HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 9.40 pm: NATION DEL99 LD EXIT POLLS Exit polls puts BJP ahead in MP, Rajasthan; advantage Congress in Chhattisgarh, Telangana New Delhi: Most exit polls on Thursday put the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and gave it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that it was advantage Congress in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

DEL33 MEA-US-SIKH-LD-SEPARATIST Matter of concern: India on US charging Indian national in case relating to plot to kill separatist New Delhi: India on Thursday described as a ''matter of concern'' the US charging an Indian national with conspiring to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case. DEL96 DEFENCE-MEGA-2NDLD PROCUREMENT India approves defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh cr New Delhi: India on Thursday accorded an initial approval to defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore that included procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters in a major move to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of its armed forces amid China's increasing military posturing along the contested frontier.

DEL73 PM-CLIMATE-COP28 India walked the talk when it comes to climate action: PM Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change.

DEL47 PM-YATRA-2NDLD BENEFICIARIES 4 biggest 'castes' for me are poor, youth, women, farmers; their rise will make India developed: PM New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that his work in the last 10 years has led to people having immense confidence in his government as he faulted past dispensations for acting like ''mai baap'' of citizens, with vote bank considerations guiding their development initiatives.

MDS19 ELECTIONS-TELANGANA-3RD LD POLLING Estimated 64 pc polling till 5 PM in T'gana, political parties keep fingers crossed Hyderabad: With an estimated 63.94 per cent voter turnout in an election where exit poll results were trying to seal the fate of parties even before all the ballot boxes were sealed, Telangana witnessed what is widely considered the fiercest poll battle since its formation. The BRS was trying to retain power for a consecutive third term in the state, while the opposition Congress mounted an all-out effort to unseat the incumbent.

LEGAL LGD23 SC-KERALA-3RDLD VICE CHANCELLOR SC quashes reappointment of Ravindran as Kannur University VC, raps Kerala govt; Guv Khan blames CM for fiasco New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday quashed the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor of Kannur University, as it came down hard on the Kerala government for its ''unwarranted intervention'' in facilitating a fresh term for him at the helm of the institution. It also assailed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the chancellor, saying he did not independently apply his mind despite not being a mere ''titular head''.

BUSINESS DEL90 BIZ-2NDLD ECONOMY Indian economy tops expectations, grows by 7.6% in Q2 New Delhi: India retained the tag of the world's fastest-growing major economy, with its GDP expanding by a faster-than-expected rate of 7.6 per cent in the July-September quarter on booster shots from government spending and manufacturing.

FOREIGN FGN36 CANADA-TRUDEAU-INDIA This is what Canada has been talking about, says Trudeau after US charges Indian for plotting Sikh separatist's murder Ottawa: The indictment of an Indian national in a foiled assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on American soil underscored what Canada has been alleging in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case and India must take it seriously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

FGN42 US-KISSINGER-LD INDIA Kissinger's hate-love relationship with India spanned decades Washington: Henry Kissinger, the veteran American diplomat who died at the age of 100, was known for his disdain towards India's leadership in the 1970s and even had used racist and misogynist language for the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. By Lalit K Jha FGN53 CHINA-INDIA-BORDER Chinese military values ties with Indian counterpart: China's Ministry of Defence Beijing: China's Defence Ministry on Thursday said that its military values its relations with the Indian counterpart as it maintained that the 20 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have helped to ease tensions amidst the eastern Ladakh standoff. By K J M Varma FGN52 COP28-LD LOSS AND DAMAGE Funds to compensate developing nations for climate impacts approved at COP28 Dubai: The UN climate talks here opened with a bang with countries clinching an early deal on how to compensate developing and poor nations that bear the brunt of the climate crisis despite contributing little to it, a decision welcomed by climate activists with caution. By Uzmi Athar FGN37 ISRAEL-LD SHOOTING Three killed in shooting attack in Jerusalem, fragile ceasefire holds for the seventh day Jerusalem: At least three Israelis were killed and six others injured when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop here, breaking an uneasy peace in the city since the outbreak of the current round of violence in the region. By Harinder Mishra ****