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Novak Djokovic Sparks Serb Celebration In The Midnight Hour

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Novak Djokovic got the party started for 2024 as he sealed a 2-1 win for Serbia over China near the stroke of midnight on Sunday at the United Cup in Perth. The world number one kicked off the new season by teaming up in mixed doubles with compatriot and longtime friend Olga Danilovic to hold off Zheng Qinwen and ATP number 58 Zhang Zhizhen for a 6-4, 1-6, 10-6 victory. Glancing at his watch after his on-court interview, Djokovic then implored the house DJ to fill in for five minutes before leading the RAC stadium crowd in a rousing countdown to the midnight hour.

“Thanks to the fans for staying this late,” the winner of 24 Grand Slams said.

“We’re glad you decided to spend this special night with us.”

The Serbs were playing their first match at the competition while China now stand 1-1.

Djokovic won his earlier singles over Zhang 6-3, 6-2 while Daniovic went down 6-4, 6-2 to her Chinese opponent Zheng, the WTA’s 2023 Most Improved Player who has risen to be world number 15.

The 22-year-old Danilovic could not praise her celebrated teammate enough.

“This was number one on my bucket list – to play with Novak and to win, I’m so happy.

“This was an incredible match, I gave my all and I’m glad to finish 2023 like this, it could not be better.

“I’ve looked up to Novak from the first moment I touched a racquet.”

Defending champions USA win

Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz had to fight through a deciding doubles match to conclude a 2-1 defeat of Britain on Sunday for the United States to stay in title contention at the United Cup.

The defending champions, who won the trophy last January over Italy, earned a 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 10-7 mixed doubles win to claim victory in Perth after the sides split the singles.

“We have a team energy from last year here, we don’t want to take a loss and let it die,” said Fritz, who was broken twice in the opening set.

World number five Pegula added: “To get a win in this fashion after such a long day (on court) brings back a lot of memories.

“It was a big win today, especially after losing such a tough singles match.”

Britain, who beat Australia to open their tournament account, took a 1-0 lead when Pegula crashed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to Katie Boulter in the singles.

It was Boulter’s first win over a top-five player on her seventh attempt after she bounced back from a set and double-break down.

Pegula’s 10th-ranked teammate Fritz kept the tie alive despite a thigh strain he blamed on over-training, defeating Cameron Norrie 7-6 (5), 6-4.

“I strained something but got through it,” said Fritz. “Cam and I have played so many times (14). It’s always a battle, always close.”

In Sydney, Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a fighting victory over Chile with the former US Open finalist winning her singles rubber and then backing up in a decisive mixed doubles.

The 35th-ranked Fernandez got Canada off to a perfect start, cruising past Chile’s Daniela Seguel 6-2, 6-3 in 73 minutes.

With Canadian number one Felix Auger-Aliassime sitting out the men’s singles, 314th-ranked Steven Diez stepped up but was toppled by world number 19 Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-4.

It set up a deciding mixed doubles, with Fernandez teaming with Diez to battle past Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.

“I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” said Fernandez, who was part of the Canadian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time this year.

The 21-year-old broke five times in her singles clash against a player in her first WTA Tour-level singles match in nearly two years, using the serve-and-volley tactic well.

“First match of the season so had some nerves, but happy with the way I was able to handle it,” she said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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World

Defence min. hopes for Gaza ceasefire at start of 2024

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Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani in a message on the occasion of the arrival of the New Year congratulated his counterparts in 39 countries across the world.

Iran’s defense minister said in his message “While we step in the year 2024, we are witnessing the continuous genocide, war crimes and the brutal killing of children and the oppressed people in Gaza by the Zionist regime in the last months of 2023 that hurts the sentiments of all freedom seekers in the world”.

He expressed hope for the establishment of a ceasefire and sending humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Gaza, while deploring wrath at the Zionist regime’s actions.

He also wished for a year and full of peace, justice, freedom, spirituality, morality and progress for mankind in the light of God’s blessings.

SD/5983003

Middle East

10k cancer patients in Gaza lack medications

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Some medical sources active in the Gaza Strip declared that about 10 thousand cancer patients have been left without medications following the mandatory closure of the Al-Sadaqa Hospital as a result of the continued aggression by the Israeli regime and the imposition of total siege on the area.

Sobhi Sakik, the director of the Palestinian-Turkish Al-Sadaqa Hospital, confirmed the reports, adding that following the mandatory closure of this hospital and the continuation of aggression, now 10 thousand of cancer patients are in tough circumstances of living without medications.

He went on to say that there are no cancer drugs available to these patients in Gaza.

The director also urged all states to help Gaza healthcare operatives resume the operation of Al-Sadaqa Hospital, which is the only cancer hospital throughout the besieged area.

On the 87th day of the onslaught on the besieged territory, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Monday that the number of martyrs of the Israeli regime’s aggressions against Gaza mounted to 21,978.

MNA/IRN

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"I Was On It": Flier Rescued From Burning Japan Plane Shares What Happened

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Flier Rescued From Burning Plane Shares What Happened, Posts Shocking Pic

William Manzione, who said he was on the plane, shared this picture

New Delhi:

All passengers on the Japan Airlines plane that burst into flames following a collision on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda airport are safe and are being moved to the terminal, one of the fliers has shared.

“Hi, I was on it. Everyone is safe and they are taking us to the terminal,” William Manzione posted on X shortly after shocking visuals from the runway played on TV screens.

The Japan Airlines plane with 367 passengers and 12 crew on board caught fire after it collided with a coast guard aircraft, according to local media reports. Of the six on board the coast guard plane, five are dead.

Mr Manzione has also shared a photo of the burning plane on the runway. While NDTV cannot confirm that he was on the plane, his timeline on X showed a photograph clicked at an airport in Hokkaido a day back. And, reports on the Haneda airport shocker have said the passenger plane had arrived from Sapporo airport on Hokkaido.

In reply to a post on X about the runway blaze, Mr Manzione said, “Everyone is safe, the crew evacuated the whole aircraft quickly.”

A coast guard official at Haneda Airport said “it’s not clear if there was a collision”. “But it is certain that our plane is involved,” he told news agency AFP.

The runway shocker comes a day after a series of earthquakes hit Japan, claiming near 50 lives.

In fact, the Jiji news agency has reported that the coast guard plane was to take off for a rescue operation in central Japan in the aftermath of the quakes.

Hyderabad

Continuous learning and capacity building programmes for staff of Karimnagar DCCB, stresses Chairman Ravinder Rao

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Chairman of NAFSCOB, TSCAB and Karimnagar DCCB Konduru Ravinder Rao has stressed on the continuous learning and capacity building programmes for the employees of all levels at Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank to gear up for the future requirement.

Updated On – 04:57 PM, Tue – 2 January 24


Continuous learning and capacity building programmes for staff of Karimnagar DCCB, stresses Chairman Ravinder Rao

Chairman of NAFSCOB, TSCAB and Karimnagar DCCB Konduru Ravinder Rao has stressed on the continuous learning and capacity building programmes for the employees of all levels at Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank to gear up for the future requirement.

Karimnagar: Chairman of NAFSCOB, TSCAB and Karimnagar DCCB Konduru Ravinder Rao has stressed on the continuous learning and capacity building programmes for the employees of all levels at Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank to gear up for the future requirement.

“We will approach the NABARD and design courses for all level officers including senior level officers and organise exposure visits and make training as a continuous process”, he pointed out. The continuous learning is not an option but a well-thought-out strategy and path to growth. In this pursuit of knowledge, it is important to know your own strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, recognise the way you learn. Knowing the best way you learn and what motivates you in that process helps you accomplish your learning goals efficiently, he stated.

Participating in the New Year celebrations at the DCCB main office in Karimnagar town on Monday by cutting the cake and distributing the same among the employees, Mr Ravinder Rao said that ‘everywhere is the competitive world including the bank sector. We have to compete with other banks and diversify the business activities to increase the business in the market’.

Stating that the Karimnagar DCCB is ahead in good governance and use of technology, he stressed on the need to upgrade the technology to meet the growing challenges. He proudly said that the Telangana state alone in the country was implementing HR policy at all the three-tier cooperative system and emerged as role model in the country. He said that they have PACS development cell and Business Development Cell for the increase of business.

Expressing concern over stunted growth of the bank especially in terms of deposits, he called upon all the employees to rise to the occasion and play a responsible role in increasing the deposits of the bank as they were providing high interest rates when compared to any commercial bank. He also appealed to the employees to accord priority for the recovery of the loans and deposits during the coming three months period.

NABARD DDM Jayaprakash assured all the support to the Karimnagar DCCB in designing training and capacity building modules in coordination with BIRD, Luknow and Mangaluru. Stating that the NABARD was ready to extend any kind of support to the DCCB, he also announced to bank with Karimnagar DCCB and open an account and deposit the amount.

Similarly, NABARD DDM P Manohar Reddy had also announced that he would avail loan from the bank and be part of the customer and do business. KDCCB CEO N Satyanarayana said that there was still a lot of potential for doing business in the integrated Karimnagar district. Presently, the Karimnagar DCCB is at third position in doing business after the leading national banks of SBI and UBI, he stated.

KDCCB vice chairman P Ramesh, General managers Prabhakar Reddy and Ushasri, union leader Hanumantha Rao, main branch manager K Sunil, Sales officer Vamshi also spoke on the occasion. DGMs, AGMs and others were also present.

World

Iraqi Resistance conducts drone attack on US base in Syria

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According to Al Jazeera TV network, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the US military base in Al-Khadra village in northeastern Syria.

On Monday, Western media outlets also quoted their sources as reporting the first drone attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase in Al-Anbar province in western Iraq, where US military forces are stationed.

On Tuesday evening, The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also targeted the US occupying forces’ base at the Koniko gas field in eastern Syria with intense rocket attacks.

The AFP news agency quoted a US official, reporting that 103 attacks have been carried out against US forces in Iraq and Syria from October 17 up until now.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group representing several Iraqi armed factions, initiated its attacks on US bases in Syria and Iraq following the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip and Washington’s all-out support for the genocidal war.

SD/IRN

Middle East

Yemeni official vows revenge on US, UK

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By attacking a Yemeni navy vessel, they ignited a war that they will never be able to get out of easily, and will pay a heavy price for it, al-Qahhoum was quoted by the Russian media Sputnik as saying.

Earlier on Monday, a member of the Political Council of the Ansarullah Movement Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said that the Yemeni armed forces are willing to stand against the US.

If the US vessels attack Yemen, they will be directly targeted and the Americans are aware of the seriousness of this decision, he added.

He also asked why the rest of the Arab and Islamic countries did not join it in the framework of the joint defense agreement signed with Palestine.

Meanwhile, Army Spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement on Sunday that the US attacked three boats in the Red Sea earlier in the day and killed ten Yemeni armed forces, stressing that Washington would suffer from the consequences of targeting the vessels.

According to Saree, the Yemeni boats were in the Red Sea to conduct a military operation against the Maersk Hangzhou vessel that was heading for the ports of occupied Palestine. He said that the vessel was targeted after its crew did not respond to the Yemeni army’s warnings.

The Yemeni army spokesman advised all countries not to be dragged into US plots, stressing that American forces’ actions to protect Israeli ships in the Red Sea would not stop the Yemeni army from supporting the people of Gaza.

SD/IRN

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Adani Ports Reports Huge Growth In Cargo Volumes

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Adani Ports Reports Huge Growth In Cargo Volumes

India’s largest private port operator Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) reported a huge surge in cargo volumes (crossed 300 MMT cargo mark in just 266 days), reporting a 42 per cent year-on-year increase in December 2023. 

For the quarter ended December, the company handled around 109 MMT of overall cargo, with around 106 MMT contributed by domestic ports portfolio. The overall cargo handling for the initial nine months of 2024 stood at 311, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 23 percent. 

“APSEZ crossed the 300 MMT cargo mark in just 266 days versus its previous best of 329 days in the previous financial year. This milestone only proves that our strategy of driving operational efficiencies to achieve industry leading growth is yielding the desired results. We are now targeting over 400 MMT of cargo volumes in FY24, surpassing the upper end of the guidance range (370-390 MMT) provided at the start of the current financial year,” said Mr Karan Adani, CEO and Whole Time Director, APSEZ.

Adani Ports operates 13 ports and terminals in the country including its largest container handling port, Mundra, in Gujarat.

The flagship Mundra port handled around 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (a general unit of cargo capacity) in a record nine months and is on track to surpass 7 million TEUs of container cargo volumes during FY24. 

In October 2023, the port handled 16 MMT of cargo volumes and established a new milestone of achieving the highest cargo volumes by any Indian port in a single month. 

The Dhamra Port handled the highest quantity of dry cargo (1,85,856 MT), surpassing the previous record of 1,73,524 MT, said the company in a press release. 

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

Hyderabad

Kishan Reddy asks CM to seek CBI probe into Kaleshwaram

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Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Kishan Reddy said before coming to power, Revanth Reddy had demanded the Centre to order a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram Project, but now he was not taking any measure in that direction.

Published Date – 05:01 PM, Tue – 2 January 24


Kishan Reddy asks CM to seek CBI probe into Kaleshwaram


Hyderabad: Accusing the Congress government of going soft on the BRS on the issue of alleged corruption during its tenure, BJP State president G Kishan Reddy demanded Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to make his government’s stand clear on the issue of ordering a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Kishan Reddy said before coming to power, Revanth Reddy had demanded the Centre to order a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram Project, but now he was not taking any measure in that direction.

“Though over 25 days have passed since he assumed office, Revanth Reddy has so far not written to the centre seeking a CBI probe into Kaleshwaram. If the CM writes to the centre for a CBI probe, I will see that it starts within 48 hours,” he said.

Stating that since the Congress did not have an absolute majority in the State assembly, it was going slow on the irregularities committed by the previous BRS government, Kishan Reddy alleged that both the Congress and the BRS had come to an understanding and were trying to delay the probe into Kaleshwaram.

Commenting on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the State BJP president said on January 7 and 8, State election team meetings would be organised and a new election committee would be constituted to prepare the party for the polls. Stating that there was a lot of demand for BJP Lok Sabha tickets, he said the party had eight candidates ready and it was looking candidates for the rest of the seats. “Our central leadership will finalise the candidates shortly. Party is in favour of announcing the candidates in advance,”he said.

He said the party was expecting the Election Commission of India to issue a poll notification in the end of February or March first week.

Responding to the issue of State BJP legislative party leader selection issue, Kishan Reddy said shortly the legislative party leader would be selected. “BJP central observers will be coming to the State soon to finalise the BJPLP leader,”he said.

World

Iran has asked Iraq to extradite 38 separatist terrorists: Top rights official

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Iran’s top human rights official says the Islamic Republic has called upon Iraqi authorities to extradite 38 main members of separatist and terrorist groups holed up in the Arab country’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Kazem Gharibabadi, secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, made the remarks on the sidelines of the fourth trial session of the members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist group, which was held in absentia in the capital Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran has urged the central government in Iraq and authorities in Kurdistan to meet their commitments toward Iran and take necessary measures to secure the border.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched several rounds of airstrikes against the positions of the terrorists who are holed up in Iraqi Kurdistan.

On November 21, 2022, positions of anti-Iran separatist and terrorist groups in northern Iraq came under combined attacks using missiles and kamikaze drones. The strikes targeted the positions of the notorious Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and the Komala Party in northern Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran’s Arabic-language Al-Alam television news network reported at the time.

According to the network, one attack saw four missiles being fired against a PDKI position in the town of Koy Sanjaq in Erbil Province. A separate attack featured kamikaze drones smashing into another site belonging to the group near the Baharka village.

Simultaneously, kamikaze drones struck positions associated with Komala across two locations near the city of Sulaymaniyah.

Elsewhere in his remarks on Tuesday, Gharibabadi noted that Iran has not limited its legal actions simply to MKO terrorists, but has also taken measures against Pakistan-based so-called Ansar-ul-Furqan and Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist groups.

Members of the latter terror outfit are wanted for a vicious terrorist assault on Rask County’s police headquarters in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan on December 15 last year.

The assault claimed the lives of 11 police forces, including officers and conscripts, and left several others wounded.

Gharibabadi further said that Iran has the necessary means at its disposal to implement its court rulings against the terrorists, saying, “The countries now sheltering the terrorists will have no reason to support them or would at least opt to expel the individuals once we hand down the verdicts.”

He described terrorism as one of the most horrific crimes being committed in the world with the support of certain so-called advocates of human rights.

Gharibabadi underscored that Iran has been the biggest victim of terrorist acts, and some 23 thousand Iranian nationals have fallen victim to acts of terror.