HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 9 pm NATION DEL53 MEA-INDIA-MALDIVES-TROOPS Maldives calls for withdrawal of Indian troops by March 15 Core group meeting looks at workable solution New Delhi Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15 even as the two sides deliberated on finding a mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of the Indian military platforms in the island nation.

Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL53 MEA-INDIA-MALDIVES-TROOPS **** Maldives calls for withdrawal of Indian troops by March 15; Core group meeting looks at workable solution New Delhi: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15 even as the two sides deliberated on finding a ''mutually workable solution'' to enable continued operation of the Indian military platforms in the island nation. **** DEL46 CONG-YATRA-KHARGE **** 'Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein churi': Cong chief Kharge hits out at PM at Nyay Yatra launch Thoubal (Manipur): In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday accused him of using faith for electoral gain and said ''one should not do dhongbaazi (deception) for votes''. **** BOM23 MH-2ND LD DEORA **** Milind Deora quits Congress, joins Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde to 'walk path of development' Mumbai: In a setback for Congress in Mumbai ahead of Lok Sabha polls, its young brigade member and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday quit the party ''to walk the development path'' and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying the Congress' old character is changed. **** DEL51 AVI-3RDLD DELHI AIRPORT **** Delhi airport: 10 flights diverted, nearly 100 delayed as dense fog disrupts operations New Delhi: A total of 10 flights were diverted, nearly 100 delayed, and some cancelled at the Delhi airport on Sunday morning, as low visibility due to dense fog conditions disrupted operations. **** DEL48 UP-RAJNATH-UTTARAKHAND-UCC **** Uttarakhand likely to be first state to implement UCC, says Rajnath Singh Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said Uttarakhand is likely to become the first state in the country to implement a Uniform Civil Code. **** DEL44 PREZ-VISIT **** President Murmu on 3-day visit of Meghalaya, Assam from Monday New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu will visit Meghalaya and Assam from January 15 to 17, an official statement issued on Sunday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. **** CAL9 OD-POLLS-VAISHNAW **** Will not contest Lok Sabha polls from Balasore: Vaishnaw Balasore: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Balasore seat in Odisha, putting speculations to rest. **** MDS2 KA-BOMMAI-GANGRAPE **** Attempts being made to hush up Haveri gangrape case by offering money, alleges Bommai Hubballi: Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that attempts have been made to hush up the moral policing incident of Haveri in which the police have charged the accused with gangrape, by offering money to the victim. **** LEGAL LGD2 SC-ACCIDENT-COMPENSATION **** SC asks Centre to consider enhancing compensation in hit-and-run accidents New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to consider whether the compensation amounts in case of death and grievous injury in hit-and-run accidents can be enhanced annually. **** FOREIGN FGN37 WEF-LD NSA MEETING **** NSAs meet in Davos to discuss Ukraine peace formula, say India can play key role Davos: National security advisors of several countries met here on Sunday to discuss a peace formula for Ukraine and pushed for early restoration of peace in the war-hit country, with the host Switzerland asserting that India can play a key role with its influence and relations with Russia. **** FGN31 LANKA-UN-DRUGS **** Sri Lanka police to persist with drug bust despite UN concerns Colombo: Sri Lanka police on Sunday said that they would launch a new phase of the controversial drug bust operation despite concerns raised by the UN Human Rights chief over its fairness. **** FGN38 DENMARK-ROYAL-2NDLD ABDICATION **** Frederik X is proclaimed the new king of Denmark after his mother Queen Margrethe II abdicates Copenhagen: Denmark's prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. AP **** FGN43 US-IIT-SANDHU 'Brand IIT' has always been part of 'Brand India', says Ambassador Sandhu Washington: Applauding the role of IITians both inside and outside the country, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that they have always been part of ''Brand India''. By Lalit K Jha SPORTS SPD20 SPO-CRI-IND-LD INNINGS **** Gulbadin, lower-order batters lift Afghanistan to 172 all out Indore: Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a breezy 35-ball 57 before a flurry of fours and sixes by the lower-order batters propelled Afghanistan to 172 all out against India in the second T20I here on Sunday. **** SPD15 SPO-SHOOT-IND-MANAVJIT **** Unjust to disqualify Manavjit, will take issue to logical conclusion: NRAI top office bearer New Delhi: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has termed the disqualification of trap shooter Manavjit Singh by organisers of the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Kuwait as ''unjust'' and ''unfair'', and is ready to take the issue to its ''logical conclusion''. By Ajai Masand ****