HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 PM NATION DEL73 HR-LDALL PM (4.56 pm) **** PM flags off India's first hydrogen-powered train, calls it successful example of Make in India campaign Jind (Haryana): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train connecting Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, calling it a major leap towards green mobility and a successful example of the 'Make in India' campaign. **** DEL18 CJP-PROTEST-LD WANGCHUK (12.16 PM) **** CJP Protest: I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost, says Wangchuk; Pawan Khera visits agitators New Delhi: Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday asserted that he would "stay alive till July 20 at any cost", even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage. **** DEL54 HR-TRAIN-WEST ASIA-PM (3.31 pm) **** India's development did not come to standstill despite oil supply crisis: PM Modi Jind (Haryana): Indian Railways would have come to a standstill had the situation from the West Asia conflict arisen before 2014 because most trains then ran on diesel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday while stressing that nearly 99 per cent of the network has been electrified in the 12 years of his government. **** DEL55 HR-PM-LD-PROJECTS (3.35 pm) **** Jind: PM Modi lays foundation stone, dedicates to nation development projects worth Rs 14,700 cr Jind (Haryana): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth Rs 14,700 crore, giving a boost to road connectivity, healthcare and strengthening cultural heritage. **** DEL61 CH-MODI-LD PROJECTS (4.04 pm) **** 'Must move forward with modern mindset': PM unveils Rs 4,700 cr projects in Chandigarh Chandigarh: Unveiling several projects worth over Rs 4,700 crore in Chandigarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the journey towards 'Viksit Bharat' must be accompanied by a modern mindset focused on technologies and healthcare services of the future. **** DEL68 CONG-RAMESH-GYANESH KUMAR (4.29 pm) **** Gyanesh Kumar a 'weapon of mass destruction' for electoral rolls: Cong's Jairam Ramesh New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday slammed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a "complete weapon of mass destruction" for electoral rolls in the country and said the opposition would push for his removal as the poll panel chief. **** DEL51 CONG-RAM TEMPLE (3.22 pm) **** PM Modi announced Ram temple trust in Parliament, must break silence on floor of House: Cong New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in Parliament the setting up of the Ram temple trust whose activities have resulted in "aastha dhoka (betrayal of faith)", and demanded that he must break his silence on the issue of alleged donation theft on the floor of the House. **** DEL63 MEA-PREZ-VISITS (4.08 pm) **** President Murmu to visit Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania from July 19-25 New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu will undertake state visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania from July 19-25 to boost bilateral ties with the three countries. **** DEL64 OPPOSITION-KHAN-WANGCHUK (4.08 pm) **** Cong, AAP, RJD slam Aamir Khan over '3 Idiots' clarification New Delhi: Congress, RJD and AAP leaders on Friday questioned actor Aamir Khan's statement that his character in the film '3 Idiots' was not based on education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, suggesting he was unwilling to take a stand out of fear of the ruling establishment. **** DEL52 PAR-REPORT-LD DEFER (3.26 pm) **** In the midst of voting, JPC examining bill on removal of PM, CMs defers adoption of draft report New Delhi: In a dramatic development, a Joint Committee of Parliament examining a bill on removal of prime minister and chief ministers detained on serious charges decided to defer the adoption of a draft report when voting was underway on each of the five recommendations made by the panel. **** MDS8 TN-DELIMITATION-LD DMK (2.57 pm) **** DMK to study Bill on delimitation, decide matter on 'merit' Chennai: The DMK on Friday said it will study the Bill on proposed delimitation, as and when it is tabled in Parliament, and take a decision based on "merits" to protect Tamil Nadu's interests. **** DEL44 BJP-CONG-VANDE MATARAM (2.26 pm) **** BJP slams Cong for opposing bill giving statutory protection to Vande Mataram New Delhi: The BJP on Friday criticised the Congress for allegedly opposing the Centre's move to table a Bill that provides for punishment for insulting or obstructing the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram at official events, in the upcoming Parliament session. **** DEL22 RJ-NEET-TOPPER (12.38 PM) **** Discipline, consistency helped me secure NEET-UG AIR 3: Uplakshya Goyal Jaipur: Uplakshya Goyal, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 3 in the 2026 NEET-UG re-examination, has attributed his success to disciplined preparation, consistent practice and the support of his parents and teachers. **** DEL19 KA-CABINET-JARKIHOLI (12.29 PM) **** Karnataka Cabinet expansion: Preliminary talks on, list to be finalised soon, says Jarkiholi New Delhi: Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday said preliminary discussions on the much-awaited Cabinet expansion have begun, with another round of talks expected soon before the list of candidates is finalised. Talking to reporters, the Congress leader from Belagavi pressed for greater representation for his home district, though he acknowledged that the final call rests with the Congress high command. **** BOM3 MP-FORT-CANNON-THEFT (11.20 PM) **** 400-year-old cannon stolen from Narwar Fort in MP Shivpuri (MP): A nearly 400-year-old cannon has been allegedly stolen from the historic Narwar Fort in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Friday. **** BOM4 MH-RAUT-BJP (12.58 pm) **** Fadnavis might get national role; senior BJP leader could replace him in Maharashtra: Raut Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed on Friday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis might move to the Centre and a BJP minister could take his post in the state if a cabinet reshuffle takes place in the coming months. **** CAL11 WB-3RDLD ACCIDENT (3.16 pm) **** Two school students among five killed as train hits pool car at open level crossing in Bengal Kolkata: A train rammed a pool car on an open level crossing in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Friday, killing five people, including two school students, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said. **** DEL13 MHA-DELHI-COMMISSIONER (11.01 AM) **** Anurag Kumar appointed new commissioner of Delhi Police New Delhi: Former special director of the Intelligence Bureau Anurag Kumar has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Delhi Police on Friday, the government said. **** CAL12 OD-2NDLD RATH YATRA (3.39 pm) **** Chariots of Lord Jagannath, sibling deities reach Puri's Shree Gundicha temple day after Rath Yatra Puri: The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings deities reached their destination of Shree Gundicha Temple here on Friday afternoon, a day after the Rath Yatra. **** LEGAL LGD12 SC-VISA-CENTRE (12.30 PM) **** SC to hear Centre plea against HC verdict nullifying tenders for visa services at Indian missions New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 20 the Centre's plea against a Delhi High Court verdict setting aside the tender awarded to private firms for outsourcing Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra. **** LGD8 SC-KERALA-WAQF BOARD (11.26 AM) **** SC to hear on Monday plea against Kerala HC order limiting Waqf Board from taking major decisions New Delhi: The Supreme Court agreed to hear on July 20 a plea challenging a Kerala High Court order restraining the state Waqf Board from taking any major decision without its permission. **** LGD16 DL-HC-SHARJEEL-LD BAIL (2.53 pm) **** 2020 Delhi riots: HC seeks police's stand on bail plea by Sharjeel Imam in UAPA case New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Delhi Police's stand on student activist Sharjeel Imam's plea seeking bail in a case under the anti-terror UAPA law concerning the "larger conspiracy" behind the February 2020 riots here. **** LGD19 SC-WB-SIR (3.42 pm) **** SC seeks responses of EC, Bengal govt on plea for data on claims of voters deleted under SIR New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Election Commission, the West Bengal government and the state poll panel on a PIL seeking disclosure of assembly constituency-wise data of claims and objections filed by deleted voters during the SIR process. **** BUSINESS DEL17 BIZ-RELIANCE-SHARES (12.14 PM) **** Reliance promoters raise stake by 0.5 pc through Rs 8,500-9,000 cr worth of share purchases New Delhi: The promoter group of Reliance Industries Ltd increased shareholding by nearly 0.5 percentage points during the June quarter through market purchases, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the country's most valuable company. **** FOREIGN FGN28 SINGAPORE-NRI-INVESTMENT (11.07 AM) **** NRIs can bring USD 70-80 bn into India through FCNR deposits: expert Singapore: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have the potential to bring USD 70-80 billion in foreign currency inflows into India through the ongoing FCNR initiative, under which banks are offering higher interest rates for a limited period, a Singapore-based chartered accountant said on Friday. **** FGN31 US-INDIA-TARIFF-BILL (11.39 AM) **** US Senate bill seeks 100% tariffs on India, 4 other nations for buying Russian oil Washington: A bill seeking to impose 100 per cent tariffs on five countries, including India and China, for buying Russian oil, while exempting European nations purchasing gas from Moscow, was introduced in the US Senate with the support of over 60 lawmakers. **** PTI MDO MDO