Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of the organisation’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday. Security was tightened as police prevented the protest from proceeding. Dipke was taken into custody shortly before 5 pm after a brief altercation, following hours of police personnel making him sign documents prohibiting him from marching towards the protest site without lawful permission. He had stepped out of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Anish Gawande’s Karol Bagh residence wearing a Gandhi-printed T-shirt and carrying the Indian flag. Opposition leaders, including MK Stalin, demanded the release of detained leaders and criticised the government. (PC: X)

India Women defeated Zimbabwe Women by four wickets in a T20I, securing victory in 15.4 overs while chasing 115. The win marked the beginning of Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy era, despite India’s top-order collapse to 18/4. Deepti Sharma scored 49 off 37 balls, including eight fours, while Niki Prasad remained unbeaten on 39 from 35 deliveries, hitting six boundaries. Their partnership revived India’s chase, with Arundhati Reddy finishing unbeaten on two. Earlier, Zimbabwe posted 114/5, led by Sharne Mayers’ unbeaten 43 off 33 balls and Kelis Ndhlovu’s 42. India’s Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani and Nandani Sharma each took a wicket. (PC: X)

Katie Zacharia, US President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary, was reportedly fired on Friday after less than a week in the role. According to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The New York Times, her brief tenure followed a difficult press briefing and controversy over whether she had overstated her legal qualifications. Neither the White House nor Zacharia responded to requests for comment. Trump told reporters he had urged her to reconsider taking the position, questioning whether she needed the job. He recalled telling her, “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” and asking, “Katie, do you need this? I don’t think you need this.” (PC: X)

India has been named the first official partner country of Russian Energy Week, scheduled for October 14–16 in Moscow, as Russia seeks greater Indian investment in its oil and gas sector. The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry will showcase ongoing and planned bilateral projects. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak highlighted cooperation in energy assets and distribution networks. Indian companies have invested billions in Russian projects, including Sakhalin-1 and Rosneft’s Vankor cluster. India imported a record 2.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude in July 2026, accounting for approximately 55.5% of its total crude imports. Both countries are exploring expanded gas supplies, LPG purchases and new hydrocarbon facilities. (PC: The Hindu)

Ankur Patel, a 31-year-old Indian-origin man in Chicago, allegedly stabbed his estranged 32-year-old wife to death in August after she began dating a former colleague and refused reconciliation. The couple, who have a daughter, separated in May, when she moved out of their Wisconsin home before relocating to Louisiana. Patel allegedly threatened his wife and her partner, sent their daughter to India without informing her, and invited his wife to Chicago. After discovering their daughter was absent, she rejected Patel’s reconciliation request, prompting the fatal attack. Patel allegedly tried fleeing to India but was arrested before boarding his flight. He faces first-degree murder charges. (PC: X)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has defended renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries after US President Donald Trump called them a “disgrace” and criticised Kyiv’s approach to peace negotiations. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky said he was defending Ukraine’s interests and warned that the US-Russia diesel deal could lead to further agreements benefiting Moscow. Trump accused Zelensky of raising global oil prices and said he was harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, EU leaders discussed Ukraine’s funding and winter defence needs. Zelensky said the war would cost €155 billion next year, with at least €70 billion needed from Europe for defence and weapons. (PC: X)

Pakistan will chair the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group in 2027, despite awaiting approval for another $1.2 billion in IMF funding. The country will assume the role for the first time since 1953, according to its Ministry of Economic Affairs. Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Pakistan’s governor to the World Bank, was announced as the incoming chair during the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok. The position gives Islamabad a prominent platform to facilitate discussions among member countries’ finance ministers and central bank governors, but does not grant control over lending decisions. Pakistan’s government called the appointment a “historic milestone.” (PC: X)

Finfluencer and entrepreneur Neha Nagar has urged Indian parents to reconsider the challenges their children could face before moving abroad for education or employment, citing alleged racism and anti-immigration sentiment. In a post on X, she claimed Indian students in a UK public park were confronted by a self-described patriot group and told to “go home.” Nagar also referred to anti-immigration rallies in Australia, alleged attacks on Indians in Ireland and online hostility surrounding the US H-1B visa debate. She argued that Indians face discrimination despite contributing through education, work and taxes. Her post received more than 870,900 views and drew mixed reactions, with some supporting her concerns and others challenging her assessment.

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora as thousands gathered for the party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday. An estimated 2,000 people assembled in and around the area, many carrying the Tricolour. More than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across New Delhi district. Heavy security and advance detentions helped the protest conclude relatively peacefully, unlike the July 20 march towards Parliament, when demonstrators clashed with police. The CJP had called the latest protest seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Participants attempted to march towards Central Park before police intervened. (PC: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

US President Donald Trump has said Washington may strike Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain facility as he seeks to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, Trump ruled out using a nuclear bomb in the conflict, which began in February with US-Israeli strikes. Describing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as buried beneath millions of tons of mountain, Trump said the US might target Pickaxe Mountain, adding, “We’ll knock it out fast.” The heavily fortified underground facility is located near one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, making it challenging to damage militarily. Trump also reiterated that deploying American ground troops to Iran was not under consideration.