HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the highlights at 1700 hours:

TOP STORIES DEL13 POL-2ND LD PRIYANKA-AICC

Priyanka formally enters politics as Cong general secretary for UP East New Delhi: Ending years of speculation, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics Wednesday with the Congress appointing her general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East in a move reflecting the party's intent to go full throttle in the state ahead of the general elections.

DEL31 UP-LD RAHUL

Priyanka very capable, happy that she will help me: Rahul Amethi (UP): Welcoming his sister's entry into active politics, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said he was "very happy" that Priyanka will assist him in the Lok Sabha polls and asserted that he was ready to cooperate with BSP-SP to defeat the BJP.

DEL27 UP-PRIYANKA-CONG

With Priyanka's plunge, Cong hopes to strike back in UP Lucknow: The Congress in Uttar Pradesh said Priyanka Gandhi's entry into formal politics will enthuse party workers to regain lost ground in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.

DEL35 DL-EVM-LD FIR

EVM hacking claim: Delhi Police files FIR New Delhi: The Delhi Police has registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Election Commission regarding allegations of hacking of EVMs and rigging of polls levelled by self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja, officials said Wednesday.

DEL29 CBI-LD AIRINDIA

CBI books former Air India chief for irregular promotions New Delhi: The CBI has booked former Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director Arvind Jadhav for allegedly violating procedures while making various promotions and appointments, officials said Wednesday.

CAL4 WB-SMRITI

Opposition leaders have come together out of fear of Narendra Modi: Smriti Irani Jhargram (WB): Taking a dig at the Kolkata rally of opposition parties, Union minister Smriti Irani Wednesday said the leaders who opposed each other all their lives have come together to serve their own "personal interests" and "out of fear of Narendra Modi".

DEL10 POL-QUOTA-TEJASHWI

10% quota move will backfire on BJP; 'bahujans' feeling duped: Tejashwi New Delhi: The move of granting 10 per cent quota to general category poor will "backfire" on the BJP as the "bahujans" (majority) are feeling duped, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said.

BOM3 MH-TERROR-LD ARREST

Nine held in Maha for links with ISIS, plotting attacks Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested eight men and detained a minor boy from Thane and Aurangabad for allegedly planning terror attacks at "various places" after being inspired by banned

outfit ISIS, police said Wednesday.

DEL11 PM-BOSE-LD MUSEUM PM inaugurates museums on Bose, Jallianwala Bagh in Red Fort complex

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday inaugurated the Subhash Chandra Bose museum at the iconic Red Fort to mark the leader's 122nd birth anniversary.

DEL25 JK-ENCOUNTER Encounter underway in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar: An encounter broke out on Wednesday between security forces and militants in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

LEGAL: LGD8 SC-UNITECH

SC refuses bail to Unitech promoters in case relating to siphoning of home buyers' money New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday refused bail to Unitech promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra in a case related to alleged siphoning of home-buyers' money.

FOREIGN:

FGN10 WEF-KAMAL NATH-PRIYANKA Priyanka, Scindia as general secretaries big boost to Congress poll prospects: Kamal Nath

Davos: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath Wednesday said appointments of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia as general secretaries will give a big boost to the party's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. By Barun Jha

BUSINESS: DEL23

BIZ-RESULTS-ITC ITC clocks 4 pc rise in Q3 profit at Rs 3,209 cr

New Delhi: Diversified group ITC on Wednesday reported 3.84 per cent increase in standalone net profit at Rs 3,209.07 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2018.

SPORTS: SPD4 SPO-LD SANJITA

CWG gold medallist weightlifter Sanjita's provisional suspension revoked New Delhi: The International Weightlifting Federation has revoked the provisional suspension on weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu for a failed dope test, a major reprieve for the two-time Commonwealth Games gold-medallist who has claimed innocence. By Philem Dipak Singh.