HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1800 hrs:

ELN23 CONG-MODI-LD RAJIV Modi a serial liar: Congress on PM's INS Viraat allegation

New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the late Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat as "personal taxi" on a family vacation, the Congress Thursday hit back, saying the PM is a "serial liar" and has made Indian Air Force jets his "own taxi".

ELN7 WB-LD MODI Mamata insulting the Constitution by not accepting me as PM: Modi

Bankura/Purulia (WB): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is insulting the Constitution by saying that she is not ready to accept him as the prime minister of the country.

DEL3 JAITLEY-NAVAL-FLEET 'Naamdars' use naval fleet for holidaying, 'kaamdars' use them to strike at terror: Jaitley

New Delhi: Echoing sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister over the use of INS Viraat by late Rajiv Gandhi for a family vacation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday said while the "kaamdars" used India's naval fleet to strike at terror, "naamdars" used them for personal reasons.

ELN26 HR-LD-RAHUL Talk about my father, but also explain Rafale: Rahul to Modi

Sirsa (Har): Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday renewed his attack over alleged corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal, this time in response to Narendra Modi calling his late father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi “Bharashtachari No 1”.

ELN28 DL-LD ATISHI-PAMPHLET Atishi charges BJP with distributing obscene pamphlets against her, saffron party denies it

New Delhi: East Delhi AAP candidate Atishi Thursday broke down while reading a pamphlet containing "obscene and derogatory" remarks against her that she claimed has been distributed in the constituency by her BJP rival Gautam Gambhir, a charge vehemently denied by the cricket star turned politician who said he will quit the race if the allegation was proved.

ELN19 JK-RAJIV-MALIK Initially Rajiv Gandhi was not corrupt but later got involved in Bofors: Satya Pal

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Thursday said former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was initially not corrupt but under the influence of some people, he got involved in the Bofors corruption case.

MDS1 KA-PRAGYA-LANKESH Gauri Lankesh killing: SIT denies reports linking Sadhvi Pragya

Bengaluru: The special investigation team probing the journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh murder case denied a media report about BJP MP candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's involvement in the crime.

LEGAL

LGD16 SC-2ND LD COLLEGIUM SC Collegium reiterates names of Justices Bose, Bopanna for elevation to apex court

New Delhi: Rejecting the government's objections, the Supreme Court Collegium has reiterated its recommendation to elevate Justices Aniruddha Bose and A S Bopanna to the apex court, observing that nothing adverse has been found regarding their competence, conduct or integrity.

LGD18 SC-LD VARANASI CANDIDATE Cancellation of nomination: SC dismisses plea of sacked BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday rejected sacked BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav's plea challenging the Election Commission's decision to reject his nomination papers from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

LGD8 SC-RAJIV Rajiv assassination case: SC dismisses pleas opposing TN's move to release convicts

New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed pleas of families of those killed along with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, objecting to the Tamil Nadu government's 2014 decision to release seven convicts in the case.

FOREIGN

FGN21 UK-NIRAV MODI Nirav Modi fails to convince UK judge that he's not a flight risk

London: A UK judge who denied bail to Nirav Modi for a third time remained unconvinced that his community ties to Britain were strong enough to not make him a flight risk even though the fugitive diamond merchant was willing to double his security to 2 million pounds and live on a strict 24-hour curfew at his posh apartment in London. By Aditi Khanna

FGN19 NKOREA-2NDLD PROJECTILES North Korea fires missiles as US envoy visits Seoul

Seoul: North Korea welcomed a US envoy's visit to Seoul by firing two missiles Thursday, the South's military said, in Pyongyang's second launch in less than a week as it seeks to up the ante in deadlocked nuclear negotiations with Washington. (AFP)

FGN22 UK-JALLIANWALA No apology for Jallianwala Bagh as Theresa May repeats deep regret

London: Prime Minister Theresa May has repeated the UK government's deep regret over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark the 100th anniversary of the British colonial era attack in Amritsar on Vaisakhi. By Aditi Khanna

FGN16 PRIVACY-GOOGLE-PICHAI Google will never sell any personal info to 3rd parties: CEO Pichai

New York: Google will never sell any personal information of its users to third parties, CEO Sundar Pichai has said, amidst growing global concern over the misuse of personal data by some social media giants.

FGN1 CHINA-US-TRADE China warns retaliatory measures if Trump slaps more tariffs ahead of crucial trade talks

Beijing: China has threatened to retaliate if US President Donald Trump raises tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of goods ahead of the crucial 11th round of talks aimed at ending the trade war between the world's two largest economies. By K J M Varma CK