Leh protest turns deadly; Centre blames climate activist Sonam WangchukSeveral people were feared dead and many injured in Leh city in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) as an ongoing protest seeking the constitutional safeguards of Statehood and tribal status for the region bordering China turned violent. The Union Home Ministry, in a statement, said an unruly mob destroyed public property and attacked the police, injuring around 30 security personnel. The police had to resort to firing, in which “unfortunately some casualties are reported”, it said.Israel says conclusion of talks with Syria contingent on demilitarisation, safeguarding DruzeIsrael’s Prime Minister’s office said on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) that negotiations were being held with Syria and the conclusions were contingent upon ensuring Israel’s interests, which include the demilitarisation of southwestern Syria and safeguarding the well-being and security of the Druze in Syria. Under U.S. pressure, Syria is accelerating talks with Israel for a security pact that Damascus hopes will reverse Israel’s recent seizures of its land but that would fall far short of a full peace treaty, sources briefed on the talks said.We love India, want more energy trade with it: U.S. Energy SecretaryThe U.S. wants to expand energy cooperation with its “awesome ally” India, including in natural gas and coal, nuclear, and clean cooking fuels, where New Delhi has been a “star”, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday (September 24, 2025). “A lot of my early time when I arrived in my position was dealing with India, the world’s largest democracy, an awesome ally of the United States, a fast growing economy, a truly dynamic society that of course has rapidly growing energy demand because people are increasing their prosperity, their opportunities,” Mr. Wright said in response to a question by PTI.INDIA bloc pledges to bring law to protect Extremely Backward Classes in BiharLeaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) released a 10-point resolution for the Extremely Backward Class (EBC), including a pledge to bring in a law for protection against atrocities on the lines of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, if the bloc was voted to power in Bihar. The resolution, read out by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, also proposes increasing EBC reservation in panchayat and municipal bodies from 20% to 30%, raising the overall cap to 50%, providing land to landless SC, ST, Other Backward Classes and EBC families, enforcing Article 15(5) for admission in private institutions, and 50% quota for SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs in government contracts worth up to ₹25 crore. A high-powered regulatory authority will oversee reservations, the resolution said.Kulgam resident, who ‘helped’ Pahalgam attackers, arrested in Kashmir Valley: officialsA local who “provided logistical support” to a group of non-local terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack was arrested in Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Wednesday (September 24, 2025). A top police official identified the arrested local as Muhammad Yousuf Katari, 26, a resident of Kulgam. According to the police, Katari worked as an overground worker for the terror outfit behind the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead on April 22, 2025. The three Pahalgam attackers were later killed in Operation Mahadev in Srinagar’s Lidwas area in the upper reaches of the Dachigam forest area on July 28, 2025.Jaishankar hosts FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New YorkExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (September 25, 2025) hosted a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation, reaffirming a “people-centric” agenda emphasising health, technology and capacity building. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. “Delighted to host the FIPIC Foreign Ministers Meeting today in New York. Glad to note that the 12-point action plan announced by PM @narendramodi at the FIPIC-III Summit is progressing well,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X.Simultaneous polls committee meets Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Arvind PanagariyaThe Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on One Nation One Election reviewing the legislation on simultaneous polls on Wednesday met three economists — Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Arvind Panagariya, and Surjit S. Bhalla — who presented two contrasting views on the issue. Mr. Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, rejected the claim that simultaneous elections would lead to economic growth. Mr. Panagariya and Mr. Bhalla, on the other hand, argued in favour of it. Former BJP MP’s remarks worry party leadership in poll-bound BiharThe remarks by former BJP MP from Bihar and Union Minister, Raj Kumar Singh, against a few leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the poll-bound State have come as a source of “embarrassment” to the party leadership. Mr. Singh got elected MP from Bhojpur (Ara) in Bihar on BJP ticket in 2014 and 2019. A former bureaucrat, he has also served as a Union Minister. In 2024, he lost the Lok Sabha election to Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) candidate Sudama Prasad by a margin of over 58,000 votes. Since then, Mr. Singh has been absent from party meetings. He was also missing from rallies and other events related to the Assembly election, slated to be held in October-November later this year.No interim relief for journalist against gag order over reporting on Adani EnterprisesA Delhi court on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) reserved an order on the appeal filed by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta against an ex-parte gag order restraining reporting on Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). The court also issued notice to AEL on the plea filed by digital news platform Newslaundry on the same issue. A city court, on September 6, had passed an ex-parte injunction in a defamation case filed by AEL restraining Mr. Thakurta, Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskant Das, and Ayush Joshi, from publishing “allegedly defamatory” material about the company. The journalists challenged the order and the matter is currently being heard by two different courts — one by District Judge Sunil Chaudhary and the other by Judge Ashish Aggarwal.NIA books Gurpatwant Singh Pannun over his call to stop Modi from hoisting flagThe National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the U.S.-based banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for allegedly attempting to instigate Sikh soldiers to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from hoisting the national flag at Red Fort on August 15, for which he offered a ₹11-crore reward.U.S. envoy Witkoff confident of ‘some sort of breakthrough’ on Gaza in coming daysU.S. President Donald Trump has presented leaders from several Muslim-majority countries with a 21-point peace plan for the Middle East and Gaza, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday (September 24, 2025), adding that he is confident of “some sort of breakthrough” in the coming days. Mr. Trump on Tuesday (September 23) met leaders and officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan to discuss the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. The meeting was held at the U.N. on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly.Former President Mutharika wins Malawi election to oust longtime rival ChakweraFormer President Peter Mutharika has been declared the winner of Malawi’s election, ousting incumbent Lazarus Chakera to return as leader of one of Africa’s poorest countries. Mr. Chakwera conceded defeat in a speech on national television hours before the final results were announced on Wednesday. Supporters of Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party had already gathered in the streets of the commercial capital, Blantyre, to celebrate.Trump says he was victim of ’triple sabotage’ at UN and Secret Service is looking into the matterU.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) that he was the victim of “three very sinister events” during his time at the United Nations on Tuesday and that the Secret Service will be looking into the issues. The President was attending the U.N. General Assembly, where he gave a speech excoriating the institution for having squandered its potential. He also criticised U.S. allies in Europe for their handling of the Russian war in Ukraine and their acceptance of immigrants as he told fellow world leaders that their nations were “going to hell.”Abhishek, bowlers help India enter Asia Cup finalWarm, sweaty evenings are the norm in this part of the world. It is becoming as much of a norm for Abhishek Sharma to show his belligerent strokeplay for India in the T20 format. On Wednesday (September 24, 2025) evening, the southpaw hammered 75 off 37 balls to help his side get to 168 for six and register a 41-run win against Bangladesh in a Super Four encounter of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.