NO STAY ON CAA, NPR, GOVT TO REPLY IN 4 WEEKS: SCThe Supreme Court yesterday refused to stay the operation of the CitizenshipAmendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR) and indicatedultimately a five-judge Bench might have to decide these issues. "The matteris uppermost in everybody's mind. We will form a five-judge Bench and thenlist the case," said a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SABobde.The Bench, however, asked the Centre to respond to the 143 petitions in fourweeks and posted the matter for hearing in the fifth week for passinginterim orders. Before the next hearing, the three-judge Bench will work outa schedule in the chamber for further hearing.On a transfer petition by the Central Govt, the Bench restrained all highcourts from passing any orders on the CAA.Earlier, senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajeev Dhavanand others sought stay on the CAA and NPR. But Attorney General KK Venugopaland Solicitor General Tushar Mehta vehemently opposed it.As Sibal demanded the matter be sent to Constitution Bench, the CJI said:"Even we think the matter should be heard by a Constitution Bench."INDIA SLIDES 10 PLACES ON DEMOCRACY INDEXIndia fell 10 notches to settle at rank 51 on the Democracy Index 2019, alisting of the most and the least democratic nations published annually byThe Economist Intelligence Unit, a news and general affairs publication. Theindex features 167 nations and two territories.India's score of 6.9 on a scale of 10 is the lowest since the index wasfirst published in 2006. The country's corresponding scores were 7.81 in2016 and 7.23 in 2017 and 2018.The fall has been attributed to three major recent decisions - the passageof a "discriminatory" Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 by Parliament; thepersistence around a controversial National Register of Citizens; and thesituation in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 of theConstitution. Specific references to these three have been made to explainIndia's decline, which the Opposition termed as "unsurprising"."The passage by Parliament in December of a discriminatory CAA suggestsIndia's decline will continue in the 2020 Index," publishers today said.Theindex considers five segments to rate nations on democratic power -electoral process and pluralism; the functioning of govt; politicalparticipation; political culture and civil liberties.The index categorises nations as full democracies (score more than 8 in 10);flawed democracies (score between 6 and 8); hybrid regimes (score between 4and 6) and authoritarian regimes (score less than or equal to 4 on a scaleof 10).QUESTION ON PARENTS' BIRTH MAY BE CONSIDERED DROPPED: GOVT ON NPRThe govt said on Wednesday that the questions on the date and place of birthof parents "will be considered dropped" if the respondent does not providethe details during the National Population Register (NPR) updation exercise,as they are supposed to be optional.Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Union Information andBroadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said: "When I briefed you about NPR,I told you very clearly that there are many questions that are optional. Ifyou remember the place and date of birth of your father and mother, thengive it; if you don't remember, then don't give it."Responding to reports that Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister and leader ofBJP ally Lok Janshakti Party, had said the govt may consider the demand toremove the questions, Javadekar said: "No, it is not like that. The questionwill be considered dropped as only those who want to respond will do so."Earlier on Wednesday, Paswan said nobody can be deprived of citizenship justbecause he/ she does not know his/ her parents' date and place of birth. "Ifyou don't know your parents' date of birth, that column will be left blank.Whatever information you give regarding the date of birth, it will beconsidered as document. No documentary proof will be required for this,"said Paswan, adding that he, too, did not know the date of birth of hisparents.Meanwhile, Javadekar said that when the then Congress govt brought in theNPR in 2010, it was welcomed. "Then, all of you gave the proof. If theybring it, it is good, and when we bring it, it is bad," he said.He said the NRC too was brought by the Congress, under then prime ministerRajiv Gandhi. "Then, it is good; we did not even bring it, and we are bad,"he said.On the Supreme Court's refusal to stay the amended citizenship law withouthearing the Centre, Javadekar said: "Whoever protests against a law thatprovides justice (to refugees who faced religious persecution in Pakistan,Afghanistan and Bangladesh) can have a different point of view, but theSupreme Court has decided not to give an interim stay".AHEAD OF MANNED FLIGHT, 'HALF-HUMANOID' VYOMMITRA WILL GO TO SPACEAbout 10 seconds after its camera system captured the image of Dr S Somnath,director of the Indian Space Research Organisation's Vikram Sarabhai SpaceCentre, at a booth at an international conference on 'Human Spaceflight andExploration' here on Wednesday, 'Vyommitra', a "half-humanoid", said: "HelloDr Somnath, director VSSC''. Introducing itself to the audience, Vyommitra(vyoma-space, mitra-friend) said: "Hello everyone. I am Vyommitra, theprototype of the half-humanoid, made for the first unmanned Gaganyaanmission."The artificial intelligence-based robotic system is being developed at arobotics lab at the VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram for an unmanned flight ofISRO's GSLV III rocket in December 2020, which, along with a second unmannedflight in July 2021, will serve as the test of ISRO's preparedness for itsmaiden manned space mission, Gaganyaan, being targeted for 2022 to mark 75years of India's independence.Vyommitra, equipped with a head, two arms and a torso, is built to "mimiccrew activity inside the crew module of Gaganyaan", a scientist from therobotics lab at VSSC said. "It is basically an artificial intelligence-basedsystem. It recognised the face of the VSSC director from the attachedcomputer database and converted text to speech to speak out the identity,''the scientist said.Once it is fully developed, Vyommitra will be able to use equipment on boardthe spacecraft's crew module, like safety mechanisms and switches, as wellas receive and act on commands sent from ground stations.Explaining its role, Vyommitra told the audience: "I can monitor throughmodule parameters, alert you and perform life support operations. I canperform activities like switch panel operations." It said it can also be acompanion and converse with the astronauts, recognise them and respond totheir queries."Attaining launch and orbital postures, responding to the environment,generating warnings, replacing carbon dioxide canisters, operating switches,monitoring of the crew module, receiving voice commands, responding viaspeech (bilingual),'' are among its functions listed. It will have ahuman-like face, with lips synchronised for movement to mimic speech.The robotic system has been developed even as ISRO works to make the GSLVIII rocket system suitable to fly humans. "Work is in progress forhuman-rated GSLV Mk III. It will be ready for the first unmanned flight bythe year-end with a humanoid,'' said Somnath.BREXIT CLEARS FINAL HURDLE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONSBritain moved a step closer to its January 31 exit from the European Unionwhen the legislation required to ratify its deal with Brussels passed itsfinal stage in parliament on Wednesday.The bill will officially become law when it receives Royal Assent from QueenElizabeth, something that could happen today.Prime Minister Boris Johnson had refused to accept any changes to theWithdrawal Agreement Bill, which will enact Britain's departure from the EU,facing down opposition lawmakers who say he has hardened its terms.The Lords could have sought to reinstate the changes, but opted not to,allowing the legislation to clear its final hurdle.CHINA SUSPENDS ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN WUHAN CITYLess than a month after the first few cases of a new respiratory illnesswere reported in Wuhan, China, travelers have carried the virus to at leastfour other countries, including the United States. More than 500 people areknown to have been infected, at least 17 have died - and the world isbracing itself for what might come next.On Wednesday, experts at the World Health Organization decided to postponeuntil Thursday a decision on whether the current outbreak constitutes a"public health emergency of international concern," a label given to"serious public health events that endanger international public health" and"potentially require a coordinated international response."A vote by WHO's emergency committee was split down the middle, its chairmansaid, and the group concluded that it did not have enough information tomake a decision.But even as the WHO debated its decision, officials in China began closingtransportation links from and within Wuhan, China, the epicenter of theoutbreak. The move was a significant escalation in the country's attempts tocontain the spread of the virus as the Lunar New Year approaches and holidaytravel commences.HOW SAUDI PRINCE MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN HACKED AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOSA malicious file attached to an encrypted video message sent on WhatsApp isbelieved to have been used in hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos'siPhone in May 2018. The sender of the message: Crown Prince of Saudi ArabiaMohammad bin Salman (MBS).The Financial Times and The Guardian reported on Wednesday that a forensicanalysis of Bezos's phone showed that it was compromised via the WhatsAppmessage.A United Nations report released late on Wednesday evening confirmed thehacking and provided extensive forensic details. It said Bezos was"subjected to intrusive surveillance via hacking of his phone as a result ofactions attributable to the WhatsApp account used by Crown Prince Mohammedbin Salman", and linked the break-in to criticism of the Saudi regime andPrince Mohammad personally by The Washington Post, the media organisationthat Bezos owns.The report has concluded the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli firmNSO Group was "most likely" used in the hacking. Pegasus was used last yearto target some 1,400 devices in 20 countries across four continents,including at least two dozen academics, lawyers, Dalit activists, andjournalists in India.CHANTING AZADI ACT OF TREASON, WILL TAKE STRICT ACTION, WARNS UP CMCalling the chanting of 'azadi' slogan by anti-CAA protesters "deshdroh(treason)", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday saidhis govt will take "very strict action" against those raising it.Criticising the ongoing protests further, he said it is "shameful" that mensit in the comfort of their homes and send women and children out on thestreets to agitate.He was addressing a BJP rally in support of CAA in Kanpur.Women have been holding protests in different parts of country against thenew citizenship law. In Uttar Pradesh, they are holding protests atGhantaghar and Gomti Nagar in Lucknow and Mansoor Ali Park in Prayagraj.He also asked people to go to the protest sites and ask the woman protesterswhy they are protesting. "They would tell you that the men of their homestold them that they failed to do anything and have asked them to sit onroads instead," the CM said.DRAVIDIAN CAMP UPS THE ANTE AGAINST RAJINI'S PERIYAR REMARKA row over Rajinikanth's comment about a rally led by reformist leader E VRamasamy "Periyar" decades ago is appearing to assume political overtoneswith Dravidian ideologists upping the ante and a senior BJP leader throwinghis weight behind the actor on Wednesday.The controversial remarks were made by Rajinikanth on January 14 whiletaking part in an event held by Tamil magazine 'Thuglak'. "In 1971, atSalem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of LordSriramachandramoorthy and Sita - with a garland of sandal-featured ....," hehad said while lauding the founder editor of the magazine Cho Ramaswamy forpublishing news about it.A day after the actor rejected demands for an apology by Dravidian outfits,the chorus against him has grown louder with Tamil Nadu Deputy ChiefMinister O Panneerselvam backed the rationalist leader, popularly calledPeriyar by his followers.The state unit of the Congress came down heavily on Rajinikanth and askedhim not to fall prey to "evil, communal elements".Rallying behind Rajinikanth, BJP national secretary H Raja said theDravidian outfits were trying to intimidate him.ANUPAM KHER RETORTS AFTER NASEERUDDIN SHAH'S JIBESIn a recent interview with The Wire, Bollywood actor Naseeruddin talked atlength about the protests against the CAA, the deafening silence of bigBollywood celebrities on it, the student protests and Deepika's decision toshow solidarity.Naseer had less kind words for Anupam Kher: "Someone like Anupam Kher hasbeen very vocal. I don't think he needs to be taken seriously. He's a clown.Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to hissycophantic nature. It's in his blood, he can't help it."Anupam Kher took to Twitter to respond to Shah's 'clown' comment. In a videoshared on the micro-blogging site, Kher said, "Janab Naseeruddin Shah saabke liye mera pyar bhara pranam. Woh mujhse bade hai. Umar mein bhi aurtajurbe mein bhi. Mein humesha unke kala ka izzat karta aya hoon aur kartarahunga. Par kabhi kabhi baaton ka do tuk jawab dena zaroori hota. yeh haimera jawab."Kher took a jibe at Shah's 'don't take him seriously' comment and said thathe, or the other people Shah has criticised, do not take him seriouslyeither. Kher further added that despite a successful and fulfilling career,Shah lives in frustration. Kher also said that because of the 'substances'Shah is on, he is unable to differentiate between right and wrong.Kher went to say that if Shah can criticise the likes of Amitabh Bachchan,Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, he will considerhimself lucky to have been added to this list.INSURERS SET TO LAUNCH 'PAY AS YOU USE' MOTOR POLICYVehicle owners will soon get various unique options when they apply for theinsurance policy and pay the premium as they will be priced on the basis ofthe distance covered while driving the vehicle or by computing the drivingbehaviour, and even get an app-based single policy for multiple vehicles.Insurance companies are getting to ready to launch innovative schemes like'pay as you use' or 'pay how you use' under pilot projects through thesandbox route. The regulatory sandbox project has provided the insuranceindustry with flexibility to explore new products and services that suit thelatest technology and data-driven world. This methodology allows insurers tolaunch and test a product with a select group of people for a period of sixmonths. Based on the results of the pilot run and the feedback, Irdai willallow the product to be launched commercially for the public.DELAYED, TEJAS EXPRESS LIABLE TO PAY RS 100 EACH TO 620 PASSENGERSOn the fourth day of its commercial run, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express -the city's first private train - on Wednesday became liable to pay acompensation of Rs 100 each to at least 620 passengers after the service wasdelayed by an hour and 24 minutes due to a technical snag in the overheadequipment between Dahisar and Bhayander.During this period, four long distance, including Tejas Express, and eightsuburban trains were held for over an hour.IRCTC officials said at least 620 passengers, who were to get off at MumbaiCentral, are eligible for Rs 100 "trip delay" coverage.HYDERABAD, BENGALURU TOP TWO MOST DYNAMIC CITIES GLOBALLY IN LIST OF 130:JLLHyderabad has emerged as the world's most dynamic city, performing better onparameters like socio-economic and commercial real estate, according toglobal property consultant JLL India.Seven Indian cities feature in the top 20 in this year's ranking, despiteeconomic slowdown, it added.Bengaluru has been ranked second, while Chennai is at fifth and Delhi atsixth position in the list of 130 cities across the world. Pune, Kolkata andMumbai stood at the 12th, 16th and 20th positions, respectively, accordingto JLL 'City Momentum Index' that combines socio-economic and commercialproperty metrics to identify the world's most dynamic city economies andreal estate markets.Hyderabad scores among the highest globally across a range of economicindicators such as GDP growth, retail sales and airport passenger growth.Last year, Bengaluru was at number one position and Hyderabad ranked second.NO UPSETS YET AT AUSTRALIAN OPENNaomi Osaka offered a light-hearted apology to her racquet sponsor forthrowing a tantrum against Zheng Saisai at the Australian Open today as thedefending champion overcame her frustrations to set up a third round clashwith Coco Gauff. After dropping serve early in the second set, third seedOsaka threw her racquet, slammed a ball into the court and gave her racqueta kick for good measure before steadying the ship and earning a 6-2 6-4 winon a gusty day at the Margaret Court Arena.Defending champion Novak Djokovic banished the ghosts of wildcards past bydespatching Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-1 6-4 6-2 to sail into the third round ofthe Australian Open.Third seed Roger Federer has reached the third round at Melbourne Park forthe 21st straight year with a 6-1 6-4 6-1 victory over Serbia's FilipKrajinovicSerena Williams stayed on course for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slamsingles crown with a 6-2 6-3 win over Slovenian Tamara Zidansek in theirfirst career meeting.