Radhakrishnan Is New Vice President; Trump Hopeful Of A Deal With India; Nepal In Turmoil; And More

Kick-start your morning with Swarajya’s Morning Brief – your news fix, curated for clarity and insight.

India Gets New Vice President In CP Radhakrishnan

NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as the new Vice-President of India.

Radhakrishnan won the election with 452 first-preference votes, defeating the opposition candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court, who polled 300 votes. The results were announced by Returning Officer PC Mody.

Radhakrishnan, a former Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, secured a clear majority with the support of BJP MPs and allies.

Brisk voting took place on Tuesday (9 September) to elect the new Vice-President, with over 98 per cent of MPs casting their ballot, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the first to exercise his franchise.

Radhakrishnan will succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned midway through his term on 21 July, citing ill health.

'Look Forward To Speaking With My Very Good Friend', Says Trump; Modi Returns Gesture

Following his comments on 5 September that "India and the United States have a special relationship" and that "there is nothing to worry about", US President Donald Trump once again sounded optimistic about the India-US relationship and trade deal in a post on Truth Social.

"I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!": said Trump on Truth Social.

PM Modi responded to the outreach in kind. He posted on X: "India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people. @realDonaldTrump @POTUS"

Nepal PM Resigns, Politicians Across Party Lines Targeted By Mobs

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned Tuesday following a deadly police crackdown on anti-corruption protesters that killed at least 19 people, including students, and injured over 400 others.

The crisis began Monday when security forces opened fire on young demonstrators demanding an end to corruption and systemic failures. The bloodshed triggered immediate nationwide unrest, forcing Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign first before mounting pressure led to Oli's departure.

Despite the resignation, protests escalated dramatically Tuesday. Demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Parliament building and Nepali Congress Central Office. They systematically targeted political leaders' homes, torching Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung's residence and attacking properties belonging to Deputy PM Bishnu Paudel, former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba, and opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The Nepali Army evacuated ministers by helicopter as violence spread across Kathmandu. Tribhuvan International Airport cancelled all flights due to security concerns.

Reports indicated that the Nepal Army will not assume charge in the country. Simultaneously, India tightened security along the 1,751 km border with Nepal, placing several regions including Darjeeling’s Panitanki on high alert. Paramilitary forces and police increased patrols, while a new post was set up in Darjeeling.

Other developments

Israel Bombs Qatar; Trump Rebukes Netanyahu

Explosions rocked Doha Tuesday as Israel conducted airstrikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital. The Israeli military confirmed "Operation Summit of Fire," calling it a "precise strike" against Hamas leadership responsible for the October 7, 2023 massacre.

US President Trump criticised the attack, stating he wasn't notified in advance and wasn't "thrilled about the whole situation." He emphasized Qatar's role as a crucial US ally hosting American airbases and mediating Gaza negotiations.

The strikes create diplomatic tensions as Qatar has long harboured exiled Hamas leaders while serving as a key intermediary between Israel and Palestinian groups. Trump insisted the decision was Israel PM Netanyahu's alone, distancing his administration from the controversial operation.

Apple's India Factories Going Full Steam On iPhone 17

Apple factories across India are operating at full capacity following Tuesday's iPhone 17 launch, reported a leading business daily. The effort is led by Foxconn's massive Bengaluru facility – the country's largest manufacturing plant by any company.

India now supplies nearly half of all US-bound iPhones, with Indian-made devices available globally from launch day – marking a significant shift from China-dependent supply chains.

Multiple facilities across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including Tata Electronics and Pegatron plants, are simultaneously producing the iPhone 17, establishing India as a major global iPhone manufacturing hub.

Tamil Nadu: DSP Remanded in Custody for Failing to Act on 'SC-ST Act' Case, Issue Relates To 'Stale' Cake

A Kanchipuram Deputy Superintendent of Police was remanded in judicial custody Monday for allegedly failing to investigate a case under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.

DSP M. Sankar Ganesh was ordered detained until September 22 by Principal District Judge Pa. U. Chemmal after he failed to file a status report despite court warnings.

The case involves the July 25 assault of one Murugan, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, by bakery owner Sivakumar following a dispute over stale cake. Despite Murugan filing a complaint, police failed to register an FIR for 27 days, violating Section 18A of the Act.

Judge Chemmal, taking suo motu cognisance, criticized both Ganesh and Superintendent K. Shanmugham for willful neglect of statutory duties, including failure to arrest accused persons and follow mandatory procedures.

You’re all caught up—until next time.