Charlie Kirk, the founder and CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot near the neck during a student question-and-answer event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. The shooting caused panic among attendees, and Kirk was quickly escorted from the scene by his security team. A suspect is in custody, and investigations involving the FBI and ATF are ongoing.
The incident has drawn widespread attention and condolences from political figures across the spectrum. Vice President JD Vance, Utah Senator Mike Lee, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and former President Donald Trump all expressed their concern and called for prayers for Kirk's recovery. Kirk has been a prominent conservative activist closely associated with former President Trump and has played a significant role in conservative youth mobilization across the U.S.
The shooting occurred during the first stop of Kirk's American Comeback Tour, aimed at college campuses. The situation is still developing, and more updates are expected as investigations proceed.
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India has faced intense pressure from the United States, especially under President Donald Trump, to stop purchasing oil and buying armaments from Russia. Despite threats of heavy tariffs and diplomatic onslaughts, India has largely protected its national self-interest by continuing to import discounted Russian crude oil, which accounts for about 35-40% of its total oil imports as of 2024–2025. This import strategy helps India manage inflation and sustain economic growth while asserting its strategic autonomy. The challenge, however, remains to balance relations between the US and Russia while guarding India's territorial sovereignty, economic stability, and democratic principles amid geopolitical tensions with China and Pakistan.
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The U.S. under Donald Trump urged the EU to impose 100% tariffs on India and China for their purchases of Russian oil, while also promising to mirror such moves, potentially straining India-EU trade talks and complicating global geopolitics.
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India has signed extradition treaties with 48 countries and entered into extradition arrangements with 12 more countries. This means India has formal extradition agreements with a total of 60 nations/territories to facilitate the surrender of fugitives for prosecution or punishment.
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Donald Trump has been nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize, including for his role in brokering ceasefires and diplomatic agreements such as the Abraham Accords and ceasefires in the Middle East. Notably, countries like Pakistan, Israel, Cambodia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have officially nominated or supported his nominations, recognizing his contributions to peace diplomacy despite debates over the long-term impact of his efforts.
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The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held in Tianjin, China, in August-September 2025, where major discussions focused on security, economic cooperation, counter-terrorism, and sustainable development. India emphasized its vision of SCO under three pillars: security, connectivity, and opportunity, advocating for stronger action against terrorism, promoting infrastructure projects like the Chabahar port, and proposing a Civilizational Dialogue Forum to enhance cultural ties among member states. The summit also marked the inclusion of Laos as a partner country, bringing the total SCO strength to 27.
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India is currently the largest remittance-receiving country in the world, with remittances growing from $55 billion in 2010-11 to $118.7 billion in 2023-24. However, the increasing spending by Indian students studying abroad, estimated to reach $70 billion by 2025, highlights a persistent intellectual brain drain, as more money is spent overseas on education than is sent back to India in remittances. This brain drain poses challenges to India's economy and innovation potential, despite rising remittances.
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The United States has historically used economic sanctions and tariffs as powerful tools of foreign policy and political coercion, targeting both allies and adversaries to enforce alignment with its interests. In 2025, US sanctions cover countries including Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and Belarus, often imposing restrictions such as freezing assets, trade bans, and visa limitations. These measures are coupled with public vilification and political retribution tactics, reflecting a recurring theme in US history where economic power is used as a weapon to punish dissent and reward loyalty.
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The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were coordinated suicide hijackings by 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda, involving four commercial airplanes. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City at 8:46 AM and 9:03 AM, causing both towers to collapse within hours. Another plane hit the Pentagon at 9:37 AM, while the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, marking 9/11 as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history and a turning point for global security policies.
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Rukhmabai Raut, in the 1880s, was the first Hindu woman in India to legally obtain a divorce after challenging the orthodox norms of child marriage in the Bhikaji v. Rukhmabai case. Her brave defiance against forced cohabitation not only set a legal precedent but also catalyzed social reforms, including the Age of Consent Act of 1891 and laws against child marriage, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey toward gender justice and modern divorce laws.
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The India-Sri Lanka fisheries dispute in the Palk Strait centers around contested fishing rights and ecological concerns, particularly the practice of destructive bottom trawling by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters. Despite a 1974 treaty recognizing Katchatheevu island as Sri Lankan territory, fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Northern Province have shared these waters for centuries. The issue affects livelihoods, marine sustainability, and diplomatic ties, with calls for humane, cooperative management including regulated fishing quotas and joint conservation efforts under international law like UNCLOS
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C. P. Radhakrishnan, a senior BJP leader with roots in the RSS and extensive political and administrative experience, was elected as India's 15th Vice President on September 9, 2025. He secured 452 out of 752 valid votes, defeating Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, and now serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. His election is seen as a significant link between BJP's nationalist ideology and the Sangh Parivar agenda, and he faces the challenge of fostering cooperation between the government and opposition in a politically polarized environment.
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In September 2025, a majority panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court voted to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 election defeat. Three out of five justices found him guilty on five charges including conspiring to overturn the election and participating in a criminal organization, with the conviction potentially leading to decades in prison. Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, denies wrongdoing and is set to appeal. This historic verdict deepens Brazil's political divisions and may provoke diplomatic tensions with the United States
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