India on Thursday said it would take all necessary steps to protect its trade and economic interests after the US Congress passed a sweeping bill targeting Russia and Iran. The legislation gives US President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue significant trade with Russia, including Russian oil and gas.   India’s External Affairs Ministry said the government remains committed to securing energy supplies for its 1.4 billion people. It said India would continue sourcing energy based on market conditions and through diversified suppliers, while assessing the impact of the US measures. (PC: India Today)

A unit of Adani Power’s Godda thermal plant in Jharkhand, which supplies electricity to Bangladesh, shut down on September 10 after a boiler fault, halving supplies. The unit was restored on September 13, while Bangladesh was facing a power deficit of around 2,500 MW and outages lasting three to 10 hours in several regions. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged the shutdown was linked to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman skipping the Brics Summit in New Delhi. Speaking outside Dhaka’s Jatiya Press Club, Rizvi accused India of creating a “web of conspiracy” against Bangladesh and said Rahman’s decision upheld Bangladesh’s “independence and sovereignty,” according to Bangladeshi media reports. (PC: BNP/Social Media)

A Pakistan Navy vessel collided with an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea on September 15 after manoeuvring at high speed, India said the Pakistani vessel acted in an “unprofessional and unsafe” manner and summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires to lodge a strong protest. The collision occurred in international waters and caused no damage to the Indian warship, while India said the conduct violated Article 10 of the 1991 agreement requiring naval vessels to maintain three nautical miles’ distance. Pakistan later summoned India’s charge d’affaires, alleging the Indian vessel made aggressive manoeuvres inside Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone. Both sides urged adherence to international law and agreements to prevent incidents at sea.

The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill on Wednesday, clearing the final hurdle for legislation that grants President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries buying Russian oil and natural gas, including India and China. Officially titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the bill passed 262-159 and is expected to be signed by Trump, and now awaits President Trump's signature. It previously cleared the Senate 86-11 but faced delays in the House over disagreements about expanding presidential economic powers. While 58 Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure, Democratic leadership opposed its expanded tariff provisions.

Indian content creator Arunima IP was released after spending several hours in Taliban custody while travelling alone in Afghanistan. Arunima said she was detained because women are not allowed to travel alone under Taliban rules.   In an SOS message, she asked for help contacting the Indian embassy and later posted, “I am safe now.” Describing the incident, she said, “I was completely terrified” and felt she “could have died.” Arunima said armed Taliban members questioned her documents and told her she needed a special permit to travel between provinces. She questioned why she was granted a visa despite travelling alone. Neither the Taliban nor the Indian embassy has commented. (PC: The Independent)

US President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and strengthen supply chain integrity. The statement came as India was included in the US list of “major illicit drug producing countries” on Wednesday. Trump said he looked forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework. India was among 23 countries designated by the US as “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing” nations. Pakistan and China were also included in the list. Other countries named included Afghanistan, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Burma and others.

Bangladesh said handing over prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League Secretary Obaidul Quader and others in India is an important condition for improving bilateral ties. Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said Dhaka expects New Delhi to consider the issue while establishing a “working engagement” between the neighbours. His remarks followed Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentencing Quader and six others to death in a case linked to alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising. Zahed said he raised the handover issue with High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi. Hasina has stayed in India since her ouster, while Dhaka has repeatedly sought her return. The demand comes amid efforts to navigate a phase in relations. (PC: AFP)

India rejected the China-Pakistan Joint Boundary Commission after it became operational, saying the body has no legal basis and Pakistan cannot enter arrangements concerning Indian territory under its illegal and forcible occupation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position remained clear, asserting there is no boundary between Pakistan and China. India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India and that it has never recognised the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, which it considers illegal and invalid. Jaiswal said boundary cooperation concerning Indian territories would be unacceptable and would not affect India’s sovereignty. He urged Islamabad to vacate the areas it holds under occupation.

India has rejected a new Pakistan-China boundary commission, saying it has no legal basis. The commission held its first meeting in Islamabad to discuss border management, surveys, trade and connectivity. India said it does not recognise the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement and considers it illegal and invalid. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan cannot make agreements involving territory that India claims as its own. India also opposed any move to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. New Delhi said such cooperation between Pakistan and China would not affect India’s claims over the disputed territories.

India has expressed concern over a drone intercepted near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences destroyed the drone south of the holy city on September 15. Saudi officials said it was a Houthi drone and claimed it was stopped before entering restricted airspace. However, the Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites. India condemned attacks on Saudi territory and actions that could endanger civilians and key infrastructure. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the incident was especially concerning because of Mecca’s importance to Muslims worldwide. India also called for peace and stability in the region.