HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the highlights at 2125 hours:

TOP STORIES:

DEL56 LDALL-UP-ALLIANCE

SP, BSP will contest 38 seats each in UP; Cong kept out of alliance

Lucknow/New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

DEL33 UP-ALLIANCE-ENEMIES

SP-BSP alliance: How sworn enemies became friends again

Lucknow: Call it political compulsion or an eye on maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes. By Abhinav Pandey

NATION:

DEL54 NIA-ARREST (RPT)

NIA arrests key accused in ex-J'khand MLA's killing

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested a key suspect in connection with the killing of a former Janata Dal (United) legislator from Jharkhand over a decade ago, officials said.

DEL55 SOCIAL-JUSTICE-RESERVATION

10pc reservation for economically weak in general category cleared by president

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the constitutional provision to provide 10-per cent reservation in government jobs and education to economically backward section in the general category.

DEL49 POL-BJP-2NDLD MODI (RPT)

Country has to decide what kind of 'pradhan sevak' it wants: Modi

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Launching his campaign to return to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the country has to choose its next "pradhan sevak" between an honest man working hard, and those who are on vacation when needed at home and are corrupt.

MDS7 PD-BEDI-LD PONGAL HAMPER

Pondy CM, Bedi lock horns over Pongal gift hamper scheme

Puducherry, Jan 12 (PTI) Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Saturday warned Lt Governor Kiran Bedi of "very serious repercussions" if she did not concur with his government on the Pongal gift hamper scheme, but the latter hit back asking him to "maintain decorum" in his speech.

MDS6 TN-LD PALANISWAMI

TN CM rejects allegations against him in Kodanad break-in case

Chennai, Jan 12 (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday rejected allegations made against him by those accused in the Kodanad estate break-in case, saying the police would probe the matter.

CAL9 TR-LD BANDH

Bandh in NE states against police firing on people protesting against Citizenship Bill in Tripura

Agartala: Firing and lathicharge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday.

BES11 MH-SPBSP-ALLIANCE-REAX

SP-BSP tie-up in UP puts question mark on grand alliance: Sena

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) The pre-poll tie up of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh has put a question mark on the "mahagathbandhan" or grand alliance envisaged by the Congress, the Shiv Sena said Saturday.

LEGAL:

LGB2 GJ-HC-PATEL

Guj HC frames issues in plea against Ahmed Patel's RS win

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has framed six issues in an election petition filed by BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput challenging veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel's election to the Rajya Sabha from the state in 2017.

LGM3 TN-HC-SARADHA-NALINI

Madras HC grants Nalini Chidambaram interim protection from arrest

Chennai: In a breather to former finance minister P Chidambaram's wife Nalini, the Madras High Court Saturday granted her interim protection from arrest by the CBI in the Saradha chit fund case till she obtains regular anticipatory bail from a jurisdictional court in West Bengal.

LGD4 DL-COURT-NIA REMAND

ISIS module: NIA gets six-day remand of man arrested from UP

New Delhi: A Delhi court Saturday sent to six-day NIA remand a man arrested by the agency from UP in connection with its probe against an ISIS-inspired group allegedly planning suicide attacks and serial blasts targeting politicians and government installations in Delhi and other parts of north India.

SPORTS:

SPD2 SPO-PANDYA-COA

Rai wants "quick inquiry", Edulji fears "cover up"

New Delhi: CoA chief Vinod Rai has proposed a quick enquiry

into much-criticised comments made by suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul but Diana Edulji fears it will be construed as a "cover up" job.

FOREIGN:

FGN8 US-SHUTDOWN-LONGEST

Government shutdown becomes longest in US history

Washington: The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday. (AFP)

FGN17 RAHUL-LD UAE

Intolerance, anger reign supreme in India: Rahul

Dubai, Jan 12 (PTI) Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here Saturday that India has witnessed a great deal of intolerance and anger in the last four and a half years which stemmed from the "mentality of the people in power".

FGN3 US-PAK-HOUSE

Bill to terminate Pak designation as major non-NATO ally introduced in Congress

Washington: An influential US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in Congress to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally. By Lalit K Jha IND

IND

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)