HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 2100 hrs:

NATION

DEL36 2NDLD FLOODS Flood situation grim in southern, western states; 97 dead

Thiruvananthapuram/Ahmedabad: Kerala and Karnataka are facing a grim situation on Saturday as floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains left 66 people dead, while over four lakh people have been evacuated in Maharashtra and 19 lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Gujarat.

DEL35 CONG-3RDLD CWC Majority of leaders back Rahul as Cong prez ahead of 2nd CWC meet: Sources

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet for the second time on Saturday evening to take a final call on the new party president after a number of leaders, including state chiefs and MPs, backed Rahul Gandhi to continue on the post despite his refusal to reconsider his resignation.

DEL32 RJ-THAR EXPRESS-2NDLD PASSENGERS Thar Express from Pak reaches India; Indian link train on way to Karachi

New Delhi/Jaipur: Thar Express from Pakistan reached India on Saturday afternoon, while the Karachi-bound train is on its way to the neighbouring country, officials said.

DEL2 JK-SITUATION Prohibitory orders lifted in five J-K districts; schools, colleges reopen

Jammu: Prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 were lifted in five districts and curfew was relaxed in Doda and Kishtwar districts, paving the way for resumption of normal activities that were badly hit after special status of Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated, officials said on Saturday.

DEL37 HR-2NDLD KHATTAR Haryana CM draws flak for remarks on Kashmiri women, says it is 'distorted news'

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has courted a controversy with his remarks that "some people are now saying that as Kashmir is open, brides will be brought from there".

DEL5 VP-JAITLEY Jaitley responding to treatment: VP's office after Naidu visits AIIMS

New Delhi: Former Union minister Arun Jaitley, who has been admitted to the AIIMS here after he complained of breathlessness and restlessness, is stable and responding to treatment, the Vice President's office said on Saturday after Venkaiah Naidu visited the hospital.

DES28 UP-MLA-ART 370 Man booked for post against BJP MLA who made remarks about Kashmiri women

Muzaffarnagar (UP): A case was registered against a man on Saturday for an alleged objectionable social media post about the daughter of an Uttar Pradesh BJP legislator who had said party workers can now marry "fair" Kashmiri women, police said.

DES23 DL-LD TALAQ ARREST First case of triple talaq registered in Delhi, man arrested: Police

New Delhi: A 38-year-old man has been arrested for giving instant triple talaq to his wife, the first such case registered in the national capital since the practice was criminalised, police said on Saturday.

LEGAL

LGD7 SC-2ND LD ARTICLE 370 NC moves SC challenging Presidential Orders on Article 370

New Delhi: The National Conference mounted a legal challenge in the Supreme Court on Saturday to the changes made in the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, contending that these have taken away rights of its citizens without their mandate.

LGD11 DL-COURT-UNNAO Unnao: CBI 'deliberately' did not name MLA in murder case of rape survivor's father, court told

New Delhi: The counsel for the Unnao rape survivor told a court here on Saturday that the CBI "deliberately" did not name expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brother as accused in the murder case of the woman's father.

FOREIGN

FGN8 INDOPAK-BUS-LD SUSPEND Pakistan suspends Delhi-Lahore bus service

Islamabad: Pakistan has suspended the Lahore-Delhi friendship bus service from Monday, after it halted two cross-border trains, in the wake of India revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status, a senior Pakistani minister has said. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN7 PAK-INDIA-TRADE Pakistan formally suspends trade ties with India

Islamabad: Pakistan has formally suspended its trade relations with India after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. RC