HIGHLIGHTS

By Lalit K Jha FGN21 US-ELECTION-LD RAMASWAMY Vivek Ramaswamy suspends presidential campaign, endorses Trump for White House Washington Indian-American entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy on Monday suspended his presidential campaign following his poor showing in the Iowa Caucus and announced his endorsement of its winner Donald Trump as the former US president sought to reclaim the White House in November.

Following are the top stories at 1:05 pm: NATION DEL13 ED-RJ-EX MINISTER-LD RAIDS **** Rajasthan: ED searches premises linked to ex-Cong minister, others in Jal Jeevan Mission case Jaipur: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday searched premises linked to former Rajasthan PHE department minister Mahesh Joshi and some others in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission, official sources said. **** DEL11 BIZ-MOLASSES-LD DUTY **** Govt imposes 50 pc export duty on molasses to boost supply for ethanol production New Delhi: The government has imposed 50 per cent export duty on molasses, a by-product of sugarcane and key ingredient for ethanol production, amid likely decline in sugar production in the current season.ohol production, with effect from January 18. **** CAL6 MN-MLAS-LETTER **** Manipur: 10 tribal MLAs write to Amit Shah to reinstate suspended officers Imphal: Ten tribal MLAs in Manipur have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting him to issue directions to the state government to reinstate three officers in services, who have been suspended for allegedly helping 26 schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts get CBSE affiliation. **** DEL6 BIZ-WINDFALL TAX **** Govt slashes windfall tax on crude petroleum New Delhi: The government has cut the windfall tax on domestically-produced crude oil to Rs 1,700 per tonne from Rs 2,300 per tonne with effect from Tuesday. **** LEGAL LGD6 SC-MATHURA **** SC stays HC order for court-monitored survey of Shahi Idgah in Mathura New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Allahabad High Court order that allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura.**** LGB1 MP-HC-DIVORCE **** Refusal to consummate marriage, denial of physical intimacy amounts to mental cruelty: MP HC Jabalpur: Refusal to consummate marriage and denial of physical intimacy amounts to mental cruelty and is a valid ground for divorce, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has held. **** FOREIGN FGN26 US-ELECTION-5TH LD IOWA **** Trump triumphs in Iowa caucuses; Indian-American Ramaswamy suspends presidential campaign Washington: Donald Trump scripted a landslide victory in the Iowa caucuses, cementing his status as the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, a contest that also saw Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspending his bid and backing the former US president. By Lalit K Jha **** FGN27 WEF-PANDEMIC-GATES FOUNDATION **** World yet not fully prepared for future pandemics: Gates Foundation President Davos: Praising India and other countries for contributing to a global pandemic fund, a top official of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday said the world is yet not fully prepared to deal with any future pandemic and a lot more work needs to be done.By Barun Jha **** FGN25 WEF-INDIA-GATES FOUNDATION **** India's digital public infra great model for world to learn from: Gates Foundation President Davos: Lauding the India growth story, a top leader of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday said other countries can use India's successful digital public infrastructure model to help achieve their healthcare and other development goals. By Barun Jha **** FGN23 US-ELECTION-HALEY **** Indian-American Nikki Haley says she is last hope of stopping 'Trump-Biden nightmare' Washington: Indian-American Nikki Haley, who finished third in the Iowa caucuses, has said that she is the only Republican candidate who could take on frontrunner Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden and avert a ''Trump-Biden nightmare''. By Lalit K Jha **** FGN21 US-ELECTION-LD RAMASWAMY **** Vivek Ramaswamy suspends presidential campaign, endorses Trump for White House Washington: Indian-American entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy on Monday suspended his presidential campaign following his poor showing in the Iowa Caucus and announced his endorsement of its winner Donald Trump as the former US president sought to reclaim the White House in November. By Lalit K Jha ****