New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 1 pm: NATION DEL39 UP-AKHILESH-SPLIT (4.14 PM)

Akhilesh trashes Rajbhar's claim of split in Samajwadi Party, says it remains strong Lucknow: Dismissing Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar's claim of an impending split in the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said the party remained strong and it was the BJP which had a history of “engineering” defections through inducements and pressure.

BOM26 MH-SENA (UBT)-2NDLD RAUT (4.26 PM)

Raut alleges MPs are being offered Rs 50 crore to defect, dares Sena (UBT) dissidents to resign first Mumbai: Amid heightened speculation about an imminent split in the Shiv Sena (UBT), party leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged that some MPs from Maharashtra were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides, and challenged dissidents to quit.

DEL43 CONG-RAHUL-STUDENTS (4.48 PM)

Might of state being deployed to sabotage Rahul Gandhi's student convention in Kota: Cong New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the full might of the state is being deployed to sabotage Rahul Gandhi’s student convention in Rajasthan’s Kota because the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are anxious that their “throne is tottering”.

DEL36 SPEAKER-TMC-LD ABHISHEK (4.05 PM)

TMC split: Speaker invites Abhishek Banerjee for meeting, TMC says got no communication yet New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday invited Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee for a meeting on June 19 to present his case on the split in the Mamata Banerjee-led party, parliamentary sources said.

DEL33 PAR-JP-SARANGI (3.37 PM)

Stakeholders support legislation to decriminalise politics: joint committee chairperson Sarangi New Delhi: The joint committee of Parliament examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, on removal of PMs, CMs and ministers from office if they are detained for over 30 days for serious crimes has received support and suggestions on the proposed legislation and found no resistance to its intent to decriminalise politics, panel chairman and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said on Wednesday.

DEL45 RAHUL-TELEGRAM-LD GOVT (4.56 PM)

Drop theatrics; strike at paper leak mafia, not students: Rahul to PM Modi on Telegram curbs New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the government after it temporarily restricted access to Telegram, saying the "new trick" was akin to putting a lock on the victim's house instead of catching the thief.

BOM25 GJ-INDIA EXPORTS-BHADOO (4.11 PM)

India's exports hit record USD 863 billion in FY 26 amid West Asia turmoil and US tariffs: Official Ahmedabad: Despite global trade disruptions stemming from the West Asia conflict and the imposition of US tariffs, India's exports reached a record high of USD 863 billion in Financial Year 2025-26, a senior Commerce Ministry official said on Wednesday.

DEL31 AVI-NOIDA AIRPORT-CARGO (3.21 PM)

Noida International Airport begins freight operations with arrival of first cargo flight Noida: The Noida International Airport (NIA) began freight operations with the arrival of the first cargo plane on Wednesday, two days after starting commercial passenger flights on June 15.

DEL30 DEF-LD-PRODUCTION (3.07 PM)

India's annual defence production surges to Rs 1.78 lakh cr in 2025-26 New Delhi: India's annual defence production touched an all-time high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

LEGAL LGD6 SC-NEET (4.06 PM)

Justice Narasimha-led bench to hear plea concerning NEET-UG in July: SC New Delhi: A bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha will hear in July a plea challenging the decision to conduct NEET-UG 2026 re-test, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

LGD2 DL-HC-TELEGRAM (1.39 PM)

Telegram moves Delhi HC against govt's temporary ban order New Delhi: Telegram on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court against a government order to temporarily restrict access to the messaging app ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

BUSINESS DEL20 BIZ-LD-TELEGRAM-RELIANCE (1.11 PM)

Telegram's Durov alleges Reliance link to India ban push; industry source calls claim 'fake news' New Delhi: Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on Wednesday alleged that Reliance may have been involved in efforts to ban the messaging platform in India and accused an affiliate of disrupting Telegram's internet access outside the country, claims that an industry source dismissed as "fake news" based on confusion between two separate Reliance group companies.

FOREIGN FGN24 PM-G7-IMPACT (4.06 PM)

PM Modi pitches for setting up global framework to boost trade and connectivity Evian-Les-Bains (France): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday pitched for setting up a global framework to boost cooperation on connectivity and trade by combining the strengths of the G7 nations, India and the Global South countries.

FGN19 PM-TRUMP (2.17 PM)

Trade, defence likely to figure at meeting between PM Modi, President Trump Evian-les-Bains : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will hold wide-ranging talks on Wednesday, which are expected to focus on expediting sealing of the proposed bilateral trade deal and ways to boost cooperation in defence, energy and critical minerals sectors.

PTI SHS

Temporary platform restriction and NEET re-test challenge raise access, compliance, and procedural concerns. Temporary restriction on access to a messaging platform has prompted a challenge before the Delhi High Court, with the restriction reported as being linked to the period before the NEET-UG re-examination. The development raises a compliance and access issue concerning the basis and scope of the government order affecting the platform. Judicial and parliamentary proceedings are also reported on the NEET-UG re-test and on proposed legislation to decriminalise politics, including a Supreme Court hearing on the re-test plea and committee consideration of detention-linked removal from office for serious crimes.