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Navy Appoints 1st Woman Commanding Officer In Attack Naval Ship

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Navy Appoints 1st Woman Commanding Officer In Naval Attack Ship

The overall strength of women Agniveers in Navy has now crossed the 1,000 mark. (Representational)

New Delhi:

The Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of ‘all roles-all ranks’ for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy’s ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo in the strategic waters in the last one year.

On China’s increasing forays into the Indian Ocean, he said Indian Navy monitors all activities in the region.

“Our ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo – undertaking missions and tasks encompassing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles,” he said.

“Our units were mission deployed across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, to protect and promote our national interests,” he said.

The Navy has “remained a ‘Combat-ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Proof’ force enabled by what we call our ‘ships first’ outlook where every single action that we take is aimed to enable our women and men in operational units to perform their duties very well.” On the operational front, the Navy’s sheer footprint of deployments has been satisfying as its ships have been persistently present across the Indo Pacific.

Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship.

“The overall strength of women Agniveers has now crossed the 1,000 mark. These statistics stands testament to our philosophy of ‘all roles, all ranks’ approach to deployment of women in the service.” He also said the Indian Navy is fully committed to jointness and cohesiveness.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad

Votes counting to commence at 8 am on Sunday, begins with postal ballot

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If the postal ballot votes counting continued beyond 8.30 a.m. simultaneously EVMs counting would commence.

Published Date – 06:10 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Votes counting to commence at 8 am on Sunday, begins with postal ballot

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj

Hyderabad: Counting of votes would commence at 8 a.m. on Sunday, beginning with postal ballots and followed by Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) polled votes, Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj said here on Friday.

If the postal ballot votes counting continued beyond 8.30 a.m. simultaneously EVMs counting would commence. Generally, there would be 14 tables arranged at each counting centre and in case if the voters in a particular constituency were higher, more tables would be arranged.

Addressing media persons here on Friday, the Chief Electoral Officer said at each table, there would be one counting supervisor, one micro observer and two counting staff, besides contesting candidates’ representatives. Results would be declared after thorough scrutiny and in least possible time.

He said the polling on Thursday passed peacefully save for a few sporadic incidents. In 76 constituencies, the poll percentage was above 75 percent. Though, the final scrutiny of votes polled was still under progress, a 70.79 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the State. Assembly constituency wise details would be shared in public domain by Friday evening, he said.

Regarding complaints of rigging by a few parties, the Chief Electoral Officer said there was web-casting footage available at many polling stations. If there was anything suspicious, the Observers and Returning Officers would definitely consider and initiate action accordingly, he said.

On the ruling BRS party’s objection over exit polls being released on Thursday even as the polling was under progress, the Chief Electoral Officer said the Election Commission of India considers all aspects, including legal provisions, before permitting such practices.

About the fake videos being circulated on social media platforms, he said the EC officials had removed 120 fake links, videos and other materials posted on different social media platforms.

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Amid tight security EVMs shifted to strong rooms in Nizamabad

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The strong room will be opened on counting day, December 3.

Published Date – 06:27 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Amid tight security EVMs shifted to strong rooms in Nizamabad

The strong room will be opened on counting day, December 3.

Nizamabad: The process of shifting of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines used in the Thursday’s polling in the six constituencies of the district to the strong rooms was completed on Friday. The strong room will be opened on counting day, December 3.

The EVMs were moved from the respective segments to the Government Polytechnic College situated in Nizamabad district headquarters, where they were carefully checked and installed in strong rooms in accordance with the norms of the Election Commission of India(ECI). The strong rooms were sealed in the presence of candidates’ agents and election observers.

Collector and District Election Officer Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu, Police Commissioner Kalmeshwar Shingenavar, Additional Collectors Chitra Mishra and P Yadireddy supervised the security arrangements of EVMs. Tight security arrangements have been made to prevent anyone from entering the counting centers.

The State Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the college for the security of the EVMs. “While CRPF personnel are guarding the rooms, the second line of security is provided by the State police, to ensure that no outsiders can enter the premises”, the Police Commissioner informed.

The Commissioner of Police has issued an order enforcing Section 144 prohibitory orders at the counting centres from 5 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday.

Hyderabad

EVMs secured with three-layer security: Kothagudem Collector

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A three-layer security was set up at the strong rooms at Anubose Engineering College in Paloncha mandal in the district.

Published Date – 06:16 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


EVMs secured with three-layer security: Kothagudem Collector

EVMs were secured with a three-layer security at the strong rooms at Anubose Engineering College in Paloncha mandal in Kothagudem district.

Kothagudem: District Election Officer, Collector Dr. Priyanka Ala said that the EVMs were secured amid high security. She said that after the polling was conducted in 1098 polling stations in five Assembly constituencies on November 30 the polling material had been received at the reception centres in the respective constituency headquarters.

A three-layer security was set up at the strong rooms at Anubose Engineering College in Paloncha mandal in the district. The counting of votes would take place at the college on December 3. 14 tables have been set up for each constituency for the counting process.

Dr. Ala informed that 18 teams have been formed for monitoring the counting process. One micro-observer, counting supervisor and counting assistant would monitor counting at each table.

Superintendent of Police Dr. Vineeth G, Bhadrachalam ASP Paritosh Pankaj, vote counting observers Kamal Kishore, Hari Kishore and Ganesh, returning officers of all constituencies Prateek Jain, Rambabu, Karthik, Shirisha, Mangilal, R&B EE Bhimla and others were present.

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Bayer Leverkusen Set To Host Borussia Dortmund In Clash Of Bayern Hunters

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Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Sunday with the hosts sitting clear atop the Bundesliga table, having dropped just two of a possible 36 points to start the season. Although only two points ahead of a Harry Kane-powered Bayern Munich, Leverkusen are already a whopping ten points in front of Dortmund, with only 12 matches played. While many have credited manager Xabi Alonso for giving Leverkusen’s long-suffering fans hope of adding to a sparse trophy cabinet, a shrewd summer recruitment drive has also set them up for success.

Using the proceeds of Moussa Diaby’s sale to Aston Villa, Leverkusen brought in striker Victor Boniface, winger Jonas Hofmann, midfielder Granit Xhaka, while Alex Grimaldo joined from Benfica on a free.

Alonso hailed the summer additions’ “football intelligence”, telling AFP and other media in an interview “we knew they were going to have an almost instant influence on our game”.

“We have signed very strategic players to give us stability… to be more efficient and consistent. That gives you the possibility to be more regular in the Bundesliga.”

Since the transfer window closed, German media has reported that each of the quartet were rejected by Dortmund in the summer — other than Hofmann, who had two previous stints at Signal Iduna Park.

Criticism has grown, particularly with Dortmund’s new additions Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer and Ramy Bensebaini showing indifferent form and failing to fill the gap left by budding superstar Jude Bellingham.

The architect of Leverkusen’s summer transfer window, sporting director Simon Rolfes, had his contract extended to 2028 on Tuesday, a reflection of the former player’s efforts.

Rolfes, who played 377 times for Leverkusen, said his side had “gained enormous quality” and was proud to have extended at “a demanding, modern club hungry for success.”

Leverkusen’s brightest star, Germany midfield maestro Florian Wirtz, was rested for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Swedish side BK Hacken — a reflection of Sunday’s importance to the league leaders.

There is more at stake for Dortmund than just losing touch with the league leaders.

Alongside RB Leipzig, who have won the past two German Cups, Dortmund have been the team most likely to break the champions’ dominance — likely making Leverkusen’s stunning emergence as ‘Bayern hunters’ even more of an issue for the visitors on Sunday.

“This is the most difficult task in Germany at the moment,” said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels on Tuesday regarding the trip to Leverkusen.

“We need to stand our ground.”

One to watch: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is set to make his first start since October, returning from a hamstring injury at home against Werder Bremen on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has 15 goals in ten matches, scoring at an incredible strike rate of one goal per 46 minutes this season.

The injury did not stop Guirassy’s stunning form however, with the France-born Guinea forward coming off the bench to score the winning penalty against Dortmund earlier in November.

In his absence, Brighton loanee Deniz Undav has stepped up, scoring six goals in his past six matches.

Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness confirmed on Thursday “they will both be in the starting XI against Bremen. I’m looking forward to the double-pronged attack”.

Key stats

Zero from eight: Union Berlin have never beaten Bayern but have drawn three of eight — all with a 1-1 scoreline.

18: Harry Kane has 18 goals from 12 league games this season.

Nine of 17: Denmark striker Jonas Wind has scored nine of Wolfsburg’s 17 goals this season, more than half.

Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Darmstadt v Cologne (1930)

Saturday

Bochum v Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig v Heidenheim, Bayern Munich v Union Berlin, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Hoffenheim, Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (1730)

Sunday

Mainz v Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (1630), Augsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (1830)

Topics mentioned in this article

Hyderabad

Translocated trees at Cherlapally’s KCR Nandanavanam perish, highlighting neglectc

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With the possibility of the fully grown trees facing the axe due to imminent road widening, Rajya Sabha member and GIC founder J Santosh Kumar took up the initiative to translocate the trees with the help of VATA Foundation

Published Date – 06:15 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Translocated trees at Cherlapally’s KCR Nandanavanam perish, highlighting neglectc

Trans-located tress, which were shifted to a municipal park from Hyderabad road due to roads widening in Nalgonda, were dried up due negligence of the officials.

Nalgonda: Twelve trees, recently translocated to KCR Nandanavanam Urban Park in Cherlapally from Marriguda bypass road to facilitate road widening, have perished. This development points to inadequate maintenance efforts on the part of civic authorities.

With the possibility of the fully grown trees facing the axe due to imminent road widening, Rajya Sabha member and Green India Challenge founder J Santosh Kumar took up the initiative to translocate the trees with the help of VATA Foundation. These 50-year-old trees were translocated to the urban park on April 22 last.

Nalgonda MLA Kancherla Bhupal Reddy launched the translocation amidst much fanfare, but local officials who showed extreme interest in artificial trees to beautify the town, have completely ignored the task of nurturing the translocated trees.

A team of volunteers of the VATA Foundation volunteers executed the translocation using a 50-ton crane, moving the trees to the park on a flatbed truck. Despite so much effort and the very expensive and painstaking exercise, civic authorities have turned a negligent eye on the translocated trees and sadly within six months, the translocated trees were found dead in the park.

Due to the park remaining closed to the public, only a handful of workers were assigned to maintain the trees, while no dedicated horticulture officer was appointed to oversee their care. This lack of attention led to the failure to preserve any of the translocated trees, underlining official negligence.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Indian Environment Social Forum founder convenor Jeedimetla Ravinder criticized the local representatives and officials for their grand promises at the outset of the translocation in Nalgonda but failing to follow through. He expressed disappointment over the wasted resources and the missed opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to tree conservation.

Attempts to reach the Nalgonda municipal commissioner for comments were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable over phone and also at his office.

World

Taliban amb. hands over credentials to Chinese authorities

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Taliban caretaker government foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on X that Bilal Karimi presented his credentials to the Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry of China, Hong Lei, as Taliban ambassador in Beijing.

According to Balkhi, Karimi arrived in Beijing on November 24 and was welcomed by the Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, and acting diplomats of the Afghanistan embassy in China, local Afghan media Tolo News reported.

A Taliban spokesman quoted Karimi during his meeting with Lei as saying that it is time for the improvement of relations between China and Afghanistan.

Karimi also pledged that the Afghan soil will not be used against any country.

According to Balkhi, the Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry of China said that China does not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of any country and that it wants to help improve Afghanistan’s economy and infrastructure through the Belt and Road initiative.

KI

Middle East

At least 61 Palestinians martyred in resumed Israeli attacks

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The following is the latest updates on resumed fighting in Gaza Strip: 

Hamas says Israel, US responsible for truce expiration:

Hamas top official Osama Hamdan said the “responsibility for not extending the ceasefire lies with the Zionist regime and the United States”.

He said the Palestinian resistance was seriously looking for a ceasefire and is still pursuing it.

Gaza death toll in few hours rises to 36:

The heath ministry spokesperson in Gaza Ashraf al-Qudra confirmed that the death toll had risen to 32 Palestinians. 

Qudra said the dead included ten people killed in al-Maghazi in central Gaza, nine in Rafah in the South, and five in Gaza City in the north – hours after the truce ended at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) .
​

Another journalist martyred in Gaza:

Palestinian sources announced the martyrdom of “Abdullah Darwish”, a photographer and reporter of the “Al-Aqsa” satellite channel after the resumption attacks by the Zionist regime on the Gaza Strip. So far, as many as 71 reporters have been killed in the Israeli regime airstrikes.
​

Six killed in Rafah strike, as explosions heard across Gaza:

In the resumed airstrikes by the Zionist regime on different areas of Gaza, 6 people were martyred and dozens were injured.

Israeli regime airstrikes have hit southern Gaza, including the community of Abassan east of the town of Khan Younis, Hamas officials say. Another strike hit a home northwest of Gaza City.

Loud, continuous explosions are heard coming from the Gaza Strip, and black smoke billows from the territory.

The Gaza health ministry says three people have been killed in Israeli air raids in Rafah, in the Strip’s south.

Israeli military says resumed fighting in Gaza 

The Israeli regime army has issued a statement saying that it has resumed its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, claiming that Hamas violated the truce by firing into occupied territory.

International mediators, including Qatar, Egypt and the US, were on Friday pushing for another extension of the Gaza truce ahead of its expiration at 7am local time (05:00 GMT), Al Jazeera reported. 

With no extension announced by the deadline, there were reports of gunfire and explosions in the north of the Gaza Strip, while the Zionist regime’s military said it had intercepted a rocket from Gaza.

An AFP journalist reported Israeli airstrikes, artillery fire seen in Gaza City the Zionist regime media said.

Photos on social media claim to show a recent strike, 

Meanwhile, Lebanese Al-Mayadeen network reported fighting between the Palestinian resistance fighters and the Zionist regime military in the northwest of Gaza.

Fierce clashes were going on between the Resistance fighters and the occupying Israeli forces in the northwest of Gaza, Al-Mayadeen said.

According to the report, Resistance fighters confronted the tanks of the Zionist regime in that area. 

The temporary ceasefire between Hamas and the Zionist regime ended today as deadline passed.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, launched an operation against the Zionist Israeli regime on October 7 in response to more than seven decades of occupation of Palestine and nearly two decades of blockade of Gaza and imprisonment and torture of thousands of Palestinians. It killed more than 1,200 Zionists soldiers and settlers and took more than 220 of them to the enclave as prisoners. 

In retaliation to Hamas’s operation, which was called the al-Aqsa Storm operation, the Zionist regime launched heavy attacks against Gaza and put the enclave under total siege. 

More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Zionist regime’s attacks, while tens of thousands of others have been injured.

MNA

Top News

Russia Extends Pre-Trial Detention Of US Journalist Charged With Espionage

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Russia Extends Pre-Trial Detention Of US Journalist Charged With Espionage

Alsu Kurmasheva is the second US journalist to be arrested in Russia this year. (File)

Prague, Czech Republic:

A Russian court on Friday extended the pre-trial detention of US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva — arrested for failing to register as a “foreign agent” — until February 5, her employer said.

Kurmasheva, who holds both Russian and American citizenship, was working for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) media outlet when she was detained by law enforcement officers in the Russian city of Kazan in October.

“A court in Kazan extended the detention of Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until February 5, 2024,” RFE/RL reported on Friday.

She is the second US journalist to be arrested in Russia this year amid an intensification of Moscow’s campaign against the West as it wages war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week a court in Moscow extended the pre-trial detention of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges.

Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague with her husband and two children, was charged with failing to register as a “foreign agent.”

Both her and Gershkovich deny the charges against them.

Kurmasheva faces up to five years in prison if found guilty, and her lawyers and employer have called for her immediate release.

Russia has used controversial “foreign agents” legislation as part of a sweeping crackdown on independent media operating inside the country.

The laws require organisations and individuals designated as “foreign agents” — a term which has Soviet-era spying connotations — to mark all their publications and submit reports on their activities to the Russian authorities.

It also requires any Russian citizens to self-register if they engage in activity that poses a threat to Russia’s “national security.”

Kurmasheva was arrested in October after initially having her passports confiscated in June when she travelled to Russia for a family emergency.

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Wednesday for the US State Department to designate Kurmasheva as “wrongfully detained”, a move which would trigger more intensive diplomatic efforts in Washington to secure her release.

Critics have accused Russia of indiscriminately arresting US passport holders to swap them for Russians jailed in the United States.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India

2.7% of Rs 2,000 banknotes still in circulation; here’s how you can deposit or exchange 

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The last day for the public to avail of exchange or to deposit high-value Rs 2000 banknotes at the banks was Saturday (October 7).

Published Date – 04:34 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


2.7% of Rs 2,000 banknotes still in circulation; here’s how you can deposit or exchange 


New Delhi: About 2.7 per cent of just-withdrawn Rs 2,000 banknotes are still in circulation, about two months after the deadline to deposit or exchange them at bank branches is over.

This essentially meant 97.26 per cent of the total value of the high-value Rs 2,000 banknotes were back in the banking system.

The last day for the public to avail of exchange or to deposit high-value Rs 2000 banknotes at the banks was Saturday (October 7).

The total value of Rs 2000 banknotes in circulation was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023, the date on which RBI decided to withdraw the banknote. As of November 30, it was at Rs 9,760 crore. Notably, the window for depositing and/or exchanging the Rs 2,000 banknotes continues to be available at the 19 issue offices of the RBI. Those 19 RBI issue offices are in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Belapur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, and Thiruvananthapuram. Members of the public from within the country can send Rs 2000 banknotes through India Post from any post office in the country to any of the RBI Issue Offices for credit to their bank accounts in India.

Long lines were seen outside the RBI’s regional offices at various locations, with people coming from far and wide to exchange their banknotes.

September 30 was initially decided as the last date to complete the exchange and deposit exercise in a time-bound manner and to provide adequate time to the public. People were requested to utilise the month of September to deposit or exchange their Rs 2000 banknotes to avoid any rush at the last moment.

On September 30, the RBI, based on a review, decided to extend the arrangement for deposit and exchange until October 7, 2023.

The Rs 2000 banknote was introduced in November 2016, primarily to meet the currency requirements of the economy expeditiously after the withdrawal of the legal tender status of all Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes in circulation at that time.

The objective of introducing Rs 2000 banknotes was met once banknotes in other denominations became available in adequate quantities. Therefore, the printing of Rs 2000 banknotes was stopped in 2018-19.