HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the highlights at 2105 hours:

TOP STORIES

MDS7 TN-LD MODI

They want to build their own empire but we want to empower people: Modi's dig at opposition

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi derided opposition efforts to cobble up a grand alliance against the BJP and pitched for his party's re-election in the coming parliamentary election, saying these "opportunistic" alliance and "dynastic" parties "want to build their own empire while we want to empower people".

DEL25 SIKRI-COMMONWEALTH

Govt nominates Justice Sikri for Commonwealth Tribunal

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) The government is understood to have recommended Supreme Court Judge A K Sikri's name as India's nominee for president/member in the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT).

MDS1 TN-FISHERMEN

20 TN fishermen arrested by SL Navy

Rameswaram (TN): At least 20 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing off Neduntheevu, sources said.

DEL4 CPWD-BORDER-ROADS (RPT)

Govt to construct 44 'strategically important' roads along India-China border

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) The government will construct 44 strategic roads along the border with China and over 2100 km of axial and lateral roads in Punjab and Rajasthan, abutting Pakistan, a CPWD document shows.

NATION

DEL20 UP-LD CONG

Congress to contest all 80 LS seats in UP on its own

Lucknow: Left out of the SP-BSP pre-poll tie-up in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress announced that it would go it alone on all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the upcoming general election.

DEL6 JK-2NDLD ENCOUNTER

Al-Badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam among two militants killed in Kulgam encounter

Srinagar: Top Al-Badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam was among the two militants killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

BOM7 MH-LD UDDHAV-SHAH

One who will trounce Sena yet to be born: Uddhav

Mumbai, Jan 13 (PTI) One who could trounce the Shiv Sena was yet to be born, party chief Uddhav Thackeray said, days after BJP chief Amit Shah remarked that his party will thrash former allies if a pre-poll tie-up did not materialise ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

MDS14 PD-PLASTIC BAN

Puducherry govt to ban single-use plastic products from March 1: CM

Puducherry, Jan 13 (PTI) Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said here on Sunday said that the cabinet has decided to ban production, sale and use of single-use plastic products in the Union Territory from March 1.

MDS8 KL-VIJAYAN-MENSTRUATION

Kerala CM backs out of prog celebrating menstruation; kicks up row

Kochi, Jan 13 (PTI) A controversy erupted in Kerala after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Sunday backed out of a program organised here to "celebrate menstruation" in a bid to end the stigma associated with the biological process.

DEL22 UP-KEJRIWAL

Kejriwal to not contest LS elections from Varanasi, party to field another candidate

Lucknow, Jan 13 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday said its convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not be contesting from Varanasi in the coming Lok Sabha elections, but the party will field a strong candidate for the seat.

DEL24 POL-CONG-LD CVC

CBI row: Cong seeks immediate removal of chief vigilance commissioner

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Amid a row over the ouster of CBI director Alok Verma, Congress Sunday sought "immediate removal" of the chief vigilance commissioner, alleging the government had made him act like a "puppet" to "escape a probe" into the Rafale deal.

BUSINESS

DCM22 BIZ-FISCAL DEFICIT

3.3% fiscal deficit target for 2018-19 likely to be breached, say experts

New Delhi: Meeting the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of GDP for the current fiscal could be a challenge for the government, given the shortfall in GST collections, rising expenditure and slowing factory output, say experts.

DCM3 BIZ-STOCKS-MCAP

Five of top-10 most valued firms add Rs 43,689 cr in m-cap last week

New Delhi: Five of the top-10 most valued firms together added Rs 43,689.89 crore in market valuation last week, with ITC and Infosys contributing most to the overall gain.

FOREIGN

FGN9 SWARAJ-DIALOGUE-TERROR

India, Afghanistan, Central Asian nations agree to cooperate in countering terror

Samarkand (Uzbekistan): India and five Central Asian countries along with Afghanistan on Sunday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to cooperate in countering the menace which poses a threat to people across the world.

FGN2 SWARAJ-TURKMENISTAN

Swaraj meets Turkmenistan counterpart;discusses enhancing bilateral co-op

Samarkand (Uzbekistan): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rasit Meredow on the sidelines of the India-Central Asia Dialogue here and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation across sectors.

SPORTS

SPF11 SPO-FOOT-IND-PREVIEW

Asian Cup: India aim historic knock-out berth

Sharjah, Jan 13 (PTI) A heartbreaking loss after a stunning win denting their confidence, India will still be fired up by the prospect of a maiden knock-out round berth when they take on Bahrain in their final Asian Cup group league match here on Monday.