Breaking news on January 16

The HRD Ministry has sought a response from the JNU administration on allegations of irregularities in appointments and promotions of faculty members, raised by members of the teachers' association.

A five-member delegation of JNUTA had met HRD Ministry officials earlier this week and complained about alleged "tweaking of rules by Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar to benefit his loyalists in appointments and promotions".

"We have sought a response from the JNU administration on the points raised by JNUTA members," a senior official of the ministry said.
The teachers' association and the students' union have been demanding removal of Kumar. 

The Central Election Committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the party headquarters here at 8.45 p.m. on Thursday.

All the senior leaders also reached there to attend the meeting which was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but was delayed, waiting for the Prime Minister to reach the venue.

In the first such disclosure, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Thursday said de-radicalisation camps are operating in the country as it was necessary to isolate people who are completely radicalised. In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, Gen Rawat, delving into the situation in Kashmir, said girls and boys as young as 10 and 12 years are being radicalised in the Valley which he described as a matter of concern.

Vodafone Idea says exploring further options including filing of a curative petition after SC dismisses its review plea on AGR issue

 A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district on Thursday, police said. The incident took place in Lakhanpur area of the district where accused Lokesh Jatav (21) allegedly lured the minor girl on pretext of giving a candy and raped her at a secluded place.

A passerby informed the victim's family who then lodged a complaint with the police, Lakhanpur SHO Purushottam Lal said. He said the accused was arrested under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC and the POCSO Act. Further investigation into the matter was on, he added.

Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh struck work on Thursday in protest against recent attacks on advocates in the state. Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh had asked bar associations in the state to abstain from work

Private sector lender Karnataka Bank on Thursday reported a 12 per cent decline in its net profit at Rs 123.14 crore for the third quarter ending December 31, 2019 on account of rise in bad loans.

The Mangalore-headquartered bank had reported a net profit of Rs 140.41 crore in the year-ago period, the bank said in regulatory filing. However, the total income of the bank rose to Rs 2,023.68 crore from Rs 1,815.79 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

The gross non-performing asset (NPA) of the bank rose to 4.99 per cent of assets from 4.45 per cent in the year-ago period.

The Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the suspension of the environment clearance to the Mopa international airport, around 25 km from here, in North Goa, allowing resumption of construction.

"The Supreme Court has lifted the suspension on the environmental clearance. There have been no additional conditions. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has been appointed to ensure that the conditions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Union Environment and Forests Ministry and others are adhered to," Director of Goa Civil Aviation Department Suresh Shanbogue told reporters.

Widespread rains in the national capital on Thursday brought the maximum temperature down to 16.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal, but the pollution level increased slightly.

The minimum temperature, however, increased to 9.5 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, due to cloud cover, the meteorological department said. On Wednesday, the city recorded a low of 6.4 degrees Celsius, and a maximum temperature of 19.9 degrees Celsius.

A soldier was killed and three others were injured when an avalanche hit an army post in Drass belt of Ladakh's Kargil district on Thursday, officials said.

The avalanche hit the army post in Mushkoh valley in which four soldiers were buried, they said. One soldier died while three injured were rescued, they added.

UP BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh is all set to be elected unopposed to his post.

He is the sole candidate to have filed nomination for the post and a formal announcement of his election will be made on Friday.

State election officer Ashutosh Tandon said the announcement will be made after the formation of scrutiny and withdrawal is complete.

Swatantra Dev Singh was appointed UP BJP chief in July last year after the then state President Mahendra Nath Pandey was inducted into the Union cabinet.

A popular leader, Swatantra Dev Singh belongs to the Kurmi community and is the party's OBC face in Uttar Pradesh.

Five people killed, 2 seriously injured, after a train collided with a bullock-cart near Hasanpur railway station in Samastipur-Khagariya division in Bihar

Bihar: 5 people killed, 2 seriously injured, after a train collided with a bullock-cart near Hasanpur railway station in Samastipur-Khagariya division

J&K Police: Srinagar Police has busted Jaish-e-Mohammad terror module, averted major terror attack planned on 26th January and worked out 2 earlier grenade attacks. 2 terrorists have been arrested

The National Green Tribunal Thursday sought a report from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and DTTDC on a plea alleging that a lake in East Delhi is being polluted.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the DDA and Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) to submit the report within a month.

"DDA will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. The report may be furnished by email within one month. A copy of this order be sent to the DDA and the DTTDC by email. The applicant may furnish a set of papers to the DDA and the DTTDC and file affidavit of service within one week," the bench said.

• In a world seeking to break free from mindless hate, violence, Indian way of life offers ray of hope, PM Narendra Modi said at an event
• Indian way of conflict avoidance is not by brute force but power of dialogue, PM Modi added.
• Where there is openness, respect for different opinions, innovation is natural. Innovative zeal of Indians is drawing the world to India, say PM Modi

In the 20th century,  Mahatma Gandhi championed these ideals and this contributed to India’s freedom. At the same time, they gave strength to millions outside. For centuries we have welcomed the world to our land. Our civilisation has prospered when many could not.  Why? Because one finds peace and harmony here: PM 
 

Broadly, there are certain ideals that have remained central to Indian values. They are- compassion, harmony, justice, service and openness: PM Modi

It is no coincidence that we are talking about globalising Indian thought at a time when a life-sized statue of Swami Vivekananda finds a special place on this campus. Who can forget the contribution of Swami Vivekananda in globalising Indian thought: PM Modi

A 24-year-old girl, staying in a PG accommodation in Noida, committed suicide, the police said on Thursday.

A police officer of Sector 49 police station told IANS: "The girl, staying in a PG accommodation in Sector 51, sent a message to her boyfriend on Tuesday informing him that she is going to commit suicide. Before he could reach to save her, she hanged herself on Tuesday."

The deceased is a native of Greater Noida and used to work for a company in Sector 36.

The body was handed over to her family members after the post-mortem.

Initial investigation indicates that the girl was not happy with the arrange marriage her family had fixed for her, the police said.

Pak's attempt to peddle baseless allegation, show alarming scenario failed as it lacked credibility: MEA on attempts to raise Kashmir at UNSC

Nirbhaya case: Delhi court directs Tihar jail authorities to file proper report by tomorrow about status of scheduled execution of convicts

J&K: Five more political leaders have been released from detention. They were detained post abrogation of article 370(August 5,2019)

Sensex ends 59.83 points higher at 41,932.56; Nifty up 12.20 points at 12,355.50. 

The Delhi government today rejected the mercy plea of 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict Mukesh Singh.

According to official sources, Home Ministry has received mercy petition of 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict Mukesh Singh from Delhi government and it is under process

Ministry of Home Affairs sources: Home Ministry has received mercy petition of 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict Mukesh Singh from Delhi government and it is under process.

Shifting of Omar Abdullah put on hold. Meanwhile, 2 PDP and 3 NC leaders to be released today. 

Delhi Court hearing on convict Mukesh's plea in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case, underway.

Union Minister Amit Shah addresses rally in Bihar's Vaishali. He is conducting a pro-CAA outreach in the state. Highlights: 

- Opposition cannot think beyond vote-bank

- Congress divided the country on the basis of religion

- I want the Muslims of Bihar to read about CAA

- CAA protects human rights of the minorities 

- Congress, Mamata behind the violence in the country 

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar addressed the media. HIGHLIGHTS: 

- Congress protected the 1984 Sikh riots accused

- Rajiv Gandhi backed the 1984 Sikh massacre 

- Dhingra Commission brought new to facts to light 

- Congress allowed Dawood to escape 

- AAP Government responsible for delay in Nirbhaya case 

- Congress didn't deny Indira meeting Karim Lala 

- Congress is a communal party 

Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy said: "I challenge Kiran Bedi. If me or any of my family members are proved guilty in any land grabbing case, I'll resign. But will Kiran Bedi quit if it's not proved? She is wrongly trying to malign me. She no longer deserves to remain Lieutenant Governor."

The peace deal between the US and the Taliban to be signed soon. Taliban agreed to stop violence after the deal. 

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress on 36 Union Ministers to visit Jammu & Kashmir from 18-25 January said: "Whom will they meet there? In our experience, 2 foreign delegations have been there, they only meet those people who have been sent there by the central government and told what to say."

BJP office was set ablaze in Chandai Gram area in Bankura district last night. BJP has alleged that TMC is behind the incident.

2012 Delhi gang-rape case: Delhi Government has rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh, one of the convicts in the case. The mercy plea was then forwarded to Lieutenant Governor, who has now sent it to Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Delhi LG Anil Baijal recommends rejecting Mukesh's mercy plea.

PMC Bank matter: Supreme Court today asked Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to come up with the diary number at 2 pm today, for listing the matter pertaining to his mentioning in the case.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta has mentioned the matter in the Supreme Court today, seeking an urgent hearing against the Bombay HC order, which had released two accused on bail.

Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to be held today at the residence of party's interim president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. 

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena in Mumbai said: "The respect that I have always shown towards Indira Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi and the Gandhi family, despite being in opposition, nobody has done it. Whenever people have targeted Indira Gandhi, I have stood up for her."

Jawaharlal Nehru University: Registration deadline for 2020 Winter Semester has been extended up to January 17, 2020, without any late fine.

Union cabinet meeting to be held at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Friday.

SC lifts restrictions on the construction of an international airport in Goa's Mopa. 

MJ Akbar's defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani in connection with sexual harassment allegations made against him, has been adjourned till 24th January, 2020.

Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has summoned Akshat, Rohit, and Chunchun to record their statements in connection with JNU violence case. Akshat and Rohit have also been summoned twice earlier but did not appear before the SIT.

Public Relations Officer (PRO), Indigo: At 4:26 am today, full emergency was declared for Pune-Jaipur flight (6E-6129). The flight landed safely in Mumbai at 4:36 am and the full emergency was withdrawn at 4:43 am. Thereafter, the flight 6E 6129 was airborne at 7:34 am.

Section 144 has been imposed in Doda, as a precautionary measure.

Congress MLA Dhanavelu temporarily suspended from the party for 'anti-party activities'.

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) files two fresh petitions in Supreme Court seeking a stay of the operation of the Citizenship Amendment Act notification issued by the Central Government.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, at Raisina Dialogue 2020, in Delhi said: "The war on terror is not ending, it is something which is going to continue, we will have to live with it, until we understand and get to the roots of terrorism."

He said: "We've to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way Americans started after 9/11, they said let's go on a spree on global war on terror. To do that you have to isolate the terrorists, anybody who is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task."

"Terrorism is here to stay so long as there are going to be states that are going to sponsor terrorism and they are going to use terrorists as proxies, make weapons available to them, make funding for them, then we can't control terrorism.  You have to come to a peace deal with everybody (in Afghanistan), if you've to come to a peace deal with them you've to go for negotiated peace. Taliban or whichever org is contemplating terror has to give up that weapon of terror, they must come to the political mainstream, " he added. 

Sensex hits 42,000 level for the first time, jumps 134.58 pts in opening trade; Nifty rises 32.35 pts to 12,375.65.

Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif meets External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.

An eight-coach express train derailed in Odisha. Till now, more than 40 passengers are injured. Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), East Coast Railway said: "20 people injured after eight coaches of Lokmanya Tilak Express derail near Salagaon. No casualty reported till now."

All India Bank Employees Association: United Forum of Bank Unions has decided to observe 2 days strike on 31st January and 1st February, 2020 and 3 days strike on 11th, 12th and 13th March, 2020, demanding early wage revision settlement which has been due since 1st Nov,2017.

Cold wave and fog continue in the national capital; visuals from India Gate.

IMD: Very Dense Fog observed (0530 IST) in some pockets over Punjab; in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan;Dense to Very Dense Fog in isolated pockets over Odisha, West MP, Chandigarh & Haryana; Moderate to Dense Fog in isolated pockets over HP, East Rajasthan, Bihar, Meghalaya

Weather change in Delhi; parts of the national capital received light showers. Visuals from Krishi Bhawan.

700 bulls participating in Jallikattu competitions in Palamedu this year. Jallikattu competitions to be held from January 15-January 31 in Madurai district. Visuals from Palamedu.

Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations on China holding an informal closed-door consultation on Kashmir in UNSC said: "The outcome of consultation is on expected lines."

US House delivers Trump impeachment articles to Senate.

Trump trial to start "in earnest" Tuesday, Senate leader says.