HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI): Following are the top PTI stories at 9:45 PM:

DEL54 POL-LDALL AZHAR

Rahul alleges Modi 'scared' of Chinese prez, BJP retorts why is he in 'celebratory mood' New Delhi: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not saying a word against China for blocking Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist because he was "scared" of its president Xi Jinping, prompting the BJP to retort why the Congress president was in a "celebratory" mood when India was in "pain".

DEL58 LDALL-PB-CORRIDOR India, Pak hold 'cordial' meet on Kartarpur corridor, agree on early launch

Attari/New Delhi: India and Pakistan Thursday agreed to work towards “expeditiously” launching the Kartarpur corridor, a decision taken at a meeting held after the recent escalation in tensions between the two countries.

DEL49 LDALL VADAKKAN

Cong Spokesperson Tom Vadakkan joins BJP; says 'hurt' over party's stand post-Pulwama strike New Delhi: In an embarrassment to the Congress, Tom Vadakkan, once seen as a key aide of Sonia Gandhi, joined the BJP on Thursday, saying he was "deeply hurt" over the opposition party's stand post-Pulwama terror strike, and that his decision was "not about ideology but patriotism".

BOM14 MH-3RD LD BRIDGE 'Kasab bridge' in south Mumbai collapses; 5 dead, 29 injured

Mumbai: Five persons were killed and 29 injured after a major portion of a foot overbridge near a train station in south Mumbai collapsed Thursday evening, officials said.

MDS17 KL-LDALL RAHUL

Rahul launches poll campaign in Kerala, slams CPI-M, BJP-RSS Kozhikode: Launching his party's poll campaign in Kerala, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Thursday flayed the ruling CPI(M) in the state and BJP-RSS for allegedly indulging in violence and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring voices of farmers, fishermen and small businessmen.

Legal:

LGD33 SC-2ND LD RAFALE Rafale case: Will first decide preliminary objection raised by Centre, says SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday said it will decide first on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre and then go into the facts of the Rafale fighter jet deal case.

LGD32 SC-LD BCCI

SC appoints PS Narasimha as mediator to resolve disputes of cricket administration in BCCI New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday appointed senior advocate P S Narasimha, who is assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the BCCI matter, as mediator for resolving various disputes related to cricket administration in the country.

LGD6 SC-LD DAIICHI FORTIS SC asks ex-Ranbaxy promoters to apprise how they'll comply with Rs 3500 cr arbitral award

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday asked former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh to apprise it how they propose to comply with the Rs 3,500 crore arbitral award passed against them by a Singapore tribunal.

Foreign:

FGN17 CHINA-2NDLD AZHAR China defends blocking Azhar terror listing, says it will help in finding lasting solution

Beijing: China on Thursday defended its fourth "technical hold" on the designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the move would give it time for a "thorough and in-depth assessment" of the case and help the parties concerned to engage in more talks to find a "lasting solution" acceptable to all.

FGN23 PAK-KARTARPUR-LD DELEGATION

1st meeting on Kartarpur Corridor "constructive": Pakistan Islamabad: The first meeting of officials of Pakistan and India to finalise the modalities of the landmark Kartarpur Corridor, held in the shadow of escalating bilateral tensions, was "construcirve" and the discussions were held in a "cordial environment", the Foreign Office said here.

FGN14 UNSC-2NDLD AZHAR UNSC members may be forced to take "other actions" on Azhar listing: diplomats warn China

Washington: Responsible member-states of the Security Council may be forced to take "other actions" if China continues to block moves to designate Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, diplomats at the UN's principal organ have warned.

FGN13 US-INDIA-LD NUCLEAR

India, US agree to build six nuclear power plants Washington: The US has agreed to build six atomic power plants in India to strengthen bilateral security and civil nuclear cooperation and expressed its strong support to India's early membership in the NSG.