The Israeli army deluged the Gaza Strip with leaflets on Tuesday urging residents to provide information about the hostages held by Hamas in return for financial rewards, AFP journalists reported.

The messages were dropped by Israeli aircraft amid the waves of air strikes targeting Gaza, which Hamas health officials said have killed more than 5,000 people.

“If you want a better future for yourself and your children, do the right thing and send us safe and useful information about kidnapped people in your area,” said the Arabic message on leaflets seen by AFP.

“The Israeli army promises to do everything to preserve your security and that of your homes, as well as a financial reward,” the leaflet added. “We guarantee you total discretion.”

The document provided a telephone number along with details regarding Telegram, Whatsapp and Signal messaging services, where information could be sent about the hostages.  

The Israeli army confirmed the launch of the effort.

“As part of the extensive efforts to free the Israeli and foreign national hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, the (army) today used multiple channels to communicate with the residents of Gaza and ask for information about the hostages,” the army said in a statement. 

More than 220 Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners were kidnapped by Hamas militants during their shock attack on southern Israel on October 7 which killed more than 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.

Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gandhinagar) is currently accepting applications for its 2023 Early-Career Fellowship (IITGN-ECF), designed to engage young doctoral candidates in collaborative research opportunities. This fellowship presents a unique chance for recent PhD graduates to partner with IIT Gandhinagar faculty on research projects, making significant contributions to their respective fields. The application deadline for this fellowship is December 15, 2023.

Fellowship benefits

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,00,000, which comprises Rs 90,000 for living expenses and an additional Rs 10,000 for housing (HRA) if they choose not to utilise on-campus accommodation. In addition to the stipend, fellows can access a professional development grant of up to Rs 2 lakh per year, which can be utilized for international travel to attend conferences, workshops, training programs, and more. For those relocating from abroad, there is the option to seek travel reimbursement for themselves, their spouse, and any dependents, as well as transportation costs for household goods, up to a maximum of Rs 1,00,000. It is important to note that reimbursement is subject to the submission of relevant travel-related receipts. The air travel is limited to economy class, and reimbursement is contingent on the fellow’s commitment to a minimum of six months of association with IIT-Gandhinagar.

Calling all young doctorates! Applications are open for IITGN’s Early-Career Fellowship (IITGN-ECF) 2023. This fellowship is an exciting opportunity for young doctorates to work with faculty members at IITGN on interesting research problems and projects pic.twitter.com/dfFL1qsbXl

— IIT Gandhinagar (@iitgn) October 23, 2023

Fellowship extension

Initially, the fellowship is awarded for a one-year duration, but it may be extended for an additional year if the fellow demonstrates exceptional performance, resulting in a total fellowship duration of two years.

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Eligibility

The fellowship is primarily intended for individuals who aspire to pursue an academic career. Eligible applicants should have successfully defended their doctoral thesis at an institution in India or abroad on or after January 1, 2023. Their research work should be well-regarded and supported by scholarly publications. Candidates who have already submitted their doctoral thesis or plan to do so in the coming months are encouraged to apply. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders are both eligible to apply.

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Selection process:

During the application procedure, candidates are required to collaborate with an IITGN faculty member to create a research proposal in a specified format. This proposal will detail their research and career goals and must be approved by the faculty collaborator. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to the faculty member directly.Additionally, applicants must submit a personal statement outlining their ambitions and what they aim to achieve during the Fellowship.Candidates who are part of IIT Gandhinagar have the option to apply to collaborate with a faculty member other than their PhD supervisor, provided they share a common research interest.Each applicant must furnish the names and contact information of three referees who can provide an unbiased assessment of the candidate’s suitability for the Fellowship.Applicants are unrestricted in their choice of discipline and can submit a single application.Faculty members are allowed to endorse more than one proposal.

China has removed Li Shangfu from his position as defence minister and state councillor, state broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top lawmakers, also voted to remove former foreign minister Qin Gang from his position as state councillor, CCTV said.

The committee appointed Yin Hejun as China’s science and technology minister and Lan Foan as finance minister.