HIGTLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1700 hours:

DEL25 UP-3RD LD PRIYANKA Priyanka Gandhi stopped on way to Sonbhadra, Cong says 'illegal arrest'

Lucknow/New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on Friday stopped from going to Sonbhadra where 10 people were gunned down this week and taken to a guesthouse after she squatted on the road with her supporters, insisting that she be allowed to proceed.

DEL20 CONG-RAHUL-PRIYANKA Priyanka's 'arrest' disturbing, arbitrary application of power shows BJP govt's insecurity: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday alleged that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was "illegally arrested" when she was going to meet victims of the Sonbhadra clash and hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, saying this "arbitrary application of power" reveals its increasing insecurity.

 

CAL6 NE-EARTHQUAKE Earthquake jolts Arunachal Pradesh, other NE states

Guwahati/Shillong: A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other northeastern states on Friday afternoon.

DEL26 BIZ-IEA-INDIA-LPG

International Energy Agency praises Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's signature Ujjwala scheme for providing free cooking gas connection to poor on Friday came in for praise from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which said it is a "major achievement" in improving the environment and health of women.

DEL32 UP-AZAM-LIST Azam Khan's name put on UP govt's online list of land mafias; SP protests

Rampur (UP): Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan's name has been put on an online list of land mafias by the district administration here following FIRs registered against him, drawing strong protest from his party which raised the issue in UP Legislative Council alleging that he is being framed in "fake" cases.

DEL16 UP-CLASH LD CM Sonbhadra clash: Five officials suspended, 29 accused arrested, says UP CM

Lucknow: Promising justice to those killed in the Sonbhadra clash, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth on Friday said the sub divisional magistrate and four policemen including circle officer were suspended and 29 people arrested.

CAL3 BH-LYNCH CATTLE THEFT

Three lynched in Bihar village on suspicion of cattle theft

Chapra: Three people were lynched at a village in Bihar's Saran district Friday morning by a mob that caught hold of them while they were allegedly stealing cattle, police said.

DEL13 PM-SPEECH IDEAS PM invites suggestions for his Independence Day speech

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday invited suggestions from people for his Independence Day speech, saying it will allow thoughts of the common man to be heard by the entire nation.

MDS27 AP-AMARAVATI-WB World Bank says it 'dropped' Amaravati project due to Centre withdrawing finance request

Amaravati (AP): The World Bank Friday said it 'dropped' the USD 300-million loan proposal for the Amaravati development project as the central government withdrew the financing request, triggering a blame game between the ruling YSRC and opposition TDP in Andhra Pradesh.

LEGAL:

LGD25 SC-2ND LD KARNATAKA Karnataka crisis: Congress moves SC against its July 17 order

New Delhi: Karnataka Congress moved the Supreme Court Friday contending that its July 17 order on the resignation of 15 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs was coming in the way of the party issuing whip to its legislators on the ongoing trust vote.

LGD17 SC-LD AYODHYA Babri Masjid demolition case: SC asks special judge to deliver verdict within nine months

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday asked the special judge conducting trial in the Babri Masjid demolition case, involving BJP veterans such as L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti, to deliver the verdict within nine months.

LGD16 SC-LD MINORITY SC seeks attorney general's assistance in PIL seeking minority be defined on state-wise data

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday sought assistance of Attorney General K K Venugopal in dealing with a plea seeking that minority communities be defined on the basis of state-wise population data instead of national data.

LGD7 SC-ASSAM Centre, Assam move SC seeking extension of deadline for finalisation of NRC

New Delhi: The Centre and the Assam government Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking extension of the July 31 deadline for finalisation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

FOREIGN:

FGN12 US-PAKISTAN-LD AID US security aid to Pak to remain suspended pending decisive action against terror groups: Report

Washington: America's security assistance to Pakistan will remain suspended pending "decisive and irreversible" action by the country against externally-focused militant groups like the LeT and Al Qaeda operating from its territory, a US congressional report has said ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit here. By Lalit K Jag

FGN6 US-CHINA-HUMAN RIGHTS China home to one of worst human rights crisis: Pompeo

Washington: United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said China was home to one of the worst human rights crisis of the present times, slamming Beijing for violations against ethnic and religious minorities. By Lalit K Jha

FGN2 US-IRAN-LD DRONE US shoots down Iranian drone: Trump

Washington: President Donald Trump has said a United States naval ship destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Horumz after coming within its "threatening range", a development that is likely to escalate the simmering tensions between the two countries.