HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the highlights at 1900 hours:

TOP STORIES:

DEL34 CBI-PANEL-MEET

PM-headed panel likely to meet on Jan 24 to appoint new CBI Director: Sources

New Delhi: The high-powered Selection Committee is likely to meet on January 24 to appoint the new CBI Director, sources said here.

DEL9 MMA-HAJ-MEHRAM

Over 2,300 women to go on Haj this year without 'Mehram': Naqvi

New Delhi: Over 2,300 Muslim women from India will go on Haj this year without 'Mehram' or male companion as all those who applied under this category have been exempted from the lottery system, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Wednesday.

DEL26 CBI-SHELTERHOME

CBI registers FIRs against 2 shelter homes in Bihar for abuse of minors

New Delhi: The CBI has registered fresh FIRs pertaining to alleged abuse of children in two shelter homes in Bihar, officials said Thursday.

DEL30 UP-LD-BJP

BJP will win 74 Lok Sabha seats in UP: Nadda

Lucknow: Union minister J P Nadda on Wednesday exuded confidence that the BJP will win 74 Lok Sabha seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh and downplayed the SP-BSP alliance in the state for the general elections.

DEL5 CONG-SEDITION-SIBAL

Scrap sedition law, a colonial hangover: Sibal

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal Wednesday demanded that the sedition law be scrapped as those in power are "manipulating" it.

DEL38 CHOPPER-MICHEL-ASSETS

To ascertain money trail, probe agencies looking to identify Michel's local, overseas assets

New Delhi: Investigative agencies are looking to identify foreign and domestic assets of Christian Michel, alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland scam, to unravel the purported kickbacks generated by him and his associates to swing the defence deal in the favour of the Anglo-Italian firm.

DEL24 POL-KA-KUMARASWAMY-BJP

BJP creating nuisance, crisis to fizzle out soon: Kumaraswamy

New Delhi: Amid a political turmoil in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday accused the Opposition BJP of creating "nuisance" to destablise the government, but expressed confidence that the current crisis would fizzle out soon.

BOM5 MH-2ND LD BEST STRIKE

Relief for Mumbai commuters as BEST bus strike called off

Mumbai: The 9-day-long BEST bus strike was called off Wednesday, bringing relief for lakhs of Mumbai commuters.

CAL9 WB-LD PROF

Prof barred from teaching, entering campus after FB post likening virgin woman to sealed bottle

Kolkata: Jadavpur University on Wednesday divested professor Kanak Sarkar of teaching duties and barred him from entering the campus with immediate effect, pending inquiries, following outrage over his Facebook post in which he likened a virgin woman to a "sealed bottle" .

MDS2 KL-SABARIMALA-WOMEN

Protesters prevent two women from entering Sabarimala temple

Thiruvananthapuram: Two women of the menstruating age, who trekked the Sabarimala hill Wednesday, were stopped midway by protesters opposing the entry of women into the Lord Ayyappa temple, police said.

LEGAL

LGD6 SC-LD CBI

SC to hear next week plea challenging appointment of Nageswara Rao as interim CBI chief

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to hear next week a plea by an NGO challenging the January 10 order of the government appointing IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as interim director of the CBI.

LGD8 SC-LD POLICE REFORMS

SC dismisses pleas of 5 states seeking modification of its order on DGPs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the pleas of five states seeking modification of its order issued last year on the selection and appointment of director generals of police (DGPs).

LGD11 DL-HC-LD HERALD

National Herald case: Delhi HC to hear AJL's appeal against order to vacate premises on Jan 28

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Wednesday said it will hear on January 28 an appeal of National Herald publisher Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), challenging a single judge order asking it to vacate its premises here.

BUSINESS

DEL35 BIZ-CAB-2ND LD EXIM BANK

Cabinet approves Rs 6,000-crore capital infusion in Exim Bank

New Delhi: The government Wednesday approved a capital infusion of Rs 6,000 crore in state-owned Exim Bank to expand its business.

FOREIGN

FGN20 UK-BREXIT-3RDLD VOTE

UK MPs inflict biggest ever defeat to PM May over Brexit divorce deal

London: In a humiliating defeat for embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May, her divisive divorce deal with the European Union was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs, triggering a no-confidence motion against her government. By H S Rao

FGN12 US-CHINA-2NDLD MILITARY

China rapidly building robust lethal force to impose its will in the region: US official

Washington: China, seeking "great power status", is rapidly building a robust lethal force with advanced capabilities in the air, at sea, in space and in cyberspace to enable it to impose its will in the region and beyond, according to a top US intelligence official. By Lalit K Jha

FGN15 US-WB-LD NOOYI

Indra Nooyi being considered to lead World Bank: report

New York: Indra Nooyi is among the candidates being considered by the White House to head the World Bank after the India-born former PepsiCo CEO's name was floated by Ivanka Trump, the president's influential daughter, a top American daily reported. By Yoshita Singh.