This Week in Explainers: Is TikTok pushing pro-Palestine content?

We are in the first week of November and the world over there is gloom and doom. Nepal was jolted by a massive earthquake of 6.4 magnitude that killed hundreds of people in the western area of Jajarkot. The tremors of the strong quake were felt in Delhi, NCR, and several parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh at around 11.30 pm on Friday (3 November). Geopolitical tensions remain high as Israel’s deadly war with Hamas completed 30 days this week. The conflict has taken thousands of lives in Israel, while over 9,000, mostly women and minors, have been killed in Gaza. As Palestinians in the narrow enclave battle shortages of basic essentials, the United States is finally pushing Israel for a humanitarian “pause” in the war. Although America has changed its tone after its initial unbridled support to Israel, do not expect the Western nation to stop supplying arms to the war-torn nation yet. The US is also clear that it is endorsing a “temporary, localised” pause and not a general ceasefire. Egypt opened the crucial Rafah border crossing with Gaza this week, leading to 76 wounded Palestinians and 335 foreigners or dual-nationals exiting the war-stricken enclave. The move was reportedly possible after Qatar, along with the US, mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas. Beyond the Israel-Hamas war, some good news emerged from France where scientists discovered a massive white hydrogen deposit. We will tell you later why this is a reason to cheer. Here’s a look back at the world this week. Do stay with us until the end to find out if you missed any big developments. 1. Over a hundred people were injured as Nepal was rocked by an earthquake just ahead of the weekend. Several houses collapsed while footage by local media showed people digging through the rubble to find survivors. The latest quake is being pegged as the deadliest in the Himalayan country since 2015 when two tremblers claimed about 9,000 lives. Back home, people were seen rushing out of their homes at night across several north Indian states. Nepal has witnessed multiple tremblers this year alone. To know why earthquakes are so frequent in Nepal, you can read our explainer here . [caption id=“attachment_13348412” align=“alignnone” width=“620”] This handout photo provided by the Nepal Prime Minister’s Office shows an earthquake-affected area in northwestern Nepal on 4 November. Helicopters and ground troops rushed to help people hurt in a strong earthquake that shook northwestern Nepal districts just before midnight Friday, killing more than 100 people and injuring dozens more, officials said Saturday. Nepal Prime Minister’s Office via AP[/caption] 2. Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza to “crush” Hamas have taken a huge toll on innocent Palestinians of the besieged enclave. While the Israeli military claims it targets Hamas leaders or the militant group’s infrastructure, the world is not blindly buying it anymore. Scenes of carnage from Gaza, its flattened buildings, and injured kids have even got Israel’s ally US to change its tone (there are electoral concerns in play here as well). However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that “nothing will stop us” until his country eliminates Hamas’ rule in the Gaza Strip. [caption id=“attachment_13345182” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Jabaliya refugee camp on the outskirts of Gaza City on 31 October. AP File Photo[/caption] Early in the week, Israeli airstrikes pummeled Gaza’s largest refugee camp Jabalia , demolishing several apartment buildings. The West Asian nation claimed its troops targeted dozens of Hamas fighters, including a senior leader, in western Jabalia and destroyed a militant command centre. However, a Hamas spokesperson rejected Israel’s claim, saying there was no senior Hamas commander at the refugee camp. While Firstpost cannot independently verify the claims of either side, like always, it is the civilians who are bearing the brunt of the conflict. 3. The news of the death of a young woman taken hostage by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on 7 October broke our hearts this week. Shani Louk , a 23-year-old German-Israeli woman, was a tattoo artist and hair stylist, according to her Instagram. Her pictures lying face down and nearly naked in the back of a pick-up truck full of armed men in Gaza had circulated online shortly after Hamas’ initial attack. She was kidnapped by the group’s militants when they targeted the Supernova music festival in southern Israel near the Gaza border. 4. Let’s take a short break from the deadly and heart-wrenching stories coming from West Asia and check out what’s happening nearer home. In Bangladesh, the political turmoil has intensified as the Opposition rises against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , seeking her resignation. The anti-government protests have led to deaths and injuries as clashes between demonstrators and security forces turned violent. The main Opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose hundreds of senior leaders and supporters have been arrested, has threatened to boycott next year’s general elections if Hasina continues to hold her post. 5. Another neighbour of India is battling crises of its own before it goes to polls next year. Pakistan has begun its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, forcing nearly two million Afghan nationals to go back to their country on trucks and other vehicles. These refugees are compelled to move from a bankrupt nation to another that is facing several issues, including economic crisis and human rights violations, under the oppressive Taliban regime. The future of these Afghan nationals remains uncertain as return to a nation reeling from catastrophic earthquakes, food insecurity, and a collapsed economy. [caption id=“attachment_13346472” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Afghan refugees settle in a camp near the Torkham Pakistan-Afghanistan border, in Torkham, Afghanistan, on 3 November. AP[/caption] 6. As we promised before, here’s some good news for all of us. While scientists have been raising alarm about the climate crisis (which we read about, see, and mostly ignore), here’s something that can actually save the Earth. As per CNN, two scientists found an exorbitant amount of white hydrogen while exploring the Earth’s crust for fossil fuels in northeastern France. White hydrogen is a clean energy source as “no greenhouse gases are produced during production.” We explain in detail here about white hydrogen and how it can save the planet. 7. TikTok is under fire again. The short video platform keeps making headlines as critics call for its ban in the US every now and then. This time, TikTok has been accused of promoting pro-Palestinian content among young Americans and undermining support for Israel. However, the embattled app has rejected the claims, stating: “Hateful ideologies, like antisemitism, are not and have never been allowed on our platform.”

8. Japan does not prioritise its employees’ well-being . A recent survey by McKinsey Health Institute has ranked the Asian country lowest among 30 countries in employees’ physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Turkey performed best while India ranked second (a bit of a surprise considering the long hours we work)/ Now that you have caught up on this week’s world news, enjoy the rest of your weekend. And keep tuned to this space for more explainers .