THE WEEK morning brief: Trump to announce major Israel-Palestine peace plan today

Israel's Netanyahu called it "historic"

Trump Impeachment Absolute Right US President Donald Trump | AP

A look at the headlines today:

1. Home Minister Amit Shah to chair Central Zonal Council meet today

The 22nd meeting of the Central Zonal Council, a forum for the Centre and the states to exchange ideas and experiences on issues related to security, industries and power among others, will be held in Chhattisgarh's Raipur city today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the day-long meeting to be attended by chief ministers and senior officials of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is the vice-chairman of the Central Zonal Council and host of the event. Two ministers, chief secretaries and other senior officers of the state governments will attend the meeting with central government representatives. The council takes up issues concerning the Centre and member-states of the zone. The zonal councils are thus an effective platform for the resolution of inter-state disputes as well as irritants between the Centre and member-states. The zonal councils discuss a broad range of issues which include boundary-related disputes, security, infrastructure-related matters like roads, transport, water, industries and power etc.

2. Nirbhaya case: SC to hear plea of one of four death row convicts against dismissal of mercy plea

The Supreme Court will hear today the plea of Mukesh Kumar Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, against the dismissal of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17. The trial court has issued black warrants for the execution of all the four convicts—Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma and Akshay Kumar—at 6am on February 1. As the last-ditch attempt, Mukesh through his counsel on Tuesday sought an urgent hearing on his plea against dismissal of the mercy plea before the top court. "If somebody is going to be hanged, then nothing can be more urgent than this," a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said, while assuring Mukesh's lawyer that his plea would be given due weightage by the mentioning officer. "Execution case will be given top priority," said the bench, which also comprised Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant.

3. Bhopal gas tragedy: SC to hear Centre's plea for additional Rs 7,844 cr fund to compensate victims

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear today the Centre's plea seeking Rs 7,844 crore as additional fund from successor firms of US-based Union Carbide Corporation, now owned by Dow Chemicals, for giving compensation to victims of 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy.  The bench, comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, M.R. Shah and S. Ravindra Bhat, will hear the curative petition filed by the Centre for enhanced compensation for the victims. The Centre is seeking a direction to Union Carbide and other firms for Rs 7,844 crore additional amount over and above the earlier settlement amount of USD 470 million in 1989 for paying compensation to the gas tragedy victims. Over 3,000 people had died in the tragedy due to release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. The Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) gave a compensation of $470 million (Rs 715 crore at the time of settlement) after the toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide factory on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 killed over 3,000 people and affected 1.02 lakh more. The survivors of the 1984 tragedy have been fighting for long for adequate compensation and proper medical treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak.

4. Rahul Gandhi to address 'Yuva Aakrosh' rally in Jaipur today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Jaipur on Tuesday to highlight the issues of economic distress and unemployment. During the rally, Gandhi is also likely to talk about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande and Deputy Chief Minister and PCC president Sachin Pilot on Monday reviewed the preparations for 'Yuva Aakrosh' rally at Ramnivas garden. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the biggest problem that the youth today are facing is unemployment. He said the employment crisis is worsening and the Centre in its upcoming budget should focus on creating new jobs and adopting policies that will make the industry thrive and provide employment to the people. "Biggest issue today for youth is unemployment as ppl employed in different sectors hv bn facing redundancies in last 5 yrs. Job crisis is worsening. In next budget, Govt must focus on generating new jobs,on adopting policies which allow industries to grow & increase number of staff (sic)," the chief minister tweeted. 

5. Trump to announce major Israel-Palestine peace plan today

US President Donald Trump said he will announce his suggestion for lasting peace between Israel and Palestine at the White House today. Earlier in the day, Palestinian leaders, who have not been invited to the White House, rejected the US initiative, accusing the Trump administration of being pro-Israel bias. "Tomorrow at 12 o'clock we're going to show a plan. It's been worked on by everybody and we'll see whether or not it catches all of them. It does, that'd be great. And if it doesn't, we can live with it too. But I think it might have a chance," Trump told reporters in the Rose garden of the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing by his side. Soon in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that this is a plan that is very important to peace in the Middle East. "No matter where I went, they say Israel and the Palestinians, they have to make peace before you can really have peace in the middle East. People have been working on this for many, many years and I think we're relatively close to that. We have to get other people to agree with it also. I will say many of the Arab nations have agreed to it. They like it, they think it's great. They think it's a big start," he said.

6. Australian Open: Federer wary of Sandgren, whom he faces today, as Djokovic semi looms

Roger Federer has faced most top players on tour but never his Australian Open quarter-final opponent Tennys Sandgren, and he is wary of the American as he attempts to set up a potential last-four clash against Novak Djokovic. The Swiss great swept into the last eight for a record 15th time at Melbourne Park after a first-set wobble against unheralded Hungarian Martin Fucsovics. He now goes toe-to-toe today with the last American in the men's draw who has belied his 100 world ranking by beating eighth seed Matteo Berrettini and 12th seed Fabio Fognini. The Australian Open is Sandgren's favourite Major and he came from nowhere to make the quarter-finals in 2018, eventually losing to South Korea's Chung Hyeon. Federer has never played the 28-year-old, and is not underestimating the challenge as he looks to win his first Grand Slam since Melbourne in 2018 and seventh in Australia. "I wonder why he's not ranked higher, to be honest. Every time I see him play, I feel like he plays very well. He's got a lot of stuff in his game that he's deserving of being higher," said the world number three.

-Inputs from PTI