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Israel's prime minister toughened his stance Wednesday by declaring that his country is in charge of its own security and isn't an American protectorate as he prepared to discuss progress on Gaza's fragile ceasefire agreement with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks ahead of his meeting with Vance appeared aimed easing public concerns that the presence of an envisioned international security force in Gaza could limit Israel's ability to strike in the devastated territory to thwart future threats. "We are not a protectorate of the United States. Israel is the one that will decide on its security," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office as he headed into the meeting.Speaking to reporters before the meeting's start, Vance acknowledged that the road to peace is strewn with huge hurdles but at the same time tried to maintain the buoyant tone he sounded Tuesday on his arrival to Israel."We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza to make life better for the people in Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel. That's not easy," Vance said. "There's a lot of work to do, but I feel very optimistic about where we are."Vance is also meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday. He is accompanied by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law.Questions abound on next steps of ceasefire planUncertainty remains over the deployment of an international security force in Gaza and who will govern the territory. Vance said Tuesday officials are brainstorming on the composition of the security force, mentioning Turkey and Indonesia as countries expected to contribute troops.Britain is also sending a small contingent of military officers to Israel to assist in monitoring the ceasefire.As Vance's meetings got underway, Israel said it completed the identification of the bodies of two more hostages that were handed over by the Red Cross to the Israeli military in Gaza on Tuesday. Authorities identified the deceased hostages as Arie Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar who were killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants, which triggered the two-year war.Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the remains of 15 hostages have been returned to Israel. Another 13 still need to be recovered in Gaza and handed over, a key element to the ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, the burial of 54 Palestinians is set for Wednesday at a cemetery in Deir al Balah, Gaza. The bodies were displayed outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis ahead of the burial. Funeral prayers for PalestiniansDozens of people, some carrying Palestinian flags, gathered outside the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for funeral prayers over the bodies of 54 Palestinians clad in white shrouds.The unidentified bodies were among 165 that Israel sent back to Gaza last week. They will be transported to Gaza's central city of Deir al-Balah for burial.A senior health official in Gaza said some bodies bore "evidence of torture" and called for an investigation.Israel has not provided identification for the bodies or explained their origins. They could include Palestinians who died during the Oct. 7 attacks, detainees who died in custody or bodies that were taken from Gaza by Israeli troops during the war.So far, authorities in Gaza have identified 52 of the returned bodies, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.Charity says an armed group took over its Gaza facilityA top Palestinian nongovernmental organization that offers mental health services to people in Gaza said Wednesday that there had been an "armed raid and brutal takeover" of one its facilities in the territory last week. The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme said an "armed group" it didn't identify stormed the facility in Gaza City on Oct. 13, seized the building, expelled guards by force and put up their own families there. "This blatant attack and serious crime represents a flagrant violation of all laws and norms," the group said. It was unclear why the organization waited more than a week to report the takeover, but it said that although it had made immediate requests for authorities to intervene, there had been no "concrete action" to return the facility "despite repeated promises to evacuate."They urged Palestinian authorities to act immediately and called on countries sponsoring the ceasefire to "intervene decisively."Israelis to bid farewell to a Thai hostage killed on Oct. 7, 2023Israelis were set on Wednesday to bid farewell to a Thai farmworker whose body will be repatriated to his native Thailand later in the day. Sonthaya Oakkharasri was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and his body was held in Gaza until it was returned last weekend.A statement by the Families' Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees said a gathering will be held at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to pay last respects to Oakkharasri, calling him a "devoted father and farmer who dreamed of establishing his own farm."In the 2023 attack on Israel that started the war, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people as hostages.The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.

India's smartphone market grew 3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the third quarter of the calendar year 2025, reaching 48.4 million units shipped, as per the latest research from Omdia, which cautioned that despite early momentum, gains are unlikely to sustain into a strong year-end. The modest growth was driven by a wave of new launches in July and August, retail incentivisation and an earlier festive season that pulled forward inventory flows, Omdia said. Vendors filled the channels with new stocks in expectation of a high-demand festive period. India's smartphone market rose 3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in Q3 2025, touching 48.4 million units shipped, Omdia said in a release. Put simply, shipped units refer to devices that have left the factory premises and been sent to channel or distributors, for sale in the market. "With limited organic demand, Q3's momentum was largely sustained through incentive-led channel push rather than pure consumer recovery," Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Omdia, noted. According to Omdia, vivo (excluding iQOO) extended its lead in the market with 9.7 million units shipped (20 per cent market share), while Samsung ranked second with 6.8 million units (14 per cent market share) followed by Xiaomi in the third spot, narrowly overtaking OPPO (excluding OnePlus), with both vendors shipping 6.5 million units. Apple returned to the top five with 4.9 million units, with incremental growth driven by smaller tier cities. Apple posted its highest-ever shipments in India in Q3, securing 10 per cent share, Chaurasia said. "Smaller cities drove volumes through aspirational demand, aggressive festive offers and wider availability. While older iPhones 16s and 15s drove major shipments under discount-led upgrades, the iPhone 17 base model gained traction supported by a strong iPhone 12-15 install base upgrades. Looking ahead, Apple will aim for Pro-model upgrades and deepen its ecosystem to drive long-term value," Chaurasia added. On the Q3 smartphone market scorecard, Omdia noted that vendors reallocated marketing budgets to high-impact retail incentive programs that rewarded sell-through, ranging from cash-per-unit bonuses to tiered margins and dealer contests with rewards such as gold coins, bikes, and international trips. Such incentives motivated distributors and retailers to absorb higher inventory ahead of the festive season. At the same time, vendors intensified consumer-facing schemes, from zero-down-payment EMIs, micro-instalment plans, bundled accessories and extended warranties, to drive conversions. However, inventory concerns loom for the October-December period. "Despite early momentum, Q3's gains are unlikely to sustain into a strong year-end," says Chaurasia, who believes that while government-led reforms such as GST reductions on large appliances lifted overall retail sentiment, smartphone-specific demand recovery remains limited. "Urban consumers continue to delay upgrades due to employment uncertainties and rising cost sensitivity, despite better product availability and financing schemes. As a result, sell-out traction lags behind shipment growth, raising concerns of inventory build-up in Q4, especially after November," Chaurasia said. Rural demand, in contrast, has been relatively stable, but insufficient to offset cautious urban sentiment. "For full-year 2025, we continue to expect a modest decline, reflecting a fragile recovery cycle that remains highly sensitive to economic tailwinds and channel correction dynamics," Chaurasia added.

India is emerging as a 'significant' player in the global luxury goods market, as per the latest report from Euromonitor International. As per the report, India (10%) South Africa (15%), and the United Arab Emirates (9%) are among the leading countries in luxury goods market growth. The total market value is projected to be $ 12.1 billion this year. The country is expected to achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 74% over the forecast period, highlighting its growing importance in the luxury ecosystem. A key factor contributing to India's growth is the increasing number of wealthy individuals.Euromonitor International’s World Market for Luxury Goods 2025 report highlights that the global luxury market – valued at $ 1.5 trillion in 2025 - remains resilient, despite continued macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions. In 2025, physical luxury stores accounted for 81% of personal luxury goods sales, reflecting the sector’s resilience and the continued importance of in-person engagement, according to the report.Referencing the latest findings within the Luxury Goods category from Euromonitor International’s Passport knowledge hub, Fflur Roberts, global insight manager for luxury goods at Euromonitor International, said: “Amidst market uncertainty, the industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shifting from product-centric models to experience-driven engagement. Wellness, lifestyle and emotional resonance are emerging as new markers of status, reshaping how brands connect with consumers.”Premium and luxury cars led value sales, fuelled by urbanisation, affluent consumers, attractive financing, and new electric models. Experiential luxury—especially hotels, travel, fine dining, and exclusive events—was the fastest-growing segment, as younger buyers increasingly sought unique experiences over products, spurred by a surge in tourism and personalised offerings.Although digital channels are more personalised, many affluent consumers value human touch. According to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer: Retail Survey 2025, 52% of high-income shoppers prefer shopping in-store for fashion – up from 36% in 2023 – highlighting renewed appreciation for tactile experiences that digital platforms cannot fully replicate.While e-commerce surges, luxury brands are reimagining stores as cultural destinations that inspire, connect and reward loyalty through interactive experiences, according to Euromonitor. Luxury spending has shifted from personal goods towards experience-led categories, reflecting deeper changes in consumer values. Experimental luxury showed resilience, with luxury travel and hospitality markets growing 8% in 2025 to reach $ 103 billion.This momentum highlights a broader consumer pivot, where wellness, lifestyle and emotional connection are becoming new status symbols, as per the report. "The third space– environments beyond home and work – has evolved into dynamic hubs and wellness real estate blending lifestyle, retail and social experiences. These spaces offer exclusivity, community and personal fulfilment, prompting brands to expand into new verticals," Euromonitor stated.