HIGHLIGHTS

By Aditi Khanna FGN51 NEPAL-ADB-LOAN ADB approves USD 50 million loan to Nepal for policy reforms Kathmandu The Asian Development Bank ADB on Thursday said it has approved a USD 50 million loan to the Nepal government to support the implementation of policy reforms and help improve the Himalayan nations domestic and international trade with its key economic partners like India and Bangladesh.

Following are the top stories at 9.10 pm.

NATION CAL35 MN-LD ALL RAHUL **** Drama in Manipur: Rahul visits Churachandpur camps by chopper as police halt convoy midway Imphal: Ethnic strife-torn Manipur witnessed high drama on Thursday over the visit of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to relief camps in Churachandpur after his convoy was stopped by the police midway and he had to take a helicopter to reach his destination. **** DEL51 OPPOSITION MEETING-LDALL PARTIES **** Amit Shah calls Nitish a 'Paltu babu' amid escalating slugfest over opposition conclave; Pawar, Stalin target PM Munger (Bihar)/Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar calling him a “Paltu babu'' who was ''hoodwinking'' RJD supremo Lalu Prasad amid an escalating political slugfest over the recent opposition conclave to stitch an anti-BJP front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. **** MDS19 TN-2NDLD-MINISTER DISMISSAL TN Governor dismisses Minister Senthil Balaji from Cabinet, CM Stalin vows to fight it legally Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Thursday dismissed Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a cash-for-jobs scam, a move that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said the government would challenge legally. DEL40 LD BAKRID **** India celebrates Bakrid with religious fervour, Eid prayers pass off peacefully in J-K New Delhi: Eid-ul-Adha, also known as Bakrid, was celebrated with religious fervour across the country on Thursday, with people gathering at mosques and eidgahs in large numbers to offer prayers and exchange the festival greeting 'Eid Mubarak' by embracing each other. **** DEL46 PM-COUNCIL-LD MEETING **** PM Modi to chair meeting of Council of Ministers on July 3 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on July 3, a development which comes against the backdrop of hectic meetings of the ruling BJP's top brass amid a buzz over a Cabinet reshuffle and organisational changes. **** DEL49 LDALL BHIM ARMY **** Aazad discharged from hospital, car used by attackers recovered Lucknow/Saharanpur: Police have recovered the car used in the attack on Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad, who was discharged from hospital on Thursday, a day after he was shot at by unidentified assailants in Deoband. **** DEL48 DEF-INDIA-TANZANIA **** India, Tanzania agree on five-year roadmap for defence cooperation New Delhi: India and Tanzania have finalised a five-year roadmap to expand overall bilateral defence cooperation including in areas of infrastructure building and collaboration in military equipment and technology. **** DEL42 CONG-BJP-KA RICE **** Cong, BJP trade charges over free rice under 'Anna Bhagya' scheme in Karnataka New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of being ''petty and partisan'' and stopping the Food Corporation of India from selling rice to the Karnataka government for its free rice distribution scheme, drawing sharp reactions from the BJP. **** BOM41 MH-LD PAWAR-UCC **** Pawar seeks `clarity' on UCC, raises demand of quota for women in Parliament, state legislatures Pune: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said his party will decide its stand on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after the government clarifies certain things, and also made a pitch for reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. **** DEL55 DRONES-LD COST Average cost offered by US for MQ-9B drones 27 per cent less for India, negotiations yet to begin: Sources New Delhi: The average estimated cost of MQ-9B long endurance drones offered by the US to India is 27 per cent lower than the price incurred by other countries, a senior government official said on Thursday, asserting that Indian representatives will work to reduce it further during negotiations.

CAL38 MN-3RDLD FIRING **** One killed as 'rioters' open unprovoked firing in Manipur's Kangpokpi Imphal: One person was killed and a few others were injured when ''rioters'' opened firing without any provocation at Haraothel village in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Thursday morning, leading to tension in the area. **** CAL12 WB-GUV-PANCHAYAT **** Death knell of democracy should not ring in hands of its custodian: Bengal governor Siliguri: In the backdrop of incidents of violence ahead of the Panchayat polls in West Bengal, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday sent out a strong message to the state administration, saying the “death knell of democracy” should not ring in the hands of its custodian. **** FOREIGN FGN38 US-INDIA-SCS-OFFICIAL **** US sees growing role for India in South China Sea: top Biden admin official New York: The US sees a growing role for India in the disputed South China Sea and there will be a collaboration between Washington and New Delhi in this strategically vital region, a top Biden administration official said, amid growing Chinese aggression in the area. By Yoshita Singh **** FGN8 UK-SUNAK-INDIA-FTA **** Want to strike 'truly ambitious' trade deal with India, says UK PM Rishi Sunak London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed his commitment to a “truly ambitious” free trade agreement (FTA) with India and indicated his plans to visit New Delhi for the G20 Summit in September. By Aditi Khanna **** FGN51 NEPAL-ADB-LOAN **** ADB approves USD 50 million loan to Nepal for policy reforms Kathmandu: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it has approved a USD 50 million loan to the Nepal government to support the implementation of policy reforms and help improve the Himalayan nation's domestic and international trade with its key economic partners like India and Bangladesh. By Shirish B. Pradhan ****