New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 1 pm.

NATION DEL20 CONG-KHARGE-CWC

Bihar polls would mark beginning of end of Modi govt's 'corrupt rule: Kharge Patna: Launching a frontal attack on the BJP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused it of orchestrating “vote chori” and communal polarisation and asserted that the Bihar Assembly elections would mark the beginning of end of the Modi government's "corrupt rule”.

DEL19 ED-ONLINE BETTING-SONU SOOD

Actor Sonu Sood appears before ED in betting app linked PMLA case New Delhi: Actor Sonu Sood on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to an online betting app named 1xBet, officials said.

DEL21 CWC-KHARGE-TRUMP

Very friends whom PM boasts about as 'my friends' putting India in numerous troubles: Kharge Patna: In the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's tariff imposition and his actions on H1B visa, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the very friends whom he boasts about as "my friends" are today putting India in numerous troubles.

DEL1 PM-SAUDI-MUFTI

PM Modi condoles death of Saudi Arabia's grand mufti New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the death of Saudi Arabia's grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al AlSheikh.

CAL10 AS-ZUBEEN-ORGANISER-BAN

Assam govt bans North East India Festival organiser from holding any event in state Guwahati: The Assam government on Wednesday banned Syamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of North East Festival which singer Zubeen Garg had gone to attend in Singapore before his death, from holding any function or event in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

CAL7 JH-LD MAOISTS

3 Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Gumla Ranchi: At least three members of a banned Maoist splinter group were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Gumla district on Wednesday morning, police said.

LEGAL LGD4 SC-JUDGE-MENTIONING

Won't order listing of case on same day unless someone to be hanged: Justice Surya Kant New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Surya Kant on Wednesday said he won't order urgent listing of a case on the same day unless someone is about to be hanged and asked whether anyone understands the "plight of judges", their hours of work and how much sleep they get.

LGD5 SC-NIA-SHAH

Furnish details of separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah's custody in other criminal cases: SC to NIA New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to furnish details relating to the custody of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah -- accused in a terror funding case -- in other criminal cases against him.

LGD6 DL-HC-GRAVES-PIL

HC refuses to entertain PIL to remove graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhatt from Tihar Jail premises New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to remove the graves of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt from Tihar Jail premises here.

LGD3 DL-HC-CLAT-NHAI

Delhi HC quashes NHAI notification on recruiting lawyers based on CLAT-PG score New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday set aside a notification of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) making scores of CLAT-PG a basis for the recruitment of lawyers.

FOREIGN FGN17 US-JAISHANKAR-BILATERALS

Jaishankar holds series of bilateral meetings on UNGA sidelines; discusses strategic, global issues New York: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from across the world on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, discussing a wide range of issues, including bilateral ties, regional developments, and global conflicts.

FGN14 US-GOYAL-ENERGY

India expects to increase energy trade with US: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal New York: India expects to increase its trade with the US in energy products in the years to come, and the country's energy security goals will have a significant element of US involvement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. By Yoshita Singh

FGN8 US-RUBIO-INDIA

India close partner of US, but Trump imposed additional tariff for purchasing Russian oil: Rubio New York: India is a very close partner of the US, but President Donald Trump has imposed additional tariffs on New Delhi for its purchases of Russian oil as part of actions taken against President Vladimir Putin for the Ukraine war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said. By Yoshita Singh

FGN11 UNGA-TRUMP-LD ESCALATOR

Mystery of the stalled escalator! Trump's videographer likely triggered safety mechanism inadvertently, says UN United Nations: An escalator at the UN headquarters that abruptly halted just as US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto it was stalled after a videographer accompanying them likely triggered a safety mechanism inadvertently while trying to capture their arrival, a UN spokesperson has said. By Yoshita Singh

PTI SHS RHL

Recruitment criteria: Delhi High Court ruled against use of postgraduate entrance scores for NHAI lawyer hiring, prompting review. A Supreme Court judge declined same day urgent listing absent imminent execution, stressing judges' workload; the Supreme Court required the NIA to furnish custody details of a separatist leader in other criminal matters; the Delhi High Court reviewed and found the use of a postgraduate law entrance score as a basis for NHAI lawyer recruitment impermissible; and the Delhi High Court declined to entertain a petition seeking removal of graves from prison premises, addressing justiciability and procedural limits.