HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 1 pm: NATION DEL10 CONG-INFLATION (11.17 AM) **** Country heading towards economic crisis due to Modi govt's policies: Cong New Delhi: With the wholesale price inflation rising to 9.87 per cent in June, the Congress on Wednesday claimed that the country is steadily heading towards an economic crisis due to the Modi government's "anti-people policies". **** DEL13 RS-OATH (12.52 PM) **** Two newly elected MPs take oath as Rajya Sabha members New Delhi: Two newly elected Rajya Sabha members -- Mansoor Ali Khan and Rajneesh Kumar Agrawal -- took oath as members of the Upper House on Wednesday.**** DEL12 THAROOR-CJP-POTEST (11.52 AM) **** Jantar Mantar protest: Tharoor appeals to Wangchuk to end fast, urges govt to initiate dialogue New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, and urged the government to engage in dialogue, asserting that such a move is not a sign of weakness but that of statesmanship. **** DEL11 QURAISHI-TENURE-UPA (11.43 AM) **** Faced no pressure from UPA govt during CEC tenure: S Y Quraishi New Delhi: S Y Quraishi, who was the chief election commissioner during the UPA-II government, has said he faced no pressure from the government during his tenure and asserted that the image of the poll body was such back then that "nobody would dare" to do such a thing. **** CAL4 MN-ASSAM RIFLES-LD MOB VIOLENCE (11.00 AM) **** Mob attacks Assam Rifles camp, torches vehicles after search operation conducted in Manipur Senapati/Imphal: A mob attacked an Assam Rifles camp, hurled stones and torched three vehicles of security personnel outside the facility in Manipur's Senapati district, hours after a search operation was conducted in an area, officials said on Wednesday. **** BOM2 MH-FADNAVIS-NCP-MEETING (10.06 AM) **** Leaders of rival NCP factions meet Fadnavis late night; spark political buzz Mumbai: A late-night meeting of leaders from the ruling NCP and Opposition NCP (SP) at the official residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has fuelled speculation about a change in political equations in the state. **** DEL14 UP-CM-RAM TEMPLE (12.45 PM) **** Ayodhya incident hurt faith of Ram devotees: Adityanath on donation theft issue Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple had hurt the faith of devotees, but the opposition move to defame Ayodhya and Ram Janmabhoomi was not justified. **** MDS4 KA-SHIVAKUMAR-DELHI-VISIT (11.44 AM) **** K’taka CM's Delhi visit sparks speculation over cabinet expansion Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s visit to New Delhi on Wednesday has fuelled speculation about the possible discussions with the Congress high command regarding the much-awaited expansion of his cabinet. **** MDS5 KL-VIZHINJAM PORT-CM (12.23 PM) **** Vizhinjam: Satheesan accuses previous LDF of waiving Rs 219 cr penalty Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday strongly rejected the CPI(M)'s allegation that the proposed transfer of a 49 per cent stake in the Vizhinjam Seaport project to MSC was part of a "big deal", and accused the previous LDF government of waiving a penalty of about Rs 219 crore that Adani Port was liable to pay for delays in completing the project. **** LEGAL LGD5 DL-HC-SONAM WANGCHUK (12.10 PM) **** Delhi HC to hear on Thursday PIL over Sonam Wangchuk'€™s deteriorating health New Delhi: The Delhi High Court said it will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation raising concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here. **** LGD6 SC-STAINES-REMISSION PLEA (12.10 PM) **** Staines murder case: SC gives Odisha govt one month to consider Dara Singh's remission plea New Delhi: The Supreme Court has given the Odisha government a month to decide on the remission plea of a "repenting" Ravindra Pal, alias Dara Singh, who is serving life sentence for the murders of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons in Keonjhar district in 1999. **** FOREIGN FGN23 JAISHANKAR-BELGIUM (10.11 AM) **** Jaishankar meets European Council president, values his role in advancing trade and technology cooperation Brussels: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with European Council President Antonio Costa and said he valued his "guidance and warm sentiments" for advancing the trade and technology cooperation between the two sides. **** FGN22 US-TARIFFS-INDIA (9.09 AM) **** US Senators unveil bill for 100 per cent tariffs on India, four others for buying Russian oil Washington: A bipartisan group of US Senators unveiled a bill that seeks to impose 100 per cent tariffs on five countries, including India and China, for purchasing oil from Russia. By Sagar Kulkarni **** FGN27 UK-INDIA-FTA (11.24 AM) **** Industry celebrates 'landmark' FTA entry into force to catalyse India-UK trade London: Business and industry groups across India and the UK welcomed the free trade agreement (FTA) coming into force on Wednesday, which is set to unleash a flurry of tariff cuts that will catalyse bilateral trade through greater two-way movement of goods and services. By Aditi Khanna **** PTI SMV PRK