HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1700 hrs.

DEL28 BIZ-2NDLD RBI RBI cuts interest rates to 9-yr low, expects banks to quickly lower home, auto loan EMIs

Mumbai: In a move that may lead to lower home, auto and other loan EMIs, the RBI Thursday cut interest rates for the third time this year by 25 basis points to their lowest level in nine years and signalled more easing as it looked to support an economy growing at the slowest pace since the BJP first came to power in 2014.

DEL1 GOVT-COMMITTEES Govt announces constitution of various Cabinet panels

New Delhi: The government Thursday announced constitution of various Cabinet committees, including the one on economic affairs.

DEL34 LD JAISHANKAR Most Indians recognise country's global stature has risen in last 5 yrs: EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi: Most Indians recognise that India's global stature has risen in the last five years and this played a role in the NDA government retaining power for a second consecutive term, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

DEL2 ED-AVI-PRAFUL PATEL Patel seeks another date to depose before ED in PMLA

Mumbai: Former civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel on Thursday requested for another date to depose before the ED in connection with a money-laundering probe related to the losses suffered by national carrier Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore-rupee aviation scam, hours ahead of his appearance before the agency.

DEL41 MEA-PAK No Modi-Imran meeting on sidelines of SCO: MEA

New Delhi: No bilateral meeting has been planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

DEL37 ED-VADRA ED requests foreign agencies for details about UK assets linked to Vadra, summons NRI

New Delhi: The ED has widened its probe against Robert Vadra and requested its UK counterparts to share details of ownership and related financial transactions of over half-a-dozen assets there that the agency claimed were acquired using laundered money and belonged to him, officials said.

DEL30 DL-MONSOON Monsoon may take longer to reach Delhi, normal rainfall likely: IMD

New Delhi: The arrival of the monsoon in the national capital is likely to be delayed by two-three days, though the city is expected to receive normal rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Thursday.

MDS1 KL-LD NIPAH Nipah: Samples of 6 test negative; Ker Health Min says big relief for us

Kochi/New Delhi: Samples of six people, including three nurses and a nursing assistant, who had attended on a college student infected with Nipah virus have tested negative and indicate the virus has not spread, Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said Thursday.

DEL43 PB-BLUESTAR-ANNIVERSARY Some markets shut, pro-Khalistan slogans raised at Golden Temple on Operation Bluestar anniversary

Amritsar: Markets around the Golden Temple remained closed for several hours and pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by Sikh hardliners in the complex Thursday, the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.

BOM3 MP-LD PRAGYA Pragya Thakur hospitalised, fails to appear before court

Bhopal/Mumbai: BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur failed to appear before a court in Mumbai Thursday - for the second time this week - in connection with the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

BUSINESS

DEL20 BIZ-RBI-GROWTH RBI lowers economic growth forecast to 7 pc for FY20

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India Thursday lowered the economic growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7 per cent due to slowdown in domestic activities and escalation in global trade war.

DEL23 BIZ-RBI-RTGS CHARGES RBI removes charges on RTGS/NEFT transactions; asks banks to pass on benefits

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India Thursday said it has done away with charges on fund transfers through RTGS and NEFT routes to boost digital transactions and asked banks to pass on the benefits to customers.

DEL21 BIZ-RBI-POLICY-INFLATION RBI raises retail inflation forecast for Apr-Sept FY20 to 3-3.1 pc

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank Thursday raised the retail inflation forecast marginally to 3-3.1 per cent for the first half of the current fiscal, tracking uptick in food prices - mainly vegetables, albeit expectations of a normal monsoon this year.

DEL39 BIZ-STOCKS-CLOSE Sensex dives 554 pts despite RBI rate cut; financial stocks crack

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex plunged 554 points Thursday, dragged down by losses in banking, energy and capital goods stocks even as the RBI cut the policy rate to shore up growth.

LEGAL

LGD1 SC-REDDY SC to hear mining baron Janardhana Reddy's plea to travel to Ballari on Friday

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Friday a plea by former Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy, who has sought permission to travel to Ballari in the state to visit his ailing father-in law.

FOREIGN

FGN10 CHINA-2NDLD 5G China grants commercial licences to 4 telecom companies to launch 5G services amid tensions with US

Beijing: China Thursday granted commercial licences to four state-owned telecom giants to start rolling out 5G services, signalling Beijing's determination to be the global leader in setting up superfast wireless networks amid tensions with the US over technology and trade. By K J M Varma.