WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has returned to X after more than two years of silence on the platform. His personal account had been inactive since June 28, 2024, shortly after he shared an article about his plea deal following his release from prison. WikiLeaks first announced his comeback on September 17 by posting a photograph of Assange standing beneath a poster featuring his image in Sydney. Re-posting the announcement, the 55-year-old wrote from his personal account, “I’m back”. Assange was freed in June 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents under a plea deal. He subsequently returned to Australia home.

India rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the recent Arabian Sea collision involving INS Kolkata and Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain, calling Islamabad’s response “usual prevarication.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said INS Kolkata was on routine deployment when Hunain conducted an “unacceptable and unprofessional” manoeuvre that caused the collision. India said the Pakistani vessel violated Article 10 of the 1991 agreement requiring naval units to remain at least three nautical miles apart, as well as international collision-prevention regulations. Jaiswal said the incident caused no major damage to INS Kolkata, which remains at sea. Both countries summoned each other’s diplomats and lodged complaints following the incident, after both sides lodged formal protests over the incident.

At least 16 people, including five police personnel, were killed and 54 injured in a blast near a mosque in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, officials told The Express Tribune. The explosion occurred in Kohat’s Old Police Lines area and was described by officials as a suicide attack. Authorities said seven armed terrorists, including the bomber, entered the area, with six reportedly killed by press time. Conflicting accounts emerged over the blast’s method: Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed initially said a vehicle loaded with explosives was rammed near Old Police Lines, but later said a suicide bomber detonated himself near the Special Branch building. Police said an exchange of fire with TTP-linked personnel continued.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over escalating conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, warning that it undermines regional stability and threatens freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India condemned attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including civilians and economic assets, and referred to its statement following an attempted attack on the holy city of Makkah. He said such attacks threaten regional peace and security and called the situation “totally unacceptable” to India. The escalation has also raised concerns about Gulf oil supplies by jeopardising the Red Sea route, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained amid US-Iran tensions. India called for early restoration of peace.

The Israeli military has rejected allegations in the documentary NAZA that artificial intelligence was used to facilitate mass killings of civilians in Gaza. The film, made by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, features 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers who describe systems allegedly used to identify targets, including an AI-based system called “Lavender.” The IDF questioned the credibility and verifiability of the anonymous testimonies and said decisions on selecting and approving strikes were made by human personnel, not artificial intelligence. The documentary received a lengthy ovation at the Venice Film Festival, intensifying debate over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. (PC: AFP)

Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak and her coach Ashok Mishra faced an accommodation mix-up at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after being assigned the same room aboard the Costa Serena cruise ship in Nagoya. The Indian Olympic Association intervened and arranged separate rooms around 1:30 am. However, Mishra then faced another delay when hotel staff could not locate his booking because the letter “I” was missing from his name in official records. The correction and accreditation verification took another 45 minutes, with the issue finally resolved after 2 am. The incident adds to wider accommodation and logistical problems reported by athletes. (PC: Instagram)

Saudi Arabia is facing escalating security pressure after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces seized key areas along the Red Sea coast and gained control around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to reports cited by India Today, Riyadh has indirectly approached Israel through US Central Command for intelligence assistance to counter Houthi threats. Pakistan, despite its Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, has reportedly ruled out deploying forces for combat operations on foreign soil, while offering to defend Saudi territory. The US and UK have also ruled out direct strikes, leaving Riyadh seeking alternative regional security support. (PC: AFP)

India-born female cheetah KGP12 gave birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 18, marking a significant milestone for Project Cheetah. KGP12 is the second India-born female cheetah to give birth at Kuno. With the latest births, the number of cheetahs born and surviving in India has increased to 36, while the total cheetah population in the country has risen from 52 to 56. Kuno now has 53 cheetahs, while three are at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The development comes a day after Project Cheetah completed four years. 

The United States has publicly confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in orbit, describing them as “space control” capabilities for defensive and offensive purposes. Washington did not disclose the number or specific types of weapons, but said they can use kinetic and non-kinetic methods against hostile space capabilities. China criticised the move, warning against weaponising outer space and an arms race, while Russia called for space to remain free of weapons and urged complete demilitarisation. The development highlights growing military competition among major powers and concerns over gaps in international rules governing weapons in space. (PC: X)

India’s Project Cheetah has completed four years, with the country’s cheetah population reaching 52, including 32 cubs born in India since the programme began in 2022. The initiative started with eight cheetahs brought from Namibia and later expanded through arrivals from South Africa and Botswana. Currently, 49 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park and three in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the programme has progressed from reintroduction and breeding to releasing cheetahs into open forests and establishing breeding females. The next phase focuses on expanding suitable habitats and creating a long-term cheetah meta-population across India. (PC: ET)