HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5.20 pm

    NATION
        
    DEL10 PM-PROJECTS
    *PM Modi on four-state tour to launch development projects
    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day trip to four states from Thursday to launch numerous development projects, as he keeps up a busy itinerary touring different regions in the run up to the first anniversary of his third term in office.

    CAL9 SK-PM-LD STATEHOOD EVENT
    PM Modi to attend Sikkim's statehood celebrations on May 29, inaugurate multiple projects
    Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim's statehood at the Paljor Stadium here on May 29, an official notification said.
    
    DES17 HR-DEFENCE DRILL
    * Haryana to conduct drills under Operation Shield to vet emergency response
    Chandigarh: The Haryana government will conduct a civil defence exercise, named Operation Shield, on Thursday, across all 22 of the state's districts to vet its emergency preparedness.*

    CAL10 MN-MLAs-GOVT
    44 MLAs ready to form new government in Manipur, claims BJP leader after meeting Guv
    Imphal: Forty-four MLAs are ready to form a new government in Manipur, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh claimed on Wednesday after meeting Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

    DEL12 INDOPAK-CONG-TRUMP
    Break your silence: Cong to PM on US' repeated claims about India-Pak ceasefire
    New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his "silence" on the Trump administration's repeated claims on how the India-Pakistan "ceasefire" was brought about.
    
    CAL5 WB-PM-VISIT
    PM Modi to visit Bengal on Thursday; launch gas distribution project, address rally
    Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Thursday, during which he will lay the foundation stone of a gas distribution project and address a public rally in Alipurduar district, a senior BJP leader said.
    
    DEL29 JK-CM-LD STATEHOOD (RPT)
    J-K statehood talks still alive regardless of Pahalgam attack: Omar Abdullah
    Gulmarg (JK): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the April 22 Pahalgam attack has not stalled the conversation around restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and that he had raised the issue at the recent meeting of NITI Aayog governing council.

    DEL31 CONG-THAROOR-UDIT RAJ
    'BJP super spokesperson': Udit Raj slams Tharoor for 'crossed LoC for first time in 2016' remark
    New Delhi: Congress leader Udit Raj on Wednesday slammed party colleague Shashi Tharoor for his reported remarks that India breached the Line of Control (Loc) for the first time during the 2016 surgical strike on a terror base, saying he should be declared a "super spokesperson of the BJP".
    
    DEL34 CONG-GOGOI-SARMA
    * 'C-grade Bollywood movie that'll flop miserably': Gaurav Gogoi on Assam CM's allegations
    New Delhi: Debunking claims that he had alleged links with the Pakistani establishment, newly-appointed Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday said he had gone to Pakistan only once 12 years ago and that the BJP was raking up the issue like a "C-grade Bollywood movie" that is going to "flop miserably". *

    BOM9 MP-GANGRAPE VICTIM-KIN-RAHUL
    Rahul Gandhi speaks to kin of Khandwa gangrape-murder victim; assures help
    Khandwa: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday spoke to the family members of the tribal woman who was gang-raped and brutalised to death in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa last week, and assured them all possible help.

    BOM7 MH-EOW-MOREA
    EOW questions Bollywood actor Dino Morea, brother in Mithi river desilting scam
    Mumbai: Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother were on Wednesday questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police in the alleged Rs 65 crore Mithi river desilting scam, officials said. *
    
    DEL30 TMC-PAR-LD SESSION
    *Operation Sindoor: TMC demands special session of Parliament in June
    New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday demanded that a special session of Parliament be held in June, before the Monsoon session, to get the government to answer some urgent questions on Operation Sindoor.

    MDS15 KA-HAASAN-LD COMMENTS
    Haasan's comments on Kannada stir a row in Karnataka; Film assn to take a call on ban on actor
    Bengaluru: Pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka went up in arms against popular actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday for his "Tamil gave birth to Kannada" remarks, with a police complaint filed against him, while a film association is set to discuss a possible ban on the veteran star ahead of his upcoming release "Thug Life," directed by ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam.

    MDS16 TN-MNM-LD RS POLLS
    * Kamal Haasan set to be elected to Rajya Sabha, DMK allots seat; MNM names him candidate
    Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiam, an ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, on Wednesday declared its president Kamal Haasan as its nominee for the June 19 biennial election to the Rajya Sabha. *

    LEGAL
    
    LGD16 SC-ASHOKA-MAHMUDABAD
    No impediment on Ashoka University professor’s right to speech but can’t comment on FIRs: SC
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday told Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, accused of making contentious social media posts on Operation Sindoor, that there was no impediment on his right to speech and expression, but he can’t post anything online with respect to the cases against him.

    LGD17 SC-RAPE
    SC gives interim bail to 23-year-old influencer in rape case, says 'single hand can't clap'
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave interim bail to a 23-year-old accused of raping a 40-year-old, noting that charges had not been framed even though he has been in jail for nine months. It also said the woman was "not a baby" and "a single hand can't clap".
    
    LGD22 SC-MP MINISTER-FIR (CORRECTED)
    * SC closes proceedings before MP HC against Vijay Shah for his remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered closure of proceedings before the Madhya Pradesh High Court against state minister Vijay Shah for his remarks against Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi, saying it is now looking into the matter. *

    LGD14 SC-RIDGE-TREE FELLING
    Tree felling in Delhi's Ridge area: SC finds DDA in contempt, orders extensive afforestation
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for tree felling in the capital's Ridge area for widening a road and ordered extensive afforestation.

    FOREIGN

    FGN36 SAUDI-INDIA-DELEGATION
    * India's stand on terrorism resolute, uncompromising, says Jay Panda as delegation begins Saudi visit
    Riyadh: The all-party delegation, which began its visit to Saudi Arabia, brought the message that India's stand on terrorism is resolute and uncompromising, lead member Baijayant Jay Panda has said.*
    
    FGN57 IRAN-INDIANS
    * Indian Embassy in Iran says taken up missing Indians’ case with Iranian authorities
    Tehran: The Indian Embassy here on Wednesday said it has strongly taken up with Iranian authorities the case of three missing Indian citizens, all from the same family, who went missing after reaching Iran.*
    
    FGN48 SAFRICA-INDIA-DELEGATION
    * India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism hailed at all-party delegation address in South Africa
    Johannesburg: India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism was loudly hailed in South Africa after an all-party delegation addressed an audience of over 350 expatriates and some local Indians here, citing Pakistan as the sponsor of terrorism.By Fakir Hassen **

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)