PM Modi addressed the researchers at IISc, political noise continue over Kota issue and tweet of Pak PM Imran Khan.

National

PM Modi addressed the 107^th session of Indian Science Congress at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.

He urge the researchers to work in direction of finding better substitute for single use plastics. Also, he expressed hope that the way to a $5 trillion economy will go through you lab.

He set many target to researchers by saying “New India” needs technology and a “logical temperament” to invent and disseminate technological solutions.

He also stressed in space exploration should now be mirrored in the new frontier of the deep sea. He said there is a need to explore, map and responsibly harness the vast oceanic resources of water, energy, food and minerals

CAA Rows….

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the government will not budge an inch on its decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act despite the opposition criticism of the law.

Former Foreign Secy and NSA, Shivshankar Menon, the event at Press Club slammed the Govt for amending the CAA, saying India has “isolated” itself through the move and the list of critical voices both at home and abroad is “pretty long.”

Protest CAA and NRC, at Eidgah-e-Jadeed in Bengaluru.

As per media report, in Seemapuri (New Delhi), Anti-CAA riots occurred on Dec 26, initial probe is showing the involvement of over 15 Bangladeshis.

Delhi police tweeted that SIT is probing, if there’s common link in all the protests against CAA. SIT will be speaking to the already arrested accused at Tihar Jail. They will also be finding what was source of such huge gathering especially in Seelampur Daryaganj case

In Meerut, arrest has been made for Pro Pak slogans.

HM Amit Shah tells ABP News that the 3 former CMs of JnK are not anti-national, that they were taken into preventive custody for “some time”, and local admin will take a call on their release

International

Amid US attack on Iran

The White House: At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

While, Iran FM Javad Zarif: US’ act of international terrorism, assassinating General Soleimani—the most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda is extremely dangerous and foolish escalation. US bears responsibility for all consequences of rogue adventurism.

US warns its air carriers to avoid Pakistan airspace, it may be a risk & possible threat of attacks on US airlines (commercial and US state carrier) by Pakistan extremist and militant groups.

Sri Lankan

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called for constitutional changes saying success of a democracy rests upon its Constitution, during his 1^st parliament address,

He further added that 1978 Constitution, which has been amended on 19 occasions, has given rise to many problems because of its inherent ambiguities and confusions.

President has earlier called for abolishing the 19^th amendment to constitution which has limited the Presidential powers.

He was chairing a meeting of the PTI parliamentary party at the Parliament House where he was briefed on the bill aimed to amend the Constitution and the Army Act to give a three-year extension to COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Shiv Sena targeted the Centre by questioning “efficacy” of 2016 surgical strike, says perception that it would demoralize Pakistani terrorists remained an “illusion” as Indian soldiers continue to get killed in terror attacks in Kashmir

States

WB

CM, Mamata Banerjee mocked on PM at Siliguri rally. “Has PM forgotten about India that he needs to talk about Pakistan at regular intervals?” She assured, that ‘there will no NPR in Bengal,’

Former Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis lashes out at Shiv Sena and INC on the Savarkar row; seeks immediate ban of the book. ‘Congress party has shown its distorted mentality. We want answers from Shiv Sena’.

India in International Frame

Aljazeera

Members of LGBTQ community and others march in New Delhi as protests against ‘anti-Muslim’ law continue across India.

Reuters

India’s gold imports in 2019 fell 12% from a year ago to the lowest level in three years as retail buying faltered in the second half after local prices rallied to a record high, a government source said on Friday.