India

NEW DELHI, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held phone conversations with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, respectively, on Sunday night, over the evolving situation in the Gulf amidst escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

"Had a telephonic discussion with Secretary of State @SecPompeo on the evolving situation in the Gulf region. Highlighted India's stakes and concerns," Jaishankar said in Twitter Sunday night.

Hyderabad, Jan 4 (PTI): A Special CBI court here has directed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to appear before it on January 10 in connection with alleged 'quid pro quo' investments into his firms.

The court gave the direction on Friday while hearing a petition by him seeking exemption from personal appearance.

Ever since Jagan became the chief minister he has not appeared for the hearings citing his busy schedule as CM.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Six of the 10 most valued Indian companies suffered a combined erosion of Rs 26,624.10 crore in market valuation last week, dragged down by ICICI Bank.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), HDFC Bank, HUL, Kotak Mahindra Bank and SBI were the other bluechips which saw a drop in their market capitalisation (m-cap) for the week ended Friday, while TCS, HDFC, Infosys and ITC ended in the green.

ICICI Bank's valuation tumbled Rs 6,883.44 crore to Rs 3,48,532.24 crore, taking the steepest hit among the top-10 firms.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Petrol and diesel prices rose for the fourth straight day on Sunday as global oil prices jumped after the US killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of conflict in the crude-rich Middle East.

Retail pump price of petrol was hiked by 9 paise per litre and that of diesel by 11 paise, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 75.54 per litre -- the highest in more than a year, while a litre of diesel comes for Rs 68.51.

Patna, Jan 5 (PTI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has said the updation process of the National Population Register (NPR) will be carried out in the state from May 15 to May 28 this year, notwithstanding the West Bengal and Kerala governments' decision to put the exercise on hold in their respective states.

Bihar senior BJP leader also said administrative and punitive action would be taken against officials if they refuse to carry out the NPR.

Pune, Jan 4 (PTI) A protest was staged against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was held in Kothrud area here on Saturday.

Holding placards denouncing the CAA, NRC and the National Population Register (NPR), members of the Yuvak Kranti Dal, Professional Congress, National Students Union of India, Aam Admi Party and others took part in the protest.

Hyderabad, Jan 4 (PTI) Thousands of people in th city took part in a protest on Saturday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

On the busy road from Masab Tank to the Dharna Chowk, the protesters travelled in cars, two-wheelers and by walk raised slogans, including against the CAA.

Some of them held national flags in their hands and also placards that read 'No CAA, No NRC and 'Boycott CAA, NPR & NRC'.

Kolkata, Jan 4 (PTI) The teachers' wing of Trinamool Congress on Saturday took out a rally in the city to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The rally attended by members of West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA), began at Exide crossing and covered a distance of two km to Hazra more.

Kolkata, Jan 4 (PTI) College and university students, professionals, housewives and women from different walks of life converged in the hub of the city on Saturday to protest physical violence against women across the world including in India.

Around 200 women gathered before New Empire cinema hall at 3 pm with their eyes covered protesting against the 'rape culture' and chanted a poem, which was adapted from a Spanish poem coined by the women protesters during a similar protest at Chile months back.

Chitrakoot, Jan 5 (PTI) Two persons have been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl after abducting her in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district, police said on Sunday.

The accused, Angad and Bhadauti, allegedly raped the girl on Friday night when she had gone to the fields, they said.

The girl returned home on Saturday morning and narrated her ordeal to the family members, following which an FIR was registered and the accused were arrested, police said.