February 3: Top news at 1 pm

Developing news

*Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has introduced a bill for cessation of government’s liability on demonetised ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes in the Lok Sabha.

ED tells SC properties of Maran brothers should not be released

Properties of Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi, attached in Aircel-Maxis deal case should not be released, the Enforcement Directorate has told the Supreme Court. The ED said that the Special 2G Court should be directed not to accept bonds furnished by Maran brothers after their discharge in the case. The SC asked the ED to file a proper petition and listed the matter for hearing at 2 pm on Friday.

Trinamool MPs protest against arrest of party colleagues

Trinamool Congress MPs today staged a protest near the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises against arrest of two of their colleagues Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Pal by CBI in connection with Rose Valley chit fund scam. AITC MPs also created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha over the arrests, leading to its adjournment till noon on Friday. As soon as the House met for the day, members from AITC and Congress rushed to the well raising slogans. While AITC members were raising the issue of arrests of fellow MPs, the issue being raised by Congress members was not clear as their voices were drowned by AITC slogan-shouting. Some TDP members were seen raising banners seeking special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Microsoft seeks 'exceptions' to Trump immigration ban

IT company Microsoft has requested the Trump administration to ease travel restrictions for its employees affected by the US President's executive order on immigration, visa and border security. In a letter to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary Gen (retd) John Kelly, Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Bradford L Smith said 76 Microsoft employees along with 41 dependents have non-immigrant visas to live and work in the US and are impacted by the executive order. In another significant development signifying the unease in the corporate world over the immigration ban, Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick quit Trump's business advisory group, as a movement grew to dump the ride-sharing service because of his connection to the new administration.

JD(U) in RS: Debate on UCC beyond Law Commission's mandate

JD(U) leaderSharad Yadav today slammed the Law Commission for initiating consultation on the Uniform Civil Code, saying it was "beyond its mandate" as the Constitution provided for such a step only when there is a consensus on the issue. Raising the matter in Rajya Sabha through a notice under rule 267, he said the Constitution guarantees religious freedom and allows citizens to follow traditions and practices. Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government and others should refrain from joining the issue as assembly elections were on in five states and UCC can be turned into an emotive agenda. As Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi rose to respond to Yadav, Azad urged the government not to make any statement as otherwise the opposition parties would also have to join the issue.