Morning brief: Netanyahu hints at possible deal to free hostages, India's swipe at Canada, & more

WION is closely monitoring updates on the Israel-Hamas war in our live blog. As per the latest available at the time of writing this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed ata potential deal to free hostages held captive by the Hamas militant group.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the diplomatic row with Canada, India at the UN urged the nation to take action against 'extremism' and prevent hate crimes.

In India and the world, the auspicious Hindu festival of Diwali was celebrated with grandeur. Indian foreign minister Jaishankar met UK PM Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street and extended greetings on the occasion.

Click links below to read the stories.

Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Netanyahu hints at possible deal to free hostages; Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital is 'not functioning'

A report by Israeli media outlet Ynet, citingunnamed senior officials, said IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to install his former British counterpart Tony Blairas a humanitarian coordinator for the Gaza Strip, in a bid toimprove the humanitarian situation inside the Palestinian enclave and reduce international pressure on Israel.

India has called on Canada to prevent misuse of freedom of expression, disallow activitiesof groups promoting extremism, prevent attacks on places of worship of religiousminorities, and work to address hate crime in the country.

India's Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to UK, met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty on Sunday (Nov 12) to extend Diwali greetings by Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Communication was established with at least 40 labourers who are said to be trapped after an under-construction tunnel in the Indian state of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi collapsed late Sunday (Nov 12). Meanwhile, rescue operations, led by the State Disaster Response Team (SDRF) and the local police continued as of Monday (Nov 13).