New Delhi, Sep 16 (PTI) These are the top stories at 5 pm: NATION DEL25 PM-LD DEFENCE BUILDINGS PM inaugurates new defence office complexes, slams critics of Central Vista project New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at the critics of the ambitious Central Vista project, saying they conveniently kept silent on defence office complexes being part of the venture as it would have exposed their spreading of "lies" and "misinformation". BOM19 GJ-PATEL-2ND LD MINISTRY Gujarat: 24 ministers sworn in; not a single induction from Rupani-led ministry Gandhinagar: In a major overhaul ahead of next year’s Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP on Thursday inducted 24 ministers, including 21 who have become ministers for the first time, into the Bhupendra Patel-led ministry. DEL23 ED HARSH MANDER-LD RAIDS ED raids activist Harsh Mander"s premises in Delhi on money laundering charges New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at the premises of human rights activist and retired IAS officer Harsh Mander here in connection with a money laundering investigation, official sources said. DEL7 VIRUS-LD CASES India records 30,570 COVID-19 cases, 431 deaths New Delhi: With 30,570 more people testing positive for COVID-19, India"s overall infection tally has risen to 3,33,47,325, while the count of active cases has dipped to 3,42,923, according to the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. DEL40 VIRUS-HEALTH MINISTRY As festivals near, govt calls for vaccination, Covid-appropriate behaviour, responsible festivities New Delhi: As the festival season approaches, the government on Thursday cautioned against a spike in coronavirus infections, and stressed that the call of the hour is vaccine acceptance, maintenance of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour, responsible travel and responsible festivities. DEL24 VIRUS-CHIDLREN-INFECTION If children contract Covid, but are asymptomatic, it shouldn"t be matter of concern: Experts New Delhi: COVID-19 in children should not be of much concern if they are asymptomatic and do not have severe infection, experts said on Thursday, amid some states, including Mizoram and Kerala, reporting a rise in cases among those aged below 10 years. MDS5 TL-GIRL-LD ACCUSED-DEAD Accused in minor girl"s rape, murder found dead on rail track; suspected suicide: Telangana Police Hyderabad: A man wanted in the case of rape and murder of a six-year old girl here allegedly committed suicide with his body being found on a railway track in Jangaon district on Thursday morning, police said. DEL31 MONSOON-WITHDRAWAL Southwest monsoon unlikely to retreat from northwest India by September-end New Delhi: The country will witness an extended monsoon spell this year as rainfall activity over north India shows no sign of decline till the end of September. BUSINESS DEL21 BIZ-GST-MEET GST Council to meet on Friday; rate review, tax concession to 11 COVID drugs on cards New Delhi: The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will meet on Friday, which among other things may review tax rate of over four-dozen items and extend till December 31, tax concessions on 11 COVID drugs. LEGAL LGD12 SC-NCLAT-LD CHAIRPERSON Centre concedes in SC, permits prematurely retired NCLAT chairperson to continue till Sep 20 New Delhi: The row over premature retirement of former NCLAT Chairperson Justice Ashok Iqbal Singh Cheema ended in the Supreme Court on Thursday as the Centre conceded, permitting him to continue in office till September 20 to pronounce verdicts, following the warning that the new law on tribunals would be stayed “suo motu”. BOM20 MH-HC-LD PARAM BIR HC asks Param Bir Singh to move tribunal against inquiry by Maha govt; rejects vendetta claim Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by IPS officer Param Bir Singh seeking to quash inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government, and said he can approach the Central Administrative Tribunal. LGD13 DL-HC-ASTHANA Rakesh Asthana appointed as Delhi CP in public interest: Centre tells HC New Delhi: The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPC officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner was done in public interest, keeping in mind the diverse law and order challenges faced by the national capital, which have national security implications as well as international/cross border implications. FOREIGN FGN38 AUKUS-INDOPACIFIC-LDALL ALLIANCE US, UK, Australia launch new trilateral Indo-Pacific alliance to counter China Washington/London: The US, Britain and Australia have announced a new trilateral security alliance for the Indo-Pacific to take on the threats of the 21st century and allow for greater sharing of defence capabilities, including help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, in a bid to counter China"s growing power in the strategically vital region. By Lalit K Jha, Aditi Khanna & K J M Varma FGN16 UN-INDIA-ECONOMY India expected to grow at 7.2% in 2021 but economic growth could decelerate next year: UN report United Nations: India is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2021 but economic growth could decelerate next year, according to a United Nations report which said the recovery in the country is constrained by the ongoing human and economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative impact of food price inflation on private consumption. By Yoshita Singh. PTI HDA