Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Will accept Bihar SIR claims until last date of nominations: Election Commission of India

Even as the deadline for filing claims and objections to the draft electoral rolls of Bihar ended on Monday (September 1, 2025), the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that, as per the June 24 special intensive revision (SIR) order, applications for inclusion and exclusion would still be accepted till the last date of nominations before the Assembly polls. However, these claims, if accepted, would not make it to the final list to be out on September 30, but would be addressed as separate additions later, directed the Bihar Legal Services Authority chairperson to activate para legal volunteers to help individuals and political parties to submit claims, objections and corrections in every district across the State.

‘Overwhelmingly’ more requests for exclusions than inclusions after August 22: ECI

An Election Commission of India (ECI) note submitted on Monday (September 1, 2025) in the Supreme Court showed that requests to delete/exclude names from the Bihar draft electoral roll “overwhelmed” claims for inclusion by almost six times between August 22 and August 30, 2025. August 22, 2025, was when the court enabled voters to use Aadhaar as a standalone document to file their respective forms of claims or objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

PM Modi departs for home after concluding ‘productive’ China visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (September 1, 2025) concluded a “productive” visit to China during which he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and held bilateral talks with world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The Prime Minister, who was in China on the final leg of his two-nation visit, said in a social media post that he emphasised India’s stand on “key global issues” in Tianjin.

PM Modi meets President Putin; calls for ending Ukraine conflict as soon as possible

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (September 1, 2025) conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it is humanity’s call to end the Ukraine conflict as soon as possible.

PM Modi departs for home after concluding ‘productive’ China visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (September 1, 2025) concluded a “productive” visit to China during which he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and held bilateral talks with world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

SCO leaders adopt Tianjin Declaration which ‘strongly’ condemns Pahalgam attack

The 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Monday (September 1, 2025) “strongly condemned” terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the April 22 Pahalgam attack, and the attacks on Jaffer Express and Khuzdar in Pakistan. The Tianjin Declaration, signed and adopted by all members including India, Pakistan, and Russia, also called for an end to “cross-border movement” of terrorists. The declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s “firm commitment to fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism”, and stressed the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups for “mercenary purposes”.

SCO summit: Global international situation was becoming more ‘chaotic and intertwined’, says Xi Jinping

China’s President Xi Jinping blasted “bullying behaviour” in the world order as he gathered Eurasian leaders on Monday (September 1, 2025) for a showpiece summit aimed at putting Beijing front and centre of regional relations.

SCO summit: Russian President Vladimir Putin defends Ukraine invasion, blames West

Russian President Vladimir Putin sought on Monday (September 1, 2025) to defend his Ukraine offensive to Moscow’s allies, blaming the West for triggering the three-and-a-half year war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated much of eastern Ukraine. “This crisis was not triggered by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but was a result of a coup in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West,” Mr. Putin said at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Chinese city of Tianjin.

PM Modi at SCO summit: ‘No double standards on terrorism will be acceptable’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Shangai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders to “unanimously state that no double standards on terrorism will be acceptable” and terrorism in all its forms and colours should be opposed.

Trump claims India has offered to reduce tariffs to zero, ‘but it’s getting late’

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that India had offered to reduce tariffs to zero, suggesting the alleged offer had come very late, as he described the India-U.S. relationship as a “one-sided disaster”. Mr. Trump’s post on Truth Social came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the fringes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

‘Brahmins profiteering off Indian people’: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro, while talking about 50% tariff on imports from India, has said in an interview to Fox News on Monday (September 1, 2025) that “Brahmins” are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people and it needs to “stop”.

Bombay High Court pulls up Maratha quota protesters for bringing Mumbai to a ‘standstill’

In a rare three-hour urgent hearing held during the ongoing Ganesh festival vacation, the Bombay High Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) pulled up the Maratha quota protesters in Mumbai led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil and directed the State government to clear all protesters from Mumbai’s streets by Tuesday (September 2, 2025) noon. The court ordered authorities to prevent more agitators from entering the city and to ensure Mr. Jarange receives medical care if his health deteriorates.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre after T.N. says Samagra Shiksha funds delinked from RTE reimbursements

The Supreme Court decided to step in after Tamil Nadu complained on Monday (September 1, 2025) about having to bear over ₹3,000 crore in reimbursements to private schools for admissions to economically disadvantaged students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, after the Centre refused to part with its share under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. A Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath issued formal notice to the Centre on an appeal by the State against a Madras High Court decision of June 10, which delinked the reimbursements under the RTE Act from the Centre’s financial obligations to Tamil Nadu under the scheme.

Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against roll-out of 20% ethanol-blended petrol nationwide

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) dismissed a petition challenging the nationwide rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20), which alleged that millions of motorists were being compelled to use fuel unsuited to their vehicles without the option of availing ethanol-free petrol. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the petition after the Union government defended the ethanol-blending programme as a measure to bolster the income of sugarcane farmers and conserve foreign exchange.

Can minority-run schools be exempted from RTE law, Supreme Court refers question to larger Bench

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) referred to a larger Bench the question of whether minority educational institutions are entirely exempt from the purview of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. A two-judge Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan made the reference in a judgment based on a batch of civil appeals questioning school education departments’ insistence on faculty clearing the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in minority institutions.

Supreme Court seeks response to transgender-inclusive sex education plea

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) sought responses from the Union Government, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and several States on a petition seeking the integration of transgender-inclusive comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) into school curricula across the country. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued notice on the petition filed by Kaavya Mukherjee Saha, a 16-year-old student from Delhi, and directed the respondents to file their replies within six weeks.

Nestle sacks CEO over ‘undisclosed romantic relationship’ in office

Swiss food giant Nestle on Monday (September 1, 2025) dismissed Laurent Freixe as chief executive with immediate effect over an “undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate”. The multinational behind Nespresso coffee capsules and KitKat chocolate bars said Mr. Freixe’s dismissal followed an investigation. In a swift move, Nespresso CEO Philipp Navratil was appointed to take over by his fellow board members.

Trump says he’s awarding former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday (September 1, 2025) he’s awarding former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, announcing the honour two days after his political ally was badly injured in a traffic accident. Mr. Trump in a statement on social media called Mr. Giuliani, who was heralded for his leadership following the September 11, 2001, attacks but has sometimes drawn controversy for his defence of Mr. Trump, the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot”.

New Delhi to host next Badminton World Championships in August 2026

New Delhi has been chosen as the host city of the next Badminton World Championships in August 2026, the sport’s global governing body BWF announced on Monday (September 1, 2025). The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) most prestigious tournament will return to India after 17 years, with Hyderabad hosting it first way back in 2009. 

Over 800 killed, 2,500 injured as strong earthquake and multiple aftershocks strike Afghanistan

A massive rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday (September 1, 2025), after a strong earthquake and multiple aftershocks flattened homes in a remote, mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, the Taliban authorities said.

ICC Women’s ODI World Cup: Champions to get nearly ₹40 cr. pay cheque, biggest ever in tournament’s history

The winners of the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will receive the biggest-ever prize money in the history of the tournament, a massive hike from $1.32 million (₹11.65 crore) in the previous edition to $4.48 million (₹39.55 crore), the sport’s global governing body announced on Monday (September 1, 2025).