New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL165 RUSSIA-INDIA-LD TRADE PACT (8.57 PM)

India, Russia to meet USD 100bn trade target before 2030: Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence that the USD 100 billion bilateral trade target between India and Russiawill be achieved ahead of the 2030 deadline, as he invited Russian investment in the country.

DEL166 AVI-LDALL INDIGO FLIGHTS (9.05 PM)

IndiGo cancels over 1,000 flights on Fri, expects normalcy in 10 days; gets flight duty norms relief New Delhi/Mumbai: IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights on Friday and said operations are expected to normalise in the next 10 days, as the country's largest airline received flight duty norms relaxation from watchdog DGCA, which will probe the disruptions that have impacted thousands of passengers for four straight days.

DEL161 INDIA-RUSSIA-TERRORISM (8.19 PM)

Modi, Putin discuss ways to combat terrorism; call for uncompromising global fight against it New Delhi: India and Russia on Friday called for an "uncompromising" global fight against terrorism without "hidden agendas and double standards" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the menace is a direct attack on the values of humanity.

DEL147 CONG-LOPs-BANQUET (6.49 PM)

Cong says LoPs not invited to Putin banquet, takes swipe at Tharoor for accepting invite New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have not been invited to the banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and took a swipe at its own MP Shashi Tharoor for accepting the invite.

DEL137 AVI-DGCA ORDER-INDIGO (6.12 PM)

DGCA sets up four-member panel to inquire into IndiGo flight disruptions; to submit report in 15 days New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA has set up a four-member committee to carry out a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances that led to the massive flight disruptions.

PAR32 LS-LD PAN MASALA-CESS-BILL (7.27 PM)

LS passes bill to levy cess on pan masala units; FM assures states of revenue sharing New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the proposed Health and National Security Cess will be levied on pan masala manufacturing units, assuring states that the revenue earned would be shared with them for expenditure on health schemes.

DEL148 TMC-FLIGHTS-MGNREGA (6.27 PM)

Flights chaos 'small pain' compared to West Bengal MGNREGS workers' plight: O'Brien New Delhi: As several MPs have been impacted by the IndiGo flight cancellations, Trinamool Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien on Friday called it a "small pain", compared to the MGNREGA workers in West Bengal who have been deprived of wages as the scheme remains suspended in the state.

PAR29 RS-RAILWAY PUNCTUALITY (6.49 PM)

Punctuality of Indian Railways at 80 pc, better than many European nations: Vaishnaw New Delhi: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday told the Rajya Sabha that the overall punctuality of Indian Railways has significantly increased to 80 per cent which was better than several European countries.

DEL152 INDIA-MALAYSIA-EXERCISE (7.15 PM)

India-Malaysia military exercise 'Harimau Shakti' begins in Rajasthan New Delhi: A military exercise between the troops of India and Malaysia, aiming to synergise joint responses during counter-terrorist operations, began in Rajasthan on Friday, officials said.

DEL157 LSQ-MEA-US (8.08 PM)

Engagement ongoing with US on mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement: Govt to Parliament New Delhi: India's engagement with the US is ongoing, including through negotiations aimed at concluding a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement, the Centre informed Parliament on Friday.

CAL19 WB-MOSQUE-SECURITY (5.33 PM)

Security tightened in Bengal''s Murshidabad ahead of foundation stone-laying of Babri-style mosque Kolkata: A day ahead of a foundation stone-laying ceremony for the construction of a proposed mosque -modelled on Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid- at Beldanga in West Bengal's Murshidabad, security has been tightened in the locality on Friday with deployment of additional forces, officials said.

LEGAL LGM4 KL-HC-MAMKOOTATHIL (5.20 PM)

Rahul Mamkootathil moves Kerala HC for protection from arrest Kochi: Expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, facing allegations of sexual assault from two different women, on Friday moved the Kerala High Court seeking an interim protection from arrest.

BUSINESS DEL154 BIZ-INDIA-RUSSIA-POLAR WATERS (7.43 PM)

India, Russia sign MoU on training specialists for ships operating in polar waters New Delhi: India and Russia on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on training of specialists for ships operating in polar waters.

DEL160 BIZ-INDIA POST-RUSSIA (8.20 PM)

Department of Posts, JSC Russia Post sign pact to boost cross-border e-commerce New Delhi: The Department of Posts has signed a bilateral agreement with JSC Russia Post on International Tracked Packet Service to boost cross-border postal cooperation and e-commerce trade between India and Russia, an official statement said on Friday.

FOREIGN FGN33 CHINA-INDIA-PUTIN (7.23 PM)

Chinese official media highlights Putin calling India-China close friends of Russia Beijing: Chinese official media on Friday highlighted President Vladimir Putin’s remarks calling both India and China the closest friends of Russia while emphasising that Moscow has “no right” to interfere in their bilateral ties. By K J M Varma

FGN39 UK-NIRAV (8.33 PM)

Nirav Modi's prison move creates complications for Bank of India trial in UK London: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India to face fraud and money laundering charges, is forced to share a small prison cell with a shared desk with other inmates without access to most of his legal paperwork, the High Court in London was told on Friday. By Aditi Khanna

PTI SHS SHS

Pan masala cess introduced with state revenue sharing; aviation regulator launches inquiry; interim protection sought from arrest. The enactment of a Health and National Security Cess on pan masala manufacturing establishes a dedicated production level levy with state revenue sharing for health expenditure. Separately, the aviation regulator has formed a four member committee to comprehensively review major carrier disruptions and report within a fixed period, and an individual under criminal allegations has petitioned the high court for interim protection from arrest, invoking pre arrest judicial relief.