EVMs in Hyderabad moved to strong rooms

Staff to be involved in counting task likely to undergo second round of training today

Published Date – 11:29 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


EVMs in Hyderabad moved to strong rooms

A security personnel stands guard near a strong room at AV College in Hyderabad on Friday. — Photo: Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: With the conclusion of polling at 1,677 locations across Hyderabad district, EVMs used in the electoral process were deposited in the safekeeping of 14 Distribution and Reception Centres (DRCs).

Reviewing the preparations, the District Election Officer (DEO) and GHMC Commissioner Ronald Rose visited these centres on Thursday night. As counting is scheduled for December 3, the staff that is to be involved in the task are expected to undergo their second round of training on Saturday.


Evms Inset

Like with EVMs, officers will be also assigned to their counting centres after randomization to ensure transparency. For each center, no more than 16 counting agents will be allowed inside. Starting with counting the votes from postal ballots, officers will count votes only from the control units of the EVMs and register them in Form 17-C.

Once that is done, these votes will be tallied with the VVPAT slips under close supervision of the Returning Officers (ROs) and Observers. Asking officers to give a detailed report on the number of tables set up at each counting center, Rose in a press statement said that one table would be set up for 500 votes.

Each table will have a supervisor, a counting assistant, and a micro observer. Any votes that counting officers deem invalid will be rechecked by the Returning Officers, and micro-observers will randomly check control units of five polling stations after the counting is concluded.

"Turning Victim Into Accused": MP Danish Ali Writes To Lok Sabha Speaker

'Turning Victim Into Accused': MP Danish Ali Writes To Lok Sabha Speaker

Danish Ali shared a copy of the letter on social media. (File)

New Delhi:

BSP MP Danish Ali on Friday alleged that attempts are being made to turn the victim into an accused by using “fabricated charges” against him over his complaint against BJP member Ramesh Bidhuri for making objectionable remarks in Lok Sabha.

In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Danish Ali said he was “shocked” over clubbing of his complaint against Ramesh Bidhuri with the ones levelled against him for allegedly provoking the BJP MP.

He said while he was hoping for a swift, strict and exemplary action against Ramesh Bidhuri, he was sad that attempts were being made to turn the victim into an accused.

Danish Ali shared a copy of the letter on social media.

The panel had issued notices to Danish Ali and Ramesh Bidhuri on November 21. Danish Ali wrote to Birla on Friday.

The Privileges Committee of Lok Sabha has summoned Ramesh Bidhuri and Danish Ali on December 7 at separate time.

On an earlier occasion, Ramesh Bidhuri had not appeared before the committee while expressing his inability to do so.

Ramesh Bidhuri had made remarks against Danish Ali during the Special session of Parliament in September when the House was discussing the success of the Chandrayan-III mission.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had referred the MPs’ complaints on the issue involving Ramesh Bidhuri’s use of objectionable words againstDanish  Ali to the Privileges Committee in September.

While Danish Ali and several other opposition MPs, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and DMK’s Kanimozhi, had demanded action against Ramesh Bidhuri, several BJP parliamentarians like Nishikant Dubey said the BSP member “incited” the South Delhi MP when he speaking in the House and urged the Speaker to look into this aspect as well. 

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

CCMB team traces genomes of primates, mammals

As part of the study, the CCMB researchers collaborated with a team of international researchers to assemble 239 primate genomes and compared them with 202 other mammalian genomes to identify thousands of gene regulatory elements are the evolutionarily conserved in primates but not in other mammals

Published Date – 11:30 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


CCMB team traces genomes of primates, mammals

As part of the study, the CCMB researchers collaborated with a team of international researchers to assemble 239 primate genomes and compared them with 202 other mammalian genomes to identify thousands of gene regulatory elements are the evolutionarily conserved in primates but not in other mammals

Hyderabad: What makes humans and other primates like apes and monkeys different from mammals? Are there any specific genes or other traits that sets primates like the homo sapiens and the great apes apart from other mammals?

Throwing some light on evolution of mammals and primates into two different branches in the animal kingdom, a group of international researchers, including geneticists from Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), have concluded a genomic study, published in Nature (November 29, 2023), identifying thousands of gene regulatory elements that are conserved during the evolution of primates and not in mammals.


As part of the study, the CCMB researchers including senior principal scientist, Dr G Umapathy, PhD fellow Manu Shivakumara and PhD, Mihir Trivedi, collaborated with a team of international researchers to assemble 239 primate genomes and compared them with 202 other mammalian genomes to identify thousands of gene regulatory elements are the evolutionarily conserved in primates but not in other mammals. These regulatory elements also control the development of traits specific to primates.

“Here we construct a whole-genome alignment of 239 species, representing nearly half of all extant species in the primate order. Using this resource, we identified human regulatory elements that are under selective constraint across primates and other mammals. We detected 1, 11,318 DNase I hypersensitivity sites and 2, 67,410 transcription factor binding sites that are constrained specifically in primates but not across other mammals and validate their gene expression,” the study said.

Compared with the mammalian lineage, which includes more than 6,000 species separated by more than 100 million years of evolution, the primate order only consists of approximately 500 species that are separated by just 65 million years. At such short timescales, it is unclear whether the absence of genetic changes between species is owing to functional constraints, or simply because insufficient time has passed for random mutations to arise, researchers said.

The study also found that mutations in non-coding genomic regions are often associated with many human genetic diseases. According to the CCMB researchers, the results from this study have important implications for understanding the evolution and genetic basis of complex traits and disorders in humans.

80 Gaza Hostages Released In Truce Week. Who Are The Remaining 137?

80 Gaza Hostages Released In Truce Week. Who Are The Remaining 137?

The Israeli government said Friday that 137 people were still being held.

Paris:

Over the course of the past week Hamas released 80 Israeli women, children and teenagers as part of a truce agreement in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

The Palestinian militants also freed 25 others outside the scope of the truce deal, most of them Thai farm workers, bringing to 105 the number of captives released during the pause in hostilities.

With five hostages having already been freed before the truce, a total of 110 captives have returned home alive — 33 children, 49 women and 28 men — out of an initial group of around 240.

As Israel resumes its offensive in Gaza, we look at who is still believed to be in captivity.

The Israeli government said Friday that 137 people were still being held — 126 Israelis, eight Thais, one Nepali, one Tanzanian and a French-Mexican identified as Orion Hernandez-Radoux, 32, by his family.

– Baby boy –

AFP has managed to identify 110 of the remaining hostages, mainly through interviews with their relatives or Israeli media reports.

It is far from certain that all are alive.

Hamas claims the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza along with his mother Shiri Bibas, 32, and brother Ariel, four.

Israel has yet to confirm the fate of the family, which has come to symbolise the brutality of the hostage-taking.

The Israeli government on Friday confirmed the deaths of two hostages: Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier, and Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old woman from Beeri kibbutz.

– At least 17 women –

Besides the Bibas boys there are no child hostages known to be left in Gaza.

The last minor to be released was 17-year-old Aisha al-Zayadna, a Bedouin girl who was freed on the last day of the truce on Thursday along with her 18-year-old brother.

At least 17 women are still being held in Gaza, including Shiri Bibas.

The oldest are Ofra Keidar and Judith Weinstein Haggai, both aged 70.

The women also include Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old who was filmed screaming “Don’t kill me!” as she was whisked away on a motorbike from the Tribe of Nova desert rave. Argamani appeared in a video from Gaza shortly afterwards, drinking a bottle of water on a couch.

Five women aged 18-19 were performing their military service when they were snatched.

As soldiers they were excluded from the prisoner swap.

– Men in their 80s –

At least 91 men are still being held, including 10 aged between 18 and 22, most of whom were on military service at the time of the October 7 attack.

Some of the men are fathers of children who were freed with their mothers, relatives or other families in the past week.

They include David Cunio, whose wife Sharon and twin three-year-old daughters Emma and Yuli were released on Monday as well as Tal Shoham, whose wife Adina, son Naveh, eight, and daughter Yahel, three, were released on Saturday.

The father of a French-Israeli boy, 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi, who was released on Monday into the arms of his mother, is also still being held.

Some of the men are in their 70s and 80s.

Over a month after Hamas released two elderly women, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Kuper, their husbands Oded Lifshitz, 83, and Amiram Kuper, 85, are still being held.

Oded Lifshitz has been described by his family as a passionate human rights defender from Nir Oz kibbutz, who used to drive people from Gaza to hospital.

– Dozens of ravers –

At least 33 people abducted during the Hamas massacre at the Tribe of Nova festival are still being held. Only five were released during the truce, including 21-year-old French-Israeli Mia Shem.

Of the others, at least 28 come from Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border, which had at least 71 of its roughly 400 residents abducted.

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

Fone Fixing: India’s first phone repair service on wheels, now in Hyderabad

A brainchild of Adil Vahevaria, this revolutionary service brings the repair shop directly to your doorstep, offering on-the-spot fixes with a touch of innovation.

Published Date – 11:19 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Fone Fixing: India’s first phone repair service on wheels, now in Hyderabad

Mobile Phone repair on wheels (Photo: Anand Dharmana)

Hyderabad: Ever found yourself in a phone crisis, desperately needing a repair but unable to spare the time for a trip to the shop? Worry not, Hyderabad just received a game-changer — Fone Fixing — which is being positioned as India’s first-ever phone repair on wheels.

A brainchild of Adil Vahevaria, this revolutionary service brings the repair shop directly to your doorstep, offering on-the-spot fixes with a touch of innovation. Recognising the need for a hassle-free solution to phone repairs, it is a service that prioritises your time and convenience.


“I noticed that customers were reluctant to visit repair shops and many used services such as Uber and Rapido for phone pick-up, and delivery, resulting in higher costs for customers due to additional fare charges. This observation sparked the idea of providing doorstep phone repair services,” said Adil, the owner of Fone Fixing.

Gone are the days of trekking to a repair shop now, your phone can get the VIP treatment right at your doorstep. Schedule a visit and the mobile repair van, equipped with cutting-edge tools, makes its way to your location.

Once on-site, they assess and repair the phone right in the van, and promise a transparent and personalised service experience. This not only saves customers valuable time but also offers an opportunity to witness the repair process first-hand.

“Customers can reach us through our website, social media or Google business profile. We enquire about the problem and their location, after which we are on the wheels to repair phones,” Adil said.

Assuring of affordable prices tailored to customer needs and a skilled technician working magic in the van, Fone Fixing also offers customers a front-row seat to the repair show. It’s not just about fixing phones, it’s turning a mundane task into an interactive and convenient experience, he said.

So, if your phone is crying out for help and time is of the essence, Fone Fixing is perhaps the answer to your digital SOS.

Curbs will be in vogue on Dec 3 in view of counting: Hyderabad CP

prohibitory orders on assembly of five or more persons under Section 144 of the CrPC will be in vogue at all the counting centres on December 3, City Police Commissioner Sandeep Shandilya said

Published Date – 11:16 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Curbs will be in vogue on Dec 3 in view of counting: Hyderabad CP

File Photo

Hyderabad: City Police Commissioner Sandeep Shandilya on Friday said that in view of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections-2023 on Sunday, prohibitory orders on assembly of five or more persons under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be in vogue at all the counting centres on December 3.

The prohibition was imposed in view of the possibility of breach of law and order, he said in an order issued here on Friday.


In another order, the Commissioner said bursting of fireworks or crackers on roads and public places was strictly prohibited during the counting of votes. Another order was issued on closure of liquor outlets across the commissionerate. All the orders will be in effect from 6 am on December 3 to 6 am on December 4.

Stringent action would be taken against those who were found violating the prohibitory orders, he warned. Similar orders were issued by the Cyberabad and Rachakonda police.

"With Advent Of Troll Armies…": Chief Justice On Free Speech On Internet

'With Advent Of Troll Armies...': Chief Justice On Free Speech On Internet

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud addresses the 14th VM Tarkunde Memorial Lecture in Delhi

New Delhi:

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday raised concerns over overwhelming barrage of speech that distorts the truth with the advent of troll armies and organised disinformation campaigns across social media platforms.

“Traditionally, freedom of speech and expression was deemed to be an essential part of civil rights activism because of the fear that the government would prevent certain kinds of speech from entering the marketplace,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said at the 14th Justice VM Tarkunde memorial lecture.

“With the advent of troll armies and organised disinformation campaigns across different social media platforms, the fear is that there is an overwhelming barrage of speech that distorts the truth,” the Chief Justice said.

“This epistemological battle of sorts was explained eloquently in the New York Times in 2020, where it said ‘the spewing of falsehoods isn’t meant to win any battle of ideas. Its goal is to prevent the actual battle from being fought’. Therefore, we cannot fall back on traditional notions of free speech and must find new theoretical frameworks to locate free speech on the internet,” he said.

Chief Justice Chandrachud said the intricate interplay between surveillance by the state and an individual’s right to privacy has been a subject of compelling debate within Indian jurisprudence. The first case that dealt with privacy was R Rajagopal vs State of Tamil Nadu, he said, adding the court determined that a magazine has the right to publish an autobiography penned by a prisoner, even in the absence of the prisoner’s consent or authorisation.

“Despite efforts by prison officials to hinder the publication by compelling the prisoner to request its non-publication, the court underscored the need to maintain a delicate equilibrium between press freedom and the right to privacy,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

On Justice Tarkunde, the Chief Justice said the core emphasis of the civil liberties movement that Justice Tarkunde championed is mirrored by digital rights activism today.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, looking back on Justice Tarkunde’s dedication to civil liberties, said he inspired him as a young lawyer.

“…It continues to inspire me as I serve as a judge of a constitutional court. That Justice Tarkunde is regarded as the ‘Father of the Civil Rights Movement’ is no surprise. In every role he donned – as a senior advocate, High Court judge, and activist – he was steadfast in his commitment to democracy, radical humanism, and civil liberty,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

“… No book, academic article or chronicle of the internal emergency imposed in the 1970s is complete without a reference to Justice Tarkunde’s spirited defence of personal liberty and democracy, both inside and outside the courtroom,” the Chief Justice said.

Outsiders in Strait of Hormuz after regional discord: IRGC

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri was meeting with Oman’s Brigadier Hamid bin Abdullah Al Balushi, the Assistant Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces for Operations and Planning, in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Friday.

“The responsibility of ensuring security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz besets on the regional countries and the presence of foreigners is only aimed at sowing discord among the Muslim nations,” Tangsiri said, according to Press TV.

The IRGC commander said Iran has always sought to reinforce unity among Muslim nations. “It is imperative to support all Muslim nations and we do not differentiate between Shia and Sunni Muslims.”

He said Tehran and Muscat enjoy deep-seated relations of cooperation. Tangsiri praised Oman’s support for the eight-year war imposed by then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Iran.

On Thursday, the militaries of Iran and Oman staged a day-long joint naval rescue and relief exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and the northern tip of the Indian Ocean.

Tangsiri further said the young personnel of the IRGC naval forces have designed and manufactured unique vessels and made remarkable achievements in the production of missiles, drones and submarines, of which the enemies are only partially aware.

The Omani military commander said his country stands with Iran in efforts to boost regional security.

During the one-day drills, Iranian and Omani military forces managed to successfully implement various scenarios, showcasing their coordination. 

The two countries have held several joint naval drills in recent years.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will be never subject to negotiation.

MNA

Tom Holland sets conditions for ‘Spider-Man’ return

Hollywood star Tom Holland won’t play Spider-Man again just “for the sake of making another one”.

Published Date – 10:54 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Tom Holland sets conditions for ‘Spider-Man’ return


Los Angeles: Hollywood star Tom Holland won’t play Spider-Man again just “for the sake of making another one”.

The 27-year-old actor last played Peter Parker and his web-slinging alter ego in 2021’s ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and while he confirmed he had been “actively engaging in conversations” about making another movie, he feels “protective” over the character and will only reprise the role if the story is right, reports Female First UK.


Speaking during a Critics Choice Association press conference, he said: “All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character. Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing. I feel very protective over Spider-Man.”

The actor said: “I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy. So, I won’t make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character.”

As per Female First UK, Tom admitted he’d be a “fool” not to say yes if another film in the franchise came along.

The actor added: “If we can figure that out, I would be a fool not to put the suit back on again because I owe everything to Spider-Man. I love the character and the people I get to work with. So, I would love to tell another story, but I’ll only tell it if we can find the right one”.

Tom previously admitted he’d be “lucky” if he got to return to the series.

Asked by Screen Rant which Spider-Man villain he would like to take on next, Tom replied: “That’s a really tough question. I mean, ‘Spider-Man’ has got arguably some of the best villains in the comic book world. I love the character. I love ‘Spider-Man’. I’d be lucky to play him again, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Staking claim for a lion’s share, AP out to do away water sharing pattern

The Nagarjuna Sagar Project engineers and officials, who have been tasked with the project operations were threatened and prevented from discharging their duties by the APSP police for two days.

Published Date – 10:51 PM, Fri – 1 December 23


Staking claim for a lion’s share, AP out to do away water sharing pattern

File Photo

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh is out to do away with the water distribution system in vogue since 2015. The Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) engineers and officials, who have been tasked with the project operations were threatened and prevented from discharging their duties by the APSP police for two days. Dam engineers who are meant to oversee the regular operations were kept away from the head regulator where from water is released to the NSP Right Canal. They were not allowed to take stock of water releases from the 13 of its total 26 gates.

“This is a deeply distressing Law and Order situation experienced for the first time at the project”, resented a senior official on Friday. He informed that the police force that was part of regular deployment for damn surveillance and protection was away on election duty when a strong contingent of 500 AP police personnel intruded into the site. They smashed the CCTV cameras and other communication facilities before putting up barbed wire fencing at the hoist gates between the 13th and 14th crest gates. Their attack caused considerable damage to the project infrastructure.


Nsp Inset

The automated gates at the entry points were also damaged by the intruders. A case was booked against them at under section 447 and 427. After taking control of almost half of the dam, the AP police forcibly opened gated no 5 and gate no 7 paving the water for release of around 5000 cusecs of water without any water release order from KRMB. AP was keen on drawing as much water as possible out of the 24 tmc of water available in the project storage. As par the KRMB water release order, it is entitled only for ten tmc of it and it was scheduled to be released in January and April next. Rest of the water would be the exclusive entitlement of Telangana State and it has to be utilised to meet the drinking water needs in Hyderabad.

The project has in all 26 gates and two head regulator one facilitating release of water the Left Canal with a vast ayacut of 6.6 lakh acres in the erstwhile Khammam and Nalgonda districts and 9.7 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh under the right main canal. The project also provides drinking water to urban and rural areas along the canal system. It also meets the water demands of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In addition to the above, it has been supporting 960 MW Power Generation set up at Nargarjunasagar Reservoir.

Shares earmarked at NSP 

The water utilisation earmarked for Telangana from the NSP is 105.70 tmc as against 174.30 TMC for Andhra Pradesh. As part of the post bifurcation understanding the Srisailam Dam has been placed under the control of Andhra Pradesh and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is under the control of Telangana government as an ad-hoc arrangement. This ad-hoc arrangement is in vogue for the past 10 years and followed in consonance with the orders of KRMB. The utilizations are being made by both the states as per the release orders of KRMB subsequent to the formation of the state.

AP has utilized more water than what is agreed on ad-hoc basis. No injustice was meted out to AP in terms of utilization, said the officials. AP has already utilized its share of water permitted by KRMB. It is entitled for ten more TMC of from the project and its release was scheduled in January and April 2024.