HIGHLIGHT

Following are the highlights at 2100 hours

TOP STORIES:

FGN51 PM-3RDLD SCO

India rules out joining BRI; PM says united approach needed to secure region

Qingdao (China): In a clear message of India's continued opposition to China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said mega connectivity projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, asserting that New Delhi would support initiatives which ensure inclusivity. By Manash Pratim Bhuyan

DEL22 CG-SHAH-RESERVATION

SC/ST Act, reservation to stay till BJP is in power: Shah

Ambikapur (C'garh): BJP chief Amit Shah asserted today that the SC/ST Act and the reservation system in jobs will remain in force till the party-led government is in power.

 

DEL27 CONG-ALLIANCES

Will not sacrifice interests of state leaders for sake of alliances: Cong

New Delhi: As parties put their heads together to cobble out an anti BJP alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has struck a note of caution and said it will not ignore the interests of its state leaders for the sake of regional tie-ups. By Sanjeev Chopra

BOM 10 MH-RAUT-PRANAB-RSS:

RSS may project Mukherjee as PM nominee in 2019: Sena leader

Mumbai: The RSS may project former president Pranab Mukherjee as a prime ministerial candidate if the BJP falls short of a majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and other parties refuse to back Narendra Modi for the post, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said here today.

MDS9 KL-RAIN

Nine killed in Kerala in rain-related incidents

Thiruvananthapuram: At least nine persons were killed in the last two days in Kerala in rain-related incidents even as the downpour continued in parts of the state, officials said.

NATION:

CAL6 BH-RJD-RIFT

Tej Pratap Yadav tweet signals rift with brother

Patna: Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, has triggered a flutter in political circle with a tweet signalling a rift between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav even as the latter urged people not to make a 'mountain out of a molehill'.

DES40 JK-JITENDRA

No decision to be taken which may undermine morale of security forces in J-K: MoS

Jammu: Union Minister Jitendra Singh today said no such decision would be taken which might undermine the morale of security forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

LEGAL:

LGM1 TN-HC-KARTHI

Karthi Chidambaram gets anticipatory bail in Black Money case

Chennai: In a late night hearing, the Madras High Court granted anticipatory bail to Karthi Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the warrant issued against him by the Income tax department under the Black Money Act for allegedly not disclosing foreign assets.

BUSINESS:

DCM21 BIZ-GST REFUND TOURISTS

GST refund to foreign tourists at airports on the cards

New Delhi:

Foreign tourists may soon get to claim GST refunds at airports at the time of exit as the revenue department is working on a mechanism to refund taxes paid by them on local purchases.

DCM28 BIZ-STEEL-SECY-INTERVIEW

India saved Rs-5,000 cr forex post new steel policy: Secy

New Delhi:

The roll out of new steel policy saved forex of Rs 5,000 crore since last year while around 24 million tonnes of crude steel capacity was added during past four years, Steel Secretary Aruna Sharma said. By Abhishek Sonkar

DCM45 BIZ-PNB-NPA

PNB expects Rs 8,000 cr recovery from NPAs this month

New Delhi: Enthused by the successful resolution of Bhushan Steel, Nirav Modi fraud-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) is hopeful of Rs 8,000 crore recovery from bad loans in the first quarter of the current fiscal.

FOREIGN:

FGN40 TRUMP-SINGAPORE-LD SUMMIT

Trump, Kim arrive in Singapore ahead of high-stakes summit

Singapore:

President Donald Trump landed in Singapore today evening, joining North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the island city-state ahead of one of the most unusual and highly anticipated summits in recent world history, a Tuesday sit-down meant to settle a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal.

FGN50 LANKA-CHINA-HAMBANTOTA

China withholds Hambantota Port deal's final tranche of USD 585 mn to Lanka over dispute

Colombo:

China has withheld the Hambantota Port deal's final tranche of USD 585 million to Sri Lanka due to Colombo's objection over its plan to use a man-made island for entertainment purposes, a media report said here today.

SPD9 SPO-IOA-MINISTRY

IOA seeks meeting with Ministry on Sports Code, warns of another suspension by IOC

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has asked Sports Ministry to initiate a dialogue on proposed changes in the draft Sports Code, with a veiled warning that any unilateral action on the part of the government could invite another suspension of the country by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

SPF20 SPO-ATH-JR

India bag four medals, including two gold, to finish third at Asian Junior Athletics

Gifu (Japan): India clinched four medals, including two golds, on the last day of competitions at the Junior Asian Athletics Championships to finish third in the medal standings, here today.