New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.05 pm: TOP STORIES DEL59 MEA-LD INDOUS-TRUMP India declines to comment on Trump's latest remarks; but firmly rejects Navarro's criticism New Delhi: India on Friday declined to respond to US President Donald Trump's remarks that New Delhi is inching closer to China even as it rejected as "inaccurate and misleading" White House Trade advisor Peter Navarro's attack on it for procurement of Russian crude oil.

FGN57 US-LUTNICK-INDIA

India will be at negotiating table 'in a month or two': Lutnick New York/Washington: Terming India as the ‘vowel’ between Russia and China in the BRICS grouping, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday said New Delhi will be at the negotiating table and will try to make a deal with President Donald Trump in a couple of months. By Yoshita Singh

BOM31 MH-BOMB THREAT-LD POLICE Police on alert as threat message on WhatsApp claims 14 'terrorists' in Mumbai with RDX Mumbai: The Mumbai police are on alert after receiving a threat message claiming 14 terrorists had entered the city with 400 kilograms of RDX that had been planted in 34 vehicles, an official said on Friday.

NATION DEL46 MEA-INDIA-UKRAINE India supports early end to Ukraine conflict: MEA New Delhi: India on Friday said it supports an early end to the Ukraine conflict and return of an enduring peace in the region.

DEL57 FLOOD ADVISORY-CWC 22 river monitoring stations record severe flood situation: CWC New Delhi: The Central Water Commission on Friday warned of widespread flooding across several states, with 22 river monitoring stations reporting 'severe flood' situation and 23 others 'above normal' water levels.

DEL41 GST-LD BJP Centre to keep vigil to ensure GST benefits passed fully to consumers: Goyal New Delhi: The Centre will keep vigil to ensure that the benefits of GST rationalisation are passed on fully to consumers, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, stating that the industry has given him assurance that the entire fall in taxes on various items will be reflected in their prices.

BOM30 MH-AJIT PAWAR-IPS-BAWANKULE Bawankule defends Ajit Pawar over IPS officer row; says he can never exert pressure for illegal work Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday came out in defence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is facing flak over a viral video that showed him rebuking a woman IPS officer and asking her to stop action against illegal soil excavation.

BOM23 MH-SHILPA SHETTY-LD POLICE Lookout circular issued against actor Shilpa Shetty, husband Raj Kundra in Rs 60 crore cheating case Mumbai: The Mumbai police have issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra in connection with a Rs 60 crore cheating case, officials said on Friday.

CAL22 BH-BIDIS-ROW X post on proposed drop in GST rates for 'bidis' triggers row in Bihar between BJP and Cong Patna: The BJP and Congress locked horns in Bihar on Friday over a social media post by the opposition party, which allegedly made disparaging remarks about the state while criticising the reduction in GST rates for "bidis".

DEL50 DEF-CDS-CHALLENGE-LD CHINA Border dispute with China biggest security challenge followed by Pakistan's proxy war: CDS Gen Chauhan New Delhi: The unresolved boundary dispute with China is the biggest national security challenge followed by Pakistan's proxy war and its strategy of "bleeding India by a thousand cuts", Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said on Friday.

MDS13 KA-DHARMASTHALA-NIA-CM Karnataka CM says SIT probing Dharmasthala case, downplays demand for NIA probe Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday downplayed calls for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into allegations of multiple murders, rapes and burials in Dharmasthala, saying the case is already being investigated by the state police through a Special Investigating Team (SIT).

LEGAL LGD8 CJI-JUDICIARY Judiciary serves as bridge between people and Constitution: CJI B R Gavai New Delhi: Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Friday said judiciary served as a bridge between the aspirations of the people and the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.

BUSINESS DEL56 BIZ-2NDLD-VEDANTA-JAIPRAKASH Vedanta beats Adani Group with Rs 17,000 cr bid to acquire JAL New Delhi: Mining conglomerate Vedanta on Friday beat Gautam Adani's Group to make a winning bid for the acquisition of debt-ridden Jaiprakash Associates (JAL) for Rs 17,000 crore, according to sources.

DEL43 BIZ-RESULTS-SPICEJET SpiceJet flies into red; posts Rs 238 cr loss in Jun quarter mainly on higher costs New Delhi: Flying into the red, SpiceJet on Friday reported a net loss of Rs 238 crore for the three months ended June, saying expenses related to grounded aircraft and subdued leisure travel demand impacted the financials.

DEL40 BIZ-GOLD-PRICE Gold jumps Rs 900 near record high on rupee weakness, Fed rate cut hopes New Delhi: Gold prices jumped by Rs 900 to Rs 1,06,970 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, inching closer to record high levels on fresh buying by stockists and firm global trends.

FOREIGN FGN52: PAK-CHINA-CPEC

Pak, China launch second phase of CPEC, ink USD 8.5 bn deals Islamabad: Pakistan and China have formally launched the second phase of the controversial CPEC project and signed 21 agreements and joint ventures worth about USD 8.5 billion.

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