Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | Vol. 68 No. 289 | 31 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation HIMALAYAN ANGER | Protests over social media ban, graft fuel crackdown that leaves 250 injured; home minister steps down Nepal erupts, 20 killed FPJ News Service MUMBAI Twenty people have been killed and more than 250 injured as protests against Nepal’s social media ban spiralled into nationwide violence on Monday, triggering curfews and a heavy security crackdown. Nepal’s Home Minister, Ramesh Lekhak resigned as the death toll mounted. What began as peaceful demonstrations led by Generation Z in Kathmandu has turned into one of the deadliest confrontations in recent memory, with police deploying tear gas, water cannons, and even live ammunition. Gen Z, short for Generation Z, refers to the demographic cohort born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, often cited as 1997 to 2012. They follow Millennials and are known for being tech-savvy, having grown up with smartphones, social media, and the internet as inte- gral parts of their lives. According to an earlier report from The Himalayan Times, 16 of the dead were from the Kathmandu Valley and two from Itahari. The National Trauma Centre reported seven fatalities and more than Agencies The world is seeking a stable and predictable environment for trade and investment and economic practices should be fair, transparent and to everyone's benefit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, amid increasing global concerns over Washington's tariff tussle. Addressing a virtual Brics summit, he said India strongly believes that the foundational principles such as open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory approach of the international trading system must be protected. Jaishankar represented PM Narendra Modi at the summit that saw participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other leaders of the grouping. The summit was convened by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss trade disruptions triggered by Washington's policies on trade and tariff. "The world as a collective is seeking a stable and predictable environment for trade and investment. At the same time, it is imperative that economic practices are fair, transparent and to everyone's benefit," Jaishankar said. "When there are multiple disruptions, our objective should be to proof it against such shocks. That means creating more resilient, reliable, redundant and shorter supply chains," he said. Jaishankar said the world requires "constructive and cooperative" approaches to promote trade that is sustainable. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation ‘Right idea’: Zelenskyy backs tariffs OPEN, FAIR TRADE: INDIA’S BRICS CALL NEW DELHI 20 critical injuries, most from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Everest Hospital confirmed three deaths, Civil Hospital two, and one each at Kathmandu Medical College and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. The protests were sparked by the Oli government’s decision to block major social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat — citing hate speech, fake news, and online fraud. But for thousands of demonstrators, the ban symbolises a broader crackdown on free speech and the government’s refusal to tackle rampant corruption. Agencies NEW YORK/WASHINGTON JOINTLY FIGHT HEGEMONY: XI Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for a unified response by the Brics countries to trade challenges posed by the US. "Hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism are getting more and more rampant. Trade wars and tariff wars waged by some country severely disrupt the world economy and undermine international trade rules," he said, without directly naming the US or its President Donald Trump. 4Contd on | Nation Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called it the “right idea” to impose tariffs on countries continuing to make deals with Russia, though he did not name India directly. His comments came as US President Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro continued his anti-India tirade, calling its purchase of Russian oil as "blood money". “I think the idea to put tariffs on the countries who continue to make deals with Russia... I think this is right idea,” Zelenskyy told ABC News to queries whether he thought the plan to put sanctions backfired when he saw pictures of PM Modi, Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi in Tianjin. 4Contd on | Nation Two soldiers, terrorist duo killed in J&K SC nod to Aadhaar as SIR proof PTI The SC on Monday directed the Election Commission (ECI) to issue a formal notice stating that Aadhaar will be accepted as an identity document for inclusion or exclusion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said Aadhaar will be the twelfth document, in addition to the eleven already listed by the EC. SRINAGAR Two terrorists and two soldiers were killed in an encounter in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Monday, officials said. The gunfight ensued when the security forces launched a search operation in the Gudar forest area following information about the presence of terrorists. "Based on specific intelligence input by JKP, a joint search operation was launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmr Police & @crpf_srinagar in Guddar forest of #Kulgam," Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said in a post on X. 4Contd on | Nation French govt collapses Legislators toppled France's government in a confidence vote on Monday, a new crisis that obliges President Macron to search for a fourth PM in 12 months. PM François Bayrou was ousted in a 364-194 vote. FPJ News Service NEW DELHI EC asked to accept Aadhaar as 12th valid document for identification. But it is not for proof of citizenship, SC said It clarified that Aadhaar is only proof of identity and residence, not citizenship, and authorised officials to verify the authenticity and genuineness of any Aadhaar card submitted, Live Law and Bar & Bench reported. The order extends an ear- lier directive that had applied only to the 65 lakh names proposed to be deleted from the voters’ list. The SC noted that the EC must issue instructions “during the course of the day” to ensure Aadhaar’s acceptance at the ground level. The Bench questioned why show-cause notices placed before it referred only to eleven documents, despite previous orders stating the list was illustrative and that Aadhaar should be included. 4Contd on | Nation BJD, BRS to skip VP poll today Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI BJD and BRS on Monday said their MPs would abstain from voting in Tuesday's vice-presidential elections, even though the numbers are stacked in favour of the ruling BJP-led NDA with an electoral college of 425 MPs out of a total existing strength of 781. NDA is confident of its candidate CP Radhakrishnan’s win, while the Opposition is banking on cross-voting to boost the pros- pects of its nominee B Sudershan Reddy. BJD said it took the decision as part of its policy of "maintaining an equal distance" from both NDA and Congress-led INDIA bloc at the national level. On the other hand, BRS working president KT Rama Rao called his party's decision an expression of "anguish" of Telangana's farmers due to the shortage of urea in the state. He alleged that both the Congress and BJP have "failed" to address the issue. PM Narendra Modi, meanwhile, addressed a two-day meeting of NDA MPs from both Houses ahead of the poll. 4Contd on | Nation Rifle stolen in Navy Nagar breach Poonam Apraj MUMBAI A major security breach occurred in Navy Nagar, Colaba, during Ganesh Visarjan when an unidentified person stole an INSAS rifle and three magazines from a 20-year-old Agniveer soldier posted as a watcher at the AP Tower Radar. The incident has raised alarm over security lapses in the sensitive naval zone. A case has been registered at Cuffe Parade Police Station, while the ATS, Mumbai Crime Branch’s CIU, and local police have Impostor cons Agniveer, steals rifle and 40 live rounds from Navy Nagar’s high-security zone. ATS on manhunt launched a joint probe. According to a senior police officer, the theft occurred on September 6. Agniveer soldier Alok Kaushal Kishor Singh (20) was on duty when an unidentified man approached him, claimed to be from the Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT), and said he was there to relieve him. Believing the impostor, Alok returned to his hostel after handing over his INSAS rifle and three magazines — two loaded with 20 rounds each (40 live bullets) and one empty. Later that evening, Alok returned to retrieve his wristwatch left at the post, only to find the impostor and the rifle missing. A full-scale search operation by the Navy lasted an entire day. When neither the suspect nor the weapon could be traced, a formal complaint was lodged at Cuffe Parade Police Station on the night of September 7. The theft has triggered a major security scare, with ATS and Mumbai Crime Branch teams working to track down the suspect who managed to walk away with a military rifle from a high-security naval zone. 4Contd on | Nation