Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

‘Look to the Preamble’, Supreme Court replies to plea against Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Mysuru Dasara

The Supreme Court on Friday (September 19, 2025) reminded a petitioner, who did not want a “Muslim” Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the historical Mysuru Dasara festivities at Chamundeshwari temple, about the Preamble which enshrines secularism, liberty of thought and faith, equality and fraternity as ideals cardinal to national unity. Dismissing the petition, a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked petitioner, Bengaluru resident H.S. Gaurav, whether he had read the Preamble to the Indian Constitution.

More than 75% of rural monthly expenditure will face nil or 5% rate under GST 2.0

More than 75% of the items rural Indians spend money on will face either a nil rate of Goods and Services Tax (GST) or 5% once the new rates come into effect on September 22, according to an analysis published by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). For urban Indians, this proportion will be 66%. The report, prepared by Thought Arbitrage Research Institute (TARI) for the FICCI Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE), noted that this situation was a significant improvement over the current GST rate structure.

India, U.S. to intensify efforts for a trade deal, says MEA

India and the United States have decided to “intensify efforts” for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, said an official of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (September 19, 2025). Speaking at the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed several issues in India-U.S. relations, including the ending of the 2018 waiver for the Chabahar port of Iran and said India was studying the latest order from the U.S. that has said that persons working in the Chabahar port may expose themselves to sanctions under the IFCA (Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act) after September 29.

Rajnath Singh to inaugurate India’s first overseas Defence factory in Morocco

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a three-day visit to Morocco from September 21 to 23, where he will hold bilateral talks and inaugurate India’s first overseas Defence manufacturing facility in Casablanca. A senior Defence official confirmed that Mr. Singh will lead a delegation to launch the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) plant, established in partnership with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces. The facility will initially assemble Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 vehicles for Moroccan forces, with plans to expand production for the larger African market.

Army soldier injured as encounter breaks out in J&K’s Udhampur

The Army on Friday (September 19, 2025) said a group of terrorists was engaged in a firefight on the Doda-Udhampur border in the Jammu division. One Army soldier was injured in an encounter, officials said. “In an intelligence-based operation in the Doda-Udhampur border, alert troops of the White Knight Corps established contact with terrorists at around 8 p.m.,” the Army spokesman said. “Operations are currently in progress,” the Army added.

Two Assam Rifles jawans killed in Manipur attack

Two Assam Rifles (AR) personnel were killed and five others were seriously injured when their vehicle was ambushed by “unidentified terrorists” in the Nambol area of Bishnupur district in Manipur on Friday (September 19, 2025) evening. No terrorist group has claimed responsibility so far, but a senior government official told The Hindu that the banned Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), a valley-based Meitei insurgent group which operates from Myanmar, is suspected to be behind the attack. The outfit, banned since 1979, seeks the secession of Manipur from India. The deceased Assam Rifles personnel have been identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung & Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap.

Karnataka CEO will continue to assist probe into Aland case: ECI

The Election Commission of India on Friday (September 19, 2025) said that the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has been providing, and would continue to provide, all information to the State CID for investigation into the Aland fake voter deletion matter. The ECI on Friday (September 19, 2025) said in an official statement that although an elector of the constituency can fill out Form 7 online to apply for deletion of an entry from that particular constituency, it does not mean that the entry gets automatically deleted merely by submitting the Form 7.

Nepal’s ousted PM Oli calls for probe into deadly youth protests

Nepal’s deposed Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said on Friday (September 19, 2025) his government did not order police to open fire on protesters and called for a probe into violence that killed at least 73 people. In his first statement since stepping down last Tuesday, the 73-year-old said “infiltrators” were responsible for inciting bloodshed during youth-led protests that swept the Himalayan nation beginning September 8. "The government did not issue orders to target the protesters and fire shots," Mr. Oli said, as the country marked its constitution day Friday (September 19, 2025).

Israel Army says will use ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City

The Israeli military warned on Friday (September 19, 2025) it would operate with “unprecedented force” in Gaza City, telling residents to flee southwards as it presses its ground offensive on the territory’s largest urban centre. The military on Friday (September 19, 2025) said it estimated 4.8 lakh of them have fled since late August. “From this moment, Salah al-Din Road is closed for south-bound travel,” Avichay Adraee said in a post on X addressing residents of the city, referring to the main north-south artery through the Gaza Strip. “The Israel Defence Forces will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other terrorist organisations,” Mr. Adraee said on X.

Assam’s popular singer Zubeen Garg dies while scuba diving in Singapore

Popular singer from Assam and youth heartthrob Zubeen Garg died while scuba diving in Singapore on Friday (September 19, 2025), organisers of a festival in the Southeast Asian country said .He was 52, and is survived by his wife. Garg sustained injuries during scuba diving, and was rushed to a hospital, where he died at the intensive care unit while undergoing treatment. He had gone to Singapore to participate in the three-day North East Festival which was scheduled to begin on Friday.

European Commission proposes new sanctions package against Russia

The European Commission said on Friday (September 19, 2025) it has presented a fresh package of sanctions against Russia for approval by member states, as the bloc seeks to speed up the pressure on Moscow over the war on Ukraine. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, who was to outline details of the package later on Friday (September 19, 2025), anticipated this week that it would target crypto and banks, and seek to speed up the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports.

Trump signs proclamation imposing $1,00,000 fee for H-1B visa applications

In a move that could adversely impact Indian professionals on visas in the U.S., President Donald Trump on Friday (September 19, 2025) signed a proclamation that will raise the fee for H1-B visas to a staggering $1,00,000 annually, the latest in the administration’s efforts to crack down on immigration. The Trump administration said that the $1,00,000 fee is aimed at ensuring that the people being brought into the country are “actually very highly skilled” and do not replace American workers.

Trump sees progress on TikTok, says will visit China

U.S. President Donald Trump hailed on Friday (September 19, 2025) what he called progress with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including on selling the app TikTok and said he would visit the Asian power, which offered a more cautious assessment of their talks. The leaders of the world’s two largest economies spoke by telephone for the second time since the return to the White House of Trump, who has tried to keep a lid on tensions despite his once virulent criticism of China. Mr. Trump told reporters ahead of the call that he hoped it would finalise a deal to take TikTok out of Chinese hands, the social media hugely popular with young Americans that the Republican mogul has turned to himself to garner support.