-HIGHLIGHTS AT 2030

Following are the top PTI stories at 2030 hours:

NATION:

DEL18 CONG-PLENARY-SONIA Sonia targets Modi, accuses him of making hollow promises

New Delhi: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi today launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that his pre-poll promises of combating corruption and ensuring inclusive development were "only dramebazi' and a trick to grab power.

DEL14 CONG-PLENARY-LD RAHUL Country is 'fatigued' under Modi govt, looking for way out: Rahul

New Delhi: The country is in a way "fatigued" under the Narendra Modi dispensation and is looking for a way out, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said and asserted that his party alone can show the path forward.

 

DEL21 RAIL-GOYAL-TRAINS Railways could run 100-plus trains by cutting layover time: Goyal

New Delhi: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today said that an analysis done by his department has found that 100-plus new trains could be run on shorter routes by cutting layover time.

DEL24 CONG-FARMERS-RESOLUTION Cong promises loan-waiver scheme for farmers, if voted to power

New Delhi: The Congress today said that if voted to power, it would come out with a loan-waiver scheme for small and marginal farmers similar to that announced by the UPA government in 2009.

DEL10 NAXAL-CRPF-CO MPV blast killings: CRPF transfers CO of Sukma battalion

New Delhi: The CRPF has transferred the Commandant of its 212th battalion whose nine personnel were recently killed in a Naxal triggered IED blast in Chhattisgarh.

DEL25 PB-AAP-LD SANDHU Autonomy for Punjab unit was sought from Kejriwal: AAP MLA

Chandigarh: The state and national unit of the party should function in an autonomous manner, Punjab AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu said today, adding that he had written a letter to the leadership in this regard in December last year.

DES17 HUA-PURI-SEALING Hard decisions needed to make Delhi a livable place: Puri on sealing drive

New Delhi: As the AAP-led Delhi government continues to oppose the ongoing sealing drive in the national capital, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said "hard decisions" need to be taken to make the city a livable place even though the measure may attract brickbats from some quarters. By Manoj Pokhriyal

BUSINESS:

DEL19 BIZ-LD PM Confusion being spread about support price to farmers: PM

New Delhi: In an apparent attack on opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said confusion is being spread about the budget decision to fix MSP for crops, at least 1.5 times the production cost, and assured farmers that all major costs incurred will be included while declaring the support price.

LEGAL:

LGD1

PB-COURT-TARA Tara given life imprisonment in Beant Singh assassination case

Chandigarh,: A special court here today awarded life imprisonment to Jagtar Singh Tara in connection with assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.

LGC2 JH-COURT-LALU Verdict against Lalu, Mishra in a fodder scam case deferred till Mar 19

Ranchi: A special CBI court has deferred till March 19 the judgement against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra in the fourth fodder scam case pertaining to alleged withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from the Dumka treasury over two decades ago, a lawyer said today.

FOREIGN:

FGN23 US-INDIA-LD TRADE Trade a big friction in India-US ties: WH

Washington: The US shares very strong ties with India and is in favour of free, fair and reciprocal trade with it, a senior White House official has said even as he asserted that the bilateral trade remained one aspect of the relationship where "the most friction" is experienced. By Lalit K Jha.

FGN21 US-INDIA-ROHINGYA 'Trump admin looking to work with India on Rohingya issue'

Washington: The Trump administration is looking for ways to work with India in terms of providing for the needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and also to put pressure on Myanmar to create conditions for their safe and voluntary return, a senior US official has said. By Lalit K Jha.

FGN7 CHINA-2NDLD XI Xi re-elected China prez, close aide Wang Qishan becomes VP

Beijing: Xi Jinping was today re-elected as president for a second five-year tenure by China's rubber-stamp parliament, days after it scrapped the two-term rule for the presidency and allowed him to have a life-long tenure. By K J M Varma.

FGN27 UK-RUSSIANS British police warn Russians in exile after tycoon murder

London: Britain's police and security services are making contact with Russians living in exile in the UK over their safety after the murder of a Russian businessman at his London home earlier this week.