HIGHLIGHTS

DEL82 CONG-NITISH Cong stresses importance of state polls after Nitish blames it for INDIA bloc losing steam New Delhi With Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar blaming Congress preoccupation with assembly polls for the INDIA blocs inability to build on the momentum it gained, the party on Thursday stressed the importance of the elections and asserted it was fighting them seriously.

Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL93 MOITRA-3RDLD PANEL **** Moitra, oppn members storm out of LS Ethics Committee meet New Delhi: Opposition members of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday stormed out of its meeting along with TMC MP Mahua Moitra as they accused its chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking her ''indecent personal'' questions, a charge he said was motivated to shield the parliamentarian from queries into her ''unethical conduct''. **** DEL100 DL-2NDLD AIR QUALITY **** Severe air quality in Delhi-NCR prompts ban on non-essential construction work New Delhi: The central government on Thursday ordered a ban on non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR as a thick layer of pungent haze obscured the national capital's skyline with pollution levels entering the ''severe'' zone for the first time this season. **** BOM41 ELECTIONS-CG-LD PM **** Development cannot take place where there is Congress, says PM during campaign in Chhattisgarh Kanker: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at the Congress in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, saying the party and development can not exist together and it is now filling its coffers through corruption in the states under its rule after losing power at the Centre. **** DEL84 ELECTIONS-RJ-BJP-LD LIST **** In 3rd list, BJP announces candidates against Rajasthan CM Gehlot, Pilot; 182 nominees declared so far Jaipur: The BJP on Thursday released its third list of 58 candidates for the November 25 Rajasthan assembly elections, fielding its nominees against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. **** DEL90 ISRAEL-AMBASSADOR-LD INTERVIEW **** Fine with India sending humanitarian assistance to people of Gaza: Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon New Delhi: Israel is providing to India more information relating to Hamas and it is hopeful that New Delhi will designate the group as a terrorist organisation as done by around 40 nations, Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said on Thursday.By Manash Pratim Bhuyan **** DEL98 MAHUA-SPEAKER **** Mahua Moitra writes to Lok Sabha Speaker, says was subjected to 'proverbial vastraharan' at ethics panel meet New Delhi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday alleging that she was subjected to the ''proverbial vastraharan'' by the chairperson of the Ethics Committee during a hearing on the cash-for-query allegations against her. **** DEL85 ED-2NDLD KEJRIWAL **** Kejriwal skips ED questioning; demands 'recall' of summons, calls it 'motivated'; AAP, BJP engage in verbal duel New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a case linked to the now scrapped Delhi excise policy and wrote to the Central agency demanding the ''recall'' of its summons to him, calling it ''vague, motivated and unsustainable in law''. **** DEL92 MAHUA-LD DUBEY **** Moitra tried to create wrong narrative about LS ethics panel proceedings: Nishikant Dubey New Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday alleged that TMC MP Mahua Moitra tried to build a wrong narrative about the proceedings of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee that is probing ''gifts-for-query'' allegations against her. **** DEL105 MH-ISIS-NIA-LD ARREST **** NIA arrests eighth accused in Pune ISIS module case New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made the eighth arrest in the Pune-based ISIS module case, an official said on Thursday, describing it as a ''significant development'' in the ongoing investigation into the activities of the proscribed terror group. **** DEL82 CONG-NITISH **** Cong stresses importance of state polls after Nitish blames it for INDIA bloc losing steam New Delhi: With Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar blaming Congress' preoccupation with assembly polls for the INDIA bloc's inability to build on the momentum it gained, the party on Thursday stressed the importance of the elections and asserted it was fighting them ''seriously''. **** BOM28 ELECTIONS-MP-LD-KEJRIWAL **** Defying ED summons, Kejriwal takes part in election roadshow in MP's Singrauli Singrauli (MP): Defying the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday took part in a roadshow for the party's Singrauli city candidate in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. **** BOM38 ELECTIONS-MP-CONGRESS-CAMPAIGN **** MP polls: Congress to step up campaign; Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka among leaders to address rallies in state Bhopal: Setting the target of winning 150-plus seats in Madhya Pradesh, where elections to the 230-member assembly will be held this month, the Congress has planned several rallies of its senior leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, in the coming days till the poll campaign ends. **** MDS29 KA-CHIEF MINISTER-LD SIDDARAMAIAH **** Will continue as chief minister for five years: Siddaramaiah dismisses reports of CM change after 2.5 years Hosapete (K'taka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday asserted that he would hold the office for a full five years. **** MDS17 ELECTIONS-TELANGANA-CPM-LIST **** CPI(M) announces first list of 17 seats after pre-poll alliance talks with Cong fail Hyderabad: After failing to reach a seat sharing agreement with the Congress, the Telangana unit of CPI(M) on Thursday released its list of 17 seats for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. **** LEGAL LGD24 UP-COURT-LD GYANVAPI **** Gyanvapi survey complete, ASI tells Varanasi court; gets time till Nov 17 to file report Varanasi: The Archaeological Survey of India on Thursday told a Varanasi court that it has ''completed'' the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex and is granted additional time till November 17 to submit its report. **** LGD23 SC-LD ELECTORAL BONDS **** Electoral bonds scheme: SC stresses on reducing cash component in electoral process, reserves verdict New Delhi: The electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties should not become a tool for ''legitimisation of quid pro quo'' between power centres and people who are benefactors of that power, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it underscored the need for reducing the cash component in the electoral process. **** BUSINESS DEL83 BIZ-AIR QUALITY-NCR-NHAI **** NHAI taking steps for dust control at construction sites: Govt New Delhi: State-owned National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking measures for dust control at national highway construction sites to improve air quality index in the National Capital Region, according to an official statement on Thursday. **** DEL29 BIZ-LD APPLE **** Notice sent to Apple, CERT-In has started probe: IT Secretary on hacking attempt threat notification row New Delhi: The government's cybersecurity agency CERT-In has started its investigation into the issue of the Apple threat notification received by several opposition MPs, and a notice has been sent to the company, IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Thursday. **** DEL95 BIZ-2ND LD RESULTS-TATA MOTORS **** Tata Motors reports consolidated net profit at Rs 3,783 crore in Q2 New Delhi: Tata Motors on Thursday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,783 crore for the September quarter, riding on robust performance by its British arm Jaguar Land Rover. **** FOREIGN FGN59 LANKA-SITHARAMAN-DEBT **** India continues to work closely with Sri Lanka on debt restructuring discussions: Nirmala Sitharaman Colombo: India on Thursday assured Sri Lanka that it will continue to work very closely with the island nation on debt restructuring discussions and extend support for the economic recovery. **** FGN44 PAK-2NDLD ELECTION **** General elections in Pakistan to be held on Feb 11, poll body informs Supreme Court Islamabad: Pakistan's general elections will be held on February 11 to elect a new government, the top electoral body on Thursday told the Supreme Court, ending uncertainty over the polls and strengthening the country's position in review talks with the IMF for the release of USD 710 million second tranche of a loan.By Sajjad Hussain **** FGN18 PORTUGAL-JAISHANKAR-LD DIASPORA **** EAM Jaishankar highlights need for direct air connectivity between India and Portugal to enhance ties Lisbon: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted the need for direct air connectivity between India and Portugal to expand bilateral exchanges, as he addressed the Indian diaspora in Portugal during his ongoing tour of Europe. ****