Top news of the day: SC refuses to stay Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 in its entirety; Pakistan demands removal of match referee from Asia Cup after Indian team refused to shake hands with its players, and more

Handshake row: PCB demands match referee Andy Pycroft’s removal from Asia Cup

In light of India’s refusal to exchange customary handshakes with Pakistan players before or after its seven-wicket win in the Asia Cup on Sunday owing to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has called for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the remainder of the continental tournament. After the game, the PCB had said in a statement that the “match referee had asked the captains not to shake hands at the time of the toss”.

Supreme Court refuses to stay Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 in its entirety

The Supreme Court of India on Monday (September 15, 2025) declined to stay the entire Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, noting that presumption is always in favour of the constitutionality of a law passed by the legislature. “It is only in the rarest of rare cases, the court can grant stay of the law challenged. We have found that the case was not made out to stay the entire statute,” a Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih observed.

Bihar SIR hearing: Supreme Court fixes October 7 for hearing final arguments on validity of SIR exercise

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi fixed October 7 for hearing final arguments on validity of Bihar SIR while refusing to offer any “any piecemeal opinion” on the exercise. The Supreme Court on Monday (September 15, 2025) said Aadhaar was part of the right to vote statute, and voters were permitted to utilise the unique identity proof to the extent permitted by the law. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was responding to submissions intended to portray Aadhaar as inferior to 11 other documents listed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for voter verification in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar.

Nepal’s interim Cabinet expanded with inclusion of Rameshore Khanal, Kulman Ghising and Om Prakash Aryal

Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath of office to three newly inducted Ministers in the interim Cabinet led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday (September 15, 2025). Two days after her appointment, Ms. Karki on Sunday (September 14) formed the Cabinet with Rameshore Khanal, Kulman Ghising, and Om Prakash Aryal as Finance Minister, Energy Minister, and Home Minister, respectively.

U.S. chief negotiator to visit India on September 16 for trade talks

As a “continuation” of trade talks between India and the U.S., India will host the U.S. chief negotiator Brendan Lynch for a one-day meeting with India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, Mr. Agrawal said on Monday (September 15, 2025). This follows developments earlier this month, when U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about the “special relationship” the U.S. shares with India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi “fully reciprocates” the sentiment.

Exports up 6.7% to $35.1 billion in August, imports drop by 10%

India’s exports rose by 6.7% to $35.1 billion in August, while imports declined by 10.12% to $61.59 billion, according to official data released on Monday (September 15, 2025). Exports were worth $32.89 billion in August last year and imports stood at $68.53 billion. Trade deficit during August 2025 was $26.49 billion as against $35.64 billion in the year-ago month. During April-August 2025-26, exports stood at $184.13 billion, while imports were at $306.52 billion.