President inaugurates naval museum
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Naval Maritime Aircraft Museum in Visakhapatnam, featuring the maritime patrol aircraft Tupolev-142M, which served the Navy for almost three decades.The museum, located at the famous Beach Road, will feature the reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft which was decommissioned in March this year. With four engines and eight propellers, the TU-142 was the most formidable aircraft in the world while in service, an official said. The Soviet era aircraft had an accident-free record and served in various operations including the Kargil war, he added.
Queen Elizabeth commissions aircraft carrier
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, attends the Commissioning Ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base, in Portsmouth, England.
Queen Elizabeth II has attended the commissioning ceremony of Britain's new aircraft carrier, which is named after the monarch. The 91-year-old Queen boarded the Royal Navy's newest, largest and most expensive vessel on Thursday in Portsmouth naval base. The white ensign was raised to mark the moment HMS Queen Elizabeth was officially added to the Royal Navy's fleet. The queen says the ship “embodies the best of British technology and innovation.” It is still undergoing sea trials and will not be fully operational for several years. It will head to the United States late next year for initial flight trials.
1,318,109 tickets requested in 24 hours
Ambassadors of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Liasan Utyasheva, centre, and Alexandr Kerzhakov show their Fan ID during the opening of the WCup Fan ID distribution centre in Moscow, Russia.
A Fan ID is a document that all the spectators of 2018 FIFA World Cup matches must have to get access to stadiums. FIFA has recorded more than 1,318,109 ticket requests for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in less than 24 hours since the sales resumed on December 5. “Within the first 24 hours, fans from all over the world requested 1,318,109 tickets as the random—selection draw sales period goes on until January 31 2018,” FIFA said on Wednesday. “Fans are able to apply for individual match tickets for all matches (except for the opening match and the final), venue—specific tickets and supporter tickets. In the event that the number of tickets requested exceeds the available inventory, allocation will be based on a random—selection draw procedure.”
Fisherfolk lay siege to Kuzhithurai station
Fishermen staging rail roko at Kuzhithurai railway station in Kanyakumari district on Thursday.
Thousands of fishermen belonging to Kanyakumari district laid siege to Kuzhithurai railway station demanding action from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami over missing fishermen. As many as 1000 fishermen are missing from Tamil Nadu since cyclone Ockhi wrecked havoc in the southern-most district.
The Railways have regulated, cancelled and short terminated several long distance mail and express trains and MEMU services along the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Nagercoil section in view of the agitation.
Ockhi relief operation
Indian Navy distributes relief material at Minicoy Island, in Lakshadweep on Thursday.
The Indian Navy has sent up a relief camp in Minicoy Islans of Lakshadweep to help people affected by cyclone Ockhi. On Thursday, the Navy distributed food and other essential items to people living in these islands.
Naples ‘twirls’ over UNESCO recognition
Members of the Pizzaioli Acrobats Coldiretti perform “twirling” pizza to celebrate the Unesco decision to make the art of Neapolitan “Pizzaiuolo” an “intangible heritage”, on December 7, 2017 in Naples.
Naples’ pizza twirling has joined UNESCO's list of “intangible heritage”, securing the coveted status alongside a host of cultural treasures including a Saudi art form traditionally practised only by women.
The art of “pizzaiuolo” — which has been handed down for generations in the southern Italian city — was given the nod by the U.N. cultural body’s World Heritage Committee, who met on the South Korean island of Jeju. It comes after some two million people signed a petition to support Naples' application, according to Sergio Miccu, head of the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli -- no doubt buoyed by his offer of complimentary pizza if the age-old culinary tradition joined the prestigious list.
“Pizzaiuolo” is a culinary practice consisting of four different phases relating to the preparation of the dough and its baking in a wood-fired oven. The practice originates in Naples, where around 3,000 Pizzaiuoli now live and perform, and plays a key role in fostering social gatherings and intergenerational exchange.
Puigdemont supporters
Pro-independence Catalans from all over Europe take part in a rally showing their support to ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his government, in Brussels, Belgium December 7, 2017.
Hundreds of Catalan protesters began gathering in Brussels on Thursday to show support for deposed president Carles Puigdemont and urge the EU to support their drive for independence from Spain.
Chanting "Wake up Europe!" and waving Catalonia's red, yellow and blue Estelada separatist flag, demonstrators gathered in a park near the headquarters of the European Union ahead of a march through the Belgian capital.
"We cannot abandon our president, who is in exile here," Antoni Llenas, 59, a protester wearing a flag over his shoulders, told AFP. "We are here to continue the struggle for our independence and to ask for the freedom of our political prisoners."
Puigdemont and four former ministers fled to Brussels in November, saying they wanted to take their cause to a European level after Spain charged them with sedition and rebellion over Catalonia's independence referendum in October.
Trump’s decision on Jerusalem
A Palestinian youth in Gaza City on December 7, 2017 takes part in a protest over U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The U.S. move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital sparked anger among Palestinians and their supporters.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation announced a strike in protest across the West Bank, while Hamas — the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip — called for a "day of rage" on December 8.
Hamas warned that Donald Trump had opened “the gates of hell on U.S. interests in the region”.
'Operation Sahay'
Personnel from the Navy and other government agencies carrying out relief operations, as part of Operation Sahayam, on the islands of Lakshadweep and Minicoy on Thursday.
The Navy has so far provided assistance to 187 people in distress in sea, besides saving 148 lives as part of Op Sahayam, an exercise for search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) launched in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi. The force has also evacuated three bodies from deep sea. A media release said nine naval ships besides helicopters and race aircraft remained deployed for extended scouring of seas up to 300 miles west of the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands and 450 miles off Kerala coast.
'Strike in West Bank'
Palestinian man reads a newspaper during a general strike over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Thursday, December 7, 2017.
The Palestinians have said tha U.S. President Donald Trump recognition of Jerusalem would mean the “kiss of death” to the two-state solution, envisaging a Palestinian state in territory — the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem — that Israel took in the 1967 war.
'Hat-trick'
Ball of fire: Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar, who removed the cream of Mumbai batsmen very early in the innings, celebrates his hat-trick with teammates.
Ball of fire: Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar, who removed the cream of Mumbai batsmen very early in the innings, celebrates his hat-trick with teammates.
As a dominant Karnataka side heads to Nagpur for its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash with Mumbai, R. Vinay Kumar, who is playing his 100th first class match, is confident his men have all bases covered. Last season, the team similarly sailed through the group stages before stumbling in the knock-outs, but the Karnataka captain is not worried about the past.
Nepal polls
A Nepali voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the second round of general elections in Kathmandu on Thursday, December 7, 2017.
Nepal's troubled south votes on Thursday in historic elections many hope will bring much-needed stability to the desperately poor country, but which have been marred by violence and fears of ethnic tension. Thousands of police and soldiers have been deployed ahead of election day in the capital Kathmandu and the populous lowlands, with the build-up to the vote hit by violence that has left one dead and dozens injured. Read more
Santhanam's new movie audio launch
Actor Santhanam (third from right) with music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, actors Simbu and Dhanush during the audio release event of his upcoming film "Sakka podu podu Raja", in Chennai.
The audio release event of Santhanam’s 'Sakka Podu Podu Raja' was launched in Chennai. The film marks the debut of actor Simbu as a music director.
Malaysian PM address
Members of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) listen to a speech by Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak during its general assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia December 7, 2017.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak put his party on a war footing Thursday as polls loom, vowing to "fight till the end" despite a massive financial scandal that has rocked his government. The leader told the annual assembly of his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) — which has ruled Muslim-majority Malaysia for six decades at the head of a coalition — that the country was facing a "crucial election".
Olympic mascot
Children and officials of Tokyo 2020 pose for photographers with cutouts of shortlisted three mascot design sets which each contain one mascot for the Tokyo Olympic Games and one for the Paralympic Games, at an elementary school in Tokyo on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics on Thursday unveiled three sets of designs for the Games’ mascots. The schoolchildren will review the shortlisted designs with their classes casting a single vote in favor of one of the three sets. The three finalists were selected from among 2,042 entries submitted by the public, with the winner to be announced on Feb. 28.
Battling the flames
Firefighters stand on a fire engine during sunrise as they battle flames on Casiano Road after the Skirball fire swept through the Bel Air district of Los Angeles.
Wind-driven fires tore through California communities have for the second time in two months, leaving hundreds of homes feared lost and uprooting tens of thousands of people. Read more
Marriage Equality Bill in Australia
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks during a vote in support of amendments to the marriage equality bill at Parliament House on December 7, 2017 in Canberra, Australia.
After the Marriage Equality Bill was passed by the Senate last week, 43 votes to 12, the House of Representatives is expected to pass the legislation on same-sex marriage by the end of the week. Australians voted 'Yes' in the Marriage Law Postal Survey for the law to be changed.
