HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL87 INDIA-US-TARIFF-LD JAISHANKAR

Impact of Trump's tariffs not yet known; India engaged with US to seal trade pact: Jaishankar New Delhi: The impact of US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs is not yet known and New Delhi's strategy to deal with the situation is to firm up a bilateral trade pact with Washington by fall of this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

DEL47 TERROR-RANA-EXTRADITION

Tahawwur Rana's extradition will expose Pakistani state actors' role in 26/11 attacks: Sources New Delhi: Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana, who is expected to be extradited to India from the US very soon, would help probe agencies expose the role of Pakistani state actors behind the dastardly act that claimed 166 lives, sources said on Wednesday.

DEL120 GOVT-SHAH-MEET

Amit Shah holds meeting with Jaishankar, Doval New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday, sources said.

DEL74 LD KHARGE

Non-performers should rest, retire: Kharge's stern warning to partymen at AICC session Ahmedabad: In a stern warning to non-performing leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said those who do not help in party work should take rest and those who don't fulfil their responsibilities should retire. By Asim Kamal & Sanjeev Chopra

DEL85 INDIA-BANGLADESH-JAISHANKAR

Raised concerns of radicalisation in Bangladesh: Jaishankar on PM Modi's meeting with Yunus New Delhi: India conveyed its concerns over attacks on minorities and radicalisation in Bangladesh at the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and head of the neighbouring country's interim government Muhammad Yunus last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

DEL71 DEF-RAFALE-LD-NAVY

PM-led CCS clears Rs 64,000 cr deal to procure 26 Rafale-M jets for Navy New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cleared a proposal to procure 26 naval variants of Rafale fighter jets from France at a cost of around Rs 64,000 crore for deployment on board aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, sources in the defence establishment said.

DEL123 LD WEATHER

Rajasthan sizzles at 46.4 degrees Celsius, Delhi sees April's highest minimum temperature in 3 years New Delhi: Severe heat wave conditions prevailed in Rajasthan, and Delhi on Wednesday recorded its highest minimum temperature in April in three years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

DEL135 CONG-SESSION-TARIFF

Economic storm coming, where is PM Modi hiding: Rahul on US tariff issue Ahmedabad: Asserting that an "economic storm" is coming, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the imposition of tariffs by the US and questioned his silence on the issue.

DEL119 CAB-PM

Cabinet decision on two transport infra projects will improve connectivity: PM Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his government's decision on doubling the Tirupati-Katpadi railway line will boost rail connectivity for pilgrims and tourists, and enhance freight capacity across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

DEL109 CONG-SESSION RAHUL

AICC session: Rahul Gandhi slams new Waqf Act, targets RSS, pushes for country-wide caste census Ahmedabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Waqf (Amendment) Act is “anti-Constitution” and an attack on the freedom of religion, as he warned that the BJP-RSS will soon go after the rights of other minorities such as Christians and Sikhs.

DEL118 JK-NC-LD WAQF

'Alarming interference in Muslims' religious affairs': NC to move SC against Waqf Amendment Act Jammu: National Conference will move the Supreme Court to file a writ petition against the Waqf Amendment Act "as soon as possible", party's chief spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said on Wednesday.

DEL66 JK-ENCOUNTER

Encounter underway in J-K's Udhampur, three terrorists trapped Jammu: An encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Wednesday after security forces established contact with three terrorists, officials said.

DEL141 MEA-INDIA-BANGLADESH-LD TRANSHIPMENT

India withdraws transshipment facility for Bangladesh days after Yunus' 'landlocked' remarks New Delhi: India has withdrawn the transshipment facility it extended to Bangladesh for exports to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries through its ports and airports amid increasing strain in bilateral ties.

DEL122 PAK BORDER-PB-2NDLD BSF JAWAN

Punjab: BSF jawan injured in IED blast along Pak border; force issues alert New Delhi/Amritsar: A BSF jawan was "seriously" injured in an IED blast ahead of the fence along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab on Wednesday. It is the first such instance at this front that a dangerous concoction of explosives and shrapnel was used in a bid to kill and maim.

DEL131 AVI-AIRINDIA-2NDLD URINATION

Air India passenger allegedly urinates on fellow passenger in Delhi-Bangkok flight New Delhi/ Mumbai: An Air India passenger allegedly urinated on a fellow passenger during a flight from the national capital to Bangkok on Wednesday, according to sources.

CAL10 WB-MAMATA-4TH LD WAQF

Will protect minorities, their properties in Bengal: Mamata Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said Muslims were aggrieved because of the enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Act and assured the minority community members that she would protect them and their properties in the state.

DEL121 RAIL-CHENAB BRIDGE-KASHMIR

Chenab rail bridge opens a new era of development in J&K: Railways New Delhi: The iconic Chenab rail bridge doesn't just connect two mountains but dreams, development, and a new era for Jammu and Kashmir, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday ahead of its official opening by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19.

DEL129 UP-RAM DARBAR-LD AYODHYA

Ram Darbar at Ayodhya temple to be open for devotees from June 6: Officials Lucknow/Ayodhya: The Ram temple at Ayodhya will see the installation of a "Ram Darbar" during a three-day ceremony next month, though it would only be open to devotees from June 6, officials said on Wednesday. By Manish Chandra Pandey

DEL142 BJP LD RAHUL-WAQF

BJP asks if Rahul uncomfortable with Waqf Act giving voice to poor, backward Muslims, women New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday asked Rahul Gandhi if he was uncomfortable with the amended Waqf Act giving voice to the poor and backward Muslims besides women, as it dismissed his criticism as a belated response that did not address core issues.

CAL13 WB-SCHOOL JOBS-3RDLD PROTESTS

Agitators clash with police as Bengal witnesses protests over loss of school jobs Kolkata: Several districts of West Bengal witnessed widespread protests on Wednesday as a section of teachers and non-teaching staffers, who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court verdict that invalidated their appointments, clashed with police during demonstrations.

MDS18 TN-NEET MEET 2ND LD-CM

Stalin exudes confidence of getting exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is not an exam from which the state cannot be exempted and exuded confidence of getting an exemption for the state through legal means.

MDS9 TN-2ND LD-KUMARI ANANTHAN

Cong veteran Kumari Ananthan, crusader for use of Tamil in Parliament dies Chennai: Veteran Congress leader and noted orator in Tamil, Kumari Ananthan who fought for and succeeded in ensuring the use of Tamil language in addressing the Parliament has died, his family said on Wednesday.

CAL16 OD-WAQF-BJD-LD PATNAIK

Patnaik clean chit to aide Pandian in Waqf issue, says he left BJD 10 months ago Bhubaneswar: Amidst the ongoing flip-flop over supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday came out in support of his close aide VK Pandian and clarified that the bureaucrat-turned-politician was not involved in any of the party activities.

BOM12 MH-HC-KAMRA-PIL

No vindictive action taken against anyone for re-sharing Kamra video, says HC; disposes of PIL Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government has not taken vindictive action against any person for re-sharing or re-uploading stand-up comic Kunal Kamra's video in which he indirectly passed a "traitor" jibe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

LEGAL LGD26 DL-HC-TERROR-BAIL

Delhi HC refuses bail to separatist leader in terror-funding case New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to separatist leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan in a terror-funding case, which also involves Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

LGD22 DL-COURT-2NDLD KAPIL MISHRA

2020 Delhi riots: Court stays till Apr 21 order for further probe against Law Minister Kapil Mishra New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday stayed till April 21, an order for further probe against Law Minister Kapil Mishra for his alleged role in the February 2020 riots.

BUSINESS DEL113 BIZ-2NDLD RBI

Home, auto loans to get cheaper as RBI cuts interest rate for 2nd time in a row Mumbai: Home, auto and other loans are likely to cost less as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut interest rates on Wednesday for a second consecutive time and signalled more easing to come as it sought to bolster the economy that is facing further pressure from damaging US tariffs.

DEL140 BIZ-INDIA-US-TRADE PACT

Goyal asks exporters not to panic: 'India working out right mix of trade pact with US' New Delhi: Amid the ongoing global tariff war, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday asked exporters not to panic and assured them that India is working on the "right mix and right balance" in its proposed trade agreement with the US.

DEL127 BIZ-2ND LD INDIA-BANGLADESH-TRADE

India terminates transshipment facility for Bangladesh to export goods to third countries New Delhi: The government has terminated the transshipment facility that allowed export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries using Indian land customs stations en route to ports and airports, according to a government circular.

DEL81 BIZ-GADKARI-FARM

Gadkari makes case for increasing share of farm sector in GDP to 22 pc New Delhi: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday has made a case for increasing the share of agriculture in India's GDP to 22 per cent from the current 14 per cent, saying it would help prevent migration of rural youth to cities.

FOREIGN FGN61 PREZ-SLOVAKIA-INDIA

'Further arming' not a solution to Ukraine war: Slovakia President Bratislava: India and Slovakia have "agreed" that the solution to the Ukraine war is not through "further arming" but continued peace talks and diplomatic avenues, Slovak Republic President Peter Pellegrini said on Wednesday after his talks with President Droupadi Murmu.

FGN60 SLOVAKIA-MURMU-UNSC SEAT

Slovakia fully supports India's bid for permanent seat at UNSC: President Peter Pellegrini Bratislava: Slovakia extends its "full support" to India on its bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, President Peter Pellegrini said.

FGN70 UK-2NDLD SITHARAMAN

FM Sitharaman joins UK Business Secretary at Lord Mayor’s investment roundtable London: The Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King, hosted a high-level UK-India Investment Roundtable with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds at the Mansion House here on Wednesday morning.

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Source: PTI