By Justice Surya Kant

Copyright thehindu

British PM Keir Starmer likely to visit India in October

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is “likely” to visit India around the October 7-9 Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, high-level diplomatic sources confirmed to The Hindu on Monday (September 22, 2025). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Starmer will hold summit-level talks during the visit, which comes a little more than two months after Mr. Modi visited the U.K. to attend the signing of the U.K.-India free trade agreement. The trade agreement is still working its way through the ratification process in the U.K. and is expected to come into effect only in 2026. The two sides are negotiating a bilateral investment treaty and announced a Technology Security Initiative in July last year.

Jaishankar, Rubio meet amid trade, visa tensions

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an apparent bid by both sides to repair relations ruptured by a number of U.S. actions, including the 50% tariffs on Indian goods and an increase in H-1B visa fees. Monday’s (September 22, 2025) talks at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) came even as Indian and U.S. trade negotiators prepared for their next round of talks. Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal is also in the U.S. this week.

France recognises Palestinian statehood at UN meeting to revive peace efforts

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (September 22, 2025) recognised a Palestinian state, leading a UN summit that already spurred other Western governments to take the landmark step that has infuriated Israel. “The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it,” Mr. Macron told the summit. “The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement,” Mr. Macron said.

Building collapse in Indore: 11 people rescued, 4 critical

A three-storey house collapsed in Indore’s Ranipura area on Monday (September 22, 2025) night following rains. Eleven people were rescued from the debris and admitted to a government hospital, while at least two are feared trapped, officials said .The rescued have been admitted to Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital. Four of the injured are in critical condition, while the condition of seven others is stable, Arvind Ghanghoria, dean of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, told PTI. The hospital is part of the college setup.

People getting impatient, matters can go out of hand: Ladakh protest leader

Civil society leaders from Ladakh, who are demanding constitutional safeguards for the region, said on Monday (September 22, 2025) that the Union Home Ministry’s decision to call them for talks on October 6 was “unilateral”. They said the Ministry should have called the meeting sooner since the hunger strike by residents in Leh has entered the 13th day. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other residents are sitting on a hunger strike, which they plan to continue for 35 days, in Leh amid demands for Statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, giving the region a tribal status.

Supreme Court judge says it’s high time to decriminalise defamation

A Supreme Court judge voiced his exasperation at the increasing use of criminal defamation law by private individuals and political parties to get even, highlighting the need “to decriminalise” slur. “I think time has come to decriminalise this,” Justice M.M. Sundresh remarked on Monday (September 22, 2025). Less than a decade ago, the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional validity of criminal defamation, saying it protected reputation, a part of the fundamental right to life.The apex court, in Subramanian Swamy versus Union of India, in 2016, had concluded that the criminal defamation law was a “reasonable restriction” to the right to free speech and expression enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Assam CM orders autopsy of Garg’s remains after aide is accused of ‘overworking singer’

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday (September 22, 2025) that an autopsy will be conducted on the body of popular singer-composer Zubeen Garg at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday (September 23, 2025). He has also ordered a CID probe. Public pressure had been building for an inquiry. He said the process will be completed ahead of Garg’s cremation at Hatimura in Sonapur, about 30 km east of Guwahati.

Supreme Court assigns CBI plea on Shivakumar case to Justice Kant’s Bench

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 22, 2025) made it clear that a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant would hear pleas challenging Karnataka’s decision to withdraw consent to investigate a disproportionate assets case against Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai noted that the case had earlier been dealt with by a Bench led by Justice Kant.

Students launch protest in Dehradun against paper leak, says anti-cheating law is no deterrent

Following the paper leak that took place during the government recruitment exam, hundreds of students and members of Uttarakhand Berozgar Sangh (Unemployed Association) protested in Dehradun on Monday (September 22, 2025). Demanding justice for those who spent months preparing for exams and ended up losing it to paper leak, students alleged that the anti-cheating law remain no deterrent for the cheating mafias in the State.

Plea in Delhi High Court seeks removal of graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhatt from Tihar jail premises

A plea before the Delhi High Court has sought directions to remove the graves of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt, who were awarded death penalty and executed in Tihar jail, from the prison premises. The plea sought directions to the authorities to relocate the mortal remains, if necessary, to a secret location to prevent “glorification of terrorism” and misuse of jail premises.

Disney says Jimmy Kimmel will return to the air on September 23

Disney said “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will return to its ABC network lineup on Tuesday (September 23, 2025), six days after it suspended the talk-show host following threats by the Federal Communications Commission chairman over comments the host had made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In announcing the decision to bring Mr. Kimmel back to the airwaves, ABC’s parent company said it had suspended production of the show “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”

Rubio meets Syria’s leader in New York as the country’s isolation eases further

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met on Monday (September 22, 2025) with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, expanding his country’s relations with the West and further easing its isolation as he becomes Syria’s first leader to take part in a high-level annual U.N. meeting in nearly 60 years.

Ousmane Dembele, Aitana Bonmati win Ballon d’Or awards in Paris

Ousmane Dembele was named the world’s best player of the season as he claimed the Ballon d’Or on a night of triumph for his Paris St. Germain club, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, a serial trophy winner, claimed the women’s award on Monday (September 22, 2025). The 28-year-old France forward Dembele, who needed time and the guidance of PSG coach Luis Enrique to fulfil his potential as he inspired the capital club to their first Champions League title last season, became the sixth French player to lift the award and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022.