HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Following are the top headlines at 9 pm.

TOP STORIES DEL61 MEA-HAMAS-ISRAEL **** Hamas-Israel conflict: India once again calls for de-escalation of situation New Delhi: With Israel continuing its military offensive in Gaza in retaliation to last month's attacks by Hamas, India on Thursday once again called for de-escalating the situation and underlined the need for observing international humanitarian law in the face of increasing civilian casualties in the conflict. **** FGN41 UK-2ND LD JAISHANKAR **** EAM Jaishankar raises Khalistan issue with UK leaders London: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK during his meetings with the country's top leaders, stressing that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech. **** DEL63 MEA-MYANMAR-FIGHTING **** Deeply concerned: MEA on fighting between Myanmar's military and anti-junta groups near border with India New Delhi: India on Thursday called for cessation of fighting between Myanmar's military and anti-junta groups near the Indo-Myanmar border that has triggered an influx of Myanmarese refugees to Mizoram. **** DEL70 MEA-INDIANS-QATAR-LD APPEAL **** Appeal process in case involving 8 Indians on death row in Qatar underway: India New Delhi: India on Thursday said the appeal process against the death sentence handed down to eight former Indian Navy personnel by a Qatari court is under process and it was hopeful of a positive outcome from it. **** DEL34 DEF-RAJNATH-LD-ASEAN **** India committed to unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters: Rajnath New Delhi: India is committed to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters in accordance with global norms, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday against the backdrop of China's increasing military muscle flexing in the South China Sea. **** NATION DEL30 ELECTIONS-RJ-BJP-LD-MANIFESTO **** Rajasthan polls: BJP pledges LPG subsidy, completion of Eastern Canal Project Jaipur: The BJP on Thursday released its manifesto for the Rajasthan assembly polls, promising to provide LPG cylinder for Rs 450 each to Ujjawala scheme beneficiaries, 2.5 lakh government jobs in five years and increasing the financial assistance to farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme. **** DEL60 ELECTIONS-2NDLD-RJ RAHUL BJP will stop Cong's welfare schemes in Rajasthan, help billionaires: Rahul Gandhi Jaipur: The BJP will stop welfare schemes being run by the Congress government in Rajasthan if they come to power and they will help billionaires, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday as he addressed three back-to-back rallies in the state that goes to polls on November 25.

BOM20 ELECTIONS-MP-CURTAIN RAISER **** MP set for assembly polls on Friday, 2,533 vie for 230 seats; BJP, Congress in power race Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh will vote on Friday to decide the electoral fate of 2,533 candidates in 230 assembly seats, including political bigwigs like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath, in a poll that will be a largely bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. **** BOM16 ELECTIONS-CG-CURTAIN RAISER **** Chhattisgarh: 70 seats up for grabs in 2nd phase of polls; CM Baghel among 958 in fray Raipur: The second and final phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections for the remaining 70 seats will be held on Friday and decide the electoral fate of political heavyweights like Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his deputy TS Singh Deo, eight state ministers and four members of Parliament. **** DEL72 UKD-2NDLD TUNNEL **** Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: New equipment shows some results, raises hopes Uttarkashi: A heavy-duty drilling machine bored through 12 metres of rubble of the collapsed tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand on Thursday, raising hopes for the rescue of 40 workers trapped inside for over four days. **** DEL71 VAISHNAW-NEW TRAINS **** Railways to introduce 3,000 new trains in 5 years: Ashwini Vaishnaw New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said he is working on a plan to introduce 3,000 new trains in the next four-five years to raise the railways' passenger capacity from 800 crore at present to 1,000 crore. **** DEL68 ED-NEWSCLICK-SINGHAM-LD SUMMONS **** ED issues fresh summons to China-based American millionaire Singham in NewsClick PMLA case New Delhi: A fresh summons was issued by the Enforcement Directorate to China-based American millionaire Neville Roy Singham for questioning in connection with a money laundering probe linked to online news portal NewsClick, officials said on Thursday. **** MDS26 ELECTIONS-TELANGANA-LD CHIDAMBARAM **** We are sorry for loss of lives during Telangana agitation, says Congress leader Chidambaram Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday apologised for the loss of lives during the Telangana statehood agitation. **** CAL14 ELECTIONS-MZ-COUNTING **** EC sticks to Dec 3 as poll counting date, despite appeals for change in Mizoram Aizawl: The Election Commission has decided to go ahead with the scheduled date for counting of votes for the Mizoram assembly polls on December 3, despite repeated appeals by various quarters to change it, a top official said on Thursday. **** CAL15 OD-LD CYCLONE **** Deep depression over Bay of Bengal likely to intensify into cyclonic storm, cross Bangla coast Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Friday, will have no major impact on Odisha as it will move towards the Bangladesh coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. **** BUSINESS DEL67 BIZ-RBI-LD CREDIT **** RBI tighten norms for banks, NBFCs on personal loans by raising risk weights Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Thursday tightened norms for consumer credit as it asked banks and NBFCs to assign a higher risk weight for unsecured personal loans, a move aimed at making the lenders more cautious on such advances. **** DEL25 BIZ-SEBI-LD SAHARA **** Sahara matter will continue even after Roy's death: Sebi chief Mumbai: Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch on Thursday said the Sahara matter will continue for the capital markets regulator even after the death of the group's founder Subrata Roy. **** DEL45 BIZ-RBI-ECONOMY ***** We are not out of the woods yet and have miles to go: RBI Bulletin on inflation Mumbai: A Reserve Bank Bulletin on Thursday said retail inflation has moderated due to monetary policy action and supply side interventions, but 'we are not out of the woods yet and have miles to go'. **** FOREIGN FGN49 CHINA-XI-BIDEN-BRI **** Xi invites Biden to join BRI in summit talks, says ready to join US' multilateral initiatives Beijing/Woodside: Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited his US counterpart Joe Biden to take part in his pet global initiative the BRI and expressed his readiness to take part in the Washington-backed multilateral cooperate initiatives. By K J M Varma **** FGN55 MALDIVES-MUIZZU-RIJIJU **** Maldives President-elect Muizzu to be sworn in on Friday; Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to represent India Male: Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu will take oath of office on Friday at a ceremony in the capital Male, where India would be represented by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. **** FGN61 UK-NIRAV **** I could be in England for years, Nirav Modi tells UK court London: Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India to stand trial on fraud and money laundering charges, told a UK court on Thursday that he could be in England for years as some ongoing proceedings prevent his extradition. By Aditi Khanna PTI RPA