Breaking News on December 30

Syed Muazzem Ali, Bangladesh's former foreign secretary and a "good friend" of India, died due to old-age complications at a hospital here on Monday. He was 75.

Ali, who served as Bangladesh's immediate-past High Commissioner to India, passed away at the Combined Military Hospital in the capital where he was undergoing treatment, family sources were quoted as saying by the Bangladeshi newspapers.

In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief over Ali's demise, saying he was a "good friend" of India.

"Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of former High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali. He was a good friend and a strong partner for so many of us. Our thoughts are with Tuhfa and family," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced the beginning of installation of 2.1 lakh street lights in the city, saying the move will eliminate dark spots and enhance women's safety.

Vodafone Idea's mobile consumer base declined by around 3.63 crore to 33.63 crore in November, according to a source. The telecom operator had reported an increase of 1.89 lakh mobile customers on its network in October.

Elaborate traffic arrangements have been made for the New Year celebrations at and around India Gate to ensure smooth regulation of traffic, the Delhi Traffic Police said in an advisory issued on Monday.

Three persons were arrested on Monday for their alleged involvement in the vandalization of a church in East Midnapore district last Saturday, police said. According to senior district police officials, suspected BJP supporters entered a small church in Bhagavanpur, over 100 km from Kolkata, and vandalized its premises.

"When the incident happened on Saturday night, Christmas celebrations were going on. We have arrested three persons so far for their involvement in the incident. Those arrested are said to be BJP supporters," a senior police official of the East Midnapore district said.

PTI

The government has decided to give 5G spectrum for trials to all players, including those partnering with Huawei. "We have taken a decision to give 5G spectrum for trials to all players," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

21 flights diverted, approximately 40 flights cancelled till now, due to dense fog at Delhi Airport, an Official said on Monday.

A Delhi court on Monday issued a notice to Mandoli Jail authorities to explain the reason for not furnishing medical reports of two of the 14 people arrested in connection with violent protests against the amended citizenship act in Seelampur, New Delhi.

 Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in deputation tenure of IPS Arun Kumar Sinha, Director of Special Protection Group (SPG) for a period from 19 March 2020 to 30 July 2021.

Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday launched phase-1 services of the e-Governance (eGCA) project under which automated commercial pilot licences (CPLs) will be issued.

Benchmark indices closed on a flat note after a topsy-turvy session on Monday, with participants fence-sitting in absence of further cues ahead of year-end holidays. At the closing bell, the BSE benchmark Sensex was 17.14 points, or 0.04 per cent, lower at 41,558. The 30-share gauge swung between a high of 41,714.73 and low of 41,453.38 in a highly volatile session.

The rupee appreciated by 4 paise to settle at 71.31 against the US currency amid weakening of the US dollar in overseas markets even as crude oil prices surged. Subdued domestic equity markets and high crude oil prices restricted the gains in the rupee, analysts said.

One dead after methanol storage tank catches fire at Kandla port in Gujarat.

To ease overcrowding on New Year's Eve (31st December, 2019), exit from Rajiv Chowk Metro station will not be allowed after 9 PM, DMRC said. However, entry of passengers will be allowed till departure of last train.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) extended in Nagaland for six more months with effect from today.

Congress' General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is addressing a press conference over Lucknow manhandling row. 

Delegation from Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party 2019 Lok Sabha candidate Gugan Singh, rejoins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi.

Satej Patil takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Abdul Sattar Abdul Nabi takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's son and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Congress leader Aslam Sheikh takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Shankarrao Gadakh takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Kagda Chandya Padvi takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Uday Samant takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government. 

Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Sandipanrao Bhumre takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Jitendra Awhad takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Dadaji Bhuse takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Ex-Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's son Amit Deshmukh takes oath as cabinet minister in Maharashtra government

Gulab Raghunath Patil takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Sanjay Rathod takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Sunil Chhatrapal Kedar takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Rajesh Tope takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Nawab Malik takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Congress leader Rajendra Shingne takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Varsha Gaikwad takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government.

Hasan Mushrif takes oath as a cabinet minister in Maharashtra government. 

Anil Deshmukh takes oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Congress leader Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar takes oath as Maharashtra cabinet minister

Congress leader Dhananjay Munde takes oath as Maharashtra cabinet minister

Ex-Finance Minister of Maharashtra Dilip Walse Patil takes oath as cabinet minister.

Ex- Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan takes oath as Maharashtra cabinet minister

36 ministers to take oath at cabinet expansion in Maharashtra

NCP leader Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu: Voting underway for rural local body polls in Rameswaram

Election Commission of India (ECI), in its RTI (Right To Information) reply to a former Indian Navy officer, stated that more than 20 registered political parties, including NC, PDP, RJD, haven't filed their annual reports with respect to their receipts of financial donations.

The last date of submission of the financial receipts to the Election Commission of India was October 30, 2019.

Maharashtra cabinet expansion: 36 leaders to take oath as ministers today. Ajit Pawar to be Deputy Chief Minister. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches twitter campaign in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Members of Indian diaspora demonstrate at New York's Times Square in support of Citizenship Amendment Act. 

Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, KC Padvi, Vijay Wadettiwar, Amit Deshmukh, Sunil Kedar, Yashomati Thakur, Varsha Gaikwad, Aslam Sheikh, Satej Patil and Vishvajeet Kadam to take oath as ministers in Maharashtra Government today.

Indian Navy bans use of Facebook by naval personnel. It has also banned smart phones at naval bases, dockyards and on-board warships.

The stringent step has been taken by the force soon after seven naval personnel were caught leaking sensitive information to enemy intelligence agencies over social media.

Indian Navy says bans on messaging apps, networking and blogging, content sharing, hosting, e-commerce sites is under promulgation.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Qari Saifullah Mehsud has been shot dead by gunmen in Afghanistan, the group confirmed on Sunday.

He was killed outside the Guloon camp in Khost province, the group spokesperson said in an audio message, Anadolu News Agency reported.

The spokesman claimed that the attack was carried out by the Haqqani network, as they had killed three terrorists belonging to the TTP's Hakimullah Mehsud group in the area a few days ago.

Diesel at Rs 67.78 per litre and petrol at Rs 75.04 per litre in Delhi today

Sensex opens 111.13 pts higher at 41,686.27; Nifty rises 29.10 pts to 12,274.90.

Kerala women took part in the 'Night Walk' organized by the state government, in Thiruvananthapuram, on Sunday night.

As per Kerala Minister, K K Shailaja the 'Night Walk' will give a message that "women can also go out without time restrictions".

Foggy weather conditions at New Delhi railway station. 30 trains are running late due to low visibility in the Northern Railway region. Minimum temperature of 2.5°C was recorded in the national capital