HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 PM TOP STORY FGN64 PM-INDIA-2NDLD AUSTRALIA (4.39 PM) **** Eye on Indo-Pacific: India and Australia deepen ties across nuclear, maritime and mineral sectors Melbourne: India and Australia on Thursday sealed a raft of landmark pacts spanning civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals sectors, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese reinforced the vital role of the bilateral partnership in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific. **** NATION DEL21 BJP-PM-FOREIGN VISIT (4.01 PM) **** PM's 3-nation visit yielding 'unprecedented' strategic gains: BJP New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing three-nation tour has been marked by several "unprecedented" achievements, including a major BrahMos missile deal with Indonesia, agreements on critical minerals and the development of strategic infrastructure that strengthen India's global standing. **** DEL8 CONG-NEET UGC (12.08 PM) **** Mantri Pradhan must resign, NTA should be disbanded: Congress New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday attacked the Modi government over the alleged irregularities in the UGC-NET exam, demanding that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign and the NTA disbanded. **** DEL6 CONG-ENV MINISTRY (10.55 AM) **** 'Gigantic scandal led to dismissals': Cong on removal of Bhupender Yadav's aides New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on the government over the "sudden sacking" of four close aides of Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, alleging that there has been a "gigantic scandal" that has led to the dismissals. **** DEL13 CONG-CHINA (2.25 PM) **** Modi govt hurt national interests by letting China capture India's critical industries: Congress New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged that the Modi government has hurt national interests by letting China "capture" India's most critical industries and opening more opportunities for the Chinese to "flourish". **** DEL27 LD RAIN (4.17 PM) **** Heavy monsoon rain wreaks havoc across India, disrupts normal life New Delhi: Torrential monsoon rains unleashed widespread destruction across several parts of the country on Thursday, inundating roads, uprooting trees, damaging property and disrupting normal life as authorities scrambled to restore normalcy. **** DEL32 CJP-LD PARLIAMENT MARCH (4.53 PM) **** CJP announces Parliament march on July 20; asks students, parents to join in New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party announced that it would march peacefully to Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session on July 20, even as its protest at Jantar Mantar entered the 20th day amid heavy rain on Thursday. **** BOM19 GJ-DATA CENTRE-POLICY (3.53 PM) **** Gujarat launches ambitious Data Centre Policy; eyes more than Rs 6 lakh cr investment in first phase Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government on Thursday launched the 'Viksit Gujarat Data Centre Policy 2026-29', and announced that it has already received proposals from 14 companies to set up data centres and expects investments of more than Rs 6 lakh crore in the first phase. **** BOM15 MH-COURT-TCS CASE-NIDA KHAN (2.38 PM) **** Trauma of giving birth in jail not bearable: Court on bail to TCS staffer Nida Khan Nashik: As it granted bail to a pregnant Nida Khan in a Nashik TCS case, a local court observed that the trauma of giving birth in prison is unbearable for any woman, drawing a comparison with the circumstances surrounding the birth of Lord Krishna. **** MDS16 TN-VIKRAM SOLAR-GOVT(4.29 PM) **** TN govt signs MoU with Vikram Solar to set up Rs 15,037 cr BESS plant in Tirunelveli Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday signed an MoU with solar energy solutions provider Vikram Solar to set up a Battery Energy Storage Systems manufacturing plant at an investment of Rs 15,037 crore at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Gangaikondan, Tirunelveli district. **** LEGAL LGD7 GREEN-BHU-COMPENSATION (3.40 PM) **** NGT directs completion of proceedings to levy Rs 2.65 cr on BHU for illegal tree-felling New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to complete the proceedings for levying an environmental compensation of over Rs 2.65 crore on the Banaras Hindu University for illegal felling of trees. **** LGD9 GREEN-GHAZIABAD FOREST (4.26 PM) **** NGT directs Ghaziabad DM to prevent illegal construction in city forest New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has passed an interim order directing the district magistrate to ensure that no illegal construction is carried out in Sai Upvan, the 200-acre forest area in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. **** BUSINESS DEL10 BIZ-NOVO NORDISK (12.26 PM) **** Novo Nordisk brings once-a-week diabetes treatment injection 'Awiqli' in India New Delhi: Danish pharma major Novo Nordisk on Thursday launched in India its once-weekly basal insulin injection, 'Awiqli' indicated for treatment of diabetes in adults. **** FOREIGN FGN43 US-TRUMP-INDOPAK (2.22 PM) **** Trump says 11 jets downed during India-Pak hostilities last year, repeats role in resolution of conflict Washington: US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of settling the conflict between India and Pakistan, adding that 11 jets were shot down during the four-day hostilities in May last year. **** PTI APL APL