Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday. PM Modi raised India’s concerns about the death of Indian sailors in US strikes on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The two leaders met in person for the first time in 16 months on Tuesday, sharing a warm handshake on the summit sidelines. Trump separately warned Iran that the US would “go back to dropping bombs” if Tehran did not honour the peace agreement.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) split crisis intensified through Wednesday, with claims that six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs may be preparing to switch allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. Only three MPs — Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje — turned up for Sanjay Raut’s press briefing, deepening the sense of disarray. Raut alleged MPs had been offered between Rs 15 crore and Rs 50 crore to defect, while Uddhav Thackeray’s party has called an emergency meeting of MPs and senior leaders, reportedly issuing notices warning of disciplinary action against those who skip it.
Akhilesh Yadav has firmly denied any split within the Samajwadi Party, turning the attack back on the BJP and accusing it of having engineered splits and poached MLAs from rival parties in the past — a pointed rebuttal delivered against the backdrop of the Sena (UBT) and TMC turmoil dominating headlines.
A day after the Centre blocked Telegram until June 22, citing its alleged “non-responsiveness” in aiding the investigation into the May 3 NEET-UG paper leak and to curb false claims of access to the June 21 re-test paper, the messaging platform has moved the Delhi High Court for relief. Telegram has an estimated 150 million users in India, behind only WhatsApp’s 500 million-plus, and founder Pavel Durov has said the ban has “punished” ordinary users.
The TMC crisis took a fresh turn as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla invited Abhishek Banerjee to present his case on Friday over the rebel MPs’ bid for recognition as a separate bloc — a hearing that could prove decisive for the party’s worst internal crisis in its history.
A luxury bus has crashed into a truck in Vadodara, killing at least 8 people on Wednesday. The bus reportedly rammed into the truck, which was parked on the road near Kotambi Stadium.
Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana
PM Modi tells Trump: You are aware across the world, Indian seafarers in thousands are working and performing their duties across global maritime trade routes and their safety is of utmost importance to us.
Trump: He’s the most beautiful looking man. He looks so nice. He’s like an angel, but actually he’s a killer. I don’t want to use that word, killer. He’s as tough as they come, but he looks so good. So he gets you by surprise.
Trump (responding to question on Indian sailors in American strikes. Any words of condolences for the grieving families?): Yeah, I do. I heard about that. It’s a rough profession, there’s no question about it. And we work together on it. This has been happening throughout time, but we work together.
Wednesday skies remained splendidly cloudy over Ahmedabad this evening. A photo taken by The Indian Express photographer Bhupendra Rana captures the varied shades of blue hidden behind the clouds over the streets of the Gujarat capital.
Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana
Atri Mitra in Kolkata is reporting how Mamata Banerjee led a protest in the city against the eviction of hawkers without rehabilitation. The protest, attended by a few close leaders, criticised the administration for being inhumane and illegal. Notably, major TMC MLAs were absent from the march.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has invited TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to present his case on the status of the Trinamool Congress in the House on Friday. A group of TMC MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claim to have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India and seek recognition as a separate bloc. The dispute centres on whether the merger claim protects the rebel MPs from disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Maukshree Seth in Lucknow is report on how Om Prakash Rajbhar, Uttar Pradesh minister and SBS party chief, claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) could face a split, similar to recent events in Maharashtra. He alleged that senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav offered a list of SP leaders willing to join the BJP in exchange for relief in ongoing investigations. The SP dismissed these claims, asserting their unity and resilience against BJP’s attempts to engineer defections.
Shubhajit Roy in Delhi is reporting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to G7 leaders, highlighting the impact of the West Asia war on the Global South. PM Modi emphasised the need for financial support from global organisations and proposed a Global Skills Partnership to leverage the young talent of the Global South. Modi also suggested the establishment of an International Mobilisation Partnership for Accelerating Connectivity and Trade (IMPACT).
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar takes part in a mock voting session ahead of the Legislative Council elections, in Bidadi, Karnataka, Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
(Photo Credit: PTI)
An MoU signing ceremony between Rashtriya Raksha University and West Bengal Police is held at Nabanna, in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, followed by a press briefing.
Express photo by Partha Paul
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, with State Ministers Agnimitra Paul and Purnima Chakraborty, at Mayer Ghat for a cleanliness drive during the “Swachhata Se Swagat campaign in Kolkata on June 17, 2026.
Express Photo by Partha Paul
Kamaldeep Singh Brar in Amritsar reports that BJP leaders HS Phoolka and Jagmohan Singh Raju have stepped up attacks on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the viral video allegedly showing him disrespecting Sikh Gurus. Phoolka cited past instances of Mann’s alleged disrespect and questioned the AAP government’s handling of sacrilege cases. Raju wrote to the Governor, requesting an FIR and CBI probe into the matter.
Samajwadi Party workers hold a protest against the fuel price hike, the NEET paper leak, and other issues, in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav
India’s captain Shubman Gill, right, celebrates his century with Ishan Kishan during an ODI cricket match between India and Afghanistan, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
(Photo Credit: PTI)
Nikhil Ghanekar in New Delhi reports that three Nicobarese tribal councils have objected to the Andaman and Nicobar Island administration’s Draft Tribal Council Rules, 2026, calling them an interference in tribal governing systems. The councils argue that the rules undermine traditional, consensus-based governance and propose a meeting on June 30 to discuss the issues.
Damini Nath has reports how almost two years since the government put lateral entry recruitment on hold after facing demands for implementing reservation in the policy, Union Minister of State for Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said “no feasible option” had been suggested to the Ministry, leaving it in limbo. Coming up on indianexpress.com soon.
Former TMC councillor Susanta Ghosh was arrested by the Kolkata police’s Special Task Force in Puri, Odisha. Ghosh, facing multiple allegations including extortion, was produced in an Odisha court and the police have appealed for his transit remand to Kolkata.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march through central Kolkata, standing alongside hawkers opposing eviction without rehabilitation. Vendors and Trinamool Congress supporters joined the demonstration, demanding suitable alternative arrangements before any further eviction drives are carried out.
Express Photo by Partha Paul
Sadaf Modak in Mumbai reports that the Mumbai Suburban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has dismissed a plea by a woman who complained against a restaurant for not allowing her mother-in-law to consume home-cooked food. The commission stated that the pathology report cited by the customer did not disclose any ailment or dietary advice prohibiting outside food. The commission also noted that allowing outside food is a matter of restaurant policy and that the customer chose to eat there despite the policy.
Kiran Parashara in Bengaluru has reported that the Karnataka state police have mandated that all officers register FIRs in cases involving the non-consensual publication or dissemination of intimate photos and videos. This order comes after complaints of police delaying or dismissing such cases, often under the assumption that victims had consented to the content being captured. The order emphasises that consent to capture and consent to disseminate are separate legal concepts, and sharing intimate content without permission constitutes a cognisable offence.
The Gadhi river, flowing through Panvel in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, has turned green, as captured in an Express photo by Narendra Vaskar.
Sweety Kumari in Kolkata reports that football star Lionel Messi’s team has blamed former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas of the Trinamool for the security breach during the player’s appearance at a stadium in Kolkata. The team has cleared Satadru Dutta, the event promoter who had been arrested, stating that the early departure was due to the breach of event protocol and security arrangements.
Maulshree Seth in Lucknow is reporting that Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has questioned the necessity of serving non-vegetarian food twice a week in the hostel messes of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS). The institute’s administration is now in a difficult position as the mess menu is decided by a committee comprising faculty members and student representatives, and any change cannot be implemented unilaterally. The Governor’s concerns will be placed before the committee, which will address them while balancing student preferences.
Narendra Vaskar from Mumbai has sent us these surreal pictures of a closed section of the Talawe wetlands in Navi Mumbai turning a deep pink. The cause is presumed to be microscopic algae and bacteria, possibly due to rising humidity and salinity.
Navi Mumbai lake turns pink (Express Photo)
Atri Mitra in Kolkata reports that former minister Udayan Guha was arrested from his residence in the city. He is the third former minister from the Mamata Banerjee regime to be arrested, following Sujit Basu and Ullwal Biswas. Guha is believed to be arrested in connection with post-poll violence and fraud cases, including allegations of collecting funds for a government hospital project without completing the work.
Kiran Parashar in Bengaluru reports that Sharath, a 20-year-old man from Sakleshpur, allegedly murdered his live-in partner Anusha in the Karnataka capital. He confessed to strangling her to death after a fight over not cleaning the kitchen. The police have arrested Sharath and are investigating the case.
Anand Mohan J in Bhopal is reporting that the Madhya Pradesh government approved a pilot project to outsource the management of 18 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Rewa, Guna, and Dewas districts to private operators. The project aims to address the shortage of specialist doctors in rural healthcare facilities, with the government providing medicines and infrastructure while the private entity manages staffing and operations. The pilot will be evaluated over five years to assess its effectiveness.
Kamal Saiyed in Surat reports that a 6th-grade student was stabbed by an 8th-grade student after school hours in Surat. The victim is stable and the accused has been booked by the police. The incident occurred while the students were returning home, and the cause is under investigation.
Manish Sahu in Lucknow has a chilling story on how a 28-year-old bank manager allegedly abducted and killed a six-year-old boy because he wanted to marry the boy’s mother. The accused, Arpit Sharma, lured the boy into his car and drove him to a canal, where he pushed him in. Police are questioning the boy’s mother and searching for the victim. Coming up soon on indianexpress.com
Insharah Khan has a critical story on how NEET aspirants are facing a mental health crisis due to the uncertainty surrounding the exam, which was cancelled and rescheduled. This prolonged uncertainty has led to psychological burnout, anhedonia, and disrupted routines, causing students to prioritise exam preparation over self-care and social connections. Experts emphasise the importance of parental support, healthy coping mechanisms, and seeking professional help if needed. Coming up soon on indianexpress.com
A Royal Bengal tiger was captured on a camera trap in the Khara forest block of Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, raising concerns about its possible link to a missing tiger in Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand. The sighting, confirmed by both states’ forest officials, highlights the potential for interstate wildlife movement through the contiguous forested landscape. Officials are monitoring the tiger’s movements and have increased the number of camera traps in the area.
Shaju Phillip in Thiruvanananthapuram reports that the Congress government in Kerala will put forward conditions for implementing the PM SHRI scheme in state-run schools. The conditions include non-interference by the Centre in curriculum and the state’s right to select schools for the project. A cabinet sub-committee will prepare the government’s stand on the scheme.
Ishika Gupta in Mumbai reports that a coalition of labour unions representing employees of the financial capital’s government bus and electricity operator BEST has threatened an indefinite strike starting Thursday if their demands on wages, pensions, recruitment, and the undertaking’s future are not addressed. The committee has submitted representations to the mayor, deputy mayor, municipal commissioner, BEST administration, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The BEST administration has directed departmental heads not to sanction leave from June 18 for the duration of the proposed agitation.
Pavneet Singh Chadha in Panaji reports that Goa Superintendent of Police Edwin Colaco has been suspended following allegations that he registered his birth and marriage in Portugal. The Directorate of Vigilance is investigating the claims, which are linked to the process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
Shubham Tigga in Ranchi is reporting that two petrol bombs were thrown at the RSS state office in Ranchi on Wednesday midnight. The BJP claims the attack was part of a larger conspiracy and has demanded a thorough investigation. Police are examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects.
Shaju Phillip in Thiruvanananthapuram reports that beef prices in Kerala have surged due to a significant decrease in the supply of slaughter animals from other states. This is attributed to factors like non-issuance of veterinary certificates, increased procurement by beef exporters, illegal seizures, and extortion rackets. The dwindling supply has led to the closure of many beef stalls and a price increase from Rs 300-350 to Rs 450-500 per kg.
Vikas Pathak in Delhi reports that Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued a whip to its MPs for a meeting on Thursday amid rumours that two-thirds of the party’s MPs will meet the Speaker to shift camps. While the party claims all MPs are with them, they are taking precautions due to media reports. The situation will become clearer once the rebel MPs meet the Speaker.
Alok Singh from Ghaziabad has sent in gripping piece about a Tanishq employee who allegedly orchestrated a Rs 3 crore heist with his girlfriend and father. The employee, Nitin, allegedly stole keys from a drunk cashier and used them to rob the showroom. The Ghaziabad Police arrested the trio and recovered most of the stolen property. Coming up soon on indianexpress.com
Manoj More in Pune reports that Nashik MP Rajabhau Waje and Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar, both from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, have denied receiving a Rs 15 crore offer to join the Eknath Shinde-led side. Waje stated he has not been contacted by any Sena leader, while Nimbalkar called the allegations baseless and threatened legal action against those circulating an old video of him with Shinde.
Akram M in Bengaluru reports that the Congress and JD(S) have moved their MLAs in Karnataka to resorts to prevent cross-voting and absenteeism ahead of the Legislative Council elections. Congress is confident about winning five seats, while JD(S) is fielding a candidate to ensure party votes remain together.
Sohini Ghosh is reporting that Telegram has approached the Delhi High Court against the temporary ban on the messaging app over NEET paper leak concerns.
Sukrita Baruah in Guwahati and Jimmy Leivon in Imphal report that three injured Kuki-Zo men were moved from RIMS hospital in Imphal to Churachandpur after two days of protests. The protests, involving both Naga and Meitei groups, were sparked by objections to the men’s treatment in the state capital following a suspected Kuki-Zo-Naga gunfight. The men were moved under heavy security after being identified as “militants” by the protestors.
Sadaf Modak in Mumbai reports that a Thane sessions court denied bail to a 27-year-old man accused of rape, despite the complainant’s affidavit seeking to withdraw the case due to her upcoming marriage. The court stated that the affidavit indicated the offence had occurred, and the complainant feared the impact on her future married life. The prosecution argued that rape is a non-compoundable offence and cannot be settled privately.
Abhimanyu Hazarika in Gurgaon reports that the Gurgaon Police have filed a case against comedian Pranit More and web developer Himanshu Jangra that accuses them of glorifying sexual coercion during a comedy show. The National Commission for Women (NCW) intervened, issuing summons and seeking an Action Taken Report. The police have requested social media platforms to remove the controversial video content.
Kiran Parashar from Bengaluru reports that the Karnataka’s public ombudsman, the Lokayukta, conducted raids on eight government officials, uncovering Rs 31.11 crore worth of disproportionate assets. The raids, spanning over 35 locations, targeted officials in Bengaluru, Davanagere, Kalaburagi, and Chikkamagaluru. Government officials were found to possess assets far exceeding their known sources of income.
Aiswarya Raj in Dehradun is reporting that a 24-year-old woman, Riya Kumari, is believed to have died by suicide in the city ahead of the NEET retest. Her family denied a postmortem, and the police are investigating if she was under pressure. A senior police officer said that they have recovered a note in which Riya wrote: “I love you, Papa; I am sorry. This is not due to anyone’s fault; this is due to my incompetence”.
Aditi Raja in Gujarat reports that a sleeper bus from Rajasthan to Surat crashed into a stationary truck in Vadodara, killing six people, including a child, and injuring 30. Rescue operations were conducted by NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities. The accident caused a traffic jam due to hundreds of sacks spilling onto the road from the truck.
Anju Agnihotri Chaba in Jalandhar is reporting that two farmers in Punjab’s Patiala, have adopted Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) on nearly 200 acres, citing labour shortages and lower costs. They modified the standard DSR technique by sowing in dry fields and irrigating after a week, which has shown promising results. The Punjab Agriculture Director stated that the state has already achieved half of its DSR target for the year.
Maharashtra politics is back at the centre of national attention as Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs converge on Delhi amid growing split buzz, with Eknath Shinde said to be following closely. Prime Minister Modi is in France for the G7 Summit with the trust deficit with Washington as the subtext. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 blockbuster overnight. Stay with us for live updates through the day.
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