TODAY NEWS ON January 12, 2024
 

News Headlines

Ecuador says 178 prison guards, staff members are held hostage by gangs

Members of the Army’s Elite Forces inspect men and check their identity during a patrol in the streets of Carapungo, a popular neighbourhood in northern Quito, on January 11, 2024, as Ecuador is in a “state of emergency” since the prison escape of one of the country’s most powerful narco bosses.

Gangsters were holding 178 prison guards and staff hostage, officials in Ecuador said on Thursday, as a standoff between security forces and organised crime reached fever pitch.

The total was 39 more than the previous day, the SNAI prison authority said, as it reported riots in several penitentiaries with inmates shooting at members of the Ecuadoran armed forces.

The country’s armed forces are engaged in a brutal stand-off with organised crime, deploying more than 22,400 soldiers to put down a campaign of terror.

The small South American country has been plunged into crisis after years of growing control by transnational cartels that use its ports to ship cocaine to the United States and Europe.

U.S., Britain launch massive retaliatory strike against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen

The strikes marked the first U.S. military response against the Houthis for what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the war in Israel.

The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, several U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defence systems and weapons storage locations, they said.

The strikes marked the first U.S. military response against the Houthis for what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the war in Israel. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials confirmed the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

Ensure a ‘spotless’ election, Chief Election Commissioner tells State poll officials

Kickstarting preparations for the general election to be held this year, the Election Commission on January 11 held a brainstorming session with the Chief Electoral Officers of all States on various issues, including electronic voting machines, electoral rolls and expenditure monitoring.

Sheikh Hasina shakes up Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, picks surprise choice Hasan Mahmud

The Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced Cabinet posts for Ministers on Thursday. The biggest names to have made it to the list are Asaduzzaman Khan, and Obaidul Quader, two heavyweights who have retained their respective Ministries – home and road transport.

U.S. objects to providing defence material to Nikhil Gupta in Pannun case till appearance in New York court

The U.S. government has objected to providing defence materials to Indian national Nikhil Gupta, detained in a Czech prison on murder-for-hire charges in a foiled assassination attempt on a Khalistani separatist, saying it will provide the information only upon his appearance in a New York court and arraignment in the case.

Donald Trump defies judge, gives courtroom speech on tense final day of New York civil fraud trial

Barred from giving a formal closing argument, Donald Trump still seized an opportunity to speak in court at the conclusion of his New York civil fraud trial Thursday, unleashing a barrage of attacks in a six-minute speech before being cut off by the judge.

Supreme Court questions Centre on GM mustard

The Supreme Court on January 11 questioned the government on whether the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had considered the reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 before approving it for environmental release.

Mamata asks PM to officially list Bengali as ‘classical language’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the central government to officially list Bengali as a “classical language”. Ms. Banerjee pointed out, that considering the fact that six Indian languages have already been notified as Classical Languages, “I would be grateful if you kindly issue necessary instructions to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that the claim of Bengali as a Classical Language is accepted at the earliest”.

MCD ranks 90th in Centre’s Swachh Survekshan; AAP says performance improved; BJP kicks up dirt problem

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was ranked 90th among 446 urban local bodies in the the Swachh Survekshan Awards-2023, the results of which were announced by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Thursday. The 446 urban local bodies are the ones that span areas having a population of more than one lakh. The MCD, however, ranked 28th among 45 cities with a population of more than 10 lakh.

Israel strikes southern Gaza as Blinken in Egypt for talks

Israel bombarded the southern Gaza Strip on January 11 as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Egypt on the final leg of regional talks aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas war from spreading.

Microsoft overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable company

Microsoft overtook Apple as the world’s most valuable company on Thursday after the iPhone maker began 2024 with its worst start in years due to growing demand concerns. Shares of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft rose 1.5%, giving it a market valuation of $2.888 trillion as its early lead in the race to make money from generative artificial intelligence helped draw investors.

Infosys Q3 net declines 7.3% to ₹6,106 cr. due to employee absence, holidays

Bengaluru-based Infosys Ltd. on Thursday reported a 7.3% fall in its third quarter net profit at ₹6,106 crore over ₹6,586 crore a year earlier. On a sequential basis, Q3 net profit dropped by 1.7%. The company’s year-on-year revenue grew marginally by 1.3% to ₹38,821 crore, up from ₹38,318 crore a year earlier. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenue slightly reduced by 0.4%.

For News Based : Daily Current G.K. Analysis ,Short notes & M.C.Q