HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1700 hours:

DEL26 KASHMIR-2NDLD-RESTRICTIONS EASED Kashmir restrictions eased for Friday prayers, security forces on high alert

Srinagar: Restrictions were eased to allow people in Kashmir to offer Friday prayers in local mosques, officials said on Friday as security forces were put on high alert across the Valley in an apparent move to prevent possible protests.

DEL49 MEA-KASHMIR Pak nervous about India's steps in J-K: MEA

New Delhi: India on Friday said Pakistan is nervous over India's steps in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that Islamabad thinks it will not be able to mislead people if there is development in that region.

DEL8 SAMJHAUTA-LD ARRIVAL Samjhauta Express arrives in Delhi with 117 passengers on board

New Delhi: The Samjhauta Express which was stopped at the Wagah border by Pakistani authorities on Thursday reached Old Delhi railway station with 117 passengers at 8:05 am on Friday, four-and-a-half hours behind schedule, the railways said.

DEL22 BIZ-PM-KISAN Centre will cover 10cr farmers under PM-Kisan by year-end: Agriculture Minister

New Delhi: The government aims to cover this year as many as 10 crore farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme, wherein they will be given Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday.

CAL2 WB-CEC-BALLOT PAPERS No question of going back to ballot papers: CEC Sunil Arora

Kolkata: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on Friday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's demand to bring back ballot papers in place of electronic voting machines, saying there is no question of going back to the old system.

DEL28 PREZ-UAPA-ASSENT

Prez gives assent to amendments to UAPA; individuals can now be declared as terrorists New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a legislation under which individuals can be declared as terrorists and their properties seized, officials said on Friday.

DEL7 RAHUL-PM-FLOOD

Rahul Gandhi speaks to PM over floods in Kerala, seeks assistance for those affected New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the flood situation in Kerala and sought assistance for those affected in the State, including in his constituency Wayanad.

DEL31 PM-LD MUKHERJEE

Bharat Ratna for Mukherjee fitting recognition for his service to nation: PM New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Bharat Ratna conferred on former president Pranab Mukherjee is a fitting recognition for his service to the nation.

DEL40 LEFT-2NDLD DETAINED

Yechury, D Raja not allowed to enter Kashmir, sent back: CPI(M) sources New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yecury and CPI chief D Raja were not allowed to enter Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and were sent back from Srinagar airport after a brief detention, party sources said.

DEL51 NATIONAL FILM AWARDS

Gujarati film 'Hellaro' best film, Ayushmann-Vicky Kaushal share best actor Nat Award New Delhi: Bollywood stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal on Friday won the National Film Award for best actor for their roles in "Andhadhun" and "Uri", respectively, while Gujarati movie "Hellaro" was declared the best film.

DEL33 BJP-LD POLL INCHARGES

BJP appoints Javadekar, Tomar and Yadav as poll in-charges for Delhi, Hry, Maharashtra New Delhi: Gearing up for the upcoming Assembly elections, the BJP on Friday appointed Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Narendra Singh Tomar, and party general secretary Bhupendra Yadav as its poll in-charges for Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra respectively.

MDS21 TN-POLL-VELLORE-RESULT

In a nail biting finish, DMK wins Vellore Lok Sabha seat Vellore (TN): In nail biting finish, DMK's D M Kathir Anand on Friday won the Vellore Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu defeating his nearest rival AIADMK's ally A C Shanmugam by a narrow victory margin of 8,141 votes.

LEGAL

LGD30 SC-3RD LD AYODHYA

SC to continue with day-to-day hearing in Ayodhya land dispute case New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday made clear that it would continue with the day-to-day hearing of the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid land dispute case.

LGD22 DL-COURT-LD UNNAO

Unnao case: Court frames rape charges against expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar New Delhi: A Delhi court Friday framed charges against expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar for allegedly raping a minor in Unnao in 2017.

BUSINESS

DEL30 BIZ-RATIONCARD-PASWAN

Inter-state portability of ration card begins in 4 states; across India by June 2020: Paswan New Delhi: In a bid to implement 'One Nation, One Ration Card' across the country by June 1, 2020, the Centre on Friday kick-started inter-state portability of ration card between Telangana-Andhra Pradesh as well as Maharashtra-Gujarat.

FOREIGN

FGN14 CHINA-LD INDOPAK

China calls on India, Pak to resolve disputes through talks as Qureshi arrives for talks Beijing: China on Friday called on India and Pakistan to resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation as Pakistan Foreign Minister arrived here to seek Beijing's support after New Delhi revoked the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. By K J M Varma

FGN15 US-LD KASHMIR

US says no policy change on Kashmir Washington, Aug 9 (PTI) The US has said that there is no change in its policy on Kashmir as it called on India and Pakistan to maintain restraint and hold direct dialogue to resolve their differences. By Lalit K Jha.