organizations," read an official statement posted on X.
Al Jazeera dismissed the accusations, calling them "baseless" and part of an ongoing campaign to suppress media coverage of the war. "This is an effort to silence the remaining journalists in Gaza, obscuring the war's harsh realities from global audiences," the Qatari-based network said.
The conflict between Israel and Al Jazeera intensified after Israeli forces stormed the outlet's Ramallah office a month ago, ordering its closure for 45 days. Al Jazeera emphasized its dedication to reporting from conflict zones, asserting that its journalists are "documenting the war's impact on Gaza’s civilians, not participating in any militant activities."
The media organization said that Israel is targeting journalists to suppress reporting of war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict, reiterating its mission to "bring the truth to light."
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Adani Group emerges lowest bidder for Bengaluru’s 16.75-km tunnel road project
Bengaluru: The Adani Group has become the lowest bidder for both packages of the proposed 16.75-km tunnel road project in Bengaluru, according to sources familiar with the bids opened by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE).
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Monday, the government estimated the entire project to cost Rs 17,698 crore, while the Adani Group has quoted Rs 22,267 crore. The ports-to-power conglomerate’s bid is about 24% higher for the first package and 28% higher for the second than the government’s estimates, a gap that could prompt authorities to seek the state Cabinet’s approval on the tenders’ fate.
M Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), who is also the Managing Director of B-SMILE, declined to comment.
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In all, four infrastructure companies had participated in the tenders for the project, which has been proposed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with 40% funding from the government and the remaining investment to be raised by the private concessionaire.
During the technical evaluation, the Adani Group and the Hyderabad-based Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd qualified for the financial round.
According to the report, Dilip Buildcon was disqualified due to a clause that bars firms linked to collapsed bridges or tunnels, while Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) was rejected because its joint venture (JV) partner did not meet technical requirements.
With only two companies left in the fray, the Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder, ahead of Vishwa Samudra.
The tunnel project officially named the North–South underground corridor, is part of the Congress government’s ambitious to ease Bengaluru’s traffic congestion by building two major underground roads (totalling 40 km) along with 13 flyovers and elevated corridors.
The project is the brainchild of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister.
The proposal, however, has faced criticism and political opposition, especially from senior BJP leaders, who object to the alignment that requires acquiring six acres of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a historic green space.
As per the report, Urban mobility experts have also warned that the tunnel corridor may clash with the alignment of Namma Metro’s Phase 3A, possibly affecting the metro expansion.
