New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.05 pm: NATION DEL89 LD ALL RAHUL

Rahul fires another vote theft salvo, names CEC Kumar; EC says allegations incorrect New Delhi: Ramping up his attack on the issue of vote theft, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those who "destroyed democracy". To buttress his allegation, he cited data from a Karnataka assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted.

DEL97 EC-2NDLD RAHUL

No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of public: EC on Rahul's claim New Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday dubbed as incorrect and baseless the allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that CEC Gyanesh Kumar is protecting "vote chors".

DEL72 BJP-RAHUL-LD EC

Rahul stands for 'infiltrators first' politics, seeks to stoke chaos: BJP New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday claimed that Rahul Gandhi's repeated allegations against constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission showed his lack of faith in democracy, and accused him of trying to stoke chaos and create in India the kind of unrest seen in Nepal and Bangladesh.

DEL102 RJ-LD PM

PM to lay foundation stone for nuclear power plant, other projects in Rajasthan on Sep 25 Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a nuclear power plant Rajasthan's Banswara and inaugurate several other projects worth over Rs 1.21 lakh crore on September 25, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

CAL45 WB-SITHARAMAN-GST-COMPENSATION

GST rate cuts affect Centre and states equally, no donor-donee model: Sitharaman Kolkata: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday made it clear that the Centre was not considering any compensation to states for potential revenue loss arising from the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts, stressing that the impact will be shared “equally” and given the devolution of taxes, while the Centre's share will be even smaller.

CAL39 BH-SHAH-2NDLD BJP

SIR to remove impurities from Bihar voters' list, Rahul-Lalu want to protect infiltrators: Shah Begusarai/Dehri-on-Sone (Bihar): Asserting that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) would remove "impurities" from voters' list in Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked BJP workers to caution the people against rampant "infiltration from Bangladesh" if the INDIA bloc came to power.

DEL92 CBI-LD ADA

CBI chargesheets Anil Ambani, Rana Kapoor in Rs 2,796-crore corruption case New Delhi: The CBI filed a chargesheet on Thursday against Anil Ambani and others over alleged fraudulent transactions between the industrialist's group companies, RCFL and RHFL, Yes Bank and firms of the bank's former CEO Rana Kapoor's family, causing a loss of Rs 2,796 crore to the bank, officials said.

DEL95 ED-KA-MUDA-PROBE

Large-scale scam in allotment of Mysore urban development body's sites in Karnataka: ED New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday claimed that its money laundering probe has found a "large-scale" scam in the allotment of MUDA sites in Karnataka by flouting various statutes and government orders.

CAL42 JH-LD CDS

‘Fauj’ only place where there is no nepotism: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan Ranchi: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday asserted that ‘fauj’ is the only place where there is no nepotism, as he urged children to aspire to join the armed forces to serve the nation and explore places.

DEL94 ENV-GREAT NICOBAR-YADAV

Cong doing 'negative politics' over Great Nicobar project: Environment minister New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday hit out at the Congress for opposing the Great Nicobar infrastructure project, accusing it of spreading confusion and indulging in "negative politics".

CAL48 JH-LD-BJP

Cong, RJD will face defeat in Bihar, NDA to retain power with thumping majority: BJP Ranchi: The Congress-RJD alliance will face a heavy defeat in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections as the NDA is set to return to power in the state with a thumping majority, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh claimed here on Thursday.

DEL76 MEA-SAUDI-PAK-DEAL-LD REAX

Will study implications, take steps to protect national interests: India on Pak-Saudi defence deal New Delhi: A day after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic defence pact, India on Thursday said it will take all steps to protect its national interests and ensure comprehensive national security in all domains.

DEL74 US-INDIA-VISA-LD REVOKED

Visas of certain Indian biz executives revoked for involvement in trafficking of fentanyl precursors: US embassy New Delhi: The US on Thursday said it has revoked and subsequently denied visas of certain Indian business executives and corporate leaders for their alleged involvement in trafficking of fentanyl precursors.

DEL91 HP-KANGANA-LD GO BACK

Actor-Mandi MP faces 'Go back Kangana, you are late' slogan in Himachal's rain-affected area Shimla: Slogans of 'Go back Kangana, you are late' rent the air on Thursday when the Bollywood actor and BJP MP from Mandi visited a rain-affected area in Himachal Pradesh's Manali.

DEL87 CONG-FILM-PM

Students forced to watch film glorifying PM under pretext of character and responsibility, alleges Cong New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged that the education ministry's new idea of "nation building" is to use classrooms as "propaganda theatres" by forcing students to watch a film glorifying the prime minister's childhood.

DEL71 CBI-AAI

CBI files fresh case against AAI official arrested for siphoning off Rs 232 crore New Delhi: The CBI has registered a fresh case against a senior manager of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for allegedly siphoning off Rs 18.12 crore from the authority's accounts during his tenure at Jaipur airport, taking the total embezzled amount to more than Rs 250 crore, officials said Thursday.

BOM23 MH-RAHUL-EC-LD REAX

Oppn, ruling parties spar over Rahul's fresh 'vote chori' charges; Cong seeks Fadnavis' resignation Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's fresh allegations of irregularities in voters' list, including in an assembly segment in Maharashtra, triggered a war of words between the ruling and Opposition parties, with the latter on Thursday demanding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' resignation.

MDS24 KL-CHURCH-WOMEN-PRIESTHOOD

Two women begin historic journey to priesthood in CSI Malabar Diocese Kozhikode (Kerala): For the first time, two women have been consecrated on the path to priesthood in the Church of South India's Malabar Diocese -- a landmark moment in a church where the altar has long been dominated by men.

MDS14 KL-GOPI-ROW

Union Minister Suresh Gopi's remarks to elderly woman courts fresh controversy Thrissur (Ker): Union Minister Suresh Gopi has courted yet another controversy after he talked to an elderly woman in an alleged insensitive language during his interactive session with people in his constituency on Wednesday.

MDS22 ISRO-GAGANYAAN

Gaganyaan's Vyommitra is AI-enabled, half-humanoid robot, says ISRO chairman Narayanan Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): The Vyommitra, designed by ISRO to fly aboard the uncrewed test mission of the Gaganyaan Spaceflight Mission, will be an AI (Artificial Intelligence) enabled half-humanoid robot, the national space agency chairman V Narayanan said here on Thursday.

BUSINESS DEL101 BIZ-LDALL SEBI-ADANI

Sebi clears Adani of Hindenburg allegations; he says those behind 'fraudulent' report owe an apology New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) In a big boost to tycoon Gautam Adani, markets regulator Sebi on Thursday cleared the billionaire and his group of stock manipulation allegations made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, saying fund transfer between group companies did not fall foul of any regulation.

DEL98 BIZ-UPS-LD NPS

Govt urges employees to opt for UPS before Sept 30, allows physical submission of opt in request New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Thursday asked government employees to opt for shifting to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) well before the September 30 deadline and also permitted physical submission of opt-in request.

DEL96 BIZ-VAISHNAW-AI-GOVERNANCE-FRAMEWORK

India's AI safety push: AI governance framework to be released by Sept 28, says Vaishnaw New Delhi: The government will release an Artificial Intelligence governance framework by September 28 that would define safety boundaries to safeguard citizens from AI harm, and outline checks and balances, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday, but added that the framework would not be "prescriptive".

DEL78 BIZ-VAISHNAW-ONLINE GAMING

Online Gaming Act to be implemented from Oct 1: IT Minister Vaishnaw New Delhi: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act that bans all forms of online money games, would be implemented from October 1, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

DEL93 BIZ-MOBIKWIK-FRAUD

MobiKwik confirms financial fraud in Haryana; says no impact on user accounts New Delhi: Fintech firm One MobiKwik Systems on Thursday confirmed that a technical glitch had led to unauthorised payments in and around one district of Haryana last week, and said remedial measures had been taken with financial impact contained and quantified.

LEGAL LGD24 SC-MANUAL SCAVENGING

SC slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on PWD for manual cleaning of sewers New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a Rs 5 lakh fine on Delhi government’s Public Works Department for engaging manual sewer cleaners, including a minor, right outside the top court in violation of its orders prohibiting the practice.

LGD19 SC-STEP MOTHER-PENSION

Stepmother can't be given family pension under IAF rules: Centre to SC New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that pension was "not a bounty" and a stepmother couldn't be considered for family pension under the Indian Air Force rules being distinct from the natural mother in both legal and relational terms.

LGD22 DL-COURT-LD ADANI DEFAMATION

Delhi court sets aside order asking journalists to take down content against Adani enterprises New Delhi: A Delhi district court on Thursday set aside an order asking four journalists to take down alleged defamatory content against Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL).

LGD21 DL-HC-DIVORCE

Wife's forcing husband to sever ties with kin amounts to cruelty: Delhi HC New Delhi: A wife pressurising her husband to sever ties with his family members amounts to cruelty, the Delhi High Court has said and upheld an order dissolving an estranged couple's marriage.

LGD20 DL-COURT-RIOTS CONVICTION

2020 Delhi riots: Court holds 6 guilty for rioting, unlawful assembly New Delhi: A Delhi court has convicted six men in a February 2020 riots case after holding that the offences were proved by the prosecution "beyond reasonable doubt".

FOREIGN FGN40 BIZ-INDIA-US-TRADE-UAE

India will not allow rerouting of domestic goods from UAE to US: Goyal Abu Dhabi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India will not encourage or allow rerouting of domestic goods from the UAE to the US.

FGN35 BIZ-INDIA-US-TRADE

India, US trade talks positive, moving in right direction: Goyal Abu Dhabi: Trade talks between India and the US are progressing and is moving in the right direction, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

FGN41 UK-INDIAN-DEPORTED

Indian national first to be deported from UK under new illegal migration scheme London: An Indian national who reportedly arrived in the UK illegally on a small boat across the English Channel became the first to be deported to France under a new treaty on Thursday. By Aditi Khanna

FGN36 PAK-JEM-ARMY

Pak army chief issued orders to attend funeral of JeM militants killed in Indian attack: JeM commander Lahore: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir had issued direct orders to the Corps Commander of Bahawalpur and soldiers to attend the funeral of those killed in the Indian missile strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad's headquarters on May 7, a top commander of the terror group has said. By M Zulqernain

PTI MPL MPL

GST rate cuts: Centre refuses state compensation; impact to be shared under tax devolution principles. GST rate reductions will not be compensated by the Centre; revenue loss will be shared between Centre and states consistent with tax devolution. The government will issue an AI governance framework and commence the Online Gaming Act, introducing new regulatory compliance obligations. Concurrently, regulators and enforcement agencies pursued probes and sanctions-some corporate exonerations by market regulator, chargesheets and money laundering investigations by central agencies-and courts imposed fines for prohibited manual scavenging, addressed pension entitlement limits, set aside content takedown orders, and issued family law and criminal convictions.