Breaking news on January 17

The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant interim relief from arrest to suspended Maharashtra deputy inspector general of police Nishikant More, who is accused of molesting a minor girl.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Friday called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi and urged her to expedite release of
funds under the non-lapsable central pool of resources, an official statement said.

Three labourers including a teenage girl were mowed down by a train in Butibori area in Nagpur on Friday evening, police said.

Nine students scored a perfect 100 in the JEE Main examination results declared on Friday night, the HRD Ministry said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a proposal to provide one-year relaxation in the upper age limit of candidates applying for the police constable recruitment drive.

Border Security Force has seized 22 kg heroin, 2 pistols and 90 live rounds near India-Pakistan International Border. 

Chances of "cold day or cold wave" conditions returning to the national capital are almost over, weather experts said on Friday as the city recorded a minimum temperature of 11.3 degrees Celsius, a rise of almost two degrees from that on Thursday.

Assam Government Ministry expansion to take place tomorrow. Governor Jagdish Mukhi will administer oath to the Ministers tomorrow morning.

PM Modi tweeted, "Congratulations to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team for 1st satellite launch of 2020. GSAT-30, with its unique configuration, will provide DTH television services, connectivity to ATMs, stock exchanges and e-Governance. Wish many more successful missions to ISRO".

One of the convicts Pawan Gupta, today filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court. He has claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the crime and Delhi High Court has ignored this fact.

Assets worth about Rs 10 crore of a Mumbai-based businessman have been attached in connection with the multi-crore hawala and money laundering case of Surat in Gujarat, the ED said on Friday.

The Delhi Assembly election campaign song for Congress has the theme "Phir Se Congress Wali Delhi" that will showcase the works done by the party during its 15-year rule in the national capital.

The Supreme Court on Friday said it would henceforth not monitor the murder case of rationalist M.M. Kalburgi in August 2015 in Dharwad in Karnataka.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on 2012 Delhi gang-rape case: Prakash Javadekar Ji had said something, Smriti Irani Ji also said something else...No good will come from blaming each other. We have to make a system where rapists are hanged within 6 months of the crime.

Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Iran nuclear deal: India can play a leading role in bringing US back into compliance with agreement and we'll not reject that possibility. India is a very dear friend of Iran and has good relations with US, it can encourage US to come back to the table.

At least 30 railway union functionaries were detained on Friday in Ahmedabad in Gujarat for holding a protest ahead of the inauguration of a premium
Tejas train to be operated by PSU Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

A 40-year-old man was found dead on Friday morning in his car in Dwarka's Sector-2 area, police said.

China Foreign Ministry: At the request of Pakistan, UNSC reviewed the Kashmir issue on January 15. Members of Security Council are concerned about the current situation in Kashmir, and call for observance of UN Charter and international law and peaceful resolution of disputes through political dialogue.

A group of 150 girls from different schools of Gujarat are set to delight the crowd with a colourful 'Garba' performance at the Republic Day parade here on Rajpath, an achievement that has left the students ecstatic.

The Punjab Assembly on Friday ratified a bill to extend reservation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures for another 10 years.

The country foreign exchange reserves rose by USD 58 million to reach a life-time high of USD 461.21 billion in the week to January 10, according to the RBI data.

The Indian rupee furthered its losses for the second day, dropping 15 paise to close at 71.08 against the US dollar on Friday amid strengthening of the American currency overseas and rising crude prices.

CISF personnel at Delhi's IGI airport today recovered 80 mobile phones from two Chinese nationals. On enquiry, they could not produce any valid document for the mobile phones; further investigation underway.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on the Pune-Mumbai hyperloop project: Hyperloop has never been constructed anywhere in the world till now, so let this be tried somewhere else before us. Once it is successful, then we can think of it.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chiefs, general secretaries (organisation) and party core groups of states have been called to BJP headquarters in Delhi on January 20.

A Pakistani court has sentenced brother and nephew of a radical Islamist party chief along with 84 others to 55-year prison terms each for taking part in protests in 2018 over the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman in a controversial blasphemy case, according to a media report.

Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi expressed disappointment over the issuance of a new date for the execution of her daughter's convicts and said, "Jo mujrim chahte the vahi ho raha hai...tareek pe tareek, tareek pe tareek. Humara system aisa hai ki jahan convict ki suni jaati hai".

Nirbhaya convicts will be hanged on Feb 1 at 6 am, new death warrant issued

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced its list of 57 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Election 2020. 

Kapil Mishra to contest from Model Town, Vijender Gupta to contest from Rohini, Rekha Gupta to contest from Shalimar Bagh, Suman Kumar Gupta to contest from Chandni Chowk

BJP Working President JP Nadda in Delhi: I challenge Rahul Gandhi to speak 10 lines on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He talks without knowing. It is unfortunate for the nation. All those opposing CAA are making the nation weak.

Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gangrape victim, on reports that Congress could field her against Delhi CM Kejriwal on New Delhi seat: I have no interest in politics. I have not spoken to anyone in Congress. I only want justice for my daughter and the execution of the convicts.

Denying the Delhi government's role in delaying the hanging of the Nirbhaya case convicts, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the victim's mother is being "misguided" and accused BJP leader Prakash Javadekar of politicising the matter.

Tihar jail authorities Friday sought before a Delhi court issuance of fresh death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

Union Minister Smriti Irani on 2012 Delhi gangrape case: Why was prison department, which comes under AAP government, sleeping after dismissal of review petition in July' 18? Why did the government give Rs 10,000 and sewing kit to juvenile rapist when he was released? Didn't they see tears of Nirbhaya's mother?

The delay in the execution of Nirbhaya's rapists is because of Aam Aadmi Party. Arvind Kejriwal will have to answer: Smriti Irani

Ukrainian prime minister Oleksiy Valeriyovych Honcharuk offers resignation.

'Bitter' plane tragedy should not overshadow Soleimani's 'sacrifice': Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Union Minister V Muraleedharan on a resolution passed against CAA in Kerala assembly said: "Kerala govt should realise they are not above law, they aren't above Constitution. They should not waste public money by passing resolutions and going to Courts on issues to which they aren't related."

Delhi High Court sets aside election of ex-Delhi Law Min Jitender Singh Tomar for wrong declaration of educational qualification in 2015 polls. 

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first Chargesheet against Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd in connection with money laundering case pertaining to an alleged bank loan fraud.

Delhi Police on 'Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad's visit to Jama Masjid': He has a time of 24 hours after his release from Tihar Jail yesterday, to leave Delhi. He is not holding any protest at Jama Masjid.

India Meteorological Department: A cyclonic circulation between 1.5 and 3.6 km above mean sea level lies over West Uttar Pradesh & neighbourhood. Under influence of these systems, isolated to scattered rain/snow most likely to continue over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. 

Fairly widespread to widespread rain/snow with heavy falls and thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and hail over Uttarakhand during next 24 hours with significant reduction thereafter.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad reads the Preamble of the Constitution, at Jama Masjid. 

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad at Jama Masjid said: "Peaceful protest is our strength. People from all religions who support us should join us in great number to prove it to the govt that these protests are not led by Muslims alone."

People stage protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Jama Masjid. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has also reached.

Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on 2012 Delhi gang-rape case said: "All the work that was under Delhi govt was completed by us within hours. We never delayed any work related to this case. Delhi govt hardly has an any role in it. We want convicts to be hanged at the earliest."

Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

Kerala BJP Leader, Kummanam Rajasekharan, approaches the Supreme Court against the petition filed by Kerala Govt against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

President Ram Nath Kovind has rejected the mercy plea filed by convict Mukesh. 

HC seeks CBI's response on expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's appeal challenging his conviction and life term in 2017 Unnao rape case. HC allows Sengar to deposit in 60 days fine amount of Rs 25L out of which Rs 10L will be released to victim without any condition

INX Media case: Supreme Court allows Congress MP Karti Chidambaram to withdraw Rs 20 crores which he had deposited with the Court's registry as a condition for being allowed to travel abroad.

Russian Ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev on Russia's position on the closed-door meeting on Kashmir, called by China, in UNSC said: "As far as the discussions within UNSC is concerned, we have never been in favour of bringing this issue into the United Nations agenda." 

This is strictly a bilateral matter for India and Pakistan to discuss on the basis of Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. I do not feel that there is a reason for me to travel to Kashmir. Your decisions, as far as J&K is concerned, this is your internal matter belonging to constitutional space of India. Those who are concerned about the situation in Kashmir, those who put in doubt the Indian policies in Kashmir, they could travel if they wish. They could see for themselves. We never put it in doubt.

SC seeks Centre's reply on PIL for converting public transport, govt vehicles into electric ones. 

Supreme Court refuses to issue any order or directive to the Union of India for conferring Bharat Ratna on Mahatma Gandhi. Supreme Court, while declining to pass any order in the PIL, said that Mahatma Gandhi is much higher than Bharat Ratna.

A petition, challenging Citizenship Amendment Act, has been filed before Supreme Court. A professor Apurba Baruah and 2 members of 'Sushta Samaj Bikash Chakra' filed the petition. A Bench headed by CJI asks senior advocate Indira Jaising to mention matter before Mentioning Registrar

Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim said:  "Till now, I never talked about politics, but now I want to say that those people who held protests on streets in 2012, today the same people are only playing with my daughter's death for political gains."

Himachal Pradesh: Narkanda in Shimla district received snowfall.

MHA had sent the mercy petition of 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict Mukesh to Rashtrapati Bhavan, last night

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will flag off the inaugural run of Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express shortly in Ahmedabad. The commercial run of the Tejas Express will begin on January 19.

Kerala will attend the meeting, called by Ministry of Home Affairs, of state chief secretaries and Director of Census to discuss census, NPR and seek suggestions & training and appointment process for Census and NPR. Meeting of Chief Secretaries of states and Census directors will be held today at Ambedkar Bhawan in Delhi. It will be chaired by MoS Home Nityanand Rai and Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla. Meeting will discuss next census and National Population Register

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal visited the 'Statue of Unity' at Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kevadia, earlier today.

Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty started on a tepid note on Friday ahead of quarterly results of index heavyweights Reliance Industries, TCS and HCL Tech. The 30-share BSE index was trading 3.68 points or 0.01 per cent lower at 41,928.88. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slipped 1.85 points or 0.01 per cent to 12,353.65.

 Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy meets External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The national capital woke up to a cold morning today, with parts of the city receiving light showers and drizzle. The city is recording a minimum temperature of 9 degree Celsius today.

Economic Offences Wing has arrested an accountant Lalit from Delhi, in connection with alleged money laundering of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) employees' provident fund.

Jallikattu competition is being held in Alanganallur town of Madurai district today. More than 700 bulls are participating in the competition.

Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 206 and PM 10 at 201, both in 'Poor category, in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data.

Neeta Sodha, an immigrant from Pakistan who was recently given Indian citizenship is contesting panchayat elections in Natwara, says,"I came to India 18 yrs back but I was given nationality just 4 months ago. My father-in-law guides me in my political journey." 

Indian Army's High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) situated in Gulmarg imparts mountain warfare and winter warfare training to the troops of Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was reopened for vehicular traffic on Thursday evening after remaining closed for four days following multiple landslides. 

12 trains are running late due to low visibility in the Northern Railway region.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to announce the list of candidates for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 today.