United States President-elect Donald Trump declared that controversy over allegations that Russian hackers tried to interfere in the US election amounted to a "political witch hunt." 

Brazilian authorities said today that at least 33 prisoners have died in a penitentiary in the northern state of Roraima, adding to 60 deaths reported at other prisons.

Transportation app Uber has hiked fares of its entry-level offering 'UberGo' by up to 50 per cent in Delhi-NCR. 

Rose Valley scam: TMC MP Tapas Pal sent to 14-day judicial custody by CBI court, Bhubaneswar, reports ANI.

Om Puri's greatest contribution lies in the fact that he convinced audiences and filmmakers with his performances to see an actor's talent beyond their face, believes his long-time film industry colleague and friend Satish Kaushik. 

New Year's eve saw a whopping 14 billion messages being sent on WhatsApp in India as more people opted to send season's greetings through the instant messaging platform than traditional routes like SMS and greeting cards. 

GDP growth in 2016-17 is estimated at 7.1 per cent, as compared to 7.6 per cent in 2015-16, says the central government, and that per capita income during 2016-17 is expected to rise by 10.4 per cent, to Rs 1,03,007, compared to last fiscal.  

In the backdrop of woman activist Trupti Desai's plan to enter the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayappa at Sabariamala, Travancore Devaswom Board today said it would not break with tradition and customs in allowing entry of women in the age group of 10-50 into the shrine.

"Nobody will be allowed to break the custom and tradition of the temple," Prayar Gopalakrishnan, chairman of Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the hill shrine, told reporters.

He was replying to a question on woman activist Trupti Desai's plans to enter Sabarimala with a group of about 100 women as part of their campaign to enable women of all age groups have darshan at the shrine.  

Kashmir University on Friday postponed all examinations scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday due to the snowfall in the Valley. 

With less than a month remaining for budget presentation, Finance Ministry today invited suggestions from Twitterati on what should be the focus of the Budget for 2017-18 to be unveiled on February 1. People can exercise their voting option on the official twitter handle of the Ministry of Finance.


"Please give your suggestions... Which sector (Infrastructure/Manufacturing/Agriculture/IT and Services) needs more focus in Budget 2017-18?" the Finance Ministry said in a tweet. Although voting would remain open for a week, initial pattern suggested netizen's preference for agriculture, followed closely by infrastructure. Manufacturing was the third in preference followed by IT and Services.

The Delhi High Court today dismissed the plea of Payal Abdullah, estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, for government housing on security ground, saying if her husband can shift to a private accommodation there is no reason to treat her differently.


"When Omar Abdullah himself has shifted to a private accommodation, there is no reason why the appellants (Payal and her sons) can be treated differently. We do not see any merit in the appeal. The same is dismissed," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice V K Rao said.


By its judgement, the court upheld the single judge's August 19, 2016 order asking her to vacate the 7, Akbar Road bungalow in Lutyen's Delhi where she and her sons were residing.


Payal and her sons had appealed for government accommodation on the ground that they enjoyed 'Z' and 'Z plus' security status, respectively.


A file pic of Omar and Payal Abdullah

US President-elect Donald J Trump '@realDonaldTrump rages about the 'dishonest' media with this tweet: "The dishonest media is not reporting that any money spent, for the sake if speed, on building the Great Wall, will be paid back by Mexico."


Trump and House Republicans are exploring options to make good on the President-elect's promise to build a wall along the country's southern border -- but it would be American taxpayers, not Mexico, who'd cough up for the multi-billion dollar project, according to officials.


Trump representatives have told GOP lawmakers in private meetings that they hope to use a Bush-era law that would allow the Republican-led Congress to use tax dollars to foot a border wall, according to multiple reports.


Since Congress would have nowhere near enough money, Trump transition officials have reportedly told Republicans that they'd like to secure funding by folding the wall into a must-pass spending bill.

Madras HC confirms penalty of Rs 28 crore imposed by the  Enforcement Directorate on former AIADMK MP TT  Dinakaran, nephew of party chief VK Sasikala, in a 1996 FERA violation case.

BCCI's selection committee meeting, headed by chief selector MSK Prasad, ends. Chairman of Selectors MSK Prasad announces the team. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri had chaired the meeting.

The first ODI will be played on 15 January at Pune, followed by ODIs at Cuttack (19 January) and Kolkata (22 January).  The 3-match T20I series will then be played at Kanpur (26 January), Nagpur (29 January) and Bengaluru (1 February).

The BCCI has picked two separate squads for ODI and T20 series against England starting on January 15. 

The T20 team includes: Virat Kohli (Capt), MS Dhoni, Mandeep Singh, K L Rahul, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Y Chahal, Manish Pandey, Jaspreet Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra.

The team for three ODIs: Virat Kohli (C), MS Dhoni (wicket keeper) KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Amit Mishra, J Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav.

PM Modi, FM Jaitley and party president Amit Shah at BJP national executive meeting in Delhi.

The Bombay High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to Union Law Ministry and other authorities to include an option of taking oath on the Constitution of India in the Oaths Act for atheists.


As per the provisions of the Oaths Act-1969, a person can either swear in the name of God or solemnly affirm to state the truth while either deposing in a court or filing an affidavit or any other application before a court.


A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni was today hearing the public interest litigation filed by local resident Sunil Mane, seeking for a third option in the Act, by which a person can take oath on the Constitution of India.


The bench noted that it is for the lawmakers to decide if oath can be permitted to be taken on the Constitution of India, and such a direction cannot be given by the court.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee on her party's 'Modi hatao, desh bachao' slogan: "In the current situation a national government should be formed with another BJP person at helm. He (PM Modi) has to go. To save the country, let a national government be formed. Advaniji, Rajnathji or Jaitleyji can head it. Current situation unacceptable."  

Indian team selection meeting for England series starts. BCCI joint secretary not allowed at the meeting. No ineligible BCCI officer allowed to be part of the meeting.

Former SC judge Markandey Katju tenders unconditional apology to top court for contemptuous remarks in his blog. SC accepts Justice Katju's apology and closes the contempt proceedings against him.


For the first time in the countrys judicial history, the apex court had issued suo motu contempt notice to its former judge on November 11. Katju, who is known for his vocal opinion on social media, had written blogs which had comments on the judges.


Justice Katju had been critical of the September 15 judgment that had set aside the death penalty for the convict in Keralas Soumya rape-murder case. Criticising the judgment in his Facebook post, Katju had said it needed to be reviewed in open court since it was regrettable that the court has not read Section 300 carefully. Section 300 of the IPC defines murder.

Day 2 of social media battle between Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and CM V Narayanasamy. Yesterday, Bedi cancelled the order of the Chief Minister banning the use of social media for official communication.

In a flurry of tweets today, Bedi mentioned what the WhatsApp group in Pondy was about. "Whatsapp Grp in Pondy abt? It was a netwrk of officers sharing activities of  d day. Nothing secret. But responding to grievances. Gagged Now!"

Earlier in the day, she tweeted, "To reduce confusion,sharing of relevant info is vital for skill & speed to deliver public http://services.Tech  offers very useful tools. Real test of leadership is, does she/he have the COURAGE to TRANSFORM what NEEDS to be changed.  Or else its only a position 'occupied. Confident & Secure leaders unite their teams, insecure and unsure leaders divide them. Unity of purpose is probably a fear/threat to them.When a leader wants things done he will promote shared info. When he wants control & dependence he will ensure they r kept divided/deprived."

Narayanasamy had issued the circular even as Bedi was pushing with her plan to promote WhatsApp communication by officials.

The government circular dated January 2 had said the chief minister had directed all the officers, heads of departments and employees of government-owned undertakings to immediately desist from using the social media such as Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook.

It had added that the servers of these multi-national companies were based outside the country.

Bedi, who was in Delhi for the past few days, posted a copy of her order on her personal Twitter handle declaring the government circular "null and void" with immediate effect on the ground that it was issued "in contravention of guidelines, rules and policies of the government".

-- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor detained in Thiruvananthapuram during protest against notes ban.


-- Former SC Judge Markandey Katju offers unconditional apology to SC for making contemptuous remarks against it.


-- Mulayam Singh Yadav to address the media shortly.

-- Jammu Srinagar National highway closed due to heavy snowfall at Jawahar tunnel and in Banihal area.

Myanmar's brutal crackdown on the Rohingya is fanning an Islamist insurgency that could become a national security nightmare for India and region, writes Praveen Swami. Do read

Bombay High Court refuses to consider Anna Hazare's plea for CBI probe against Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar in alleged sugar cooperative factories scam. HC asks Hazare to first file a police complaint and if necessary, approach higher authorities.

The BCCI's national selection meeting to pick the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against England has been delayed. Reportedly, only three selectors have reached the BCCI head office in Mumbai and the selection meeting is yet to start. According to sources, the selectors are awaiting the fitness reports of some of the players. 

Google Earth image of Chinese nuclear attack submarine docked in Pakistan's Karachi harbour in May emerges, say news reports.


Back in May 2016, Rediff.com was the first to report on the arrival of a Chinese nuclear submarine for the first time at Karachi port. It coincided with a Chinese military delegation's visit, and points to Pakistan's importance for China,  former R&AW officer Jayadeva Ranade told Rediff.com.


Read the report here.


File pic.

In their first one-to-one meeting since the vertical split in Samajwadi Party, Shivpal Yadav today held talks with defiant nephew Akhilesh at his residence here on a "compromise formula" for a possible patch-up.


Party insiders were tight-lipped on what transpired at the brief meeting Shivpal had with Chief Minister Akhilesh. Shivpal later met his brother Mulayam Singh Yadav as well.


However, sources privy to the fast-paced developments did not rule out the possibility of resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, the "outsider" whose return to SP triggered a storm in the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh, under a "compromise formula".


Another possibility could be resignation of Shivpal from the post of state SP chief, a charge held by the chief minister before the current family feud broke out.


It was the first meeting between Akhilesh and Shivpal since the chief minister donned the mantle of SP chief replacing his father Mulayam. An inkling of a patch-up came late last night when Akhilesh planned to go to the airport here to receive his father, but dropped the idea when he came to know that Amar Singh was accompanying him in the chartered flight.


Soon after Mulayam's return from Delhi, his apolitical brothers Abhayram Yadav and Rajpal Yadav met him apparently to end the strife in the family.


During a meeting with SP MLAs, MLCs, MPs and senior leaders to collect their signed affidavits for submission before the EC, Akhilesh had yesterday asked his father to give him Samajwadi Party's control for three months.


The meetings Shivpal had with Akhilesh and later with Mulayam this morning reflected hectic behind-the-scene negotiations as the Akhilesh camp prepared to hand over documents to the EC to claim that it was the "real" SP.


Leader of the Akhilesh camp Ramgopal Yadav claimed they have collected signatures of 212 of the 229 MLAs, 56 of the 68 MLCs, 15 of the 24 MPs and a majority of the 5,000 delegates, "making it crystal clear as to which was the real SP".

The hunt for missing flight MH370 will end in two weeks, Malaysia's transport minister said on today, as relatives of passengers demanded authorities push on with the search.


"We're at the final lap within these two weeks," the minister, Liow Tiong Lai told reporters. "We hope we can find the plane." Liow did not specify a date but said that a tripartite meeting will be held after a final report is released when the 120,000 square kilometre search ends.


Authorities had previously said the search will end early this year. The last search vessel embarked on its final sweep across the southern Indian Ocean last month. The Malaysian Airlines jet disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 passengers and crew.

The Supreme Court stays the transfer of 2G licence from Malaysia's Maxis
which was originally alloted to Aircel to any other telecom company. The SC proposes to restrain earning of any revenue by using the 2G spectrum licences which were originally granted to Aircel. "If T Ananthakrishnan and Ralps Marshall of Maxis fail to appear in court on Jan 27, the 2G license granted to Aircel in 2006 shall be seized," the SC says. The court also asks DoT, MIT to devise ways to avoid adverse impact on Aircel subscribers by provisionally transferring 2G licence to others. Details awaited.

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to issue a commemorative coin and special postal stamp on the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran, saying it would be a "fitting tribute" to the Bharat Ratna recipient on the occasion.


Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailed the AIADMK founder as an "inspirational figure" who is remembered for his "magnanimity, generosity, commanding leadership and determination to fight for the legitimate rights of the states". "On the occasion of Puratchi Thalaivar (Revolutionary Leader) Dr MGR's birth centenary, it would be a fitting tribute to a great leader, an inspiring icon, who is eternally embedded in the hearts of the people of Tamil Nadu, to issue a commemorative coin and a special postal stamp," he said.


The letter, written to Modi yesterday, was released by the state government today. The Chief Minister also said that issuing of the coin and special postal stamp would be welcomed and greatly appreciated by all sections of people in Tamil Nadu, elsewhere in the country and across the globe.

Just in: Madras HC rejects petition seeking Bharat Ratna for the late Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa. The court says it cannot dictate terms to the Centre. The AIADMK has asked that the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who died last month, should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay award and India's top civilian honour Bharat Ratna. The party also wants coins minted with her face.


Party general secretary Sasikala Natarajan has said Jayalalithaa's birthday should be designated 'National Farmers' Day'.

Perhaps the most important part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on New Year's Eve was not the niggardly sops announced, not the lack of a report card on demonetisation, although that was significant, but rather his framing of demonetisation as a campaign to purify India. Read more

Shah Rukh Khan @iamsrk on Om Puri: "Gods garden must b beautiful, He always takes the best" Will miss ur laughter over the shared brandy in Berlin. Will miss u lots Omji. RIP.

In a major success, security forces today killed a top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Muzaffar Naikoo alias Muzz Moulvi in an encounter on the outskirts of the city. Security forces launched an operation in Gulzarpora locality of Mochuwa late last night following information about presence of a top militant in the area, a police official said.


As the security forces were laying cordon around the locality, the militant hurled a grenade in a bid to escape but his attempt was thwarted.


Constable Hoshiyar Singh was injured in the grenade blast, the official said. There was exchange of fire for some time and the encounter ended with the killing of the lone militant, he said.


The slain militant was identified as Muzaffar Naikoo alias Muzz Moulv of Lashkar, he said, adding the body has been sent to his native village in Sopore area of north Kashmir. The Lashkar militant was active for past many years in north Kashmir and had recently shifted to Srinagar, the official said, adding security agencies are investigating the motive behind Naikoo moving to the city.

BSP takes on 'paid media'. The EC announced the poll schedule for the five-state elections yesterday, with UP going to the polls from 11th February to 8th March over seven phases. 

India captain Virat Kohli today said that those who watched in silence when women were being molested on Bengaluru streets on New Year's eve have "no right to call themselves men" and he feels ashamed to be a part of such a society.


"What happened in Bangalore is really really disturbing. To see something like that happening to the girls and for people to watch and not do anything about it is a cowardly act. Those people have no right to call themselves men," Kohli, who has of late aired his views on social issues, took to twitter posting two clips of 94 second duration.


"I would like to ask a question, God forbid if something like that happened to someone in your family, would you stand and watch or would you help? These things are allowed to happen because people stand there and watch it and they are absolutely fine with it. That's why these things happen to a girl," the Indian captain commented.


"Just because she is wearing short clothes. It's her life and it's her decision, her choice and for men to accept that it is an opportunity to get away doing this and men in power defending it is absolutely horrible."


Women were subjected to harassment by hooligans at the New Year's eve in Bengaluru, triggering widespread outrage. "The fact that these things are in certain people's heads and is acceptable to a certain degree, it's disturbing and it's shocking and I am ashamed to be a part of that society," straight-talking Kohli stated.


"I think we need to change our thinking, treat men and women in the same way, be respectful, and treat women with some compassion and put yourself in that situation and think what if we were the family members of those girls. How would we feel about it?," he signed off with a question.

"I belonged to the working class, not the middle class.
"I was a rag-picker. I used to pick up coal from the railway tracks.
''I was rejected from the FTII, as I was very unkempt and skinny.'
"I did not look like a hero, villain or comedian.
''But Girish Karnad and Jairaj said I should be taken based on merit, not looks."


We repost this 2009 story of the book launch of Om Puri's biography. If you want to know more about the man, this is where you go. Do read

Naseeruddin Shah condoled Om Puri's death, his co-star in over 25 films, saying, "Naseeruddin Shah '@NaseerudinShah  1h1 hour agoWe have lost very brilliant and talented actor it's very big lost of our country and film industry rest and peace.@OmRajeshPuri.


Just last month, Naseer reached out to Om Puri with this tweet: #Friendship #BrotherHood @OmRajeshPuri"  and this picture alongside.  

Veteran actor Om Puri's sudden death after a massive heart attack this morning has left India bereaved. Both Bollywood -- his co-stars, filmmakers, musicians -- took to Twitter to mourn his loss -- as did the general public, his co-star of 14 films is still coming to terms with the loss.


National Award winning actress Shabana Azmi tweeted to say, "Om Puri! You have left us all too early.. i am so so sorry..The fun the laughter the arguments so vividly etched in my mind..Will miss you."


The actor shared the screen with Om Puri on various occasions including classics like Mrityudand (1997), Muhafiz (1994), Dharavi (1993), Antarnaad (1992), Disha (1991), Susman (1988), Paar (1985), Sparsh (1984), Mandi (1983), Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai (1981).

Azmi tweeted later to say, "OM Puri undergoing postmortem at Cooper Hospital. Will be taken to Trishul around 3pm Funeral at Oshiwara electric crematorium around 6 pm."


Image: Om Puri, Shabana Azmi and Patrick Swazye share a light moment during the filming of City of Joy in Kolkata. 

After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed the support of over 200 lawmakers of the ruling Samajwadi Party, his estranged father Mulayam Singh Yadav met with his top aides till 1 am on Thursday night.



This morning, Shivpal Yadav met Akhilesh for 10 minutes and then headed to to Mulayam Singh's residence. While a patch-up between the father and son is bleak, reports say Mulayam may sacrifice Amar Singh to end the rift.

The rift between Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav came to the fore after the latter re-inducted Amar Singh into the party fold six years after his expulsion in 2010. Differences grew as Akhilesh rallied for his expulsion calling him an outsider who was trying to create a split in the SP. Mulayam, however, sided with his old associate.

Mulayam Singh is hopelessly outnumbered, with Akhilesh Yadav claiming to have the signed support of 214 lawmakers.


Akhilesh Yadav, 43, was quoted as saying by one of his ministers that he had asked his father to give him control of the party for three months, until the February-March election in Uttar Pradesh.


This will give the Chief Minister complete control over the choice of party candidates, which is at the centre of the massive Yadav family feud simmering over the past few months.


Minister Ravidas Malhotra, who attended the meeting of lawmakers at Akhilesh Yadav's home yesterday, quoted him as saying: "Netaji is my father. I have asked him to give me authority for three months. After returning to power, he may decide whatever he wants."

Uttar Pradesh: BSP releases second list of candidates for assembly elections.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati announced nominees for 100 of the 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh for the seven-phase assembly polls there. It appears a third of those in the BSP first list are Muslims, around 19 per cent of voters and being wooed by the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), too.


In 2012, the community majorly supported the SP and are expected to ope for candidates bet placed to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BSP won a majority in the 2007 UP assembly poll but won only 80 of the 403 seats in 2012.

-- Amit Agnihotri/Business Standard

Just in: Al-Badr terrorist Muzzafar Ahmed killed in encounter with Army and police in Machu area of Budgam district in J&K early this morning. The army had inputs on Muzzafar Ahmed. He tried to break cordon and was cornered and  killed. No collateral damage. The Army says it's a big achievement and the backbone of the Al Badr group has been broken. 

Bengaluru-Delhi Spice Jet flight 136 makes emergency landing due to hydraulic failure at Delhi airport. SpiceJet statement says: Flight SG 136, Bengaluru to Delhi, experienced, during cruise, partial hydraulic failure due to loss of hydraulic fluid. Crew carried out emergency procedure, landed safely in Delhi. All passengers and crew are safe.

As news of Om Puri's death was reported, Bollywood mourned and grieved, with many taking to Twitter to condole the passing.


Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: "Goodbye Om! A part of me goes with you today. How can I ever forget those passionate nights we spent together talking about cinema & life?"

In other news, a 29-year-old woman was stabbed by an unidentified person near Mahalakshmi Race Course in Central Mumbai, police said today. The incident occurred at around 7.30 pm yesterday near the race course.


Police got information about it after Nair Hospital authorities informed the police control room.


Senior police officials late last night went to the hospital to see the victim, who is reported to be out of danger.


The Tardeo police have registered an offence under relevant IPC sections for attempt to murder, in connection with the incident. The woman worked at a private company in Mumbai and since some months was seeing a 22-year-old man.


Last evening, at around 7.30 pm, the man went to meet her at the race course and found her sitting under a tree with stab marks on her chest, following which she was taken to hospital. Further investigation into the incident was on, police added.

Just in: Mastermind of Bangladesh cafe attack killed in shootout with police in Dhaka, says police.

Veteran actor Om Puri has passed away at the age of 66. He died after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Muzzafar Ahmed has been killed in encounter in Machu area of Budgam of Jammu Kashmir in the early morning hours. According to reports, one policeman has also been critically injured in the encounter.