FOOT-TAPPING MUSIC, SOULFUL RENDITIONS MARK END OF R-DAY CELEBRATIONSFoot-tapping music and soulful classical renditions reverberated at VijayChowk on Wednesday as the Republic Day celebrations culminated with theBeating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi with 26 performances by the bands ofthe armed forces and central and state police contingents.From "Abhiyan" to "Nritya Sarita" and "Ganga Jamuna", Indian tunes were theflavour of the Beating Retreat ceremony. There were 25 tunes composed byIndian musicians, including "Madhumari", "Marhapeka", "Jauna Solti" and"Vijay Bharat".Christian hymn "Abide With Me", a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, drew loudcheers from the gathering. There was uncertainty over its inclusion at theceremonial event this year.The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune 'Sare Jahan se Acha'.The ceremony held on January 29 every year marks the culmination of thefour-day-long Republic Day celebrations.DONALD TRUMP MAY VISIT IN FEBRUARY, TRADE & DEFENCE DEALS ON TABLEA slew of deals on trade and defence are on the table as New Delhi ispreparing to host US President Donald Trump as early as next month.While several sets of dates are being considered, the US President may beable to make it between February 21 and 25 with a three-stop India tour ashis itinerary is still being worked out. Besides Delhi, where summit-levelmeetings will happen between Trump and the Indian leadership led by PMNarendra Modi, stops at Agra and Ahmedabad are being worked out.Security liaison meetings are taking place in a host of venues, where theidea is to have a large public event to honour the visiting US President.The brief in the government circles has been that the welcome to PresidentTrump must be "bigger than Obama's".The venue options for the event are also being carefully considered - theanti-CAA protests had forced the government to cancel Japanese PM's visit toAssam in December.EU PARLIAMENT DEFERS VOTE ON CITIZENSHIP LAW RESOLUTIONSAs the European Parliament met on Wednesday to debate the two resolutions -one of them a sharply worded condemnation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act- it decided to postpone voting on them till March. The European Parliamentwill now take up the resolutions for voting during the March plenary sessionbetween March 30 and April 2.The voting, if it takes place then, will come after the India-European Unionsummit scheduled on March 13, which is likely to be attended by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi. Apparently, a resolution slamming the Indiangovernment on CAA could have jeopardised the summit.Indian diplomats in Brussels, led by the country's envoy to Belgium, GaitriIssar Kumar, had been reaching out to the groups of Members of EuropeanParliament (MEPs) over the last few days.Sources in the Indian government called the postponement of voting as a"diplomatic victory" for India. "Friends of India prevailed over the Friendsof Pakistan in the European Parliament today." Reports suggest that effortsof outgoing British MEP, Shaffaq Mohammad, to have a resolution passed bythe European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexitwere defeated. Shaffaq Ahmed, a Pakistan-origin British MEP, was consideredone of the architects of the resolutions, although it had the support of 559MEPs in the 751-member European Parliament.TAKE THAKUR, VERMA OFF 'STAR CAMPAIGNERS' LIST: ECTaking action against against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma,the Election Commission today asked the saffron outfit to remove them fromthe party's star campaigner list for Delhi polls over their objectionableremarks during canvassing.The poll panel, at the same time in a general advisory, also asked politicalparties to be mindful of model code of conduct (MCC), including theprovision which bars politicians from indulging in activities that cancreate mutual hatred.In the order, the EC said, the two leaders, who made objectionable commentswhile campaigning during election rallies, be removed from the list of BJPs"star campaigners", which in turn meant that Thakur and Verma can stillcanvass in favour of their party candidates, but the expenditure will beborne out of the individual candidate's account. A party bears the expensesof canvassing by star campaigners. But the candidate has to show expenses oforganising meetings and rallies by other campaigners in his/her electionexpenditure accounts.EU HOUSE CLEARS DEAL, UK SET TO EXIT TOMORROWBritain's departure from the European Union was backed by European lawmakersWednesday, after a debate that mixed warm words of love with hard-headedwarnings to the country not to seek too many concessions during upcomingtrade talks on a future relationship.The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved Britain's departure termsfrom the EU - the final major decision in the four-year Brexit saga. Thevote was 621 to 49 in favor of the Brexit deal that British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson negotiated with the other 27 EU leaders in the fall of lastyear.While backing Britain's departure in the wake of the country's vote to leavein a referendum in June 2016, EU countries are already preparing for thepossibility that talks on a new trade deal with Britain could collapse bythe end of the year, and no-deal contingency planning for a chaotic end tothe transition period is necessary.After Britain's departure on Friday, the U.K. will remain within the EU'seconomic arrangements until the end of the year though it won't have a sayin policy as it will not be a member of the EU anymore. "We will always loveyou and you will never be far," said EU Commission President Ursula von derLeyen on a day when some legislators were moved to tears.XI ASKS MILITARY TO ASSIST AS VIRUS TOLL HITS 132 IN CHINAChinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday ordered the military to "shoulderresponsibility" to contain the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 132people, infected 6,000 others with six foreigners contracting the diseasefor the first time in China and spread to 17 countries.President Xi, who heads the People's Liberation Army, told the military tokeep their mission firmly in mind and shoulder responsibility to makecontribution to winning the battle against the novel coronavirus, which hehas described as a "demon", state-run Xinhua news agency reported.Foreign airlines began suspending flights to and from China on Wednesday asglobal fears mounted over a coronavirus epidemic.KISHOR, VARMA EXPELLED FROM JD-UThe Janata Dal (United) expelled vice-president Prashant Kishor and generalsecretary Pavan Varma from its primary membership and other positions forindiscipline and working against the party line on the amended citizenshiplaw.A statement issued by JD-U principal general secretary KC Tyagi said theconduct of Kishor and Varma in the recent past made it clear that they didnot want to abide by the party discipline.Accusing Kishor of using "insulting words" against party president and BiharChief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tyagi said, "It is imperative that Kishor beremoved from the party, so that he doesn't stoop any lower."The end to the public spat between Kumar and Varma and Kishor is a clearindication of the fact that the BJP's Bihar ally is in no mood of walkingaway from the NDA in near future. Earlier, speculations were rife that Kumarmight end alliance with the BJP ahead of Bihar poll due to politicalimplications of issues related to CAA, NPR and NRC.DESPITE RESERVATIONS, KERALA GUV READS ANTI-CAA REFERENCEAmid a high voltage protest and boycott by the Opposition Congress-led UDF,Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday presented his policy addressin the Assembly and read out references to anti-CAA resolution passed by theHouse, despite disagreeing with it.Reading out the the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, "Ourcitizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against thegrain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of ourconstitution."Governor read out the reference to the state's anti-CAA stance after aletter was sent by the CM, in which the Chief Minister had requested Khan toread the policy address "in its entirety sans any additions or deletions."The day also saw an unprecedented protest by the UDF members, who alsoboycotted the policy address. As the Governor was being ushered into theAssembly hall by Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan, UDF members blocked Khan and raised "Go Back" slogans holding aloft"Repeal CAA" and "Recall Governor" placards and banners. The Speaker wasseen repeatedly trying to pacify the agitating MLAs, but in vain, afterwhich the watch and ward personnel, who stood as a wall protecting theGovernor, cleared his path to the dais.In his policy address, Khan said though he had his "reservations anddisagreement" over the subject, he would read the para 18 containingreference to anti-CAA matter, just to "honour" the wish of the ChiefMinister.PM MODI CAME IN THE FORM OF KING BHAGIRATH AND CLEANED GANGA: YOGIChief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday referred to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi as "Ayodhya ke Raja Bhagirath" of modern times, who hasundertaken the task to make the Ganga River clean. Participating in theGanga Yatra that began from Ballia on Monday and reached Mirzapur Wednesday,Adityanath said the Yatra was a medium to express gratitude towards ourtraditions, culture and ancestors.Referring to Modi's speech in 2014 before the Lok Sabha elections and how hehad mentioned that it was a call from "Ma Ganga" that brought him (Modi) tothe region, Adityanath said, "Before the Ganga could have dried up and thisland turned into a dessert. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here."PAINED TO LEAVE CU CONVOCATION UNDER DURESS, SAYS WB GOVERNORWest Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said he has been totallyshaken after a mob forced him out of the venue of the Calcutta Universityconvocation on Tuesday.Addressing mediapersons at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday, Dhankhar said no one canstop him from discharging his duties as the constitutional head andchancellor of universities of the state."I'm in excruciating pain. I am totally shaken by the events that had takenplace (at the CU convocation on Tuesday). It is a dark period. The eventsthat took place yesterday didn't happen spontaneously. The chancellor wasforced by an unruly mob to leave the venue, despite the chancellor beingduly invited," he said.Following the protest, the Governor had to leave the premises.TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee hit back at the Governor saying hehas adopted a "confrontational stance" and was tarnishing his constitutionalpost by frequently comments against the state government.UNCERTAINTY LOOMS OVER EXECUTION OF NIRBHAYA CONVICTS ON FEB 1Uncertainty again looms over the hanging of the four death row convicts inthe Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case scheduled on February 1 with a secondcondemned prisoner filing a mercy petition before the President on Wednesdayand a third convict also moving a curative plea before the Supreme Court.According to Delhi Prison Rules, none of the four convicts in the same crimecan be hanged before the last one has exhausted all legal options includingthe mercy plea.Also, apex court guidelines stipulate that convicts cannot be hanged until14 days after their mercy plea has been rejected by the President.The trial court on January 17 issued black warrants for the second time forthe execution of all the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh(32), PawanGupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh(31) -- in Tiharjail at 6 am on February 1.Advocate A P Singh, who represents Vinay, said he has filed the mercypetition at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and has got an acknowledgement. The apexcourt on January 14 dismissed the curative petition of Vinay leaving himwith the option to file the mercy plea.Tihar jail authorities will now have to move the trial court and inform itabout Vinay's mercy plea and seek postponement of the black warrant.As of now only Mukesh has exhausted all his legal remedies including theclemency plea which was dismissed by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17and the appeal against the rejection was thrown out by the Supreme Court onWednesday. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi held that"quick consideration" and "swift rejection" of Mukesh's mercy petition doesnot suggest non-application of mind or it being pre-determined.Akshay approached the apex court on Wednesday with a curative petition whichis listed for consideration in-chamber before a five-judge bench on Thursdayand if his plea is dismissed, he also has the option to move a mercy pleabefore the President. He is the third convict to move the curative pleaafter Mukesh and Vinay. He contended that capital punishment is beingawarded by courts as "panacea" in the face of public pressure and publicopinion on violence against women.Pawan, the fourth convict, is yet to file a curative plea and he is alsolikely to avail of this last legal recourse available to a person in a courtof law to escape the gallows.The three convicts other than Mukesh can also move the apex court againstrejection of mercy plea by the President as and when this situation arises.After Wednesday's developments, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi said even thecourt understands that the convicts are filing pleas one after the otherjust to delay the hanging.GETTING BANNED FOR THE RIGHT TO SPEECH NOT SHOCKING: KAMRAReacting to airlines banning him from flying for allegedly hecklingtelevision journalist Arnab Goswami aboard a flight, stand-up comedian KunalKamra on Wednesday said he was never 'unruly or disruptive'.The comedian was suspended from flying by IndiGo and Air India on Tuesdayafter he allegedly heckled Goswami aboard a Mumbai-Lucknow plane and posteda video clip on his Twitter handle. SpiceJet and GoAir also suspended Kamrafrom flying until further notice on Wednesday.Shortly after SpiceJet suspended him from flying with the airline, thecomedian posted a sarcastic tweet: 'Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi ban hai?and added crying emojis after his tweet.'It's not shocking at all to me that for exercising my right to speech,which falls under Article 19 of our Constitution, three airlines have givenme a temporary ban from flying. Fact of the matter is that at no point was Idisruptive and at no point did I not follow the orders of the cabin crew orthe captain,' he tweeted.'At no point did I endanger the safety of any passenger on board, the onlydamage I caused was to the inflated ego to the 'journalist' Arnab Goswami,'he stated. Kamra said he had not travelled with SpiceJet or Air India inthis event and there is no 'pattern of him being unruly'.'This was the first time something like this has happened, so why have theyjumped the gun and banned me? I've travelled SpiceJet and Air India in thepast. There have been no complaints against me ever, only selfies and lovehas been shared by the crew,' he tweeted.SENSATIONAL SUPER OVER CHASE AS INDIA SEAL T20i SERIESRohit Sharma smashed consecutive sixes off the final two balls of athrilling super over, leading India to their maiden T20I series win in NewZealand following a nerve-wracking finish in the third match in Hamiltonyesterday. Needing 18 off six balls in the super over, India had managed 10off the first four balls. Then Sharma smacked two big hits - one overmid-wicket and the other over long-off - to help India pull off anail-biting win.Before the super over, New Zealand had it all under control with two runsneeded off four balls and six wickets in hand to overhaul India's 179/5.They were 178/4 at 49.2 over mark. Then the last 4 balls of Shami's overwent like this - Out (Kane Williamson 95 off 48), dot ball, 1 Bye, Out (RossTaylor).The tie brought on the Super Over, with India conceding 17 runs in the overbowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in turn scored2,1,4,1,6,6 in their six balls.NEERAJ CHOPRA SPEARS HIS WAY TO TOKYONeeraj Chopra is back with a bang, throwing the javelin to 87.86 metres inan event in South Africa last night. This was the second-best throw of hiscareer and it secured him a berth at this year's Tokyo Olympic Games, histhrow comfortably over the qualifying mark of 85m.Chopra's return augurs well in the Olympics year - he had won gold at thelast event he competed in, the Asian Games in 2018. Last night's event inPotchefstroom was his first competitive meet since then - he had missed thewhole of the 2019 season due to a surgery on his throwing arm in May, whichwas followed by rehabilitation.AUS OPEN: THIEM STUNS NADAL TO SET UP SEMI-FINAL WITH ZVEREVAustria's Dominic Thiem stunned Rafael Nadal on Wednesday to send the worldnumber one tumbling out of the Australian Open and set up a semi-finalagainst Alexander Zverev.The fifth seed, beaten by Nadal in the last two French Open finals, battledpast the Spaniard 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) to deny him a crackat a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title.He will now meet German seventh seed Zverev who shattered the dreams ofveteran Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to book a maiden place in a GrandSlam last four.Awaiting the winner of that clash will be either seven-time champion NovakDjokovic or six-time winner Roger Federer, who meet in the other semi-final.