New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL98 PM-VANCE-LD TALKS

PM Modi holds talks with US Vice President Vance New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with US Vice President JD Vance against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade pact.

DEL46 PM-GOVERNANCE

'Nagrik Devo Bhava': PM Modi's good governance mantra to bureaucrats New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked civil servants to follow the principle of "Nagrik Devo Bhava" while redressal of issues of underprivileged people, and emphasised last-mile delivery to ensure inclusivity in development.

DEL27 JH-NAXALS-4TH LD KILLED

Eight Naxals killed in Jharkhand encounter New Delhi: Eight Naxals, including a top rung central committee member of the extremists carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, were killed in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the CRPF and police in Bokaro district of Jharkhand on Monday, officials said.

DEL100 CONG-LD HERALD

ED 'vendetta' at behest of 'political masters': Congress leaders hold pressers on Herald case New Delhi/Mumbai: Holding press conferences around the country, top Congress leaders on Monday launched a strong defence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, with former Union minister P Chidambaram alleging the ED was carrying out "vendetta" at the behest of its "political masters".

DEL71 JK-FLASH FLOODS-RAMBAN

About dozen villages severely hit by flash floods, landslides: Jammu divisional commissioner Ramban (J-K): The flash-floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain and cloudbursts severely affected nearly a dozen villages in Jammu and Kashmir's hilly Ramban district, a senior government officer said on Monday and added the authorities had mobilised resources to restore essential services and provide relief to the affected people.

CAL32 WB-SSC-LD PROTESTS

WB school job loss: Teachers on warpath after SSC fails to publish ‘deserving’ list within deadline Kolkata: Chaos erupted outside Acharya Sadan, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) headquarters, on Monday evening after the recruitment body failed to release, by the 6 pm deadline set by the agitating teachers, the list of 2016 SSC qualifiers whose jobs were annulled by the Supreme Court.

MDS2 KA-EX-DGP-CHILLI

Ex-DGP murder case: Wife threw chilli powder before stabbing, say police Bengaluru: Police probing former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash's murder case have learnt that his wife Pallavi allegedly threw chilli powder on his face before stabbing him to death, police sources said.

LEGAL LGD42 SC-DEMOLITION

Demolition row: SC asks Rajasthan authority response on plea for contempt action New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Rajasthan authorities to respond to a plea for contempt action for allegedly razing a property in Jaisalmer in an illegal manner.

LGD36 SC-LD YEDDIYURAPPA

Corruption case: SC refers to larger bench issues over ex-CM B S Yediyurappa plea New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday referred to a larger bench the legal issues stemming from a plea of BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, including the question whether a prior sanction to prosecute is needed under the Prevention of Corruption Act after a magisterial court order of inquiry.

LGD35 DL-COURT-RANA FAMILY

2008 Mumbai attacks: Accused Tahawwur Rana wants to talk to family, moves court New Delhi: Jailed 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana has moved a court seeking the permission to talk to his family members.

LGD25 SC-LD ALLAHBADIA

SC takes note of plea alleging Samay Raina ridiculed disabled New Delhi: In what could spell fresh trouble for "India's Got Latent" host Samay Raina, the Supreme Court on Monday said it would examine a plea alleging he ridiculed the disabled, including a person with visual disability and those suffering from a rare disorder like Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

FOREIGN FGN38 VATICAN-4THLD POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis, Latin America's first pontiff who ministered with charm and humility, dies at 88 Vatican City: Pope Francis, history's first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humility and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives over climate change and critiques of capitalism, died Monday. He was 88. (AP)

FGN45: BIZ-FM-TRADE PACT

India actively engaging with US; hopes to sign first phase of bilateral pact by Oct: FM San Francisco: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said India is "actively engaging" with the new US administration and hopes to conclude the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement "positively" by fall (September-October) this year.

FGN44: CHINA-TARIFFS-LD COUNTERMEASURES

China threatens to retaliate against countries striking trade deals with US at its expense Beijing: China on Monday threatened to impose countermeasures on countries seeking to strike trade deals with the US at its expense in order to get American tariff exemptions.

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