India has launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system at Lulu Group stores in Qatar to make transactions faster and cheaper. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the move will strengthen trade and help 8.3 lakh Indians living in Qatar send money home easily. The launch follows UPI’s rollout at Hamad International Airport duty-free shops last month. The initiative is a partnership between NPCI International Payments Ltd, Qatar National Bank, and Japan’s NETSTARS. Goyal said UPI now handles 640 million daily transactions and powers 85% of India’s digital payments, calling it a key step in global financial integration. (PC: X)

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad raised the Kashmir issue during a debate on women and security. India’s UN representative Parvathaneni Harish called Pakistan’s remarks “delusional tirades” and reminded the world of its own record of violence. He cited Pakistan’s 1971 Operation Searchlight, during which its army carried out a campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Harish said Pakistan “bombs its own people” and tries to distract from its crimes. India reaffirmed its clean record on women’s rights and urged the UN to reject Pakistan’s false claims. (PC: India Today)

Indian-origin teenager Grace O’Malley-Kumar has been awarded the George Medal, one of the UK’s highest civilian honours, for bravery. The 19-year-old medical student died in June 2023 while trying to save her friend, Barnaby Webber, during a knife attack in Nottingham. Both were killed by attacker Valdo Calocane, who was later detained in a high-security hospital. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Grace’s courage showed “the very best of who we are.” Her parents, both doctors, will receive the medal. Grace’s family has created a foundation in her name to support youth through sport, education, and mental health programs. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned India of “severe consequences,” saying India would be “buried under the debris of its own warplanes.” His comments came after Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said Pakistan could be erased from the world map if it continued supporting terrorism. Asif accused Indian leaders of issuing “provocative statements” to restore credibility after Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases in Pakistan. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh had earlier warned Islamabad against any misadventure, saying India would respond strongly to protect its unity and integrity. (PC: India Today)

An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight from Amritsar to Birmingham made a safe landing after its emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed mid-descent on Saturday. The incident happened during flight AI117’s final approach to Birmingham. Air India said all electrical and hydraulic systems were working normally, and passengers and crew were safe. The aircraft has been grounded for detailed checks, and the return flight to Delhi was cancelled. The RAT system is a small fan that provides emergency power if an aircraft loses main engine power. Air India said passenger safety remains its top priority. (PC: Reuters)

Pole Chandrasekhar, a 28-year-old student from Hyderabad, was tragically shot dead at a gas station in Denton, near Dallas, Texas. He had moved to the U.S. in 2023 to pursue a Master’s in Data Analytics and was working part-time. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and police have launched an investigation. His grieving family has urged Indian and Telangana authorities to assist in repatriating his body. The Indian Consulate in Houston has offered full support and is coordinating with U.S. officials. (PC: X)

Chandrashekar Pole, a 27-year-old student from Hyderabad, was shot dead by miscreants at a gas station in Denton, Texas, where he worked part-time. He had gone to the US for higher studies after completing his BDS degree in India. Former Telangana minister T Harish Rao said the student was from LB Nagar and urged the government to bring his body home. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy offered full support to the family. The Indian Consulate in Houston said it was helping the family and following the police investigation. Local authorities in Texas are probing the incident. (PC: India Today)

A 28-year-old Indian student, Chandrashekar Pole, was shot dead by an unknown gunman at a gas station in Dallas, Texas, on Friday night. Chandrashekar, from Hyderabad, went to the US in 2023 for higher studies after completing dental surgery in India. He had finished his master’s and was working part-time while seeking a full-time job. His family has asked the Indian government to help bring his body home. Telangana leaders T Harish Rao and Sudhir Reddy met the grieving family. The killing comes just a month after another Indian-origin man, Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, was brutally murdered in Dallas. (PC: X/ Harish Rao)

Pakistan has offered US President Donald Trump a deal to build and run a civilian port in Pasni, Balochistan, close to India’s Chabahar port in Iran. The proposal, worth $1.2 billion, comes as Pakistan tries to reset ties with the US. Advisers to army chief Asim Munir reportedly pitched the plan, highlighting mineral wealth in the region. The port would not be used for military purposes but for trade and mining links. The offer follows a $500 million US investment in Pakistan’s minerals. India is closely watching, as the Pasni port would sit just 300 km from Chabahar. (PC: India Today)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit India on October 8-9. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai. The two leaders will review progress on the India-UK free trade agreement, which is expected to boost trade by $35 billion. Talks will also cover defence, technology, climate, and migration. India is likely to raise issues of terrorism, pro-Khalistan groups, and the return of fugitives. Starmer’s trip follows Modi’s visit to the UK in July, where both sides signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. (PC: @MEAIndia X/ File)