Syrian army: 100s of Takfiri terrorists killed, injured; many areas retaken

The Syrian military has killed and injured hundreds of foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists during defensive and retaliatory operations in the Arab country’s north.

“Our armed forces were able to inflict heavy losses on the attacking [terrorist] organizations and inflict hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists’ ranks,” the General Command of the country’s Army and Armed Forces said in a statement on Friday.

The Syrian soldiers also “destroyed dozens of armored vehicles and [other] vehicles and were able to shoot down and destroy 17 drones,” it added.

The forces, meanwhile, managed to regain control over some of the points that had suffered violations during the previous hours, the statement said, noting that the troops would continue their combat operations until the terrorists were successfully pushed back.

According to the General Command, the Takfiri outfits that had resurged in northern Syria were deploying large numbers of foreign terrorists, besides relying on various types of heavy and medium weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.

The statement, however, vowed that the forces would continue to reinforce their positions across all engagement axes with more soldiers and equipment to prevent terrorist violations on those axes and repel potential attacks.

It additionally warned that Takfiri outfits had begun releasing “misleading information, news, and video clips aimed at terrorizing citizens.”

The General Command, therefore, advised that Syrian citizens rather rely on official sources for credible information.

Earlier this week, members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Takfiri terrorist group were reported to have overrun many government-controlled areas and killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in the Arab country’s north.

Later, though, Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television network said the Syrian army had thwarted large-scale terrorist operations in the Aleppo Province through a preemptive strike.

Four major terrorist operations, which were set to begin from the town of Anadan, 12 kilometers (7 miles) northwest of Aleppo, were foiled before they could begin, the network said.

According to the report, the army launched intensified missile strikes against terrorist positions that stretch from villages in western Aleppo to Mount Zawiya south of the city of Idlib in an adjacent province.

The Syrian army was also said to have halted the advance of terrorists led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in southeastern Idlib and launched a counterattack to regain ground.

Also on Friday, Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the phone, reporting on the situation on the ground in northern Syria following the terrorist attacks.

He insisted that the Syrian state and people were standing up to terrorist aggression with all their might, and would keep preventing terrorists and their supporters from realizing their sinister ambitions.

Telangana’s identity under threat, coordinated assault by Congress, BJP: KTR

“Revanth Reddy who aimed his rifle at Telangana agitators during the Statehood movement, is not just trying to erase K Chandrashekhar Rao’s legacy, but is erasing Telangana’s history and pride,” he said

Published Date – 29 November 2024, 08:59 PM


Telangana’s identity under threat, coordinated assault by Congress, BJP: KTR


Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao cautioned against a coordinated assault on Telangana’s self-respect and identity by the Congress and BJP. He charged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy with diminishing Telangana’s struggle and identity by reducing the historic Telangana movement to an act of charity by former AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Participating in the Deeksha Diwas programme organised at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, Rama Rao lashed out at Revanth Reddy, whose actions threatened the State’s identity by attempting to erase Telangana’s cultural and historical symbols like the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar from the State’s official seal.


Revanth Reddy who aimed his rifle at Telangana agitators during the Statehood movement, is not just trying to erase K Chandrashekhar Rao’s legacy, but is erasing Telangana’s history and pride,” he said, also criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Telangana’s formation, calling them insulting to the State’s aspirations. “Modi likened Telangana formation to that of ‘the mother being killed to keep the child alive’, demeaning the hard-fought struggle of Telangana people,” he stated, adding that BJP leaders too belittled Telangana by projecting it as a beneficiary of the Gujarati leadership, under Sardar Vallabhai Patel earlier and Narendra Modi now.

Rama Rao stressed the need to educate younger generations about the sacrifices of student martyrs and the relentless struggles that culminated in the formation of Telangana. He emphasised the importance of creating awareness on Telangana’s identity and self-respect which was threatened under the Congress regime in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh for several decades.

“If we do not remember where we came from, we cannot chart our future. History is our guide, and forgetting it leaves us vulnerable to being subdued again,” he warned’ also cautioning that neglecting the State’s rich history could lead to its subjugation once again, as was being attempted by the current Congress government to attack Telangana’s identity.

The former Minister stated that despite the Congress government using police force and attempting to oppress tribals and farmers at Lagacherla, the people’s resistance had forced it to retreat from land acquisition plans. He called it a victory for Dalits, BCs, tribals, and farmers. However, he cautioned that the Revanth Reddy government was only interested in real estate deals, but not governance and could come up in another manner to grab their land.

“Revanth Reddy knows only land grabbing, not governance. Telangana must resist this plunder with all its might,” he said, urging people to stand united under BRS’s leadership. He also reiterated BRS’s commitment to fighting for Telangana’s welfare in all forums, including the legislative assembly and the council. “The voice of Telangana is BRS, and no one else. Telangana Bhavan, now a Janata Garage, remains open to all victims seeking justice. Only K Chandrashekhar Rao and BRS will fight for Telangana’s interests,” he asserted.

Earlier, Rama Rao along with BRS MLAs, MLCs, elected representatives and other senior leaders took out a rally from the Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute to Telangana Bhavan. He garlanded the statues of Telangana Thalli and Prof K Jayashankar and paid tributes to the Telangana Martyrs Memorial.

Iran FM doesn't rule out possibility of nuclear policy change

Iran’s long-standing nuclear doctrine, which bans the development of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, is a policy based on a fatwa from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. 

The Leader’s decree was issued about two decades ago when Western states had just begun pressuring Iran over its peaceful nuclear program. Fatwas, however, can be changed. There are four elements that factor into changing a fatwa: time, place, people, and prevailing conditions. 

Since Ayatollah Khamenei banned the development of nuclear weapons, Iran has tried varying routes to solve its nuclear dispute with the West. It continued its nuclear activities unbothered, sat down with the West and inked a deal, watched the West shun the deal, began talks to revive the deal, and scaled back on own its commitments when revival negotiations did not come to fruition. The route Iran is walking now seems to be shaky. The country is torn between scrapping the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) completely or continuing efforts to bring it back to life. If the latter doesn’t work, the first option is expected to be taken sooner or later. 

Talking to reporters in Lisbon, Portugal, Araghchi said Iranians are increasingly growing skeptical of prospects of reaching common grounds with the West.  

“There is a debate right now in Iran that it was perhaps a wrong policy. Why? Because it proved we did whatever they wanted and when it was their turn to lift sanctions, in practice, they didn’t happen. So maybe something is wrong with our policy,” the top diplomat was quoted by the Guardian as saying.  “So, I can tell you, quite frankly, that there is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites – even among the ordinary people – whether we should change this policy or not, whether we should change our nuclear doctrine, as some say, or not because it has proved insufficient in practice.”

Relentless pressure and unchecked audacity

When former and incoming US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s withdrawal from the JCPOA three years after its establishment in 2015, European signatories to the deal threw their weight behind Iran. While Germany, Britain, and France couldn’t cushion Iran against the re-imposed U.S. sanctions, they at least did not try to bother Iran with shenanigans of their own. 

That modus operandi, however, did not last long. Europe has imposed various sanctions against Iran in the past two years, including bans on its shipping and airline industries. Its pretext: Iran’s alleged involvement in the Ukraine war, a claim Europeans have never managed to back up with evidence of any sort.  This shift in European policy is further exemplified by their actions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The E3 has secured several anti-Iran resolutions at the IAEA, the most recent on November 22nd. These censures condemn Iran’s “insufficient” cooperation under the JCPOA, ignoring the unfulfilled Western promise of sanctions relief—the key condition for Iran’s agreement to the deal. Tehran reacted by deploying new advanced centrifuges. 

The EU also passed a resolution against Iran on Thursday, a day before European and Iranian representatives gathered in Geneva for talks on nuclear and regional matters. The resolution condemned the “growing and systematic repression of women in Iran”. Critics noted the hypocrisy, given the EU’s support for Israel’s brutal murder of women and children in Gaza and Lebanon in the past 14 months. 

Ball in EU’s court

Iranian and European officials released few details from Friday’s meeting. But following the meeting, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said the two sides have agreed to schedule a new round of talks, before suggesting that Europe still has some time left to prevent Tehran from potentialy going nuclear. 

“Another round of candid discussions with political directors of France, Germany, and the UK. We discussed and took stock of recent bilateral, regional, and international developments, particularly nuclear and sanctions-lifting issues,” Gharibabadi wrote on X, adding “We are firmly committed to pursuing the interests of our people, and our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement.”

First published in Tehran Times

Pujara wants Rohit Sharma to come in at 3 for Adelaide Test

Feels that the opening combination should not be tinkered with after a 295-run win in the series opener against Australia

Published Date – 29 November 2024, 11:05 AM


Pujara wants Rohit Sharma to come in at 3 for Adelaide Test

Indian captain Rohit Sharma

Canberra: KL Rahul’s spot at the top in the team hangs in balance, thanks to the arrival of skipper Rohit Sharma. However,  Cheteshwar Pujara feels that the opening combination should not be tinkered with after a 295-run win in the series opener against Australia.

Jaiswal scored a memorable hundred while Rahul too was impressive, collecting 26 and 77 in the two innings in Perth. Rohit’s absence in the series opener in Perth allowed India to move Rahul to the top of the order from the middle order. Pujara said Rahul should open the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second Test.


“I think, for some reason if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five,” Pujara said in a chat.

“If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don’t tinker around with that.” Gill, who missed the first Test due to a thumb injury, is also expected to feature in the playing eleven in the day-night Test beginning December 6.

“Ideally No. 5 (for Gill). Because it allows him to come in at a time, even if we lose two wickets early, he is someone who can negotiate the new ball,” Pujara said. “But if he walks in after, say, 25 or 30 overs, he can play his shots. He can play his natural game. And in case we lose the first three wickets early, Gill walks in and saves Rishabh Pant for the old ball.

“[Pant] doesn’t have to face the new ball. I wouldn’t want him to walk in to bat when the ball is hard and new,” Pujara added. Gill has opened the batting in Australia but has now moved down to number three. India also play a two-day warm up game in Canberra ahead of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

Internationalisation of UPI progressing rapidly: RBI-Telangana Today

The UPI hit a milestone of 16.6 billion transactions in a month in October, with improvements in its capabilities like successful instant debit reversals at 86 per cent (77 per cent in the same month last year)

Published Date – 24 November 2024, 01:49 PM


Internationalisation of UPI progressing rapidly: RBI

Representational Image

New Delhi: The internationalisation of the unified payments interface (UPI) is progressing rapidly, as India emerges as a world leader in leveraging digital technologies for transformative change, according to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report.

The UPI hit a milestone of 16.6 billion transactions in a month in October, with improvements in its capabilities like successful instant debit reversals at 86 per cent (77 per cent in the same month last year).


“India’s UPI, an open-ended system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application of any participating bank, is propelling inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions seamlessly,” said RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra in the report.

According to Patra, innovations in the digital credit landscape such as Account Aggregators, OCEN, and financial services on ONDC have also contributed to productivity gains. As of March 2024, ONDC operates in over 720 cities, with orders at 49.72 million.

The Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) addresses the credit gap of MSMEs estimated at around Rs 52.2 trillion by connecting them with banks, and clients, with a reduction in funding costs up to 2.5 percentage points.

“The value of invoices financed through TReDS have surged more than 23 times. As of October 2024, around 5,000 active FinTechs are involved in providing various financial and technical solutions to businesses, including MSMEs, helping businesses better manage their operations and improve supply chain finance,” wrote Patra.

Around 40 per cent of the rural population and 78 per cent in the 20-30 years age group in the overall population use internet in India, with approximately one-third of households engaging in online purchases of consumables and services, one-fourth in buying of consumer durables, and nearly one-tenth in food purchases.

The rising importance of embedded financing is reflected in its share in FinTech funding, which has grown from two per cent in 2020 to nine per cent in 2024, wrote Patra. Taking these developments into account, a summary measure of digitalisation for India has been constructed by using a dynamic factor model (DFM).

“The index has been rising, reflecting the ongoing digital revolution. The spread of digitalisation has spurred research on assessing the effects of digitalisation on the economy and the transmission of monetary policy,” said Patra.

India is uniquely positioned to unlock new growth avenues and optimise existing ones with its digital public infrastructure (DPI), a vibrant information technology (IT) sector and a burgeoning youth population, including one of the largest AI talent bases, noted the RBI Deputy Governor.”

Harry Brook Slams 171, England Take Total Control Of 1st Test vs NZ




A sustained seam attack by Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse following a belligerent batting effort saw England on the verge of wrapping up the first Test at stumps on day three in Christchurch on Saturday. New Zealand were 155-6 at the close, ahead by just four runs and with only four wickets remaining. Daryl Mitchell was not out 31 with Nathan Smith on one. England made 499 in their first innings, an imposing 151-run lead, led by Harry Brook‘s 171. “We’re in an amazing position to go on and win the game,” said Brook, who benefitted from five dropped catches. “I had a lot of luck, didn’t I. and thankfully I cashed in.”

New Zealand were hurting at the fielding errors with Brook adding 153 after he was first dropped on 18.

“Fielding’s something we pride ourselves on and that’s the part that hurts,” said seamer Matt Henry.

“We work hard on it and it’s usually where we turn a game on its head. So obviously it hurts when chances go down.”

Brook’s knock was supported by 80 from captain Ben Stokes and 77 from Ollie Pope.

It was then the turn of England’s seamers as New Zealand’s salvage attempt faltered at the start with Tom Latham caught by Brook for one to give Woakes his first wicket in the third over.

Devon Conway was on eight when his attempt to pull Carse to the boundary was miscued to Gus Atkinson at mid-on and New Zealand were tottering at 23-2.

Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra set about stitching the innings together as they put on 41 for the third wicket before Ravindra went for 24.

The left-hander could not resist pulling a short ball from Carse but failed to get on top of the bounce and was caught by Jacob Bethell waiting at mid-wicket.

Woakes returned to remove Williamson and Tom Blundell in successive balls to end the day with 3-39.

Williamson, so often called upon to rescue his country, was unruffled until on 61 — his second half-century of the Test — he missed a straight delivery and was trapped lbw.

With his next ball, Woakes found the faintest edge of Blundell’s bat but he was denied a hat-trick by Glenn Phillips who pushed a short ball towards the covers.

Phillips progressed to 19 before he was given out lbw to a Carse delivery that nipped back.

New Zealand sought a review but replays showed the ball was skimming the bails and the decision was the umpires call and Carse had 3-22.

– Masterful –

England resumed the day at 319-5 and raced along at six an over before being all out after lunch.

A masterful Brook, who benefitted from five of the eight catches spilled by New Zealand, led England’s rescue after they were left reeling at 71-4.

The only good news for New Zealand was that while they dropped two more catches on day three, they successfully held five.

Brook relished his lives. He smiled and looked to the heavens when Phillips spilled a chance on 147, having been dropped the previous day on 18, 41, 70 and 106.

Four overs after his last reprieve, he brought up his 150 in imperious fashion, charging down the wicket at Tim Southee and driving him to the cover boundary.

But when New Zealand found a way to make catches stick, Brook’s innings, which included 15 fours and three sixes, came to an end.

A good length ball from Matt Henry found a faint outside edge and wicketkeeper Blundell grasped the opportunity.

The applause as Brook left the ground was as much for New Zealand holding a catch as it was for a magnificent innings.

Woakes (one) was out on the second ball he faced with Latham scooping up a low-level chance at second slip.

Smith ended Atkinson’s breezy innings with Phillips taking a smart catch at long leg.

Henry was the most successful New Zealand bowler with 4-84. Smith took 3-141.

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

Topics mentioned in this article

Telangana youth shot dead in US

The deceased has been identified as N Sai Teja (22).

Updated On – 30 November 2024, 02:28 PM


Telangana youth shot dead in US

N Sai Teja file photo

Khammam: A youth from Khammam was shot dead in Chicago in the US on Friday.

The deceased, N Sai Teja (22) went to the US four months ago to study MS in Concordia University, Wisconsin. He said to have been working in a mall for the past few days and on Friday night assailants shot him dead at the mall after grabbing money from him.


His parents Nookarapu Koteshwar Rao and Vani live at Raparthi Nagar in Khammam city. A pall of gloom descended at Teja’s residence here as his friends and relatives reached the home to console his parents.

Palestinian Resistance confronts IOF raids across West Bank

The al-Quds Brigades – Jenin Brigades announced early on Saturday that its combatants confronted the invading Israeli occupation forces, which had stormed the city from multiple directions in Silat al-Dhahr, using gunfire and explosive devices, Lebanese Al Mayadeen reported.

In turn, the al-Quds Brigades – Tulkarem Brigades also reported engaging with the Israeli occupation forces, launching bursts of gunfire along the southern fronts as they advanced.

As part of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the West Bank, Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Yabad, south of Jenin. According to reports by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli occupation vehicles entered the town, spread across its streets, and opened live fire on citizens, sparking clashes.

Israeli occupation forces also stormed the town of Jamaain, south of Nablus, and the Wadi al-Hariya area in al-Khalil.

After storming the Khallat Hador area in al-Khalil, the occupying forces destroyed Palestinians’ vehicles and fired tear gas inside commercial shops in the town of Idna, west of the city.

On Friday evening, Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Idna, west of al-Khalil, firing stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinians. They spread across the roads and around homes in the al-Qurnah neighborhood, setting up a military checkpoint and detaining and searching vehicles.

In southern Nablus, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported injuries from live ammunition during confrontations in the towns of Iraq Burin and Jama’in.

AMK/PR

Riyadh ‘urgently’ seeking to boost ties with Tehran: Report

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is “urgently” looking to strengthen ties with Iran before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to a report.

The New York-headquartered news agency, Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the kingdom’s moves, said bin Salman had made an “offer of increased trade” to Iranian officials in recent weeks in the hope of ratcheting down tension with the West.

The offer would build on a March 2023 Chinese-brokered rapprochement between the two countries as Tehran and Riyadh are pushing to forge closer ties amid escalated tensions in the region, Bloomberg added.

The news agency said it was unclear what bin Salman had offered to Iran, but a person who worked on the 2023 detente between the two sides said trade could initially focus on products in the food and medical sectors that would not breach European and US sanctions against Tehran.

The news agency pointed to Trump’s victory in the US election earlier in the month and the prospect of a renewal of the West Asia policies introduced in his first term, which may include his maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The Saudi crown prince was said to have sent National Security Adviser Musaad al-Aiban to Washington last month for talks before President Joe Biden leaves office in January.

“The Saudis see the dual-channel approach of closer ties with both Washington and Tehran as vital geopolitically, though it could leave the kingdom in an awkward spot,” the news agency said.

“Prince Mohammed’s top priority is his trillion-dollar plan to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil. The agenda, known as Vision 2030, relies on peace as well as foreign investment to help fund its ambitious mega-projects.”

Speaking at the annual investment conference in Riyadh late October, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said his primary mandate was to protect Vision 2030 and further its advancement.

Bloomberg also touched on the Iranian officials’ concerns that Saudi trade and investment pledges under what was known as the Beijing Agreement had not materialized.

China, which is the biggest buyer of oil from both countries, has been urging Riyadh and Tehran to buttress their rapprochement, said Dina Esfandiary, senior adviser for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group.

“It’s a pretty simple, noncontroversial way for Riyadh to demonstrate its commitment to the new dialogue with Tehran,” she said.

Reports said a Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee following up on the accord held a second meeting in Riyadh on November 19, reaffirming commitment to the pact.

In a statement, the parties touted the nearly 140,000 Iranian pilgrims that have visited the Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia this year as a sign of closer ties, along with things like the Iranian exhibition in Riyadh. 

Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed relations following a seven-year hiatus under a Beijing-mediated deal in March 2023, which saw the two sides re-open diplomatic missions.

As part of a joint statement issued by the two sides, Tehran and Riyadh highlighted the need to respect each others’ national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

They also agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in April 2001 and another accord reached in May 1998 to boost economic, commercial, investment, technical, scientific, cultural, sports, and youth affairs cooperation.