Top news of the day on September 26, 2025

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested in Leh

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, spearheading an agitation over the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, was arrested by the Ladakh police on Friday (September 26, 2025). Officials said a team led by Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP) S.D. Jamwal arrested Mr. Wangchuk from Leh. Official sources said Mr. Wangchuk was scheduled to address the media after 2 p.m. but was denied permission. The charges levelled against Mr. Wangchuk could not be confirmed immediately.

Government says India held ‘constructive’ meetings in the U.S., does not reveal date of next official meeting

The Indian delegation led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held “constructive” meetings with officials in the US government during its visit to New York this week, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement. It added that the two sides also discussed the possible contours of a Bilateral Trade Agreement. However, the statement fell short of mentioning the next date of formal negotiations for the deal, or whether such a date has been decided. The Indian team had been in the U.S. from September 22-24, while sources have confirmed that the Mr. Goyal returned to India a few days later. 

Rahul Gandhi backs students protesting against Uttarakhand paper leak, calls BJP ‘paper chor’

Extending his full support to students protesting against a recent paper leak in Uttarakhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (September 26, 2025) said unemployment is directly linked to “vote chori”, and alleged that the other name of BJP is “paper chor”. In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also alleged that the BJP is not bothered about jobs for the youth but about remaining in power through “vote chori” (vote theft) during elections.

Supreme Court stays Andhra Pradesh HC order faulting CBI director over Tirupati ‘adulterated ghee’ probe

The Supreme Court on Friday (September 26, 2025) stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court order that had faulted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director for appointing an officer outside the court-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to assist in the probe into allegations of “adulterated ghee” used in the preparation of prasadam at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. A Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria observed, “Has the SIT appointed by us abdicated its responsibility? It has only appointed one investigating officer who will work under it.” 

Entirely baseless: India on NATO chief’s claims that Modi asked for Ukraine plan from Putin

India on Friday (September 26, 2025) described as “entirely baseless” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked for Moscow’s strategy on Ukraine in view of the impact of Washington’s punitive tariffs on India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “speculative or careless” remarks that misrepresent Mr. Modi’s engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are “unacceptable”.

Delhi HC questions maintainability of Sameer Wankhede’s suit against ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood’

The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the maintainability of a defamation suit filed by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede against the Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.