Latest News: Govt Appoints Sudhir Bhargava as New CIC
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'We Are All Koulibaly': Napoli Fans Don Masks to Support Racism Victim
Thousands of Napoli fans showed their support for Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly who was subjected to racist chanting at Inter Milan in midweek by wearing masks and holding up his picture before their team's Serie A game against Bologna on Saturday.
Posters with the message "Siamo Tutti Koulibaly" ("We are all Koulibaly") were visible throughout the Stadio San Paolo during the game which the hosts won 3-2.
Napoli's French-born player Koulibaly was targeted by monkey noises and racist chants at the San Siro on Wednesday, before being sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee.
Serie A returned to action three days after the violent clashes in Milan during which an Inter supporter died after being hit by a car.
(Source: PTI)
Delhi Marks Year End with ‘Poor’ Air Quality
Major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Delhi are at 260 and 261 respectively in Lodhi Road area, both in 'Poor' category, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data.
(Source: ANI)
Voting Begins at 8 am Amid Tight Security
Voting began for Bangladesh general election today which is expected to deliver a record fourth term for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Polls opened at 8 am amid tight security, following a campaign that was marred by violence and allegations of a government crackdown on opposition activists.
Government to Infuse More Than Rs 10,000 Cr into Bank of India
The Central government has decided to infuse Rs 10,086 crore into Bank of India.
The bank informed the BSE in a regulatory filing on Saturday, 29 December that the capital infusion in its equity will be done by way of preferential allotment.
According to the filing, the bank's board will consider "by way of circular resolution on or after January 2, 2019 the proposal for raising capital by this infusion and further issue of equity shares or securities at an appropriate time and other incidental matters thereat".
(Source: IANS)
Buses Torched, One Shot Dead by Naxals in Bihar
Naxals torched four buses and shot dead one person in Dev, in Aurangabad in Bihar on Saturday night. CRPF and district police were present at the spot
Fire Exchanged Between Army, Suspects in Jammu and Kashmir
Exchange of fire took place between army guards and two suspects at Ratnuchak Military station around 2 am today. Search operation is underway.
(Source: ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Family Allegedly Commits Suicide
A couple from Andhra Pradesh and their two children allegedly committed suicide at Chandrayyapeta in Visakhapatnam Rural on Sunday, 30 December.
A police investigation is underway, ANI reported.
Notorious Criminal Held With Country-Made Pistol in Jammu
A man, wanted in several cases, has been arrested with a country-made pistol after a brief chase here, police said on Sunday, 30 December.
"He tried to escape but was chased and overpowered by the policemen. A country-made pistol was seized from him," a police official said.
A case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the law and further investigation is on, the officer said.
(Source: PTI)
6 Bangladeshis Get 4-Year Jail Term for Illegally Staying in India
Six Bangladeshi nationals have been sentenced to four-year imprisonment by a Thane court for illegally staying in India.
Additional Sessions Judge NH Makhare, in her order issued last week, also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of the accused.
(Source: PTI)
Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi Visits Qatar
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday, 30 December, traveled to Qatar, where he is expected to discuss the Afghan reconciliation process and issues of mutual interests with the top officials of the Gulf country.
Officials here said that Qureshi was received by top officials of the Qatari Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Embassy at the Doha airport.
(Source: PTI)
Minor Boy Dies After Unexploded Shell Goes off in J-K's Pulwama
A minor boy has died after an unexploded shell went off in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said Sunday.
Arif Ahmad (10), a resident of Laroo area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, was critically injured after a shell he was playing with went off Saturday night, an official said.
He said Ahmad was rearing a flock of sheep in an orchard area when he found the unexploded shell and picked it up. The shell exploded in his hand, critically injuring him.
Renowned Bengali Filmmaker Mrinal Sen Passes Away at 95
Bengali filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away on 30 December, 2018, at the age of 95 at his home, ANI reported. His filmography included Bhuvan Shome, Mrigayaa, Calcutta 71, and Khandar, to name a few. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condoled his death on Twitter.
Rescue Operations Resume to Save Trapped Miners in Meghalaya
SK Singh, Assistant Commandant of the NDRF said that the rescue operations to save 17 miners trapped in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills have resumed. He said, “Some other agencies have joined us in the operation; Odisha Fire Services reached here with 10 high pressure pumps, a team of Navy divers has also reached here. I've briefed them of the situation.”
(Source: ANI)
Six Killed, Four Injured in Car Collision in Karnataka
6 people were killed and 4 injured in a collision between two cars in Gadag, Karnataka. The injured have been hospitalised.
(Source: ANI)
Mumbai Police Places Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Under House Arrest
The Mumbai police placed leader of the Bhim Army, Chandrashekhar Azad under house arrest, ANI reported.
One Man Dead, 10 Vehicles Torched by Maoists in Bihar
One person has been killed and 10 vehicles torched by Maoists in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a senior police officer said on Sunday.
Superintendent of Police, Satya Prakash said the Maoists attacked Sudi Bigaha village under the jurisdiction of Deo police station area late on Saturday night and shot dead a man identified as Narendra Singh (55).
(Source: PTI)
10 Killed in Poll-Related Violence as Voting Underway in Bangladesh
At least 10 people were killed in poll-related violence today as voting was underway across Bangladesh amid allegations by the ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of attacks on supporters and candidates.
(Source: PTI)
Punjab Panchayat Polls Voter Turnout
In the Punjab Panchayat polls, 50.72 percent and 42 percent voter turnout was recorded till 2 pm in Jalandhar and Amritsar respectively.
(Source: ANI)
Bridge Near Mahabaleshwar Collapses, Several Injured
Several people have been injured after a small bridge collapsed in Khamoshi village near Mahabaleshwar in Satara district, Maharashtra. More details are awaited.
(ANI)
Bali's Agung Volcano Spews Ash in Fresh Eruption
A volcano on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali erupted on Sunday, 30 December, belching ash high into the air and over nearby villages as officials warned tourists to keep clear of the area.
Mount Agung has been erupting periodically since it rumbled back to life in 2017, when it grounded hundreds of flights and left 120,000 visitors stranded.
On Sunday morning, the volcano - which is about 70 kilometres (44 miles) from the tourist hub of Kuta - sent ash skywards as it erupted for about three minutes, according to the country's volcanology centre.
"Residents near Mount Agung as well as climbers and tourists should not carry out any activity in the danger zone or within four-kilometre radius from the crater," the centre said in a statement.
Suspected Terrorists Steal Four Rifles in Srinagar, Alert Sounded
Suspected terrorists have stolen four AK-47s from the residence of former Congress legislator (MLC) Muzaffar Parray from Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar. Police have filed a case and an alert has been sounded in Srinagar. More details are awaited.
(ANI)
Eight People Injured in Maharashtra Bridge Collapse
Eight people were injured when a bridge collapsed near Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred at around 12:45 PM in Kharoshi village under Meedha police station limits in the western Maharashtra district, around 260 kms from Mumbai. Further details are awaited.
(PTI)
Srinagar: Three Policemen Summoned for Questioning in Stolen Rifles Case
Three policemen from the security wing and one from District Police Sopore attached with the former Congress legislator (MLC) Muzaffar Parray have been summoned for questioning after suspected terrorists stole four AK-47s from the residence of the former legislator in Srinagar.
(ANI)
PM Modi Renames Three Islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
On his trip to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Sunday, 30 December, PM Modi has renamed three islands. Ross Island has formally become Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Neil Island has become Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island, Swaraj Dweep.
(PTI)
Sabarimala Temple Opens for Makkaravilakku Festival
Amid heavy security, the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala, opened on Sunday evening for the 21-day "Makaravilakku" festival.
The temple, which had witnessed frenzied protests from devotees over the entry of women of menstruating age, had closed on December 27, marking the culmination of the 41-day annual Mandala puja festivities.
There was a heavy rush of Ayyappa devotees when the shrine opened at 5 pm. Chief Priest V N Vasudevan Namboothiri opened the temple doors and performed the rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum as well as on the holy 18 steps after which the pilgrims were allowed to have darshan.
Head priest Kandaru Rajeevaru was also present.
The Makaravillaku will be held on Januaury 14 and the shrine will be closed at 7 am on Januaury 20.
(PTI)
Amid Severe Cold, Three Dead in Uttarakhand
Three people have died allegedly due to severe cold wave conditions in Uttarakhand's Dehradun district, officials said today. According to police, three bodies were found from the district's Raiwala area Saturday. Prima-facie it is suspected that they have died due to cold, police said. Officials said exact cause of the death can only be ascertained after the post-mortem examination.
(Source PTI)
After Trump-Xi Phone Talks, China Asks Us to Avoid 'Strategic Misjudgement'
China has urged the US to take more objective view of its pledge to take measures to bring down the bilateral trade deficit and said that the two countries should enhance strategic mutual trust and avoid "strategic misjudgement".
The statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry came a day after US President Donald Trump said talks on a deal to end the trade war with China are "moving well" after a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
(Source: PTI)
Mehbooba Mufti Warns Against Harassment of Militants' Families in J&K
After meeting a suspected militant's sister, who was allegedly beaten up by Jammu and Kashmir police, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today warned of "dangerous consequences" if harassment of militants' families is not stopped.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik to take action against police officials involved in the incident.
(Source: PTI)
Rajasthan Govt Gives 1% Reservation to MBCs in State Judicial Services
The Rajasthan government would provide 1 percent reservation to Most Backward Classes (MBCs) in state judicial services, according to a statement released today.
The decision came following the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday which approved amendment to rule-12 and 17 of the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010.
(Source: PTI)
Meghalaya Miners Rescue Operation: Divers Return, Say Depth of Water is Too Much
SK Singh, Assistant Commandant NDRF, said that divers who entered the mine as part of the operation to rescue miners trapped in East Jaintia Hills, have come out. They have said that the depth of water is too much. They dived till around 70 feet down but still have not been able to reach the ground level.
He added that the water is extremely cold, making it difficult for divers to carry out the operation. He said that on Monday, the Navy Team would go inside with more sophisticated equipment.
(Source: ANI)
Shock for Masses If Ram Temple Not Built Under Modi-Yogi: Uma Bharti
Union minister Uma Bharti Sunday said people would be "surprised" and "shocked" if no solution was found to the Ram temple issue, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath being at the helm at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh respectively.
Bharti is among the leaders who have been at the forefront of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
(Source: PTI)
Seven Members of a Family Injured in Acid Attack in UP
Seven members of a family in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district suffered burns after their neighbour attacked them with acid following an argument today, police said.
An argument broke out between two neighbours Gaurav Soni and Ismail in Mauranipur area of the district. During the heated exchange, Soni threw acid on Ismail and six of his family members, Senior Superintendent of Police OP Singh said.
The injured were admitted to Jhansi Medical College for treatment, he said.
(Source: PTI)
Ten Dead in Gujarat Accident
Ten people died after a car got crushed between two trucks in a road accident on Bhachau-Kandla Highway earlier today.
(Source: ANI)
Man Dies After Genitals Chopped off From Allegedly Stalking Woman
A 27-year-old man from Maharashtra’s Thane district whose private parts were allegedly chopped off by three persons, including a woman he was reportedly stalking, has died in a Mumbai hospital, police said on Sunday.
An official said that Tushar Pujare, a home loan adviser, was allegedly stalking a 42-year-old woman in the district's Manpada area and had also visited her home and told her husband about his infatuation.
(Source: PTI)
Sudhir Bhargava New CIC, Govt Appoints Four Information Commissioners
The government has appointed Sudhir Bhargava as new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) along with four new Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission which had been functioning with just three of them as against a sanctioned strength of 11, including the Chief Information Commissioner.
Highly placed sources said Bhargava, who is Information Commissioner in the CIC, has been appointed as new chief of the panel.
(Source: PTI)