Breaking News on January 8

The government is learnt to have informed the Election Commission (EC) that it is looking for a replacement of Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, who retires on January 31.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has recommended holding the Budget Session in two phases from January 31 to April 3, with the Union Budget to be presented on February 1, sources said on Wednesday.

Nearly 65,000 posters, banners and hoardings have been removed by the civic authorities from public places in south Delhi in compliance with the model code of conduct enforced in the national capital since January 6, officials said on Wednesday.

Tihar Jail will seek the services of two hangmen from Uttar Pradesh prison to execute the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case, the jail authorities said on Wednesday.

An agreement between India and Mauritius on cooperation in electoral management was renewed on Wednesday. The memorandum of understanding, which was in existence from April 2013 to April 2018, was renewed between the two sides at Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, a Commission spokesperson said.

The Ministry of Environment has notified the new Wetland Conservation Rules that prohibit setting up or expansion of industries, and disposal of construction and demolition waste within the wetlands.

Country's largest public sector lender State Bank of India on Wednesday announced a 'residential builder finance with buyer guarantee' (RBBG) scheme aimed at giving a push to residential sales and improve homebuyers' confidence.

The NCLT on Wednesday warned Jet Airways CoC of contempt proceedings if they do not release interim funds to the resolution professional by January 20 for completion of insolvency proceedings.

India's first voter Shyam Saran Negi is not keeping well. He is being treated at his home in Kalpa of Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district. Negi (103) was the first person in the independent India to cast his vote in an election due to which he was made the brand ambassador of the 2019 parliamentary polls.

As the national capital receives rains, the air quality has improved during the last 48 hours and there is a gradual decrease in the level of pollution due to ongoing scattered rain, said Skymet on Wednesday.

Security forces recovered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in Giridih district of Jharkhand, police said on Wednesday. Based on a tip-off, CRPF personnel launched a search operation near Phulibagan in the district and seized the IED weighing around 20 kg, police said in a release in Ranchi.

Months after notorious gangster Papla Gurjar was freed from police custody in Rajasthan's Alwar district in a dramatic manner, police on Wednesday nabbed the key accused who had planned the daring escape.

Hours after a Ukrainian plane with 176 people on-board crashed near Tehran in Iran, aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday asked Indian airlines to take all precautions in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Gulf of Oman and waters of the Persian Gulf, and reroute their flights to ensure safety of passengers.

The nationwide strike called by 10 trade unions partially impacted mining major Coal India Ltd's (CIL) production and despatch on Wednesday, company
sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikley to inaugurate the 3rd Khelo India Youth Games 2020 in Guwahati on January 10 as BJP Assam unit is yet to receive confirmation about his programme. 

The Haryana government will soon induct electric buses in its roadways fleet, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said on Wednesday. "The electric buses to be included in the roadways fleet will help in controlling pollution," he told media persons in Hisar.

A Delhi court has denied the CBI the custodial interrogation of a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officer and two middlemen arrested in connection with a Rs 3-crore bribery case earlier this month.

Ahead of Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet with the top economists of the country at Niti Aayog on January 9.

Women stage a sit-in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act & National Register of Citizens at Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata since last night.

India is the fastest-growing market for e-commerce sector with revenue expected to increase from 39 billion dollars in 2017 to 120 billion dollars this year, growing at an annual rate of 51 per cent-- the highest in the world.

Nissan’s fugitive ex-chair Carlos Ghosn appeared in public in Lebanon on Wednesday for the first time since fleeing Japan last month ahead of his trial for alleged financial misconduct. Ghosn arrived at the press syndicate in Beirut where he was to hold a news conference - the first time he’s spoken directly and in-person with journalists since his arrest in Japan in November 2018. He was accompanied by his wife.

Jharkhand Assembly has passed supplementary budget of Rs 4,210 crores.

Iranian Ambassador to India Dr. Ali Chegeni said, " We are not looking for war. We are living in this region peacefully with our brothers and sisters including India. We don't want any tension/escalation in this region.."

"India is a part of the region. It should be a part de-escalation. We are welcoming any initiative from our good friends from India", he added.

"Police gets vital leads on identities of masked men who attacked students at JNU; on verge of cracking case", government sources said.

A car bomb explosion at a police checkpoint near Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu, has killed at least 4 people. More are reportedly injured. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said: "CPIM has no ideology. Planting bombs on railway tracks is 'gundagardi'. In the name of movement, commuters are being beaten up and stones are being pelted. This is 'dadagiri', not a movement. I condemn this."

DMK MP Kanimozhi on a social media campaign to boycott Deepika Padukone's movie after she joined students at Jawaharlal Nehru University,during protest over JNU Violence said: "I don't watch many hindi movies, they're actually making people like me go and watch her movies and support her."

Union Cabinet approves conferring status of Institution of National Importance(INI) to cluster of Ayurvedic institutions at Gujarat Ayurved University campus in Jamnagar

Crashed Ukraine plane had 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians on board

Maharashtra Minister Ashok Chavan said: "Whatever happened in JNU, anyone will speak against it. I don't see anything wrong in Deepika Padukone supporting the JNU protest."

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "We condemn this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting Coalition -including British forces.We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation."

Supreme Court today said, it will take a call after talking to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, as to whether the review petitions filed by many telecom companies, against its judgment on Adjusted Gross Revenue(AGR), will be heard in an open court or not. Telecos move SC seeking open court hearing of their plea for review of top court judgment on adjusted gross revenue issue.

Maharashtra Minister Jitendra Awhad on FIR against students protesting at Gateway of India against JNU Violence said: "I am the representative of students in cabinet and I will ensure that there is no injustice done to them, I will talk to CM and find out a way to resolve the issue."

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed the Supreme Court that No girl was killed in Muzaffarpur Shelter Home. The bones recovered from the shelter belong to some adults. All the 35 girls are alive. 

Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar reached Union HRD ministry to meet HRD Secretary Amit Khare.

Jai Kumar Singh, Minister of State for jail said: "Tihar jail had written to avail the service of hangman from Meerut for the execution of Nirbhaya Rape case convicts. We have approved permission for the same."

Congress Central Election Committee meeting for Delhi assembly elections to be held on January 11 at party interim president Sonia Gandhi's residence

Singapore Airlines released a statement: "In view of the latest developments in the region, all our flights in and out of Europe will not be flying over the Iranian airspace. We will continue to monitor the situation closely."

Four crude bombs recovered by Police from railway track near Hridaypur station in North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. 

Supreme Court today, decided to hear on January 8 the Central Government's plea seeking to transfer those PILs filed and pending in various state High Courts, against validity of Citizenship Amendment Act, to the Supreme Court.

According to Government Sources, India tells all Indian carriers to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf following tension in the region.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said: "We had held meetings with the concerned Airlines and have sensitized them to remain vigilant and take all precautions."

MEA has released a statement: "In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification. Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq.

"Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq," MEA said in a statement. 

Indian Navy: INS Sumedha came to the rescue of the crew of the dhow(traditional wooden vessel) Al-Hamid on 6 January. Al-Hamid was detected by Navy Helicopter launched from the deck of INS Sumedha, which confirmed that the vessel was in distress and drifting near coast of Somalia.

 A boarding team along with a naval technical team embarked Al-Hamid for routine checks onboard and render assistance. The crew of Al-Hamid comprised of 13 Indian citizens.

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Iran's Bushehr. 

Sensex tanks 374.21 points to 40,495.26 in opening session; Nifty slumps 123.35 pts to 11,929.60. 

A Ukranian aircraft crashed in Tehran due to technical glitch. No survivors on Ukrainian jetliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's main airport with at least 170 people on board. 

A proposal regarding construction of the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Garden in Gorakhpur was passed by UP cabinet yesterday, Zoo will be built on 121 acres of land.

Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir Singh is in China where he is scheduled to meet and interact with the senior People’s Liberation Army leadership. He would also be visiting the training institutions of the Chinese military.

A Union Cabinet meeting will be held at 10 am today 

Protesters block railway track in West Bengal's Howrah. Ten trade unions have called for Bharat Bandh today against 'anti-worker policies of Central Govt'

Tihar to conduct dummy execution in coming days but not today. It will be done in jail 3, where the execution will take place. At the time of the dummy execution, the executive engineer of PWD, superintendent and other jail officials will be present.

A Delhi court yesterday issued death warrant against all 4 convicts of 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, execution to be held on 22nd January at 7 am in Tihar's jail cell 3.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards tell US to 'recall US troops' from region.

Nine rockets hit Iraq base housing US troops.

Oil prices spike more than 3.5 per cent after Iran hits base used by US in Iraq

Jonathan Hoffman, Assistant to the US Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs said: "At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq." 

"It's clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military & coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. We're working on initial battle damage assessments," he added.