December 2023 – Page 797 – Safir News Agency

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

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.

Hyderabad

Everyone is responsible to prevent AIDS: Mancherial DMHO

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Speaking on the occasion, Mancherial DMHO urged the public to voluntarily undergo medical investigation to detect AIDS and to prevent it

Published Date – 06:00 PM, Fri – 1 December 23

Everyone is responsible to prevent AIDS: Mancherial DMHO — Speaking on the occasion, Mancherial DMHO urged the public to voluntarily undergo medical investigation to detect AIDS and to prevent it

Mancherial: District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr GC Subbarayudu said that everyone was responsible to prevent the spread of AIDS. He was speaking at a programme held to mark World AIDS Day here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Subbarayudu urged the public to voluntarily undergo medical investigation to detect the disease and to prevent it. He stated that the district headquarters hospital and primary health centres were conducting diagnosis service. He advised the people to utilise the opportunity.

The DMHO later presented mementos and certificates of appreciation to winners of painting and rangoli competitions organised as part of the Global AIDS Day. Programme officer Dr Neeraja, District AIDS controlling supervisor Dr V Anil, government nursing college principal Fathima and many others were present.

Middle East

Iran FM calls for immediate cessation of attacks on Gaza

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There is no solution but to continue the ceasefire and the massive delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza and an agreement on prisoner exchanges between the two sides, Amirabdollahian wrote in Farsi on his account on the X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.

He described the continuation of the Washington-Tel Aviv war as a new genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

Prisoners are not freed by war, but they are killed in bombardments, he said, adding that seemingly, the Zionist regime and the US do not think about the consequences of returning to war.

The top Iranian diplomat reiterated that the existence of a warship is not a defining characteristic, but the existence of the “Palestinian will” would be determining.

Stop the attacks on Gaza immediately before it is too late, he noted.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

More than 15,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the Israeli strikes.

The Israeli violence in Gaza has also raised tensions in the West Bank, where nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed by soldiers or settlers since October 7, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry.

A seven-day truce, which expired on Friday morning, saw the release of 105 Israeli captives held in Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The ceasefire had allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza but the aid supplies were far below what is needed, according to aid workers.

MNA

"Only Change Is…": Medical Body Official Amid Logo Change Row

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A controversy broke out recently over National Medical Commission’s logo change.

New Delhi:

Under attack, National Medical Commission (NMC) officials on Friday said the commission’s logo depicting Hindu deity Dhanwantari has been in use for more than a year and that only “India has been replaced with Bharat a month and a half ago”.

Dr Yogender Malik, member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board and head of the media Division at the NMC, said the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) had the symbol of a greek goddess in its logo.

About a year-and-a-half ago, the NMC decided on a logo with Dhanwantari as a representative of the god of medicine in our country following wider consultation, Malik said.

“The image of Dhanwantari was in black and white earlier. At a recent meeting of the NMC, the colour image replacement was adopted. The image is now clearer.

“We never had the India emblem as our logo. We did not have a logo earlier. It was only around a year ago that the NMC, after taking suggestions, came up with the logo. The Dhanwantari logo was black and white for more than a year and we realised that we need to colour it. So that is the only change that has happened. I do not understand the criticism,” he said.

Malik further said the only change that has taken place is that the word “India” has been replaced with “Bharat”.

The commission on Thursday drew ire from the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Kerala chapter, which said the recent change in the NMC logo was not acceptable.

Dr Sulphi Noohu, IMA Kerala president, said a secular message and way of thinking would have been more appropriate and acceptable in the NMC’s logo.

In a Facebook post, the doctor, known for his secular views, said the national leadership of the IMA would raise a strong protest against the logo change.

In his Facebook post, Noohu has included images of the current NMC logo and an earlier one that carries the national emblem (an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka).

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

Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Intermediate student ends life at private junior college

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Nimisha (17), who joined the college at Pasumamla village a few months ago, was found hanging by her roommates, who informed the hostel warden and college authorities.

Published Date – 05:35 PM, Fri – 1 December 23

Hyderabad: Intermediate student ends life at private junior college

Hyderabad: A first-year intermediate student of a private junior college died by suicide in her hostel room on the college campus at Hayathnagar on the city outskirts on Thursday night.

Nimisha (17), who joined the college at Pasumamla village a few months ago, was found hanging by her roommates, who informed the hostel warden and college authorities.

The teenager, who was studying MPC in the college died by suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan, in the absence of her roommates.

Police said the college staff shifted her to a nearby private hospital, where the doctors pronounced her dead. The reason for suicide was not known and her parents, teachers and friends said the teen was good at studies. No suicide note was recovered.

However, student leaders who staged a protest at the college alleged harassment on part of the college management to be the reason.

Hayathnagar police are investigating. Officials said all possible angles are being investigated and necessary action will be taken.

The body was shifted to the Gandhi Hospital and handed over to the family after autopsy on Friday.

Business

Hyderabad witnesses 19 percent increase in housing prices-Telangana Today

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The surge in Hyderabad is due to the city witnessing new property launches at a market premium, resulting in a notable overall property prices.

Published Date – 05:42 PM, Fri – 1 December 23

Hyderabad witnesses 19 percent increase in housing prices

Hyderabad: Hyderabad emerged as the frontrunner among the top eight cities in India with a 19 per cent rise in the year-on-year (YoY) housing prices during the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.

According to the CREDAI -Colliers – Liases Foras report – Housing Price Tracker Q3 -2023, the surge in Hyderabad is due to the city witnessing new property launches at a market premium, resulting in a notable overall property prices. Metro phase 2 and Airport Metro line, also show promise to further elevate the city’s residential landscape, suggests the report.

The 8 major cities taken into consideration are Hyderabad with 19 per cent (YoY) increase in housing prices, followed by Bengaluru with 18 per cent rise, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi NCR with 12 per cent rise and Ahmedabad with 9 per cent rise, Chennai with 7 percent and Mumbai Metropolitan region with 1 per cent increase.

According to the report the housing market is likely to further firm up by the end of 2023, driven by likely strong momentum during the festive season fueled by positive market synergies in the form of attractive incentives, lucrative schemes for the home buyers, and new launches in an already upbeat market.

Alongside increasing sales, the top housing markets of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and MMR saw a surge in new property launches, with a notable emphasis on the mid and luxury segments. The mid-segment accounted for the largest share of unsold units at 32 per-cent , closely trailed by the affordable segment.

However, there was a 1 per cent quarterly drop in unsold inventory, led by favorable market dynamics as of end of September 2023. With increased demand for spacious dwellings, developers continued to launch high-end projects, which pushed housing prices for under-construction units northward in markets like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Bengaluru.

CREDAI National president Boman Irani stated, “homebuyer sentiments have been quite positive in 2023, playing a huge factor in not just the volume of housing registrations, but also indirectly having a cascading impact on increasing housing prices. On the back of a stabilized economy, job security, stable lending environment, we project this sales momentum to continue, with sustainable development and Green housing expected to lead the next growth phase in the industry. Developers have also been at the forefront to ensure that it remains a conducive buying environment, facilitating enhanced transparency and providing financial incentives that added to the overall appeal of purchasing homes.”

What Is White Lung Syndrome? A Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak, Similar To China's

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What Is White Lung Syndrome? A Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak, Similar To China's

Not always treatable with antibiotics, the disease poses a greater risk for children.

A concerning outbreak of a novel bacterial pneumonia strain, termed White Lung Syndrome, has gripped many countries around the world. This respiratory illness predominantly afflicts children between the ages of three and eight. While the precise cause of this pneumonia outbreak remains under investigation, experts suspect it may be associated with a newly identified strain of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common bacterium responsible for respiratory infections.

What is white lung syndrome?

White Lung Syndrome originates from distinctive white patches on chest X-rays in affected children. The term includes various respiratory illnesses like acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis, and silica-related conditions.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the air sacs in the lungs. This makes it difficult to breathe. ARDS can be caused by a variety of factors, including pneumonia, sepsis, and trauma.

Also Read | Mysterious White Lung Syndrome Spreads Globally, Cases Reported Worldwide

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare lung disease that is caused by deposits of calcium in the air sacs of the lungs. This can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain.

Silicosis is a lung disease that is caused by inhaling silica dust. Silica dust is found in sand, stone, and other materials. Silicosis can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain.

What are the symptoms of white lung syndrome?

White lung syndrome symptoms differ based on the cause, but common signs include shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, fever, and fatigue.

What is the underlying cause of white lung syndrome?

The exact cause of white lung syndrome is still being investigated, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of bacterial, viral, and environmental factors. Viruses, such as influenza or COVID-19, can cause white lung syndrome by damaging the lungs’ air sacs. Bacteria, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, can cause white lung syndrome by causing an infection in the lungs. Environmental factors, such as inhaling silica dust or other pollutants, can cause white lung syndrome by irritating the lungs and making them more susceptible to infection.

What are the treatment options for white lung syndrome?

Treating white lung syndrome varies based on its cause, with options such as antibiotics, antivirals, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and corticosteroids. The approach depends on severity and overall health, with outcomes ranging from full recovery to potential long-term lung damage.

Hyderabad

“One Nation, One Licence” plan for electrical contractors mooted

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The new license policy will allow a contractor registered with one State to offer services in other States.

Published Date – 05:40 PM, Fri – 1 December 23

“One Nation, One Licence” plan for electrical contractors mooted — The new license policy will allow a contractor registered with one State to offer services in other States.

Hyderabad: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has asked State governments to pave way for a “One Nation, One Licence” plan for electrical contractors in the State engaged in different power and renewable projects. The new license policy will allow a contractor registered with one State to offer services in other States.

“Given the representations received from various organisations and contractors, it has been felt that there is a need for having ‘One Nation, One License’ for electrical contractors so that under the ease of doing business they can take up the works in different States by having a valid license in any of the States or union territories. This will avoid a long-drawn process of obtaining the separate licenses in the respective States, where they intend to work,” the CEA advisory stated.

The CEA has asked all State electrical inspectorates in which there is currently no such provision to allow electrical contractors of other States, to take up measures to facilitate inter-state validity of licences. It has also advised the State electrical inspectorate against putting territorial restrictions while granting (new) licences to electrical contractors.

Supervisor licence holders and wireman licence holders of different States are allowed to work in other States through various arrangements like reciprocal Memorandum of Understanding(MoU), verification and endorsements. However, no such procedure is allowed for electrical contractors, as yet. States have been asked to make arrangements for incorporating Electrical Contractor License Holders under arrangements made for Supervisor License Holders and Wireman License Holders.

However, the verification or endorsement will be subject to verification of the contractor’s license, workman permit and supervisor competency certificate. The contractor has to make an undertaking that the supervisor and the workman possess the required qualifications, the CEA advisory stated.