New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.10 pm: TOP STORIES PAR59 LS LDALL ELECTION (8.47 PM)

Congress' defeat in polls due to its leadership, not EVMs or 'vote chori': Amit Shah in Lok Sabha New Delhi: A combative Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the opposition in the Lok Sabha for its campaign against SIR, saying the issue has been raked up as it can no longer win elections by "corrupt practices", and asserted that the reason for Congress' defeat in polls was its leadership, not EVMs or "vote chori".

DEL83 RAHUL-SHAH-RESPONSE (9.03 PM)

Didn't answer any questions, completely defensive response': Rahul on Shah's speech in LS New Delhi: After the Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange between him and Amit Shah during a debate on election reforms, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called the home minister's response "completely defensive" and asserted that "vote chori" is the "biggest treason".

DEL81 AVI-LDALL INDIGO (8.49 PM)

DGCA to deploy staff inside IndiGo HQ amid tightening oversight of airline New Delhi/Mumbai: Aviation watchdog DGCA will station its personnel at IndiGo's headquarters as it steps up oversight on India's largest airline, which continues to cancel dozens of flights despite saying operations have stabilised.

LGD22 DL-HC-2NDLD INDIGO (6.52 PM)

IndiGo crisis: Why situation precipitated, are you helpless? Delhi HC asks Centre; tells airline to compensate passengers New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the central government for not taking timely action to check the crisis caused by IndiGo flight cancellations and asked why the situation was allowed to precipitate, with lakhs of passengers stranded and other airlines charging hefty fares.

MDS20 KA-LDALL HATE SPEECH (8.35 PM)

Bill to curb hate speech tabled in Karnataka assembly; BJP opposes, says act against political opponents Belagavi (Karnataka): The Karnataka government on Wednesday tabled in the state Assembly a bill to curb hate speech that proposed a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh amid strong opposition from the BJP, which alleged that the move was aimed at "snatching freedom of expression" of political opponents.

NATION DEL76 PANEL-CIC-APPOINTMENT (8.18 PM)

PM-led panel meets to select new CIC, Rahul gives dissent note New Delhi: The committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to select the new Chief Information Commissioner met here on Wednesday and is learnt to have decided on the appointment of CIC and eight Information Commissioners, with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi apparently giving a dissent note.

DEL77 PM-ISRAEL (8.29 PM)

Netanyahu calls PM Modi, briefs on West Asia situation New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

DEL69 UNESCO-ICH-3RDLD DEEPAVALI (7.31 PM)

India's Deepavali now on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, PM hails inscription New Delhi: India's Deepavali, the festival of lights, was on Wednesday inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, sparking celebrations on earning the coveted tag. By Kunal Dutt

PAR15 RS-VANDE-JAIRAM (4.31 PM)

Aim of debate on Vande Mataram is to malign Nehru: Jairam Ramesh New Delhi: The Opposition on Wednesday accused BJP leaders of distorting history, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh saying that the whole aim of the debate on 150 years of Vande Mataram was to malign first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

BOM34 GA-LD NIGHTCLUB-FIRE (7.50 PM)

Goa nightclub fire: Partner Ajay Gupta arrested; no court relief for absconding owners Panaji/New Delhi: Goa Police on Wednesday arrested Ajay Gupta, a partner in the controversial 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, even as two absconding owners failed to secure interim relief from a Delhi court on their plea for anticipatory bail.

BOM39 GA-NIGHTCLUB-FIRE-PROBE (8.14 PM)

Luthras booked Thailand tickets as fire raged at Goa nightclub: probe Panaji: Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the main accused and owners of the Goa nightclub where a massive blaze claimed 25 lives, booked tickets to Thailand within an hour of learning about the fire at their establishment, officials said on Wednesday.

DEL70 EC-SIR-DEAD VOTERS (7.46 PM)

SIR in 12 states, UTs: Parties to get list of dead, absent voters before draft roll is out New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday said the booth-level agents appointed by political parties will be provided with a list of dead, shifted and dead voters before the publication of the draft voters' list in the 12 states and Union territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is underway.

DEL71 ED-RELIANCE INFRA-LD SEIZE (8.18 PM)

ED seizes 13 bank accounts of Reliance Infra over FEMA 'violations' New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has seized more than a dozen bank accounts, holding about Rs 55 crore worth deposits, of Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Infrastructure as part of a hawala-linked FEMA investigation.

DEL66 H1B-VISA-INTERVIEWS-CANCEL (7.01 PM)

H1B visa interviews of thousands of applicants in India cancelled triggering outrage New Delhi: Pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants slated for later this month in India have been abruptly postponed by several months apparently to scrutinise their social media posts and online profiles.

CAL20 WB-SHAHJAHAN-WITNESS- 2ND LD ACCIDENT (6.28 PM)

Prime witness in Sandeshkhali violence cases injured, son, driver killed in road accident Barasat: Bholanath Ghosh, one of the prime witnesses in the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali and connected CBI cases which implicated now-jailed TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, was injured when a truck collided with his car in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, a senior officer said.

CAL22 AS-FOREIGNER-LD HARASSMENT (7.11 PM)

Foreigner alleges harassment at Post Malone's concert in Guwahati Guwahati: Two foreigners were allegedly harassed and "touched without consent" at American rapper Post Malone's first Indian concert in Guwahati two days ago, one of them claimed in her social media account.

BUSINESS DEL68 BIZ-LD-INDIA US TRADE TALKS (7.30 PM)

US receives best ever offers from India, says USTR; two-day talks begin New Delhi: US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer has said the US has received "best" ever offers from India on the proposed trade agreement amid commencement of two-day talks here between the two countries.

DEL61 BIZ-LD SATYA-NADELLA (6.28 PM)

Thrilled about data centre capacity coming up in India, discussed investments with PM Modi: Nadella New Delhi: Microsoft's investment plan reflects India's progress in the era of technology, its CEO Satya Nadella said on Wednesday, a day after announcing a whopping USD 17.5 billion AI-driven investment in the country and discussing funding plans with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

LEGAL LGD29 DL-COURT-GOA-FIRE-LD LUTHRAS (7.31 PM)

Goa fire: Luthras fail to get interim relief, court to hear transit anticipatory bail on Thurs New Delhi: Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Goa's Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that caught fire killing at least 25 people, on Wednesday failed to get interim relief from a Delhi court which fixed their pleas seeking transit anticipatory bail for hearing the following day.

LGD30 SC-IAF-PERMANENT COMMISSION (7.46 PM)

No discrimination in grant of permanent commission to women officers in IAF, Centre tells SC New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday refuted in the Supreme Court the allegation of discrimination and bias in grant of permanent commission to Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers in the Indian Air Force and said 243 men and 177 women were inducted since 2019.

LGD25 DL-HC-SALMAN KHAN (7.07 PM)

Bollywood actor Salman Khan moves Delhi HC for protection of personality rights New Delhi: Bollywood actor Salman Khan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights.

FOREIGN FGN44 UK-INDIA-TRADE (8.14 PM)

UK firms boost India presence, turnover hits Rs 5,693 bn as FTA growth unlocked: Report London: UK companies have expanded their footprint in India with a collective turnover of Rs 5,693 billion and a workforce of 552,902 employees over the past year as they tap into new growth unlocked by the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to an annual analysis released on Wednesday. By Aditi Khanna

FGN41 RUSSIA-INDIA-LAVROV (8.02 PM)

Lavrov lauds 'good friend' India for pursuing independent multi-vector foreign policy Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday lauded "good friend" India for pursuing an independent multi-vector foreign policy. By Vinay Shukla

FGN37 UK-INDIAN-NURSE (6.55 PM)

British Indian nurse jailed for rape, sexual assaults at Scotland care home London: A 47-year-old nurse from Kerala has been sentenced to seven years and nine months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to rape and sexual assault offences at a care home in Scotland.

MPL MPL

Aviation oversight, FEMA account seizures, hate speech bill and electoral roll revisions drive current legal and regulatory action. Regulatory oversight and enforcement actions intensified across aviation, electoral administration, and financialcrime: aviation regulator to station personnel at a major airline amid cancellations and courts ordering passenger compensation; immigration visa interviews subject to enhanced vetting; enforcement agency seized multiple bank accounts in a FEMA hawala-linked investigation. Legislative and administrative moves include a bill proposing imprisonment and fines for specified hate speech and a panel selecting an Information Commissioner slate, while election authorities will supply lists of dead, shifted, and absent electors ahead of draft rolls.