TODAY NEWS ON September 17, 2025

Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Heavy rains cause floods in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara; two missing

Heavy rains on Monday night (September 15, 2025) caused floods in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara area, damaging roads and requiring the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue operations to help those left stranded. Two people were reported missing after floods hit the Uttarakhand district. The SDRF had to rescue over 100 people, including students of Devbhoomi institute. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said damage have been reported from Sahastradhara and Mal Devta in Dehradun, and also from Mussoorie.

India, U.S. to push for early conclusion of a trade deal

Discussions between the negotiating teams of the U.S. and India on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) in New Delhi were “positive and forward-looking”, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said following the talks. It added that the two sides had decided to “intensify efforts” towards an early conclusion of a trade agreement between the two countries. A team of officials from the office of the United States Trade Representative, led by the Chief Negotiator for the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, Brendan Lynch, visited India on Tuesday (September 16, 2025).

Parliamentary Panel on simultaneous polls to meet economists

Parliament’s Joint Committee on reviewing legislation aimed at introducing simultaneous polls will be meeting economists Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Arvind Panagariya, and Surjit S. Bhalla in its next meeting scheduled for September 24, 2025. The panel chairman and senior BJP leader P. P. Chaudhary said that the panel wants to review the economic implications of simultaneous elections.

India-Pakistan border sees a sharp rise in drone-driven drug smuggling cases

There has been a dramatic increase in the drone-driven drug drops along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, with the number of seizures skyrocketing from just three cases in 2021 to 179 in 2024, according to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) annual report released on Tuesday (September 16, 2025). “The use of drones for cross-border smuggling of narcotics has emerged as a significant threat to India’s internal security, particularly along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab...there has been a sharp increase in drone sightings and recoveries of narcotics in border districts such as Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozpur, and Gurdaspur. In 2024, the number of such seizures rose manifold, reaching 179 cases as compared to 3 cases in 2021. The recovered consignments often include heroin, opium, etc.,” said the report.

At UNHRC, India condemns violation of Qatar’s sovereignty

India on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) defended Qatar’s sovereignty at the U.N. Human Rights Council. Addressing a session in the UNHRC in Geneva, the Government of India’s Permanent Representative Arindam Bagchi referred to the September 9 Israeli bombing of Doha and said India “unequivocally” condemns the attack on Qatar. “India is deeply concerned about the recent attacks in Doha and their impact on the security situation in the region. We unequivocally condemn the violation of the sovereignty of Qatar. Such actions threaten peace, stability, and security not only in the region but across the world,” said Mr. Bagchi in his statement, which, however, did not name Israel.

Trump extends TikTok shutdown deadline again after reaching framework deal with China

U.S. President Donald Trump formally extended the deadline to keep the social media app TikTok available in the United States until December 16, giving time to complete the framework of the deal announced on Monday (September 15, 2025) after talks between American and Chinese government officials. The executive order signed on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) by Mr. Trump was the fourth time he has bypassed federal law to prolong the deadline for the China-associated TikTok to sell its assets to an American company or face a ban.

Trump lands in U.K. for historic state visit

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Britain on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) for an unprecedented second state visit, with the UK government rolling out a royal red carpet welcome to win over the mercurial leader. The 79-year-old Republican and his wife Melania received a guard of honour as they stepped off Air Force One at Stansted Airport near London. “It’s going to be a very big thing,” Mr. Trump told reporters during the flight.King Charles III will host Mr. Trump at Windsor Castle for a lavish banquet and carriage ride on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), before Mr. Trump meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country residence on Thursday (September 18, 2025).

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces death penalty for aggravated murder charge

Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah University, was charged on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) with aggravated murder. The charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 64 km south of Salt Lake City. “The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges. He said Robinson’s DNA was found on trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.

U.S. President Trump dials PM Modi, greets him on birthday

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi and greeted him on his 75th birthday, in a significant gesture seen as part of Washington’s efforts to reset ties with New Delhi. In a social media post, PM Modi said, like Mr. Trump, he is also “fully” committed to taking the India-U.S. Comprehensive and Global Partnership to “new heights”. PM Modi said, “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday.” Mr. Trump also thanked PM Modi for his support in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Supreme Court seeks reply from States on pleas for staying anti-conversion laws

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) sought the stand of several States on pleas seeking a stay on their respective anti-conversion laws. While issuing notices to the states, a bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran made it clear that it will consider the prayer for staying the operation of such laws once the replies were in.

Apollo Tyres new jersey sponsor of Indian cricket team, deal worth ₹579 crore

Apollo Tyres has been locked in as the new jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team following the exit of online game platform Dream11, a senior BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday (September 16, 2025). The BCCI was left without a shirt sponsor for the team after the government banned real money gaming platforms including Dream 11 under a new legislation. The team is currently playing the Asia Cup in Dubai without a title sponsor. “The deal has been signed with Apollo Tyres. We will announce it soon,” said a senior BCCI official.

Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage to resume from today

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district will resume on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), subject to favourable weather conditions, the shrine board said.  The pilgrimage was suspended on August 26, hours before a major landslip hit the route leading to the shrine that resulted in the death of 34 pilgrims and injuries to 20 others.

Neeraj Chopra to begin title defence against strong field

India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra will begin his World Championship title defence with the qualification round in Tokyo on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), taking on a blockbuster field that also features Olympic gold-winning Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and Diamond League champion Julian Weber of Germany. Neeraj will aim to become the third male javelin thrower in history to defend the World Championships gold he had won in the 2023 edition in Budapest.