HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 5.40 pm: NATION DEL80 HP-CONG-OBSERVERS **** Himachal: Sukhu takes responsibility of Singhvi's defeat, differences ironed out, says DK Shivakumar Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken the responsibility of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi's defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls, party's central observer DK Shivakumar said on Thursday.**** CAL21 WB-SHAJAHAN-3RDLD ARREST **** Sandeshkhali unrest: TMC strongman Shajahan arrested, CID takes over probe Basirhat (WB): TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh, accused of sexual abuse and land grab in Sandeshkhali, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday after being on the run for 55 days that witnessed violent protests led by local women and a fierce political slugfest.**** CAL24 WB-SHAJAHAN-TMC-SUSPEND **** Hours after arrest, Shajahan Sheikh suspended from TMC for six years Kolkata: TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh, accused of sexual abuse and land grab in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, was on Thursday suspended from the party for six years, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said.**** DEL68 PM-MAURITIUS-2NDLD PROJECTS **** Modi, Jugnauth inaugurate airstrip, jetty, 6 other India-assisted projects in Mauritius New Delhi: India and Mauritius are natural partners in the maritime domain to combat traditional and non-traditional challenges in the Indian Ocean region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday after virtually inaugurating a new airstrip, a jetty and six community development projects in the island nation. **** DEL59 HP-MLAS-3RDLD DISQUALIFIED **** Himachal Pradesh crisis: Six rebel Congress MLAs disqualified by Speaker Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday disqualified six Congress MLAs who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls for the lone seat in the state.**** DEL61 PRIYANKA-HIMACHAL **** Priyanka Gandhi played 'pivotal' role in 'foiling Operation Lotus' in HP: Sources New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra played a ''pivotal'' role in protecting people's mandate in Himachal Pradesh, remaining in constant touch with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and senior leaders to ''foil'' the BJP's 'operation Lotus', sources said Thursday.**** DEL36 ENV-LEOPARD-REPORT ****India's leopard population rises to 13,874; slight dip in Shivalik hills, Indo-Gangetic Plains New Delhi: India's estimated leopard population rose from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, but the number of rosetted felines declined slightly in the Shivalik hills and the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the Union Environment Ministry said on Thursday.**** MDS9 TN-PM-STALIN **** What central projects have we stalled, Stalin asks, responding to PM's allegations Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should spell out what central schemes the state government has ''blocked'', and said those it opposed include NEET and the CAA, keeping public welfare in mind.**** LEGAL CAL25 WB-HC-SHAJAHAN **** Cal HC says ''no sympathy'' for Sandeshkhali atrocities accused Shajahan Sheikh Kolkata: Stating that the court has ''no sympathy'' for Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked his lawyer to appear before it on March 4 when a suo motu motion on alleged sexual atrocities and land grabbing of tribal people at Sandeshkhali will be heard.**** LGD18 SC-VEDANTA **** SC dismisses Vedanta's plea against closure of copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a Vedanta group's plea against the closure of its copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi.**** BUSINESS DEL60 CAB-LD SOLAR-ROOFTOP **** Cabinet okays Rs 75K cr rooftop solar scheme, 1 cr households to get subsidy of up to Rs 78K New Delhi: The government on Thursday approved a rooftop solar scheme, PM-Surya Ghar: Mufti Bijli Yojna, with an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore, to provide up to Rs 78,000 subsidy for the installation of solar plants and 300 units free power for one crore households.**** DEL67 CAB-LD SEMICONDUCTORS **** Union Cabinet nod to Rs 1.26 lakh cr chip-making units New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up three semiconductor-making units by firms, including Tata Group and Japan's Renesas, at an investment of Rs 1.26 lakh crore as part of an attempt to cut India's dependence on imports to meet requirements of chips.**** FOREIGN FGN44 RUSSIA-PUTIN-2NDLD ADDRESS **** Putin warns that sending Western troops to Ukraine risks a global nuclear conflict Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Thursday to fulfil Moscow's goals in Ukraine and sternly warned the West against deeper involvement in the fighting, saying that such a move is fraught with the risk of a global nuclear conflict. AP**** FGN42 PAK-PARLIAMENT-OATH-NAWAZ **** Three time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif takes oath as ordinary lawmaker Islamabad: Three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday took oath as an ordinary lawmaker in the 16th session of Pakistan’s National Assembly, days after giving up his bid to lead the country for a record fourth time.**** FGN36 BIZ-WTO-INDIA-ECOMMERCE **** Need re-examination of customs duties moratorium on electronic transmissions: India at WTO meet Abu Dhabi: India on Thursday pitched for re-examination of the implications of the customs duties moratorium on e-commerce trade for developing and least developed member nations of the WTO.****