Middle East

West Bank protests remember Gaza martyrs as Israeli bombardments mark 2024

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Palestinians have held mass rallies in the occupied West Bank to remember Palestinians who lost their lives in the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza and to voice their support for resistance groups and the Gaza Strip.

The marches took place in the cities of Ramallah and Jenin on New Year’s Eve as Israel’s devastating war on Gaza entered its 87th day.

In Ramallah, the protesters chanted slogans in solidarity with al-Qassam Brigades and Saraya al-Quds, the military wings of the Gaza-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance groups.

The demonstrators cried, “The masses want the Al-Qassam Brigades!” “Let us see their body parts! These are the actions of Saraya! Saraya, O Saraya!”

Waving Palestinian flags, they also carried a long banner filled with the names of thousands of Palestinians, who were killed in the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.

“We say to you, our sons, we are with you, united. We remain united in the field and do not submit. This long night will end with the dawn of freedom and independence,” said Father Abdullah Yulio of the Melkite Catholic church.

Early on Monday, as the world was celebrating a new year with fireworks and festivities, Israeli warplanes bombarded central Gaza.

There were also reports of street fighting between the occupation troops and Palestinian resistance fighters in the besieged territory’s central and southern cities.

Israel waged the bloody war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 21,822 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 56,451 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza.

The regime has further stepped up its violent raids across the West Bank since the beginning of the Gaza war, killing at least 315 Palestinians. 

Sports

Iran to play Italy in 2024 VNL opener

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Team Melli will face Italy on May 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Iranian team will also play Argentina, Serbia, and Cuba in Week 1.

The men’s title will be contested by Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, defending champions Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey and the US.

The VNL 2024 will also play a major role in determining the last national teams that will qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The result of each match of the tournament’s Preliminary Phase will impact the FIVB Volleyball World Rankings, which will determine the teams to occupy the last five spots in next year’s Games.

As of now, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Poland, and the US are guaranteed on the men’s side.

AMK/TSN

Top News

"Shall Continue To Fight…": Mamata Banerjee On Trinamool Foundation Day

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'Shall Continue To Fight...': Mamata Banerjee On Trinamool Foundation Day

Mamata Banerjee pledged to persist in her fight for the country’s common people (File)

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday congratulated TMC workers on the occasion of the party’s foundation day, emphasizing a steadfast commitment to resist any evil force and persist in the ongoing struggle to safeguard the democratic rights of the people.

Speaking on the significance of TMC’s formation on January 1, 1998, Ms Banerjee highlighted the party’s inception as a manifestation of conviction to honour the motherland, uphold state interests, and champion the protection of democratic rights for the masses.

“I humbly honour and respect the dedication and self-sacrifices of each worker and supporter of our party. Today, the TMC family is blessed with the love and affection of all,” she said in a statement on X.

Ms Banerjee pledged to persist in her fight for the country’s common people.

“It is on the strength of your unflinching support that we shall continue to fight for everyone in this great democratic country. No surrender to any evil force. In defiance of all terror we will continue our lifelong struggles for the common people of our country,” she wrote in a post on X.

Emerging from Congress in 1998, TMC rose to power after two unsuccessful attempts in 2001 and 2006 by defeating the Left Front regime in 2011, fueled by widespread public discontent against the communists.

Ms Banerjee, a key figure in West Bengal politics, led TMC to a resounding victory in the 2021 assembly elections, securing her position as chief minister for the third consecutive term.

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

Middle East

Al-Qassam Brigades fire rockets at Tel Aviv, surroundings

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Anadolu Agency reported citing the Israeli Army Radio that the rockets also targeted the cities of Rishon Lezion, Lod, Ramla, Bnei Brak, and Sderot in addition to the Modi’in Illit Jewish settlement in the central part of the occupied West Bank.

The Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed on their Telegram account that they bombed Tel Aviv and its suburbs.

“The Al-Qassam Brigades are bombarding the city of Tel Aviv and its suburbs with M90 rockets in response to the Zionist massacres of civilians,” the group said in a statement.

There has been no statement so far on any deaths, injuries, or damage caused by the rockets.

Backed by the US, the Zionist regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas-led Palestinian Resistance groups carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of death and destruction in Palestine.

AMK/PR

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Video: Dalit Woman Beaten By Cop In Public View In Bihar; Police Clarify

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The cop was filmed in his uniform during the incident, triggering an outrage among the public.

Patna:

The visuals of a Dalit woman being beaten by a cop in public in Bihar’s Sitamarhi has raised concerns over police brutality and prompted a public demand for action. But the police claim the cop was only trying to maintain order after a fight erupted between two sides in a kidnapping case.

Inspector Rajkishore Singh, in-charge of Surasand police station, was seen thrashing the woman on the street with a stick. He struck her multiple times in the Surasand market amid angry exchanges by a crowd, showed a video.

The cop was filmed in his uniform during the incident, triggering an outrage among the public.

Sitamarhi Police, in a statement, said a probe has been ordered into the incident.

The police action allegedly came in a bid to separate two women who were fighting on the street.

Vinod Kumar, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), said in a video statement that the incident is linked to the kidnapping of a girl.

“The girl was rescued, but the two sides visited the police station and engaged in a fight among themselves outside. This led to a traffic jam on the road and the cop used his baton to disperse the crowd,” he clarified.

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YSRCP MLC Vamsi Srinivas Yadav joins Jana Sena

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Expressing displeasure with the party’s decision to favour Visakhapatnam MP MVV Satyanarayana for Visakhapatnam East constituency, the disgruntled leader opted to join Jana Sena.

Updated On – 07:11 PM, Wed – 27 December 23


YSRCP MLC Vamsi Srinivas Yadav joins Jana Sena


Mangalagiri: YSRCP MLC Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav, a prominent leader from the Yadava community,has joined Jana Sena Party in the presence of its chief Pawan Kalyan here on Wednesday.

Expressing displeasure with the party’s decision to favour Visakhapatnam MP MVV Satyanarayana for Visakhapatnam East constituency, the disgruntled leader opted to join Jana Sena.

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Minister: UK sending hundreds of air-defense missiles to Ukraine

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The United Kingdom is shipping around 200 air-defense missiles to Ukraine, a British minister says, as Russia launched a wave of missile strikes against targets in the ex-Soviet republic.   

In a post on X on Friday, UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps said that Britain was sending hundreds of missiles to Ukraine in an attempt to boost its air defense against waves of Russian strikes.

“The UK is moving rapidly to bolster Ukraine’s air defense, in the wake of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s murderous air strikes. Hundreds of British-made air-defense missiles are being sent to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself from Putin’s barbaric bombardment,” he said.

“Today’s air defense package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine,” Shapps added.

His comments came in the wake of Russia’s largest missile and drone bombardment of the 22-month war.

The UK’s ministry of defense in a statement stressed that these missiles would restock British-gifted air defense systems capable of shooting down Russian drones and missiles “with incredible accuracy.”

Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) manufactured by Britain is designed to be launched from aircraft, including the UK’s Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets.

According to the statement by the UK’s ministry of defense, such missiles had been demonstrated to be “very effective yet low-cost solutions to the frontline to meet urgent requirements,” with a reported hit rate of as high as 90 percent against some Russian air targets.

“Ukrainian operators have become adept at their usage and have asked for more missiles to protect their country,” it went on to say, adding that the shipment is part of £2.3 billion of military support to Ukraine from Britain in the 2023-2024 financial year.

Since the onset of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has supplied Kiev with various weapons, including the NLAW anti-tank missile launcher and Brimstone 2 missiles.

Britain also became the first Western country to provide Ukrainian forces with a long-range cruise missile named the Storm Shadow. The Storm Shadow is a turbojet-powered missile that cruises at Mach 0.8 to a max range of 560 kilometers.

Furthermore, over 20,000 recruits from the Ukrainian armed forces received training in the UK since the beginning of 2022 under the British-led Operation Interflex.

Separately on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that the latest missile barrage on Ukraine is a “stark reminder” that Putin remained committed to destroying the ex-Soviet republic, stressing, “He must be stopped.”

“It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin’s objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people,” Biden added.

Since the start of the war, the US has led a Western coalition sending tens of billions of dollars in weaponry and munitions to Kiev.

Moscow has repeatedly warned Western leaders against the continued supply of weapons and munitions to Ukraine, pointing out that such measures will not stop Russian troops from defending its objectives and that arming Kiev would only prolong the war.

World

Iran-Azerbaijan exchange of goods up 46% in 2022: Deputy PM

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Shahin Mustafayev, who is also the Azeri head of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, stated that the relations between the two countries are on an upward trajectory under the wise management of the presidents of the two countries.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new Astara-Astara border bridge on Astarachay Bridge, Mustafayev noted that the exchange of goods between Tehran and Baku registered a 46 percent hike last year, compared to 2021, Mehr news agency reported. 

He pointed to the significance of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and also the importance of the economic relations between the two countries and added that the launch of the new bridge can play a leading role in enhancing the transport and transit of goods between the two countries.

Upon the inauguration of the new bridge, the two countries would witness considerable growth in the transit sector in the coming years, the Azeri deputy prime minister added.

MNA/TSN

Middle East

Iran: Israel allies losing hope in crisis-ridden Tel Aviv, planning for post-regime period

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the Israeli regime is in a situation that even its closest allies are planning for a post-Israel period.

Speaking at a Sunday meeting with members of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Amir-Abdollahian described Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, launched by Palestinian resistance groups against Israel on October 7, as a “turning point” in regional developments.

“Today, the Zionist regime (Israel) is in such a state that even the regime’s friends have no hope for it and are thinking about a post-Israel era,” Zohreh Elahian, a member of the committee, quoted the foreign minister as saying.

He also emphasized that the United States, as the main supporter of Israel, is desperate due to mounting public hatred both at home and abroad.

The lawmaker noted that Amir-Abdollahian also outlined Iran’s diplomatic efforts in support of the Palestinian people, including negotiations with authorities from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan.

Israel’s brutal military offensive in Gaza has killed a total of 21,822 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded 56,451 others. The war has triggered a global outrage, with protesters across the world rallying to call for a ceasefire.

Many have also expressed their disappointment towards politicians and countries who vetoed or abstained from voting for a ceasefire at the United Nations.

Rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, also condemned countries opposing a ceasefire in Gaza, warning that this would result in a humanitarian disaster.

Activists have launched a global campaign, named Countdown2Ceasefire, asking people to turn the New Year’s countdown in their countries into a countdown for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Top News

"Didn't Go As Planned…": Gill's Shares New Year Resolution List Of 2023

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India opener Shubman Gill on Sunday shared a New Year resolution that he set at the start of the year 2023 and said that this year was full of new experiences. Gill took to his official Instagram account to post his handwritten note on December 31, 2022, and pointed out his aims for the year that was to come. While sharing the picture, Gill wrote ‘most hundred for India’, ‘make his family happy’, ‘give his best effort and be less hard on himself’, ‘winning World Cup for India’, and ‘orange cap in Indian Premier League 2023’ which he aimed in 2023.

While sharing the pictures, the 24-year-old said that 2023 has been fun and full of great learnings for him. He also hoped that in the upcoming 2024, they would be closer to their goals and achieve them.

“Exactly a year ago, I put it out into the universe. With 2023 coming to an end, the year has been full of experiences, some great fun and other great learnings. The end of the year didn’t go as planned, but I can proudly say we came ever so close to our goals, giving everything we had. The coming year brings its own challenges and opportunities. Hopefully, we’ll get closer to our goals in 2024. I hope all of you find love, joy, and strength in everything you do,” Gill wrote on Instagram.

After Hardik Pandya went back to Mumbai Indians earlier on Monday, the ‘Little Prince’ of Ahmedabad was handed the captaincy duties.

Gill amassed 1373 runs in 33 innings at an average of 47.34, with three centuries and eight fifties. Last season was monumental for the opener as he slammed 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33, with three centuries and four fifties and was also named Orange Cap winner.

At the ODI World Cup 2023, Gill scored 354 runs after taking part in nine matches for the hosts India. His best score was 92 runs in the extravagant tournament which came against Sri Lanka.

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

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