HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1800 hours:

DEL16 ED-CHIDAMBARAM-CIRCULAR ED issues fresh look out circular against P Chidambaram

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh look out circular against former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media money laundering case, officials said Wednesday.

DEL28 CHIDAMBARAM-CONG REAX Cong leaders stand in solidarity with Chidambaram, Rahul says govt 'misusing' power

New Delhi: A host of Congress leaders on Wednesday backed their colleague P Chidambaram, facing action in a money laundering case related to INX Media, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of using probe agencies and the media to "character assassinate" the former finance minister.

DEL43 CHIDAMBARAM-BJP Chidambaram must face consequences if he has done something fishy: BJP

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday rejected the Congress' charge of vendetta levelled against the Centre over the action of probe agencies against P Chidambaram, saying the Union government did not interfere in the investigation and he must face consequences for his deeds.

DEL17 JK-LD ENCOUNTER LeT militant, SPO killed in Baramulla encounter

Srinagar: A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant and a policeman were on Wednesday killed while a sub-inspector was injured in an encounter with ultras in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

DEL39 CBI-LD NDTV CBI books NDTV promoters Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy for FDI rules violation

New Delhi: The CBI has booked NDTV promoters Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy and others for allegedly violating foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in a 2007-09 investment, an allegation denied by the company.

DEL44 UP-2NDLD RESHUFFLE Adityanath shuffles ministry, inducts 18 new members

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday inducted 18 new members in his council of ministers, the first such reshuffle since the BJP government came to power in the state two and a half years back.

DEL6 CBI-LD CHIDAMBARAM CBI again lands at Chidambaram's residence; his lawyer asks not to take any coercive action till SC hearing

New Delhi: The CBI on Wednesday continued its efforts to locate P Chidambaram even as the former Union finance minister's legal team asked the agency not to take any coercive action against him as his petition is to be mentioned in the Supreme Court.

DEL15 JK-SITUATION Day-time relaxations continue in Kashmir; students stay away from schools

Srinagar: The authorities on Wednesday continued with day-time relaxations across Kashmir, while students stayed away from schools despite the administration's order of the reopening of educational institutions up to the middle classes-level across the Valley.

LEGAL:

LGD31 SC-7TH LD CHIDAMBARAM SC to hear Chidambaram's petition Friday for stay on Delhi HC order rejecting anticipatory bail plea

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is facing threat of arrest, failed on Wednesday to get protection from the Supreme Court which decided to hear on Friday his petition seeking stay on the Delhi High Court order that had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

LGD10 DL-HC-VADRA HC gives Vadra four weeks to file rejoinder in plea to quash money laundering case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave businessman Robert Vadra four weeks to file a rejoinder to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) reply to his petition seeking quashing of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

BUSINESS

DEL35 BIZ-GOLD-CLOSE Gold hits new high of Rs 38,820; silver jumps Rs 1,140

New Delhi: Gold prices on Wednesday appreciated Rs 50 to hit a new high of Rs 38,820 per 10 gram at the bullion market here on account of consistent buying support from jewellers, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

FOREIGN

FGN4 JOHNSON-MODI-KASHMIR Boris Johnson tells Modi Kashmir a bilateral issue, calls for India-Pak dialogue

London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Kashmir remains a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan as far as the UK's view is concerned, during a telephone call between the two leaders. By Aditi Khanna

FGN5 US-INDOPAK US supports direct dialogue between India, Pakistan on Kashmir: American official

Washington: The US supports a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, a senior American diplomat has said, insisting that at this point it is all the more important that Islamabad demonstrate its resolve to stop cross-border terrorism. By Lalit K Jha

FGN19 NEPAL-LD JAISHANKAR External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls on Nepal PM

Kathmandu, Aug 21 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday called on Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli here ahead of the 5th Joint Commission Meeting between India and Nepal. By Shirish B Pradhan.

FGN21 AUS-CARDINAL-2NDLD CONVICTION Australia's Cardinal Pell loses child sex abuse appeal

Melbourne: Disgraced Cardinal George Pell was sent back to jail on Wednesday after an Australian court quashed the most senior Catholic cleric's appeal against convictions for child sex abuse, a landmark decision cheered by the victims and welcomed by the Prime Minister. By Natasha Chaku.