HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 12:45 pm:

LGD10 SC-NIRBHAYA-2NDLD MERCY SC dismisses Nirbhaya convict Mukesh's petition against rejection of mercy plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Nirbhaya convict Mukesh Kumar Singh's petition challenging the rejection of his mercy plea and said expeditious disposal of a plea does not mean non application of mind by the president.

DEL10 MEA-FS-LD SHRINGLA Harsh Vardhan Shringla takes charge as new foreign secretary

New Delhi: Seasoned diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who last served as India's envoy to the US, took charge as new foreign secretary on Wednesday for a fixed two-year term, succeeding Vijay Gokhale.

DEL7 RAHUL-PM-ECONOMY PM, FM have absolutely no idea what to do next on economy: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the state of the economy, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have no idea what to do next.

DEL11 CONG-CHIDAMBARAM-BJP Language used by BJP leaders appalling: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday said BJP leaders have "bid goodbye" to civilised political discourse as they are facing "imminent defeat" in the Delhi assembly elections

DEL9 ENV-JAVADEKAR Developed nations not acting on reducing carbon emissions: Javadekar

New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said it is the responsibility of developed nations to reduce annual carbon emissions first but no action is being taken by them.

BOM2 MH-ACCIDENT-TOLL Death toll in Nashik bus accident climbs to 26: Police

Mumbai: The death toll in Tuesday's bus-auto rickshaw collision in Maharashtra's Nashik district mounted to 26 on Wednesday with recovery of more bodies from the well in which both the vehicles had fallen, a police official said.

MDS6 KL-GOVERNOR-LD CAA

Kerala Guv reads references on anti CAA resolution in assembly Thiruvananthapuram: Springing a surprise, Kerala Governor Mohammed Arif Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

resolution passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House.

MDS3 KL-GOVERNOR-PROTEST UDF MLAs block Guv inside Kerala assembly, marshals remove

them Thiruvananthapuram: In an unprecedented move, opposition Congress led UDF MLAs blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inside the state assembly on Wednesday with 'go back' slogans and placards against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

LEGAL

LGD8 SC-NIRBHAYA LD MERCY Nirbhaya: SC dismisses plea of death row convict Mukesh against rejection of mercy plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the plea by Mukesh Kumar Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President.

LGD9 SC-BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY Bhopal gas tragedy: SC to hear Centre's plea for additional funds on Feb 11

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear on February 11 the Centre's plea seeking Rs 7,844 crore as additional funds from successor firms of the US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) for giving compensation to victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

BUSINESS

DEL2 BIZ-STOCKS-OPEN

Sensex rises over 200 pts; Nifty reclaims 12,100 Mumbai: Market benchmark Sensex jumped over 200 points in opening session on Wednesday led by gains in metal, auto, IT and energy stocks amid recovery in global equities.

FOREIGN

FGN11 CHINA-2NDLD VIRUS

Coronavirus claims 132 lives in China; confirmed infections soar to nearly 6,000 Beijing: The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from central Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000, as health experts warned that the epidemic may reach its peak in the next 10 days resulting in large-scale casualties. By K J M Varma

FGN12 US-IMPEACHMENT-LD TRIAL

Charges against Trump politically motivated, says defence team as it concludes opening arguments Washington: The lawyers representing Donald Trump at his impeachment trial said the abuse of power charges against the US President was "driven by political desires", as they wrapped up their opening arguments. By Lalit K Jha

FGN21 UN-INDIA-DIGITAL

India successfully used digital technologies to reduce disparities among population groups: UN United Nations: India successfully managed to use digital platforms to reduce disparities among population groups, a flagship UN study has said, noting that the country's experience of complementing mobile technologies with the Aadhaar identification system to reduce inequality is likely to be replicated in other countries in future. By Yoshita Singh

FGN14 UN-MIDEAST-LD PEACE PLAN

UN says committed to supporting Palestinians, Israelis resolve conflict as Trump unveils peace plan United Nations: UN chief Antonio Guterres said the global body remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, a day after US President Donald Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan aimed at settling the longstanding dispute between the two sides. By Yoshita Singh.