HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5.15 pm:
    

    NATION
    
    CAL49 WB-PM-PROJECTS
    * PM Modi unveils Rs 5,400 cr development projects in Bengal
    Durgapur (WB): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a slew of development projects worth Rs 5,400 crore in West Bengal, unveiling major initiatives across the oil and gas, power, rail and road sectors aimed at boosting infrastructure, connectivity and clean energy in the region. *    
    
    CAL39 BH-PM-2ND LD RALLY
    * 'Viksit' Bihar key for Eastern India development: PM, attacks Cong-RJD for keeping state backward
    Motihari (Bihar): In a hard-hitting attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the RJD of seizing land from the poor on the false promise of jobs, in an apparent reference to the 'land-for-jobs' scam, and asserted that the 'viksit' (developed) Bihar is key for eastern India's development. *

    DEL42 PAR-IMPEACHMENT-LD MEGHWAL
    * Bringing motion to remove Justice Varma matter of MPs, govt not in picture: Arjun Ram Meghwal
    New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Friday that bringing an impeachment motion in Parliament against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma is entirely a matter of the MPs and the government is nowhere in the picture. By Dipak Ranjan *
    
    DEL43 RAMESH-PAR-INTERVIEW
    * Demand of at least 2 days of debate on Pahalgam, Op Sindoor, Trump's claims non-negotiable: Ramesh
    New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said the opposition's demand for at least two days of parliamentary debate on issues like the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump's claims and China is "non-negotiable". By Asim Kamal *
    
    DEL41 ED-BHUPESH BAGHEL-4THLD SEARCHES
    * ED arrests ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son in liquor scam case; sent to 5-day remand
    Raipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case, official sources said. *
    
    BOM30 CG-BAGHEL-LD-ED RAID
    * Central agencies being misused to target oppn leaders, but will cooperate: Baghel on ED action
    Raipur: Amid the Enforcement Directorate's action against his son in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday said central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders. *

    DEL28 BJP-RAHUL-VADRA-ED
    * BJP hits out at Rahul for accusing govt of witch-hunt against Vadra
    New Delhi: The BJP slammed Rahul Gandhi on Friday for accusing the government of launching a witch-hunt against his brother-in-law, Robert Vadra, saying the Congress leader's remarks reflect that his party still believes in the "Emergency mindset" and does not care for the judicial process. *

    DEL26 RAHUL-LD VADRA-ED-CHARGESHEET
    * 'Hounded' by govt for last 10 years: Rahul slams ED chargesheet against Vadra
    New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the government of launching a witch-hunt against his brother-in-law Robert Vadra after the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against the businessman in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Haryana's Shikohpur. *

    DEL25 INDIA-US-2ND LD-TRF
    * US designation of TRF 'timely and important' step: India
    New Delhi: India on Friday welcomed the US designating The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a global terrorist outfit over the Pahalgam attack with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar describing it as a "strong affirmation" of India-US counter-terror cooperation. *

    DEL24 UP-ADITYANATH-KANWAR
    * Efforts made to defame kanwar pilgrims, call them rioters and terrorists: Yogi
    Varanasi (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on
Friday said efforts are being made to defame kanwar pilgrims who are subjected to a media trial and termed terrorists and rioters. This, he asserted, stems from mentality that wants to insult India's heritage. *
    
    CAL37 BH-NITISH LD PM
    * Free power announcement in keeping with advice of PM Modi: Nitish Kumar
    Motihari (Bihar): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asserted that the decision to provide 125 units of free power in the state was "in keeping with the advice" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. *

    DEL17 CONG-ECONOMY
    * Economy needs huge booster dose; drastic GST reform, ending tax terrorism imperative: Cong
    New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said the economy needs a "huge booster dose" and asserted that will happen only when drastic reform of GST takes place, atmosphere of tax terrorism is ended, and when the fixation on the growth of just one or two big business groups through favouritism is abandoned. *

    BOM32 MH-ASSEMBLY-SECURITY BILL-CM
    * Public Security Bill against Left Wing Extremism, says CM; uses Islam-ISIS comparison to allay fears
    Mumbai: The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill passed by the state legislature in the ongoing Monsoon Session is not against Left parties or anti-government voices but aims to target Left Wing Extremism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday. *
    
    DEL47 TMC-DEREK-QUESTION HOUR
    * Question Hour among few tools still left to hold govt accountable: Derek O'Brien
    New Delhi: The Question Hour is one of the few tools still available to the opposition to hold the government accountable, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien said on Friday. *

    MDS12 KA-STAMPEDE-SIDDARAMAIAH
    * Next cabinet meet to discuss panel report on Bengaluru stampede: K'taka CM
    Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the probe report of the one-man commission constituted by the government to inquire into the June 4 stampede in Bengaluru that killed 11 people, will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting. *

    BOM26 MH-SCUFFLE-LD SPEAKER
    * Curbs after clash: No general visitors to be allowed in Vidhan Bhavan during session, says Speaker
    Mumbai: A day after supporters of two MLAs clashed in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan premises, assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on Friday said visitors will not be allowed in the legislature complex during the session, and only ministers, legislators, their personal secretaries and officials will get entry. *

    BOM16 MH-LD ISLAMPUR
    * Maharashtra Govt renames Islampur to Ishwarpur
    Mumbai: Maharashtra Government on Friday announced that Islampur in Sangli district is being renamed as Ishwarpur. *
    
    CAL51 WB- IITKGP-STUDENT-DEATH
    * Fourth-year B Tech student's body found hanging in IIT-KGP hostel room
    Kolkata: A fourth-year student of B Tech was found hanging in his hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur campus on Friday, the fourth unnatural death case at the campus since January this year. *
    
    
    
    BUSINESS
    
    DEL40 BIZ-INDIA-US-TRADE-RAJAN
    * India needs to be careful, clever while negotiating trade pact with US: Raghuram Rajan
    New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) India needs to be 'very careful and clever' while negotiating trade agreements with the US, especially with regard to the agriculture sector, which is heavily subsidised by developed countries, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Friday. By Bijay Kumar Singh *

    
    
    LEGAL    
    
    LGD16 SC-LD KERALA NURSE-YEMEN
    * Execution of Indian nurse in Yemen stayed, efforts on: Centre to SC
    New Delhi: The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that efforts were on and the government was trying everything possible to ensure Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, on death row for murder in Yemen, came out safely. *

    LGD25 SC-MATRIMONIAL DISPUTE-CHILD CUSTODY
    * Custody row: Russian woman hasn't left India, at least legally, Delhi Police tells SC
    New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the Russian mother, pitted in a bitter custody battle of her child with her estranged Indian husband, has not left the country, at least through legal means. *
    
    LGD19 SC-LALU-LD FIR
    * Land-for-jobs scam: SC refuses to stay trial court proceedings against Lalu Yadav
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the trial court proceedings against former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in the CBI's land-for-jobs case. *

    LGD24 SC-AIBE-FEE
    * Can fee of needy aspiring lawyers writing all India bar exam waived? SC asks BCI
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Bar Council of India about the presence of a scheme to waive off fee of poor LLB graduates who write the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to enrol as lawyers. *
    
    LGD23 SC-PRISON RULES
    * States ought to frame common over release of terminally ill prisoners: SC
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said prison rules were applicable individually to states, which ought to frame common rules on the release of terminally ill prisoners. *

    LGD26 DL-HC-TABLIGHI-VERDICT
    * 'COVID-19 norms not flouted': HC drops charges against Indians for housing Tablighi Jamaat attendees
    New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has dropped charges against 70 Indian nationals accused of housing foreign attendees of Tablighi Jamaat congregation in March 2020 allegedly in violation of COVID-19 norms pointing out no evidence to prove they participated in any prohibited activity. *

    
    
    FOREIGN
    
    FGN20 NEPAL-INDIA-OLI
    * 'Will visit India at appropriate time,' says Nepal PM Oli
    Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said that he will be visiting India and that ground work is underway on both sides for the trip. By Shirish B Pradhan *

    FGN23 US-LDALL-TRF
    * US designates LeT proxy TRF as foreign terrorist organisation; India calls move "timely"
    Washington/New Delhi: The US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a "foreign terrorist organisation" over the Pahalgam terror attack, a move welcomed by India as a "timely and important" step reflecting strong counter-terror cooperation between the two countries. *
    
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)