January 9: Top news at noon

Militants attack GREF camp near LoC, 3 labourers killed

Three civilians working as labourers were killed today in a pre-dawn terror attack by militants on a General Engineering Reserve Force camp near LoC in Akhnoor sector of Jammu. Two or more militants attacked the GREF camp around 1 am near LoC in Battal village, sources said. Militants likely infiltrated from across the border to carry out the terror attack, sources said. Troops along with the police have cordoned off the area and a counter operation has started, they said. A senior police officer said all routes to the area have been plugged and the operation is in full swing.

PAC can call PM on demonetisation if RBI's reply not satisfactory

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament can call Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of demonetisation if it is not satisfied with the answers given by top finance ministry officials and the RBI Governor Urjit Patel, to whom a detailed questionnaire has been sent. A PAC meeting on this issue has been called on January 20, in which the RBI Governor, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das will be present. Asked if the PAC would call the Prime Minister if replies were not satisfactory, PAC Chairman and senior Congress leader KV Thomas told PTI: "That will depend on the outcome of the January 20th meeting. We can call PM on demonetisation issue if members unanimously decide."

Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens after three days

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was today thrown open for traffic, three days after heavy snowfall had led to its closure. "The national highway has been thrown open for traffic after the road was cleared of snow and debris left behind by landslides at few places," an official of the Traffic Department told PTI. Life was thrown out of gear in Kashmir Valley on Friday due to heavy snowfall which continued at some places till yesterday as well. The season's heaviest snowfall had affected air-traffic at Srinagar airport here as well. The air traffic resumed yesterday.

Meryl Streep slams Donald Trump in passionate speech at Globes

Veteran actress Meryl Streep, who received the Cecil B DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, took her time on stage to slam President-elect Donald Trump in a moving acceptance speech. The multiple award-winning actress, who is one of the most respected names in Hollywood, said the "performance" that stood out this year did not belong to an actor but to Trump when he publicly mocked a disabled reporter. “That instinct to humiliate when it's modeled by someone in a public platform, it filters down into everyone's life because it gives permission for others to do the same," Streep cautioned. "Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose." The actress urged the press to stand up to Trump.

Jawahar Bagh violence: Another round of probe from January 16

The single-member judicial commission investigating the Jawahar Bagh episode, that left 29 dead in Mathura, will hold a fresh hearing from January 16 to 24. The commission's chief and former Allahabad High Court judge Mirza Imtiaz, and secretary Pramod Kumar Goyal will arrive in Mathura on January 16. The commission has to submit a report in this connection to the Uttar Pradesh government on March 31. Twenty-nine people, including then SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and Station House Officer (Farah) Santosh Yadav, were killed during clashes on June 2, 2016 between police and the supporters of cult leader Ram Vriksh Yadav who had encroached upon the 270-acre Jawahar Bagh, a government land. The probe commission was formed on June 6 and its tenure has been extended thrice.